2007/2008 European football thread

[redmarkYankees]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Where I live most people either support Manchester United, Liverpool, Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers at work people either support Liverpool or Wigan Athletic but on here we have the biggest diverse group of supporters I come across. We have people who support Wigan Athletic, Liverpool, Fulham, Bayern, QPR, Manchester United etc and was just wondering why you support the teams you do, specially the people who live outside of the country where their team plays.

Though I was born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Liverpool were the 'inherited' club - the only person in my immediate family who followed any team was my uncle, who was a regular at Anfield/European aways etc through the late 60s and 70s (first game I remember on TV was the 77 FA Cup Final, first game attended was a League Cup game - lost! - at Sheffield United a year or two later).

[redmarkYankees]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mai.../sfnliv128.xml

Jose Reina spends half of every home match a few feet from the Kop, and theirs is a noise the Liverpool goalkeeper admits he had never heard before coming to Anfield.

Tonight it will be a torrent of passion with one man's name chanted throughout. If Rafael Benitez can no longer count on the unequivocal backing of Liverpool's new owners or indeed the club's chief executive, Rick Parry, the loyalty of their supporters is not in doubt.

Liverpool have dealt with departures of their great managers before. Bill Shankly's retirement in 1974 was announced over the tannoy at the city's central market. When Kenny Dalglish resigned 17 years later, exhausted by the aftermath of Hillsborough, it was announced to commuters at Euston Station. But in neither case were there mass demonstrations to keep them at Anfield.

Benitez has not been sacked by Liverpool's owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, and judging by his complete refusal to discuss club politics yesterday - something he perhaps should have done at St James' Park on Saturday - the Liverpool manager no longer wants to force the issue.

But there will be demonstrations outside the Shankly Gates tonight, organised by a group named Reclaim the Kop. A spokesman for them, John Mackin, said yesterday: "Liverpool Football Club exists not to make money. It exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose. Rafa is far and away the most important figure at Anfield, bar none."


Look out on TV for a 120 foot banner, "As always, we are focussing on supporting our manager" - a reference to the wording Benitez used in the press conference highlighting the 'instructions' from the owners. Liverpool fans attending the demonstration before the game are also planning to answer any questions from TV/newspaper reporters with the same response.

[Purple Cowboy]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Who do you support and why.

Where I live most people either support Manchester United, Liverpool, Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers at work people either support Liverpool or Wigan Athletic but on here we have the biggest diverse group of supporters I come across. We have people who support Wigan Athletic, Liverpool, Fulham, Bayern, QPR, Manchester United etc and was just wondering why you support the teams you do, specially the people who live outside of the country where their team plays.

Myself I support Wigan Athletic and Celtic, Wigan are my love and my hometown team so it’s simple to explain why I support them. My passion however are Celtic, when my Dad died my Uncle became the father figure in my life until my Mum remarried and he’s a massive Celtic fan so used to take me up to Paradise and although I don’t really get on with my Step dad although he did bring his cousin into my life who just happens to live in Glasgow and supports Celtic so he was good for something.

I'm a Nottingham Forest supporter at heart because my dad & his family are originally from Bulwell (UK) before they moved to the Boston (USA) area. About the time they dropped out of the Prem for good I was taken aback by Dennis Bergkamp and became a casual Arsenal supporter and I still root for them against big clubs in the Premiership because I think Wenger's style of play is very attractive but I find myself rooting against them when they play lesser clubs (except Derby, they can thrash them for all I care). Been tough the last 15 years or so to be a Forest supporter so Arsenal take some of the sting away. Really speaking of lower leagues, I was a MetroStars supporter when they were first created since I live in NJ but have been put off by their insistence to call themselves New York even though they play in New Jersey and haven't seen a match since they were purchased by Red Bull.

[theasfl]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Who do you support and why.

Where I live most people either support Manchester United, Liverpool, Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers at work people either support Liverpool or Wigan Athletic but on here we have the biggest diverse group of supporters I come across. We have people who support Wigan Athletic, Liverpool, Fulham, Bayern, QPR, Manchester United etc and was just wondering why you support the teams you do, specially the people who live outside of the country where their team plays.

Myself I support Wigan Athletic and Celtic, Wigan are my love and my hometown team so it’s simple to explain why I support them. My passion however are Celtic, when my Dad died my Uncle became the father figure in my life until my Mum remarried and he’s a massive Celtic fan so used to take me up to Paradise and although I don’t really get on with my Step dad although he did bring his cousin into my life who just happens to live in Glasgow and supports Celtic so he was good for something.

Arsenal: Im Dutch by heritage and when I started following the PL when I was younger Dennis Bergkamp was on the team and they rivaled Man U who I despised so it was a natural fit.

Bristol Rovers: They stuck out to me in League Two a few years ago when I was looking for a team in FIFA0something I enjoyed their history, them being from a semi-major city from what I know and their different colors/kit and logo compared to the rest of the teams down there.


I typically have a team in most overseas leagues for one reason or another as well.

[LFC1892]

New Derby County boss Paul Jewell has explained why he walked away from Wigan Athletic at the end of last season.

