So, the World Cup has me all riled up for some soccer. I live in Chicago, so I have some sort of soccer history with the Chicago Sting/Power from the 70's and 80's and somewhat follow the Chicago Fire. I can sit through and watch a 0-0 match and not feel "cheated" because someone didn't score a goal.
To all the forum members in England/Europe that follow soccer, specifically the EPL, I pose the most American of questions to you: How do I pick an EPL team to follow? Why the EPL? Mainly because it comes on ESPN here on Saturday mornings (just noticed it this season).
Some background on my sports fan-ism. Being from Chicago, I'm a Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls and somewhat Chicago Blackhawks fan. This could help in you suggesting a team for me to follow. The Cubs have not won a World Series title in over 100 years. The Bears were once considered one of the toughest teams in football in the 80's and then have basically been middle of the road since. The Bulls were the team of the 90's fell on hard times and have now tried to build themselves up to a contender. The Blackhawks built their recent Stanley Cup win from young in house talent with seasoned veterans to help mold them.
So what does that say? I want a team that is fairly successful or on the verge. A team with some history that I can research to better understand them. A team that doesn't "buy" championships and builds from within.
I don't want to follow Man U. Chelsea and Arsenal are considerations. Fulham has a lot of American players. I hear that Aston Villa is an up and coming team and I may sway towards them.
So what say you? Help me pick a team to follow in the EPL.
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P fan #1
Joined: Jul '07
Posts: 1,415Posted 16 years ago #Well I think Arsenal play the nicest football in the league.
They bring in young creative players who are very skillful.
They have a very intelligent manager, an amazing stadium, history, are one of the top teams in the country, the fans seem pretty chill and are Champions League champion material.
Aston Villa have American owners and a respected manager, although their style with always crossing can wind me up sometimes.
They have some good players... but at the end of the day its in Birmingham!
Chelsea have been accused of buying the League, have a shady Russian owner, poach players from other academies (West Ham) have an ageing squad, annoying fans that clap at stoopid points in the game.
Fulham are a middle of the league team, their manager Roy will probably be leaving... or so the rumours suggest.
Possibly to go to Liverpool. Fulham have a good squad but they wont amaze you.
Spurs... well its Spurs... but they have a good manager some top class players (Dos Santos will hopefully be making an appearance this season) they are Arsenals rivals (Both North London clubs). Play pretty good football, need a new stadium. They're in the Champions League (after some qualifying games). But their first game is against Man City...
Man City... rich but forever the underdogs... supporting Man City is just a feeling you have. Its a rollercoaster affair... one week we can beat Man Utd at Old Trafford then the next lose to a 10 man Blackburn side
City are building for the Future.
They are a club everyone has a soft spot for, because of their underdog status and everyone likes their kits. -
P fan #1
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,874Posted 16 years ago #Loudwon pretty much said it well. If i were you, I'd avoid Chelsea and Man U, they're just a bit dull... too predictable. Plus Alex Ferguson is an arse.
I would say, for me, the most exciting part of the league is just under the big guns, outside the top 4. Spurs, Man City and Villa are all quite exciting teams, with a lot of young talent and all trying to displace the big guns. Plus like loudwon says, man city and spurs both have champions league matches next season, so I'd personally go for one of them. -
P fan #1
Joined: Jul '07
Posts: 1,415Posted 16 years ago #Man City only have a Europa League place... but its still Europe.
Thursday night channel 5 la la la!
It might be fun to support a Championship team because it will be sweet if you get promoted to the Premier League.
But you'd have to wait for EPL football.
Here is the Premier League's website...
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Home/
If you click the clubs badges you can go to their websites.
Have a look to see who you like or who appeals to you.
And see if you can watch a couple of Premiership players in the World Cup to see what style they play coz that could sway it.
Peace. -
P fan #1
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 654Posted 16 years ago #The Spurs did play a nice season.
I also have a bit of a soft spot for Everton and they definitely know how to play the game, some top players too.
