OT: Any Premier league fans on the board?

[famousbill19]

Enormous West Ham fan here. Played until my late 30's (Ocean Tsp. club, RBC HS then Morris County corporate league, then switched to coaching my kids). Watched all three games today and will watch Red Bulls tonight.

If you are looking for a EPL team to support, I highly recommend getting on the West Ham bandwagon NOW. They are currently 6th in the table and fighting for a Champions League spot, with wins over Spurs, Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Man United this year. Historically they have been a mid-to-bottom of the league club, but will be moving to the Olympic Stadium in London next year which is nearly twice the size of their currently ground, meaning more money for players. They are a gritty, hard working team that has added some quality skill players (Payet, Lanzini). They are playing very entertaining football as evidenced by today's 3-3 game against Arsenal.

Not sure why all the hate for MLS. Most experts agree that the best MLS team, maybe even an MLS all-star team, would likely be relegated from the EPL. That does not mean they do not play an entertaining brand of football (as they do in the lower levels of English football), and there are some great rivalries, particularly on the west coast (Portland, Seattle).

The Leicester City story is unreal. I posted this in another thread, but they were 5000/1 to win the league at the start of the season. They were 3/1 to get relegated. It would be the most surprising professional championship win in any sport in history (provide another if you think differently).

COYI!!!

 

[ColonelRutgers]

DirecTV carries all the games on Premier League Extra Time so you can watch whatever you want without the extra charges like NFL Sunday Ticket. Started following Prenier League in 2014 but took me half a season to figure out I had all the games. Just so much more competitive than La Liga or the other European leagues. So many characters, so many storylines and NBCSN does about a good a job with their package as you can. So happy they got the contract for another 6 years.

 

[Reppin_Jerz]

Enormous West Ham fan here. Played until my late 30's (Ocean Tsp. club, RBC HS then Morris County corporate league, then switched to coaching my kids). Watched all three games today and will watch Red Bulls tonight.

If you are looking for a EPL team to support, I highly recommend getting on the West Ham bandwagon NOW. They are currently 6th in the table and fighting for a Champions League spot, with wins over Spurs, Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Man United this year. Historically they have been a mid-to-bottom of the league club, but will be moving to the Olympic Stadium in London next year which is nearly twice the size of their currently ground, meaning more money for players. They are a gritty, hard working team that has added some quality skill players (Payet, Lanzini). They are playing very entertaining football as evidenced by today's 3-3 game against Arsenal.

Not sure why all the hate for MLS. Most experts agree that the best MLS team, maybe even an MLS all-star team, would likely be relegated from the EPL. That does not mean they do not play an entertaining brand of football (as they do in the lower levels of English football), and there are some great rivalries, particularly on the west coast (Portland, Seattle).

The Leicester City story is unreal. I posted this in another thread, but they were 5000/1 to win the league at the start of the season. They were 3/1 to get relegated. It would be the most surprising professional championship win in any sport in history (provide another if you think differently).

COYI!!!

The combination of this post and the one before it where AreYouNuts admits to being an Aresenal fan has me leaning now towards West Ham, that free kick strike by Payet last week was insane, and as a fellow soccer player we can all appreciate how hard it is to get that much action on a shot...

Just kidding about AreYouNuts having any impact...

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Enormous West Ham fan here. Played until my late 30's (Ocean Tsp. club, RBC HS then Morris County corporate league, then switched to coaching my kids). Watched all three games today and will watch Red Bulls tonight.

If you are looking for a EPL team to support, I highly recommend getting on the West Ham bandwagon NOW. They are currently 6th in the table and fighting for a Champions League spot, with wins over Spurs, Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Man United this year. Historically they have been a mid-to-bottom of the league club, but will be moving to the Olympic Stadium in London next year which is nearly twice the size of their currently ground, meaning more money for players.


COYI!!!

I get what they're doing, $$$-wise, but it's a shame that another one of the great English football stadiums is no longer going to be a part of EPL Weekends. Hopefully the conversion of Olympic Stadium helps because that's not exactly designed for fans to have a major impact on a game. As an Arsenal fan I don't like Emirates for the same reason. Too "sterile" IMHO.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

The combination of this post and the one before it where AreYouNuts admits to being an Aresenal fan has me leaning now towards West Ham, that free kick strike by Payet last week was insane, and as a fellow soccer player we can all appreciate how hard it is to get that much action on a shot...

Just kidding about AreYouNuts having any impact...

:cry:

 

[NotInRHouse]

I'm a Real Madrid fan, never really got into BPL. The quality of La Liga is on the upswing IMO even outside of Real and Barca.

