I dont watch much EPL because I dont have a favorite team. I dont know how all you Soccer Snobs just randomly pick EPL teams to become diehard fans of. I have no connection to any of them so I cant do it. I tried. I have tried to become a Man U fan years ago, then Fulham/Dempsey, then Tottenham/Dempsey. Nothing stuck. I mean yea Chelsea has Pulisic but why else would I root for them?
FK, sell me on becoming a Chelsea fan
- Thread starter Sean Miller Fan
- Start date
I tell the story all the time as I always feel I have to defend myself for being a fan of the club. I’ve always been one to pick the underdog. Well, not the true underdog, but more the up and coming team that’s trying to knock off the big dog. When I started following it, Manchester United was the big dog and Chelsea was the up and coming team with little history and incredible players in Lampard, petr Cech, and drogba that were easy to fall in love with. Plus their uniforms were cool that year. That’s honestly how it happened. And since that time, they’ve won more trophies than any team in england.
But...being a Chelsea fan doesn’t come easy. The billionaire Russian owner and their board sack their Manager every other year. Their fans aren’t the best, but name a football fan base that are angels??
All I can say is if you’re going to pick a team, you might as well pick the best club in London, who just happens to have the best midfielder England has ever seen (Frank Lampard) managing the club. He is pure class and is as iconic to me as a Mario Lemieux (almost). Throw in Christian Pulisic and how could you not root for them? N’golo Kante is the best #6 in the world and you will never see a more humble person or athlete. He is beloved by teammates, opponents and fans everywhere.
Chelsea has been widely regarded as having the best academy in the world for years. But at the same time, they have been rightfully bashed for not using it and letting their academy players go to other clubs and not making it to the senior Chelsea team. That has changed now, as they are under a transfer ban tho year and forced to play some of their academy players. Ruben Loftus Cheek (English international), Callum Hudson Odoi, Tammy Abraham, and Reece James are all academy players poised to become future stars for Chelsea and will be in the senior squad this year. Throw in Pulisic and the goalkeeper Kepa, who just overtook DeGea as Spain’s #1 keeper...and there’s a very young nucleus of talent.
Back to their Academy...a few years ago they had Lukaku, Mohammed Salah, and Kevin De Bruyne, and let all three go. Could you imagine if they were all still at Chelsea the last couple of years? Goodness gracious.
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It’s weird to hear you say “soccer snobs”. I run in soccer circles. I do find it interesting that everyone in my circles has a favorite team and it’s almost always English...but I don’t see it as snobbish. It’s just something that everyone seems to enjoy and have in common.
I find Man U fans snobbish because they feel entitled and believe they are the only ones in England with a birthright to spend money in the transfer market.
But it’s interesting to me that of people I meet and talk to, they seem to mostly all be fans of either Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City or Chelsea. A good friend of mine is a big Everton fan. It’s not easy for him.
Exactly. That was my biggest issue with Sarriball. You had the best defensive midfielder in the world and he had him playing in a more advanced role. He was ok in that new role but what Sarri did is weaken two positions just so he can put Jorginho in that spot. They still won a trophy and qualified for Champions League two different ways, so it was a successful year. Finishing 3rd in the EPL is good. But finishing 20 points behind Liverpool and City isn’t.
They are loaded with center midfielders. Not sure what they will do. Kante will play the 6. But what about Jorginho? And who will play the #8 and #10? Kovacic, Barkley, Mount (who some say will be the next lampard), and Loftus Cheek. That is 6 starting level players for 3 spots. Plus Drinkwater and bakayoko are still on the roster. Surely those two will be sold or loaned out. It’s crazy.
Call me a stupid American, but I still wonder how this thing will shake out with Kante back playing the six. He’s the defensive mid, and the #8 will be Jorginho? The #8 traditionally, or so I thought, is that box to box midfielder who plays in an advanced role when his team has the ball. Under Sarri, Jorginho was that #6 and his role was to go and get the ball. He would continually recycle the ball, maintain possession, make side to side passes, and then occasionally play a penetrating ball from a deep lying position. If he’s asked to play box to box this year, it will be interesting to see how effective he will be.
