OT: That game the rest of the world calls "football"
by JonDowd on Jan 18, 2012 9:11 PM PST
Email
PrintI've never really been a fan of soccer, as we call it. Baseball, specifically The Giants, has always consumed a majority of my sports attention. The rest of said attention is taken up by the Niners and the Sharks (and every once and a while the Kings do something interest.
Soccer seems to be garnering more attention in America, specifically in the college/mid 20s crowd. I'm torn because I pretty much have to arbitrarily pick a team, something I've never had to do in my life. My geography and family loyalty have always dictated what teams I like from a young age.
I ask you people to help me arbitrarily pick my EPL team. I don't want to just pick Manchester United because i feel like its similar to just picking the Yankees/Celtics/Patriots. So help me pick a team in a similar vein to my current rooting interests.
go.
This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.
107 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Arsenal
They’re a great team with a cool name a lot of history and they actually develope their players
or if you dont want to pick one of the big 4 I would follow tottenham
hella cool fanbase
just dont follow man city
theyre like the Tutshill Tornados of the epl
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Come check out the McC Book Club Start Date 1/21
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 18, 2012 9:19 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Fulham or Everton
I like following Americans abroad and Clint Dempsey has done some exciting things for Fulham. Landon Donovan is on loan to Everton right now too. Both teams are pretty middle of the pack so you definitely won’t be accused of front-running. Everton does have better jerseys with the Chang beer sponsorship.
you missed the best american on everton
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Come check out the McC Book Club Start Date 1/21
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 18, 2012 9:47 PM PST up reply actions
Timmy Howard
He looked so sad on scoring this goal. His comments after the game showed he really felt bad for Bogdan. The wind was really doing crazy things this match.
Not to mention he is probably the best American in the EPL. Sorry Dempsey. Tottenham also has Brad Friedel for at least this season. But he already sounds pretty scouse. Too long abroad.
Bye Travis and thanks for 2010! Good luck with the Brewers!
agreed
I guess it depends on how you follow soccer, if you are a fan of the EPL just for its own sake (and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that) then you might go with a team like Tottenham or Arsenal. The way a lot of American fans like myself follow the game is that we are huge fans of the national team and follow national team players (and potential players) in various leagues around the world. A few years ago, when I really got into soccer, I picked Fulham because they had several American players and that was solidified with the exciting run they had to the Europa League final in 2010 and the fact that they named a bar at their stadium after Brian McBride, which is pretty much the greatest reason ever to pick an EPL team. They also have Clint Dempsey who has had the best European career ever for an American player, is in his prime and just keeps getting better, and is a hell of a lot of fun to watch.
by FluLikeSymptoms on Jan 20, 2012 9:08 PM PST up reply actions
Arsenal
They succeed through development, as opposed to just buying up players, similar to the Rays. Do not follow Tottenham. They are stupid and I hate them. I wouldn’t suggest Liverpool either, as they have Luis Suarez, who is a douchebag.
If you don’t want to follow one of the big 4 (although it’s becoming more of a big 6), I would go with Everton, Aston Villa (Nicknamed the Villains) or Newcastle.
It is much easier to follow a team such as Arsenal, Chelsea, etc, though. They get much more coverage, and their games are shows on FSC, as opposed to having to buy Fox Soccer Plus.
Carter Jurica!
"Has anyone really been for even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?"
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 18, 2012 10:40 PM PST reply actions
Also
Villa have some lesser known Americans, such as Guzan and Lichaj.
Carter Jurica!
"Has anyone really been for even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?"
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 18, 2012 10:41 PM PST up reply actions
Tottenham have an American goalie, Brad Friedel
Plus, they are by far the underdogs in the “big 6” EPL teams. They have a lot of money, but they misspend most of it on terrible players (sound familiar?) and they have a very “old-school” manager with a large head.
Ron Washington really Britta'd that Series.
Please follow my Twitter
by Murray, Present on Jan 20, 2012 1:59 PM PST up reply actions
Big 6?
