Soccer Strategy Part 2 - What is more important, winning or quality of play?

Question 2 (Winning or Quality of Play) 

Winning is the aphrodisiac for fans. Very few teams can be the Chicago Cubs. A fan has to have the history of growing up with them as their team for that to work, because it’s in their blood whether they win or not. Fever Pitch is a great example of that mentality.

But you don’t have to win it all to be a winning team. Sometimes a less deserving team wins, even though they were outplayed, that’s just the nature of sports; blood, sweat and tears won’t get you the W without the goal. But winning on the field—the blood, sweat and tears / the quality of play—are what spectators want to see. Winning on the field is supremely important for anyone who is going to watch the game.

On the other side, getting the W and the statistics, having the trophy and the titles, are what people brag about and use to spread the word. A potential fan isn’t swayed by “trust me, they’re loads of fun to watch” as much as they are swayed by “5 game unbeaten streak. They dominate.”

If I was pushed to answer winning (the title, the game, the statistics) or quality of play (blood, sweat and tears), I would say quality of play…mainly because I believe quality of play will lead to the win. If not this season, then next season, and as long as the fans have the connection with their team that develops out of sharing in the determined blood, sweat and tears then they will come back.

Long term fan versus spectator. Long term, they want to see their team play hard and play well. Short term, they want the ‘autograph’ and to share in the momentary glory of the statistics. 

One reason why your (the SkyBlue) story is so inspiring is because the playoff run was a quintessential story of winning on the field and then taking the title. Some sports have titles that can be won because of points or luck or a technicality, but your team played hard and outdid three teams to get that trophy. Nobody can say Sky Blue didn’t earn it.

To me, that’s the best answer; give the fans the blood, sweat and tears and then the W.

Julie’s Rule #2 = Winning is the aphrodisiac of fans.