American Asking for Help

[kdhfc]

So I am sure this thread has been made numerous times, but I would really like some input from some experienced football fans. I am an American who is trying to get into the Premier League and is trying to decide which team to support. I'm not asking you tell me which team is best, or which team to support. Rather, I am looking for information on these teams that I may not pick up on while watching games on NBC Live. This is my second season watching games and learning, and here is my list of teams which I am leaning toward supporting:

AFC Bournemouth -
Pros - I like that they are a small team, small payroll, small stadium. The fact that they were in League 2 not too long ago is impressive.
Cons - Seem likely to be relegated at any point.

Arsenal -
Pros - London team. Team with a lot of history and success. Fever Pitch was an easy way to learn more about this club and its supporters. Large following, especially in the US. Love the rivalry with Tottenham (St. Totteringham's Day is great).
Cons - I don't know if I want to support a club that all other Americans support. Likely to be a "bandwagon" fan.

Burnley -
Pros - I watched a documentary on them during their last stint in the PL and they seem like a really cool team with history and tradition.
Cons - Likely to be relegated.

Crystal Palace -
Pros - London team. Really intense and exciting fan base. Seem to have a really loud stadium.

Cons - Never really in title contention, could possibly be relegated at some point.

Everton -
Pros - Merseyside Derby seems to be a cool rivalry. Talented team with some success. Haven't won PL title, so it would be awesome to witness that as a supporter. Decent following in the US.
Cons - Another team that could be considered a "bandwagon" follower.

Liverpool -
Pros - Success, titles. Owned by Fenway group (I like Boston sports team here in America). YNWA would be amazing to experience firsthand. Merseyside Derby (same as with Everton).
Cons - Not sure I want to support a team that has already won so many titles.

West Ham United -
Pros - This was the first team I thought I'd like to support. London team. A lot of history (just not a lot of title-winning history). They seem to be a tough team that I would enjoy the struggles and successes with. Forever Blowing Bubbles would be really cool to see firsthand.
Cons - From everything I have read, this seems to be a team in which its supporters have to deal with a lot of misery without success. This would be fun, but I would like to support a team who eventually may have a chance at a title.

Is there any other information that could help me with my decision? Yes, I know you will tell me just to keep watching and a team will come to me. I also know that you will tell me just to watch the football for the sake of watching it, not just to find a team to support. However, I like the idea of having a team to rejoice in successes with, as well as share in the misery of the losses with. Thanks in advance for any help I receive!

 

[Stevencc]

Avoid Liverpool mate.

Trust me.

 

[T.A]

#AMF

 

[epic73]

So I am sure this thread has been made numerous times, but I would really like some input from some experienced football fans. I am an American who is trying to get into the Premier League and is trying to decide which team to support. I'm not asking you tell me which team is best, or which team to support. Rather, I am looking for information on these teams that I may not pick up on while watching games on NBC Live. This is my second season watching games and learning, and here is my list of teams which I am leaning toward supporting:

AFC Bournemouth -
Pros - I like that they are a small team, small payroll, small stadium. The fact that they were in League 2 not too long ago is impressive.
Cons - Seem likely to be relegated at any point.

Arsenal -
Pros - London team. Team with a lot of history and success. Fever Pitch was an easy way to learn more about this club and its supporters. Large following, especially in the US. Love the rivalry with Tottenham (St. Totteringham's Day is great).
Cons - I don't know if I want to support a club that all other Americans support. Likely to be a "bandwagon" fan.

Burnley -
Pros - I watched a documentary on them during their last stint in the PL and they seem like a really cool team with history and tradition.
Cons - Likely to be relegated.

Crystal Palace -
Pros - London team. Really intense and exciting fan base. Seem to have a really loud stadium.

Cons - Never really in title contention, could possibly be relegated at some point.

Everton -
Pros - Merseyside Derby seems to be a cool rivalry. Talented team with some success. Haven't won PL title, so it would be awesome to witness that as a supporter. Decent following in the US.
Cons - Another team that could be considered a "bandwagon" follower.

Liverpool -
Pros - Success, titles. Owned by Fenway group (I like Boston sports team here in America). YNWA would be amazing to experience firsthand. Merseyside Derby (same as with Everton).
Cons - Not sure I want to support a team that has already won so many titles.

West Ham United -
Pros - This was the first team I thought I'd like to support. London team. A lot of history (just not a lot of title-winning history). They seem to be a tough team that I would enjoy the struggles and successes with. Forever Blowing Bubbles would be really cool to see firsthand.
Cons - From everything I have read, this seems to be a team in which its supporters have to deal with a lot of misery without success. This would be fun, but I would like to support a team who eventually may have a chance at a title.

Is there any other information that could help me with my decision? Yes, I know you will tell me just to keep watching and a team will come to me. I also know that you will tell me just to watch the football for the sake of watching it, not just to find a team to support. However, I like the idea of having a team to rejoice in successes with, as well as share in the misery of the losses with. Thanks in advance for any help I receive!

