What club should I adopt as my favorite in the Premier League this year?

There is only Blackpool

Oh shoot, didn't see the second stipulation.

I would say Spurs, not just cos I'm a Spurs supporter-they tick all your boxes, and have just qualified for the major European club contest (Champion's League) for the first time, playing pretty great football. No shortage of drama.

Bonus- feature heavily in ILX debates/arguments.

Another contender- Liverpool have history, and they won't be in contention for anything. They do play awful football though, but there's a new (better) manager just taken over.

Either of those two will be appearing fairly regularly on TV so getting them on illicit streams is also fairly easy.

im gonna start pretending to give a shit about the tottenham spurs because of the san antonio spurs and pretend like they are sister teams

thanks darragh, the TV angle is also big -- I should have added that as a prereq! since at least the justin.tvs of the world show replays given the time delay!

don't take my word for it, i'm not exactly neutral.

voted for Blackburn because it'd be fun to have a Big Sam stan, now feel guilty after seeing Darragh's earnest helpfulness.

spurs or everton

sheffield united not on the list for what i can only assume are hateful reasons

gonna be relegated straight away, innit?

jeez how on earth could it be 'fun' to have a big sam stan? that's be like some sick initiation ceremony where you hung a rookie with bacon and throw them into a bearpit

ILX needs a Wigan Athletic fan

NOOCASTLE MON

i have a bad feeling this poll will have me rooting for some club that has 3,000 fans worldwide.

Arsenal, Spurs, Man City, Liverpool are in contention to make it ot Champions' League. City are popular in Manchester and have a lot of new players coming in. Arsenal have excellent finances for a big side that hasn't been taken over by a foreeign oligarch or nabob and they play some lovely football at times. Spurs have improved in recent years and can be a lot of fun to watch. 'Pool are just about to be overtaken as the winningest team in top-flight English football but their star forward, Torres (of Spain) has been struggling w/injury and post-operation recovery and their long-standing mgr has just left. Villa and Everton are good-to-middling sides that won't likely break your heart but won't leave you with too many euphoric ones. They are both very ably managed by well-respected men.

My team isn't in the Premier League so I tend to root opportunistically; often against Man U (except against Chelsea) unless their football is too attractive to slag off. Incidentally, if you're American, Dempsey and Eddie Johnson play for Fulham, giving them exposure to high-quality football that the US team needs, so I often root for them (or at least Dempsey) to win.

We really, really, really need a Newcastle supporter on the board, and I think they fit your criteria perfectly. I would love it - love it - if you chose them now*. Liverpool, Villa, Spurs and Everton we have covered. The only other sensible choice is West Ham imo, but they may well be relegated this year - though that's kind of fun in its way too.

* this is a historical gag that will be revealed if you take me up on this

discount 1 vote for blackpolol, add 1 to spurs due to my hastiness

hahaha wait of course Newcastle United is the right answer

--No sad sack clubs that will just get relegated.

Waiting for someone to say "Clearly you don't understand football supporters at all."

im gonna start pretending to give a shit about the tottenham spurs because of the san antonio spurs and pretend like they are sister teams

― ॐ nom nom (m bison), Wednesday, 14 July 2010 15:25 (16 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

lawl I did this in reverse when they briefly showed the NBA on terrestrial TV here, when I was about 13

discount my Wigan Athletic vote

Everton imo

I think, for a discerning fan, Fulham, Villa, Everton have a cache that will mark you out as something of a connoisseur to thos in the know abroad.

I will go with whatever the official final poll tally is, because voyeurs shouldn't be liars. but um I'll try to remember to discount the votes of the two people above but nobody else!!!

hmm yes i am interested in following a club that will make everybody think higher of me

Wigan are a bit of an anomaly; rugby region football club where most if not many of the local prolly support Man U.

San Te, where are you?

xxp not newcastle then

united states, in the midwest (commuting back and forth between Illinois and Indiana)

Word of advice:

Don't go with the final tally. It will be a joke vote to trick you. Read the discussion and go where that leads you. ILX football posters are a nasty bunch.

Spend a season just watching soccer and see whose style of play or stadium or fans or whatever appeal to you most.

Picking a favorite sports franchise out of a hat without any real connection is pretty much a guaranteed failure.

If you're in the Midwest already, why not go for the Columbus Crew? Then you could package together West Ham (I think that's their friendly/sister club).

Bonus to West Ham: you get that movie with the hobbit.

heh i haven't quite got around to the MLS angle yet, figured i'd take one step at a time. thanks for the idea though, very intriguing.

Spend a season just watching soccer and see whose style of play or stadium or fans or whatever appeal to you most.

Loading all the bases towards spurs here btw

Wigan are a bit of an anomaly; rugby region football club where most if not many of the local prolly support Man U.

... or Liverpool

Thinking out loud, a couple of things:
-- might consider team's frequency of Special Matches, ie classic derbies, historical grudge matchups etc;
-- team based in major city may be useful if you ever travel to the UK and feel like trying to get to see your team;
-- am curious about Ismael's Newcastle point; was going to mention them since they are in the interesting just-returned-after-one-season-down position.

I'll just out my prejudices here and say that amongst many of my football following friends, much of this stems not just from the team but the team's supporter culture. Here in SF, I generally loathe the Chelsea supporters, generally tolerate the Man U supporters (esp the long-term ones) and the Gunners (Arsenal) fans. Most of the other supporters have very specific reasons for supporting whomever they do; family or connections or whatever. Newcastle fans are somewhat like England fans imo, they have a far higher opinion of their club than it deserves and a far higher expectation of them. I have a few Magpies fans who are salt of the Earth, but too often I can feel my eyes rolling back in my head when Newcastle fans prattle on...

Also, listen to Darraghmacand vote based on watching games and reading the thread. Have you got FSC or access to it?

Arsenal
If you want to be spectacularly irritating and admire pretty football that never ever wins anything.

