Which english football/soccer team do you like?

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

[DS1]

1. I don't remember, but in the late 70s, I think it was Man-U

of course, I didn't know squat about it then, or now.

[MrCoffee]

4. all you have to know is that they have Wayne Rooney

and that's all the reason you need to loathe them.

[DS1]

7. okay

[MrCoffee]

8. he's redqueen's favorite player

[redqueen]

11. At least he's not Ronaldo.

I don't mind the midget squad too much, really.

:hi:

[KamaAina]

2. Leeds United? Aren't they in the Second Division or something?

Kind of like having the Reading Phillies (AA Eastern League) in a baseball poll, no?

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

9. They were in the Prem only a few years back

a very big club

[ceile]

21. Loved Leeds in 2001-2002

Movie should have been "Bend it Like Harte"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Erd_ZREBLjo

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

30. Newcastle have a some players from that era like Viduka and Smith

I'm not English so don't have that hatred for them. I hope they make it back up.

[ceile]

46. Loved Viduka.

Leeds for a few years had great talent: Harte, Smith, Robbie Keane, Kewell, Viduka....fun to watch.

[T_i_B]

100. It's called Coca-Cola League 1 now

But essentially it's the old 3rd division where Leeds play now. Them and Nottingham Forest are the two big meal tickets in that division, having both fallen on hard times.

On the first day of the season against Ipswich we were all singing "We're looking at Leeds, and we're having a laugh" in spite of the fact that we were losing 4-0! Leeds are not the most popular club in the world with opposing fans and even I've been taken aback by how much gloating has gone on over their demise.

[judaspriestess]

3. Arsenal

Robin van Persie :9

http://www.hunkymalecelebs.com/robin_van_persie/ersie

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

12. Interesting fact: Van Persie is a muslim

who knew

[redqueen]

34. ZOMG! He wants to throw gays off of cliffs?

Jesus... first the raping and now THIS!

What are we gonna do about that guy...

[qwertyMike]

35. I read recently

That all eleven of the starting players for both Arsenal and Chelsea were non- English.
Also that the Football Association is considering a cap on the number of foreign players starting for each club, following England's elimination from Euro 2008. Reason: The good young English players were not being exposed to top-level football.

[redqueen]

40. How is taking top quality players out of the league going to

increase the youth's exposure to top-level football?

That whole "issue" is such an ugly xenophobic fucking joke.

[SKKY]

67. Actually, I'm gonna agree with the English FA on this one...

...too many foreigners hurts the chances for local talent. I don't think it has anything to do with xenophobia, although I could easily see how some might think that way. England just aren't producing the talent that they used to.

[redqueen]

70. I agree that they're not, but that has nothing to do with

the number of foreign players in the league. That has to do with the way English youth teams are coached.

All removing foreign players will do is make the Premiership more boring, and ensure that the England squad will continue to deteriorate.

[SKKY]

72. I see the argument from both sides, believe me...

...but if Arsenal are starting 8 or 9 foreigners, it's pretty hard for a young guy to break in and get first team football. If a player can't get first team football, he can't get better, especially in a league like the premiership which plays at such a frantic pace. Putting a cap on foreigners will, in the short term, create some rather unsightly football. But in the long run, 10 or so years down the road, it will benefit the National team, which is what this is really about in the first place.

[redqueen]

74. Well we should do that here, too, then, right?

Limit the number of foreigners allowed on our baseball, soccer and basketball teams?

[SKKY]

75. Two totally different situations there Miss Ahsenol...

...you can't really compare them. Not enough foreigners are good enough to break into the majors of baseball or basketball because, compared to professional soccer, they're still "young". However, in 50 years or so, we may have to address this issue with those other sports as well.

[redqueen]

76. I'm talking about in America.

We have LOTS of Mexican and South American players in the MLS (some call it Mexi League Soccer), and lots and lots of foreign players in baseball and basketball, too. I guess maybe the problem is the *way* that England develops its youth. That's my (largely uneducated) opinion anyhow. :P

[SKKY]

77. Although there are a fair number of foreigners in both sports...

...they're still the minority. MLS, well, they just need to develop the league and I don't have a problem because even now, we're still only about as good as the 2nd Divisions in England or Spain, or even Italy. Homegrown talent still dominates Baseball and Basketball. I don't mean to sound sexist by this, but I've never in my life had such an in depth conversation about sports with a girl. It's kinda hot- in a good way.