Man, people really keep expanding the Big __ to include whoever they want. It’s still the Big 4. It’s just that Man City have replaced Liverpool in that group.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 25, 2012 7:40 AM PST up reply actions
Nobody.
They’ve only finished in the top 4 once in the past decade. And they are unlikely to this year since they still have to play most of the top teams away from home in the second half of the season.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 25, 2012 8:34 PM PST up reply actions
Arsenal are more like the A’s than the Rays. They develop their players and then sell them off before they can actually win anything. Then they take that money to buy a bunch of 16 year old Frenchmen to start the cycle over again.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 25, 2012 7:38 AM PST up reply actions
I enjoy not having a team.
I’m one of the famed neutrals. Some are definitely more fun to watch and follow than others. There are also fun teams to watch in Spain and Italy.
The main thing I’d think about is whether or not you care if your team actually contends. There are probably 6 teams with any sort of shot at winning the league in the current setup, and that’s being generous. Amd like Graham says you can watch more of their matches. Around 6 teams are pretty safely midtable Premier League teams that will be there every year. And the rest will be consistently bottom-half….which is mostly boring football, can result in exciting relegation battles, and less exciting Championship Division matches.
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 18, 2012 10:49 PM PST reply actions
I could ask the same question. I have some general opinions though.
It’s gotta be a top-6 team, I just can’t invest in a team that will never win anything if it’s my 3rd or 4th favorite sport and I can rarely see a game.
I had FIFA 2000, and arbitrarily picked Chelsea because I liked their name and they were ranked the best.
I hate Man U. Rooney irks me, everyone in Asia roots for them, they win every year.
I like that Tottenham and Man U have broken into the Big 2/4/6 and injected a bit of uncertainty/parity.
go rowand
by lincypoo i wuv u on Jan 19, 2012 12:23 AM PST reply actions
Tottenham Hotspurs
Fun team to watch. Not a high salary team, but pretty good especially this year. Great fans.
Do not follow Arsenal. Douchy manager. Big time chokers.
Wilber Bucardo: Missing?
by gianator on Jan 19, 2012 3:07 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Don't let Rdnapp fool you.
They got some money.
Bye Travis and thanks for 2010! Good luck with the Brewers!
They seem to be saving their money to pay current players. Modric, Bale, (and Sandro soon). Parker was cheap. Friedal was cheap. Adebayor on loan. Lots of homegrown talent a la Giants.
Wilber Bucardo: Missing?
by gianator on Jan 19, 2012 6:53 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
at the moment I think Tottenham is one of the funnest teams in the league to watch, especially Gareth Bale, who is amazing. If I didn’t have established loyalty to Fulham and such an American-centric view of the game and I was just picking a team from scratch today I would probably pick Tottenham.
by FluLikeSymptoms on Jan 20, 2012 9:13 PM PST up reply actions
Newcastle United
Like the Giants, they have a relatively large market, dedicated fanbase and an amazing ability to screw things up. This has included, them being ahead of their rivals by 9 points and then totally collapsing while their manager has a breakdown on air, two of their players having an actual fight during a game, their owner streaking across the stadium for a bet…
Just, anyone who isn’t Man Utd or Man City please.
Sundrendy!
The Mighty Reds
Liverpool fan here. I married into supporting a team, so my choice was easy. Another team with great history (the most trophies in most competitions historically, recently passed by Man U in the league cups), a great local born captain and leader (Gerrard), and a big international fanbase (so you won’t necessarily be the only one supporting them if you pop round to the pub). And their current coach is a team legend. They’ve had controversy this year around a player using racism to incite an opponent, and the team supporting him as not a racist.
But if I was picking a futball team to support, I’d pick Barcalona. You can watch them on ESPN and the big Euro competitions (Champions League). And they have maybe the best player ever in Lionel Messi, with a team that can support his brilliance.
I think Man City and Tottenham have played the most attractive football in the EPL this season.