@Sean Miller Fan you ask me to sell you on Chelsea and you don’t check back in?? I took all that time to reply to you and I don’t even get a “thanks anyways, but I’m good?” Come on!
Chelsea vs LC
Chelsea started strong in the first 20 minutes today. Strong play, strong possession, and crazy defensive attacking.
Than they started to fade. By end of first half they just didn’t play well. Second half was not great for Chelsea.
Pulisic was not good. Willian subbed him out and didn’t produce much either.
Chelsea started strong in the first 20 minutes today. Strong play, strong possession, and crazy defensive attacking.
Than they started to fade. By end of first half they just didn’t play well. Second half was not great for Chelsea.
Pulisic was not good. Willian subbed him out and didn’t produce much either.
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anon_4dfwm2pijbr0a
Guest
I'm a Fulham fan, not very difficult for me to like them. Frustrating, very, diffucult, no way. London's Original. Could careless about any of the big 6. I actually root for them to be mediocre in Champions League.
Chelsea is going to struggle mightily this season. I don't see them getting higher than 8th and could be in the teens when the season finishes. They're just not a good team.
Chelsea is going to struggle mightily this season. I don't see them getting higher than 8th and could be in the teens when the season finishes. They're just not a good team.
Hmmm. I don’t see it that way. I must admit that after losing Hazard, I feared maybe a #10 or so finish in the league. It’s still early, but they have a ton of talent. They are still missing, due to injury, their best center back, their best attacking mid, and their most dangerous winger.
But they look great right now. I attribute today’s game to playing in the Super Cup vs Liverpool on Wednesday. N’Golo Kante is like a race horse and can run for days. Even he said his legs were dead at the end of the Liverpool game...a game that Chelsea arguably outplayed one of the best 2 teams in the world. I think Chelsea had tired legs in the 2nd half today.
Btw, I’m not a Fulham fan, but I’d love to catch one of their home games some day.
Ah, come on. Everyone knows the best way to prepare for a weekend game is a quick mid-week trip to Istanbul.
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anon_4dfwm2pijbr0a
Guest
Their midfield is very good but their back 4 isn't good enough to keep them in the top 6. Their forwards also leave a little to be desired. Now the transfer ban has alot to do with this teams shape and once that was handed down I felt they were in for a tough season. Add to that a green gaffer and this season is going to very mediocre. It will be interesting if they keep to it with the youth movement once the ban ends or do they do what most bigs do, just buy to add.
They were pressing, on the ball and extremely good the 1st 20 minutes but it seemed like once LC settled in, got their wind, they became the better team from their on out.
The Cottage is undergoing a reno right now, removing the riverside stand and building bigger, a 2 tier stand. I personally think it's a bit much and the charm will be taken away but everything is ran by the almighty dollar.
You’re right about the midfield. There is too much quality there and not enough minutes. Actually, you’re right about the lack of a top quality striker too, and you just may be right about the back line. When Rudiger comes back, he will stabilize it a bit. I have a hunch that this may be the last season for Azpilicueta at RB. His form has dipped and Reece James, once back from injury, will start getting minutes there and looks to be a future star at the position.
They’re young and the top 4 is tough any year. But this year especially due to their youth and the transfer ban. Europa League may have been better for them so that the youth can play and gain more experience.
As far as a striker, if they get the ban lifted for January, maybe they can go out and find someone. If not, they’ll have some money to spend next summer after Frank has a year to see where his needs are.
I watched the Man U game. I'm onto Leicester now. Its 1-0 and Pulisic just got hurt. I watch it in parts. Dont know the result yet. I'd really like to have an EPL team to root for but I just have no emotional connection.