[redqueen]

79. Heh... yeah, I haven't really counted them up...

or anything. :P

I just don't want a cap cause I like Arsenal's squad the way it is! :7

Glad you're enjoying my bothering you. :)

[SKKY]

80. Not bothersome at all.

:thumbsup:

[redqueen]

81. I appreciate your patience.

I am grateful for you taking the time to explain the way you see it. :)

But I still think you're wrong! :P

[SKKY]

83. Well, at least we agree that England is not producing the talent...

...that it should and that something needs to be done about it STAT. It is absolutely absurd that they couldn't qualify for EURO.

[redqueen]

85. I didn't think it was so absurd...

look at the way players like Gerrard and Lampard perform... the difference between their club performances and their England performances... it's like they don't even care.

Maybe this will knock some sense into them.

If you want to talk absurd let's talk about that STUPID FIFA club world cup or whatever the fuck it's called. Pachuca knocked out by WHO? Ugh! Now that's absurd!

[SKKY]

86. Remember those talks a few years ago about having a "Super League"...

...14 or 16 teams. Barcelona, Real Madrid, ManU, Liverpool, Inter, Rangers, etc. I think this is just a precursor to that. Of course, they're at odds with UEFA because it will be in direct competition with the Champions League, but FIFA seems bent on it.

[redqueen]

87. Nope!

I only started paying attention last year. My kids took up the sport, and I started watching women's college games with them, cause their coaches were shit. So, that's how I went about trying to teach them the basics. They were never interested but I was... and then a friend suggested I check out the Premiership, and I was HOOKED!

As for the UEFA/FIFA battle... I heard something about that somewhere. I don't know though... that whole Pachuca thing has turned me off the FIFA thing. And the CL seems well-established. I don't know... seems like FIFA's dreaming if thtey think this is going anywhere. It seems mostly a joke. Not much in the press about the Pachuca shocker... which seems to say to me that nobody cares! :D

[MrCoffee]

73. Exhibit 1

[redqueen]

82. What's midget boy got to do with this?

[MrCoffee]

89. piss-poor homegrown "talent"

[redqueen]

90. Hahahahahaha... yes... so piss-poor

Hehehehe... then again, is the the exception that proves the rule?

I want to love on David Bentley here, but most everyone's mad at him over that U-21 shit.

He's awesome, though. And cute, too. :loveya:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

44. That'll never happen

FIFA wouldn't let it happen

[SKKY]

68. Why wouldn't they?

Most leagues put a cap on foreign players in one fashion or another (Although in Europe, European Union players don't count as foreigners, thus they have free reign). And actually, it's FIFA and specifically Seth Blatter that is pushing this. It's ultimately good for the game because it forces clubs to develop talent locally. It's one of the reasons the Spanish league is so strong.

[redqueen]

71. Clubs *are* developing talent.

Look at Arsenal's youth squad... they have developed some of the best players in the English game... but they still can't compete with foreign players.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

93. I thought that there were rules regarding curbing people's ability to work

In the EU.

Personally I think it will hurt the Prem. Without foreign talent I don't think they'll be able to draw the worldwide interest they now enjoy.

[SKKY]

97. Well, there's the Bosman Ruling which deals with transfers...

...but mostly, it's regulated by each individual league. Here's the problem with the current situation. Teams like Arsenal, Man United, and Liverpool are relying so heavily on foreign talent that they don't cultivate the local talent. If you spend your money on foreign talent, you're probably not spending a great deal to generate local interest. In the end, fewer local players get the chance for first team football because everyone ahead of them is a foreigner. Seth Blatter recognizes this, and it's the reason FIFA is pushing for foreign limits.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

102. Yeah - it also encourages feeder nations

like France and Holland

[redqueen]

104. But!

Arsenal's youth squad is the best in the country! (Isn't it? Bentley's from there I know... and a few others that are playing for other teams...)

So... how does that work?

[SKKY]

106. In every league, there are a few clubs that do develop talent that...

...makes it to the "senior side". In Spain, the year Real Betis finished 4th, qualified for the Champions League, and won the Kings Cup (Spain's version of the FA Cup), 7 players from their youth system, (Capi, Rivas, Dani, Joaquin, Doblas, Melli, and Juanito) were regular starters throughout the season. Athletic de Bilbao is another example of a club that does this. But, on the whole, clubs just don't develop the talent like they used to. Limiting the number of foreign player that can be on the pitch at one time, IMHO, will go a long way in solving this problem.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

5. The Baltimore Orioles of Wooster

Followed by the Baltimore Ravens of Lower Uncton.

