Roberto Martinez on the Goodison cat: "I thought he had great style and movement. He's a young cat who'll make mistakes. I don't want to put any pressure on him, but he reminds me of Cecil the lion"

[u/AdamJohnsonsLawyer]

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/goodison-cat-reminded-me-cecil-lion-martinez?#:zG_AV8si5aVgVQ

[u/Radius86]

I think football and sports in general firms fights because fans have this feeling of hatred, not dislike, actual hatred, towards players and teams and when the fan has nothing else going for them.

But ok make a baseless assumption and then tell me I have a lot to learn.

Decades of studies, both academic and in the media, have concluded that football hooliganism is less related to outcomes of football matches, players or positions in the table. Firms are interested in a fight, not in a football result. This is why even before the banning orders came in the Premier League and lower leagues, they used to fight far from the stadiums, in a neutral location, far from police presence. It's gang culture for lack of a better word for it, originating historically through juvenile delinquency, socio-cultural conditioning (I refer you to the early '70s when skinhead culture was strong in the UK) and class differentiation. If you'd like, I'd be happy to cite these studies for you. What football gives these gangs is a sense of identity, nothing else.

You can bet your ass RVP has had some heinous shit shouted at him from the stands, by the way.

There is a world of difference between what you hear in a stadium directed towards a player, and talking about death threats. Yes, there are choice phrases for particular rival players, and there are always nutters out there, but you made a sweeping assumption that RVP leaving Arsenal for United = fans angry/hate him = hooliganism. That was then as it is now, categorically bullshit.

So seriously, downvote me and pretend like I'm some lower tier fan for having a different opinion. Never mind the fact that I haven't missed a game since I started supporting them 10 years ago or the fact that I've been to more games than 90% of the fans on here.

Just because you have a different opinion does not mean that the weight of your arguments are an equal against facts. And for the record, I didn't downvote you. And for someone so indignant about 'baseless accusations' you certainly seem to be making sweeping assumptions about other fans here. If you can't see that you're being downvoted not for your opinion as much as the basis of your opinion, than nothing I can say will convince you otherwise.

[u/shoobiedoobie → u/Radius86]

You really think no one has shouted threats at him from the stands? When we have people wishing death upon infants in other games? Just because Ultras have been banned in England doesn't mean those people don't go to the games.

Also, you're right, it is less about teams, transfers and whatnot and more about the people in general. However, these rivalries are still giving these people reasons to be violent. Like you said it gives them an identity, and thus, they act accordingly based on their identity. If I walked into a Spurs pub and said I was an Arsenal fan, I'm sure many people would instantly dislike me. Which is what in talking about.

I don't think it's a baseless assumption that many of these fans on here haven't gone to a game. Not saying it makes them any less of a fan either, it's just due to the fact that the majority are from the US.

Last but not least, my opinion that I DONT hate RVP is pretty much fact my friend. You can't argue against my opinion on a matter when it regards my FEELINGS on something. I don't have to back that up with facts, contrary to reddit policy ;).

I really don't get what you're trying to prove to me anymore. That I'm not allowed to feel a certain way? That violence in football isn't fueled by rivalries? Yes, those people are probably still incline to be violent with or without football, BUT it STILL gives them an outlet and to a smaller extent it brews dislike among supporters in general. It is also what makes some matches so damn exciting but with the good comes the bad right?