 

[Beancounter88]

Big big fan of BPL, especially Arsenal and Tottenham since I like both of their styles. Tottenham is always a roller coaster ride year to year but they are typically aggressive. Leicester is a joy to watch this year - play with such passion like their hair's on fire. I can watch pretty much any game although ManU is s little tough to watch because they're so deliberate and boring playing the ball up through the back. The whole relegation and CL aspect makes the league special. We should have it here but never will. Think how meaningful that is to have a team in the BPL and then lose it (like Fulham) - must be devastating. London or Manchester derby would surely be on my bucket list. What I want to know from with experience: is it better to watch the game in the stadium or in a pub down the street with pints flowing?

A great CL game is even more special because of the stakes. That PSG v Man City game was epic - a little frantic at times but passionate and some great attacking play.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Big big fan of BPL, especially Arsenal and Tottenham since I like both of their styles..

So you hate yourself? Arguably the most heated rivalry in the BPL lol!

 

[Beancounter88]

So you hate yourself? Arguably the most heated rivalry in the BPL lol!

I know I know - you are 100% right! But I like quick 1-touch passing teams and when these teams get it going they're fun to watch. Pochettino is clearly the best manager in the BPL also. I must say, though, I do love watching Jamie Vardy play this year - so fast and goes after everything with reckless abandon.

 

[mildone]

I'm sure I'll find some agreement here, as much as I like going to RedBulls games to congregate with other soccer fans, I just can't get myself to watch MLS games on tv, the style of the game and the overall skill and talent is just not nearly on par with even this Southhampton-Newcastle game I'm watching right now...anyone else feel that way?

I find it difficult to watch MLS games. The level of play is just too poor to be enjoyable for me.

Best soccer on the planet is the UEFA Champions League once you get to the round of 16. Far better even than the World Cup.

 

[Reppin_Jerz]

I find it difficult to watch MLS games. The level of play is just too poor to be enjoyable for me.

Best soccer on the planet is the UEFA Champions League once you get to the round of 16. Far better even than the World Cup.

Wish they played the champions
League in the off season for league games so the teams don't need to choose between resting their best players for meaningful league games

 

[mildone]

Wish they played the champions
League in the off season for league games so the teams don't need to choose between resting their best players for meaningful league games

Agreed.

 

[RU01DrexelMed05]

Watch every week. Gets me through the winter. Root for Spurs because I loved how Gareth bale played. Can't wait for next year. Youngest team in the league and UEFA champions league next year. Think EPL will be competing with NHL and MLB in terms of viewers in the next 5-10 years

 

[famousbill19]

I get what they're doing, $$$-wise, but it's a shame that another one of the great English football stadiums is no longer going to be a part of EPL Weekends. Hopefully the conversion of Olympic Stadium helps because that's not exactly designed for fans to have a major impact on a game. As an Arsenal fan I don't like Emirates for the same reason. Too "sterile" IMHO.

I went to Upton Park (West Ham's ground) last year. Special experience for me as a fan knowing the history but it is hardly a thing of beauty. Think Rutgers Stadium before the expansion.

 

[jonRU09]

Love EPL.. I am a Spurs fan and wife is a Chelsea fan. Makes for interesting times.

 

[MadRU]

Huge Tottenham fan. Big game tomorrow against ManU. COYS!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I went to Upton Park (West Ham's ground) last year. Special experience for me as a fan knowing the history but it is hardly a thing of beauty. Think Rutgers Stadium before the expansion.

No, definitely isn't, but I LOVE old-school stadiums with the majority of the fans sitting behind the nets! Makes for much better atmosphere IMHO. Olympic Stadium is huge, sterile, with a track around it, hence my comments hoping that the renovation will do a good job of having some type of atmosphere for West Ham.

btw - Nothing worse than "old" Rutgers Stadium with the north end zone seats behind 30-yards behind the goal line!

 

[RUsojo]

One thing that's a very important issue in world soccer rigt now, that we all can relate to and know much about, is the TV contract of the premier league - it dwarfs all other leagues. For example, their new deal was for about $6B while the Bundesligas deal is just over $500M.

What's happening is the lower and mid table premier league teams now have more money to spend on players than all the other teams in Germany, Spain, Italy, and France - outside the top 2 or 3 teams in those leagues depending on country. (This helped by an unbalanced revenue sharing model in other leagues, sans Germany, and in particular Spain.)

Premier league teams sitting bottom/middle of the table are able to pay higher wages than Marseille, Valencia, Schalke, and Lazio's, etc, of the world. It's created a huge divide in the competition level of the other leagues and created a more competitive league in Englad.