Aston Villa
If you want a young, exciting team of mostly English players with a very good and likeable manager and a chance of the big time. Also some moral high-ground for being sensibly run.

Birmingham
If you are the most boring man in the world.

Blackburn Rovers
If you don't really want to see or say anything of interest for a season.

Blackpool
If you're all about plucky underdogs and the most quotable manager in the country.

Bolton Wanderers
I can't actually think of any reason why you'd choose Bolton.

Everton
See Aston Villa above, with the added bonus of Mikel Arteta who is one of the best players in the league. Also someone needs to share Steady Mike's pain.

Fulham
More plucky underdogs, although I think you may have missed the boat on this one.

Liverpool
Officially now also plucky underdogs. This season can't be much worse than the last one.

Manchester City
If you want batshit thrills and and absolute boatload of money and the genuine possibility of potentially becoming one of the biggest clubs in the world at some point.

Newcastle United
If you like chaos, comedy, disappointment and standing in the rain bellowing with your gut hanging out.

Stoke City
If you want that periodic giantkilling feeling and don't mind not having things like attractive football or 11 players on the pitch.

Sunderland
There is no reason to bother with Sunderland.

Tottenham Hotspur
What Darragh said, they're on the up and will be exciting this season.

West Bromwich Albion
If you want to play attractive attacking football all season, get smashed and then go down.

West Ham United
Do you like chirpy cockneys, bubbles, racism and porn star barons? If so West Ham are your team.

Wigan Athletic
They might unearth one kid who'll go onto signing for Man United.

Wolverhampton Wanderers
Noodle Vague will like you.

yep I do have FSC

Matt DC OTM, apart from Spurs

Columbus Crew? Bullshit, I say. FIRE.

(xps to San Te/milo z)

Come to a Fire match and I will buy you a beer.

Bolton Wanderers
I can't actually think of any reason why you'd choose Bolton.

The fact they've been cheerfully punching above their supposed weight for many seasons now, are playing better football than ever, and have an array of likeable players who occasionally get it together against the big sides?

If you like your football brave and simple and unadorned by excess wealth, you'll love the Evertons and Villas and Fulhams.

If you want flash, you'll like whoever has at present, likely Chelsea or Man U (though either can be efficient but dull at times). Man City have a lot of new signings this year and you'll get in good with a certain kind of Mancunian for not being a United fan.

Fwiw, the only time I root against West Ham is if they're playing my team. I have no idea why this is.

Bolton also have Owen Coyle

On balance I think you should go for Spurs, Villa, Everton or Liverpool.

Man City have a lot of new signings this year and you'll get in good with a certain kind of Mancunian for not being a United fan.

I don't think so, not joining up after they became the richest team on earth. Best to avoid City imo.

Actually, Matt DC pretty much spot on up there.

English clubs with American first-team players fwiw:

Everton
Villa
Fulham
Bolton
West Ham

In all serious, San Te, PLEASE ignore the results of this poll; ILX has a LOT of Spurs fans and they're inevitably going to distort the poll. I say this as someone whose Premiership team is Spurs. If you are to choose, do it as Milo says, based on observation.

The downside to supporting West Ham is that I will start liking you less :D

Somebody up thread mentioned history and derbies (local rivalries) and Matt's 4 are pretty good there:

Spurs and Arsenal famously hate each other (their grounds are very close to one another) and these games can be very entertaining.

Villa vs Birmingham can be fairly entertaining.

Everton vs Liverpool is often very hard fought.

Sunderland were a big go-to club when they were taken over by new management a few years back, but Matt's right about them having fizzled away to nothing tbh.

Still not the worst idea, but alongside birmingham, wigan, blackburn in the 'kinda boring' category. NB I actually like these clubs except for blackburn.

ILX has a LOT of Spurs fans and they're inevitably going to distort the poll. I say this as someone whose Premiership team is Spurs. If you are to choose, do it as Milo says, based on observation.

oy knobhead it was a spurs fan that SAID this originally

ps SPURS RULE

follow lyon in ligue 1 instead then you get to buy this
http://i27.tinypic.com/wrkxna.jpg

Sunderland were a big go-to club when they were taken over by new management a few years back, but Matt's right about them having fizzled away to nothing tbh.

LOL English manager

d-mac, you like Brum City? we will have words

Nobody likes them, even their own fans

i think they had an admirable season last year, and tho 'like' is a stretch of my feelings towards big eck, he does his job like he knows his job.

Yeah, but the Baggies are kind of unhatable aren't they? It's like kicking a blind beggar.

Oh, Beemeenhum. I don't like them for some reason. I respect them, though. Solid football side.

The Baggies are *actually* my Premiership side, alongside Spurs, now they're up, come to think of it. My dad used to watch them and I've always liked their football and their attitude.

Also, San Te, alas but the higher ranked and more popular (better supported) side you pick, the greater your chances of seeing them play on TV and meeting fellow supporters

(San Te, The Baggies are West Bromwich Albion, who deserve to win on name alone tbh, but who sadly might well get relegated - oh me of little faith)

The Premiership is still kind of shit this year isn't it? I mean, at least Newcastle are back to give us some much-missed comedy but the fixture lists are still going to look pretty frumpy on some Saturdays.

Such is English football, Matt. One reason to watch it is it's fast-paced, athletic, rugged style and there's plenty of that here.

I have a bad feeling about Newcastle, I fear some sensible purchases followed by a stable mid-table finish.

Blackpool just don't feel like a Premier League team at all, far less than any other recently promoted team has, even the ones who were disasters. I'm thinking either entirely uneventful or spectacularly explosive.

I'm really curious as to what San Te will think, after a watching a season of soccer, about relegation (promotion). It's certainly colored my thoughts about certain teams. Remember Wigan's 1st season up or Reading's?

I'd pick a club who outperformed their expectations last season and could be expected to do so again this year. That'd probably leave you with a choice of Stoke City, Spurs or Chelsea, though.