[underpants]

6. Houston still #1

[redqueen]

13. The Dynamo are very hateable. I despise them.

SOME of their traveling fans are horrid. Enough to make me not want to go to the games here. Trashing the lot, breaking glass all over. x(

[MrCoffee]

16. ohhhh....BURN

:rofl:

[redqueen]

18. ...

:spank:

[ceile]

24. Hey, why all the hate?

You have to understand, we haven't had a winning professional team since the Comets in 2000 (we will not discuss the Astros choke in the '05 WS). So, they break a little glass, overturn some cars, kill some babies....it's all in good fun, right? :P

[redqueen]

26. Heheh...

It's a derby thing. I *have* to hate them. :hi:


That shootout in the '06 final was CLASSIC stuff. I still hate them though!

[ceile]

28. It was pretty sweet!

I was watching at a friend's house that had a crappy antenna on her tv, so I wasn't even sure exactly what I was watching-had to go by the crowd noise.

[MrCoffee]

29. she's FC Dallas...poor thing

[redqueen]

32. You mean FC Defenseless.

:cry:

Why are you so mean to me? You said you didn't want the n00dz!

[MrCoffee]

36. i lied.

[redqueen]

38. This is a test, isn't it?

[MrCoffee]

39. what do you think?

[redqueen]

42. I think I'm right!

No n00dz for you!

[MrCoffee]

48. fine. i didn't want them anyway.

so neener.

[redqueen]

50. Good!

:P

[ceile]

45. Ahhhh

That explains it. ;)

on edit: I loathe the Cowgirls so I guess it evens out.

[MrCoffee]

49. yeah, we try to use small words to help her out.

it's the least we Houstonians can do.

[ceile]

54. ooooo

She's gonna be mad. :P

[redqueen]

57. Naaah... he loves me really.

He's just pullin my pigtails to show me how much he wants to kiss me. :7

[MrCoffee]

59. sorry, sweetcheeks, but i don't get my cootie shot until the 1st of the year

[redqueen]

10. That's more like it.

:)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

14. This was the 1st thread, silly

you gooners are touchy :D

[redqueen]

15. Oops.

Cut me some slack... we lost to shitty BORO! :cry:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

17. Dude we are THE ONLY TEAM that has lost to Derby

no slack for you

[redqueen]

19. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

AAAAAAAAAHahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

:rofl:

I mean... I'm sorry... really I am.

Wow... that defense. That's almost comical sometimes, isn't it?

:pals:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

20. If it weren't my team I'd laugh

instead I cry

[redqueen]

22. Ah they're just in a slump.

Some good transfers in January and you'll be all set. :)


It'd be worse if you were truly deserving of being champions because of the sublimely beautiful way your team plays, and you lost to shitty fucking boro. :P

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

23. a 38 year slump

the last trophy we won was the 1969 Fairs Cup (now the UEFA Cup)

Alas - we'll get there

[redqueen]

25. Well I didn't mean you'd be getting any silverware

Actually y'all aren't doing so bad really... mid-table isn't too bad.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

27. I want european football

and to do well at it. And I don't want to lose Obafemi Martins. I wore this to our last game:

[redqueen]

31. You'll definitely need some new defensive players...

the current squad can't compete against the other contenders in its current state, I don't think.

I'd wouldn't mind seeing Blackburn, Everton or Man City move up, m'self.


Is Martins being courted by any other teams?

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

41. Yeah - yours

at least he was in the summer

[redqueen]

43. You're joking!

How old is Martins?

Wenger likes young players. That's another media BS 'story'. I swear, the sports media over there is mostly a waste of time.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

53. just turned 22

We wouldn't sell him for $20m. But until next summer he has a buy-out clause that anyone can trigger at $13m

[redqueen]

55. Oh!

I thought he was older than that. Dur.

Hm... I dunno. I still don't believe it. Arsenal needs help midfield, not up front.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

56. You should never have let Baptista go

the Beast was good for you guys

[redqueen]

58. His style didn't mesh with the Arsenal style...

he's good yes... but Wenger seems pretty insistent that all the players get on board with the one-touch, pretty passing stuff. The Beast was more of an ugly-play is ok kind of guy, it seemed to me. I'm a noob, though... so... have a packet of salt with that. :)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

61. You're right in that he doesn't fit the silky play but in times like these

where every team you face is playing rough and ready with the 1st objective being to stop your flow it would be nice to be able to bring in the Beast to break though all that.

