The Zen of Rooting for Club and Country

[canderson]

I love this thread.
 
I can't get into the Premier League simply because, well, I don't want to root for a front-runner out of the blue and I can't find any qualities of the other teams I can sink my teeth into. Portsmouth would be the ideal one since I love maritime history but fuck I couldn't care less. I will watch Premiership games but have no real interest, except of course for Man U to lose.
 
I pay most attention to the Bundesliga. My wife's from Germany, they are a top power, the league isn't too big, the fans are crazy, and the time difference isn't killer. In particular I look at FSV Mainz 05, which is where my wife grew up and her family is from that region and I can't root for Frankfurt, though it's a bit like rooting for the Houston Astros. I always look at FC Bayern Munich's results because I love Munich, but I feel like a front-runner a bit. I can look past it though since I have a family connection of sorts.
 
To me, the hardest part of following the sport internationally is all the different cups/championships. It seems to an outsider there are so many different "playoff" systems (COPA, Champions League, UEFA, Confederates Cup, etc.) that I don't have any idea what to pay attention to or what to ignore. Bayern for example can be playing a Bundesliga match with all scrubs while they have an upcoming Champions League match. It makes no real sense to me.
 
Qualifications, how many teams from each league, who plays who, etc. is so incredibly confusing. Add in the (really awesome and I wish MLB did this) continuous relegation aspect it's just not as easy to follow as American sports.

 

[Titans Bastard]

I pay most attention to the Bundesliga. My wife's from Germany, they are a top power, the league isn't too big, the fans are crazy, and the time difference isn't killer. In particular I look at FSV Mainz 05, which is where my wife grew up and her family is from that region and I can't root for Frankfurt, though it's a bit like rooting for the Houston Astros. I always look at FC Bayern Munich's results because I love Munich, but I feel like a front-runner a bit. I can look past it though since I have a family connection of sorts.

 
If you want to upstage all of the self-proclaimed masochists rooting for Newcastle and Spurs, you should really take a harder look at 1860 Munich.

 

[djhb20]

Did I read this write?  Did a poster write that he can't think of a good reason to pick just any club, then in the same paragraph saying picking a club would be easy because Blackburn is his last name  :c070:
  

Well, yeah. Forgive me, but following a Championship division club is really not what I want to be doing.

There have been lots of good suggestions, but I think it'll be hard to pick something out of the blue. Probably just need to start watching more matches and see who I am drawn to. Which, obviously, wouldn't be Man U.

 

[URI]

Well, yeah. Forgive me, but following a Championship division club is really not what I want to be doing.

There have been lots of good suggestions, but I think it'll be hard to pick something out of the blue. Probably just need to start watching more matches and see who I am drawn to. Which, obviously, wouldn't be Man U.

You don't want to root for 7th place clubs anyway.

HOO HO HO EAT SHIT ZOMP

 

[Arroyo Con Frijoles]

I (painfully at times) watched quite a bit of Sunderland this past year, mostly because of Jozy, but it was a fun enough ride seeing them stay up, even if by the end Jozy couldn't even get in the squad.  I typically just end up trying to catch national team players when they're on and watching whatever random meaningful matches NBC decides to put on every weekend.  You can't force an emotional attachment after all, and although I watched a lot of Fulham when Dempsey was there, the feeling didn't say with me once he left.  God bless John Henry and all, but Liverpool fans won't let me join their club because I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Everton.  
 
So the Revs are my club soccer religion even though they play far away in a way-too-big stadium, and the BPL is just a nice way to start a weekend morning.

 

[teddykgb]

You're like David, if his rich father had hired a bunch of giants to beat up Goliath.

this sounds awesome. Davids dad was a neglectful and unloving jerk.

 

[Infield Infidel]

 
If you want to upstage all of the self-proclaimed masochists rooting for Newcastle and Spurs, you should really take a harder look at 1860 Munich.