Don't support a big team like Manchester United and do as I say not as I do. Bournemouth would be good, or even a second division team

 

[kdhfc]

Don't support a big team like Manchester United and do as I say not as I do. Bournemouth would be good, or even a second division team

I refuse to support Man U, because 90% of the people I know are Man U fans. As far as supporting a lower team, with the lack of coverage for second division teams makes it hard to see them play. That's why I'm not sure about a Bournemouth. If I were to support a team from the Championship League, it would probably be QPR.

 

[epic73]

I refuse to support Man U, because 90% of the people I know are Man U fans. As far as supporting a lower team, with the lack of coverage for second division teams makes it hard to see them play. That's why I'm not sure about a Bournemouth. If I were to support a team from the Championship League, it would probably be QPR.

You'll only see Premier League matches on in the US, so I'd recommend a lower midtable team like Palace.

 

[G-Dragon]

I refuse to support Man U

YNWA mate. Welcome

 

[kdhfc]

Another thought would be ability to see them play live. I know some teams do USA tours (a friend of mine went to Liverpool-Roma this summer). Besides that, if/when I make a visit to England, which teams is it easiest to get a ticket to? Most likely, a trip to England would include time spent mostly in London.

 

[Stagat]

I like Boston sports team

 

[JimJams]

Support Man City. You'll have no problem getting tickets to games.

 

[Pagnell]

Support Man City. You'll have no problem getting tickets to games.

Especially after all those South African fans jump to United.

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...xpects-manchester-city-to-lose-fans-in-africa

 

[Dirk]

AFC Bournemouth -
Pros - I like that they are a small team, small payroll, small stadium. The fact that they were in League 2 not too long ago is impressive.
Cons - Seem likely to be relegated at any point.

Burnley -
Pros - I watched a documentary on them during their last stint in the PL and they seem like a really cool team with history and tradition.
Cons - Likely to be relegated.

Crystal Palace -
Pros - London team. Really intense and exciting fan base. Seem to have a really loud stadium.

Cons - Never really in title contention, could possibly be relegated at some point.


Liverpool -

Cons - Not sure I want to support a team that has already won so many titles.

West Ham United -

Cons - From everything I have read, this seems to be a team in which its supporters have to deal with a lot of misery without success. This would be fun, but I would like to support a team who eventually may have a chance at a title.

I've read your post and highlighted some of your "Cons": Seems you are worrying about to support a club who could be relegated. What's so worrying about it for you? In the U.S you don't have relegations but for us Europeans it's the normal thing and it's essential to have a league system with promotion and relegation. And most fans have to endure a relegation of their favourite team at one point (ok, unlikely for the real big clubs momentarily but even ManCity played in the lower divisions at some point). A real fan goes with his club through "thick and thin" and this means not only to be a fan in successful times.

so, why are you so worried to choose a club that could be relegated? Is it because you can't watch them anymore at US TV Channels? If yes, then try to watch streams, the UK channels broadcast many games of the lower leagues, too. And with, for example, an Android device or your Laptop/PC and the free Kodi programm, you'll be able to watch everywhere in the world.

Liverpool:
Cons - Not sure I want to support a team that has already won so many titles.

Yes, in the "dim and distant" past. Liverpool has won so far exactly 0 (zero, nil) Premier League Titles So, no reason not to support the Reds. I hear they even have a very likeable manager from the continent

West Ham:
Cons: This would be fun, but I would like to support a team who eventually may have a chance at a title.

You are not sure if you want to support a club that has already won so many titles but on the other hand you want to support a club that may have a chance at a title, then West Ham is out of your favourite list, too, that's right. But to support a club who wins titles isn't everything (or shouldn't be everything) for a true supporter.

Besides that, if/when I make a visit to England, which teams is it easiest to get a ticket to? Most likely, a trip to England would include time spent mostly in London.

London? Overrated, overpriced. The UK is so much more than only London.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

AFC Bournemouth -
Pros - I like that they are a small team, small payroll, small stadium. The fact that they were in League 2 not too long ago is impressive.
Cons - Seem likely to be relegated at any point.

If American involvement floats your boat, you might be interested to know we're 30% owned by a group of Americans based in Chicago, who own the NHL team in Minnesota. Quite the Cold War busting club us, mostly owned by a Russian. A small local tinpot team, without much local involvement in the running of, which is perhaps a bit sad.

 

[Christian Slater]

If you have to ask people to help you decide a team it won't work. It's something most fans are born in to, or fall in love with at an early age. It just seems odd to pick a team through circumstance and selection and then putting effort in to support them. The team should be calling out to you.

 

[Stevencc]

And it shouldn't be Liverpool.

 

[Christian Slater]

And that. In fact. if Liverpool is calling out to you seek immediate medical attention.

 

[Dirk]

Is there any other information that could help me with my decision? Yes, I know you will tell me just to keep watching and a team will come to me

If you have to ask people to help you decide a team it won't work. It's something most fans are born in to, or fall in love with at an early age. It just seems odd to pick a team through circumstance and selection and then putting effort in to support them. The team should be calling out to you.