You might want to just try watching a few matches http://www.livesoccertv.com/competitions/england/premier-league/ as a neutral, and see if something fanny grows naturally.
Bye Travis and thanks for 2010! Good luck with the Brewers!
UribeNeeGonzales and I are over at SBNation http://www.anfieldasylum.com/ for Liverpool fans. Not a great sight though, unless you enjoy wallowing in pessimism, poor contracts and sad. I like http://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/ for his tactical breakdowns of matches.
Bye Travis and thanks for 2010! Good luck with the Brewers!
I got bored of watching Barcelona after about a month.
No one can beat them. There’s no excitement.
Carter Jurica!
"Has anyone really been for even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?"
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 19, 2012 11:19 AM PST up reply actions
The matches can be dull.
But watching Barca is like watching the best football, maybe ever. Do tennis aficionados get tired of watching Federer? I doubt it.
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. - SLC
I think Barca is an easy team to like
even though they’re a juggernaut, and kind of a cheap choice to root for, they have the best and most exciting players. Messi and Villa do amazing things.
I also like Inter Milan b/c of Wesley Sneijder, Bayern Munich b/c of Michael Ballack…as far as EPL teams go I like Chelsea.
But, in general, I only really get worked up for the World Cup.
by OrgoneDonor on Jan 19, 2012 12:58 PM PST up reply actions
I’ve followed Arsenal since the 70’s when your only soccer news and information came to you every Saturday on a PBS broadcast of “Soccer Made In Germany” (and when that weeks edition of Soccer America arrived in your mail box)
I’ve kinda stopped following the league stuff over the years and now only really watch during the World Cup. For that, I’ll wake up at 3am to catch a match live.
Adopted Giant: Eddie I Have It Grant.
TSFGWTWS DESPITE Botchy, not BECAUSE of him.
Arsenal
Something about their financial restrictions reminds me of the Giants. Super injury plagued, but they refuse to buy anyone.
WAIT BUT THEY’RE ALSO AWESOME. Seriously.
Proud father of Barry Zito. As long as he keeps throwing strikes, that is.
Tottenham Hotspur!
I started cheering for them because they have a funny name and my random answer of them won me a pub quiz.
1) Shakespeare connection (Harry Hotspur)
2) Play in London
3) Proud history
4) Just now (along with Man City) breaking into the upper echelon of EPL teams
5) Gareth Bale is a bad mammajamma
Bill Simmons came to many of the same conclusions. Though he may jump ship now that his Sawx bought Liverpool.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 19, 2012 11:15 AM PST reply actions
6) they sing "When The Saints Go marching In" in a slow-clap-style build
7) Their fans didn’t let anti-semitic chants dissuade them, and took the epithet ‘Yids’ on in defiance
8) (related to 4) They’re good enough to contend for the title without you feeling like a bandwagon-jumper.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 19, 2012 11:20 AM PST up reply actions
I would also point out
That the English thing to do would be to start following a hopelessly awful lower league side and attend all their matches while complaining.
Sundrendy!
Nottingham Forrest!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
Azmanz Bet: 1st HoF: Clemens > Bonds
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 20, 2012 9:58 AM PST up reply actions
Arsenal or Spurs...
But if you have to chose one international team to follow, make it Barça. They play the most beautiful football in the world.
I'm just a simple Niners fan trying to make my way in the universe.
by Tim Lincecum's Bong on Jan 19, 2012 12:43 PM PST reply actions
Barcelona also stands very distinctly for something (that something being anti-fascist), which is cool. It’s too bad that they have a sponsor on the front of their uniforms now; it was nice that they didn’t have one before.
Cash rules everything around me
C.R.E.A.M.
Get the money
Dollar dollar bill y'all
haha....impressive fan propaganda
Barca is anti-fascist……and of course, Real is pro-fascist. I do know the story, but I also really dislike how Barca fans (no offense) hold this up sanctimoniously. That stuff happened a long time ago in a world far, far away.
