Most US fans will say country because the national team is the only decent football played. The MLS is not a world class league; not surprisingly you'll find that many American posters on these boards generally look foreward to the national team games, particularly the World Cup and don't know/care about the club game (either MLS or foreign). Besides, the two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive since international tournaments are played during most leagues' off-season with the exception of the MLS. Don't get me wrong, I love the WC and I would love to see Spain win it, as would most fans in Spain; however, people have to realize (Americans in particular) that international competition - especially the WC - is NOT the norm, but the exception in football. The reality of the game in most countries consists of the long club season that lasts most of the year. Besides, one rarely encounters the hard-core passion in the occasional international games that you find on a regular weekly basis for club games.
Hmm, so let me see. You don't support a club team at all. Do you think that might just ever so slightly influence your decision in the "what is more important to me, club or country?" question. Your quote about not taking the remotest interest in your local team because you seem to regard it as beneath you says a lot about the kind of fan you are. Have you ever been to a match in your entire life? OK, I don't know you so I can't judge the depth of your knowledge, but it's all the bandwagan jumpers who think catching the highlights on TV now and then makes them some kind of expert that I find really annoying. Add to that what Albion + England said about how they always have to try that little bit too hard to show just how much it means to them, and it makes watching England in pub an often tiresome experience.
I think is the other way around. People from the top 3 countries leagues like Spain, Italy and England have so many good leagues and teams that they prefer the club over country but that countries that don´t have those top leagues (which is the majority of the world) prefer their NT over the clubs sides. Brasil, Argentina, Mexico and countries like I think prefer their NT and that more people than Spain, Italy and England.
Country, for many of the reasons already stated: In the US, I had no club team -- I was supporting the US before the '94 Cup and MLS did not start until '96. I watched as much international football as possible, but never had a reason to really support a club and didn't feel like just picking one at random. In addition, the US was so horrible -- and now they're not. In fact, they're damn good on occasion. So it has also been an amazing window of time to be a fan and has generated a lot more passion, at least for me. Living in LA when MLS began, I support Los Angeles and always will -- more so than anyone I know away from these boards. But while the Galaxy have had as many ups and downs as any US club team, it's not quite the same -- at least not yet. Excellent post from Pottertons, by the way.
That said, and I agree, I'm a bit dismayed that Ryan Nelsen will play for NZ against Iran in a meaningless friendly this weekend over DCU's match against NE in what proves to be a much bigger game! It depends on the situation. If it's a WC qualifier or something of that sort then sure country before club. Or vice versa, if it's a HUGE league match you really shouldn't go off to play 90 mins that means nothing at full time.
I think that Americans are more likely to support our National Team first. The NASL didn't do a good job of promoting American players. The first experience that many Americans had watching our own countrymen play against top competition was WC90 and WC94. We had no clubs then. The national team was our club. I support MLS and like the Fire because I used to live in Naperville but I still think of the league as a giant feeder for the USMNT. In other countries, club teams may have existed for generations before national competitions really took hold. To each his own.
Clubs are a dime a dozen. They have their history, and they are the norm as opposed to the exception, but that's what makes country so rare and precious and incalculable. The pride that comes with country lasts forever.
Just cos i said my club is more important to me than England it don't mean i don't love England cos i do. A club side is a bit like a woman you love - your always gonna love her and be with her, the national team are like the mistress - you have a taste of her sometimes for something special but you always know that your gonna go home to the woman you love.