Choosing an EPL side
 

So..I'm sitting here working from home today and it just so happens that the Champions League semifinal is on. And I have Fox Soccer Channel too.

So I was thinking, "maybe I should find a team to root for." Especially since the Blue Jays aren't planning to win much these days in baseball.

Anyway...I guess I don't even know where to start.

I know Bill Simmons did this a few years back. But..he's lame and so, I'd come here and get some ideas/suggestions/comments on this whole thing.

So...where does on begin?

1st Step: I'd wait two more games until the end of the 06-07 season. That way you KNOW the team that you choose will be up in 07-08.

2nd Step: Avoid the Big Four (Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal), unless you want to be considered a bandwagon fan.

3rd Step: Look for a team that either plays attacking soccer (lots of goals scored/given up), or plays bigger then it should be (Reading is a big one, Fulham/Wigan are around there, but they're in the quagmire of a relegation battle)

I guess not really on topic and a bit of a thread jack, but I find your lack of faith in the Blue Jays quite disturbing. If they can hold the fort until Ryan comes back (healthy and not giving up runs the way he did to start the season), with this lineup they should have a shot at the wild card.

Yes, I'm a bit biased towards them, but so long as the pitching staff is respectable (and the rotation can be, the pen should be pretty stable once Ryan returns), it shouldn't be out of the question.

As for the topic at hand, yeah, way outside my area of knowledge, good luck with your search.

I was just kidding. I love the Jays more than any other team. I mean, even the Devils, because I've been a Jays fan longer and I'm FROM New Jersey no less.

The Jays aren't nearly as crap as we were during the Gord Ash era and Rogers is spending money, so I have no real complaints. And whenever my Red Sox, Yankee or Oriole friends heckle me, I always say "it's a long season, relax."

So...it's cool. It was just a segue mentioning the Jays at all. Though surely we'd agree that the uniforms needs to be switched to put the Canadian flag back in there somewhere. In OOTP, I've resorting to changing the logos back to the 1977-1995 era.

I'd meant to do this a few weeks ago and forgot to ask about it.

:)

I dunno Foz - I got into Liverpool 4-5 years ago, and I don't think it neccessarily makes you a bandwagon fan - there's a lot about the club in terms of history and lore that's remarkably appealing, in a way that johnny-come-lately's like Chelsea simply don't have. :twocents:

In the same way, I can understand why Arsenal are popular - they play better football than just about anyone, and its easier for someone getting into the game.

IMO, rooting shouldn't be a chore.

I'm okay with picking up a team that gets relegated. Yeah, it'd be harder to watch them on TV, but...that's ok. It'll test my fan mettle from the start.

And I pretty much planned to avoid any of the clubs that would go against my grain as a fan of teams that are perhaps successful or maybe not, but never, ever juggernauts.

I'd look at the midtables then, Charlton, Wigan, Fulham, Blackburn, Manchester City, Reading

Fulham DOES have three Americans on its roster (Bocanegra, Dempsey, McBride)

(edit: Oh yeah, if you can, get DirecTV, a DVR and FSC/Setanta for like 6-7 games a week)

I do really, really enjoy the history of teams. It's pretty neat to have all of that. And consider that none of the teams I root for in other sports are "older, experienced" teams...it probably means that I could be wooed by a cool story or players that are young, interesting, etc.

My favourite teams that I've rooted for are:

NBA: I don't really care. I'm partial to the Nets because I'm from Jersey. But since they're "supposedly" moving, I've just stopped caring. The Raptors are okay.
NHL: New Jersey Devils
MLB: Toronto Blue Jays
NFL: New York Jets
MLS: Really, really, really don't care.

I really only root for the Devils and Blue Jays. I like to see the other teams do well and that's about it.

Fozzie is right about the big four, avoid them to avoid the bandwagon. That would be like a European supporting the Yankees.

Also avoid the relegation battlers, what's the point of supporting a team that may be off the tv after only one year? So that gets rid of whichever three teams come up plus Wigan, Fulham, Sheffield Utd, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth (one season wonders), Reading (sophomore slump), Blackburn (probably not relegation, just boring).

So that gets us down to a more manageable 6 teams: Tottenham, Everton, Aston Villa, Newcastle Utd, Manchester City, Bolton.

Discount Tottenham, normally a good choice but I'm pretty sure that's who Simmons chose. Discount Bolton because they're violent long ball cloggers. Discount Man City because they're Man City. Discount Newcastle Utd because they're vaguely bandwagonish despite the lack of success, plus people might think you chose because of the movie Goal! (which sucked).

So that gets us down to Everton or Aston Villa. Flip a coin?

