what team should i support?

[deadeyedick]

LMFAO. Am I allowed to say that?
Anyway: the IQ bit. You must be joking. Low is a relative term; and in the IQ sense, only I am allowed to use it when referring to Stomper.
How anyone with your standard of grammar can write that is frankly amazing. Clever too, in a way, because you say more about yourself in a couple of lines, than a biographer could say in a book.:p

Getting back to the thread; I am a West Ham fan. I never wanted to be, I never planned it, or even thought about it. I just am.
My great grandfather worked and played for Thames Iron Works, which later became West Ham Utd. I went to school just a spit and a stones throw from their ground. I played for West Ham schoolboys at several age levels, but was never good enough to be a professional footballer. I am a Hammer; and we are the acadamy of football. Everyone knows that. We produce more internationals, through our youth system, than any other team in the PL. Only Man. Utd. come anywhere near us.
If you want to join the cockney boys from the East End and have a team that suffers embarrassing defeats and amazing victories, then you are welcome to our site. :cool:



i tell you what, in the 60's and 70's West Ham brought through some great kids, had a great team and some fantastic players, yes after the 70's came Rio Cole and Carrick etc, but really your club which needed to rebuild after selling all your crown jewels has become pretty stagnant again IMO. Yes you are re-establishing yourselves in the Premier but your days of the academy of football are long gone. I have a lot of time for West Ham fans, my closest pal is one of the original nutters and is constantly on Talksport boring the pant off of Alan Brazil and Ian Wright.

Good club down the years West Ham, but your miles away from being what you were.

[Footstomper]

i tell you what, in the 60's and 70's West Ham brought through some great kids, had a great team and some fantastic players, yes after the 70's came Rio Cole and Carrick etc, but really your club which needed to rebuild after selling all your crown jewels has become pretty stagnant again IMO. Yes you are re-establishing yourselves in the Premier but your days of the academy of football are long gone. I have a lot of time for West Ham fans, my closest pal is one of the original nutters and is constantly on Talksport boring the pant off of Alan Brazil and Ian Wright.

Good club down the years West Ham, but your miles away from being what you were.
You know what sunshine? Watch this space; we're back. This time we might even be as good as we always think we are. If you're a yank and you want a team to follow, have look at the Hammers.

[norwaytips]

Deadeyedick.

??? Stagnant? You are joking. There are 4, yes 4, youth players in the current squad. The England youth team is peppered with West Ham players. We are top of the PL youth league.
Freddie Sears (18) came on for 15 mins on Saturday and scored the winner. Mark Noble has been a regular this year. There were two other under 19s on the bench. If that is stagnant, then yes we are.
In addition, we have had our worst season ever for injuries. All season we have had between 5 and 13 first team squad players missing. Please don't comment on a thing that you know nothing about.

[deadeyedick]

Deadeyedick.

??? Stagnant? You are joking. There are 4, yes 4, youth players in the current squad. The England youth team is peppered with West Ham players. We are top of the PL youth league.
Freddie Sears (18) came on for 15 mins on Saturday and scored the winner. Mark Noble has been a regular this year. There were two other under 19s on the bench. If that is stagnant, then yes we are.
In addition, we have had our worst season ever for injuries. All season we have had between 5 and 13 first team squad players missing. Please don't comment on a thing that you know nothing about.

you just lost 3 games all at 4-0, your manager complains that the knives are out for him, you are establishing yourselves as a Premier side which is what I said, your comfortably mid table, nothing more nothing less, your academy days are long gone, I could go on about the Sunderland youth setup as we just reached the Youth cup semi final but it means nowt , even if you do bring some good kids through your record stands that you sell them on to bigger clubs, I doubt you can deny that ! As for injuries, which team doesn't get them, you cannot use that old chestnut.

[Footstomper]

you just lost 3 games all at 4-0, your manager complains that the knives are out for him, you are establishing yourselves as a Premier side which is what I said, your comfortably mid table, nothing more nothing less, your academy days are long gone, I could go on about the Sunderland youth setup as we just reached the Youth cup semi final but it means nowt , even if you do bring some good kids through your record stands that you sell them on to bigger clubs, I doubt you can deny that ! As for injuries, which team doesn't get them, you cannot use that old chestnut.