Would be interested to see the results of a poll where nobody could vote for their own club.

Faced this problem myself after Euros 2004. Picked Bolton. I can't say it's easy, but you love the club you love.

challops: Support an MLS club that you actually have the opportunity to see in person. Save the Prem fandom for watching the big matches, but don't get invested in any particular club.

I probably wouldn't be able to see many in person matches in the MLS, unfortunately, due to my frequent commutes, but I'm looking into doing it at least once.

I was 100% serious about Newcastle, by the way. They are a soap opera of a club and have been ever since I became aware of them.

They're the only club in their city and accordingly feel like the biggest thing in the world to their devotees - which makes their lack of success both hilarious and also kind of poignant. They attract huge crowds and have lots of cash, but isolation and being badly-run means they usually can't attract the best players and overpay hilariously. At least they used to - they seemed much more sober last year, but they have a comical owner and surely must overreach again now they're back in the big time.

That said, they do get reasonable success from time to time - most notably when they blew up spectacularly on the verge of winning the league in 1996, but they've also had a couple of cup finals and played in the champions league since then. Their era of big success was the 1920s and they've won almost nothing since - if they ever do, the celebrations will be incredible! They were relegated two years ago and have just been promoted back to the EPL, but that's unlikely to happen again.

I absolutely hate them, but then I despise the small-time big man thing and that's how they come across to me - but you probably won't get that if you follow them at a distance.

Even so, they do have one of my favourite players in Alan Smith and have usually had a few spectacular and exciting players on their roster ever since Chris Waddle and Gazza played for them in the late 80s, so the football is usually at least entertaining. They'll probably sign one or two more before the season starts, they usually have to to please their fans and make up for the lack of success. They had some epic series of matches against Liverpool and Man United a decade or so ago, though their big local rivalry is with Sunderland. And their uniform is classic black-and-white stripes, which is a good look.

They also provoke affection in most neutrals, probably partly due to the entertainment and partly because of the pathos. Put it all together, and you get a club who attract far more coverage than their success really deserves. You'll see them on TV a lot because their games are considered to be big ones, even though objectively they aren't really.

I think they'd be fun to follow, and commend them to you.

Man, I've tried to be a fan of the Earthquakes but it's not to be, dan m, and I can't really get into MLS that much tbh, (it doesn't help that the quality all seems to be in Midewest or East) whereas my English club loyalties cannot be shreggued off no matter how hard I try (and how much they disappoint).

Btw, Spurs fans, I'm going to see them on Saturday.

Didn't know Smith was with Newcastle.

Newcastle are a joke club right now, and maybe therefore it seems like they've always been, but really they're just at one stage of a cycle that it seems Man City, Spurs, Everton and others (tho the three named are prob most notable?) have always been prone to in my 20 odd years of caring about football in England

They also provoke affection in most neutrals, probably partly due to the entertainment and partly because of the pathos. Put it all together, and you get a club who attract far more coverage than their success really deserves.

I mean, in other years not too far gone, this could quite easily be about Spurs, Man City

In another two, it'll almost certainly be liverpool

(it doesn't help that the quality all seems to be in Midewest or East)

Not this year! Gals have lost like 1 match, SJ are actually decent, Salt Lake are riding high too. But, I get your point. It's not Prem quality by a long shot. But, I don't care. If people don't buy tickets, it'll never get anywhere, and in the 5 or so years I've been attending games the quality has risen consistently. I just hope it doesn't turn into some spendathon in the next few years where ticket costs quickly price out the likes of me.

What team should I support if I hate Anglophiles and find myself generally apathetic to the English?

Arsenal

Arsenal

or like Barca/Madrid/La Liga

Chivas (Guadalajara)

hahahaha I was going to start suggesting Mexican clubs

If you do choose Liverpool, xp, you get the added bonus fruitless arguments with Darragh 24/7 until the day football expires.

Mexican football is pretty fun, actually.

i don't do anything 24/7, but a hoy hoy shift work is nicely overlapping my 9-5 existence

"There is no reason to bother with Sunderland."

This is the reason to adopt Sunderland!

Liverpool: also legions of anglophile americans who are into class struggle

xp to MW I agree! I wish it got broader coverage in English. I am going to see the Fire vs. Morelia tonight.

Barca/Madrid

Kind of like Celtic/Rangers, I've given up on Barca/Madrid since they've got so much stupid poltical baggage hanging on them.

Vague Barca fan already (Real seem like the Yankees of soccer)

Out of curiosity, why Arsenal?

what teams have the least evil ownership?

Also, Sunderland and Middlesborough are amongst the grimmest, most mocked places in England and I cannot root against either, really and there was a time when Sunderland entertained me a good deal (Kevin Phillips era).

As a neutral on this one (as my team have been excluded), I'd say go for Spurs. Failing that, try Everton.

Out of curiosity, why Arsenal?

'Cause they have so few English players?

ha if real are the yankees (big if), than barca are the red sox, which doesnt make em much better

anyway i say go "red bulls"

I'm a Red Sox fan.

Political baggage seems to be half the fun of Euro football IMO. It's so foreign to the American sports experience.

Will be a Portland Timbers supporter next season.

Villa or Everton

Yeah, I'd go with that. Or Spurs.

No, not Spurs

I'm really leaning towards Villa

my only exposure to SOME of these clubs is playing Fifa soccer games on the Xbox. though I've seen Blackburn, Chelesea, Man City, Man U all play before....

Everton have good US links, as someone posted above. They play good stuff, under a good manager, they bring through youth and get bargains in. Not too many of their players seem to be dicks. They've got history. They've got a hell of a derby.

Go with Everton.

You also have to choose whom to hate.

Oh yeah, the hating is everything. (Chelsea).

Spurs would win that poll as well.

Would they?

We did it once iirc, Man Utd won in a walk.

have any of you killed a man with your barehands at a soccer match, or have you avoided the Italian leagues....