But, if you don't want it to be Arsenal, Chelsea or Man U. and want to see some good football, I would prolly go for Spurs. -
P fan #1
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,874Posted 16 years ago #F*ck the premier league, the Scottish Premier League is where it's at. Arguably the best league in the world. So good that we don't let the likes of David Villa, Messi, Torres, Kaka, Robihno etc come here, they don't meet our standard.
You could watch such great players as John Potter and David Weir, names known all over the world, even in countries where they don't play football...
Such amazing teams as St. Mirren, and Dundee United, not to mention the scintillating lower leagues with teams like Livingston, Gretna, Inverness Caley Thistle and Hamilton Academical. Giants in the world of football, forget your Real Madrids and your Barcelonas... -
P fan #1
Joined: May '05
Posts: 1,528Posted 16 years ago #you smoke dodo? said: F*ck the premier league, the Scottish Premier League is where it's at. Arguably the best league in the world. So good that we don't let the likes of David Villa, Messi, Torres, Kaka, Robihno etc come here, they don't meet our standard.
You could watch such great players as John Potter and David Weir, names known all over the world, even in countries where they don't play football...
Such amazing teams as St. Mirren, and Dundee United, not to mention the scintillating lower leagues with teams like Livingston, Gretna, Inverness Caley Thistle and Hamilton Academical. Giants in the world of football, forget your Real Madrids and your Barcelonas...
But can I watch them on TV? I don't want to be an "internet" fan of them and just check the box scores. I actually want to watch the games and become somewhat involved. -
P fan #1
Joined: May '05
Posts: 1,528Posted 16 years ago #A big part of my selection is whether or not I like the team colors/jersey. As superficial as that is, I just can't wear an "ugly" team jersey. I like classic/simple jerseys that stand the test of time. Classics like the NY Yankees, LA Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, etc. -
P fan #1
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,874Posted 16 years ago #ha ha, I was just kidding man, that was all for the benefit of Loudwon, the SPL is a total piece of sh!t.
I'd say go for man city mate, they'll be buying in some interesting players, they're exciting, they've got a sh!t load of money, and their strip is quite nice, sky blue-ish...
this is all the tops. Pretty dull selection eh? :-?
http://soccerlens.com/shirts/premier-league-shirts/[/url] -
P fan #1
Joined: May '05
Posts: 1,528Posted 16 years ago #you smoke dodo? said:
this is all the tops. Pretty dull selection eh? :-?
http://soccerlens.com/shirts/premier-league-shirts/[/url]
I like:
Arsenal (Home)
Aston Villa (Away)
Chelsea (Home)
Fulham
Liverpool
Manchester City
Tottenham -
P fan #1
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,874Posted 16 years ago #that's a pretty good choice man, but just watch out for any Tottenham Hotspur fan's you might run into, they'll probably try and start a fight. Arsenal have a good chance of winning the Premiership next time round, wouldn't you say Loudwon? -
P fan #1
Joined: Jul '07
Posts: 1,415Posted 16 years ago #Yeah I like Arsenal, I watch quite a lot of their games bcoz mates support them. I even went on a stadium tour to the Emirates and was smoking doobies outside
Such a nice stadium... you forget you're in London until you hear a train go by and its like... woooo this is cool!
Yeah Arsenal have a good chance... although the last few seasons I've tipped them for the Premiership or Champions League but they end up with injury problems... but they have a classy squad.
And now France are out of the World Cup lots of their players can rest up lol.
The only thing with supporting Arsenal is that now you're a gooner!
Yeah watch out for the Spurs fans, they're bad enuff as it is... let alone if you're a gooner.
It's good to have a rival team so you can watch derbies.
Man City Vs Man Utd
Liverpool Vs Everton
Arsenal Vs Spurs
Aston Villa Vs Birmingham
I support Man City.
I always liked them, but in early 2000's I stopped watching football.
But then got back into it, Man City had some players I rated and I'd always liked them so I started supporting them properly.
I know lots of Man Utd fans and we have good banter...
Its so much sweeter winning when your team isnt expected to.
Man Utd fans always expect to win, so losing must suck for them.
They suck anyway tho
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P fan #1
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,874Posted 16 years ago #GOONER GOONER!!!!
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