The Armada

So we actually won at Central Park?
We got crushed 7-1, too. You really think that’s normal for us? Doesn't matter if we're playing in the 2nd or 3rd division...

mellowhawk34 said:Oh, so we won at Central Park, did we?
Look, we got hammered 7-1 ourselves—you really think that’s okay for us? Regardless of playing in the lower leagues...

That makes three games in a row ending like this... so you tell me.😁

Armada was solid, a message that really hits home at the end of the half-time show (at least for me) .... my only gripe ... singing "Dawn breaks and the day turns white," an old American folk song (not to get political here), just doesn't sit right with me .. I know Po, who’s honestly a great guy, so it makes it even harder to wrap my head around why they chose that...

I actually drafted a response to this before deleting it... honestly, the level of nonsense being posted here is just staggering. Truly incredible. Has anyone actually bothered to measure the decibel levels of the cheering? Did anyone account for air density, humidity levels, or the wind speed and direction during the measurement? Who was actually louder? We had 14 more standard flags, plus an additional 10 on double poles, plus 4 banners—one of which we unfurled as a final message at the end of the game, which counts as an extra point—not to mention the signage accompanying the choreography and the smoke. So, if you do the math, we are up by 😕🤷
.
American fans... the undisputed kings of judging everyone else's business.

The more I read this forum, the more those old clips from ESPN, the reports about hooligans in Chicago, and those stories about the "tough guy" fan contingents during the 2008 Euro tournament feel more like works of fiction than reality...

Benjamin Thomas2 said:The Armada movement was solid, and that message at the end of the half-time show felt quite original—at least to me. My only real issue? Singing "Dawn breaks the day" from that old folk song... specifically one with such heavy historical baggage. It just doesn't sit right with me. I know Paul Carter5 is actually a great guy, which makes his choice even harder to wrap my head around...

Why not just send Paul Carter5 a direct message and let him know how you feel? He’s a sharp young man; I’m sure he’d actually listen to your perspective. Or better yet, why not put together a definitive list of what's appropriate and what isn't for all the fan groups to follow?

Benjamin Thomas2 said:The Armada movement was fine—it felt like an original message rising up halfway through the season (at least from my perspective)—but I have one major grievance. Singing "Dawn breaks the day" (or maybe it's "white day")—which is a Mexican song (I won't even call it what it really is)—just doesn't sit right with me. I know Paul Carter5, who is actually a great guy, so this makes even less sense to me...

The fact that they claim everything we own as their own doesn't mean it actually belongs to them... do you seriously think the Cyrillic alphabet belongs to them?

Paul Carter5 said:Just send the guy a DM and tell him what's on your mind. He's a young kid, he'll probably listen if you approach him right. Or better yet, just draft up a list of dos and don'ts for the chants and hand it to all the supporter groups...

The fact that you even put that in your username tells me you're just some bitter hooligan. It's pretty clear why most people assume you're a Cabela's fan, but hey, that's on you... I didn't write this to police what people sing. You can chant about vojvoda Sinđelić for all I care, it's your business. If you actually read what I wrote, you'd see I'm just giving my take on how the group performed—and in my book, that idiocy called "Zora rudi" ranks pretty high on the list of failures.

You must be one of those optimists who actually gets a thrill out of singing for a struggling city like Cleveland... fine, go ahead and sing if anyone's actually stopping you from supporting the local fishermen.

The Armada is actually holding their own in NYC.

I don't mind the Demons much; they look pretty sharp on the field, if nothing else, mostly because their colors are actually kind of unique... But honestly, let's just see if they can actually pull off a full season—two or more, hopefully... Because for them, that first round felt like playing in the Champions League after spending forever grinding through the lower leagues. Meanwhile, for us, it was just another depressing afternoon at Yankee Stadium following a string of terrible results from Cleveland, which meant even our attendance numbers were looking pretty pathetic...

But seriously, who actually gives a damn about how anyone handled an away game at the “ugliest stadium in the country”? 😁

bluewalker92 said:Personally, I think the Demons are a decent group. They look killer, if nothing else, just because their color scheme is actually unique... But seriously, let them finish a season—two, maybe more, if we're lucky. For them, that first game was basically the Champions League after spending forever in the lower leagues... Whereas for us, it’s just another Yankee Stadium situation following a string of bad results from Cleveland, which meant even our turnout was slightly below average...