 

[Christian Slater]

 

[Richard Cranium]

Fuck our leagues and support your local soccer team.

 

[Dirk]

Soccer sucks That's why he wants to support a real football team.
kdhfc : I am always puzzled why the Americans call a sports (American) Football which is played mainly with the hands?

 

[kdhfc]

Ok to answer as many of these points as possible:

I've watched a bit of Man City and they just weren't one of those teams that jumped out to me as a team I enjoyed watching.

I am worried about supporting a team that could be relegated because of ability to watch them. I don't know much about streaming lower league games. I watch everything from NBC Live.

London may be overpriced and overrated, but it may be hard to get the wife to travel to a random English town to watch a football game (she's not much of a football watcher).

I like that American involvement in Bournemouth, I had not known that.

Honestly, again, I'm not necessarily asking you guys to pick my team for me, or to tell me which team is best to support. I'm just looking for little bits of info to help me understand the league and some of its teams better.

Also, I still don't understand why American football is called what it is. Considering the ball is only touched by a foot approximately 10 times a game. Maybe because "handball" is already taken, and "throwball" sounds weird.

I appreciate all the input I am getting so far though!

Anybody got any other bits of info on any clubs?

 

[kdhfc]

Also, I'm from a rural middle of nowhere country state in America, so I don't even have a local MLS team that I can support.

 

[Kim Mitten]

I agree with RC - support your local Soccer club, doesn't have to be MLS and I'm thinking you are closer to US soccer teams than any in England.

American football is, believe it or not, actually based on football, if you go back to the origins of the game the feet were used a lot more, it just evolved into a sport with hardly any foot/ball contact but kept the name.

I'd also like to point out that 'football' was actually called soccer to start with as rugby football had already been coined with the name 'football' and soccer was an abbreviation of the word association (although I don't see it myself). So in the 1880s if you were talking about football it was actually rugby and if you were talking about soccer it was football.

 

[kdhfc]

I agree with RC - support your local Soccer club, doesn't have to be MLS and I'm thinking you are closer to US soccer teams than any in England.

American football is, believe it or not, actually based on football, if you go back to the origins of the game the feet were used a lot more, it just evolved into a sport with hardly any foot/ball contact but kept the name.

I'd also like to point out that 'football' was actually called soccer to start with as rugby football had already been coined with the name 'football' and soccer was an abbreviation of the word association (although I don't see it myself). So in the 1880s if you were talking about football it was actually rugby and if you were talking about soccer it was football.

The only soccer team in my town is a women's collegiate team. So while I may not attend any games, I do still support them as I do all teams from this college. However, I want to support a professional football club. And I really like the prospect of English clubs and their history. This is why I am watching it more (besides the fact that it's much higher quality), and wanting an allegiance to a particular club to develop.

 

[SALTIRE]

Can't go wrong with the Merseyside teams out of those picks tbh, you'll be entertained and put through the mill with their lows as well! I don't see Everton as a bandwagon side though, do they have a big following over there?

 

[Jackinky]

If you want to see a team go from being brilliant one week to being utter crap the next then we're your best bet. Our pros our that we have great fans(not being bias) and that we have the capability of being a top 4 side in the future.

 

[SALTIRE]

If you want to see a team go from being brilliant one week to being utter crap the next then we're your best bet. Our pros our that we have great fans(not being bias) and that we have the capability of being a top 4 side in the future.

You could say that about the Merseysiders as well.

It is funny how you pick certain sides though whenever you start watching a team sport. I got into baseball last year, and I picked the Mets because I remember them on Seinfeld (the Yankees were also on there but I just didn't respond to them), and they had a great campaign.

 

[Dirk]

You could say that about the Merseysiders as well.

It is funny how you pick certain sides though whenever you start watching a team sport. I got into baseball last year, and I picked the Mets because I remember them on Seinfeld (the Yankees were also on there but I just didn't respond to them), and they had a great campaign.

The Mets were mentioned in King of Queens, too ( The Mets Arrest....Piazza ). I like Baseball since I was an exchange student in the 80's . I was in Detroit and became addicted to the Tigers (they were at that time World Series Winners a year ago) and the Red Wings in Icehockey. Was more in the stadium than learning at that time

 

[kdhfc]

Can't go wrong with the Merseyside teams out of those picks tbh, you'll be entertained and put through the mill with their lows as well! I don't see Everton as a bandwagon side though, do they have a big following over there?

The Everton following is probably 3rd or 4th largest in the US. Arsenal and Man U are definitely the most followed teams here though.

The reason most followed Everton was because of Tim Howard. Not sure how many people still support them without Howard keeping.

 

[kdhfc]

It is funny how you pick certain sides though whenever you start watching a team sport. I got into baseball last year, and I picked the Mets because I remember them on Seinfeld (the Yankees were also on there but I just didn't respond to them), and they had a great campaign.

I agree with this so much. When I watch tennis and golf, I have players that I want to succeed, but I never have a favorite that I must support and buy gear for. But as soon as it's a team sport, I feel the need to be connected. Maybe it is just the feeling of being a part of something larger than yourself.