Ossie sent me the most incredible, richest, descriptive PM when I asked him about 1860 Munich. I don't know if I can post ut since he was banned, but I'll PM it to anyone who asks

 

[sachmoney]

I don’t really think it matters who you follow so much as it’s knowing that you’re going to be able to keep up with the sport. We seem to get these threads every year and it’s great as we’ve seen more voices speak up in the forum. The funny thing is that that Simmons article comes up and what bothers me most about that article is that he picked his team and has never really spoken a word about them since. For me, there is the decision to root for a club, then the gradual process of becoming a "better" fan. It's not something that happens over night. If you’re only watching them once a month or just keeping up with the standings, you’re probably going to care about the team you choose a lot less than you would if you watched every game. This won’t always be true, but it certainly will be at the start because not rooting for the local team is kind of unnatural. The bond you form with that club comes from experiencing the highs and the lows. At least, that was the case for me. That's also not to say that you have to choose a club right away. But the process of going from very casual to more of the die hard variety takes time and commitment.
 
The more time and energy you put into following the club on a day to day basis, the more it will affect you, both positively and negatively. With the way the sport is covered, there is so much more to pay attention to than just the results on the pitch. You can follow the club culture, what the fans are doing at the games (tifos, etc.) and what type of people they are (e.g. socially or politically). You can follow the club’s finances and how they spend their money.  You can follow the players. There are so many elements associated with a club that can lure you to become a fan. I would say that following the team day to day is what made me care about Arsenal as much as I do with the Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, or Celtics.
 
With the EPL on NBC nowadays, I'd say that it's best to watch and figure out what draws you. I mean, Spain, Germany, Italy, etc have good leagues and teams too, but the EPL is the easiest to get into, in my opinion, because of its access-ability as far as being on TV and those folks over there speaking the same language. As a sports fan, there should be a team that draws you in. If you're the type that needs to have a team in the fight to get into it, may be you should do more research on the various teams and see what about the club appeals to you so you have an idea of the team you'd like to root for before making that decision.
 

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Ossie sent me the most incredible, richest, descriptive PM when I asked him about 1860 Munich. I don't know if I can post ut since he was banned, but I'll PM it to anyone who asks

I'd be interested to see that if you don't mind PMing it.

 

[djhb20]

Of course, if you get beIN sports, you get a lot d La Liga and Serie A too, no?

I do watch a fair amount of different stuff, but my issue is the inability to commit because I don't have that strong link to anyone.

 

[Cellar-Door]

I think we can all agree that if you decide to support one of the Russian clubs like Zenit or CSKA you are dead to us.

 

[Zomp]

Well, yeah. Forgive me, but following a Championship division club is really not what I want to be doing.

There have been lots of good suggestions, but I think it'll be hard to pick something out of the blue. Probably just need to start watching more matches and see who I am drawn to. Which, obviously, wouldn't be Man U.

 
I didn't write clearly enough.  I guess I found it funny that you can't think of a good reason to pick a club, but if Blackburn was in the top flight you'd pick them because of your last name...as if having the last name which is the same as the club is a good reason.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Anthony Manchester

 

[teddykgb]

Anthony Salford?

 

[djhb20]

Well, I guess I should add that because of the last name "connection," I've followed them on and off forever, but only to the extent that I'd check in on the tables and everything.

I've had a Rovers jersey in my closet for years. I guess I should've started trying to follow the EPL a few years ago. Now, I'm SOL.

 

[canderson]

If you want to upstage all of the self-proclaimed masochists rooting for Newcastle and Spurs, you should really take a harder look at 1860 Munich.

If I wanted to root for a team on the brink of dissolving I'd root for the Bills.

 

[Gunfighter 09]

I fell into liking Spurs because of a passionate Spurs fan cousin and Bale's incredible run in 12/13, specifically the cup match against Lyon that he won on the last kick of the match. I think if they had not choked against Basel or LFC during that run and actually won the Europa cup or finally finished ahead of Arsenal I would follow a bit less passionately than I do now. I foolishly had a lot of hope coming into this season, so it was funny to watch the other Spurs fans here go negative on this year's debacle so much sooner than I did. That article by Bill Simmons that is linked above actually has some pretty decent logic in terms of criteria for picking a BPL team. You want a team that won't get relegated, London is a much easier town to convince the wife to visit someday than, say, Newcastle, and don't pick ManU are all sound advice.
 