But honestly, who gives a damn about how someone handled an away trip to the "ugliest stadium in the country"? 😁

Look, back in MLS Division 2 and 3, the Demons put on some top-tier displays and choreo. We traveled everywhere, we went toe-to-toe with every other crew coming into town... Realistically, 80% of these groups would have gone extinct if they had to grind through what we did, yet we just keep getting stronger year after year. The reason is dead simple: the core of the Demons has been the exact same for 10 years. That's our massive advantage—we don't fold just because of one bad result or a couple of lousy games. Now, the group finally has something the Demons never had before.

So, was there anything actually happening down in St. Louis?

A few cars from RI plus one guy from Armada SB😂🤣🤣😂.... photos coming soon

Kenneth Campbell64 said:Back when we were grinding through the second and third tiers of the MLS, the Demons were putting on absolute masterclasses with the choreos. We’d hit the road constantly, getting into scraps with whatever other crews rolled into town. Honestly? Most groups would’ve folded long ago if they had to walk the path we did, but we just kept getting tougher every single year. It’s simple, really—the core of the Demons hasn't changed in ten years. We don't care about a bad run or a few lousy losses; that stability is our superpower. And now, this group has something the old Demons never even dreamed of.

Look, I already told you guys you’re a solid crew, and props to that core group of yours. It’s true, you’ve pulled off some great displays at home and on the road. But let's be real—there were times you showed up to away games with maybe five people. We'll see if you can actually keep pace with the top-flight tempo 🙂. Our core stays at a steady 10 to 15 people who travel to every single away match, plus another 50 folks who show up for about 80% of them. So, unless it's a Tuesday and everyone's stuck at work, we're always pulling at least 50 bodies.

So yeah, we’ve got a core that doesn't care about the scoreline either... But whether there are 500 of us or just 200 sitting in Yankee Stadium? Man, let's be honest, right now that definitely depends on whether we're winning or losing.

So I was at this cup match up in Pittsburgh... basically just 12 people and "one guy from Armada SB" showed up. 😁

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2696/kupsb2.jpg

mellowhawk34 said:I think we should just acknowledge that the Armada has consistently brought somewhere between 150 and 250 people to Yankee Stadium for years now, which, if you ask me, is perfectly fine because it means we aren't just attracting those trendy, fair-weather fans who show up for the hype. My only real gripe is that the Armada hasn't really put on a decent pyrotechnic display in Washington, D.C. for quite some time.

Well, you already got your answer regarding the pyrotechnics—you’ve asked at least three times now.

The turnout is actually a bit higher than what we're seeing this time around.

Here is how the numbers have looked over the last five years:

2004: 200-250
2005: 120
2006: 300-350
2006: 170 (20 detained)
2006: 230 (30 detained)
2007: 150
2007: 600
2008: 250-300
2008: 150
2009: 250-300

Six times we had 200 or more, and four times we were hovering around 150. Our lowest point was back in 2005, mostly due to that massive fallout with management involving Žilić.

Looking back over the last decade, our biggest peak was in 1999 when about 2,500 of us showed up, and our absolute low was 2002, when only about sixty people made it to Washington, D.C.—with maybe ten actually in the stadium and fifty getting picked up by the cops.

Kenneth Campbell64 said:The Demons had some absolute peak moments and massive displays back in the 2nd and 3rd divisions of the MLS; we were traveling everywhere, clashing with other crews that rolled into town and all that. Honestly, about 80% of these groups would have just vanished into thin air if they had to grind through what we went through, yet we just kept getting stronger year after year. It’s actually pretty simple—the core of the Demons hasn't changed in ten years, so we don't fluctuate based on whether the team wins or loses a few bad games. That's our massive edge. Now, the group has something the old-school Demons never even possessed.

