Which team should I support?

[Mark Sun]

I think I'm going to go with Arsenal. I've got a couple of close buddies who support them, I like their style of play (on the field at least ), they're my local team, plus with the new stadium I should be able to get the odd ticket to the matches. Supporting the local team feels right to me, so going to do that. Let the record show that I decided this yesterday, before the Henry decision was announced

 

[Scoobie]

or Arsenal. Player affinity would get you 'boro or Liverpool.

I'd choose Chelsea in your place, of course. Attending games with your mates is a blast and you get the bonus of supporting a winning team.

Except that hes got bugger all chance of ever getting a ticket!

 

[Morbyd]

Let the record show that I decided this yesterday, before the Henry decision was announced

Timing doesn't matter with this lot!

 

[Barbie]

There are several valid reasons people support a team:

1. geographic location
2. influence of family/friends
3. a specific experience with a team (met players, first game as a kid, etc)
4. an affinity for a particular player or players

So on that basis please tell us how a Yank living in Russia came to start supporting Chelsea 18 months ago

 

[Morbyd]

Initially, it was numbers 2 and 3 on that list:
a. I have a bunch of Chelsea supporting friends and colleagues, and friends that work there
b. I've met about half the first team and some legends including Dixon & Osgood

edit: I also know a bunch of Chelsea supporters here, both UK expats and Russians (Chelsea has had a following here since Dmitry Kharine played in goal)

 

[Barbie]

Initially, it was numbers 2 and 3 on that list:
a. I have a bunch of Chelsea supporting friends and colleagues, and friends that work there
b. I've met about half the first team and some legends including Dixon & Osgood

So basically if Abramovich had bought Tottenham you'd be Spurs no 1 fan now

 

[djchewie]

So basically if Abramovich had bought Tottenham you'd be Spurs no 1 fan now

he almost did. but we said no.

 

[Morbyd]

So basically if Abramovich had bought Tottenham you'd be Spurs no 1 fan now

oi.. perish the thought!

Chelsea for life. Once you're in, you're locked in.

Strange though, you Brits. When people overseas tell me how they like the Washington Capitals (hockey), Wizards, (basketball) or Redskins (American football), I'm thrilled. I'm proud the team has fans around the world, and US teams in these sports tend to have overseas supporters as those are the top leagues in those sports (NHL, NBA, NFL). I've met many a Chicago Bulls fan around here as people adored Michael Jordan back in the day and still follow the team. I say more power to 'em.

In a similar way, the Premiership is the top football league in the world. You'd think that people in the UK would be happy to have overseas supporters. It's recognition of the quality of the league.

 

[Barbie]

he almost did. but we said no.

Are you sure I thought he was going to buy them and then on the way to the airport saw Stamford Bridge, asked about them and then realised he was onto a better thing with Chelsea

 

[Morbyd]

he almost did. but we said no.

Not true. ENIC (sp?) asked for too much money.

 

[Morbyd]

Are you sure I thought he was going to buy them and then on the way to the airport saw Stamford Bridge, asked about them and then realised he was onto a better thing with Chelsea

Backwards... he saw Craven Cottage and got scared that's what he was buying

 

[Barbie]

Chelsea for life. Once you're in, you're locked in.

I'd hardly call a couple of seasons 'life' would you I bet you can't even remember Chelsea before their millions

 

[grego]

I'd hardly call a couple of seasons 'life' would you I bet you can't even remember Chelsea before their millions

he's met osgood............course he can remember??

remember ron "chopper" davis, morb??

 

[fatphilb]

i bought the blue and red stripey newcastle top and have followed them ever since, the season they almost won the premiership (until asprilla was signed then it went tits up). so thats my affinity. i seem to have a knack for supporting crap teams (but part of me loves that about football).

also like liverpool.

morbyd, if you start following a team just as ridiculous amounts of money are being pumped into them of course you are gonna get ridiculed!

 

[Morbyd]

I'd hardly call a couple of seasons 'life' would you I bet you can't even remember Chelsea before their millions

By "life" I meant from now on. In other words, 5, 10, 15, 20 years from now if we're battling against relegation, I'm still on board.

And yes, I knew about Chelsea before A.

 

[Morbyd]

he's met osgood............course he can remember??

remember ron "chopper" davis, morb??

You mean, Chopper Harris?

 

[silvia]

I support barça cos it was a genetic heritage

My grandad was a huge supporter, for years he couldn't go to the matches because of heart attack risks, and he always said that it was surprising to him that the grandkid who got the same barça thing than him was a girl (he was very oldfashioned )

 

[djchewie]

Are you sure I thought he was going to buy them and then on the way to the airport saw Stamford Bridge, asked about them and then realised he was onto a better thing with Chelsea

yeah, makes sound business sense, buying a club with £50+m of debts doesnt it.

still, small change for him isnt it!

building a club back up from the depths and hopefully achieving something (and winning ****) with a team of mainly UK talent means more to me than the quick fix.

 

[Morbyd]

morbyd, if you start following a team just as ridiculous amounts of money are being pumped into them of course you are gonna get ridiculed!

I know... and I accept it, most of the time.

But what gets lost in the ridicule is that I'm a very loyal fan. The missus and I travel quite a distance to attend a few games each year. We watch every match religiously. We've got Chelsea TV at home and a drawer each full of kit. We both really enjoy football and have been watching it for years and are proud to support Chelsea. I know that's just superficial stuff but I also know what's in my heart.

(as an aside, Irina often reads this forum and gets upset with me for getting into these conversations because she knows me and she knows the truth and thinks you're all just a bunch of jealous, nasty people )

 

[Beckiboo]

You should support either your local team, or the team which you have strong ties to, be it through family or your own heritage.
I.e if you live in North London, you should support a North London team! If you live in the East End, you should support West Ham! If you live oop North, support Man U/City etc etc. I cant stick these plastic Man U fans who have cockney accents yet say they support Man U
Likewise if your dad has always been an avid Liverpool fan but moved down here to raise his family, then you're allowed to support Liverpool (although you should at least go to as many games as you can

Those are the rules! Anyone else is a plastic supporter end of