Surprisingly, now I spend more time following THFC and the USMNT more than any sport but the NFL. Some of that has to do with living in Hawaii / being deployed to Okinawa, where the timezones make it easier to watch a London based soccer team than a Boston based baseball team. Some of that has to do with the fact I can't enjoy watching the sad and pathetic end of my favorite ever NBA player's career. But I think most of it is how exciting the fun to watch the matches are and how much more interesting the offseason / player acquisition process is in European soccer than any US sport. The great job that NBC did with the Premier League matches, and how easy Fox & Bein make watching the Champions and Europa Leagues certainly help as well. 
 
I don't have a MLS team that I root for, but I am going to spend the next year or so figuring that one out.

 

[Gunfighter 09]

Of course, if you get beIN sports, you get a lot d La Liga and Serie A too, no?

I do watch a fair amount of different stuff, but my issue is the inability to commit because I don't have that strong link to anyone.

 
 
Yes, it can turn a Sunday into five straight soccer matches - 3 x BPL on NBC, followed by La Liga then Serie A.  Considering how distinct and fun to watch the top three Spanish teams were this year, I found myself budgeting my time to lean towards the La Liga game over a non Spurs BPL game. 

 

[SoxFanInCali]

City is getting a raw deal here.  We're busting up the traditional top 4! We're like David, if David had enough money to buy a really fucking awesome slingshot.

The "traditional top 4" was in place for less than a decade.  Chelsea hadn't won in 50 years before Roman showed up, Liverpool didn't do much in the 90's, and Arsenal were pretty inconsistent at the beginning of the Premier League era until they won it in 98.  Basically, Liverpool won almost everything in the 70's and 80's, then Man U dominated until the oil money showed up, but the teams that challenged changed a lot (Leeds, Villa, Newcastle, Blackburn, heck, even Norwich City came in 3rd in 93).
 
Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man U were the best supported teams, then when Roman bought Chelsea they were the top 4 for a few years, but I'd hardly call them "traditional".

 

[sachmoney]

Ossie sent me the most incredible, richest, descriptive PM when I asked him about 1860 Munich. I don't know if I can post ut since he was banned, but I'll PM it to anyone who asks

Would love to see this.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

"Even Norwich City." We beat Bayern at their place for crissakes!

Heady times. Sadly long past.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

"Even Norwich City." We beat Bayern at their place for crissakes!

Heady times. Sadly long past.

That took 2 minutes, do you have a board alert for whenever a Canaries post is made?
 
I also realized I never even mentioned Spurs, but URI will probably ban me if I tell the food poisoning story again.

 

[URI]

I'm puking and shitting in your beer in a few weeks.

 

[teddykgb]

The "traditional top 4" was in place for less than a decade.  Chelsea hadn't won in 50 years before Roman showed up, Liverpool didn't do much in the 90's, and Arsenal were pretty inconsistent at the beginning of the Premier League era until they won it in 98.  Basically, Liverpool won almost everything in the 70's and 80's, then Man U dominated until the oil money showed up, but the teams that challenged changed a lot (Leeds, Villa, Newcastle, Blackburn, heck, even Norwich City came in 3rd in 93).
 
Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man U were the best supported teams, then when Roman bought Chelsea they were the top 4 for a few years, but I'd hardly call them "traditional".

No surprise that a Liverpool supporter showed up with a history lesson

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Quiet, you.
 
At least Chelsea didn't win it.

 

[teddykgb]

Yeah, thankfully they let it slip

 

[SoxFanInCali]

I liked you guys better when Robbie Fowler was missing penalties to keep you out of Europe.

 

[Julius.R]

I'll try not to reiterate what has already been said. In my opinion the best way to pick a team is to let it pick you, watch games, but more importantly read up and watch their history. When I was looking for a team I narrowed down my picks to Arsenal, Spurs, and Liverpool. I picked Liverpool because FSG purchased them, but more importantly because I felt connected to their games, their wins, and their losses. The 2004 Champions League Final had me in tears when I watched it online and I knew LFC was the team I was going to support through thick and thin. It doesn't matter who you pick, be it Cambridge City, AFC Wimbleton, Plymouth Argyle, or Liverpool; the key is loving them and sticking with them through every glory and every painful miss. I'd also suggest following your local NASL (or lower league) team as well since while their games are much lower in quality than the MLS, it all starts through the grassroots. 
 