Frankly, in the past few years I’ve kind of fallen into the RM camp. While its like rooting for some combination of the Yankees and Catholic Church, I don’t think Barca has any sort of alternative claim to grassroots authenticity. Mourinho is the best guy in world soccer, like Bill Walsh with a dark side. And Barca’s playacting…..to me, its the worst, and Busquets is probably one of the 10-worst people in the world, makes his entire, fascinating, incredible team impossible to root for
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 19, 2012 2:25 PM PST up reply actions
Henry Ford sent Adolf Hitler money for his birthdays, IIRC.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 20, 2012 8:46 AM PST up reply actions
That was my point. Barca had a succession of Franquista presidents and the most influential player at the club in the 50s and 60s was Josep Samitier.
Besides, Madrid was the last city to fall in Spain, not Barcelona. There were and are left-wing Real Madrid fans, and Franco wasn’t really a football fan anyway.
I’m an Espanyol fan so I take this issue personally, since the jibe by English-speaking Barca fans (which you rarely hear in Spanish) is that all Espanyol fans hate Catalonia and love Franco.
Well, once the war was over, it’s hardly surprising that Franco had sycophants installed at the major corporations. But yeah, casting back to the opinions of people seven decades ago as proof of moral superiority is some serious laurel-resting.
They do have that whole Unicef sponsorship to their credit, though. That’s more modern.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 20, 2012 11:05 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, I knew Unicef was out.
It’s a foundation? Like a non-profit/NGO? I just assumed they were back to a major corp of some kind, like all the other teams.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 20, 2012 2:01 PM PST up reply actions
They never had a shirt sponsor before 2006. In fact, the UNICEF partnership is actually the team donating money to the charity and advertising them on their shirt. I think the Qatar Foundation is a similar thing.
Ron Washington really Britta'd that Series.
Please follow my Twitter
by Murray, Present on Jan 20, 2012 2:04 PM PST up reply actions
Nah
The Qatar sponsorship is mega-$$….I think the biggest sports sponsorship in the world, not just big money but a huge partnership with Barca-style academies opening through the middle east and such.
I would also guess somehow part of the deal was to change one of their away kits to black & yellow….colors that are a bit more popular and widely-used in the arabic world.
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 20, 2012 3:43 PM PST up reply actions
and as I quickly correct myself...
…whatever the case with Barca may be, Manchester City’s new sponsor deal with Etihad massively dwarfs any other deal in the world.
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 20, 2012 3:45 PM PST up reply actions
Hamilton Academical!
Me and DrStankus are already on board the Accies train. You should join, too, because the Premier League sucks and the Scottish First Division is much more interesting.
Cash rules everything around me
C.R.E.A.M.
Get the money
Dollar dollar bill y'all
by El Person on Jan 19, 2012 1:24 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
In Scotland
I’m an Aberdeen man, which i figured out by determining which team is closest to my clan lands.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 19, 2012 10:06 PM PST up reply actions
I posted this last April:
Tottenham Hotspur is a good club for many McCoven to support if you’ve no team in the EPL:
- Team name from Henry IV. Shakespeare’s character Harry Hotspur was based on a 14th century ancestor called Sir Henry Percy who owned land in the Tottenham area.
- The Logo is a cockerel (related to Harry Hotspur’s riding spurs). Fighting cocks are still fitted with miniature spurs (Hi Gallo).
- Took slur as nickname—purportedly, rival Arsenal fans began calling them Yids because of the large Jewish population in the area. Spurs fans accepted it as a nickname calling themselves the "Yids" or "Yiddos". (anyone know if this is true—it’s superCool).
- Ex-Hawkwind and current Bevis Frond bassist Ade Shaw is a Spurs supporter. (Frond frontman Nick Saloman supports QPR.)
One way or another, this darkness got to give.
Arsenal have just as many Jewish fans as Tottenham, so it wasn’t them.
Any sort of cool anti-discrimination cred they would have would be wiped out by the absolutely disgraceful things they chant to Sol Campbell.
