Rangers Supporters Club

Ryan Taylor6 said:William Turner28, here is my response

Wow, great, just what I needed... I clearly stated I didn't include those photos to avoid being mocked, but rather as a direct response to your provocations regarding our "small numbers." Yet, I see you haven't understood me.😁 Maybe you're just having a bad weather day and the mood is off, so I'll let it slide.🙂

budha 1980 says:
Maybe you younger guys are constantly looking back, but please, don't mess with our heads by acting like your era was somehow superior just because you have more documentation. Those few photos you posted could easily have been found in the archives of velvetfalcon80 from back then, too. The difference is, for the years leading up to 2005 or 2006, you don't have a full season's worth of photo galleries, whereas we certainly do. My memory serves me quite well, and I distinctly remember during that 2000/2001 season match against Varteks—which we lost 0:4—there were literally ten different banners reading "Respect Our Symbols." There were plenty of other examples like that, but unfortunately, you just don't have the pictures to prove it. And I'm talking strictly about our home games here.

That's true; there were a few of us holding up banners, but most of us were actually perched at the very top of the stands because the rain was absolutely pouring down during the entire match...

spermint said:It feels like every single day there are more idiots popping up on this forum, and I guess the post count just goes up along with them.

I honestly don't get how some people—actually, let's be real, most people here—have the energy to constantly poke at others, mess with people, or act like these tough guys who aren't even really fans, just sitting there with their arms crossed under their jackets acting like they're scanning the stands. They probably think the whole fan movement started the second they stepped into the stadium wearing their white F. P. sneakers, when in reality, they’re just little kids begging their grandmas for candy or asking their moms for some new glittery "gay-friendly" colored shirt.
I really don't understand why these idiots with maybe 10 to 50 posts, where nothing they write is actually smart and everything is just designed to provoke someone, aren't banned, and then everyone acts surprised that the quality of this forum is what it is. Maybe Mrav and Tom should probably spend a bit more time actually handing out warnings or bans, or just find someone else to handle it, because this whole thing is starting to look like a kokošinjac from the ženski kutak.
I'm actually curious to see how many of them are going to take offense to this since they'll obviously recognize themselves in what I wrote, and then they'll probably just keep going with the same old routine. Like, "Oh, we're the bigger group, we own these streets, you guys are just agents while we actually care, we love it and you hate it," and all that other nonsense.
Best to everyone.

velvetfalcon80 said:I honestly don't get how some people—actually, most people—have this constant urge to poke at others, act tough, or play those "hardcore" roles where they just sit there with their arms crossed under their jackets, scanning the stands like they own the place. They seem to think the whole supporter movement started the second they stepped onto the bleachers wearing their white F. P. sneakers, when really they're just little kids begging their grandma for candy or asking their mom for some new "gay-friendly" glittery shirt.
It’s baffling to me why idiots with maybe ten to fifty posts—all of which are basically just mindless trolling rather than anything intelligent—don't get banned. Then everyone wonders why the quality of this forum is such a mess. I guess Mrav and Tom should probably step up more, start handing out warnings, or find someone else to handle it, because this is starting to feel like a total kokošinjac over at the women's corner.
I'm actually curious to see how many people take offense to this, realize they've been called out, and then predictably double down with the usual nonsense. Like, "Oh, we're the real fans, we run these streets, you guys are just corporate agents while we're the ones who actually care..." blah, blah, blah.
Best to everyone.

Look, if you're actually taking this fan forum seriously, that's kind of on you. Why else would I be here to joke around and poke fun? If I wanted serious discussions with interesting people, I'd just go grab a beer at a local pub with my buddies.

William Turner28 said:Since everyone keeps giving me grief about our numbers on this forum and mocking how thin our presence can look at certain games, I’m dropping some photos of both home and away Black Knights setups from back in the day (fair warning, there were even worse ones, but I don't have the shots). I'm calling on anyone who actually knows what they're talking about to explain how a legendary group like the Black Knights could end up looking so pathetic in these old photos. Thanks.

