Massive Arsenal fan moving to DC so soon to be massive DC united fan as well??

[iangunnersfan]

Hello Everyone,

Well hmmmmm basically i am posting here to get to know more about DC united. I already know about the superb freddy adu, have done for a couple of years, before i was even going to move here.

What else can you all tell me. For example Arsenal, my favourite team in england who i have supported since i knew about football(soccer) have a nickname which is gunners and the supporters are called gooners. What's the equivalent for DC united.

Now obviously i understand the quality is going to be a lot different from the EPL (English Premier League) but i still cannot wait to go see my first live game.

I am coming over to DC beginning of July and have a few bits and peices to do so will probably be in florida for the game against Kansas City so my first real chance will probably be against San Jose Earthquakes. I am assuming because soccer isn't as big over there i should be able to get a ticket no problem??

Be nice if i could find some people to go with to get a real soccer experience in my first game. (I am 24)

Any other important info i need to be DC fan will be greatly appreciated like who is your main rival, why do you like to beat them so much etc etc

What are the expectations this year, i see last year you won the whole thing but to be honest finishing where you did in the league it must have been quite surprising are you expecting a repeat this year.

Luckily i play a game called Football Manager (in the USA this is called Worldwide Soccer Manager) so i played the MLS to get used to the way it works and i got to say it is quite interesting and extremely different to the EPL.

Well that will do for my first post, please let me know as much as possible.

Ian

[NattyBo]

What else can you all tell me. For example Arsenal, my favourite team in england who i have supported since i knew about football(soccer) have a nickname which is gunners and the supporters are called gooners. What's the equivalent for DC united.

Well, we dont really have a nickname for ourselves. Our supporters groups (the ones who stand, sing, bounce the stands, etc) are Barra Brava, Screaming Eagles and La Norte though.

Now obviously i understand the quality is going to be a lot different from the EPL (English Premier League) but i still cannot wait to go see my first live game.

The standard of play is lower than the EPL but I think you'll find DC plays with considerably more flair and technique than many teams in MLS. Also, I personally think that MLS is comparable to the English Coca-Cola Championship, so take that for what its worth.

I am coming over to DC beginning of July and have a few bits and peices to do so will probably be in florida for the game against Kansas City so my first real chance will probably be against San Jose Earthquakes. I am assuming because soccer isn't as big over there i should be able to get a ticket no problem??

Pretty much, esp. in July, as that is midseason and against a non-conference opponent, you wont have problems getting tickets. If I may be so bold to suggest, you may want to stand/sing/jump with the Barra Brava (not to mention party at our famous pre-game tailgate parties). www.barra-brava.com for more info and what we are all about, and you can buy a ticket the day of the game :)

Be nice if i could find some people to go with to get a real soccer experience in my first game. (I am 24)

See above :)

Any other important info i need to be DC fan will be greatly appreciated like who is your main rival, why do you like to beat them so much etc etc

Metrostars are our main rivals. The rivalry has been very one sided lately, because we just have a penchant for knocking the snot out of them. They're our rivals out of the early years and out of geographic convienience.

LA Galaxy - We've beaten them twice in the Championship and they hate us, so we're only too happy to return the favor. Its even more special because we only play them twice a year, unlike the Metrostars who we'll meet 4 times.



What are the expectations this year, i see last year you won the whole thing but to be honest finishing where you did in the league it must have been quite surprising are you expecting a repeat this year.

DC is the class of the league. Anything less than a 5th MLS cup is a failure, IMHO.

Just FYI, in case you dont know, the previous DC United cup wins were in 96, 97, 99 (and we made it to the final in 98 too, but the refs and our current Coach, Peter Nowak, beat us ;) )

Well that will do for my first post, please let me know as much as possible.

Ian

Hope that helps. Welcome to the fold :D

[DoctorD]

Bring lots of warm weather clothing. We were amused when the Nottingham Forest manager went on a tirade about how hot it was in the US last summer when Forest was on tour here.