You’re talking present day. This is part of their lore. But I really dont know. One of their fansites makes this claim.
One way or another, this darkness got to give.
It is their lore but it doesn’t stand up to the facts. North and East London are where most of London’s Jews historically lived, but Arsenal have just as many Jewish fans and West Ham (traditionally the East End’s club o’ choice) also have a sizable Jewish fanbase.
The Yids moniker is relatively recent as well, less than 30 years old. It’s not something that was popular when Tottenham had a significantly larger Jewish population than today. It probably started during the 80s when far-right movements openly recruited in football terraces, but Arsenal were one of the few teams with an anti-racist firm (mainly because their firm was led by a black guy, the famous Bear).
BTW, Chelsea are probably as good a guess as anyone. Chelsea and Tottenham hate each other, and Chelsea had a nasty, far-right-wing element.
Also, by most accounts....
….bin Laden was an Arsenal fan.
Also, most of those accounts were very shaky, but it still makes a great story.
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 20, 2012 3:44 PM PST up reply actions
Manchester United
-they are the most successful team in England, with 19 championships
-their manager is a 70 year old drunk Scotsman
-He’s a knight of the realm
-they have lots of adulterers, drug cheats, and general assholes on the team
I feel that Man U has gotten so hated in their behemoth status, that rooting for them is almost being rebellious in a way. Everyone seems to like Arsenal because of Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch, or Liverpool because they sing a showtune, but Man Utd get no love. Plus, with Man City becoming a Arab-financed juggernaut, they are actually underdogs now.
Ron Washington really Britta'd that Series.
Please follow my Twitter
by Murray, Present on Jan 20, 2012 2:14 PM PST reply actions
There's plenty to like about Utd.
They’re generally a hard-working, blue collar team in their current setup. Definitely NOT a big-spending team over past few seasons, though it helps that the club is largely staffed by once-expensive talent. Rooney is absolutely awesome, and while I’m sure I wouldn’t like the guy personally, is just about the hardest-working, bluest-collar superstar around who plays a totally unique game as far as big-time football goes.
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 20, 2012 3:48 PM PST up reply actions
And most of England despises Rooney as a thick as mince chav who plays for England, a team most of England also despises as full of thick as mince chavs.
who, though?
I like Rooney because he plays really hard and smart. The way he can score, and still gets back and plays defense and passes with the midfield…..there are few players around that do as many things as he does. I get into how mincy of a chav he is.
I’m not an Evra fan because of his France stuff, but other than that nobody on the team even rubs me the wrong way. Lots of pretty quiet guys. You have to like Berbatov. And as far as rooting for the Yankees…..I’m not buying their shirt. I like all the good teams, any team that’s entertaining is fine by me.
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 20, 2012 9:33 PM PST up reply actions
Not even United fans like Berbatov. Try harder.
"They'll put a man on the moon before I hit a home run." ~ Gaylord Perry
by calgiants86 on Jan 21, 2012 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
Ha
Berbatov is so awesome. Easily one of the most fun players to watch. I guess this is a good reason not to get caught up in these allegiances, its silly if you can’t enjoy the great players just cause they’re on evil teams.
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 21, 2012 5:32 PM PST up reply actions
Blue collar superstar?
I don’t think Rooney. Hair plugs. I’m trying to think who may actually be the biggest BCST. I think it may be too much of an oxymoron.
Better choices are probably not superstars. I’d put forward Nick Barnby for Hull City
Or one team players and genuine scousers like Gerrard and Carragher for LFC. Maybe Scholes or Terry (But everyone really does hate him). Danny Murphy for Fulham.
Bye Travis and thanks for 2010! Good luck with the Brewers!
Nick Barnby?
I loved his book about Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore at Fenway!
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 21, 2012 9:47 AM PST up reply actions
The hair stuff...
what clothes he wears, how many people dislike him….I just can’t get caught up on it. The only other guy in his class that seems to put out similar effort is Tevez, another guy I suppose everyone hates.
