I've been watching ever since a friend of mine "dragged" me to London in '08 to see a Tottenham - West Ham match. Was never a big soccer fan before, but now between the EPL and MLS, it helps me get throught the football off season.
OT: Any Premier league fans on the board?
- Thread starter Reppin_Jerz
- Start date
Not so sure. I teach college, and get into way more conversations about soccer with my students than baseball. There are still regional loyalties to baseball teams, but as a sport, I think there's more interest in soccer among young fans.
Here's my question: Why does it seem like Tottenham is the most popular club among U.S. based fans? Just an observation between my friends who follow the EPL and responses in this thread. I can honestly say I haven't run into a fellow Southampton supporter yet.
COYS! I don't think Spurs are the most popular BPL team....probably still ManU, due to the sheer amount of winning, plus having players like Beckham. I went in to Modells by Times Square the other day, and they had a ton of ManU shirts along with some Chelsea, but that was about it. ManU has fallen off since Sir Alex stepped down, so folks may be jumping off the bandwagon now. Plus, Spurs are English-owned. No gulf money or sponsors and no meddling American ownership(Fenway group-arsenal, Glazers-ManU)
Baseball is hemorrhaging support. It is incredibly unpopular with millenials. Given that and increasing Hispanic population, is it quite easy to see soccer overtaking baseball in the US within our lifetimes. Lots more people have 90 minutes to spare than 4 hours.
The only question is whether the MLS will step up or whether the BPL and La Liga become the force in the US they have become everywhere else.
The only question is whether the MLS will step up or whether the BPL and La Liga become the force in the US they have become everywhere else.
They're not, not even close, BUT they're having a very good season while Man U, Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool, are having "subpar" ones (especially the latter 2...), HENCE, it "seems" as though there are more, because they're out and about and boisterous this season. They're also a popular choice among the "I don't have a side" crowd.
Funny how this goalpost keeps moving. LOL
And really, not one ManCity fan on here?
ManU just fell apart in a 3 minute span, Leicester still has Spurs on their heels, it's not over yet...
3 minutes of real playing time, There was a good 3 Minutes after goals 1 and 2 of celebration while the clock keeps running.
Andy carrol of West ham is a beast. That was a fun match this weekend
I thought they said on the broadcast that it was his first game starting? Is he normally a bench player or did they recently pick him up? I know I've seen him play before tho.
Ah, the enigma that is Andy Carroll. He is an extremely physical player, and unparalleled in the EPL on balls in the air. When the Hammers were less talented and played a more Route 1 style, the entire offense centered around him.
When West Ham bought him outright from Liverpool several years ago it was the highest price they had ever paid for a player. Each year since he has had a significant injury (or two). As a result, he has played in roughly half of West Ham's games.
Now he is back and healthy. The problem for him is that West Ham has a new manager, more talent and plays a more finesse game. The old "lump it up to Andy" approach hasn't meshed well with the creative play makers like Payet and Lanzini, and as a result he has been coming in off the bench. However, against Arsenal this weekend it seemed to finally click. I expect him to start the rest of the way.
Big FA Cup replay this Wednesday versus ManU at Upton Park. Should be on Fox Sports 1- be sure to DVR it. COYI!!!
That was a complete aberration. Never expect to see that again. You're more likely to see Carroll pick up 3 months on the training table than 3 goals in a game ever again.
Spurs fans are just really really vocal this year because the squad is actually doing well and not wallowing in the 5th-7th place in the table with little hope of breaking top 4.
Chelsea fans are quietly sulking in a corner waiting for Conte to yell, berate, and cheat them back to prominence.
United fans are hanging their heads in shame as they watch their idiot manager play a winger at striker and striker at winger.
Arsenal fans are just...well...content with being top 4 once again.
City fans are dejected and waiting for the Pep era to begin.
Liverpool fans are a little manic depressive at the moment, as the Reds can look like world beaters one day, and then relegation fodder the following week.
Everton fans are in hiding as Roberto Martinez looks to weasel his way into another year.
Palace fans are wondering how their hero of yesteryear is such a lousy manager.
Newcastle fans pretend they aren't fans at all at the moment, same with Villa.
And lastly, everyone is rooting for Leicester City, but no one can really have claimed to be a fan prior to the current campaign.
What was the deal with Chelsea this weekend? Looked like they didn't want to be out there and the product they put out on the pitch was barely recognizable. In the interest of my wife not being cranky every weekend that Chelsea looks terrible, I hope Conte can bring the club back to form a bit.. while still leaving them behind Tottenham. COYS!
Can someone explain the "COYS" thing? At the risk of sounding silly I have no idea what that is...
Please. The real aberration is Spurs sitting second in the table- you are more likely to see them swapping places with the Villa next year than qualifying for Champions League football again.
you're mixing your unexpected events together bud.
Not saying that Spurs competing at this level is normal based on past performance. But Andy Carroll staying healthy is pretty much a pipedream. Please name the last time that brittle brute lasted an entire PL season without spending any significant stretches on the trainer's table.
I'm disappointed that this may be the case. I plan on watching West Ham the rest of the way and maybe even having them be "my team", just because I love some of the players, Carroll being the player I most enjoy watching
Don't forget this Wednesday versus Man U FA Cup Quarters Replay at Upton Park (2 PM on FS2). Winner of this game will be the favorite to win the FA Cup (Everton, Watford and Crystal Palace are left).
As big a pipe dream as Dele Alli playing with Spurs next year perhaps?
