Football – it’s just a bit pants really, isn’t it?

I don’t really have much interest in football. I always say that I won’t bother watching the big tournaments (World Cup, Euros), but something draws me in and I end up watching a few games – like the England-Switzerland one that’s on now.

I’m left baffled as to why this is so popular all around the world. Compared to a game of rugby it’s just so tedious. There are occasional moments of excitement, but for most of the 90+ minutes it’s just a snoozefest. What am I missing?

Nothing, your assumptions are correct.

I don’t get it either.
But each to thier own.
The only time it frustrates me is when ‘the wider world’ gets dominated – so business meetings where football is brought up, awkward DJ on the radio chatting about it etc.

I like it, not obsessed but its good to watch.  Can be a snoozefest, but so can anything

Rugby is absolutely hopeless to watch.  Too stop start, never clear what’s going on and the rules don’t help. Reputedly good to play tho?

I enjoy a good game, but it’s 22 players kicking a bag of air round a field. It doesn’t form part of my identity or define me, or affect my “national pride” or whatever.

BIKE RIDE!!!

This applies to everything. Some people like/get it and other’s don’t. Just to balance the argument ; I don’t like rugby.

I don’t like rugby, compared to the subtle skill and speed of football it’s  just a bunch of meatheads chucking an egg sideways and giving each other brain damage before doing making each other drink their own body weight in something unmentionable.

So I don’t watch it. But maybe I should start a thread about how shit I think rugby is ?

Edit: what Tom said

Football is brilliant, especially five a side. I’ve had a fair stab at the gamut of adventure sports over the last 40 years including many insanely intense experiences, both good and bad.

And yet the most happy fun joy I have had this year has been playing football with my colleagues at the bank on a Monday evening.  I come home absolutely buzzing.

The way I see it is,

I get “liking things.” I like music, I love a live gig. But the notion that I’d pay a large sum of money to watch my favourite band to play the same set week-on-week for months, over a period of years if not decades, is utterly bizarre to me.

I get liking football, go watch a game. Next week, why not check out the rugby. The week after that, ice hockey, curling, archery, American Football, tennis, cricket, snooker, darts, lacrosse, Aussie rules, etc etc etc.

Does watching the same thing over and over and over never get dull?

If you don’t understand what is going on, you’ll never really ‘get’ it. I used to be like that about cricket, Wimbledon, TdF etc when I was younger, but now I fully understand the objectives, I can enjoy watching them.

That’s like saying you might as well only watch one episode of Inside Number 9. After that – well, it’s the same people writing and playing the main characters, doesn’t it get dull?

Amazed the current TikTok generation are interested. It takes too long and there are so few goals.

Les Gets DH world cup was so much more entertaining today.

Tournaments are boring.

I don’t play but can kick a ball. At uni it was chance to meet new friends in kick-abouts outside the halls and on Friday nights. Have also played pickup matches in the US and in Europe at campsites. For that football is unequalled.

I kinda follow Stirling Albion – a club that is part of the community.

Coming back to the OP: The feeling when you are part of a crowd living for the moment is brilliant (yes – even at Stirling Albion).

Agreed, for me it’s super boring and I go out of my way to avoid it but each to their own. Probably plenty of people who think riding a bike is a snoozefest

You don’t have to watch it. I love club football but I’ve never been fussed about internationals as they’re generally a bit rubbish. International friendlies are the most pointless form of football imaginable and should be banned

Having said that, I’d literally rather remove my own kidneys with a teaspoon than watch a game of Rugby but I’m led to believe it’s quite popular with people called Olly

Each to their own, innit?

@thegeneralist I get playing it, it’s why anyone would want to watch it that I’m struggling with. And why these people are paid so much so that people can watch them.

compared to the subtle skill and speed of football it’s just a bunch of meatheads chucking an egg sideways

You’re joking, right? Right?

I don’t care until people start wishing me luck at the weekend (happened twice this week) and bringing it up in conversation. That proper pisses me off. To just assume that everybody likes it is **** weird. Some of the reactions aren’t those of fully functioning adults either. All a bit too cult like for me.

I’ll play any sport but not if people take it seriously. That just spoils the fun. Watching other people play any sport is like watching paint dry. Only slightly worse than people talking about it as if they have an actual stake.  Really odd but meh each to their own I guess. Just wish folk would shut the **** up about it.

