Beware the Beijing Curse
May 23, 2012 5:03 AM Subscribe
Didier Drogba seems set to follow in the footsteps of his mate Nicolas Anelka and head to China when his contract at Chelsea ends at the end of the month, but how much do you know about grassroots Chinese football culture?
If your answer, like mine, is "not a lot", the Wild East Football site is here to help. Learn about the uncultured chants on the terraces, the rivalry between Beijing and Shanghai and why you shouldn't move from the one to the other as an expat footballer, or what's it like to be a disabled supporter in China.
If your answer, like mine, is "not a lot", the Wild East Football site is here to help. Learn about the uncultured chants on the terraces, the rivalry between Beijing and Shanghai and why you shouldn't move from the one to the other as an expat footballer, or what's it like to be a disabled supporter in China.
the rivalry between Beijing and Shanghai and why you shouldn't move from the one to the other as an expat footballer
What, no hurling of pig's heads? N00bs!
posted by Skeptic at 5:36 AM on May 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
What, no hurling of pig's heads? N00bs!
posted by Skeptic at 5:36 AM on May 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Drogba will be right at home in the grassroots, considering how much time he spends rolling around there.
posted by Optamystic at 6:13 AM on May 23, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by Optamystic at 6:13 AM on May 23, 2012 [7 favorites]
his mate Nicolas Anelka
I find it difficult to believe Anelka has mates.
posted by yerfatma at 6:26 AM on May 23, 2012
I find it difficult to believe Anelka has mates.
posted by yerfatma at 6:26 AM on May 23, 2012
I find it difficult to believe Anelka has mates.
Of course he does, they just all have an interest in him transferring to another team again.
posted by jaduncan at 6:30 AM on May 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Of course he does, they just all have an interest in him transferring to another team again.
posted by jaduncan at 6:30 AM on May 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
I used to go and watch Guoan fairly regularly, but the fan culture was fairly rubbish it must be said - no proper singing, just banging inflatable clappers and calling the opposition or the referee 'cunts' for 90 minutes. There used to be a forlorn plea not to do that up on the electronic scoreboard, using the euphemism 谢绝京骂. Sure their biggest rivals back then were the north-east clubs rather than Shanghai - some tale of them ambushing a ferry bringing Dalian fans to the capital, IIRC. Still, my first-hand experience is well out of date as not bothered these past few seasons, even though Guoan have improved significantly on the pitch.
posted by Abiezer at 6:52 AM on May 23, 2012
posted by Abiezer at 6:52 AM on May 23, 2012
Chinese Arsenal fans had one of the best banners I have ever seen anywhere.
posted by Reggie Knoble at 2:05 PM on May 23, 2012
posted by Reggie Knoble at 2:05 PM on May 23, 2012
Of course he does, they just all have an interest in him transferring to another team again.
I don't like holding sports men and women to higher standards than regular people. I don't think they make particularly good role models so I think we should stop thinking of them as such altogether.
Sports players are like any other employee, despite earning as much as several entire small businesses put together single handed. They're entitled to work with whoever they wish as long as they follow the proper procedures for their transfer.
Drogba gets a lot of flack for diving and simulation but nearly all the top players do it to some degree. Once you introduce millions of pounds to the equation then clubs and players forget about concepts like a code of ethics and honour pretty quickly.
The prevalence of diving is a failure of the system, not of individuals. Not that I have any definite solutions but I think post-match penalties, such as are applied to violent conduct, could help reduce these incidents.
I'm not Chelsea fan. In fact I sort of hate them. Even as a pretty football Arsenal supporter I can't deny that Drobga is the fucking boss. Scores goals in big games, is a consistent performer, his goal celebrations are awesome, obviously loves Chelsea and is generally a reasonable person.
posted by quosimosaur at 8:22 PM on May 23, 2012
I don't like holding sports men and women to higher standards than regular people. I don't think they make particularly good role models so I think we should stop thinking of them as such altogether.
Sports players are like any other employee, despite earning as much as several entire small businesses put together single handed. They're entitled to work with whoever they wish as long as they follow the proper procedures for their transfer.
Drogba gets a lot of flack for diving and simulation but nearly all the top players do it to some degree. Once you introduce millions of pounds to the equation then clubs and players forget about concepts like a code of ethics and honour pretty quickly.
The prevalence of diving is a failure of the system, not of individuals. Not that I have any definite solutions but I think post-match penalties, such as are applied to violent conduct, could help reduce these incidents.
I'm not Chelsea fan. In fact I sort of hate them. Even as a pretty football Arsenal supporter I can't deny that Drobga is the fucking boss. Scores goals in big games, is a consistent performer, his goal celebrations are awesome, obviously loves Chelsea and is generally a reasonable person.
posted by quosimosaur at 8:22 PM on May 23, 2012
obviously loves Chelsea and is generally a reasonable person
I see what you did there.
posted by Skeptic at 4:22 AM on May 24, 2012
I see what you did there.
posted by Skeptic at 4:22 AM on May 24, 2012
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posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:23 AM on May 23, 2012