 

[ruready07]

Wish they played the champions
League in the off season for league games so the teams don't need to choose between resting their best players for meaningful league games

It would give you some better games with some better rested players - but also remember that this tournament crowns the king of European club soccer. So to be that top club, you need to be excellent at signing the right players, having the right coach, keeping your squad rested during a long season and more..
It's very interesting to see managers deciding between resting or playing a certain player when there is an important league game and a champions league game in the same week.

 

[ruready07]

Why the need to commit to a team?

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Wish they played the champions
League in the off season for league games so the teams don't need to choose between resting their best players for meaningful league games

It's called "vacation" time. July and August. They play 10 months out of the year already.

 

[MadRU]

Also Tottenham has had several USA players over the years. Casey Keller, Brad Friedel, Clint Dempsey, DeAndre Yedlin (out on loan).

 

[DaveSNJ]

I'm in the RU EPL league. I screwed up my selections last night, bummer. Like Liverpool however like switching games, Directv is nice to have.

However I watch as many leagues as I can - Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue Un.

Funny EPL believes it's the most competitive league in the world however can't win a champions league trophy for the life of them. For those not really tuned in they make themselves out to be the SEC of European leagues without the trophies to back them up.

 

[Reppin_Jerz]

It would give you some better games with some better rested players - but also remember that this tournament crowns the king of European club soccer. So to be that top club, you need to be excellent at signing the right players, having the right coach, keeping your squad rested during a long season and more..
It's very interesting to see managers deciding between resting or playing a certain player when there is an important league game and a champions league game in the same week.

That's exactly the reason to play it at a different time so the very best players can represent their clubs in both the league and the tourney...like i said in a previous post, a friend took her son all the way to France to see PSG play for spring break and there was a big chance Zlatan wouldn't play becuase of the champions league games also being played...imagine spending all that money to go see your favorite player play only to watch him rest up for a champions league game?

 

[Reppin_Jerz]

Why the need to commit to a team?

Feel like I'd be better served developing a passion for one team to follow rather than just watching the games for my love of how beautiful it's played (which is the exact reason i can't watch MLS even though I am a RedBulls supporter)

 

[Doctor Worm]

Feel like I'd be better served developing a passion for one team to follow rather than just watching the games for my love of how beautiful it's played (which is the exact reason i can't watch MLS even though I am a RedBulls supporter)

Not sure I follow. Are you saying you watch Red Bulls but no other MLS games?

Everyone who knows anything about American soccer knows that the quality of MLS is inferior to that of the biig European leagues. Similarly, everyone who knows anything about American football knows that the quality of college football is inferior to that of the NFL. Does that mean we should not watch college football? Or at least not watch those games not involving the team(s) we are passionate about?

Disclaimer: I am a Red Bulls season ticketholder, but my wife and I aren't going tonight. Too damn cold for what in this country is a summer game. So there are limits to my passion!

 

[Reppin_Jerz]

Not sure I follow. Are you saying you watch Red Bulls but no other MLS games?

Everyone who knows anything about American soccer knows that the quality of MLS is inferior to that of the biig European leagues. Similarly, everyone who knows anything about American football knows that the quality of college football is inferior to that of the NFL. Does that mean we should not watch college football? Or at least not watch those games not involving the team(s) we are passionate about?

Disclaimer: I am a Red Bulls season ticketholder, but my wife and I aren't going tonight. Too damn cold for what in this country is a summer game. So there are limits to my passion!

Sure I'll clarify, I love soccer and love being around other passionate soccer fans so I'll support the local Club and go to RedBulls games (usually three or four a year) with friends and enjoy the atmosphere, but I do not enjoy watching the product on tv...it is not nearly as smoothly played or technically sound.

I do enjoy watching BPL on tv every Saturday and sometimes Sunday's and am considering which team to throw my support into going into next season, and many here have given me some good reasons for multiple teams.

Does that add more clarity?

 

[ruready07]

MLS is probably in the top 15 of leagues around the world - out of over hundreds and hundreds of professional leagues.
A lot of you guys are comparing MLS with some of the top leagues in the world - of course the game looks different. MLS is one of the faster, more phsyical leagues there is out there and that style isn't always appealing after watching the top 1% of players worldwide knock the ball around flawlessly.

 

[mildone]

MLS is probably in the top 15 of leagues around the world - out of over hundreds and hundreds of professional leagues.
A lot of you guys are comparing MLS with some of the top leagues in the world - of course the game looks different. MLS is one of the faster, more phsyical leagues there is out there and that style isn't always appealing after watching the top 1% of players worldwide knock the ball around flawlessly.