It takes too long and there are so few goals.

Like saying the Tour de France takes too long and has too many different jerseys ?

Football is weird in that people that aren’t interested feel the need to say so and demonstrate how uninsightful their opinion is. I hate the Stereophonics but I’ve realised that people who love the stereophonics and all of the people that have no opinion on them don’t really need me to tell them all of the reasons why I think they’re so terrible.

Also, nobody likes watching England play. The delta between expectation and reality makes it unbearable.

it’s why anyone would want to watch it

Ah right. I’m that case I agree, but then the same could be said of most sports. I never understand people who say they are into X sport, but what they actually mean is sitting on their arse watching that sport.

Apart from rugby of course. That is one sport I would definitely rather watch than play.

( And all the hitty ones too, obvs)

Aussie rules

I like Aussie rules. It’s a bit bananas at times, they mostly have horrific mullets, but what makes it is the goal umpires and the look of fierce intent on their faces when giving their signals!

Edit: for balance I like football, but England are sooo boring to watch, I like rugby, tennis, cricket, athletics too.

I also love American Football, but then, I’ve followed the game for 40 years and used to play and coach.

You’re joking, right? Right?

Sorry, forgot about the bit where they kick the egg between the posts but there are no defenders or goalie or anything to stop it going in. And the kicker can balance the egg on an egg cup to make it easier.

And that, my friends, is why it’s such a beautiful game.

If you don’t understand what is going on, you’ll never really ‘get’ it.

I used to think that watching golf was boring until I’d played it. Once I’d played it, I appreciated the skill involved a lot more – I quite enjoy watching it sometimes now.

I understand what is going on and get it you condescending individual. Doesn’t change my opinion on it.

What, football?

Rugby, no .  Never beautiful.   Its like a dogs dinner, but they take the bowl away every 45 seconds because a dogs lifted a foot off the ground

Whatever… my comment wasn’t about you. I’m going to get another beer and watch extra time. 🙂

I understand what is going on and get it you condescending individual. Doesn’t change my opinion on it.

But you clearly don’t understand the game, tactics, strategy, technique etc. I get it, we don’t all like all sports, but football is clearly a popular spectator sport so I struggle to understand why you don’t understand that much.

Got to love these “things I hate / don’t like” type threads.   They always feel a bit attention seeking to me.

But you clearly don’t understand the game, tactics, strategy, technique etc.

No, I really do. It’s not **** rocket science, it’s a game. I just find it really boring along with every other sport. Carry on with the condescending though, it’s appreciated

I understand why it’s popular. Simple things always are. What I don’t understand is the cult like following and the assumption that every man is a fan.

So you don’t enjoy any sport. Says it all.

I enjoy playing any sport and said so up there. Watching people play, not at all. Pray tell, what does it say about me? I’m dying to know oh wise middle aged internet warrior?

TBF, I’m not sure – if you don’t like watching sport then don’t. Do something else.

Says it all.

What exactly does not enjoying watching sport say?

TBF, I’m not sure

But you said you did? I already don’t watch it and do other stuff so what’s your point? My point is being annoyed by people assuming, and this happens a lot, that you do watch a particular sport because they think you should? Gets old fast

oh wise middle aged internet warrior

@funkmasterp maybe read back through the thread and see who this most applies to. You’re so thin skinned you could be a professional footballer!

Loved playing football and latterly rugby. Played both for my university and county and town levels. Now I’m crippled through knee wear I watch with envy.  Will watch most sports that I’ve played and enjoy the banter with my mates watching a game in a pub etc.

Football is weird in that people that aren’t interested feel the need to say so and demonstrate how uninsightful their opinion is.

It’s not weird at all.

People who are interested in football go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on about it, yet as soon as someone says they aren’t interested in it it’s worthy of drawing attention to as a ‘them’ problem. Those goddamn preachy non-footballers, don’t they realise we were born with stereoscopic vision and feet to hunt down and kick footballs around.

I’ve seen this scenario before but I can’t quite put my finger on it…

@funkmasterp maybe read back through the thread and see who this most applies to. You’re so thin skinned you could be a professional footballer!

Not at all. Simply don’t like condescending people telling me I don’t understand a simple children’s game. Also not an internet warrior. I’d be happy to have the same debate in real life.

Cougar nails it in his post above mine. The behaviour of some football fans is downright creepy and cult like.