You could also try to tie your heritage back to specific cities and support one of their local teams.

 

[DJnVa]

As to which MLS team to follow, I can't settle. You'd think it'd be the Revs but it just hasn't happened. I want to think maybe Seattle or Portland because they seem to have the largest and most passionate fanbases and I'm a Clint Dempsey fanboy.
 
When the WC is over, I'm going to figure it out.

 

[Luis Taint]

For the people who have chosen an EPL team, how much does a bad loss really bother you? And conversely, how much does a great win excite you? I have a hard time believing that it approaches Red Sox, Pats, Bruins, or Celtics level for many. Basically, if Liverpool lost an EPL title like the US "lost" yesterday, does that even remotely approach Helmet Catch, Aaron Boone, 2010 NBA finals, 2013 Stanley Cup, etc? I just don't see how it would.

Now, that's not to say that I don't think a rooting interest can't be cultivated over time but I have a hard time imagining that similar passion can be created or developed over time. To me, rooting for an EPL team that I arbitrarily selected would be the equivalent of rooting for my brother's college. Yes, I'd like for them to win but if they don't, it will have no impact on my mood. Wish I had that level of zen with the Boston teams or my own school.

When NBC bought EPL right, I selected Arsenal because I had watched a few games back in the day with Henry. I made it a point to wake up for every game this season and enjoyed the hell out of it. I found my self getting pissed off of the games I couldn't watch because they were on FS2. I am also getting fairly pissed off that the only transactions that are happening this transfer window are people leaving. I am getting angry in a way that I don't get with the big 4 in the US.
 
P.S Arsenals second game against Man U really pissed me off.

 

[Investor 11]

First off, let me say that this thread is a great thing to see.

Once NBC picked up the contract I chose Liverpool, for obvious reasons. Through the season, I learned that I cared more about soccer than I belived.

I have a good friend who is friends with one of the owners of Derby County of the Championship League. I started following them last season, and paid much more attention to them this season. The level of disappointment I felt when Bobby Zamora scored his 90th minute goal was something I couldn't have believed if someone had told me even a few months prior.

 

[luckiestman]

Ive been trying to pick a squad since 98. Hasnt worked so far. Any chance Jermaine Jones makes it out of Turkey with his great WC performance because I'd like seeing him play on a larger stage? Im close to nyc so nycfc seems like a good choice but their ownership is already questionable and as self loathing jets fan, I will not choose a club if I don;t like ownership., I hope im wrong about nycfc. Dont follow red bulls cause I dont want to drive. 
 
Would love connecticut to get a team, but doesnt seem like it is on the radar.

 

[mgoblue2]

It would probably be hard to find games to watch but, solely in terms of diversifying the content on this forum, it would be awesome if a couple people started seriously following Italian teams.  There are so many great players in Serie A but there is almost no discussion or individual team threads for Juventus/Milan/Inter/Roma/Napoli/etc.

Either Sid Lowe or Paolo Bandini write excellent roundup on the Guardian each week. I just follow generally when it comes to Italy and Germany. France isn't on my radar.

Everton just kinda came to me. They're a lot like a less successful Michigan to me. Bunch of tradition and history, I guess I'm into that stuff. It's all about what traits of the team appeal to you.

 

[Nick Kaufman]

It just seems wrong to pick a team without a good reason too.
 

 
Dude, I picked most of my teams when I was 6-8 years old based on whether I liked their kits or not. It's not who you pick, it's the journey.
 
Nowadays, I tend to like teams that play an attractive brand of football and not like teams that just spend gazilions to get on the top. As always, having a snazzy kit doesn't hurt!
 
But there are idiosyncratic factors at play with everything. I think I could become an AC Milan or an Inter fan, but really I can't root for a Berlusconi owned team; OTOH, Inter are a bit of communists and that's not my thing. Lazio have an association with fascist politics. I also don't like either San Siro or the Olympico as stadiums.

In Spain I got hooked with Valencia because they had a couple of years where they played magnificent football in the early oughts plus I liked their unis and stadium. But really, I only follow them casually and I don't care. But I still prefer them over the two bigs.

