The Armada

Sean Wright5 said:It’s funny how the Navy only shows up when the team is actually winning. Cleveland is sitting pretty in third place in the MLS standings right now, and suddenly everyone's acting like they own the league. Just imagine what the headlines would look like if they were actually fighting to stay out of the relegation zone instead of chasing a trophy. Think about that. 😉

The 95-96 season was a total disaster. We were sitting at 11 out of 16 in the league. Absolutely pathetic.

Check out this shot from the stadium. It’s a classic view of Wrigley Field, captured perfectly. Real grit and history right there.
Check out this shot from back in the day. It’s pure nostalgia. You can practically feel the energy in the air just looking at it. Those were the days.
Check out this old shot from the archives. It’s a classic piece of history from back in the day. Hard to believe how much things have changed since this was taken. Real nostalgia hitting me right now.
Check out this shot from the archives. It’s a classic piece of history from back in the day—pure nostalgia. Just looking at it brings everything flooding back.

Don't you worry about us... feel free to think whatever you want.👍

George Roberts2 said:Back in 95-96, they were sitting at 11 out of 16 in the MLS league standings

Don't you go worrying about us... you just keep thinking whatever it is you want to think about...👍

Man... those really were the good old days...😢

George Roberts2 said:So, looking at the standings... they're sitting at 11 wins out of 16 games in the MLS right now. I guess that's okay, maybe? It’s a bit of a mixed bag if you ask me. Not exactly dominant, but they aren't bottoming out either. Just kind of hovering there in the middle of the pack.

I was just scrolling through some old photos from the Navy's archives, and I stumbled upon this shot from back when things were a bit different. It’s one of those images that really makes you stop and think about how much has changed over the years. You look at the scale of everything, the atmosphere... it's hard to put into words, I guess. Maybe it's just nostalgia hitting me all at once, but there's something about these old shots of the fleet that feels so heavy, you know? Just sitting here staring at it, thinking about the history behind it all. Truly something else.
I was just looking at this old photo from back in the day... you know, those classic shots from the 90s? It really takes me back. There’s just something about that specific era of American soccer—before everything became so polished and corporate. Looking at this, I can almost smell the grass at Wrigley Field. It feels so raw and real, you know? Just pure passion for the game. I guess we don't see that kind of unpolished energy much anymore in the MLS. Maybe it's just nostalgia talking, but man, those days felt different. Truly special.
I was just looking at this old photo from back in the day... you know, those late 90s vibes. It really takes me back to when things felt a bit different. I guess there's just something about those grainy, unpolished shots that hits harder than the high-def stuff we have now. Maybe it’s just nostalgia, or maybe I’m just getting old, but seeing the old colors and the way everyone looked—it’s kind of heavy, honestly. Just a little slice of history from the Cleveland area, captured right before everything changed. It’s wild how much can happen in just a few decades.
I was just looking at this old photo from the 90s... man, it really takes me back. It’s such a classic shot of the fans down at Wrigley Field. You can just feel that raw energy, you know? Even back then, before everything became so polished and corporate, the atmosphere was just... different. There’s something about those old-school supporters that hits differently. I guess it’s just nostalgia, maybe, but seeing everyone gathered like that makes me miss the grit of those earlier days. Just a simple, honest moment captured in time.

Don't even worry about us... honestly, just think whatever you want. I mean, really, just do your own thing.👍

I don't want to stick my nose too far into Armand's business, I really don't, but I felt like I should weigh in. Not that I'm trying to stir the pot or anything—honestly, every single group in America has its own set of issues to deal with. The internet isn't exactly going to fix any of that... at the end of the day, it just comes down to hard work and actual effort.