As I said mate, watch this space!:)

[RichardUK]

Nottingham Forest would be the best team to support. Life is always interesting as a Forest fan. Once the greatest club side in the world, then a steady top performer until the early 90's, then a resurgence and back at the top again, then up and down a lot. Now just DOWN in the 3rd tier.

Lots of strong links to U.S / MLS players too. Junior Agogo is here. Ex-players are Ben Olsen, Jim Brennan, Stern John, Ian Woan, John Harkes, Gino Padula, Richard Gough, first club to try and buy Brad Friedal. Erm...getting tenuous now.

Also, there's Carolina Dynamo who have the Forest logo as their badge(same owner).

Nottingham. Robin Hood and all that shit. Kevin Costner!

C'mon. You get to rag on Derby County all the time too.

[Footstomper]

There's only one reason to support forest and he's, sadly, dead.

[deadeyedick]

As I said mate, watch this space!:)

well good luck except in 2 weeks time at our place :)

i genuinely hope that you start to challenge chelsea and arsenal and overtake spurs, anyway I will watch with interest :cool:

[RichardUK]

There's only one reason to support forest and he's, sadly, dead.

Jason Lee isn't dead!

http://www.virginmedia.com/microsites/sport/slideshow/worst-haircuts/img_12.jpg

[BobbyLu]

I've been interested in the EPL for awhile, but I wasn't sure if I should start a new thread for this. So I'll post it here.

I'm looking for a team as well. I'm from the USA, but I'm not sure who to support. Success if fun and whatnot, but I'm looking for something more than that!

The two important things I'm looking for are:

The two things that are most important to me are:

1) The location. I want to cheer for a team from London (or somewhere that is nice for a vacation destination). I noticed London has many teams (Arsenal, Chelsea, etc), so out of all these teams' neighborhoods, which is in the best area of London? The nicest, friendliest, most beautiful, and maybe richer / more affluent area? I don't want to cheer for a team from the ghetto (like the Yankees here in USA), but I would like it to be a place I can spend time in; somewhere I could do stuff and not get bored. In general, for the areas which each team resides, are there any stereotypes about each area? (For example, the Bronx in New York has a terrible reputation as dangerous). Is Fulham (Chelsea) a good area? How about Holloway (Arsenal)?

2) The fanbase. I don't want to cheer for a team with dangerous drunkards for fans. Are there any stereotypes for certain fanbases of teams in London? Which ones are more arrogant, which ones are more friendly, which ones are richer, more passionate, etc. I want fans who are passionate, but don't act overly rude; people I can have an intelligent conversation with, but not spitting beer in my face. I want to be part of a fanbase I can be proud of, so I can say "I love this team!" and not be clumped in with a dangerous fanbase!

Thanks in advance!

[tomwilhelm]

This should give you a start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_in_London#Clubs

Given your criteria, of the EPL sides, you'll want to avoid West Ham and Millwall. Otherwise, I'd suggest a weeklong visit so you can get a feel for the different areas. London is expansive to say the least...

For an EPL squad, I'll of course push you in the direction of the Cottagers (Fulham). Lovely area of London. A beautiful and storied stadium on the Thames. 6 Yanks Abroad. What more could you ask for?

If you're looking for something a little different, Charlton are a nice neighborhood/family oriented club with consistent EPL ambitions. I enjoyed the game I watched at The Valley, and the rep gave us front row midfield seats.

[BoltonMassiv]

I'll only be suggesting Premiership clubs in this because I doubt you will have any interest in a Championship team.

Simply if you want passionate fans you need to avoid the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Fulham. Teams from London generally also have some of the stupidest fans, they expect they shoud be winning everything and if they lose again call for their managers head.

Good teams from London considering wealth, fans, players, and current success aswell as future: Tottenham and West Ham, they are the only 2 teams worth anyones time, the fans are actually part of the club, unlike the likes of the Chelsea and Arsenal glory supporters.

If you go to matches you might have trouble fitting in with West Ham fans though since they are probably the most proud club down there and won't want any foreigner charging in claiming he's a Mad Hammer or whatever.

One thing you have to understand is that most clubs have mad fans that'll do anything for their team, it's nothing like it is in America, you fight for your club and you sing your heart out for it. Oh yeah, if you want to go to a club that has a great atmosphere you have to avoid Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham, those grounds are dead mainly because the fans are nothing.

But personally if I was a new guy looking for a team I would avoid London all together, all the passion is up North.