(or I guess the real question is, do you often get into ruckuses over soccer matches)

I once maimed a small child for whirling his rattle too frequently, but nothing serious, no

I've been to see Roma a couple of times. No killing was done.

I'm sure ILX has some right nasty geezers, I mean real hard men. When it kicks off you can be sure they're posting proper hard zings, innit?

iirc ronan murdered someone, with a knife

Oh yeah, the hating is everything. (Chelsea).

― Ismael Klata, 14 July 2010 17:02 (12 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Spurs would win that poll as well.

― James Mitchell, 14 July 2010 17:02 (11 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Would they?

― Grand amiral de la marine des licornes (Michael White), 14 July 2010 17:05 (9 minutes ago) Bookmark

Guilty hand raised here if you're looking for someone to blame for this.

Rly, it'd be Chelsea tho I think? Or Liverpool (based on hating post volume)

If football posts could kill ronan would have been in solitary this long time since i tihnk.

I can't imagine it would be Spurs though I can imagine Chelsea or Man U. I can't imagine my team would fare terribly well, either, but they're not in the Prem right now anyway.

xxxpost *gets an image of ILXors standing in Old Trafford angrily IPhone-ing insults to each other while the match is unfolding below them*

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/03/12/article-1161501-004D0FDC000004B0-990_468x322.jpg

After a particularly brutal thread derail.

The day after Liverpool win the league next year

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/shang_jay/0209brawl.jpg

Spurs nowhere

Maybe San Te should base the decision on which club has the best mascot.

Probably would be between Moonchester, Chang The Elephant or the Frogmore The Frog (RIP) for the most bizarre.

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/moonchester.jpg

Paul Robinson. Fat clown.
Zokora. Diver.
Dawson. Shit.
Gareth Bale. Geek.
Aaron Lennon. Runs like a girl.
Jenas. Shit.
Huddlestone. Fat bastard.
Kevin-Prince Boateng. Comedy tattoos.
Malbranque. Ugly and has silly name.
Defoe. Midget.
Berbatov. Looks like a vampire.

― Tom D., 12 December 2007 14:46 (2 years ago)

real talk

everton no question - steady but spirited, interesting blend of players (some of whom are young and exciting) a good history, and a lack of resources that makes them perennial underdogs. comedy big local rival too. also, for someone just getting into british football, a great and useful contrast to some of the... more involved shall we say... narratives of the other clubs.

but consider west ham if you fancy something a little riskier that could turn out pretty silly; maybe wolves too, a grand old club building sensibly.

villa, as people have said, are as similarly stable as everton but will be dull and suffer under a looming thwarted vibe this season imo. newcastle will be just be grim and not nearly as lol as advertised.

under no circumstances enlist in the yid army (tottenham hotspur and their merry band of ilx plonkers).

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/shang_jay/0209brawl.jpg

glory days.

Voted Liverpool.

Based on the team I think most likely to have the biggest impact w/o being in the top 3, I'm going for City

Also, because he said, "...this year."

shame on you

Lost the ability some time ago.

Since this thread is blowing up today I'll leave this here.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/morrissey/2495474,CST-SPT-morrissey14.article

If soccer ever does take off here, it's going to take off on the strength of the game, not on the fervor of its fan base.

Soccer is a great participatory sport for kids. It's a great way to stay in shape. It's not so great to watch. Unless there's something we've yet to see, that's not going to change for many of us.

Is that OK?

It's going to have to be.

*puke* Just make sure you don't let irrelevant media dinosaurs like this guy influence you, San Te.

Why is affirmation so important to them?

Ha ha. After many years of arguing w/American soccer haters or critics, I've basically taken the converse approach. "You don't like soccer? Awesome, now go talk to someone over there about how and why you don't like it or whatever You're not going to convince either of us to not like it and we actually have some informed discussion going on and aren't interested in your proposed rule changes and gripes et cetera."

You should start watching the SPL, games widely available on justin.tv and iraqgoals every weekend, and the SPL thread could do with some new blood.

The football's mostly pish, right enough.

Who should he support though, Aberdeen?

Yeah, why not. They can't do any worse than last year. We've got Celtic, Rangers, Hamilton and Hibs covered, so take yer pick from Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee Utd, St Johnstone, St Mirren, Kilmarnock (not advised), Inverness Caley Thistle (even less advised) or Motherwell.

(I just like saying "sheep shaggers" in my comedically woeful Scots accent)

I have a friend who's a Hearts fan. He's kind of a gloomy dude, though.

san te, good question. i was in this boat a year or two ago. i decided to let a season play out and see who i fell for. and i fell for...none of them. i stayed neutral.

i've ended up liking the way arsenal play, the way everton are run, specific managers (hodgson, moyes, o'neill, zola) and specific players (arshavin, fellaini, nasri, ireland, dempsey, etc) but nothing's connected at that ~visceral~ level. yet. i still think if i saw a game in england, or had a loved one devoted to a team, that that might change my pov.

but it's been fun, being neutral. i've never done it before. this way i get to laugh at liverpool and half-hate chelsea and roll my eyes at tottenham without any of it mattering too much.

all that said, i voted Everton.

156 otm

That's basically how I've watched it since Leeds were relegated.

@Danny -- don't worry, I completely disagree that soccer "isn't interesting to watch". It just seems to be a cultural gap (albeit a weird one, because this is such a worldwide appreciated sport). Americans tend to like immediacy in their sports -- while hockey is a relative in that it uses goals, Americans love it because the scoring is higher, and because of the violence. Football, basketball, baseball, all have some level of frequency in scoring.

When I approached the game from that angle, I hated it. It'll sound kind of stupid, but my appreciation for martial arts and kung fu cinema, which began after World Cup 2002, but before 2006 really changed the way I viewed it. Quite a few of Bruce Lee's movies frustrated me as a kid because the fights were choreographed very one-sided, but I always loved the choreography in Gordon Liu movies (hence my nick), due to the even-matched fights, and the back and forth nature, where it took a while for either person to land a punch or a kick, and even longer for one to prevail.