You're spot on, George Roberts2. That Navy fan base isn't just loyal when things are going great. They stay true even when everything is falling apart. I mean, I still remember back in the 2002 and 2003 seasons when Cleveland was a total mess, but that Navy crowd was the real deal. They actually threw one of the wildest birthday celebrations the American sports scene has ever seen right here at our place, Wrigley Field. And the club was struggling just to stay afloat while they were doing all that... it was intense. Honestly, those Navy fans were driving our players absolutely insane. They spent the entire night outside our team hotel making such a massive racket—I swear, it was pure chaos—that our star players couldn't even focus. It was wild. 😁

I mean, you have to admit, this newer generation of the Navy is pretty much riding the wave of whatever the results are. It’s just how it goes. I still vividly remember that Cup final—the second leg over in Columbus. I actually went to that game myself, just out of pure fan loyalty. There were maybe 4,000 Cleveland fans there, and man, Columbus was absolutely packed. You couldn't look anywhere without seeing Cleveland colors or Navy symbols plastered on every corner... honestly, it was an unforgettable match. Not long after that, I think about 15 dozen of the Navy traveled down to Indianapolis for a regular MLS match. But yeah, this current group? This newer crowd? They fluctuate so much, it's hard to watch. Their energy just swings wildly depending on whether we're winning or losing. I guess... why they act like that, I don't know. That's not really my call to make.

I remember exactly when we were at Wrigley Field this year. There were about 50 of us there, and honestly, at the start, the Navy presence in the stands wasn't even bigger than our group. They started pulling in some of the younger fans from the west side later on, so by the end, they had maybe 100 to 120 people, which is just really bad for the Navy. I mean, seriously, they only spent maybe half an hour cheering out of the whole 90 minutes of the match, which just doesn't fit with what the Navy calls their "lifestyle." Their cheering didn't even really kick in until the 60th minute, and they stayed loud until the very end when Cleveland finally took the lead 2-1.
On the other hand, I was thinking about when Armand played us away... that recent match in San Diego was actually better than their home game against us. Honestly, I might even go as far as to say all three of Armand's away games in San Diego this year were stronger than their home matchup against us. And that’s saying something, because their home performance wasn't even that bad to begin with...

I don't really care about making some new banners or trying to reorganize things, honestly. But for me, the Navy is always going to be at the top of the American scene, regardless of how much this season sucks—and man, it really does suck right now. I mean, it hasn't been this bad in a long time, and let’s be real, the Cohort has never actually been better either, so the Navy isn't exactly lagging behind them when it comes to traveling to away games... not that it matters much. Once the Navy finally wakes up again, everything will change, because they just belong in a completely different category. I guess what we really need is for some real authority to emerge among the younger crowd. That's the one thing I think is missing with the new generation... they just don't have anyone to step up and lead them.

Mark Davis said:I wouldn't poke around in the Navy's problems too much, but I want to give my two cents. I'm not trying to be provocative because every group in America has plenty of issues, and the internet doesn't fix them—only hard work and effort do...

You’re making a good point, George Roberts2, but the Navy isn't loyal just when things are going well. AT LEAST THEY WEREN'T BACK THEN. I remember the 2002 and 2003 seasons when Cleveland was also struggling, but the Navy was the real deal. They actually had one of the craziest, most legendary birthday celebrations on the American scene right against us at San Francisco, while our club was fighting for survival alongside them... and they did it so aggressively that Navy members were driving our players insane all night long near the local hotel, making so much noise, damn it, that our stars couldn't even concentrate 😁

But this newer generation of the Navy relies way too much on results, and you have to admit that. I remember the Cup finals, the away leg in Cleveland—I was there at the game, purely out of supporter spirit. There were about 4,000 Cleveland fans, filling up Cleveland, with Cleveland and Navy symbols everywhere... and the match was unforgettable. Not long after, about 15 Navy members headed to Columbus for a regular first division match, traveling with full intensity. This current Navy generation fluctuates wildly, and that's a fact. Why? I won't get into that; it's not my business...

