I'm looking forward to watching Arsenal again after a summer of building high expectations. Who else is ready for the upcoming season? What English (or other European) sides do you follow?
I'm looking forward to watching as well, but let me raise a practical question. Here in the States, I have my favorite sports teams, and by and large, grew up with them. For the Premier League, locals have their own favorite teams for similar reasons. As someone who dips in and out watching whatever games NBCSN broadcasts, how am I supposed to develop allegiance to one team? How did other non-locals settle on their favorites?
How did other non-locals settle on their favorites?
I don't follow any team in the Premier League specifically. I read a little bit on all the major European leagues (England, Italy, Spain, France). I enjoy watching Champions League matches, especially the knockout rounds, when I get a chance to. Without a fancy cable or satellite package the viewing options for European football in the US are still pretty limited. It's nice that NBCSN is making some of these games available to a wider audience.
I have a good friend who follows Arsenal very closely, so I have some sympathies there. There are a couple of other European teams I follow, but that's for another thread.
Franz - "Usually" the late game on Sat. is on NBC. You only need an antenna to watch.
Told my story before about picking Newcastle back in the early 90s as the team I would support. I chose them because they were a team on the rise, and picking Arsenal, Liverpool, or ManU, etc was just too easy a choice to make. But, oy vey . . . this season, even WITH Maclaren at the helm is going to be a rough one. Anything from mid-table mediocrity to relegation is on the table, and likely will be every year until Ashley either sells or changes his mind about winning on the field as opposed to the bank ledger.
If I were coming into it now, I would STILL look away from the established "big" clubs for a team that played attractive and attacking soccer. Swansea, over the last few seasons, has been fun to watch, especially as they will sometimes snatch a win from one of the "Big 4" at a very opportune moment. Spurs, and Everton could also be nice choices for the new viewer looking to find a rooting interest. Lots of history with both Clubs, and potential for a breakout year (STOP LAUGHING !!!).
I'm looking forward to watching as well, but let me raise a practical question. Here in the States, I have my favorite sports teams, and by and large, grew up with them. For the Premier League, locals have their own favorite teams for similar reasons. As someone who dips in and out watching whatever games NBCSN broadcasts, how am I supposed to develop allegiance to one team? How did other non-locals settle on their favorites?
I have always just watched and not supported. But have always wanted a team to route for just to have a little more skin in the game. Well, about two weeks ago I stumbled upon a Sergio Aguero highlight reel and I was hooked. Man City is my team I have decided. And as luck would have it, just last week I was in a sporting good store only to find an authentic 2013/2014 Man City home jersey on sale for $35 in my size. So now I'm ready!!
To top it off, there are a few Man U supporters in my office so now we have some rivalry at work.
I have always just watched and not supported. But have always wanted a team to route for just to have a little more skin in the game. Well, about two weeks ago I stumbled upon a Sergio Aguero highlight reel and I was hooked. Man City is my team I have decided. And as luck would have it, just last week I was in a sporting good store only to find an authentic 2013/2014 Man City home jersey on sale for $35 in my size. So now I'm ready!!
To top it off, there are a few Man U supporters in my office so now we have some rivalry at work.