The Armada

A fan derby like Santa Monica hasn't seen in ages—and I don't mean just some bandwagon fans showing up for the hype.

From what I could tell, demons were just messing around for the first ten minutes or so, but then they kicked off with this insane energy. It left a hell of an impression because you could actually hear them loud and clear. For a second there, I honestly thought if they kept that up, they’d eat us alive, but after that initial burst, they kind of tapered off. At least not over on the west side, anyway.
My guess? Around 250 fans. The section looked perfect, the pyrotechnics were top-tier—especially those strobes. The choreo was just okay, a bit underwhelming and, honestly, felt a little late to the party... I didn't catch the message, though I heard something about the HOA...

As for us, I'd say it was another solid outing. I'm a little bummed by the turnout, though if my math isn't totally off, there were maybe 400, possibly 500 people out there (mostly squeezed into our section between and around the first couple rows of stairs). Not bad considering how we've been playing lately—coming off a losing streak and sitting in 10th place before kickoff. The chanting was good, though maybe a notch quieter than when we were down in Indianapolis. The flares went off a few times during the match, and that big burst in the 60th minute was awesome. Haven't seen the photos of the choreo yet, but from what I've heard, it turned out great... We didn't have a specific message, but out of the 90 minutes, we spent 89 supporting the club and one glorious minute shouting "Demons, demons gummy candy" and "goat be a bitch"... 😁

All in all, a hell of a coastal derby. On the pitch, it ended 2:0, but in the stands, it was a 3:3 draw. I just hope this level of quality sticks around for the next ones...

I'm not even gonna get too deep into this because bluewalker92 pretty much nailed it—both sides basically played out their own little mini-derby and called it a day!

The fan derby was absolutely electric, with a massive crowd of Demons packing out the East Side. We even dug out some of those classic old-school anthems: Koza je kurva and candy!
Major props to 🤣
for the inspiration.

From a distance, the choreography looked way better.
You can't see all the details in this photo.

What a hell of a derby!
Both sides need to keep that energy up... just keep pushing forward like that.

I honestly don't get all this hype about the demons coming from certain people in the Armada. I actually made a point to head over to the center stands—right next to the demons—with two buddies, just in case anyone decided to jump up when California scores 🙂
. It didn't end up needing any intervention, but because we were right there, I got a front-row seat to hear and see what the demons were really about. There were maybe 250 of them, and surprisingly, a ton of kids were mixed in among them, which isn't too shocking considering their whole trip was basically subsidized (they had the travel and the tickets $10). For the first few minutes, they were loud as hell—I actually thought they might drown out the Armada—and then they stayed pretty steady, though they fell off quite a bit during the second half. Their flare display wasn't bad, though; they had those ones that flash really bright before burning out after a few seconds. About 90 percent of the songs they were singing were just covers of Armada tracks, which is something I didn't even realize until yesterday.
The big downside is that every single one of them showed up under heavy police escort in four different buses. I really expected more from them, but it just goes to show how the internet can paint a totally wrong picture; if you ask me, the folks from Memphis had a much better showing back in San Francisco than the demons did.

As for the Armada, they were solid. The choreography was top-tier, and they had two flare displays—the first was just warming things up, but the second one was genuinely great. The chanting in the first half was good, though it dipped a bit in the second. Down in the center stands, both groups struggled to be heard during the second half.

mellowhawk34 said:From a distance, the choreo actually looked way, way better.
You can't catch all the fine details in this photo.

Yeah, okay, it looks a bit rough in the shot, but who cares? The whole point was for it to look killer from the pitch—where it probably looked perfect—and from the rest of the stands just to give the MLS a little boost 😁. As long as you guys saw it, that's what matters. Other groups will just have to come down to our stadium to experience the magic of our displays firsthand... 🙂

Anyway, for those of you still squinting at this close-up trying to make sense of it: top left, there's a fan screaming his lungs out, and the wind from his mouth is actually blowing the galley flag with the Cleveland crest on the mast, and on the right side, right below that, is the WEST banner.

Just got word from Slovakia, by the way. That banner meant for Memphis wasn't actually aimed at California—it was just put up during a match over in Slovakia.

