Pretty much a random shower thought but got me thinking.
A Big 6 fan has got the success, the chances at winning trophies regularly, their team generally wins most weeks, they get to see the best of the best play for their club. Their team is recognised around the world. They get to watch European football almost every year. If you can’t attend games you can watch them on TV most weeks because they get shown more often.
On the other hand, you’ve got the ungodly amount of toxicity. Big 6 fans are absolutely rabid towards each other. Every match thread is a cesspit of anger. You’re constantly looking at the other teams at the top and hoping they lose as well. You get all the mockery when your team dares to not pick up 3 points in a match. Every refereeing/VAR decision that goes against them is met with cries of corruption, that there is a conspiracy against the club or to favour another club. Is the high of winning as much as the low of losing for them?
An other 14 fan on the other hand, success is hard to come by. Other than perhaps a run at the FA Cup or Carabao Cup, maybe an occasional Europa League appearance, you’re basically cheering for not getting relegated every season. You know that chances are you may never see your team lift a trophy in your lifetime.
On the other hand (I know I’ve repeated that phrase too much), every win perhaps feels more special. And if you do win a trophy, or that European run, or that promotion from the Championship, it’s the best thing ever. You don’t have those weeks where you’re expecting an easy 4-0 win and anything less is unacceptable, you genuinely never know what you’re going to get and every win is huge. You can generally have a nice chat about your team rather than “ugh you support ___, grr grr grr i am going to tell you why they are the evil of this world”. You’re not going to see a loss memed about by the rest of the footballing world for the entire week. You don’t have to sit through an entire week of analysing why VAR has ruined football because they hate your team specifically. (Seriously, as much as Liverpool had that dodgy Spurs game, if they’d have had the season Wolves have had so far with referees there would be outrage on another level and City would probabaly have a few additional charges.)
I love being a Liverpool fan and wouldn’t change it for anything amount of money. Been one since birth, would go to games with my dad as a kid when it was affordable, and Anfield is the most “home” feeling place in the world for me.
I remember watching through college on shitty pirated streams, mostly losing, and loving them anyway.
The more recent run of being relentless and powerful has been such a joy, but even last year, through actual misery and fear losing and drawing so many at the start, we also then would bang out a 7-0 win.
It’s not just about watching the games though; I enjoy all the media content put out by the club, and YNWA is a mentality for true fans. With the recent Diaz stuff, we all felt wounded and afraid and just wanted his dad home. When it’s the anniversary of Hillsborough, it’s a somber reminder of tragedies that happen, and that we need to love and hug our loved ones because you just never know what could happen.
When I’m sad, I rewatch Istanbul and feel a sense of power again. When I need a reminder of the power of hope, I watch CORNER TAKEN QUICKLY and I’m just in awe of the players for what they’ve accomplished.
I can’t speak to what it’s like supporting other teams, and I don’t think it’s really a big 6 versus the rest. I think it’s just whatever it means to you.