In Germany I rooted for Bayern Munich when I was a kid - again because of the unis- but I don't like them these days because they re sort of the Yankees of Germany. I much prefer Dortmund who got out of financial difficulties by hiring a visionary coach and developing young talent. Plus their arena has one of the best atmospheres in Europe.
 
And so on and so on. Like I said, it's a bit arbitrary in the start, but then it's how much effort you put into following a team.

 

[Nick Kaufman]

For the people who have chosen an EPL team, how much does a bad loss really bother you? And conversely, how much does a great win excite you? I have a hard time believing that it approaches Red Sox, Pats, Bruins, or Celtics level for many. Basically, if Liverpool lost an EPL title like the US "lost" yesterday, does that even remotely approach Helmet Catch, Aaron Boone, 2010 NBA finals, 2013 Stanley Cup, etc? I just don't see how it would.
 

 
The truth of the matter is that fandom ebbs and flows. In the past 15 years I ve alternated between baseball, football, basketball and soccer depending on each team's story line. I was pretty bummed out about Liverpool's loss versus Chelsea last year, because I spent the year following them closely. I was very upset by the Celtics' losses versus the Heat, but I wasn't really happy when they won the championship because I barely followed them in 2008.
 
The amount of joy and sorrow you get depends on the amount of effort you put in into following a team.

 

[cjdmadcow]

I think we can all agree that if you decide to support one of the Russian clubs like Zenit or CSKA you are dead to us.

 
Tomorrow (6/25) is the first anniversary of a trip I made on the Trans-Siberian railway, starting in St Petersburg. I picked up a Zenit shirt while I was there, not realising at the time the racist nature of the club so I've hardly worn it since in public.

 

[Tony the Pony]

I'd watch Champions League games with him starting with, I think, the 1997-98 tournament -- I remember 1.FC Košice playing for some unknown reason. I pestered my parents into subscribing to the package with Fox Soccer Channel 

 
I remember that as well. Group stage with Juventus, Man Utd, Kosice and Feyenoord. Two weeks after beating Juventus in Rotterdam, I was one of the 2000+ people at the match in Kosice, where Van Bronckhorst scored the only goal. British fans here probably remember the tackle by Bosvelt on Irwin which also happened in that group stage
 
Late 1997 indeed! 

 

[soxfan121]

As to which MLS team to follow, I can't settle. You'd think it'd be the Revs but it just hasn't happened. I want to think maybe Seattle or Portland because they seem to have the largest and most passionate fanbases and I'm a Clint Dempsey fanboy.
 
When the WC is over, I'm going to figure it out.

 
I know you know this but others should be prepared for the VAST difference in quality of play. The World Cup is the best of the best; no league*, and especially not MLS can be held to that standard. 
 
*Certain team matchups can - Barca v. Real, Bayern v. Dortmund, Chelsea v. Man City.

 

[OCST]

My soccer journey started in 1977, going to games of the Connecticut Bicentennials of the old NASL in the Yale Bowl.  I remember actually following NASL in the papers at the time, even after the Bicentennials left.
 
That got me interested in the game, but after the NASL died, there wasn't much of an outlet.  I followed the USMNT in World Cups, but not too diligently.
 
My fandom of the USMNT got a boost due to life circumstances.  In 2006, I was studying for the bar exam during the '06 WC.  Bar exam review courses = listening to crushingly boring lectures for hours on end (some of which aren't even live; you're watching a lecture on videotape).  Following the World Cup online was much more interesting, and I got hooked.  (I did pass the bar).
 
The 2010 World Cup took place right after the birth of my daughter, and I was home a lot to watch the games.  My wife and I were totally swept up in it, and I followed it closely. 
 
Then, in the fall of '10, we fell into a pattern where I would get up early with the baby on Saturday mornings, so my wife could sleep - and the Premier League was on TV.  So I started watching it with increasing interest.  The community here was very helpful in helping me learn more about the game.
 
Because I had followed the USMNT, I gravitated toward Everton, because they had Tim Howard, and for a while, Landon Donovan.  Plus they felt comfortable to me as a Red Sox fan - rich history and tradition, devoted fanbase, but still something of an underdog.  Plus I liked their kit.
 