Same with soccer. When I approached it that way, as two opposing forces battling, each giving a little in a battle of wills, it became much more enjoyable. Plus IT'S A RUNNING CLOCK. I can't state the awesomeness of that enough.

(I am aware that goal scoring is more frequent in league games than World Cups -- but I think I'd hate soccer if it was always 5-4. 1-0 matches can be a blast.)

my appreciation for martial arts and kung fu cinema

you may want to follow nigel de jong and manchester city?

Who should he support though, Aberdeen?

― Grand amiral de la marine des licornes (Michael White), Wednesday, 14 July 2010 19:14 (26 minutes ago) Bookmark

middlesbrough.

:-)

haha actually would it be too confusing if we called the championship/etc thread "boro won't win the spl" this year

Great description, San Te. I've taken to watching occasionally from one step even further removed, as two grid formations lined up and probing at each other. This came about through watching low-quality streaming, actually, where you sometimes can't see any other detail.

Anyway, it's amazing how clearly you can see the game sometimes this way. Usually there's an equilibrium between the two forces, but sometimes it becomes unbalanced and somehow you can spot that immediately just from the pattern. When you get a clinical side like Germany you can see when they're going to score as soon as they get the ball - their third goal against England was obvious before the ball had even left their penalty area. I was thinking that judo must look a lot like that.

It's quite heartening how well-regarded my Everton are thesedays; back in the early days of ILX, they were regarding as entirely washed-up and too tedious to even draw the LOLs of a Newcastle. I'd be honoured if you'd relieve me of my solo Toffee status, if only for a few months. (Note: we almost always start badly; we lost only two of our last 24 games last season, but that was still only good enough for 8th, such was the shambles in the autumn).

Moyes still not the most charismatic fellow, but I'm warming to him

Again, as a Yank, loved Donovan's spell there this year and mad respect for Moyes also, Howard.

so, general question: how much of british club loyalty is geographic?

A nice chap I gather - a distant relative was at school with him, called Everton when he was in Liverpool for a day on business, and Moyes had him and his boy up to the training ground and entertained for the afternoon despite not having seen him in thirty-odd years.

so, general question: how much of british club loyalty is geographic?

Support Your Local Team (or don't, whatever)

Ahh, remember when Liverpool had glory hunter fans?

arent like sixteen of these clubs in london anyway

There are only five London-based Prem clubs at the moment.

but 8 northwest teams, true land of football

"only" five! new york only has two baseball teams

there will always be something a bit arbitrary & weak about whatever team you choose, unless you pick Fulham which is an entirely natural team for an American to support imo. otherwise embrace this fate & try and discern footballing virtue from staring into the faces of the managers.

Support a club that nobody in America can pronounce right, like Leicester City or Middlesborough

suggested shortlist:

http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00294/owen-coyle_294322s.jpg
http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2008/12/martin-oneill-415x275.jpg
http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Wolverhampton+Wanderers+v+Hull+City+Premier+4xrThc143bNm.jpg

Or spell. It's Middlesbrough.

xpost

No bad blood for Coyle after his mid-season switch?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/images/2004/12/09/cherries_archive_harry_470_470x352.jpg

Or spell. It's Middlesbrough.

whatev!

:-)

http://d2eosjbgw49cu5.cloudfront.net/soccer-weblog.com/imgname--why_bbc_need_to_apologise_to_big_sam---50226711--images--sam-allardyce.jpg
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2008/09/26/460MoyesMatthewLewisGetty.jpg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/images/2008/03/12/tony_pulis_470x315.jpg

That's a great picture of Mick McCarthy.

he just looks blazed. has to be him or sam

never under any circumstances:

http://chelsea.theoffside.com/files/2009/11/Spurs_Favorite_Chef.jpg

If it's just about managers, Ian Holloway ftw:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/05/21/article-1185509-066EB2540000044D-128_468x312.jpg

coaches caught in mid-coach

Man how did I miss this thread? Ugh. I've always been a World Cup-only soccer fan...not so much by choice, I just was never compelled to follow Australian soccer, or English, though I had friends that did pretty passionately. I think it's time though...resolve to start following the MLS more closely, maybe hitch my wagon to the San Jose Quakes, since they're nice and local...who knows, maybe I'll get to see a game or two.

And since the Spurs will be televised this weekend, maybe I'll give them a gander too. Onward and upward. Besides, I need something to cheer me up when the Oakland Raiders inevitably start to emit their foul odor ;_;

And thus the mystery of "where VegemiteGrrrl is" is resolved

you know the mystery of which I speak

new york only has two baseball teams

There are, what, 30 MLB teams/franchises/whatever? And they're pretty evenly spread across the country, is that right? Football clubs tend to be clustered around (former) industrial towns; there are 92 league clubs in England - if you include the first tier of non-league (still pro/semi-pro), it's 116. Of these, 15 are in Greater London (which is where 1/7th of England lives). Of these, at least 10 have played in the top flight of English pro soccer at some point in their history; right now, there are 5 up there.

As pointed out elsewhere, the North-West (Merseyside/Gtr Manchester/Lancashire) boasts 8 Prem sides at the moment.

FWIW, apparently David Cameron is an Aston Villa fan.

Is that in the same way that Tony Blair was supposedly a member of the Toon Army?

I don't support anyone either. But I'll have to say that I hope Liverpool do well this time, but secretly rooting for Blackpool to kick everyones arses. Aint gonna happen obv.

I have some problems with the idea that you have to "root" for a team to be interested in a sport or a league

It necessary to get into any really good arguments tho

I generally have few problems getting into really good arguments

the idea that you have to "root" for a team

Are you Australian?

