The other autograph thread got me thinking. I always chuckle to myself when the football fans talk about games & use the 'we played really poorly/well' guff as if they're part of the team - I know of no other sport where this happens (wishing the Mclaren guys all the best in Monaco BTW. We've all worked hard on the car since the last race).

Anyway, when you football fans ask a footballist for his autograph, do you give it the same old 'we' bks? I can just imagine this:

Fan: Can I have your autograph please?
Footballist: Sure....
Fan: We played really when in that last game.
Footballist: What?
Fan: We played really well in that last game....
Footballist: fk off.....

There. It's got a title now.

I'd say that more in football than in most sports the crowd play a big part in how the team perform. I suppose waving a flag at McLaren when they come past might have a stimulating effect.
In addition, many football clubs are, or have been, funded by fans initiatives. The purchase of Grant Holt by Norwich, for example, and it can't be denied that he had a big effect on their performances since his arrival.

I read somewhere that it is important to say things like "We was robbed" to truly be a fan. Of course, you can't support a good team as people will accuse you of glory hunting so the above phrase can be used freely.

As for football fans being part of the team, I would say that they're more the team than the players are. I was watching the John Terry/Chelsea bus footage and started thinking, "Drogba... he's not from Chelsea, is he? Why does he care that much that Chelsea have won? Surely, as long as he scores goals to satisfy his contract, that's all he cares about?" And maybe 1% of professional footballers are indeed from the town they play for so why indeed do any of them give a st beyond their salary? Hence, the fans are the team and are justifiably emotional more so than the players for 99% of cases!