But Wenger is much smarter than I am.

BTW - Have you watched Barca play lately. Lionel Messi is insanely good.

[redqueen]

62. Not lately... I do try to catch them though.

Messi, Eto'o and Ronaldinho... so yum it nearly makes me wet! :9

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXAH0_9hewY


I would have included Henry (of course) but he seems to be having health issues again. :(

[MrCoffee]

63. Eto'o's (?) 3rd goal on that clip is just wrong

how, you know, in the WORLD did that get under the bar?

[redqueen]

64. If by 'wrong' you mean 'fucking beautiful', sure.

It's MAGIC.

:loveya:


(A little bit of luck too though, it must be said. :P)

[MrCoffee]

65. i must have watched it 10 times

it's hypnotizing.

[redqueen]

66. It's fucking fantastic.

I could watch this shit ALL DAY.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmAlIHGiTIw

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

92. Wow

come over to my place and we'll watch 'em all night. :D

[redqueen]

103. Heheheh

Not even kidding!

It's even worked its way into some of my fantasies. :blush:

[SKKY]

33. I support ManU, but I also follow American Players...

Friedel for Blackburn
Dempsey, Bocanegra, and Keller at Fulham
Tim Howard at Everton
Jay Demerit at Watford
There's more, but you get the point.

[redqueen]

37. I especially like Friedel and Hahnemann.

But Bocanegra has a cool last name. :)

[SKKY]

47. Brad is just such a class act, and a great keeper, even at his age...

...I always thought that, if given the chance, he could have been the next Schmeichel for ManU. I think his bomb at Liverpool may have tainted his image in the eyes of SAF.

[redqueen]

51. He's doing a great job though...

and the fans love him. :)

[SOteric]

52. West Bromwich Albion

[no name no slogan]

60. Chelsea because they're hometown, Arsenal because they're Arsenal

Back in the early 90s I lived within spitting distance of Stamford Bridge Stadium (their home field), and by default got to follow them somewhat. Arsenal are just..... Arsenal.

[billyskank]

69. Rushden & Diamonds.

[Arugula Latte]

78. In the immortal words of Rod Stewart: "You're Celtic, United, but baby I've decided

you're the best team I've ever seen ..."

:)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

95. Celtic is a scottish team

and I love em

[Anarcho-Socialist]

84. Newcastle United

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

94. TOON TOON!!!

BLACK & WHITE ARMY!!!!

[GOPisEvil]

88. Tottenham

So this year hasn't been so great, but it's getting marginally better.

(Not that I am HUGE fan of theirs in knowing details, etc., but I've liked them for a while. It's just for their nickname. I'm a Spurs NBA fan. Great reason, no?)

[redqueen]

91. I liked them right away.

But then I stopped. They're one of Arsenal's rivals. I couldn't keep liking them...

They're just in a slump. They could be in the CL, with what they're capable of. Wait till the new manager settles in... then we'll see how things are going. :)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

96. Spurs are to Aresenal as Sunderland is to Newcastle

:puke:

[tkmorris]

98. Crystal Palace!

Go Eagles!

I keep an eye on Reading, because I am a fan of Bobby Convey, and a few other Premiership squads but Palace is my passion. Neil Warnock has them on the straight and narrow and a return to the top flight is inevitable.

I have to admit also that I keep half an eye on FCUM. They are a club that formed in protest to an American taking over as owner at Manchester United. Not really an anti-American thing, more of a general protest against the money taking over the game. Something important has been lost. In any case FCUM has enjoyed tremendous support and threatens to reach the League within a couple of years. It's refreshing to see a football team and it's supporters enjoy the game FOR THE GAMES SAKE, not for the cash to be had. It's football at it's purest form.

Long live the game.

[redqueen]

101. Interesting...

do you know if the same thing has been done with Manchester City or West Ham or any of the other teams that have been bought by people who are not British?

[T_i_B]

99. SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY!!!!

Greatest football team on the planet. (when our ground isn't waterlogged that is)

[chieftain]

105. And although you did not ask, Celtic in the Scottish Premier

League and the KC Wizards in MLS.