who should i decide to follow?

[knowwonnose]

I just finished my first year of watching the EPL with any interest. I prefer Spanish La Liga. Still haven't picked a "favorite" EPL team, but here's my rationale.

First, I usually want teams with Americans to win. Second, I don't like the Yankee in MLB because they're always on top, for the same reason, I don't like Chelsea or Arsenal. Man U fits into that group but also has American ownership and Howard. Because they benched Howard just as I was starting to watch them, and because they didn't score in any of the first 4 games I watched them play, I lost interest in them. Of the big guys, I guess I like Liverpool the best because I'd never go against Scholesy. (Actually, because I have a Basque connection with Alonso and it was fun watching them win the Champions League Cup in 2005.)

I guess in the end I voted Reading, because it was fun watching Convey and Hahnemann have a big role in their promotion. The one question I have, and it shows my English ignorance (sorry), is it pronounce ree-ding, like what you migh be doing with a book, or red-ing like the town in Pennsylvania?

[SpiffCoug]

I served with a Brit in Iraq and he was a Hull City supporter. They were 3rd division that year. They've been promoted twice and are now in the Championship. Hoping they can follow Reading and make it to the Primiership next campaign. Up the Hull City!

In the EPL, I like Tottenham. I was watching a game late last year with my 5 month old (at the time) son and my wife asked who was playing. I told her it was Tottenham Hotspur and the other team. Upon saying Tottenham Hotspur, my boy started laughing. I asked him if he wanted Totenham Hotspur to win. He laughed again. So it was my son's laugh that gave me the connection with Tottenham. Of course, they're also a decent club (when they aren't being poisioned by the opposition) so that was an added bonus.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by knowwonnose

I just finished my first year of watching the EPL with any interest. I prefer Spanish La Liga. Still haven't picked a "favorite" EPL team, but here's my rationale.

First, I usually want teams with Americans to win. Second, I don't like the Yankee in MLB because they're always on top, for the same reason, I don't like Chelsea or Arsenal. Man U fits into that group but also has American ownership and Howard. Because they benched Howard just as I was starting to watch them, and because they didn't score in any of the first 4 games I watched them play, I lost interest in them. Of the big guys, I guess I like Liverpool the best because I'd never go against Scholesy. (Actually, because I have a Basque connection with Alonso and it was fun watching them win the Champions League Cup in 2005.)

I guess in the end I voted Reading, because it was fun watching Convey and Hahnemann have a big role in their promotion. The one question I have, and it shows my English ignorance (sorry), is it pronounce ree-ding, like what you migh be doing with a book, or red-ing like the town in Pennsylvania?

It is pronounced red-ding.
like the town in England that the town in Penn is named after!
😉

Like Ars-nal not Arsen-al
Tott-in-num Hotspur
Wig-in Athletic
Birming-gum sit-ee
Notting-gum Forest (or just Forest!)
Darby County (or just Sheep Shaggers!)

and the rest!

[neophyte]

A few random thoughts. . .

Wigan were great to watch this year. A Cinderella-story team that any American can cheer for.

Chelsea may be the team everyone loves to hate, but, seriously watch them. They are an amazing team. You could actually like them because they're a very good team with great players, not just because they're the new fad.

If you were a fan of Michael Jordan, you might want to seriously consider picking Arsenal. Thierry Henry (now that he's staying!) does on a pitch what Jordan did on a court. He's brilliant.

Liverpool fans have to be the greatest. And Gerrard's two goals in the FA cup final should both be goal of the year!

As you can see, I have issues with commitment . . .

[Old Ska]

Originally Posted by SpiffCoug

Of course, they're also a decent club (when they aren't being poisioned by the opposition) so that was an added bonus.[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

Ouch!!!

[edaw33]

I have narrowed one of my biggest decisions down to the following

1- Reading FC
2- Liverpool
3- Tottenham Hotspur
4- Man U

I find myself wanting to cheer for Reading (the convey factor) but i figure i can cheer for them in the champions division when they get relagated back 🙂

So It's down to Liverpool, Tottenham, and Man U.