Just busting your chops. Great year for Spurs so far. Who would have bet money in the beginning of the year that ManU, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool would all be outside of the top two.
Of course it is hard to argue with Carroll's brittleness (see my email above). This year has been a bit easier to take with goals and intent coming from other sources, but when he is healthy and in form he is a nightmare for opponents.
I'm an Arsenal fan and find this comment semi-WTF'ish?? They've got a damn good side, and are very well coached, bottom line.
I was kidding. 18 other sides (including mine) would love to trade places with Spurs.
As someone seriously considering taking West Ham or Arsenal as "my team" can someone give me the arguement for and against each? Famousbill seems to have west ham covered...
Arsenal will be in the EPL (BPL) every year, and will compete well in the FA and League Cups, almost yearly, while also competing in Champions League as well. It makes for a very, very long season, with lots of management decisions needed to go the right way just to get 1 of those 4 titles. It can be very frustrating, however, its' also enjoyable to be able to see the team you follow play that often.
That being said....and I mean this....they'll have you banging your head against the wall every-other-weekend saying "why do I bother...what the f* is wrong with this team...how the HELL did we lose 2-0 to West Ham, at Emirates, on opening day???"
They can play as perfect a game as it gets, looking beautiful passing the ball, moving with it and scoring, one day, then look like they've never touched a ball the next. They can defend with the best in the world one day but give up 4 the next.
You're gonna see a lot of games, win a lot, lose some, and you're gonna be frustrated at times, but you're gonna be lifting a lot of mugs as well. Does that help?
That's my best take as a fan for, I guess, 16 years now.
Spurs are a big team, just not one of the real big teams. They don't spend as much money buying players like the bigger teams do. In the past they have gotten raided for their top talent. They give younger players chances to play, bringing up players from their own academy. They have about the youngest team in the league.
They play a very attractive attacking style, high pressing, relentless. They currently have one of the best young coaches in all of soccer, and have put together a solid scouting/development staff.
They are usually in Europe tourney's, usually the Europa league. They aim for the Champions League, but its tough breaking into the top four. Right now they sit in second. Future is bright, they will move into a new 61,000 seat stadium within the next couple of years.
A fun team to watch play, great passing team, and with Harry Kane they have a great young striker (leads the league with 22 goals - at 22 years of age), who is one of our own (came up through our academy).
But like Nuts said about Arsenal, they can have you banging your head too.
Here is a good write up on Spurs:
http://www.theguardian.com/football...omise-watchable-leicester-mauricio-pochettino
They play a very attractive attacking style, high pressing, relentless. They currently have one of the best young coaches in all of soccer, and have put together a solid scouting/development staff.
They are usually in Europe tourney's, usually the Europa league. They aim for the Champions League, but its tough breaking into the top four. Right now they sit in second. Future is bright, they will move into a new 61,000 seat stadium within the next couple of years.
A fun team to watch play, great passing team, and with Harry Kane they have a great young striker (leads the league with 22 goals - at 22 years of age), who is one of our own (came up through our academy).
But like Nuts said about Arsenal, they can have you banging your head too.
Here is a good write up on Spurs:
http://www.theguardian.com/football...omise-watchable-leicester-mauricio-pochettino
Last edited:
Yup. Another club moving from a GREAT environment to a potentially "sterile" one. Hopefully they price things right and have cheap seats available behind the nets.
Appreciate the insight on Arsenal and Tottenham, I can only imagine finding myself in a bar cheering on Arsenal along side Nuts...sarcasm...but worth noting...my only qualifications for finding a team is one that plays in or close to London as I travel their frequently for work and I'd prefer a technical style of play like Barca, ball possession and crisp passing attack.
Both Tottenham and Arsenal are in London. Both play attacking crisp passing styles.
then you're going to want to root for Arsenal.
Other London teams:
Spurs are technical in their press, incisive in their passing, but can vary from being a possession passing game to a direct, route one football side if that's what is going to work. Depends on if they sell any players ahead of next season.
West Ham with Carroll in the side are route one football. Without him in the side, they are entertaining to watch.
Crystal Palace - kind of a mess right now.
Chelsea - going to much more pragmatic under Conte next season.
Do yourselves a favor when you get home tonight: if you weren't able to see it about an hour ago, or didn't DVR the game, try and catch the Dortmund vs Liverpool Europa League match. The most amazing version of "You'll Never Walk Alone," in a stadium, that you will ever hear! As both clubs fans sing the song this was a "match made in heaven," of sorts, and the crowds began singing together in the streets of Liverpool prior to the game, however, when it began to play over the PA System at Anfield, and the 3,000 Dortmund fans joined in with the 42,000 fans in red, it was hair-tingling for even this Arsenal fan. They literally sang the final chorus for a good 5+ minutes after the song was over, refusing to stop even as the teams were finally brought out of a tunnel - scene that was one of faces simply amazed at what was going on outside - and onto the pitch, where the fans STILL sang, and sang, and sang.
This is one of those times and those scenes, that only international soccer provides, and I'm glad I caught it live!
** here's a video of fans from the streets of Liverpool prior to the game:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/watch-dortmund-lfc-fans-sing-11187177
This is one of those times and those scenes, that only international soccer provides, and I'm glad I caught it live!
** here's a video of fans from the streets of Liverpool prior to the game:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/watch-dortmund-lfc-fans-sing-11187177
Areyounuts, Still waiting to hear back from you about where to find an Everton jersey in New Jersey.
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
Olympic Sports Rutgers Softball Returns with Youth Movement This Season- Latest: rubaseball78
-