Don't Be The Show
Seattle Sounders 1 v CF Montreal 2
Major League Soccer
Wednesday 29 June 2022
Played at Lumen Field, Seattle
Seattle Sounders ground, Lumen Field is the 397th ground I've watched football on. Maybe, just maybe, I'll be back "soon". Because Seattle has very recently been announced as one of the grounds for the 2026 World Cup. (Although, they'll need a grass pitch by then, plastic tonight).
That's just my 7th ground tick in the U S of A. And, only my second MLS match. (The previous one was LA Galaxy in the Rose Bowl, twenty years ago).
While we're on the stats. My three beers in Lumen Field pushed my US beer ticks up to 78.
It's fair to say I have been a vociferous supporter of the emerging Ultra groups in English club football. Your Forza Garibaldi & your Holmesdale Fanatics. Partly, as a push back. A push back against the snarling, vein throbbing, faux hatred from 70 yards away, comedy rivalries that have been allowed to dominate English football.
If you "really" hate them, give him a fucking right hander. Don't make wanker signals at him from 70 yards!!!
The modern English Ultra support is FOR something, not AGAINST everything. Look. I'm steeped in English Terrace Culture. I get it. Drums & Loudhailers. Orchestration. It's not something we've normally done in England. I get that. And, when I voice my support for English club Ultra Groups, the usual response is "cringeworthy".
I understand that, I disagree, but understand. And, if you're from cosmopolitan Sarf Laaandon, in the middle of the Holmesdale Fanatics, it's joyous, not cringeworthy.
Which brings us to the Emerald City Supporters, the ECS, the Seattle Sounders Ultra Group. You may remember them from the "Fight … And Win" YouTube virals.
Frankly, from me, an unabashed fan of Ultra Culture, the ECS are getting it wrong. In my head, the drums, the orchestration are the minor, background tools that help generate the atmosphere. At Bramall Lane, we orchestrate. The first few bars of Annie's Song come out of the PA, the crowd immediately know that's their cue. The PA cuts out, and the crowd are Loud n Proud - A Cappella.
The drums, the song leader, they start the show. They are not the show. They start, they fade, and the crowd becomes the show.
The Seattle Sounders have fucked that. It is abundantly clear that the Capo(s) are the show. They want to be the show. It's all set up for them to be the show. They won't let anyone stop them being the show. They are the show. They've fucked it up.
(Capos are the in ground guys who conduct Ultra operations)
Is there a Capo hierarchy? Does the same guy do it every week? Dunno.
Tonight, there was one main Capo. Supported by five others. (That seems overkill). The main guy was right behind the goal, at the front. He has a guy way over on his right. And another on his left. Maybe fifteen rows back there are another three mirroring the front three. Yes, the classic 3-3 Capo formation. The supporting five have little single seat scaffolding podiums they climb on, backs to the game, facing their fellow supporters.
In the middle of that 3-3, there were two big drums. And I mean big fuck off drums. Think Ulster Loyalist Band drum, and add a bit more on. Big drums.
The front & centre Capo has a microphone, he's amped up. But, he won't shut up. This is him…
He warms up. Both vocally (lah lah lah). And physically (neck stretches and stretching his arms behind his back). FFS.
Mid song, he signals with his fingers (3-2-1) how many refrains are left in the chant. FFS.
He's got long hair, so he bends his head forward and twirls his hair in time to the chant. Double FFS.
He's fist pumping. He's bouncing. He's hands above his head clapping. The songs are too complicated by a yard n half. And to Capo it all off (boooom), he's tuneless. He's the show, that's anti-football. They could do so much better.
But, as it happens, I warmed to my sub-Capo out on the right. Black guy, shades, bucket Fred Perry hat. Gave the middle finger as the National Anthem played before adopting the Tommie Smith/Rhian Brewster fist salute. Got the attitude. Hope he gets the Big Job soon.
Incidentally, there was no interaction between players and Ultras at the end of the game. OK, they got beat, but no clapping of the team, nor acknowledgment of the fans. I found that a bit odd.
Impressions of the game, you ask? Slow and pump it forward hopeful. But, no diving and showboating for the ref. Honest in that respect. Poor defending at times. Wide forwards in oceans of space.
Great beer range of course. All served quickly and just take it back to your seat to watch The Capo Show - sorry, sorry, sorry - I mean watch the game.
Elysian Brewing Company (Seattle, although they're a sell out subsidiary of AB InBev now), Contact Haze, Hazy New England IPA from a Tin at 6%
The only "value range" beer on sale in the ground. We had to trail everywhere to find it. With concession stall after stall denying it's existence.
Stoup Brewing (Seattle), Mosaic Pale Ale on Keg at 5.3%
A lovely Mosaic bomb. Including Double Dry Hopping.
Seapine Brewing Company (Seattle), IPA from a Tin at 6.7%
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