Ok, so at the risk of looking silly, I was wondering if any of the soccer die hards here could help me to pick an EPL team to follow. I've always enjoyed soccer and try to follow it as much as possible, but have lost track the past few years at the professional level. Well, the World Cup has reved up my interest again and I really want to pick an EPL team to follow. With ESPN's coverage of the league, I figure it should be easier to do now. So what I'm hoping some of you can help me out with is picking a team to follow. I'm looking for a team with some good young talent that isn't one of the favorites, but isn't a bottom level team either. You could say I'm looking for an underdog, but not a team that has no chance. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Bob Bradley appears to be going to Aston. He quit the US job: http://www.birminghammail.net/birmi...ob-bradley-quits-as-usa-coach-97319-27056582/ do i hear Klinsmann's phone ringing? I'm actually very happy for Bob. First American coach in the EPL, no? That's pretty impressive.
Look no further than Arsenal bro. Meets all the above requirements; Young, talented team that isn't anywhere near the bottom but hasn't won anything in 5 years...also, they play the best looking football of any side in the EPL (like Barcelona reserves )
It's really hard to get emotionally involved in a team if you don't have a player you like to watch. My first advice would be to just watch ESPN2 on Saturday mornings when they play EPL matches. Watch a bunch and some players will start to stand out to you that you'll like to follow. My other advice would be to do what most Americans do and follow the "Americans Abroad" - and watch your hometown heroes play in the EPL, and then follow those teams. Major Americans that play there (short list, not comprehensive): * Tim Howard, GK, Everton * Marcus Hahnemann, GK, Wolves * Stuart Holden, RW, Bolton * Brad Freidel, GK, Aston * Brad Guzan, GK, Aston * Clint Dempsey, M/F, Fulham (arguably the best American player in the EPL outside of Howard and Freidel) * Eddie Johnson, M/F, Fulham There are other Americans out there, but those are the major ones I can think of in the EPL. Teams like Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal are like the Patriots, Steelers, Colts - perenially good, always finish at the top of the table. If you can't stand heartbreak or league demotion, stick with the big 3. If you like clubs that are kinder to Americans, Fulham is your club. Fulham has had more American players than all the other clubs combined; often called "Fulhamerica". Nobody likes scousers, so stay away from liverpool If you like adversity watch Portsmouth, and if you're sadistic, watch Hull City. (well they're both relegated now anyway)
Thanks guys. From the research I've done, two teams that seem to fit what I'm looking for are Arsenal and Tottenham. I'm not completely ignorant of international soccer. I follow the US team closely and try and keep tabs on the Americans abroad, and if Donovan somehow gets back to Everton with Howard (even though it doesn't look likely), it will be hard not to root for them. I do plan on watching the EPL on ESPN closely and seeing which team catches my eye starting with the Tottenham match tomorrow morning.
?????????? WE OWN MEXICO. Check the record in the last 20 years. We also beat them in the biggest match in the series history (round of 16, 2002) In fact, Mexico's only hope against us is in Azteca Stadium.
Ah, the Tottenham Spuds. The club that refused to pay 7.5M for Dennis Bergkamp so he turned to Arsenal and they said surely. Now, he's one of the greatest footballers ever and he proudly wore an Arsenal kit.
OK, I did check the record in the last 20 years and taking out those useless friendlies and I say 'useless' because the Mexican Federation uses them only for financial purposes, I'm speaking from the Mexican side. (all those friendlies played in U.S. soil would give you a hint ) so let's stay in the official matches, shall we? The record goes like this. [table]DATE|LOCATION|COMPETITION|SCORE|WINNER May 10, 1990|Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada|1990 North American Nations Cup|1-0|MEX Mar 12, 1991|Pasadena, California|1991 North American Nations Cup|2–2|TIE Jul 5, 1991|Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California|1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal|2–0|USA Jul 25, 1993|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City|1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup final|4–0|MEX Jun 18, 1995|RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.|1995 U.S. Cup|4–0|USA Jul 17, 1995|Estadio Parque Artigas, Paysandú, Uruguay|1995 Copa America Quarterfinal|0–0 (4–1 PSO)|USA Jan 19, 1997|Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California|1997 U.S. Cup|2–0|MEX Apr 20, 1997|Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts|1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier|2–2|TIE Nov 2, 1997|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City|1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier|0–0|TIE Feb 15, 1998|Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California|1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup final|1–0|MEX Mar 13, 1999|Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California|1999 U.S. Cup|2–1|MEX Aug 1, 1999|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City| 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup semifinal|1–0|MEX Jun 11, 2000|Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey|2000 U.S. Cup| 3–0|USA Feb 28, 2001|Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio|2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier|2–0|USA Jul 1, 2001|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City|2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier|1–0|MEX Jun 17, 2002|Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju, South Korea|2002 FIFA World Cup Round Of 16|2–0|USA Mar 27, 2005|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City|2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier| 2–1|MEX Sep 3, 2005|Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio|2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier|2–0|USA Jun 24, 2007|Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois|2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final|2–1|USA Feb 11, 2009|Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio|2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier|2–0|USA Jul 26, 2009|Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey|2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup final|5-0|MEX Aug 12, 2009|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City|2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier|2-1|MEX[/table] So since 1990. -22 official matches (or not friendlies) -10 Mexican wins - 9 U.S. wins - 3 ties Source Maybe right now the US National Team is slightly a better team than Mexico. But I don't think The US owns Mexico.