Look, the whole thing isn't even sponsored. Tickets are free based on pure reciprocity, so just count $500 per bus...

I honestly expected more from the Armada now that Vulić isn't calling the shots from the sidelines. Once again, the team's pathetic standing in the MLS standings has completely killed the vibe for the casual fans. Still, the demons showed up with some decent numbers—pretty solid turnout and a really impressive presentation. It’s a good thing California is back in the MLS; it gives us another high-stakes derby worth watching.

Why have all those classic, original banners—the ones like "Armada Forza Fiume" or "Siamo Soli Contro Tutti"—completely vanished? It’s strange, especially considering how deep that old Italian heritage ran back when we were playing in Cleveland. Even the "Loyal to Matulj" signs aren't around anymore; they used to be a staple you'd see regularly down at the stadium in San Francisco.

frozentiger62 said:Why don't we see those classic Armada banners anymore—you know, the ones shouting "Forza Fiume" or "We Are Alone Against Everyone"? Cleveland certainly had that distinct heritage vibe once. Even the old "Vjerni Matulj" signs have vanished; they used to be a staple at the San Francisco stadium.

There isn't much of a reason...

Lawrence Walker27 said:I don't get why people in the Armada are singing the praises of the demons. I went out of my way with two friends to sit in the center stands—right next to the demons—just in case someone stood up when California scored 🙂
. No confrontation happened, but I got a clear look and sound at them. There were about 250 demons, surprisingly packed with kids, which isn't much considering their trip was fully sponsored (travel and tickets $10 included). They were loud for the first few minutes (I actually thought they might drown out the Armada), stayed decent for a bit, then trailed off in the second half. The flares weren't bad, though—they had those ones that flash bright but die out after a few seconds. 90 percent of their songs are just covers of Armada chants; I didn't even realize that until yesterday.
The downside is that every single one of them arrived under police escort in four buses. I expected more from them. This is how the internet creates fake images; honestly, the guys from Memphis had a better showing in San Francisco than the demons did.

Armada was solid, choreography was great, two flare displays—the first was a warmup, the second was really good. Cheering was fine in the first half, mediocre in the second. In the center stands, both sides were barely audible by the second half.

What a tough guy you are, sitting in the center stands ready to attack some Benjamin Cruz if he celebrates a goal. You're a real genius. And I'm sure you're a "true supporter" with 120 away games under your belt, since instead of being in the thick of it, you're watching another group from the middle seats.
Everything was paid for—the trip, the ticket, insurance, everything. Now we're fighting for heated floors in the stadiums.
Every song is a rip-off. Every other weekend when Cleveland plays at home, one of us is there with a recorder capturing everything.
And yeah, we all rode in buses because we're cowards.
Watch out now, because the internet is creating such a "false image" and we're all just "internet fans," so don't let that keyboard hit you on the way out. Who knows, maybe one of the demons is a hacker or something.🙄

What an objective guy. Tell you what, next time there's a game in San Diego, why don't you come to the center stands too? You can measure the decibels, divide the average age by the number of seats, check the blood pressure of the old timers, count exactly how many flares versus strobes they used, and tell me what font was used for the banners.
PS. I'll pay for your ticket and meet you at the gate.

Lawrence Walker27 said:I don't really get why some people in the Armada are singing the praises of the demons. What's the big deal? It feels like like ninety percent of their setlist is just covers of Armada songs. Seriously?Honestly, I didn't even know that until yesterday.
The only downside is that they... Everyone showed up at once, rolling in under heavy police escort in four different buses.I really expected more from them. Honestly? Just more.
And this is exactly how the internet builds these totally wrong perceptions.Honestly, if you ask me, the guys from Karlovac put on a much better show in San Francisco than the demons did.
.

This looks like it was just sketched out...
Look, the Cohort group kind of takes a similar approach. I'm not saying they're bad fans or anything—it's not like that. But honestly? With how much everyone has been obsessed with the internet over the last few years, it’s basically the only thing that could have given them any momentum. They even had their own dedicated on-line Crew banner!
It’s just a bunch of demons wandering around with that MENTALITA Istra attitude. A total storm brewing over the Cleveland area—it's like some weird hooligan video game or whatever you want to call it. And then there's that graffiti, "Shield of the City, Our Bodies," using a logo that any random idiot can grab.