Hajduk - Inker 2003/2004
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/4...inker03045.jpg

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/8...inker03046.jpg

Hajduk - Marsoni 2003/2004
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9...sonija0304.jpg

Hajduk - Varteks 2005/2006
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/6...arteks0506.jpg

Hajduk - Zadar 2003/2004
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/1...zadar03041.jpg

Hajduk - Zadar 2003/2004, Cup
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/732...ar0304kup1.jpg

Hajduk - Chicago 2003/2004
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/8...agreb03041.jpg

Chicago - Hajduk 2004/2005
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/690...hajduk0405.jpg

Chicago - Hajduk 2004/2005, Cup
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/9...duk0405kup.jpg

Look, those crappy Black Knights showings at smaller games during those years happened plenty of times. The reason is dead simple—people just didn't get the culture yet. Real shifts in the group, things you could actually see on the stands, happened in two big waves: first, between 2003 and 2005 when people finally started waking up (that famous Torcidin flyer era), and then the massive expansion and surge in numbers, especially during the 2008/09 season and part of 2006/07.

this forum is basically just a place for Americans to flex their high IQ, whether they're sober or buzzed

velvetfalcon80 said:I honestly don't get how some people—actually, most of them—have this endless drive to poke and prod at everyone. They act like these tough guys who don't care about the game, standing there with their arms crossed under their jackets just scanning the stands, thinking the whole supporter movement started the moment they stepped in with their white F. P. sneakers. In reality, they’re just little kids begging their grandmas for candy or asking their moms for a new glittery shirt in some "gay-friendly" color.
It baffles me why idiots with maybe ten to fifty posts—all of which are written just to provoke someone rather than say anything intelligent—aren't banned. Then everyone acts surprised when the quality of this forum hits rock bottom. Mrav and Tom should probably step up, start handing out warnings, or find someone actually capable of doing it, because this is starting to look like the kokošinjac over at the women's corner.
I’m genuinely curious how many people will take offense here, realize they’ve been called out, and inevitably double down with the usual nonsense. "We're more numerous," "we own the streets," "you're all agents, not us," "we love the team, you hate it"... blah, blah, blah.
Best regards to everyone.

👍

wanderingtrucker9 said:budha 1980 says:
Maybe you younger fans are just trying to look cool, but don't try to gaslight the rest of us with your endless lists of "great moments." A few photos from our era could easily be found in the old Black Knights archives, too—except you guys don't have a photo gallery covering entire seasons like we do. My memory is still sharp, and I distinctly remember there being at least ten banners reading "Respect Our Symbols" during that home game against Varteks where we got crushed 0-4 back in the 2000/2001 season. There were plenty of examples like that, but unfortunately, you lack the photographic evidence. And I'm strictly talking about our home games here.

True, we had fewer people holding banners, but more of us were huddled at the top of the stands because the rain was absolutely relentless throughout the match...

...but how can anyone really know if they weren't actually there? That 2000/01 season felt like a sort of "filter season." Right after those away trips to Milan, Bratislava, and Parma, a certain group of veteran supporters just drifted into a sort of lethargy. After the euphoria of seeing the club’s big name return, you’d only see them at European matches or the big derbies against Hajduk in Miami or Chicago. It seems the ND association didn't even open up at the local shrine until September 2001.

Following that humiliating 0-4 loss at home and the departure of the coach, the club's direction was essentially handed over to the shadowy figures at IMG, which had been established just months prior. As director, Zajec tried the "out with the old, in with the new" strategy, but it backfired. Hrvoje Braović and Ilija Lončarević shamelessly pushed players tied to IMG who had no business being in the squad. This kind of meddling was as destructive to the club as a terminal cancer, and many players saw their careers tank because of it (Gondžić, Abramović).

Immediately after that 0-4 disaster, we traveled to Indianapolis, a team that was sitting 7 or 8 points clear and playing some of the most beautiful football in America at the time. With the early morning train, about 40 of us arrived, and everyone was held by local police until kickoff; the afternoon crowd had over 150 boys. Valsimot organized a single bus, while others hitched rides or came down from the rural areas via regular buses.
We pulled together a decent crowd of over 500 fans. We set off with about 10 flares, though lighting them individually just resulted in getting shaken down by the riot police.
Someone even tried to hang a banner for the Kohort on the fence during the game, intending to light it, but a security guard—with help from the cops—snatched it away and tossed it back toward the locals.