[SpiffCoug]

Doesn't Reading have a few Americans on their team? So that could add to the Convey factor already in its favor.

[Scholesy]

Originally Posted by edaw33

I have narrowed one of my biggest decisions down to the following

1- Reading FC
2- Liverpool
3- Tottenham Hotspur
4- Man U

I find myself wanting to cheer for Reading (the convey factor) but i figure i can cheer for them in the champions division when they get relagated back 🙂

So It's down to Liverpool, Tottenham, and Man U.

I like I said before am completely biased, but here are my thoughts and take what you like and leave the rest ...

Liverpool does have history with America, most ships left for the USA from Liverpool, if you're LDS then this is almost certainly (except for Southampton, but we don't talk about them) where your relatives (if you have British heritage) left from. Liverpool are not the best in the league so it's not like you'll be glory hunting, but they have a rich history with football, some of the best managers (Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley) made Liverpool the icon that it is. We have won just about everything there is to win, and lost many things too, we have a history of tradegies which have helped us as fans have a stronger and closer relationship with the players. The best footballing anthem is Liverpools, no song at a football match is ever sung with as much passion and feeling, 'You'll Never Walk Alone', 60,000 people singing the same song is a thing to behold (although I think the funnest has to go to the Hammers for the rather girly anthem of I'm forever blowing bubbles - please lets leave the jokes about Michael Jackson to game day, and Hammers fans are really not the crowd to mess with unless you have a lot more friends with you, even with the ICF in theory disbanded).

Have a look at the website www.liverpoolfc.tv and really look at it, the quotes, the history, the teams, you'll get a real feel for it, going to Anfield is also an expereince that you'll look forward to and never forget. A lot of grounds have slogans and sayings hanging around the place to intimidate the opposition, but Liverpool started it all with the words "THIS IS ANFIELD" over the tunnel entrance just as you enter the field. This is both to intimidate the opposition and to remind the Liverpool team they have a duty to perform.

I'm a bloke who likes Reading, not least of all because they play pretty good football, I like watching them, but honestly I think you only pick them if you are willing to support them if the go back down, might not, look at Wigan.

I do have a thing for Manhester United, I just admire them more than anything, but still even living in Manchester didn't make me hate them less, they're still United. But they are a team of brilliance no doubt.

Tottenham ... sorry, don't know a football team called Tottenham! 🙂 Honestly, they are a dcent bunch, not really the ones to go for though, I think I'd say Liverpool or Reading. Apart from all this ... hello ... The Beatles!! Liverpool even has the Yellow Submarine.

Oh yeah ... and I could really use a few more people to watch the Liverpool games with.

[AreliusIV]

OK, my turn. Take a look at the link on my signature. I was a borderline ManU supporter up to this match: the '99 Champions League final. After that match, I couldn't resist any longer. That was an amazing season where all the stars aligned and ManU won the Premiership, the FA Cup, and the Champions League: the coveted and elusive treble.

If you can get your hands on the classic '99 semifinal of the FA Cup between ManU and Arsenal, you will be convinced that there is really only one EPL club to support: ManU. In that semi-final, ManU keeper Peter Schmeichel goes down with a groin injury in extra time but Sir Alex Ferguson has exhausted all of his subs. So Schmeichel has to stay in. Arsenal win a penalty and Dennis Bergkamp takes it. Incredibly, Schmeichel somehow saves the penalty, injured groin and all. Shortly thereafter, Giggsy goes on a run the length of the field with a solo effort. He takes on 5 Arsenal defenders and buries it in the back of the net.

Words can't describe the drama, the poetry, the beauty of that moment.

Later, for ManU to pull out the Champions League final win in the last 3 minutes of stoppage time. That '99 season was enough for me to swear my allegiance to them for time immemorial.

The European triumph was the most incredible of all. With 90 minutes on the clock they were 1-0 down to Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp in Barcelona thanks to a Mario Basler free kick, but in 3 minutes of injury time allowed by the referee, Teddy Sheringham, a substitute, equalized and extra time looked certain. But with just seconds left on the clock, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, also a late substitution scored the winning goal and history was made.