[DC_Gunner]

Welcome to DC, from a fellow Gunners/DCU fan. Natty Bo pretty much covered everything, I think you'll find that the Metros are Sp*rs to DC's Arsenal. Started because of a natural geographic rivalry (we think in big terms over here) but they just aren't in the same class. If the MLS had relegation they would be perennial favorites for it. Sadly, they are also quite badly supported, which dampens the rivalry considerably. DC, on the other hand proboably has the best support in the league. Lastly, for Arsenal games, I reccomend the Lucky Bar in Dupont Circle, it's not an Arsenal pub (owner is a Manc), but it draws a good crowd.

[spidergoose]

Only addendum I have to NattyBo's post is that our "nickname," while not as commonly used as say, "Gunners" is "The Black & Red."

I also urge you to come out to our tailgate, you'll find the experience wholly unlike anything in England.

Also, over here, there is a man with a cold box who brings beer directly to your seat. :cool:

[iangunnersfan]

The standard of play is lower than the EPL but I think you'll find DC plays with considerably more flair and technique than many teams in MLS. Also, I personally think that MLS is comparable to the English Coca-Cola Championship, so take that for what its worth.

Ok not too bad then really didn't know what to expect seen a few bits and peices on TV, the commentry was kind of different to that of england might take a while to get used to the terminolgy used over there lol.

Pretty much, esp. in July, as that is midseason and against a non-conference opponent, you wont have problems getting tickets. If I may be so bold to suggest, you may want to stand/sing/jump with the Barra Brava (not to mention party at our famous pre-game tailgate parties). www.barra-brava.com for more info and what we are all about, and you can buy a ticket the day of the game :)

Non-conference meaning they are in the Western league? I may well join you i'll speak to you more about that when i'm in DC/nearer the time.

Metrostars are our main rivals. The rivalry has been very one sided lately, because we just have a penchant for knocking the snot out of them. They're our rivals out of the early years and out of geographic convienience.
I thought they would be is a bit like England where Arsenal and Tottenham are concerned main rivalry but we stuff them all the time.


DC is the class of the league. Anything less than a 5th MLS cup is a failure, IMHO.

MLS cup is that as it suggests a cup or is that what winning the league is called after the playoffs?

Just FYI, in case you dont know, the previous DC United cup wins were in 96, 97, 99 (and we made it to the final in 98 too, but the refs and our current Coach, Peter Nowak, beat us ;) )
Based on this i assume the answer to above is they are different lol.


Hope that helps. Welcome to the fold :D
Thanks for taking the time :)

Ian

[iangunnersfan]

Bring lots of warm weather clothing. We were amused when the Nottingham Forest manager went on a tirade about how hot it was in the US last summer when Forest was on tour here.

Thanks for the warning, but i am coming their to live for a long period of time (many years at least) so i am aware of the american weather. Just today my wife is in DC signing the rental agreement for our apartment. :)

[DC_Gunner]

The MLS cup is the equivalent to winning the league. The US Open Cup is based on the FA Cup, DC have won that once.

[Bootsy Collins]

For example Arsenal, my favourite team in england who i have supported since i knew about football(soccer) have a nickname which is gunners and the supporters are called gooners. What's the equivalent for DC united.

"MLS Cup Winners."

Well, it's not a nickname per se, but it might as well be, as often as it's applicable.

[spidergoose]

MLS Cup is our overall champion, that happens after the playoffs.

The US Open Cup is equivalent to the FA Cup, with teams from all divisions entered.

The Supporters Shield goes to the team with the best overall record of the two conferences.

On barra-brava.com there's a nice photo gallery of the notable pieces of our trophy case. Again, :cool: .

[NattyBo]

Ok not too bad then really didn't know what to expect seen a few bits and peices on TV, the commentry was kind of different to that of england might take a while to get used to the terminolgy used over there lol.

Mainly, the big difference is we call it Soccer. Otherwise, you should be solid. If you're AT the games you wont be needing commentary anyway ;)

Non-conference meaning they are in the Western league?
You got it.

I may well join you i'll speak to you more about that when i'm in DC/nearer the time.

