OT - USMNT: So you're saying we have a chance!

[Waquoit]

Here's the rub from my perspective....

There is a baffling number of games in an endlessly confusing array of conferences, leagues and affiliations.

True, but understanding comes, sooner then you would think.

 

[Mots010]

I love soccer as much as the next guy but there isn't much simple about the European leagues. Where it gets really confusing is when teams get eliminated from the champions league they get thrust into the Europa league, even after teams spend weeks qualifying for the europa league knockout rounds. I've started following some of these leagues in the last year or so but I'm really struggling to find a team to root for. It's hard to just pick a team out of the blue. I found myself following some of the USA players abroad but there just isn't that many of them playing right now.

 

[SubbaBub]

World soccer is easier to understand if you grasp the concept that these are clubs and not franchises like US pro leagues. Anyone who wants to form a club and abide by FIFA's rules and the rules of their national governing federation (the FA, in England) can start one and if they win enough rise through the divisions to the top domestic league.

They can also enter other leagues, tournaments as they qualify for them. In England, clubs compete for the season long league title in each division. They also compete in an NCAA tournament style knockout competition for all clubs in the FA, called the FA cup, where you can get a fourth division team playing Manchester United at their local park field. There is also a lesser tournament for the teams in the Premier League called the League Cup (though it has a sponsorship title these days).

For the teams that finish at the top in the top leagues in Europe qualify for next season's Club Championship under UEFA, Europe version of CONCACAF, called the EUFA Champions League. Bids in the season long knockout tournament are doled out based on the strength of each nations domestic league. England's Premier League gets three auto bids with a fourth team qualifying for a play-in round.

Beneath the Champions League, is the Europa League, it's like the NIT. Teams that do not qualify for the Champions League can qualify for this season long knockout tournament. the EPL's fifth place team usually will qualify for this tournament.

So, during any given season, a club can compete for as many as three or four "Trophies" and the TV money that goes with playing for and winning these trophies. In the end, it's all about money for the club and the prestige necessary to attract top players from around the world.

In a sense, it is exactly what the NCAA would look like without the sham of student-athletes and amateurism.

 

[pepband99]

I'll tell you how. First, you have to develop a rooting interest, become a fan of a certain team. Preferably, in a top English team. That way you'll be able to follow all the games on TV. I settled on Liverpool because I saw them play at The Rent and had an incredible time.

...and this is where most people stop. If you have to "become a fan of a certain team" for the hell of it, it's a lost cause.

 

[Waquoit]

...and this is where most people stop. If you have to "become a fan of a certain team" for the hell of it, it's a lost cause.

It's clearly not a lost cause based on the growth of soccer by every metric. I was just explaining what worked for me.

 

[intlzncster]

...and this is where most people stop. If you have to "become a fan of a certain team" for the hell of it, it's a lost cause.

It's hard to like a sport without being a fan though. I wouldn't watch baseball ever if I didn't have a rooting interest in the Sox. I don't watch the NBA until later in the playoffs, because I don't barrack for anyone intensely. I loosely follow the Celtics, but that's it.

That said, I don't necessarily have one particular team in soccer, but I've played my whole life, so that makes my feelings for the game in general more acute than the average fan.

Not necessarily unexpected, but some of the growth in soccer can be put down to the growth and staying power of the MLS. When people have a local team, a team in which they can attend games, they tend to get more excited about the sport. Especially because MLS, in comparison to other major sports, is still a fairly cheap ticket.

 

[CallMeBruce]

I've actually really enjoyed following the EPL without a favorite team. Now that I understand the game, I can just enjoy watching soccer played well.

 

[SubbaBub]

...and this is where most people stop. If you have to "become a fan of a certain team" for the hell of it, it's a lost cause.

I started with the team playing the most Americans each year and eventually settled on Everton.

The new NBC sports coverage through Extra Time (free on my system) allows you to watch any match so it's easier than ever to pick up a team to follow.

Truthfully, I find the Top 4 and relegation battles more compelling than following a single club. Plus, I still follow the Americans.

 

[CallMeBruce]

I started with the team playing the most Americans each year and eventually settled on Everton.

The new NBC sports coverage through Extra Time (free on my system) allows you to watch any match so it's easier than ever to pick up a team to follow.

Truthfully, I find the Top 4 and relegation battles more compelling than following a single club. Plus, I still follow the Americans.

This is almost exactly my experience. I root for Everton largely because they start Howard, and I used to watch Donovan play with them.

 

[pepband99]

All good points. The relegation end, especially, is an interesting wrinkle.

