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[Football] Union Saint-Gilloise



Bakero

Languidly clinical
Oct 9, 2010
14,883
Almería
Very impressive. Reminds me of Antonia Big strong and good ball control.
Surprised how few people there so looked up Belgian crowds. Surprised how low they are. Side played today averages under 3k and only 3 sides above 12k. This of course includes Bruge and they only get 20k with a 30k capacity stadium. No wonder they sell best players to PL

Who the hell is Antonia Big?
 




Rodney Thomas

Well-known member
May 2, 2012
1,595
Ελλάδα
The quality is just fine considering the size of the country, but in Belgium they are also quite worried about the development in attendances, the average has dropped with several thousands in the post-covid era and is poor right now despite that the cold winter hasn't come yet.

Meanwhile their amateur leagues are flourishing, lots more attending before. Think this comment from a Belgian guy sums it up:

I'd rather look in the lower ranges. It is always at 3 pm. You don't have to transfer all your details to the club for a ticket to see a match. They just let you in after you pay. There you can drink beer at any time, before-during-after the match. A pint is less expensive. Depending on where it is, they even bring the beer. You can pay how you want, you don't have to put credit on a card that is only valid in the stadium. You can smoke. At an away match you can just drive there to have a look instead of having to work with that combination arrangement. The level is lower, but the matches are often more interesting because they are less closed. You'll be back home sooner and have the whole evening free for something else. And VAR does not annoy the shit out of you. For me, watching live football is about the fun and not necessarily that it is first class level.

Interesting. I used to watch Union play when I lived in Brussels about 5 years ago and it was the same as what is quoted above (although no one in Belgium ever orders a pint)
 
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GT49er

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Feb 1, 2009
49,181
Gloucester
The quality is just fine considering the size of the country, but in Belgium they are also quite worried about the development in attendances, the average has dropped with several thousands in the post-covid era and is poor right now despite that the cold winter hasn't come yet.

Meanwhile their amateur leagues are flourishing, lots more attending before. Think this comment from a Belgian guy sums it up:

I'd rather look in the lower ranges. It is always at 3 pm. You don't have to transfer all your details to the club for a ticket to see a match. They just let you in after you pay. There you can drink beer at any time, before-during-after the match. A pint is less expensive. Depending on where it is, they even bring the beer. You can pay how you want, you don't have to put credit on a card that is only valid in the stadium. You can smoke. At an away match you can just drive there to have a look instead of having to work with that combination arrangement. The level is lower, but the matches are often more interesting because they are less closed. You'll be back home sooner and have the whole evening free for something else. And VAR does not annoy the shit out of you. For me, watching live football is about the fun and not necessarily that it is first class level.

So do the top Belgian clubs put fans through the same fuss and fandangle to get in and watch football as PL clubs do? Seems a very strange and unnecessary with the small crowds they're getting.

Or perhaps that's the reason why their gates are dropping ............
 




Slum_Wolf

Well-known member
May 3, 2021
767
Very impressive. Reminds me of Antonia Big strong and good ball control.
Surprised how few people there so looked up Belgian crowds. Surprised how low they are. Side played today averages under 3k and only 3 sides above 12k. This of course includes Bruge and they only get 20k with a 30k capacity stadium. No wonder they sell best players to PL

Eupen is about the same size as Lewes and the team is bankrolled by Qatar...the fossil fuel equivalent of Forest Green Rovers.
 






Sid and the Sharknados

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 4, 2022
5,695
Darlington
Meanwhile their amateur leagues are flourishing, lots more attending before. Think this comment from a Belgian guy sums it up:

I'd rather look in the lower ranges. It is always at 3 pm. You don't have to transfer all your details to the club for a ticket to see a match. They just let you in after you pay. There you can drink beer at any time, before-during-after the match. A pint is less expensive. Depending on where it is, they even bring the beer. You can pay how you want, you don't have to put credit on a card that is only valid in the stadium. You can smoke. At an away match you can just drive there to have a look instead of having to work with that combination arrangement. The level is lower, but the matches are often more interesting because they are less closed. You'll be back home sooner and have the whole evening free for something else. And VAR does not annoy the shit out of you. For me, watching live football is about the fun and not necessarily that it is first class level.

Genuine (if pointless) question, do they sell beer by the pint in Belgium?
 






Sid and the Sharknados

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 4, 2022
5,695
Darlington
I don't think so. Probably Google Translate playing around.

I have so many questions about how you came by that quote. Like, where it comes from, what language it was written in, what language you read it in, what random Belgian guy wrote it. The modern world's amazing.

My experience of ordering beer in Europe after having had a few is that asking for a pint gets roughly what I was after anyway.
 


Swansman

Pro-peace
May 13, 2019
22,320
Sweden






Swansman

Pro-peace
May 13, 2019
22,320
Sweden
The original Dutch is "Een pint is minder duur", which I'm guessing would translate more literally as "a pint is less dear". But the word pint is in the original comment.

minder = less
duur = expensive

I know a "pintje" is a glass of beer in the Netherlands, not quite sure why he used "pint" - might be some Belgian thing.
 


Slum_Wolf

Well-known member
May 3, 2021
767
Union won 3-0 today away at Leuven (home ground for Union's European games), lovely cross by Adingra for the 3rd finished by Dante Vanzeir. 4th after 10 games. Next game away to Braga on Thursday.
 






Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,103
Faversham


Slum_Wolf

Well-known member
May 3, 2021
767
A well deserved 93rd minute winner for Union. Lovely little flick by Adingra to set up Nilsson for Union's 86th minute equalizer and the assist again for Nilsson for the winner, but a somewhat less refined touch...
 


amexer

Well-known member
Aug 8, 2011
6,832
Greeat win 3 wins and top of group. Outstanding pass by Adingra for assist Well worth looking at
 


dstanman

Well-known member
Jul 1, 2011
1,481
A good come back from USG being 1-0 down to score the winner at 90 + 4 minutes. Reminded me of the late goals from the Albion last season
 




hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
62,759
Chandlers Ford
The guy who scored both goals (Gustav Nilsson) came on in the 83rd minute, and his goals were his only two touches on the game!
 




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