The Soccer Thread

[Prodigal Son]

Just pick whoever won their leagues title. That's how most Americans do it.

Or you can just find out where your family is from and follow that team.

Sons of Ben ain't shit. Stick with the Union, make them your first team no matter what. All those other Euro clubs should be #2 to you.

 

[mgoblue2290]

Whoever you guys new to international club soccer choose to support, support them all the way. Don't change just because things start going downhill.

For example, if things go poorly Liverpool may be finishing outside of the top 7 and definitely top 4 for a few years.

Houtz, I would definitely recommend following a Premier League team just because they're going to get the most media attention and because of the language will be easiest to follow. I think a lot of people are going to jump off the Liverpool bandwagon so feel free to jump on.

 

[Fappin Raptor]

I picked Queens Park Rangers because of their jerseys ha.

 

[mgoblue2290]

I for one, support Liverpool because my family has roots in the NW of England/Wales. An area who has long supported the Reds.

Frankly, I couldn't see myself supporting any other club. I couldn't support the Cockney fucks or the Mancs, so I have few other choices outside of the clubs that call the midlands home.

Despite being mostly Scottish and Irish I don't have a drop of English in me so I can't claim family roots. I started rooting for Liverpool because I played with them in Football Manager 08 and then I started reading up about them and their players and all of the history they had and became a full fledged fan.

 

[davie]

What about supporting Napoli, Bologna or Fiorentina?

 

[Archer]

You see Liverpool are on the verge of signing Remy for 12million, Heels? Seems a little pricey for somebody with 1 French cap and an average goalscoring record in the French League

Off Topic: I see West Ham have snapped up Barrera [fast Mexican winger]. Kinda looking forward to seeing how he does after his brief appearences in the world cup

 

[wr50l]

I hear Chris Eagles spurned Rangers. Lets try and sign him.

We're in the Champions League so we're actually of higher stature. :nana:

 

[mgoblue2290]

Also, will someone cut Citeh off already?

Holy fuck, how big is their squad going to be next season?

Thats the one thing I don't get about international soccer. Why do some of these players go to teams knowing they probably won't be starters and will have limited playing time. I'd rather go to a slightly lower club and be a starter then play 30 minutes a game or sometimes not play at all.

 

[Archer]

Thats the one thing I don't get about international soccer. Why do some of these players go to teams knowing they probably won't be starters and will have limited playing time. I'd rather go to a slightly lower club and be a starter then play 30 minutes a game or sometimes not play at all.

Many reasons

1.Money
2.All players have ego's. They think they will actually get to start
3.You don't know what City is telling them, they might be telling him he will be a regular starter
4.Money
5.Chance to join a team that is set to be a top 4 team for many years to come
6.Did I say money yet?

 

[Archer]

Just wondering your guys opinion on the Tottenham Hotspur? A friend recommended them to me and I've been doing some research. Appears that 2009/2010 was their best year to date. Seems like a decent team to jump aboard. I'm going to keep looking.

Also, I'm not sure if I said or not but I'm most likely going to the USA v.s Brazil matchup at the new Meadowlands stadium. Also threw my name on the wait list for Supporter's season tickets for the Union next year. So upset I wasn't introduced to the sport earlier in my life. I probably would've played throughout high school and at the very least followed the great sport of soccer.

They are a big club with a decent amount of money to spend but they always tend to be in the shadow of other London based clubs [Chelsea and Arsenal in recent years]. They finally got a champions league spot last year but it's going to be even harder for them to hold onto that spot with Man City spending so much money.

It's probably a good time to jump on the bandwagon if you are new to the sport... plus you won't get hated on for supporting a super power like Man Utd or Chelski.

 

[wr50l]

I follow Rangers as well. So I'm not trying to bash them, it's just generally you don't see Liverpool fighting for players with clubs of lower stature. Although Red fans may have to get used to a life as a midtable club for awhile.

Speaking of which, I hear Weir resigned. He's what 40 now? And he's going to have to play a good bit, esp if Rangers sell Bougherra. I don't see that working out well for Weir in the Champions league, he might be the only other CB in the UK who is slower than Carragher.