Look, your crew has definitely been at the top of our scene for the last few years, but man, I still remember some of those embarrassing displays. There was that time you guys lost your main banner, and in this world, once you lose that, the group usually just folds. I remember back when we were watching a national handball match in San Francisco, a couple of the top-tier Demons were there with us, mentioning how they were debating who to support now that California had dropped out of the league; some wanted to jump ship to Cleveland, but they couldn't reach a consensus. When I first started hitting games back in '96, I was barely twelve, and the Demons were a pathetic little outfit. That same year, about 200 Demons showed up to a game in Miami because it was a deciding match for whether California or Cleveland stayed in the league. First, one of our guys gets into it with two Demons in front of the East supporters, and then suddenly the Navy storms the pitch, climbs over the railings right where the Demons were standing, and these guys start shouting "Hail Armada!" back at them. Throughout '96 and '97, the Navy was wandering around San Diego, brawling with cops and stadium security, and the Demons were just sitting there, totally fascinated. Then in 2000, footage from San Diego goes viral across all of America; the Navy charges the field, takes out a couple of guards, snatches a banner or two from the Demons, and the Demons? They just sat there, quiet as mice. Over the last six or seven years, though, we've realized the Demons have actually been coming for us. Once, during a basketball game while Mirza—that boxer from San Diego—was busy trying to calm the Navy down during a scuffle with security, the Demons went and smashed a bus window in the parking lot. Back in 2004, I literally had to defend myself against about twenty Demons using nothing but a chair. Then there was that time we hit downtown, hung out in a cafe for hours, grabbed two of the Demons' scarves, and tossed them right on the floor in the middle of San Diego. Not a single Demon showed up.

The biggest joke of all, though, was back in 2006 when thirteen of us chased eleven of them away. Among those thirteen "tough guys" were Đo_ _ who was only 12, Ri_ _ who was 13, Kol _ _ 13, Ki_ _ 17, Mali Bo_ _ _ 17, and three older guys over 20 like Be _ _ _ 26, Čv_ _ _ 22, and L_ _ _ 23 who was the only one left standing. What makes it worse is you guys played it up on the internet like it was some huge victory, even though thirteen kids chased you into a cafe, and when you finally bolted because the first police cruiser was only five meters away, you "bravely" charged out and managed to land a few hits on the one guy who hadn't run yet. There’s more, but I’ll save the biggest embarrassment for later—like when we got our heads handed to us during our last encounter, even though I think we actually had the numbers, maybe 40 of us against 30 of yours (and let’s be real, plenty of our crowd were just kids, the oldest being Ž_ _ _ 24). Word is the security guards were in on it with you guys, but hey, you know if that’s true or not.

Lawrence Walker27 said:Your crew has been pretty much at the top of our scene for the last few years, but man, I still remember some seriously pathetic displays. There was even a time you guys were left without a banner—and in the supporter world, if you lose your banner, you’re basically dead. I remember back during a handball match in San Francisco, a few of the first-team Hell guys were hanging out with us and mentioning they weren't sure who they’d even support now that California had dropped out of the league. They said some wanted to jump ship to Cleveland, but they couldn't reach an agreement. Honestly, when I started going to games back in '96, those Hell guys were just a pathetic little group, barely even twelve kids. That year, though, about 200 of them showed up in Miami for a game that decided whether California or Cleveland stayed in the league. First, one of our guys gets shoved by two Hell guys in front of the East, then the Navy storms the pitch, climbs onto the fence right where the Hell guys were sitting, and starts shouting "Hail Armada!" In both '96 and '97, the Navy was roaming around San Diego, brawling with cops and stadium security, and the Hell guys were just standing there, totally mesmerized. By 2000, photos from San Diego were all over America; the Navy stormed the field, beat up a couple of guards, and snatched a banner or two from the Hell guys, and they? They just stood there like total statues. For the last six or seven years, we've realized the Hell guys actually aim for us. Once, during a basketball game while Mirza (that boxer from San Diego) was trying to calm the Navy down during a scrap with security, the Hell guys smashed the glass on a bus in the parking lot. Then in 2004, Njeg_ _ _ _ defended himself against about twenty Hell guys using nothing but a chair. Another time, we were downtown, hanging in a cafe for hours, and we grabbed two scarves from the Hell guys and tossed them on the floor right in the middle of San Diego. Not a single Hell guy showed up to do anything.