If it's just about managers, Ian Holloway ftw

otm. although he'll only be there for one more season, two at most, and then you're left supporting a team nicknamed after the most unimpressive of citrus fruits.

but this is only meant to be for this season anyway, right?

The issue with supporting teams like Blackpool is that if you're ever in Britain you'll feel somewhat obliged to actually go there.

The really nice places are too posh to have football teams though, and Thames Valley Royals never got off the drawing board.

Blackpool's okay Monday to Thursdays.

Struggling to equate "really nice" with "too posh" tbh.

I like Blackpool

Are you saying you root for them?

I root for the town not the football club

I like Blackpool but the weekends are pretty heavy going unless you avoid the Golden Mile or you like stag parties.

Just saying that if it's Richard Curtis Britain you're after, footy may not be the sport for you, even if Hugh Grant did tag along with Fulham last year.

I'd like to like Blackpool but it is the saddest place I've ever been, and I was in Hiroshima last year.

Posh has nothing to do with it, but if you're visiting the UK then going to Liverpool, Manchester or London for a football game is going to be a lot more fun then going to Blackburn or Wigan.

Just be glad Hull City were relegated

Also the poshest place in the Premiership currently has its best football team, dunno what that says about the theory.

if you're visiting the UK then going to Liverpool, Manchester or London for a football game is going to be a lot more fun then going to Blackburn or Wigan

also disagree with the many xposted point that blackpool are the least premiership of recent premiership clubs.

barnsley would probably take that one imo.

Hull's beautiful fuiud

Burnley, for that matter.

Obv. Hull City

if you're visiting the UK then going to Liverpool, Manchester or London for a football game is going to be a lot more fun then going to Blackburn or Wigan

If a pilgrimage might ever be a factor, might be worth picking a team with a good ground. Liverpool and Fulham are the best I've been to, but Everton looks great. I hated Newcastle, it was like watching from a mountain top.

Liverpools have a terrible ground wtf?

and i was in the kop

Bradford City are currently the least Premiership of all once-Premiership clubs. We'll be challenging them soon, though.

Bradford were still averaging 11,000 plus gates in League 2 last season. Respect very much due.

Wigan Athletic surely the least Premiership team of all? Barnsley, Bradford City, Burnley all have some kind of history to fall back on.

yeah I was pretty much going purely on league position there - 17,000-20,000 in League One isn't bad either mind!

would not describe Reading as being very Premiership either but fair fucks to 'em

Always sit in or beside the away fans is the way to do it xp

To the original poster; which team are you closest to, geographically?

^ i think i see what he's up to here

Blackpool is the closest Premier League team to America! (if that's where the original poster is from).

Closer than Liverpool?

Or Everton? Possibly?

(Not sure where Blackpool's ground is, but the town is about 1/20th of a degree further west than Liverpool; and Goodison is slightly to the west of Anfield too...)

xp

If only Cardiff City had made it to the Premiership, there'd be no contest

On this map anyway. Perhaps not very scientific.

http://www.ascothotel.co.uk/images/blackpoolukmap.jpg

If we're going to do this properly then we'll need to find Bloomfield Rd/Anfield and Goodison on Google Maps or such like.

Anfield and Goodison:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r142/cslgap07/AnfieldnGoodison.jpg

http://www.nsno.co.uk/e107_plugins/autogallery/Gallery/NSNO%20Gallery/1.Goodison%20Park/pv_Google_Earth_view_of_Goodison_and_Anfield.jpg

The curvature of the earth means you come in from the north-west, so Blackpool it is

Could conceivably be Newcastle, come to think

^^^has nothing on Nottingham (xposts)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3365894769_484552ab20.jpg

Aren't the Dundee clubs on opposite sides of the same street?

I don't think anyone would object to Newcastle, right? I voted Spurs because Spurs sound like they'd be fun to support but surely Newcastle is the judgement of ILX here.

only for lols at OP's expense, in fairness

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/united_kingdom/scotland/dundee_tannadice_park.jpg

:D

Aren't the Dundee clubs on opposite sides of the same street?

indeed they are:

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/united_kingdom/scotland/dundee_dens_park.jpg

o ffs why didn't it xpost me. :'(

Right, now to find a city where one ground is inside the other

Where one ground hovers above the other

http://www.theglasgowstory.com/images/TGSE00321_m.jpg

Everton

a certain stadium in Milan is, I think, usually called the San Siro when AC play in it and the Giuseppe Meazza when Inter play in it. Now all we have to do is work through the ontology and see if that adds up to one stadium or two.

o ffs why didn't it xpost me. :'(

when you don't do the HTML tags correctly and goes to the 'correct your HTML tags please' page, there's a glitch which means it doesn't additionally send you to Xpost Bay

also, suggest ban ;)

I found this one in Budapest with MTK Budapest and second division BKV Elore, it looks closer than Dundee.

If Yorkshire CCC ever decide to play Leeds Rhinos at some hybrid cricket/rugby game, there'd be a bit of feeling:

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/sports/gallery2/d/920-1/headingleyair-ba33073.jpg

(stupid question... how do you insert an image?)

Use tags as in the 'show formatting help' menu at the bottom of the thread

ahh didn't see that, thanks!

anyway.

Right, now to find a city where one ground is inside the other

― Ismael Klata, Thursday, 15 July 2010 13:20 (19 minutes ago)

Where one ground hovers above the other

― R. Stornoway (Tom D.), Thursday, 15 July 2010 13:21 (19 minutes ago)

http://estadios.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/sapporo01.jpg

It's the baseball ground where they roll the football pitch in from outside and suspend it above the ground on a pocket of air or something. England played Argentina there in 2002. You'd have to support Consadole Sapporo, though, and I don't think they're in the Premier League.

maybe these should get moved to a "cool stadia" thread or something.

That is amazing. It looks like it's about to eat the little pitch.

The Arizona NFL stadium is like that, has a big grass field on a big baking tray that they slide in and out.

Some of the stadiums upthread look like toilet seats from above!