That's what I find it hard to get, an emotional connection, so as to really care. That's why I'd rather watch MLS, DC United is close enough that I've been to games and always had their local TV games on, plus they play cities I recognize, NY, LA, Philly etc. First off, of all foreign countries, England is one I could never relate to or have love for, so it's impossible for me to love a team from there. My favorite European team is Olympiacos of Greece, but I've actually lived in Greece for a short time, visited like 15 times, actually been to see them play in person, and my uncle was a member of their board in the 70s-80s, I own 2 jerseys, so I have a really solid, true connection, I wish Greek Super League was on TV! Olympiacos is on TNT Wednesday vs. Krasnodar FC of Russia, I'll watch that and actually care who wins, unlike an EPL game.
The game to watch was the Liverpool v Chelsea game. It was back and forth great action and pretty evenly played. Chelsea hit a couple bars, and Pulisic was a couple inches offside on a goal, otherwise Chelsea wins that match going away.
Just found out that my daughters boyfriend grew up with Harry McGuire. Well not harry, but he’s best friends with Harry’s brother who is the same age.
Picking EPL teams is a strange phenomenon. Everyone has a story on how they pick their team. I’ve told mine here. I just heard a recording artist tell a story yesterday that he’s a Chelsea fan because when he was younger his brother was a Man U supporter and told him that he had to pick a different team. So he picked Chelsea because blue was his favorite color. I also picked Chelsea, partly because of the color, but also because they were the rising club trying to knock off the gorilla of the time that was Sir Alex’s Man U squad.
In my circles, Man U is the choice of many. Coaches love Man U because of the style of play under Sir Alex Ferguson. My daughter’s head coach in college is a Man U supporter. My HS daughter’s future college coach is a Man U supporter. Coach Waldrum, if you guys follow him on twitter, is a huge Man U supporter.
In my circles, Man U is the choice of many. Coaches love Man U because of the style of play under Sir Alex Ferguson. My daughter’s head coach in college is a Man U supporter. My HS daughter’s future college coach is a Man U supporter. Coach Waldrum, if you guys follow him on twitter, is a huge Man U supporter.
I have friends who are Man U, Liverpool and Man City fans, a guy I work with uses vacation hours to leave early some days to watch Liverpool games, I just have an impossible time caring about any of these teams, not sure why. Again, part of it is I'm not a huge fan of England, and also I don 't want to watch games in the morning, that's another part of it.
But I do have DVDs of games I recorded where Olympiacos defeated Man City, Man U, Arsenal, Juventus, AC Milan and various others. So I have a lot of experience rooting against the top clubs in Europe.
But I do have DVDs of games I recorded where Olympiacos defeated Man City, Man U, Arsenal, Juventus, AC Milan and various others. So I have a lot of experience rooting against the top clubs in Europe.
Olympiacos is kind of a "gateway" team, they've won the Greek Super League 44 times since 1925, and always at least make the play in stage for UEFA Cup, so a lot of really good Euro, African and South American players, who aren't getting offers from top "power conference" teams, EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga etc. sign with Olympiacos, because it's a good way to get a solid shot at playing in the UEFA Cup, or at least Europa at worst.
I just cant relate to "picking a team." For me, fanhood just happens. I don't think I will be able to declare myself a Chelsea fan and truthfully care whether they win or lose.
This is my case, teams I've become fans of, it just happened, Olympiacos, I have stated my reasons, DC United because it's local to me and they started as the early champs in MLS in the late 90s, plus I like their colors and logo.
I get it. It’s like with soccer in general. I’ll never argue someone if they don’t like soccer. To his his own. But whether a guy likes it or not, it doesn’t affect my life. I just know that as a sports fan, I have more viewing options year round that typical yinzers or typical Americans don’t have.
If someone doesn’t have an urge to like English soccer I understand. Just like I can’t take a liking to MLS. I do think that if there was promotion and relegation, I’d have the propensity to be drawn to it and to the the Riverhounds.
And part of the EPL thing for me is the stadiums and the histories of the clubs. Tottenham has American owners and just built a mothership of a stadium. It’s unbelievable and has all of the bells and whistles. It’s cool in a way. But to me, that’s not where English football should be played.