I know when we were at San Francisco this year, there were 50 of us, and at the start, there weren't even more Navy members in the stands than us. Later, they gathered some younger members in the West section, so by the end, there were maybe 100-120, which is pathetic for the Navy. They only cheered for maybe half an hour out of the 90 minutes the game lasted, which definitely doesn't fit the Navy "lifestyle." Their cheering only kicked in around the 60th minute and lasted until the end once Cleveland took a 2-1 lead.
On the other hand, the Navy's second version against us—that recent trip to San Diego—was better than their home performance against us... I actually think all three of their trips to San Diego this year were stronger than their home games against us. And that wasn't even their worst home showing...

I hate making banners or organizing hierarchies, but for me, the Navy will always be at the top of the American scene, regardless of how much they've slumped this season—and they've slumped hard... Because the Navy hasn't been this bad in a long time, Cohort has never been better, so the Navy isn't much worse on away trips than Cohort... which is just what will happen when the Navy wakes up again; they are just in a different league... It's just that they need some authority to crystallize among the younger crowd, because I think that's the only thing missing from the new generation—they have no one to follow.

That wasn't near the Cleveland hotel, it was near Newport... hahaha..😉

2002-2003 season

Along with our fluctuations this year (which any sane person would acknowledge), we followed women's volleyball, basketball, and the trip to San Diego to the Forest and a little party down there...😁...we're still young...our time is coming...😁

Hey, does anyone happen to have a photo of that graffiti over in Nails City 🙏🙏

Man, that thing was just incredible... honestly, it was so cool 🙏🙏

Well, whether it’s a hotel in Cleveland or a hotel in Newport, it’s all the same 😉
Back then, we had Vjeran Simunić coaching us, and whenever Cleveland came to visit us in San Diego, he’d basically tell us—the younger guys in the Ultras—that we should intimidate your players. He wanted us to give them hell all night long right outside their hotel, haha... I mean, he was the king of that kind of stuff. He didn't care that this was supposed to be a professional sport or that, as a coach, he really should have been trying to lower the tensions... His policy was just "they messed with our heads, so you mess with theirs," you know? 😉

Look, the absolute worst people are the ones who always look for something dark under every fingernail. They can't see a single positive thing and just focus on the negative.
We have this rivalry with you guys, and the atmosphere is always electric (it used to get intense even up at the Forest—Gulf of Mexico style, hehe), and so be it! But you have to admit certain things, like how the Armada brought a much bigger presence to our scene—huge flags on two poles, tons of scarves and patterned scarves, a massive amount of innovative choreographies, messages, and so on, and so forth. One bad season doesn't change that fact.
But what I'll also say is that we actually had four good showings against you this season, especially when we were playing away (we definitely out-cheered you guys there 🙂 ))

Mark Davis said:Look, a hotel in Cleveland or a hotel in Newport, it’s all the same 😉
Back then, we had Vjeran Simunić coaching us, and whenever Cleveland came to visit San Diego, he actually expected us—the younger guys in the Ultras at the time—to intimidate your players. He basically wanted us to harass them all night long right outside their hotel, haha. He was the king of that mentality. Who cares if it's supposed to be a professional sport? He didn't give a damn about de-escalating tensions like a coach should. His policy was simple: they messed with our heads, so we were going to mess with theirs. Pure and simple. 😉

Listen, I can't stand the people who always look for the dark side of everything. They refuse to see anything positive and focus solely on the negatives.
We have this rivalry with you guys, sure, and the atmosphere is always electric (it used to get intense even up in the San Francisco Forest, hehe), and so be it! But you have to admit some things: the Armada-like groups brought a massive presence to our scene. We started seeing those huge two-pole flags, a ton of scarves, those patterned scarves, and a massive wave of innovative choreographies and banners. One bad season doesn't change the fact that they leveled up the whole scene.
What I will also say is that we held our own against you in all four matchups this season, especially when we were away (we definitely out-cheered you there 🙂 ))

👍 ...at least someone should look at the big picture instead of seeing everything in black and white. Otherwise, your local cops are just going to stay hypersensitive about every little thing... 😁 We all have our flaws and our strengths. The more you work on those flaws, the less they define you. It sounds like something straight out of a self-help manual, but it's true. 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