So, basically 1998-99 was when Manchester United had the most successful season in English club football history as they became the first and only English team to win The Treble - UEFA Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in the same season.

So, before you make your decision, please watch the '99 Champions League final and the '99 semifinal FA Cup match vs. Arsenal. Whatever your decision, keep in mind that the rivalry between nearby neighbors Liverpool and Manchester is particularly fierce.

ManU has the biggest stadium in England: Old Trafford, aka The Theatre of Dreams, currently holding just over 73,000 spectators. Next year, it will be expanded to 76,000.

The west stand of the stadium and is where the diehard fans have historically been situated. In the past, the noise has been compared to that of a jumbo jet. In 2005, FA Premier League fans from all over the world voted online that Old Trafford would be the stadium they would prefer to watch any game.

Traditional banners that have been put on the wall in front of the second tier by ManU supporters include:

029 Years — a reference to the length of time since United's local rivals Manchester City had won a major trophy. The supporters purchased a set of matching numbers with velcro so that the number could be updated each year.

MUFC The Religion — symbolizing fanaticism and loyalism for the club.

Republik Of Mancunia – Red Army — written in faux Cyrillic showcasing the Mancunian pride of the supporters.

2O LEGEND — a reference to the United player Ole Gunnar Solskjær who had been injured for over a year when the banner was made. Solskjaer (Ole) wears number 20 on his shirt. There is no space between the "0" and the "L" creating the striker's name, this is also in a different color font.

One Love – Stretford End – MUFC — One Love is the title of a song by Manchester band the Stone Roses that was played at the 1999 European Cup final, which Manchester United won.

February 6, 1958 – The Flowers of Manchester — A tribute to the Munich air disaster, in which eight United players died. The Flowers of Manchester is the title of a tribute song by The Spinners.

ManU is one of the most successful clubs in England, having won the FA Premier League/Football League 15 times, FA Cup 11 times, the League Cup twice, the European Cup twice and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup once. The club has had the highest average attendance in English football the past 50 seasons.

On 6 April 2006, chief executive David Gill announced American International Group (AIG) as the new shirt sponsors of Manchester United in a British record shirt sponsorship deal of £56.5 million (£14.1 million a year) over four years. Manchester United will have the second largest sponsorship in the world. The four-year agreement has been heralded as largest sponsorship deal in British history, eclipsing Chelsea's deal with Samsung,

Alex Ferguson has guided ManU to eight league championships in eleven years, most recently in the 2002-3 season. He has won more trophies than any other manager in the history of English football and been in charge of Manchester United for more than 1,000 matches.

On 12 June 1999, Alex Ferguson received a knighthood in recognition of his services to the game. Ferguson was made an Inaugural Inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 in recognition of his impact on the English game as a manager.

ManU has had some of the most colorful players in the history of the English game, such as Eric Cantona, Dwight Yorke, Roy Keane, Fabien Barthez, etc. ManU has been very successful in developing youth in its youth system. Some of the most world renowned players have come through the ManU youth system, to wit: Gary Neville, Phil Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.

Presently, two of the world's most exciting young players play at ManU: Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. ManU boasts some of the world's best defenders and midfielders: Gabriel Heinze, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes. ManU also boasts one of the world's best goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar.

Recently, two Americans have played for ManU: Tim Howard and Jonathan Spector.

Noted former players include: George Best, Bobby Charlton and Teddy Sheringham.

Take a look at some of the ManU supporters sites here and here, some pics and the official ManU site.

You might also want to check out the US Manchester United Supporters site.

[BroncsBomber]

I agree with the prior poster that said watch the EPL for a season and see what sticks.
But focus on the Americans.
American owned Manchester United (Spector)(If you're not a Manc then you're a Wank, gotta love Eurotrip.)
Fulham (Bocanegra, McBride)
Everton(Timmy Howard for a season.)
Reading(Convey, Hahneman)
Watford(The ultimate underdog Jay Demerit.)
Charlton Athletic(Gibbs)
Others I may be forgetting.
http://www.yanks-abroad.com/