Actually, another guy you could say is Clint Dempsey, who seems to be turning into a favorite out there and is scoring as much as anybody these days. His defense is pretty clumsy though.
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 21, 2012 5:28 PM PST up reply actions
all that really needs to be said: they named a bar at Craven Cottage (their home stadium) after Brian McBride
by FluLikeSymptoms on Jan 20, 2012 8:58 PM PST up reply actions
Soccer seems to be garnering more attention in America, specifically in the college/mid 20s crowd. I’m torn because I pretty much have to arbitrarily pick a team
Do you?
Wherever I go, I’m a Galaxy fan, and it wasn’t any more arbitrary than any other sports following.
My son, so I'm told. And this stalwart young lad (Hi, free f.p. #14!).
Surely your favorite EPL team
is not the LA Galaxy.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 21, 2012 9:49 AM PST up reply actions
Of course not.
I missed the reasoning why it needs to be an EPL club.
My son, so I'm told. And this stalwart young lad (Hi, free f.p. #14!).
I can't tell if you mean you already went back and re-read the OP or not, but...
I ask you people to help me arbitrarily pick my EPL team.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 23, 2012 6:32 PM PST up reply actions
I meant that there was no reasoning for it, so I was wondering why it couldn’t be an MLS team.
I guess I was being obtuse. I’m not very good at it.
My son, so I'm told. And this stalwart young lad (Hi, free f.p. #14!).
I’ve pretty much got it narrowed down to Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur (Listed in alphabetical not preferential order).
Hopefully that helps narrow things down. The reasoning for the EPL team is its one of the easier European leagues to follow in America (televised games, pubs, etc)
I’d use their main chant/song to make the final decision. I find myself rooting for ManU cause they’re on so often (though the reasons you mention are solid for staying away), Everton for the Yanks abroad, and Tottenham for the aforementioned reasons.
My wife roots for Arsenal cause I bought her a Gunners jersey.
One way or another, this darkness got to give.
I can watch pretty much every Liverpool game here in NYC with the basic cable plus $5/month sports package. I can watch the 49ers Monday nights, versus the Giants, or playoffs. This was the first year I’ve seen more than one game since I’ve lived here.
Bye Travis and thanks for 2010! Good luck with the Brewers!
With a short list just watch a few matches
Watch a few matches from this list and see if any of the players or in-match drama pull your fan strings. Just whichever match is on when you roll out of bed in the weekend. Big Manchester United-Liverpool match this weekend in the FA Cup. The Liverpool-ManCity match today was pretty good too, if you see that on replay. Questionable referee decisions, “lead” changes, goals.
Except Everton. Don’t watch Everton. They have been horrible and boring this year, and I think they are in pretty big money trouble. So that will suck for them going forward. I will allow you to watch while Donovan is there.
Bye Travis and thanks for 2010! Good luck with the Brewers!
Do what I did a year ago. Start watching games, listening to podcasts, etc and see which team you gravitate towards. I ended up a Gooner because apparently I like misery. And coaches/managers that have issues with lineups.
Let's make it easy.
Choosing Man City, United or Chelsea would be like choosing the Yankees, Red Sox or Phillies. They’re always at the top (in recent years for City) and spend boatloads to do it.
Choosing Arsenal would be like choosing the A’s in the 00’s. Always in the running and looking like they just need one more piece to put them over the top. Then the sell their best players and put a bunch of kids on the field. It also works because they both had short runs of domination in the semi-recent past.
Choosing Liverpool (and I am a Liverpool supporter) would be like choosing, I don’t know, the Cardinals? Perhaps the Yankees in the mid-80s. They used to be the best EPL team in history. They’re still good but no longer truly elite.
Choosing Tottenham wouldn’t be bad. They’re likable.
In the end the only teams I would advise against are Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal. The first two because it’s clearly just frontrunning. The last because I don’t want you to want to punch yourself in the face every season screaming “would you just shoot already?!?!?”