Perhaps that's true. But I also can't watch most of the other leagues around the world.

I don't so much watch soccer to follow any given team (except team USA) as to watch the artistry and beauty of the game when played at it's highest level. That level of play doesn't exist in most leagues for sure.

 

[lighty]

I think the top teams in those leagues may be better, but i think the depth in the Premier League is better. All fantastic watches..

Everybody always says that yet the Bundesligia has been showing strong depth in the Champions League in recent years. It's a much stronger league that many give it credit for.

 

[MadRU]

I'm in the RU EPL league. I screwed up my selections last night, bummer. Like Liverpool however like switching games, Directv is nice to have.

However I watch as many leagues as I can - Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue Un.

Funny EPL believes it's the most competitive league in the world however can't win a champions league trophy for the life of them. For those not really tuned in they make themselves out to be the SEC of European leagues without the trophies to back them up.

Well Chelsea won it a few years back, as a Tottenham fan I can't forget that, kept us out of the Champions league.

But the Premiere League being competitive means that in the league itself anyone can beat anyone, look at Leicester City, they were in last place with less than 10 games to go last season, now they are ever so close to winning the league this year.

If you want Champions league, might as well follow Real Madrid or Barcelona, they have the most expensive players in the world and will be favorites again this year. Bayer will possibly challenge.

The Bundesliga is Bayern Munich. League Un is PSG, La Liga is Barcelona or Real Madrid, with maybe Athletico sneaking in.

I like the Premiere League because of the style of play and that on any given day you never know who will win. Leicester this year, Chelsea last year, Man City the previous year.

 

[RUBoken]

I am a Liverpool fan. I would have thought there would be others....

 

[Reppin_Jerz]

Perhaps that's true. But I also can't watch most of the other leagues around the world.

I don't so much watch soccer to follow any given team (except team USA) as to watch the artistry and beauty of the game when played at it's highest level. That level of play doesn't exist in most leagues for sure.

I concur, I'm not trying to watch the Mexican national league or any of those Asian leagues, but I do have an Olimpia jersey from seeing one of the top teams in the Honduran top league

 

[GeorgeStreet]

Actually, when I started watching the EPL, I cheered for Liverpool -- because of The Beatles, naturally. Then I switched to Arsenal and Swansea City. Now I focus on the Tottenham Spurs.

 

[wcfan10]

I don't root for any particular team, apart from Leicester this year, but I love watching certain players like Kane, Messi, Ronaldo, Robben, Vardy, DeGea (I play keeper and love watching him), etc. In his prime, Drogba was my favorite player, which had me rooting mildly for Chelsea.

I've been watching the Premier league games for about 7 years now..Its great to catch a premier game at 7:45 AM on NBC Sports...Then in the early afternoon I watch the Spanish Liga games on Beinsport channel.
I repeat the above process again on Sunday as well. I can't get enough of quality soccer...

 

[RUinCANADA]

Maybe because its America, but any Spurs Fan I've ever known has never said they're a Tottenham" fan. Always just called the Spurs. Even when teams play, Arsenal vs Spurs, not Arsenal vs Tottenham. Just something I found interesting.

Great to see soccer catching on more and more. Also nice knowing you can set aside 2 hours for a game, and knowingly be done 2 hours later.

 

[e5fdny]

Not one Blue fan on here?

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Not one Blue fan on here?

I'll crack one open to that!

 

[wcfan10]

Watch every week. Gets me through the winter. Root for Spurs because I loved how Gareth bale played. Can't wait for next year. Youngest team in the league and UEFA champions league next year. Think EPL will be competing with NHL and MLB in terms of viewers in the next 5-10 years

I would hope that soccer(Premier, La Liga, etc) would overtake MLB & NHL in the US, but the problem is that to be fully integrated/consolidated as a true fan I think you need to be able to attend at least an occasional game to experience and appreciate the atmosphere. Since we're a few thousand miles away, it would be tough to get hardcore fans to experience the games. Some will do, I'm sure its not an easy sell for most.

 

[RickB113]

I would hope that soccer(Premier, La Liga, etc) would overtake MLB & NHL in the US, but the problem is that to be fully integrated/consolidated as a true fan I think you need to be able to attend at least an occasional game to experience and appreciate the atmosphere. Since we're a few thousand miles away, it would be tough to get hardcore fans to experience the games. Some will do, I'm sure its not an easy sell for most.

Did you just say you hoped it would overtake baseball? I really like soccer but the chance of it taking over baseball in the US are zero. Will not happen in anyones lifetime that is posting on this oard.