"I was never ill. I was never in a straitjacket as some people might have thought," said the 43-year-old. "All I wanted to do was walk away from Wigan with my head held high.
"There were absolutely no health reasons. I just wanted a rest from football and I'm not ashamed to say that.
"I enjoyed my time and I'm refreshed and hopefully I can come back a better manager. "I've taken my time out of football to reflect on how I can get better. That time has not just been spent playing golf, as some people might think, I've done a lot of travelling and watched a lot of football to try to improve myself as a manager."

There, does that make the Wigan fans any happier? I cant believe the amount of managerial changes so far, and I'm sure it's not the end of them. Tough game being a gaffer,huh?

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by LFC1892

There, does that make the Wigan fans any happier? I cant believe the amount of managerial changes so far, and I'm sure it's not the end of them. Tough game being a gaffer,huh?

It was Whelan who said he was ill, one of the reasons that hasn't been spoken about is that he was under alot of pressure in his personal life as he'd been having an affair but he has stated that not being able to attract players and taking Wigan as far as he could which surprises me as I don't see him taking Derby that far to be honest.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by theasfl

Arsenal: Im Dutch by heritage and when I started following the PL when I was younger Dennis Bergkamp was on the team and they rivaled Man U who I despised so it was a natural fit.

Bristol Rovers: They stuck out to me in League Two a few years ago when I was looking for a team in FIFA0something I enjoyed their history, them being from a semi-major city from what I know and their different colors/kit and logo compared to the rest of the teams down there.


I typically have a team in most overseas leagues for one reason or another as well.

I follow a few teams in different leagues, most have a reason behind them aka Ajax, played on their old ground in a school tournament years ago, Torpedo Moscow because they played Wigan in a friendly years back, St Etienne, went watching them years ago and FC Koln because my sister had a German exchange student stay with us and she was a mad Koln fan so always look out for their results.

[ukhotstove]

Well can't really see Redknapp being given the job, whether he's guilty or not I doubt the FA want anymore rubbish thrown around after Eriksson.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7116823.stm

[theasfl]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

I follow a few teams in different leagues, most have a reason behind them aka Ajax, played on their old ground in a school tournament years ago, Torpedo Moscow because they played Wigan in a friendly years back, St Etienne, went watching them years ago and FC Koln because my sister had a German exchange student stay with us and she was a mad Koln fan so always look out for their results.

my club team back in U11s had an English team stay with us; I'll usually follow/root for Tottenham to a lesser extent than my own teams for the that reason- my guest was from Haverhill and rooted for Spurs.

[The Professor]

Newcastle: Since '95-'96 through ups and downs. They were the team I "adopted" when I first got interested in international soccer/football.

Other teams I rather like: Nottingham Forest, Spurs, Celtic, Ajax, Barcelona, and Plymouth...

[Raderick]

Manchester United. if you don't like them, your a commie nazi.

[LFC1892]

Originally Posted by Raderick

Manchester United. if you don't like them, your a commie nazi.

Heil raderick

[Fallschirmjager]

Newcastle since I lived with a family in England for four months and they supported the Toons and Leeds
Also a big Leeds fan
One day they will return to glory


In Germany I am of course a Bayern fan since that is where I grew up
Also a Werder fan since that is where I was born

In Holland I like Feyenoord since they have the greatest wikipedia page of all time

In America DC United since I live here and have held season tickets now for two ongoing seasons

[Muppetus Galacticus]

[ukhotstove]

Actually the Canvey Island loss was a turning point for Wigan as the team that faced Canvey Island that day wasn’t anything like the promotion team, Jewell brought in players like Ellington, Bullard, Teale and Filan because they realised that the team wasn‘t good enough for promotion and the defeat against Canvey kind of rubber stamped it.

[theasfl]

the Birmingham winner vs Tottenham was ridiculous

[LFC1892]

so the FFA still hasnt lined up a replacement for the coward known as Dick Advocaat. We spoke to Phillipe(or is it Omar?) Troussier yesterday, and today it's Pim Verbeeks turn. The players need someone sorted NOW as the longer this drags on, the worse any hopes of WC qualification get.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by LFC1892

so the FFA still hasnt lined up a replacement for the coward known as Dick Advocaat. We spoke to Phillipe(or is it Omar?) Troussier yesterday, and today it's Pim Verbeeks turn. The players need someone sorted NOW as the longer this drags on, the worse any hopes of WC qualification get.

Im putting in my application. I have a fantastic record in FM. Ive gotten Leigh to the L1 and Ive won the Champions League with Ajax.

And Ill work cheap.

[LFC1892]

I assure you that the only thing holding you back would be a lack of experience in the Asian zone. Maybe load China, Korea even Indonesia and guide a team to success, then send your application to:

Bbuckley@footballaustralia.com

You cant be any worse then the last coach we had(after Hiddink), Graham "whats a 4-4-2" Arnold.

[LFC1892]

Whats this crap about Capello to Liverpool? Surely it's paper talk or Capellos team trying to put a little more pressure on the FA.