Go Everton if you want to live with a constant inferiority complex to Liverpool (or martyr's complex, if you prefer). Go Aston Villa if you're OK with pretty constant mediocrity, though when they've had decent managers they've been pretty good.

I disagree with avoiding the big 4. WHo cares if people think you are a bandwagon fan as long as you know you are not? I began following Liverpool in the early 90s because of their history, tradition and the lore of Anfield.

Since then of course they have never won a title although they did win Europe in 2004-05 and have had UEFA, FA and League Cup success. If you truly appreciate the club who cares what others think.

Go to Wikipedia or other soccer sites and read up on the history of some of the teams, visit their supporters sites and read more there. Maybe you will just find something that grabs you. Also, play Football Manager and you may discover your favourite club there.

He's a Blue Jays fan. It'll feel familiar.

Tottenham is a good choice - an exciting strike partnership in Robbie Keane/Dimitar Berbatov. The two Jermain(e)'s (Defoe and Jenas) are exciting players as well, and I'd pay to watch Aaron Lennon.

Interesting topic and I hope to one day be able to see enough matches on tv, without having to justify the expense, to follow the EPL closely.

If and when I'm in that position what club to you think a Cub fan should follow?:D A team that will on occasion break you heart and always leave you "waiting 'til next year".

Manchester City.

Big team, large fan base, long suffering, never wins anything despite throwing around the cash = Newcastle United.

I do play a lot of WWSM, though not recently. Maybe it's time to fire her up and see what I can't manage to do. Good plan.

Why? Now seems to be the perfect time to jump into this league, especially Red Bull New York. And why limit yourself to only English clubs?

:D

I watch MLS games when they are on. But honestly, it has the hardest time holding my attention. A lot of it has to do with the single-entity structure, the lack of organic player movement. Once there is a team in Portland, Rochester or Philadelphia..I might decide to root for one of them. Mostly because I just want to see the league hit up different kinds of markets. And the whole existance of Chivas USA really undermines the league's credibility in my mind, though the soccer-specific stadiums are impressive.

It's akin to watching minor league baseball. It's kitsch, but it's just not doing it for me.

And I'm not really limiting myself to English clubs. I'd envision a favourite team in each of the European leagues as time goes on. At least for the ones that I care about. This was just a start and prompted largely because of the game that's on now.

This would be the same Chelsea that was winning European trophies before Liverpool did anything on the continent? The one that just completed a century in its original stadium?

I actually agree with most of what you're saying. Just couldn't let you get away with slandering my team :D .

If you like constant disappointment you can root for the team that I root for, Newcastle United ;). Always buying a few nice names in transfer market, but never the right positions (get some defenders will you?!!) and while threatening for a decent position, end up mid table.

Oh, and you can curse at "Fat Freddie" all you want.

Indeed... I'm trying to get back into MLS (I left it for a while after following the Metrostarts in the mid 90s). I'll looking at Red Bull NY, since I'm from Jersey and followed the Metros, but I REALLY want a team in the SouthEast to back.

Definitely. Bonus points, they have an idiot for a chairman and a manager who doesn't have his qualifications. :D

Tottenham hands down. The most exciting team in the EPL, they are like the Soccer version of Coryell's Chargers. You can usually count on their games being back and forth and can count on spectacular plays by both sides.

Berbatov and Keane are both solid strikers and Aaron Lennon is possibly the most exciting player in the EPL, he isn't great on Defense and can be streaky, but when he is on, give him the ball in open space and it is usually magical......and just barely turned 20. Chimbonda is also arguably one of the more offensive Defenders in the EPL and a great Ball handler.

Aston Villa. I'm choosing them. And considering that WWSM 07 just came in the mail today and this thread was posted today, I think all the signs are aligned for me to finally get into this game this year. :D

Cmon - Arsenal have this, hands down. In full flow, there is no better team to watch.

MLS was the first top-level pro league into Columbus, although their other teams have all been in "traditional" markets.

Arsenal may play prettier football, but I'm not sure there's a more exciting team to watch than Tottenham. They strike me as having more reliable finishing, plus their defense is not nearly at the same level as their offense, leading to more high-scoring games.

Fixed it for you


And I agree here, Arsenal is the more technically sound side, but if you want a team that will always have you glued to the TV it has to be Spurs as most of their games are up for grabs all the way through.

You can either support Manchester City or be a wanker. Your choice.

I choose Wanker.....hell you can even call me faggoty if you like, more than a fair trade :)

Fixed it for you :)

My wife will love this post - she's a City fan :D

When you walk......through a storm......

Are you suggesting he supports Celtic? ;)

If he can answer the question, "Where in Ireland is Glasgow"? He's a Celtic fan ;)

Is there a Spanish equivalent of Tottenham out of curiosity?