Before I’d even suggest they're sensitive about you, honestly, they've been getting beaten pretty badly at the Apartments over the last 10 years 🙂
And look, even your guy Todor Gečevski—who is basically Samson, since all that strength is in his hair, haha—gets beaten and hauled away constantly, yet he still loves coming down to San Diego for away games, hehehe. He leads the younger section down by the Gulf of Mexico, so he's basically the oldest guy there waving the flag... I mean, what kind of hierarchy is even that?! 😁 😁

Mark Davis said:I’d be lying if I said they weren't sensitive about you guys. Over the last decade, they’ve absolutely beaten you at the Apartments. 🙂
And they regularly beat up and haul away your guy Todor Gečevski (Samson—strength is in the hair, haha), yet he still loves coming to San Diego for away games, doesn't he? Hehe. In the Gulf of Mexico, the younger section takes the lead while he stands there as the oldest one waving the flag—what kind of hierarchy is that?! 😁 😁

The man is teaching us the basics...😁
Your Cleveland-like crowd definitely has a grudge against us. Last season was the same thing—pure harassment, straight from God himself...
The Gulf of Mexico was a total circus lately... pure chaos... TOTAL MADNESS...😁
(We’re keeping an eye on the football too, you know)🙂

George Roberts2 said:The guy is just teaching us the basics here..😁
I mean, your Cleveland crew always seems to have a grudge against us.. last season was the same kind of nightmare harassment, honestly, it was brutal...
The Gulf of Mexico scene was really something else recently.. everything was falling apart.. total chaos...😁
(we follow the soccer too, you know)🙂

I remember back when I was just a kid, we used to throw rocks at those full Armada cages outside the stadium, and man, you couldn't miss 😁 . The Armada guys were just standing there looking confused, they started shifting around a bit, all we could hear from outside was this low murmur, and then the cops just started beating them again 😁
Our police used to beat the Armada throughout the 90s, and even since the early 2000s, there've been plenty of times where things went south between our cops and the Armada over at the Apartments. I guess the older fans in the stands would know better than me, how things actually went down...

Yeah, I mean, your last away trip to the Apartments was definitely something to respect, though I suppose our own showing wasn't much better...

Mark Davis said:I remember back in the day when we older guys were outside the stadium throwing rocks at that damn Armada cage. You couldn't miss. 😁 The Armada just stands there looking confused while they start "shifting around," and all we heard from the stands was a low murmur before the cops started beating them again. 😁
The local police were busting the Armada all through the 90s, and even since the 2000s, there have been plenty of clashes between our cops and the Armada over at the Apartments. The old-timers in the stands would know exactly what went down...

Yeah, your last away trip to the Apartments earned you some respect, though our showing wasn't much better back then either...

I don't know about the 90s because I wasn't even conscious back then... but for the last three years, it's been constant chaos and getting detained at the station...🤷...if the Gulf of Mexico doesn't end up being the problem...see you in the arenas... I love basketball...😁