I've been to a Champion's League match personally, and it's tremendously entertaining, but I take "fandom" seriously (You have to, to be a Met fan). I haven't even "adopted" an NFL squad - no skin in game. EPL is a whole other fish.

 

[CallMeBruce]

All good points. The relegation end, especially, is an interesting wrinkle.

I've been to a Champion's League match personally, and it's tremendously entertaining, but I take "fandom" seriously (You have to, to be a Met fan). I haven't even "adopted" an NFL squad - no skin in game. EPL is a whole other fish.

I got in an argument with my girlfriend because I said she isn't a Red Sox fan because she only occasionally follows the team.

 

[junglehusky]

All good points. The relegation end, especially, is an interesting wrinkle.

I've been to a Champion's League match personally, and it's tremendously entertaining, but I take "fandom" seriously (You have to, to be a Met fan). I haven't even "adopted" an NFL squad - no skin in game. EPL is a whole other fish.

I adopted Tottenham to follow because they weren't Chelsea/Arsenal/ManUtd/ManCity, were a good if not great team with some history and they had Dempsey for a season. It's been... interesting to follow the English sports media. Of course if all else fails you can just root for an underdog and occasionally see a good story, like Wigan winning the FA cup final while being relegated out of the EPL. (Kinda like UConn winning the tournament after getting left behind in the AAC).

 

[intlzncster]

I adopted Tottenham to follow because they weren't Chelsea/Arsenal/ManUtd/ManCity, were a good if not great team with some history and they had Dempsey for a season. It's been... interesting to follow the English sports media. Of course if all else fails you can just root for an underdog and occasionally see a good story, like Wigan winning the FA cup final while being relegated out of the EPL. (Kinda like UConn winning the tournament after getting left behind in the AAC).

I prefer them to the always American press, even if the English are crazy.

I love the relegation model and wish some sort of similar model would be developed for some American sports. Wouldn't work in the NFL (with no minor leagues) I don't think, but it could encourage other sporting franchises to compete.

 

[UConnDan97]

I started with the team playing the most Americans each year and eventually settled on Everton.

The new NBC sports coverage through Extra Time (free on my system) allows you to watch any match so it's easier than ever to pick up a team to follow.

Truthfully, I find the Top 4 and relegation battles more compelling than following a single club. Plus, I still follow the Americans.

Same thing for me when it comes to the Premiership. I was a Fulham follower since the time that Brian McBride was there, and then over the years they added Dempsey, Eddie Johnson, and Kasey Keller. Unfortunately they don't have any more Americans on the squad, but I still root for them passively to do well. I'm more entrenched in the Italian Serie A because that's what I grew up with, and that's where my favorite teams are (Juventus, Catania).

As for relegation, I often wish that the NCAA's took to that concept! UConn would be in its rightful place at the top, and schools like Wake Forest and Iowa State would be in theirs...

 

[SAMCRO]

I adopted Tottenham to follow because they weren't Chelsea/Arsenal/ManUtd/ManCity, were a good if not great team with some history and they had Dempsey for a season. It's been... interesting to follow the English sports media. Of course if all else fails you can just root for an underdog and occasionally see a good story, like Wigan winning the FA cup final while being relegated out of the EPL. (Kinda like UConn winning the tournament after getting left behind in the AAC).

That is the EXACT same reason I latched onto Tottenham back in 2007/08 Couldn't be Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U, or Liverpool b/c they were current or historic blue bloods. It came down to Tottenham and City (this was the season before City opened up the check book) and I went with Spurs. They qualified for UCL two years later, and then City exploded onto the scene (damn it).

 

[whaler11]

What helped me immerse myself more in the EPL was playing Football Manager Handheld - the mobile version is like $10.

Of course I picked West Brom when I started - not jumping on some Arsenal or Liverpool bandwagon.

 

[intlzncster]

What helped me immerse myself more in the EPL was playing Football Manager Handheld - the mobile version is like $10.

Of course I picked West Brom when I started - not jumping on some Arsenal or Liverpool bandwagon.

That or Pro Evolution Soccer. And EA, of course, can get you into any sport.

 

[SubbaBub]

Same thing for me when it comes to the Premiership. I was a Fulham follower since the time that Brian McBride was there, and then over the years they added Dempsey, Eddie Johnson, and Kasey Keller. Unfortunately they don't have any more Americans on the squad, but I still root for them passively to do well. I'm more entrenched in the Italian Serie A because that's what I grew up with, and that's where my favorite teams are (Juventus, Catania).

As for relegation, I often wish that the NCAA's took to that concept! UConn would be in its rightful place at the top, and schools like Wake Forest and Iowa State would be in theirs...

Fulham was team America for a long time. Then they stopped and were relegated this season. As always, 'Murca rules.