The biggest joke of the Hell crew was back in 2006 when thirteen of us chased eleven of them away. Out of those thirteen "tough guys," there was Đo_ _ who was only 12, Ri_ _ who was 13, Kol _ _ 13, Ki_ _ 17, Mali Bo_ _ _ 17, plus three guys over 20 like Be _ _ _ 26, Čv_ _ _ 22, and L_ _ _ 23 who was the only one left standing. What's even worse is how you guys played it up on the internet like it was some big victory, even though thirteen dudes chased you into a cafe, and once you fled because the first cop was only five meters away, you "bravely" popped back out and hit the one guy who stayed behind. There’s more, but I’ll save the biggest embarrassment for last: that time during our last encounter where we got jumped despite us having more people, maybe 40 against 30 (truth be told, a lot of us were just kids, the oldest was Ž_ _ _ 24). Rumor has it security was with you guys then—you tell me if that's true.

I’ll answer this from the perspective of the new generation, because you can't live in the past. To be honest, we actually used to get along with the Navy at first—like when you guys came to visit for our 10th anniversary, or when we showed up at Srdoč before the match against Orient.
Back in the 2004 San Diego-Cleveland matchup, were you even on the Forum?
Defending yourself against 20 Hell guys with a chair on the Forum? Haha, what kind of tall tale is that? Just like those heroes from Monte Zara last year who ran into the entrance crying because they were scared. Let’s go back to 2004: about 20 Navy scarves and a few jerseys were confiscated. We showed up on the Forum, and your crowd was running in a panic, locking themselves in a nearby cafe, except for one guy holding a chair. But while he was standing his ground, the Hell guys were already losing it because the cops were swarming since it was right in the heart of downtown. You got photos of the scarves and jerseys burning; you guys were getting attacked all day long.

At that basketball game outside the arena, we clashed with the police and couldn't even get to you guys. Besides, you guys got beaten up pretty good inside the arena by the Black Winds, so you just sat there nicely with your hands above your heads. 🤣, and that’s why there are photos to prove it....

Maybe when you guys finally rolled into downtown, thinking about that San Diego vs. Cleveland match, you decided it wasn't worth picking a fight. After the game, your three guys start heading toward Monte Zara, and we actually caught one of yours on camera—the guy filming how many of us were hanging out by the cafes. You walk past the shops, the cops show up at the exact same time, and suddenly there’s zero conflict.

Picasso, look, it was hard to tell exactly how many of you there were because if I remember right, you all scrambled from behind the bus. Sure, some of you retreated into a cafe, but don't give me that crap about being scared. A flare goes off, the crew storms out and jumps a few of your guys who didn't run fast enough. Yeah, the cops were close, maybe that's why you backed off, but still, eleven people shouldn't be "strolling" through downtown Cleveland. Again, check the photos.....

Norway in Cleveland.... a few of your idiots were acting up and got knocked out by Hell, while the rest of you were basically shitting yourselves.

Vojvodina(?) vs. Cleveland in Medulin..... on the way back, things went down near the grocery store, and you know exactly how that ended....

Monte Zara... don't try to sell me that story about "kids," claiming the oldest one was only 24. We have names, last names, birthdays, and addresses for all 35 of you who were up there. Security 🤣. Your guys come from the top side, firing off a few flares, throwing torches and rocks at each other, but we held our ground and pushed toward you. Then, you guys retreat downhill, leaving your own people lying in the street. And let me mention your "legendary hero" again—the guy who ran into the entrance crying his eyes out, screaming that Hell aren't cowards. That kid from your group—and I know this because he was calling your D. to get your former member from San Diego to come pick him up—was so terrified he couldn't even explain where he was, just kept rambling that we were following him. There's even video of you sprinting down Monte Zara.... A few of your guys walked away pretty banged up without any real consequences...

The Orient-California B crew—our group of 30 shows up in Cleveland unorganized, walking from the station.... You guys arrive at Krimeja, and that's the only time the police actually catches us.... You all bunch up above the stands near the RF once the game has already started, and that's it.... that's a loss for you guys...

California vs. Cleveland, last summer, friendly match in San Diego, you guys didn't even show up....
Rovinj... California vs. Cleveland.... you guys were MIA, claiming you had an excuse because the national team was playing...

That's just a quick rundown of what I've got to say... I don't feel like getting into some deep, drawn-out debate over this...