But let's get back to the Armada. They’ve definitely got that original spark, but man... what a whirlwind. ALWAYS He’s talking nonsense, and honestly, he isn't even close to the truth: (looking back at last season)
[Image Link]

Whatever, it was a hell of a derby in the stands. Keep pushing forward.A better scene—everyone’s happy!😉

So you're seriously claiming the Armada is only 90% processed? Give me a break. Seriously, walk me through that logic—put it in writing. What exactly are you basing that on? And what makes you think Gademzi had some superior version going on?
Look, everyone’s entitled to their own take, but let’s be real: most people out there aren't going to see eye to eye with you on this one.

Kenneth Campbell64 said:The Armada's performance was 90% better? Give me a break. Back up that claim with some actual logic—what makes you think Gademzi had a superior version?
Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but I don't think most people would agree with you.

Don't let those posts get under your skin.🙄

mellowhawk34 said:Look at you, acting like some big shot, heading up to the VIP stands just to harass a supporter for celebrating a goal. You think you’re hot stuff, don't you? And I bet you’re a "real" fan too, right? With your 120 away games under your belt where instead of being down in the pit with the rest of us, you’re sitting up there watching another group from the center stands.
Everything was paid for—the travel, the tickets, health insurance, social security, the whole nine yards. Now we're even fighting for heated seats in the stadiums.
Every single chant is a copy, and every other weekend when Cleveland plays at home, one of our guys is there in Cleveland with a dictaphone recording everything.
And sure, we all showed up on buses because we’re such cowards.
Now watch closely, because I'll show you how the internet creates a fake reality and how we're all just "internet fans"—don't let that keyboard hit you on the way out. I mean, who knows, maybe someone from the demon is a hacker or something.🙄

What an objective guy you are. Honestly, I'd love for you to come down to the VIP section next time we have a game in San Diego and measure the decibel levels of the cheering. While you're at it, maybe calculate the average age multiplied by the number of seats, check the blood work of the older fans, count exactly how many flares versus strobes were used, and tell me what font they used on the banners.
PS. I'll pay for your ticket myself and meet you at the gate.

🙏👍

Mark Long73 said:this underlined part...
look, the Cohort group has a similar vibe—not saying they're bad fans or anything—but honestly, all this internet obsession over the last few years is pretty much the only thing that kept them relevant. They even had an ON-LINE CREW banner!
then you have those demon types wandering around with MENTALITA Istra, STORM OVER CALIFORNIA (some hooligan video game or whatever it's called), and then that "SHIELD OF THE CITY, OUR BODIES" graffiti where every random idiot uses the logo...

but getting back to the Armada, they are definitely more original, though the WIND THAT ALWAYS smokes and isn't exactly telling the truth: (last season)
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/4...s200809001.jpg

whatever, great atmosphere at the derby, keep it up, stronger scene—everyone’s happy!😉

A good derby atmosphere??? Give me a break. There were tons of them there; in Memphis, there were like a thousand, and the Boys are basically just congratulating themselves because about 1,500 people from the suburbs came down, yet somehow the scene is supposedly "getting stronger." How does that work?

Don't even bother giving those provocations any attention ☕
Just head over to our official site and check out the video we posted from Miami 👍

Mark Long73 said:this underlined bit here...
Look, the Cohort group basically operates the same way—I'm not saying they're bad fans or anything—but honestly, the only reason they ever gained any traction was because everyone’s been so obsessed with internet drama lately. Even the Cohort ended up having an on-line Crew banner!
Then you've got those demons wandering around with that California attitude, playing out some Storm Over the East River video game fantasy, or using that "Shield of the City" graffiti logo that every random idiot on the street uses...

But anyway, back to the armada. They’re definitely more original, but that wind that ALWAYS blows through them? It's all talk and no substance. Just look at last season:
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/4...s200809001.jpg

Whatever, man. It was a hell of a derby atmosphere in the stands, keep pushing forward, the scene is getting bigger—everyone wins!😉

The photo you posted was taken before the game even started... Honestly, I can't tell if you're just being dense or if you're trying to start something...