BOF Posted August 12, 2013 Moderator Share Posted August 12, 2013 Ahh Well let's hope they come up too then 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted August 13, 2013 Moderator Share Posted August 13, 2013 Oh well 2-1 loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 In the end it was all too much for Tobias Levels. The Fortuna Düsseldorf defender had been mercilessly whistled by his own fans for the last 15 minutes of the home game against 1860 Munich and, as he sat on the substitutes bench after the final whistle, he started to cry. A proud man and a good professional, he had been reduced to an emotional wreck by his own supporters. His crime? A mistake in the 75th minute that had led to the visitors taking the lead. It has happened before, of course, with Ashley Cole being targeted by England fans at Wembley and Emmanuel Eboué feeling the wrath of Arsenal supporters against Wigan in 2008. The latter was reportedly in tears in the dressing room afterwards, the poisonous atmosphere and the cheering when he was substituted – having come on as a substitute himself in the 32nd minute – finally breaking him. Cole said recently that he managed to block out the jeers but noted that football had become a crueller place since he made his debut for Arsenal in 2000. "I'd say it's changed from when I first started out as a player but what can you do? There are more opinions in football today," he toldGreen Soccer Journal this summer. The world, in fact, seems an angrier place than it did 10 years ago. Social media – and comments on websites – appears to have opened up a whole new avenue for people to vent their bile. Anonymity is a great enabler when it comes to abusing someone and in football stadiums supporters can often feel anonymous because of the masses that surround them at games. And that is what happened on Friday night when Levels was targeted by the Fortuna Düsseldorf fans. There were more than 34,000 people at the Esprit-Arena, the majority of them already incensed by a mistake by the defender had made against fourth-division side Wiedenbrück in the German Cup the week before. The main problem for Levels, however, is probably his background. He has never been properly accepted by the Fortuna faithful because of his past with local rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach. He joined Gladbach as a 13-year-old and made his first-team debut six years later. He was soon made captain of the team he had supported all his life and once said "my heart is the shape of a diamond", referring to Borussia Mönchengladbach's badge. When asked whether he could join another local rival, FC Cologne, he said: "No. I am too much Gladbacher." Sadly for Levels, the love affair was ended – by Mönchengladbach. In 2011 he had no option but to leave his first club and, later that summer, he joined Fortuna Düsseldorf. Fortuna are not in the same league as Gladbach – they play in the second Bundesliga – but Levels did not help himself with honest but perhaps not well thought-through comments a few months into his Fortuna career. "I have already given my heart to one club and was bitterly let down. I am not making that mistake again. That, in turn, led to the Fortuna fans not taking the player to their hearts. Understandable, perhaps, but there is a long way to go from there to the abuse the player received online after his cup mistake and in the stadium after his error led to 1860 Munich's winner. If it had been any other player, the abuse would not have been as vile. "It is a witch-hunt and it has to stop," said the Fortuna manager, Mike Büskens. The club's sporting director, Wolf Werner, added: "No one deserves to be treated like that by their own people." Levels himself did not say much. "It hurts, of course it does. But I will grow from it," was all he offered. And perhaps he will become a stronger person and a better player because of the ordeal. In fact, he may even become a fans' favourite. For, on Friday night, after the shouts of "Levels raus" [Levels out] and the tears, something extraordinary happened. As Fortuna's hardcore fans realised that the defender had broken down in tears, they started to chant his name. At first Levels did not move but then he slowly made his way towards the far side, where the supporters were singing his name. At first he did not dare to look up but in the end he offered a wave to those who were supporting him and even tapped the club badge. From loathing to love in 60 seconds. Levels will never forget that night and neither will anyone else who was there. Hopefully, though, the incident will remind a few people that they are not just abusing a footballer when they throw their bile from the stands, but a human being as well. horrible from any fans to do http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/13/tears-defender-fortuna-dusseldorf-fans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted August 13, 2013 Moderator Share Posted August 13, 2013 I read that earlier. To be honest I don't think we can go too hard on fans for having a moan. Players get that kind of stick all the time. Just because one player can't handle it doesn't make the chanting any worse. I'm sorry but 'shit happens'. The fact they appear to have found some common ground at the end hopefully means this story has a happy ending too. Stranger things have happened but I'm not going to go suggesting banning negative chants (which is what I see articles like this as having an agenda for) because someone is too sensitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 yeah but booing your own players is just too far, surely some sensible fans should have stopped them. same way i didnt aree with when Warnock got booed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted August 13, 2013 Moderator Share Posted August 13, 2013 yeah but booing your own players is just too far, surely some sensible fans should have stopped them. same way i didnt aree with when Warnock got booed Booing your own players isn't too far. You're perfectly entitled to boo your own players if you want to. I never have but I can see why people do. I'm not going to go OTT by criticising the fans here just because this fella balled his eyes out. His reaction doesn't change the fact that all they did was have a moan. People are losing perspective here because of his reaction. Nothing else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LockStockVilla Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 (edited) Very excited to see John Brooks, the Hertha CB, hopefully make his US MNT debut this evening. Haven't seen too much of him tbh, but from what I have read he is a very composed defender with excellent skills on the ball, so should be interesting. Scored on his Bundesliga debut this past weekend as well. Edited August 14, 2013 by LockStockVilla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFC_Hitz Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Dortmund knocking on the door here. Half time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Got a bet on Dortmund, need a win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoelVilla Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Oversea fan of Villa since 1982...do think that the absurdity of prices will bring me closer and closer to following the bundesliga...it can be done, following Villa with illegal streams and Bundesliga on free TV... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troglodyte Posted August 23, 2013 Author VT Supporter Share Posted August 23, 2013 Should really be more than one up, here. 24 shots on goal for BVB so far. Hopefully they'll tuck another away sooner rather than later, but they are looking good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFC_Hitz Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Hat-trick hero coming on now. Quite odd to rest him after the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troglodyte Posted August 23, 2013 Author VT Supporter Share Posted August 23, 2013 Decent result. Totally in control throughout the game, but it would have been nice to tuck at least one of the other chances away to allow for some breathing space. Convincing performance nonetheless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Thank god, bet is still on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leviramsey Posted August 23, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted August 23, 2013 Winner, winner chicken dinner! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted August 26, 2013 Moderator Share Posted August 26, 2013 FOUR **** NIL ???? That's a setback I didn't see coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted August 26, 2013 Moderator Share Posted August 26, 2013 Only 1 team in the top half of the 2.Bundesliga won this week (Erzgebirge Aue) and that meant they climbed 7 places into 2nd. So I suppose if you're going to lose 4-0 you may aswell do it in a week where none of your rivals capitalise on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFC_Hitz Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Results from the weekend. Decent away draw for Union Berlin. Meanwhile Hertha are marching on...won't last long though, hopefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted August 30, 2013 Moderator Share Posted August 30, 2013 We've sacked our manager. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFC_Hitz Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Schalke have signed Kevin Prince Boateng. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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