Edit- And Thompson signed with the Scottish National Team South. Middlesbrough is really loading up. I guess Ness gets more time now?

Davie Weir is so bad. Never mind playing a "good bit" he's still a starter. The only thing remotely positive about Davie Weir is that he dives as well as a foreigner. I think Mo Edu will basically take Thomson's role on and he may just flourish with it. He's never really had a good run in the team to assert his style permanently. Maybe we'll sign a midfielder but we could really be doing with a goalscorer and can only really buy one player at the moment.

 

[inthecards21]

i have been leaning with the Spurs, thanks

 

[Bigpapa42]

Just wondering your guys opinion on the Tottenham Hotspur? A friend recommended them to me and I've been doing some research. Appears that 2009/2010 was their best year to date. Seems like a decent team to jump aboard. I'm going to keep looking.

Also, I'm not sure if I said or not but I'm most likely going to the USA v.s Brazil matchup at the new Meadowlands stadium. Also threw my name on the wait list for Supporter's season tickets for the Union next year. So upset I wasn't introduced to the sport earlier in my life. I probably would've played throughout high school and at the very least followed the great sport of soccer.

It somewhat pains me to say it, but Tottenham are not a bad choice. They are Premiership, so they have good visibility over here. They have some quality players and while winning the Prem isn't likely, some trophies are still possible.

Since you are doing this logically (a good choice), one factor to keep in mind with a club like Tottenham is that they, at the end of the day, a "selling club". In truth, all but the biggest clubs are. When the biggest clubs come for a player from Tottenham, its hard for them to hang onto the player. I don't say that to discourage (in truth, even the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool are selling clubs) but just so you understand that getting attached to the players with the expectation of them never leaving can result in severe disappointment...

If you are determined to really do the work, I recommend doing some reading. Wikipedia isn't a bad resource to get a handle on a clubs history, best players, etc. Then maybe check a soccer-specific board like bigsoccer and take a look at what their supporters tend to act like. Again, not a deciding factor, but it can sway things a bit...

 

[Bigpapa42]

I love sitting at work and reading the histories of random clubs in soccer on Wikipedia.

Yeah, its something I've done many times as well. Its surprising to realize that strong history that some clubs have throughout Europe.

And good to see ya as well.

 

[PP]

Fenway park is holding a Sporting vs Celtic match next week. I am going and will be in the Sporting fanside (not sporting fan at all) should be fun to see some top class soccer even if it is just exhibition.

 

[davie]

Unfortunately he's no longer world class.

you do realise this contradicts calgaryballer's world cup prediction of 'henry still being henry'?

I suggest Weder Bremen or possibly Bayern Leverkusen.

Although honestly in Germany it's going to be tough. Most clubs outside of Bayern Munich go through their ups and downs. Its the nature of the Bundesliga, good one season, get into Europe and then under perform the next season.

lol parity

 

[davie]

Houtz could support Roma if he never wanted the best player to leave.

 

[davie]

Exciting? Maybe, I don't watch it often [of course it was thrilling whenever Luca Toni started].

Do I think the teams have the quality to deserve the 4th Champions League space? No, they're leaning on the UEFA Cup/Europa League crutch to help their coefficient, which I believe shouldn't count toward Champions League standing.


Houtz could also support Juve, I don't think Buffon or Del Piero are going anywhere. People might have been under the impression that Diego was their best player after a good start to the season, but he really had a shit time of it for most of the year.

 

[davie]

I'll agree with you on that. But I think that's the case for most leagues. Outside of Barca and Real Madrid, do we really think Valencia will win the Champions league?

I think they include to many clubs in the so called "Champions" league, but it's all about money.

I've got my own biased reason - Italian clubs don't take the UEFA Cup seriously [and they shouldn't, it's been a joke for the last 10 years].

 

[1ke]

^^ Truth, random sidenote....Went to eat at a local Italian restaurant...They had Fiorentina scarfs everywhere. Pretty cool, good food too.