THIS^^^ and for me, liking soccer, MLS summer international tournaments, like the men's and women's World Cups and the Gold Cup, gives me something to watch in the summer when there are NO SPORTS available, I say no sports because after 1992 when the Pirates crashed for what seems like the end of history, I think I decided that I hate baseball and only was a Pirates fan, not the sport in general, and can't watch even a single AT BAT for the last 25+ years. Another thing about soccer is that there are all kinds of choices in it, basketball is like 90% about the NBA, football 99% NFL and D1 college, soccer, wow it's a worldwide never ending selection of competitions. I am actually looking forward to the World Cup of Basketball, because it's a worthy competition that is NOT NBA or NCAA, but soccer is really the only sport that has relevant action 12 months per year.
If there was some pill I can take to make my brain feel emotionally connected to an EPL team, I'd pay a lot of money for that pill. I would love to have a favorite EPL team but I dont know how all you guys can just declare a favorite team and honestly care if that team wins or loses. I wished I could.
No idea how my affinity for the club has grown through the years. But it has. I think being surrounded daily by others who have their own clubs and the mutual trash talking that goes on only feeds the passion for the league.
Maybe it will organically grow on you if you start watching Christian every week there and he becomes an integral part of the club’s success.
I don’t like Premier League soccer at all. I used to be a fan back in the Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker days. No more. Did Peter Crouch retire before or after he became eligible for an old-age pension? Can John Stones run the length of the pitch in under a fortnight?
I live and die with FC Barcelona. I get to watch and admire the greatest player in the sport. I also really like the style of La Liga. There are always a high number of offensively-minded teams and it isn’t all the EPL style of (1) high crosses into the middle and (2) long passes to fast, foreign, mainly black strikers beating plodding English center backs. Liverpool is the only team in the EPL which plays a style I admire. Like Spanish teams, they actually pass the ball.
I live and die with FC Barcelona. I get to watch and admire the greatest player in the sport. I also really like the style of La Liga. There are always a high number of offensively-minded teams and it isn’t all the EPL style of (1) high crosses into the middle and (2) long passes to fast, foreign, mainly black strikers beating plodding English center backs. Liverpool is the only team in the EPL which plays a style I admire. Like Spanish teams, they actually pass the ball.
Perhaps you haven’t heard of La Masia. It’s a little academy in Barcelona that has produced a few decent players, like Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. Anyway, 5 or 6 years ago, Barcelona started 11 La Masia graduates. That is 11 of 11: Valdez (GK), Alba (LB), Pique (CB), Bartra (CB), Montoya (RB), Busquet (MF), Iniesta (MF), Xavi (MF), Thiago (MF), Messi (F) and either Pedro or Munir (F). Regular starters Dani Alves, David Villa and Carles Puyol were injured or there only would have been 9 La Masia graduates starting. (Puyol also attended La Masia.)
La Masia has fallen on hard times since then. Today, Barcelona only started Pique, Alba, Busquet, Roberto, Rafinha and Perez — a paltry 6 La Masia graduates. Of course, 3 other La Masia graduates started for Real Betis.
In the 78th minute, La Masia student Anssumane Fati entered the match. I can’t call him a La Masia graduate yet because he is only 16.
There are 11 La Masia players on Barca’s main squad.
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anon_4dfwm2pijbr0a
Guest
You must be wildly annoyed right now. Gotta wonder how much patience the SW London faithful will have with Frank. Legend, no legend they are a very average team right now. I'm still going with mid table, like 10-12 finish.
On a different note Sheffield is a scrappy team that I think stays up.
Only a bit annoyed that they let Sheffield back into the game. But I’m more concerned with ownership. I can only hope he’s patient. I felt they were an outside the top 4 team even with their best lineup, and today they were without their two best midfielders, their best centerback, and their best wing player. Hope when they are healthy in another month things will get better. Their Champions League draw was a blessing.