So I'm an Everton fan now.  That's just the way it happened.  I tried a few other teams on for size.  I don't despise Liverpool like a good Toffee should - I like their story and admire the devotion of their fanbase  - but rooting for Liverpool just felt like bandwagon-hopping, and I never got into it.  None of the London teams ever really got hold of me.  Everton was the one that stuck.
 
I do take interest in other Premier League teams from time to time.  Crystal Palace this year - I loved the way they got it together in the middle of the year and started playing really solidly together as a team, going from the relegation zone to mid-table (fletch discussed this a lot this year).  Plus I like their kits, especially their away kit.  I also watched Sunderland's effort to avoid relegation with a lot of interest, partially because of Jozy.  As with American leagues, there's always a couple of intriguing stories going on with teams other than your personal favorit.
 
I also follow the USMNT closely through CONCACAF qualifying, Gold Cup, etc.  I also watched all of Euro '14 that I could.
 
I haven't really gotten into any of the other European leagues (Serie A really bothers me, because of the racism and the ultras - I know other leagues are not innocent of this, but it's really bad there).  I live in NYC and have been to Red Bulls games - I love the stadium and the fans, but I confess to being a little turned off by a team named so expliclity after a product.  I'm excited for NYCFC, but remain leery because of the Yankees connection.  As with everything else soccer-related, the forums here are great for learning more about MLS and helping me follow it better.  I will now watch a game between two random MLS teams and enjoy it.
 
With the (excellent IMO) Premier League coverage on the NBC networks, it's easy to follow, and as I found with my daughter and others have mentioned, it fits perfectly in the Saturday-Sunday sports calendar on the East Coast in the fall - you can get in a game (or sometimes two) in the early morning, before American football starts.  If you've been following this year's World Cup with interest, you'll know a lot of Premier League players - every good World Cup team has at least a couple of players in the league (and England does too, obviously).

 

[DJnVa]

I'm also trying to pick up teams in other leagues--and I'm trying to pick teams that are more mid-table. What's the use of being a big fan of Bayern (although I like them) and Barcelona and then watching them go head to head in the biggest competition?
 
I'm also interested in following English teams that aren't in the Premier League--kind of latched onto Tranmere (no idea why--maybe they responded to a tweet or something).
 
I've also thought about my Tottenham fandom--would I pick them if I was coming into it now? I don't know (for some reason I think I'd go with Everton), but I also know I can't change. I don't mean that in a "once you have your team, that's your team forever" kind of way, but in the "I could no sooner switch from the Red Sox" kind of way. I also admit that if I was coming into baseball right now I likely wouldn't pick the Sox either ("They pretty much always win--don't be a bandwagon fan!")

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

That took 2 minutes, do you have a board alert for whenever a Canaries post is made?
 
I also realized I never even mentioned Spurs, but URI will probably ban me if I tell the food poisoning story again.

 
I have to defend the few big moments we've ever had. Someone's got to do it.

 

[Merkle's Boner]

OCST's comment about becoming an Everton fan due to Tim Howard parallels my becoming a Spurs fan due to Casey Keller playing for them back around 2000, and we just had a daughter we named Casey. For those of you falling in love with soccer, I would suggest to keep an eye on some of the USMNT players and see if any of them land with a club in one of the major European leagues.  This gives you an immediate rooting interest.  I'm not sure who may be in line for a transfer, but it's a thought.
 
By the way, our best European players have historically been Keepers.  Not only have Tim Howard and Casey Keller played in the EPL, but our backup goalie Brad Guzan starts for Aston Villa and Brad Friedel was the Lou Gehrig of the EPL for awhile. It may be worthy of a separate discussion, but for whatever reason (I think the use of our hands is something we are more comfortable with) the US has always had a first-class goalkeeper.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

OCST's comment about becoming an Everton fan due to Tim Howard parallels my becoming a Spurs fan due to Casey Keller playing for them back around 2000, and we just had a daughter we named Casey. For those of you falling in love with soccer, I would suggest to keep an eye on some of the USMNT players and see if any of them land with a club in one of the major European leagues.  This gives you an immediate rooting interest.  I'm not sure who may be in line for a transfer, but it's a thought.
 