Like I said, check out the website. It has ingame pictures, tailgate pictures, and even a gallery dedicated to the finest females to ever grace Lot 8 (our tailgate spot :) )

a bit like England where Arsenal and Tottenham are concerned main rivalry but we stuff them all the time.

Pretty much, except that the Metros arent supported very well at ALL. Even by MLS standards.




MLS cup is that as it suggests a cup or is that what winning the league is called after the playoffs?
Based on this i assume the answer to above is they are different lol.

Same thing. MLS Cup is awarded to the winner of the MLS playoffs, which is after the regular season. Basically, the regular season serves to determine who will make the playoffs and the seeding of them.

Our version of the FA cup is the US Open Cup, which DC has won once.

[iangunnersfan]

Welcome to DC, from a fellow Gunners/DCU fan. Natty Bo pretty much covered everything, I think you'll find that the Metros are Sp*rs to DC's Arsenal. Started because of a natural geographic rivalry (we think in big terms over here) but they just aren't in the same class. If the MLS had relegation they would be perennial favorites for it. Sadly, they are also quite badly supported, which dampens the rivalry considerably. DC, on the other hand proboably has the best support in the league. Lastly, for Arsenal games, I reccomend the Lucky Bar in Dupont Circle, it's not an Arsenal pub (owner is a Manc), but it draws a good crowd.

Do you have Fox Soccer Channel i think it will be my first priority come august. If my research is correct they show a lot of Prem football. Everything is deifnately bigger over there hopefully one day soccer will emulate england :) i did already do a search for bars and i think i came accross that one is it the place does an english breakfast to go with it haha.

[DC_Gunner]

Yeah, we have FSC which will show alot of the Premiership games, ESPN2 shows the occasional European match. Gol TV shows La Liga and Serie A. The Lucky Bar does, indeed, have an English breakfast. British Expats and Embassy employees drinking Bloody Marys often make up part of the corwd.

[iangunnersfan]

Yeah, we have FSC which will show alot of the Premiership games, ESPN2 shows the occasional European match. Gol TV shows La Liga and Serie A. The Lucky Bar does, indeed, have an English breakfast. British Expats and Embassy employees drinking Bloody Marys often make up part of the corwd.

Lol good stuff now a question for you.

Today i emailed comcast (the cable company my aprt has) and apparently they have FSC but on asking how much it was they quoted $71.95 but seeing as i asked how much just for sports i figure this has to be wrong. So wrote back explaining what else do i get for that and she sent me a list of all channels they have period. And in that list i couldn't find FSC do you by chance know if they do have it?

Ian

[NattyBo]

Well to get FSC with comcast you have to have their digital cable package. Im not sure if it runs that high, but I know when we got FSC/GolTV added here in Montgomery County, it was only $5 more a month for both, not each.

I dont pay the cable bill though so that price could be correct for a monthly rate. Comcast has a near monopoly around here, so there isnt much that can be done about it :/

[iangunnersfan]

Well to get FSC with comcast you have to have their digital cable package. Im not sure if it runs that high, but I know when we got FSC/GolTV added here in Montgomery County, it was only $5 more a month for both, not each.

I dont pay the cable bill though so that price could be correct for a monthly rate. Comcast has a near monopoly around here, so there isnt much that can be done about it :/

Montgomery county i think thats where our apt comes under going to be in highland house west in friendship heights

ian

[DC_Gunner]

They have it, but you may have to buy a a full digital cable package to get it.

[NattyBo]

They have it, but you may have to buy a a full digital cable package to get it.

You do, at least in Montgomery County, have to have the basic digital cable package, and then request the extra sports tier. Should only be a 5$ addition though.

[iangunnersfan]

You do, at least in Montgomery County, have to have the basic digital cable package, and then request the extra sports tier. Should only be a 5$ addition though.

I don't mind the cost i already told my wife (american) that i need premiership football whatever the cost lol.

[NattyBo]

Montgomery county i think thats where our apt comes under going to be in highland house west in friendship heights

ian

Well your profile says you're in Chevy Chase, which is in Montgomery County. Friendship Heights is right on the Montgomery County/DC border..