Dissapointing if this catches on. Will change the game as we know it. I understand why people will want to use it, I hope as a one off, but the players need supportive fans in the stadium.
To be clear not getting at anyone who is going down this route, just asking people to consider the wider implications.
I mentioned this a couple of seasons ago just after we had played at Newport. On that day due to traffic congestion it took nearly 3 and a half hours for us to get there. We arrived at the ground at about 5 to 3 to find a large queue to get into the away end. We missed the first ten minutes. Once inside we squelched through mud to stand on an open terrace in the pouring rain. We actually had to stand in a puddle. At half time I tried to go to the toilet but due to the poor facilities and the large away support I couldn’t get near them so had to wait until the end of the game. It rained for the whole match, we were drenched through. Forty odd quid for two tickets plus fuel to get down there, probably about ninety pounds for the game plus about 6 hours in a car. We could have stayed at home that day and watched the game in the dry for £10.
I did use Ifollow for three away games last season that I couldn’t get to, Charlton, Gillingham and Southend, so I am being hypocritical here. The fact is that for me and my son, nothing beats being there at the game. I would much rather watch ”live”. But the facts about the Newport game above (okay, exceptional circumstances for this match, weather, traffic etc.) would mean that with a choice of expensive and time consuming travel, or cheap and comfortable Ifollow, an increasing number of people will choose the latter. Given hindsight would I have preferred to watch the Newport game in Newport or on Ifollow? I would still have chosen to be there despite, the expense, the soaking, our late arrival and being desperate for a wee for 45 minutes (Due in part to Max’s late equaliser). Some fans won’t feel that way.
Ifollow must be great for those overseas. To be able to watch your team every week when in the past you would rely on highlights to see how we are playing is fantastic. We watched the Wimbledon game on holiday in Croatia last year which was great for us too.