By the way, our best European players have historically been Keepers.  Not only have Tim Howard and Casey Keller played in the EPL, but our backup goalie Brad Guzan starts for Aston Villa and Brad Friedel was the Lou Gehrig of the EPL for awhile. It may be worthy of a separate discussion, but for whatever reason (I think the use of our hands is something we are more comfortable with) the US has always had a first-class goalkeeper.

 
 

 
Not to mention Tony Meola's first class mullet.

 

[fletcherpost]

I like it when we have these threads. There's so many ways into the beautiful game. And it's not important at all to even support a team. But, its kinda of inventiable that after a while of watching the game you gravitate to one or more teams...of various leagues. of course on the other hand you might find a natural fit or an obvious choice. Like Rip mentioned...Liverpool, very easy for  Red Sox fan to gravitate to Liverpool FC, cos of the FSG connection. And to be fair Liverpool are a fine team to root for.  A  Big Club that's tasted European domination and sort of fell from grace in the premiership era. A community club that cares deeply about it's fans and not just cos of the whole Hillsborough thing.
 
Liverpool don't have the money that Arsenal, Citeh, Chelski and Man U have, but they are on the rise, have some great young talent and have the man you love to love or love to hate Louis Suarez, one of the true World Class talents who trancend the sport. Liverpool were the first team i got into when i watched Kenny, or King Kenny (Dalglish), score the winning goal in the European Cup v FC Bruges, he'd recently signed from Celtic FC.  (In the polarized world of 'are ye Celtic or Rangers' - i was Celtic, so making the leap to Liverpool was easy. And then of course seeing that they had other fine Scottish players was great. My feelings for Liverpool went a bit Lukewarm in the late 90's and noughties, but seeing this new crop of young players, and the new owners, and Suarez who is a joy to watch when he's not biting people...well it was great watching every Liverpool game last season, great to see them challenge again.
 
But I have a real soft spot for Newcastle, great city, great people...oh how they love their football and how they loved Shearer, and yet, they just can't win a fuckin thing. They have a shit owner Mike Ashley and they're up and down like a whoors knickers but they're a great team to support too. As are Sunderland, also football daft, from a deprived area up North, and yet 40,000 of them show up to watch their team play shite football...but now they have a fine manager in Poyet, ex of Chelsea and Spurs - (not The Spurs, just Spurs, or Tottenham Hotspur, or Tottenham, but not The Spurs.)
 
Spurs are a great team to root for. When i lived in London almost everyone I knew was a Spurs fan, not one Arsenal fan, and this was before they were a top 6 team. They play in a part of London that's multicultural, kinda run down in large areas, in stark contrast to their silky football, or the silky football they are known for, the 'in-house style' as it were.  Now they are known for short term management and spending lots of money on players who meet once a week to swap introductions, and sternly refuse to 'gel'.
 
Arsenal, or The Arsenal (yes you can call them The Arsenal and get away with it in the boozer) are south of Tottenham and the more fashionable club, they have more money, but they refuse to spend it...for the most part. Once upon a time fans sang with glee 1-0 (pronounced one nil) to the Arse-en-al over and over again, they cared not for style or flair, just results, and it is a results business. Not so long ago they had an abundance of French flair and some Dutch guy called Berkamp, who was a genius and loved to play for the shirt...now Arsenal sell their best players before they get a chance to love 'the shirt'.
 
Everton, now there's a fine team, with a fine manager Robero Martinez, enough reason to root for them. They have Ross Barkley...the great white hope, they have a Chairman who also produces West End Musicals (he does you know). They never have enough money but always compete. Back in the days of Kendall they used to win the league from time to time and cups too...now fans hope 'Bob' can return them to those lofty heights of yore.
 
Citeh have loads of cash, but the coolest fans, by that I mean Mark E Smith and Johhny Marr...Noel and Liam love em too, but Mark E is the real litmus test and the only celebrity fan who got to read the classified results...a real honour. Citeh, so long the poor relation of The Red Devlis are now the biggest club in Manchester and hatred of said Red Devils is more than a good enough reason to root for the billionaires of City...who do play some fuckin great fitba at the end of the day.
 