Lawrence Walker27 said:Your group has truly been at the top of our scene over the last few years, but my memory isn't so short that I’ve forgotten those shameful displays. There was even a time you guys were left without a banner, which in the supporter world is basically a death sentence for a group's reputation. I remember back when the national handball team played in San Francisco; a few Hell members from the first squad were right there with us. They were actually debating who they should support now that California had been relegated from the league—some were leaning toward Cleveland, but they couldn't reach a consensus. When I started attending games back in 1996, the Hell were nothing more than a pathetic little group of kids under twelve. That year, about 200 Hell members showed up to Miami for a match that decided whether California or Cleveland would stay in the league. It started when one of our guys slapped two Hell members right in front of the East side crowd. Then, when the Navy stormed the pitch, they climbed onto the railings where the Hell were sitting just to shout "Hail Armada!" Back in '96 and '97, the Navy used to roam around San Diego, clashing with the police and stadium security, and the Hell were just standing there, absolutely fascinated. By 2000, photos from those San Diego riots had spread across all of America. The Navy stormed the field, knocked out a few security guards, and snatched a banner or two from the Hell, yet those guys remained as calm as babies. Over the last six or seven years, we've realized the Hell have actually been targeting us. During one basketball game, while Mirza—that boxer from San Diego—was busy trying to settle a dispute between the Navy and the guards, the Hell went and smashed the glass on a bus in the parking lot. In 2004, I found myself defending against about a dozen Hell members using nothing but a chair. Another time, we spent hours in a downtown cafe, grabbed two scarves belonging to the Hell, and tossed them on the floor right in the middle of San Diego. Once again, the Hell were nowhere to be seen.

The greatest embarrassment for Hell was back in 2006, when they fled from our group of thirteen, leaving only eleven behind. Among those thirteen "tough guys" were Đo_ _, who was just 12 at the time; Ri_ _ at 13; Kol _ _ also 13; Ki_ _ at 17; and mali Bo_ _ at 17. There were three older ones over 20—Be _ _ at 26, Čv_ _ at 22, and L_ _ at 23, who actually stayed. What makes it even more pathetic is how you portrayed it as a victory online. In reality, thirteen kids chased you into a diner, and once you saw the first police cruiser just five meters away, you made a "brave" exit and took a few swings at the only one left standing. There is more to tell, but I’ll save my biggest critique for our last encounter. We ended up getting beaten despite having the numbers advantage—it looked like roughly 40 of us against 30 of yours (and to be fair, many of ours were just kids; the oldest was Ž_ _ at 24). Word on the street is that security guards were with you that day, but you're the one who knows if that's true.

Allow me to offer my own brief observations regarding your comment...
It isn’t exactly standard practice in the supporter scene to just shut down an entire group like that. Have a little patience, and perhaps you'll eventually grasp the point I'm making here.
Everything you wrote is more or less accurate, with the exception of 2004 and that specific encounter on the forum that finally forced the Navy to take dp92 seriously. There were other run-ins too—take that friendly match back in 2003 in San Diego, for instance, where a certain legendary Navy guy completely lost his nerve (despite all his bravado). 🙂...and so on.
During our last encounter, it wasn't just that there was zero security presence on the dp92 side; nobody actually expected you guys to show up at Monte Zara in the first place. The home crowd's reaction was entirely spontaneous and, unfortunately, a bit too brutal.
You neglected to mention yet another one of your business ventures: Walmart!
The reality is quite simple: five or more years ago, the Demons couldn't have held a candle to the Navy. They weren't even in the same league. However, looking at the landscape today, the situation has shifted significantly. If you ask me, the Navy currently lacks the actual capacity to go toe-to-toe with dp92 on the streets.
I might be biased, but you’d have to see it with your own eyes to truly understand.

Best regards.

heheh, you little gummy demons. You’ve got seven months left of breathing easy before you get relegated to the second division. Instead of worrying about how pathetic your stands look, you're busy stressing over us. It’s honestly hilarious. Everyone knows the guys from San Diego are the most hyped up when it comes to Cleveland. Just take a look at the photos on their official site—from the day they formed until now, whenever they play Cleveland, they always have the biggest crowds in the stadium... that says everything you need to know about the scale of this club and its fans. DON'T EVEN START WITH ME...