2011-12 European Football thread [R]

I'd like to think that I didn't choose Arsenal or the Crew. They chose me...

Truth is that when I selected both of these as my teams to follow they were championship calibur teams (obviously not in the same year). However, they will always be the teams that I follow. Nothing worse than someone that has no sense of fanhood and switches teams simply based upon winning and losing.

I am a long time Everton fan before so many Yanks went through. I have 10 different jersey a few scarves and other random memorabilia. I follow them as closely as I do the Crew. I watch them online (illegally) and when they are on TV that is the highlight of my day.

Kinda a cool story

In the summer of 2009 I was in Florida for a summer internship (still in college obviously) and Everton was in the FA Cup final vs. Chelsea. A few days before the game I scouted out a few bars and found one that was projecting the game onto the wall and expected a good crowd for the game. I got up early and put on my 1995 Everton FA Cup Final's top (last time we won the competition) and my scarf and headed to the bar. Place had around 150 people in it. 148 of them were Chelsea fans. It was me and another guy who was from Liverpool who were rooting for Everton. When Saha scored 25 seconds into the game we both started dancing around the bar and cheering (both admitted we were going to lose because we scored to early). We ended up losing 2-1 but I will never forget when Saha scored and how quite the place got with me and one other random dude celebrating in front of all the Chelsea fans.

I really got into cheering for Leeds during their CL run in back in 2001. It was a great story. I've tried to follow them as much as I can since their troubles which has been hard at times but I still feel like they are still my team in England. Since I'm so far away and I've nevver been to Elland Road it's had for me to think that I'm a "supporter" since I don't get to feel the culture around the club.... and I'm sure all other Leeds fans would hate to know that Ryan Giggs is my favorite player. Him and Peter Beardsley were the first two players I ever noticed back in the early 90s

I consider myself a Bayern supporter. I had absolutely no interest in soccer until 2002, when I randomly was immersed in the World Cup. I cheered for both the US and Germany, because I lived in Germany for seven years as a kid. Oliver Kahn had a monster tournament, so I told myself I'd start supporting whichever team he played for. Turned out to be Germany's most successful club. Oh well. Since then I've been to two Bayern games in Munich and watch them on TV and the internet as much as possible.

I'm more of a "follower" of NUFC than a "supporter," if you want to make that distinction. Mainly because of Shearer, and I was really interested in the Premier League. But I've stuck with them since 2004. Hoping I'll be able to make it to the game in July.

Agreed. I started rooting for the Crew during 2008, but I haven't fallen away since. Partially because of how much I've invested emotionally in them and partially because it's a connection to my hometown.

There's nothing wrong with rooting for a team because they're good.

Me, I cheer for Wolves because I liked their name and logo when I first popped in FIFA 05 . Then I got to go to a few games in England, and I'm basically hooked for life.

Sadly, FIFA video games have a huge impact on what team people support.

Also, bandwagon is different from fair-weather fans.

ManU, Chelsea and Barcelona(mostly Barca) fans in the US are often bandwagon fans, which just means they like them because they are good and/or fun to watch.

Fair-Weather fans only "support" the team during big games, or when the team is doing great.

I support Liverpool by watching every single game on TV or online, even reserve games multiple times per season. I also own 2 scarfs and 14 Jerseys of the team (counting a few international shirts of their players)

It all started when I watched the 2005 CL group stage game (first European match I watched in its entirety basically) and Gerrard smashed that famous half volley in against Olympiakos. I knew nothing about the team or competition (didn't follow the sport across the pond at all) but he became my favorite player, aside from Duncan Oughton here at home.

So I became a Gerrard fan first, then LFC. So I'm basically a bandwagon fan for that, but certainly not fair-weather, I've never followed them closer and they kinda sucked hard last season.

Why is that sad? I'm sure the teams don't mind the support and exposure.

Absolutely, and if it introduces more people to the game I'm all for it.

+1..

I just find it ridiculous when people base their opinions of players off of video game characters.

That's different. If someone says "Jermaine Jones sux, he's only a 76 in FIFA!!!111", that's pretty stupid. Also stupid to conclude that "MLS blows, most teams are only rated 2.5 stars, LOL."

But if FIFA games help one become more familiar with clubs, player names, stadiums, leagues, etc. I think that's great. When I first started following the Bundesliga in 2002, I learned a lot about the league, teams, team colors, player names, player nationalities, etc. through FIFA Soccer 2002.

Hell, because I didn't follow soccer at all before then, FIFA even helped me learn some of the rules.

FIFA games helped me love the game as much as I do today. Before I played FIFA I barely followed the Crew and I could care less about European soccer. Once I played FIFA though everything changed, I became obsessed with soccer. I started going to as many Crew games I could and the rest I would watch on TV.

I picked my teams prior to ever playing FIFA, but thats not to say that I didn't learn an awful lot about the teams, leagues and players from around the world as a result of playing the game.

The manner in which you pick your team doesn't matter. Just stick with your choice.

I think this says it all.

ManU, CHELSEA and Barcelona(mostly Barca) fans in the US are often bandwagon fans, which just means they like them because they are good and/or fun to watch.

I disagree. Most CFC supporters I have met are not bandwagoners. But, then again, maybe I just don't lnow any bandwagoners.

For some reason I latched onto Borussia Mönchengladbach.

I've always liked Barcelona, ever since Cruyff played for them. I've followed them through thick and thin and probably always will.

Tottenham Confirm Ledley King Knee Surgery

Is this even news anymore? If I am the Spurs webmaster, I just stick this article in my "personal" file and re-post it from time to time.

I can't believe they are even keeping him around anymore. He can't stay healthy for more than a few games at a time. Dude is always on the trainer's table

A friend of mine from london described ledley king as having chocolate knees. i think thats pretty accurate

Friedel currently in goal for Tottenham vs. Orlando Pirates, preseason. Halftime score 1 - 1.

Ah, yes, called by the incomparable Toby Charles. I always wanted to meet him. While I started following the Bundesliga and my beloved Fohlen before SMIG, it sure didn't hurt that I could see them play. Of course, when I actually went to a game (I was able to attned 5 Bundesliga matches when I was a student there in the 1978) I was surprised at the length as the SMIG games were 1 hour highlights and not the full 90.

There was a fun story from those days. While we were in Cologne, a father wrote his daughter who was in our program saying that he'd seen a match between Cologne and Duisburg on SMIG and suggested she see a match. Her reply "you should have looked closer at the screen--I *was* there". I think 3 of the 5 matches I attended were on SMIG, and it was odd to come home that summer and see them on reruns. Too bad we didn't have VCRs in those days as I'd sure like to see those games again.

I cannot stand these European headlines.

"Terry Would Welcome Modric"

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...erry-says-tottenham's-luka-modric-is-?cc=5901

Oh, he would? You mean he wouldn't throw his drink in his face say "******** you, Bitch!"

Funny how clearly I remember watching SMIG:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOTchs7zDGI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOTchs7zDGI[/ame]

Funny how clear that video is compared to ONN