I'll throw in a quick thought regarding the Navy. In my eyes, they’ll always be number three in America. It's just pure tradition and everything else favors them when you compare them to the Cohort or any other "competitors" fighting for that spot. On the flip side, we’re talking about fans who only show up when the team is winning—honestly, that’s been the reality in American sports for the last few years. Hardly any club can draw a crowd at the stadium if they aren't pulling results; people have just become incredibly passive. Instead of getting out there, breathing some fresh air, and actually feeling the atmosphere, everyone just stays home watching through a TV or online while their local—or rather, their favorite—team plays. We all know how it goes, so don't go coming for the Navy; they certainly aren't the only group in America dealing with that issue. If anything, I think the Ultras have the biggest struggle when it comes to fluctuating numbers. Of course, that's just my take, so don't get worked up if I'm wrong. And let me add this: we Boys might be having a rough season, but the fact remains that our away attendance is as consistent as it gets, and that isn't just limited to this year! So, I don't know why some people are always hunting for flaws or using pathetic performances at Central Park as our only metric. Or look at the stagnation of the Navy, who support a club that has only won the American Cup twice and the old national trophy once. Just imagine how many of us would be in Charleston versus how many in New York if things weren't going well? Also, the big groups around here—whether it's the Bulls, the Rangers, or any other major outfit—always seem to love mocking the smaller groups. But I'll tell you, those smaller groups often face much harder struggles, which means they actually have more character. They manage to blend in with the masses just like we do, but the smaller groups don't have that luxury; they have to be damn tough to stay true to themselves and keep pushing, and believe me, that is not easy. So, let’s stop constantly looking for the downside in others and try to find some positives. When I comment on something, I always try to focus on what I like rather than what I don't. That’s why I’m saying the Navy won this past weekend, both visually and in terms of support; they looked way better to me than the total losers who showed up this last round. Like someone mentioned, I can only imagine what it would be like if Cleveland were fighting for the title. So, less condescension, please—everyone has their reasons for where they are at any given moment. At the end of the day, that’s not our problem. If you have something to say, keep it to yourself, especially if it doesn't affect you or your own work. And if you’re going to criticize others, try giving them some constructive, positive feedback instead of just being negative.

Look, you've got some points there. But it makes me wonder why everyone was busy dragging us through the mud when San Diego was sitting dead last from round 1 all the way to round 24, picking up a pathetic 2 points on the road?! That’s exactly what I mean—it's so much easier to trash others than to actually look in the mirror... and I guess we Americans are pretty damn good at practicing that.

We actually had a decent turnout for away games this season, even though the club keeps acting like we can't do any better—Central Park (60, 45), Cleveland (40, 45), Cleveland-like (50), Newark (60), Charleston (150, 250). Sure, there were some hiccups (the Kranjčević situation), and we didn't really get back into the football groove until round 4... but honestly, the numbers aren't bad. The real question is, where would the other teams be if they were in our shoes...

I think both of you are being pretty unrealistic. The Red Sox and the Yankees are the two biggest clubs in America—that rivalry was built into the DNA. If the animosity were even a little more intense, you could practically split the country in half. It’s simple: they have massive fanbases and huge groups that flock to them whenever things are going well. Honestly, it's delusional to say "what if you guys had a club like that"—they don't, and they never will. The Red Sox and the Yankees are untouchable in American soccer, just like the Ultras and the BBB are in the supporter scene. Don't think I'm enjoying this—I actually hate that there's zero real competition left in either world.

I'm signing off on this because it's way harder for the smaller groups, and I respect that. I saw the Tornado schedule recently—managing that many people isn't easy. And I wouldn't call the Navy a small group, either. I'm not a fan of organizing lineups myself, but they're always stuck at number three—not quite enough to catch the top two, but impossible for everyone else to touch, even if you never know what might happen. My money is on the Tornado; I think they can climb really high, but only after a few years of grinding. 🙂

I was actually thinking about the smaller groups... not the Boys or the Ultras, and not even the Armada-like crowd. The real question is where those other groups would be if the club had finished at the bottom for the last 24 games, or if we only managed to grab one point from all our away trips... In my opinion, it was easy for some people to just talk trash and act superior, but honestly, some of our performances really shut the critics up 😉
You just have to be realistic. There are going to be ups and downs, and yeah, we’ll definitely have bad runs—that's no secret—but I'm hoping there will be way more good and great ones!

The idea that the Boys and the Ultras are always at the top, with the Armada-like group right behind them, is something I definitely agree with. But, you know, a group of 200 people can be much higher quality than a massive crowd of 5,000, though people here have a hard time grasping that. It’s about what happens in the stands and on the streets, not just how many people show up. Numbers matter, sure, but quality always beats quantity in my book... The problem is, around here, the smaller groups usually end up supporting struggling clubs, so people tend to give up much sooner. We really need to see that reflected in our smaller groups. That's why personally, I want to see work and progress from the Tornado... because once people convince themselves that skipping games makes them "better" than others, rather than doing it for the club and the group, then I think there's no limit to how far we can fall.