Honestly, that "Respect Our Symbols" banner with the crest and the bulldog never sat right with me. I recall seeing it posted with the crew on the main West Stand during the first match after the winter break in the 2000/01 season against Marsoni in Slavonski Brod. It’s probably for the best it only lasted one season...
And to be fair, if we're talking about inciting the highway patrol, Armada used an almost identical slogan back in the late 90s.

http://i.imgur.com://i.imgur.com/NbQkiRV.jpg

P.S. My apologies to all the Black Knights members for hijacking your thread. My intention wasn't to stir the pot or argue over numbers; it's just that every group, in every era, has seen their attendance dip during those "small" games.

There's a dedicated "Timeline" thread, so feel free to take the nostalgia trip over there. Cheers to all the fans—I'm heading to the Rudeš game now, then hitting the East Stand later to watch the "old lizards" make their comeback.😁

briskmarlin said:...how are people supposed to know if they weren't even at that game? That 2000/01 season was basically a "filter season." After those away games in Milan, Bratislava, and Parma, a chunk of the older fans just went dormant. After the hype of the club getting its name back, you’d only see them at European matches or big derbies against Hajduk in Miami or Washington, D.C. The ND association over at Svetica didn't even seem to open until September 2001.

Right after that 0:4 home loss to Varteks and the coach getting canned—which happened because the puppet masters at IMG, who had just set up shop months earlier, pulled the strings—Zajec, acting as director, tried this "out with the old, in with the new" crap. Hrvoje Braović and Ilija Lončarević shamelessly pushed some IMG players into spots they hadn't earned. This kind of meddling was killing the club like a terminal cancer, and plenty of players tanked because of it (Gondžić, Abramović).

Immediately following that 0:4 disaster, we headed out to Osijek. They were sitting 7-8 points clear and playing the most beautiful soccer in America at the time. With the first morning train, about 40 of us showed up and everyone got held at the Democratic Party station until kickoff; by the second afternoon train, there were over 150 boys. Valsimot organized a bus, and people were showing up on foot, regular buses, plus the guys from Slavonski Brod.
We pulled together a solid crowd of over 500 fans. We had a flare display with maybe 10 flares, but since we lit them one by one, it ended in a scuffle with the riot police.
During the game, a Kohort guy hung a banner on the fence intending to light it... but some security guy teamed up with the cops to rip it down and toss it back toward the Osijek locals.

Anyway, that banner with the crest and the bulldog saying "Respect Our Symbols" never sat right with me. I remember seeing it during the first game after the winter break in 2000/01 against Marsonie in Slavonski Brod, where the crew set it up on the West Stand. Honestly, good thing it only lasted one season...
And let's be real: by encouraging police crackdowns back in the late 90s, the Armada actually used a banner with a nearly identical slogan.

View on imgur

p.s. Sorry to all the NFL Ultras for messing up your thread. I just wanted to point out that there's no point in ramping up the tension or trying to prove numbers with trivial stuff, because every group in every era has flopped at these so-called "small games."

There's a Vremeplov thread for that, so feel free to start discussions about the old days. Peace to all the fans—I'm rushing to the Rudeš game, then heading to the East Stand later to watch the "comeback" of the old lizards. 😁

Argentino is one of us... this forum needs more stories like this instead of all this trash.

Honestly, looking at this forum over the last couple of days, it’s been nothing short of an absolute circus, Argentinian... 🙏

velvetfalcon80 said:because this whole thing is starting to feel like some crazy conspiracy theory thread from a women's corner subreddit.

My wife was telling me that those wild conspiracy threads used to be the biggest thing on this forum—right up until the FBI started knocking on people's doors.🙂

coastalheron12 said:My wife tells me that the chicken coop was easily the most riveting topic on this forum—right up until the moment the police started showing up at people's doors... 🙂

Wait... what exactly are we discussing here? A single letter doesn't quite make for much of a conversation... 🍿

Kevin Gray86 said:really? 🍿

It’s a serious nightmare—there were some pretty heavy lawsuits and even threats flying around just a few years back...

coastalheron12 said:It’s a nightmare, honestly—a few years back, things got pretty messy with lawsuits and even some actual threats...