[Footstomper]

I'll only be suggesting Premiership clubs in this because I doubt you will have any interest in a Championship team.

Simply if you want passionate fans you need to avoid the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Fulham. Teams from London generally also have some of the stupidest fans, they expect they shoud be winning everything and if they lose again call for their managers head.

Good teams from London considering wealth, fans, players, and current success aswell as future: Tottenham and West Ham, they are the only 2 teams worth anyones time, the fans are actually part of the club, unlike the likes of the Chelsea and Arsenal glory supporters.

If you go to matches you might have trouble fitting in with West Ham fans though since they are probably the most proud club down there and won't want any foreigner charging in claiming he's a Mad Hammer or whatever.

One thing you have to understand is that most clubs have mad fans that'll do anything for their team, it's nothing like it is in America, you fight for your club and you sing your heart out for it. Oh yeah, if you want to go to a club that has a great atmosphere you have to avoid Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham, those grounds are dead mainly because the fans are nothing.

But personally if I was a new guy looking for a team I would avoid London all together, all the passion is up North.

Generally a good post but I think thats bollocks. Yeah, if you turn up at West Ham swathed in Claret and Blue and talking like Dick Van Dyke out of Mary Poppins, you aint gonna get much of a welcome. If you turn up and say 'I've heard this is the best team with the best support in London' The natives will try their best tp prove you right. The area is one of the most interesting and culturally diverse in London.
If you're really lucky you might get invited for a Ruby before getting rolled on the way back to thetube.

[Footstomper]

Actually, thinking about it Football in England is generally, and Historically, a working class sport and all the real teams, with real support, West Ham, Liverpool, Newcastle, tend to be in dodgy parts of town well off the tourist trail. But as long as you're sensible, keep your hands in your pockets, and dont try to be anything you're not, you'll be fine and have a far better time than you would at say a Chelsea match.Anyway half the fun is watching the crowd; its VERY tribal, in fact I believe the anthropologist Desmond Morris wrote a book about it.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

Actually, thinking about it Football in England is generally, and Historically, a working class sport and all the real teams, with real support, West Ham, Liverpool, Newcastle, tend to be in dodgy parts of town well off the tourist trail. But as long as you're sensible, keep your hands in your pockets, and dont try to be anything you're not, you'll be fine and have a far better time than you would at say a Chelsea match.Anyway half the fun is watching the crowd; its VERY tribal, in fact I believe the anthropologist Desmond Morris wrote a book about it.


What's that supposed to mean? I know that we're not supposed to have the most lively fans but still why single out the greatest team in the world? ;)

[Footstomper]

What's that supposed to mean? I know that we're not supposed to have the most lively fans but still why single out the greatest team in the world? ;)

Sorry, it just kind of slipped out, and in fairness you did answer your own question.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

Sorry, it just kind of slipped out, and in fairness you did answer your own question.

Yeah I guess I kind of did. I should really start reading my own posts before posting. I always here about how horrible West Ham fans are but I've met quite a lot of the literate ones here on bigsoccer and on a few other forums and you guys seem surprisingly decent. Too bad you guys lost Tevez, it would have been better if he stayed with you guys and didn't jump ship to Manure. :eek:

[Footstomper]

Yeah I guess I kind of did. I should really start reading my own posts before posting. I always here about how horrible West Ham fans are but I've met quite a lot of the literate ones here on bigsoccer and on a few other forums and you guys seem surprisingly decent. Too bad you guys lost Tevez, it would have been better if he stayed with you guys and didn't jump ship to Manure. :eek:

He didnt jump ship, he was dragged kicking and screaming. He loved us and we loved him. He got a standing ovation when he came back with the Mancs and couldnt play against us.

Oh and we WOULD be the literate ones if you think about it. :)

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

He didnt jump ship, he was dragged kicking and screaming. He loved us and we loved him. He got a standing ovation when he came back with the Mancs and couldnt play against us.

Oh and we WOULD be the literate ones if you think about it. :)

Well that's great to hear. I wouldn't be surprised if you guys get him back after his Man United days are done. I guess I didn't mean 'jump ship' as in jumping a sinking ship. He got a sinking ship to set sail again, and then jumped when he was offered more money and a chance to play in Europe. You'd do it, wouldn't you?

[Footstomper]

Damn right I would, especially if my agent told me I had no choice.