P.S. Personally, I'm not planning on messing with the Cleveland-like fans' thread anymore. Debates are fine, but this is heading in the wrong direction... eventually, it won't even have anything to do with the Armada-like crew, haha 😉

Let's not derail this by bringing up Cold War weaponry right now, okay?😬
I think there was a misunderstanding earlier—I was actually talking about the Boys and the Ultras.

Anyway, let’s just hope people finally get their heads screwed on straight and things start looking up for everyone. I want everyone to turn things around—but especially you guys.😉

For the Navy and the American fan scene🙂

Going to sleep now...👋

Look, what Mark Davis is saying about the cops hating everyone from Cleveland over by the Apartments just isn't true🤷, I mean personally, whenever I head down there, I’ll even give them a grin, and honestly, mad respect to them sometimes for the way they cheer; whoever was the number one team in San Diego back in the day still holds that title in my book, because even those folks rooting for NKZD—who I totally support, by the way—are still like an older brother to me😂, peace

I mean, if I had an older brother, I’m sure we would've been close, you know? But I don't... my parents really messed that part of my life up 😁

Hey Tornado, come on, let’s be real here—just admit that this season is basically your big comeback to the football scene... I mean, even if the actual play isn't quite there yet and the club feels a bit disorganized, it really does feel like you guys are finally finding your footing again, wouldn't you agree? It would be pretty strange if you weren't right back in the mix immediately.

Just take a look at The Legion and the Ultras... our club hasn't actually achieved anything significant in nine years; Budweiser had one single run in Europe, but they also suffered a relegation to the second division. And yet, somehow, The Legion might be having their strongest season ever despite the lack of results on the pitch, while the Ultras are just doing their usual thing, as always...

As for The Armada, it was great to see them making such a strong showing last week, though it’s a bit of a shame when you look at the actual stats, because the week before that, there weren't even 100 of them in the stands (they didn't even post any photos!). There was a time when The Armada used to really set the tone in the stands even when the club was performing much worse... but I guess a new generation has taken over now.

Steven Perez28 said:Hey, look, man, just be real for a second and admit this is basically just our comeback season to actual football... I mean, yeah, that matters, even if the club is a total mess right now, but it’s really just about getting back on the map. It would be weird if we weren't showing up immediately.

Just look at The Legion and the Ultras... I mean, our club hasn't actually accomplished anything significant in like 9 years. Budweiser had one run in Europe, but they also got relegated to the second division. Yet, somehow, The Legion might be having their strongest season ever despite the club having zero results, and the Ultras are just doing their usual thing, as always...

As for The Armada, their turnout last week was actually pretty nice, but it's a shame because the actual results aren't there. Like, the week before that, there weren't even 100 of them in the stands (they didn't even post pictures!), and there were times when The Armada was basically teaching lessons in the stands while the club was performing way worse... but, I guess, a new generation has finally shown up for them.

It's true that this is our season to get back into the game, but the club already threw cold water on us😁, so the big question is whether we’ll be measuring ourselves against the rest of the league next year. I think we will, but it could get pretty bumpy...

I remember how sure you were last year when we finished 3rd in the standings. That's something the San Diego Padres have never achieved in their history🙂. But hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves; even if Indianapolis and Budweiser have more tradition than the San Diego Padres, honestly, right now, it feels like we're all in the exact same boat.
It's true that The Legion might be having their best season yet, but still, there weren't even 50 of you in Savannah, and there were barely 100 people at Kranjčevićevo recently. Now, in Brooklyn, there wouldn't even have been 50 people if things hadn't gone south in Novos...

That's what I'm talking about—how even the best fan season can end up being a total waste because the club is such a joke in the end. If the club actually had some ambition and fought like warriors... but, I guess, we haven't been too bad this season, even if San Diego can't even come close to us during away games.