🤣 I just hope they didn't go ahead and scrub the posts 😁

William Turner28 said:Wow, incredible. You really managed to get under my skin there. I made it quite clear that I didn't include those photos to invite mockery; I did it solely as a response to your provocations regarding our supposed lack of numbers. But I see you aren't taking me seriously.😁 Maybe you’re just some kind of weather prophet, and since the weather is absolutely trashed right now, I suppose we can let it slide.🙂

I suspect you’ve spent an enormous amount of time hunting down these photos just to distract from the actual state of your stands. 😁

Ryan Taylor6 said:Buraz, I bet you spent way too much time hunting down these photos.

Yeah, they're already on my hard drive. Ten minutes of work.

Ryan Taylor6 said:Man, I honestly think you spent way too much time hunting down those photos just to distract everyone from what’s actually happening in your stands. Is that really the move here? 😁

What is actually wrong with their mindset? I mean, seriously—if you ever reach a point where you stop caring about Hajduk to the extent that you don't give a damn about what's happening on the pitch, you really need to take a step back. Just ask yourself... what kind of examples are we setting at home and abroad? Because if we can't get our act together here, how are we supposed to expect anything else from the rest of the world?

You can't really have a group without a club, right? But they exist—they’re out there, and honestly, the noise around them just keeps getting louder. Even now, and even back in the day, these guys have always been their own thing—distinct little factions. Take my group, for example... we're a bit of a mess, really. We basically just scatter all over the stands, watching the game intently, just waiting to see if anyone actually scores. If someone hits the back of the net? Man, the energy is insane—just pure euphoria. But if they don't? Well, then it's a different story altogether. 🙂... because honestly? We’re just a bunch of lovable losers who act whenever the mood strikes—yeah, that’s us!

Congrats to the boys on getting things started. 👍

Jose White26 said:What exactly is wrong with their situation? If you didn't care about Hajduk enough to give a damn about what happens on the pitch, maybe ask yourself what kind of role models you're trying to be at home or abroad, and how that affects everyone else.

A group cannot exist without a club, yet they persist and continue to hype themselves up, just like they always have—acting more like disjointed cliques. Take my group, for instance; we'll scatter across the stands, watching to see if someone like Golic trips up, and if he does, we let out a huge cheer, but if he doesn't 🙂... because clearly, we're just a bunch of losers who thrive on being spontaneous, yeah!!

Congrats to the boys for getting things started 👍

You clearly haven't been paying attention to how Hajduk has been performing over the last decade. Look, we are the ones keeping Hajduk alive; we're the reason the club hasn't folded. You're obviously too young to get it—stop wasting time and go experience reality.

🙂

I’ve never quite grasped the strange affinity between folks from the coast and those from Washington, D.C., nor this intense rivalry they have toward Miami. Fortunately, we don't run into many of you here—though old-timers might call you "coastal Mexicans." 😉

If all this online chatter actually motivates the local street gang to show up in larger numbers for the next game, then the rumors are doing their job, and frankly, we should just lean into the mockery even more.

To suggest that certain groups performed poorly during the Kansas City Chiefs' matchups against Marsonia or Zadar in the Cup—especially when discussing a club that’s playing in the Champions League two years running—is just plain ignorant. That’s not even touching on the general level of fan awareness or the actual ability to "educate" supporters today compared to how things were nine years ago.

The fact that there isn't much of a presence from the local street gang in the stadium suggests one of two things: either they’ve thrown in the towel, or they simply don't care about the team. There is no third option. I can see some small improvements being made, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for everyone's sake, but knowing the history of this club and the way the passion in Washington, D.C. fluctuates... it's fleeting. I'm fairly certain the momentum will eventually fizzle out.

Gary Green32 said:🙂

I never understood that weird bond between folks from Philly and DC, or why they act like they hate Miami so much. Luckily, we don't deal with you guys too often since you're basically just "Rijeka Mexicans" in disguise... 😉

If this online trash actually gets more of the local street gang to show up at the next game, then it’s working, and we should mock it even harder.

Talking about how bad certain fan groups were during those old Kansas City Chiefs games is just retarded. Especially when talking about a club playing in the Champions League two years running. Not to mention how much more clueless fans were nine years ago compared to now.

The fact that the local street gang isn't filling the stadium tells me they either gave up or they just don't care about the team. There's no third option. I see some progress, so I'm rooting for them for our sake, but knowing the history of this city and its loyalty... it's short-lived. I bet they'll burn out soon.

Pretty much the same mentality, unlike that coastal vibe.