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 25, 2012 8:07 AM PST reply actions
There is a lot to like about Arsenal
But the stuff we see a lot about them being comparable to the A’s…..you know Arsenal has like the 4th highest payroll in the league, right? They’re top-10 revenue team in the world……no doubt they’re cheap with transfers, but that is only part of the equation – they spend heavily in just about all other areas.
And really, if they hadn’t royally screwed themselves on their sponsorship deal a few years ago, their “principled” stance on transfer fees might not be as firm.
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 25, 2012 11:18 AM PST up reply actions
And as far as frontrunning.....
I’ve come to terms with my feelings of authenticity since watching soccer……who cares if you’re rooting for a good team? I’d rather watch entertaining, flowing soccer over a some salt-of-the-earth shitty team any day. Talent relentlessly flows upwards in soccer……following one of the no-chance teams is like watching minor-league baseball, which has never appealed to me.
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 25, 2012 11:21 AM PST up reply actions
So you’re cool with a friend who has never watched baseball before suddenly becoming a Yankee fan.
I don’t care who someone roots for. I just think they should make that decision because they like the team’s style or players or have some connection to it. Not just because they’re at the top of the table.
Rooting for a top team doesn’t make you a frontrunner. Rooting for them because they’re a top team does.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 25, 2012 1:46 PM PST up reply actions
like I said above...
I like watching entertaining soccer, played by the best players, the vast majority of whom are found at the top clubs. Euro soccer is the NBA on steroids…its a rare player that stays with the bottom feeders, talent tends to rise to its appropriate level of competition, and in the end the top-6 in the EPL (and probably top-4 in Spain and Italy) are the only ones playing solid and entertaining soccer.
To me, the allegiances are for the old days when you could either go watch the local team play, or watch the local team on the local TV station. Nowadays you can watch any team from any country, and the provincial stuff seems obsolete. Rooting for a bad team that plays boring soccer on a yearly basis is…….baffling.
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 25, 2012 2:56 PM PST up reply actions
I was really relieved when I found out my chancing into Tottenham
was revealed to be a sensible decision, neither frontrunning nor doomed for all the reasons you list.
LOLeeds
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 25, 2012 4:07 PM PST up reply actions
I do know Arsenal have the 4th highest payroll in the league. The part about the A’s is that they tend to unload their top players at their peak instead of keeping them together. For my Arsenal supporting friends it is a gut-wrenching cycle. They are incredible smart with their money in that they consistently field a quality team while making money hand-over-fist by developing youngsters, putting them in a system where they can perform well, and them selling them off. But one has to wonder if they wouldn’t be shining some silverware if they had held on to some of their stars. It seems they make the decision to be competitive instead of ever truly going for it. That said, this season they did change strategy a bit, even if some of their choices were a bit surprising.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 25, 2012 1:42 PM PST up reply actions
I mean, damn.
Rwandan President Calls for Wenger to Leave Arsenal
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 25, 2012 4:10 PM PST up reply actions
It seems like Arsenal doesn’t have any sand. No true grit. Fritter away leads. The manager “for life” the fans “would always support” being questioned. Especially the last year or so. It must be uncomfortable supporting them at the moment.
Bye Travis and thanks for 2010! Good luck with the Brewers!
Yeah, I don’t have a problem with Arsenal. They’re entertaining to watch. I just know a lot of Arsenal fans and they always seen to be in misery. Or Torture. Okay, maybe they are a good squad for a Giants fan to follow.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 25, 2012 8:37 PM PST up reply actions
when van Persie leaves this offseason....
….as is looking increasingly likely, things will change big time. Its apparent that players are too impatient, or alternatively, have too short a shelf-life, to put up with Wenger’s 3 or 5-year plans. They’re getting better offers, and taking them, which pretty much makes Arsenal’s strategy pointless.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Get a grip: Reds’ Todd Frazier loses bat, still connects for home run (Video)
- Eric Hosmer redefines the Baltimore chop with infield double (Video)
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