Vegemite, you're from Oz/NZ and live in the East Bay?

I've never regretted randomly choosing Manchester City as "my team" ten years ago. Absolutely hilarious amounts of drama, ups and downs, billionaires, deposed leaders, divas, blokes, all that. I don't think anyone else here loves them much.

I decided to become interested in NFL in the mid-'80s; this was at a time when fledgling Brit terrestrial network Channel 4 didn't really have any homegrown sport with which to pull in the viewers, so went big on American football and baseball (later they had great coverage of Serie A soccer). My team was the Bengals. They seemed to be just the right combination of underachieving mediocrity with a couple of star names (I dunno, was Boomer Esiason considered that great? I liked the fact that he was a leftie). Also, WKRP in Cincinnati! Funny show. And I could've attended college in Ohio if I'd got the A-level grades, so this was some sort of vicarious Buckeye experience (though Toledo could hardly be further from Cincinnati and be in the same state; I bet they're all Browns fans up there).

The pinnacle of my interest was, obv, the '89 SuperBowl. Couldn't care less after that.

I was living in Milan at the time of that game and stayed up quite late to watch the 49ers rally and win that one.

man city scriptwriters have always lacked a bit of finesse, i think; too self aware of their zany status, too... studenty almost, with no real grasp of proper anarchic intrigue like say newcastle in their lolheyday. they're the hollyoaks of the prem.

like it's a lot funnier having some random kid in the youth system just so happening to be called tom cruise than it is to actually have face from the a-team's son in there yknow?

jamie pollock was genius though.

xxposts, Michael - I grew up in Melbourne, and moved to Sacramento about 10 years ago. I know I know, San Jose not technically "local"...but good enough for govt work :)

bill simmons wrote a column about this four years ago. he chose spurs.

i chose pool cuz my cousin is bonkers for them and can get me into games if/when i'm in the UK. if i had no allegiances, i'd go for everton or fulham for the americans and being "plucky," arsenal for stylish play and decent management (fuiud) and being in london, blackburn (or maybe bolton?) for being the club that's actually closest to where my fam lives.

i ~would~ have gone for man city a few years ago because they've got the best colors and it'd be nice to really, really hate man u but now it'd be weak sauce. then again, i heard a rumor of donovan going there? likely to sell jerseys to americans?

A friend gave me a West Ham jersey years ago, and I would wear it around sometimes on weekends...except that I would always get random dudes coming up to me wanting to talk about soccer, or shouting 'HAMMERS!' at me from cars or across the street. I wasn't quite prepared for the amount of attention that came with it, so I only wore it at home after a while. Can safely wear it in the US, however...lol.

i recomend finding a supporters club of a team near you and watching some games with them (should be able to find one if you are close to a major city). this is what solidified me as a spurs supporter, as it makes the games more exciting to follow. i'm voting fulham, though, as i still feel bad for abandoning them back when i was thinking about following them instead.

WWMTD?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/noodle_vague/wd3391230tyson-wolves.jpg

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01679/tyson-pa_1679448c.jpg

Can't believe he played us like that.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

i'm saying spurs, because youtubes of luka modric season 2008-2009 made me laugh, cry and taught me how to love again since this poll started

Objectivity at its finest

Just noticed this thread.

Voted Bolton because:

1. I think we may have 1 Bolton fan already, but he doesn't post much.
2. I think they may be plucky underdogs who'll surprise a few big teams this season.
3. Kevin Davies fans to bring a fun challops discussion on a slow week,
4. Lee looks like one of the most exciting young players in the league and watching him can put a big smile on your face.
5. Owen Coyle looks like a genuinely exciting coach - 'good' but smart football that should see them steadily rise the table.
6. Elmander will bring the lols.
7. You can keep an eye on Arsenal loanees for me.

pfft if football fandom is the placec for objectivism then i dunno

I almost wonder if there shouldn't be a "who do you support in the prem" poll just to see how many actual supporters of each team there are on dis ting. or at least a resurrected thread where we take a census of such a thing. if someone made the poll though there'd have to be a "i don't support any of these teams enough to vote for one" selection tho cos people would vote anyway even tho they never talk fb.

please don't go for arsenal or spurs.

one of ilx's most prized posters is a bolton fan

scott seward

?

http://www.roughedge.com/photogallery/1998/images/kissette.jpg

you bad, bad people.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

hey I got in before System. Do I get a prize?

fuck i did not see that happening

I'm now pleased by the thought of the army of Liverpool fan lurkers silently fuming at darraghmac's every second post.

yeah well at least i know why i've always got 18 suggest bans, kudos to the 2 dudes that have some self restraint. or maybe they're on a holiday rota i dunno

tbf 'a hoy hoy' is a worse prick.

frankly that's ridiculous. at least he stans for his manager ffs

just messing ;) he is far more irritating tho.

I'm guessing most of the votes were so that darraghmac & co could slag you off/wind him up, but welcome to the Liverpool Fan Club!

just wanna say that imo i'm probably only in the chasing pack of those slagging rafa/LFC the past while, tbh, not teh ringleader or anything like it.

^^^

But hey there's a lot worse clubs to follow than Liverpool based on the criteria OP was looking for, partic if they can manage their expectations.

as a red i was surprised by this result too. i doubt it's gonna glean too many cool points from the connoisseur but welcome to the club san te; we live in interesting times.

it's a good time to join up imo- hodgson is having a good summer so far i think

spurs 3rd behind everton-

get to the bookies imo

http://24.media.tumblr.com/9qoFGWbygh8yop21yPN5Sc6Oo1_400.jpg

Good time to become a Liverpool fan IMO. It's a bit like joining the Labour Party right after the last election.

Things can only get better.

Possibly like joining the Labour Party after the 1979 election :/

Hodgson is a bit Michael Foot actually.

Now you need to pick a name and number for your shirt and learn all the songs what the fans sing and stuff.