I Agree!! [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVLRMWjHa0U"]YouTube- Best Goal ever!!(Dennis Bergkamp)[/ame] DAAAMN!
I remember watching the game with my Dad & brother who are both NUFC fans and even they gasped at the quality of the goal. Bergkamp never scored an average goal almost everyone of them was fantastic! I remember one game where Arsenal were playing Juventus in the CL and he set up Freddie Lumberg for a goal through 3 defenders with a twist a little through ball that had you staring thinking how the hell did you do that?! Greatest Arsenal signing ever and the reason we are who we are now
Some great and some good news this morning guys Wenger signs contract extension http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/8912413.stm And Schwarzer has handed in a transfer request.... (I like this as it pi%%es off Mark Hughes who I hate) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/8913924.stm
Comcast needs to add FSC in HD man.... God. They just booted up a huge HD update and left this out again.
Joe Hart was the difference between Man City & Sp*rs today. Liked him at Birmingham last year and should have played during the World Cup. Sp*rs should have been at least 5 up by half time. Great result for Blackpool today, they'll need that confidence.
not a good start for Wigan... Martinez may be back at ESPN sooner rather than later... yikes... saw some of the first half with Chelsea... looking mighty as expected...
Man City can spend money, Man City can buy 'top players,' they can pay top wages but they cannot make the squad gel.
Haha. Why is that? I really enjoyed watching them today and like some of their players quite a bit. I look forward to watching Arsenal play.
They are the rivals of Arsenal and they are one of the teams that get some praise and they run with it, only to fall flat on their face.
I'll never understand why players go into tackles with the scissor. I mean if your front foot misses in front of the ball/leg, physics says when you swing the back your back leg, you'll catch the guy. Happens every time. Koscielny was impressing me.
not a red card on Cole's challenge... certainly a yellow and unnecessary by Cole in the other half of the pitch. Ngog is really a horrible player... all speed but not much talent with his feet...
Some first half thoughts: - What an awful tackle by Cole at the end. Well deserved card. - Koscielny down is not good. We can't afford losses on defense. - In the first twenty five minutes, Clichy got beaten nonstop. He's very inconsistent IMO. Every ball he was either late to or he simply got beaten. He got a little better as it went on and he did help save the goal on the line. Lets hope he continues to get better but man his inconsistency drives me nuts. - Arshavin remains anonymous. - I really like what Nasri's doing out there. He pushes it well and creates passing windows as well as opportunities but he needs to learn to put more air under the ball. On both corners and free kicks, they were short. - Jack Wilshere is doing well IMO. He has not given away any cheap balls from what I remember and he's shown a little physicality. I think that yellow was a shame because it wasn't deserving. It was no worse than Gerrard's foul, which went without card. - Emmanuel Eboue and Abou Diaby are good until they try to do too much IMO. When they get the ball at their feet, they dribble, dribble and dribble. Diaby loses the ball consistently. However, I think he's done well as a deep lying mid. - We need a goal keeper. Alumnia scares me, still. - Vermaelen appears to be in good form, which I like a lot. He did well on his only spot kick.
Agreed but that yellow as not deserving IMO. Agree on Koscielny. Damn shame he had to leave the pitch. Not a red? Really? He went right through Koscielny.
REAL CLASSY LIVERPOOL CHANTING SAME OLE ARSENAL ALWAYS CHEATING AS KOS IS CARRIED OUT ON A STRETCHER. With mascharano on their team, im sure this isn't a first.