One can go on and on and on...so many teams to root for so many reason, the newb can just take a season of watching and waiting for the green shoots of affection to grow into a fond desire and a burning love for any team that takes the fancy, it matters not...cos there will be pain and misery no matter what team you root for...ASK ZOMP, who took half a season off this year and the Man U thread was poorer for his absence and his joy and his knowledge of all things United.
 
This year I am rooting for Raith Rovers, in the second tier of scottish non football. They are in the same League as Hibs, Hearts and The Gers, so Starks Park, two minutes walk from my old hoose and school is gonna be the place to be and I hope to watch some matches there with my mucker who is a season ticket holder and former ball boy. Sample song:
 
Oh no no no Geordie Munro
Oh no no no Bonnie laddie
I don't want to go
To Idaho
I'd rather stay home in Kirkclady
 
If that doesn't gie you chills, you dinnae hae a pulse neebor.

 

[djhb20]

And both Howard and Friedel have scored goals, so there's that too.

 

[fletcherpost]

Also, support local soccer. I'm making a real effort this year to support the Revs, even though their own ownership would probably they rather fucked off.

Finally, we have a lot of Spurs fans on the board (relatively). A friend of mine said that rooting for Arsenal is expecting a team you love to lose. Rooting for Spurs is expecting a team you hate to win...which I feel is pretty accurate.

So be prepared for that if you pick Spurs. fletch is more diplomatic about Spurs being a proper club than I am.

 
Can you please capitalize the above (in bold) in future please? The flagrant, insulting use of the lower case has me troubled and concerned, moving forwards.
 
The Spurs will be my 7th favourite team this season, after the mighty Raith Rovers, Liverpool, Celtic, Newcastle, Wigan, Everton and Norwich...shit 8th favourite team.

 

[Drocca]

I just read up on Spurs for quite a while, travelling around the internet. Christ, I'm sorry URI.

 

[ernieshore]

The Bundesliga is a great league to follow if you can get into it. Terrific stadiums, lively fans and atmosphere - even on TV (better than most EPL games, in my opinion), and obviously some pretty good teams to watch. Plus Fox will pick up the U.S. TV rights in 2015.
 
It is easy to say, but if you can go over and see a game, any game, in person you must do it. I've found that if you are unaffiliated just seeing a game there can turn you into a fan for the home team. And that's why I kind of follow FC Koln and Cercle Brugge.    

 

[Infield Infidel]

Since I read Trainspotting and wrote a few papers on it, I a) can understand what Fletch writes and b) have a soft spot for Hibs. I don't really follow them, or watch them, but I check the Scottish table every now and then to see where they are. They are pretty up and down too. Scottish cup final one year, then whooped in Europa League and relegated the next. 
 
Football is great, because there's so much of it. So many stories every year. Everton were fun to watch last season, and they have a manager who preaches exciting football and every non-top 4 club would love to have him. And maybe those top 4 too when he has more experience. 
 
edit- did not realize Hearts were also relegated. What a depressing rivalry. 

 

[Titans Bastard]

Since I read Trainspotting and wrote a few papers on it, I a) can understand what Fletch writes and b) have a soft spot for Hibs. I don't really follow them, or watch them, but I check the Scottish table every now and then to see where they are. They are pretty up and down too. Scottish cup final one year, then whooped in Europa League and relegated the next

 
Pretty crazy that the Scottish second tier ("Championship" now -- and they don't even have the excuse of being a separate entity like the Football League does) will have Rangers, Hibs, and Hearts.
 

Football is great, because there's so much of it. So many stories every year. Everton were fun to watch last season, and they have a manager who preaches exciting football and every non-top 4 club would love to have him. And maybe those top 4 too when he has more experience. 

 
As I like to say to my girlfriend, there's always more soccer.
 
Q: "When is soccer over?"
Me: "Never!"

 

[VORP Speed]

It's funny to hear a bunch of Sox fans saying they don't want to root for a team with big money. My baseball team has no money and no fans so I'm not looking to willfully choose poverty and misery when I get to pick a club. I want resources, the deck stacked in my favor, a transfer budget, stars on the jersey, history, cool uniforms, and most importantly corruption, lots and lots of corruption, putting its thumb on the scales in the favor of my happiness. Forza Juve!!