Oh man that's a lot of work!!! thanks everybody tho, fun thread!

Yeah, what a time to become a Liverpool fan! Have fun...

he is far more irritating tho.

― taojjbtcrf (or something), Friday, 30 July 2010 03:06 (17 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww <3 u dude.

Did you manage to see today's game, San Te?

Nope, unfortunately I had a really busy day and was barely home. fortunately I'm gonna have a lot of free time coming up so I can try to watch soon :)

there's a couple of good sites to get full highlights from, i can't remember them off hand but will post if i get the chance later.

five years late, I fucked over the poll and picked Everton. largely cos they met at least two of my criterion and have Tim Howard.

and Fox Sports 2 Go makes it easier to actually watch the shit on my time.

In 1990, Andy Hinchcliffe became the first ever white footballer to play a full league match for Everton

― Dom Passantino, Tuesday, 5 February 2008 11:31 (7 years ago)

I abandoned Everton for Wolverhampton.

There is only Blackpool

― Everytime I hit 'submit post' the internet gets dumber (darraghmac), Wednesday, July 14, 2010 3:20 PM (nine years ago) bookmarkflaglink

everything in context imo

xp wolves a good shout but its better to pick a club we dont have a supporter of already imo

I'm always fascinated by the existence of a team named "Crystal Palace", where is the crystal palace

Status:
Destroyed

Bathos of wikpedia infoboxes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crystal_Palace

shame they haven't rebuilt it

silby i beg pls to join ilf as a follower of crystal palace

Good to see our overseas marketing paying dividends

dollar parity has a way of focusing yere minds id say

palace are "my english team" in the most desultory manner possible

i think this was purely because they're the eagles and their rivals are the seagulls.

eagles v seagulls

very sad there are no takers for plucky little Bournemouth. no I take that back - shit ground no fans!

silby i beg pls to join ilf as a follower of crystal palace

― phil neville jacket (darraghmac), Thursday, August 8, 2019 1:38 PM (thirty-six minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

I'll take this under advisement, but I can't even manage to think about baseball more than twice per year so it's long odds

what's the most web-1.0-bauhaus aggregator of football match outcomes, I don't want to have to watch any video content to engage with this bit

its here id say, depending on whatever the fuck aggregator means in context rly

FlashScore seems pretty minimal

sez Crystal Palace lost to something called the Young Boys in something called the Uhren Cup

Young Boys bit of a shady name for a team honestly

https://seeklogo.com/images/S/sport-boys-logo-E6FFB0817F-seeklogo.com.gif

sounds just like some Vichy France era type enterprise ... hmmmm

https://www.hafetschutter.ch/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/YF-Titel.jpg

... now confusingly renamed Young Fellows Juventus.

https://alchetron.com/cdn/fa-red-boys-differdange-29c340d6-d726-42ab-994d-a0bbd6aca7e-resize-750.jpg

let me know when there's an All Boys League

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQQvVoQLiRLDGTvY99wei32STkLIn46Wv9DKQAqb4OBo5EgJ_h1hw

... named after Isaac Newell, from the English county of Kent, one of the pioneers of Argentine football.

we have like 3 palace fans already - bananaman begins, flowersdie and ambrose (latter two may be same person). we don't need any more

what's the team for contrarian bourgeois intellectuals

arsenal

figures

Was Arsenal, but definitely now Spurs.

dont mind him its arsenal

Most of ILX support Spurs, enough said?

but id submit a decent range in that, otherwise id acknowledge the point

Lol at that Norwich own goal

Ok so darragh voted for both Arsenal and Crystal Palace for me, Tom for the Spurs, imago implicitly for something other than Crystal Palace just for diversity. I’m leaning toward Arsenal I suppose unless someone has another idea. Do I have to read that Nick Hornby book?

i didnt vote for arsenal

Oh sorry for being misrepresenting your stance, you’re right of course you just answered my question.

Anyway I’m going to try out this bit for at least one weekend

And I didn't vote for Spurs.

Silby, Crystal Palace are nicknamed the Glaziers which is pretty badass and their stadium is super cool, if they ever clear the hump and move into a corporate monster stadium you can proudly date your fandom to humbler times.

It must be ten years ago now but I remember reading a BIll Simmons article about picking a team to follow. I wanted to follow a London team and was drawn twd Spurs but resisted for a long time because I really don't like that guy and didn't want to join all his dumb readers.

But ultimately they won out by process of elimination, mainlly because I liked those white kits and for deeply rooted baseball reasons can't support a team that wears red.

Support Brighton

Sorry can’t abide a seagull

American Arsenal fans are the absolute worst.

Uh oh! Sorry specific user such as imago I’m gonna have to join the Crystal Palace section

the actual reason i was against it is that i support one of their rivals. we are now foes haha

Also u will likely have to pick a new favourite premier league team next year silby. But welcome aboard. Imago's puce faced rage when we fluke a win makes it all worthwhile

So far I have seen all of the Premier matches, 1.5 of the Europa matches. They're sticking better than Everton did when I tried to root for them. I like their style of play and logo

I have a Wolves jersey en route via DHL.

Also I lied when I was San Te I had never been to Indiana prior to this year

We're still a bit up and down and this season is gonna be a big test but when we're playing well we're lovely to watch. And Nuno has a brilliant attitude which shows thru the team imo

9-10 years in the making, it finally happened, the adoption has stuck! with today's finale against Chelsea, i'll have seen 35 of the 38 league matches this year, and probably half of the Euro Cup ones.

like I said upthread, Everton and I didn't click when I tried them out a few years ago, but Wolves and I connected pretty quickly as I enjoy their style of touch-pass play and their scrappy attitudes. they've quickly earned a place in my heart next to my hometown boys. now just gotta keep the fire going for next year!...or I guess this year, in 1.5 months? oof!

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/d1/d165129c077b7333cc03b5ecfffda74f1a5607232f9ab6652348d76111f55a9f.jpg

lol!