Maybe Villarreal, The Yellow Submarine?

I'd say Sevilla actually, but its a toss up.

I suppose Dark Cloud could really go out on a limb and pick one of the newly promoted sides, Sunderland, Birmingham or whoever wins the Championship playoff. I can't say I know much about them though beyond their rival clubs and the fact that Roy Keane manages the Black Cats.

Damn...backfired :)

I'd rather be pummeled by an assortment of UFC champions. I've seen about five Man City games this year and they have never failed to bore me to tears. :p

I asked a Scottish buddy of mine a few years ago for a team that was not necessarily always at the top but was always a tough game for their opponents and was a scrappy sort. He suggested Bolton, and that's been my team since -- though along those same sorts of teams I've enjoyed the hell out of both Reading and Watford this year.

Or if he is really adventurous maybe a conference side. Rushden and Diamonds anyone? :)

I have been a Tottenham fan for the last 6 years or so since learning about them when I first picked a team for my original foray into CM/FM/WWSM.

I wanted a team that has history of being good but never being dominant for a long stretch. I didn't want a big 4 team. I wanted a relatively underacheiving team (at the time) who was a midtable side that had the potential to improve and compete with the big 4. Tottenham met all of those criteria at the time and have since proven to be the perfect choice for me.

There is no superiority complex among the club or the supporters as they have recently been a fairly midtable side that improved to compete for UEFA Cup and Champions League spots (the top 6 spots in the EPL) over the last 2 years. There was several years of frustration during my early pulling for them as the were mired in the midtable and seemed to not be able to do anything right.

Now they have Martin Jol who has them playing a very attacking style of play and is fun to watch. For some reason I always seem to be able to find there games on FSC (live or replay later in the week) to record with my DVR. They have alot of great young talent now that will hopefully blossom to lead us on to much better things (hopefully UEFA Cup next year and CL after that?). Aaron Lennon comes to mind as the most exciting player out of the young guys. Jermain Defoe is exciting also but has not played well with Berbatov who was the big signing at forward for this year. Robbie Keane (the scoringest Irishman ever) never fails to impress. People seem to either love or hate Jermain Jenas (I usually hate him) but he can be very exciting or rip your heart out with his failure to put the ball in the net with golden chances. Ledley King is a very exciting centerback who has played very well over the last three years but seems to have been bitten by the injury bug this whole season. Dawson is his partner at the back and makes a great tandem with him but without King his lack of speed is magnified. Our #1 keeper is also the England #1 and was playing very well over the last 3 years until he gave up a blunder goal trying to clear a ball for England and has simply not looked the same since!

The clubs front office seems to consistently be making moves to bring in the best young talent to White Hart Lane starting with the best young english players. That being said they have not shown a willingness to overpay for any player like some of the bigger clubs do all the time. With our stadium being smaller (I think about 35K - compared to the 75-80K of the bigger clubs) and I would assume the merchandising sales worldwide being much smaller than the ManU's, Arsenals, Liverpools, and the Chelseas of the world we simply can't afford to make alot of mistakes by overpaying.

So at this point I think Spurs (Tottenham is the best team to pick).

-Perrenial underdog to the Big 4.
-Potential to compete with them soon but riding a very fine line and may -simply tear all of our hearts out with a few blunders over the next few years.
-Willingness to buy good players.
-Good young talent on the team.
-Playing an attacking style that is fun to watch.
-Won't be in a position soon to compete financially with the Big4 for signings due to having a much smaller stadium - though there have been long range plans going on for years to build a new stadium.

Reading is a tough, scrappy team who has definitely overachieved. As long as they stay out of European Competitions they would be a good choice if you can't bring yourself to support Spurs. If they qualify for Europe the additional games may prove taxing on their depth and make for a long Season.

Liverpool is the only correct choice, of course.

I would like to pick an EPL team to root for as well. I've been following everyone's suggestions here and read up on Charlton Athletic on Wikipedia. You can only get so much information about a club off of a website. Can someone tell me about their reputation around the league?

PS- I am a diehard Cleveland Indians fan, if that helps. ;)

Charlton would be a good choice for you :) They were formed in 1905. They have been a fair to middling EPL side going through relegation 2-3 times since they first cracked the first division in 1936. Current run has seen them in the EPL since 1989 I believe.....Here is a link to the Addicks home page where you can read up on them.

http://www.cafc.co.uk/default.ink

Heh - Charlton is likely to be relegated. I'd say if you're looking for a young, scrappy team - someone like Reading isn't bad, although Sunderland could be interesting as well (though they are genuine sleeping giants).