Supporting Other Teams In Europe

[PooleSpur]

My first thread and just wondered how other people felt on the subject. In general, I don't support other teams in europe and I genuinely don't believe its jealousy. My problem is that unlike 30 years ago, I find it is really difficult to have any affinity with other clubs. I know it sounds like an old chestnut, but I do believe that the lack of British players in a team really does affect how I feel about that team.

When I was a kid (I am 47), our teams in Europe were full of British players that you recognized and who usually (or very often anyway) represented the national team of whichever country in Britain. You saw them every week on the telly, you followed them in the World Cup or the European Championships, you got to know them. You knew the towns and cities they came from. We shared a national interest in a British team going abroad to Europe to win a European trophy and bringing it back to Britain. This is not a racist view. Colour or creed is not relevant here, it is our affinity with a group of British individuals who shared a common nationality and a common purpose, which was fundamentally show Europe that we invented football and we were better at it (at that time)

Now, supporters follow teams containing people I have never heard of from countries I have no natural affinity with. We all love our own teams, but when it comes to the Euro games we find it hard to look at other teams and find a reason to want them to win.

I'll wait for the panning to begin..............but for any lurking Gooners, this really isn't about you per se. I feel the same about Boro, Liverpool - ish, Bolton, Celtic, and Rangers. I retain a soft spot for WHU as long as we don't bump into them next year. Anyway.........................just wondered if you had a view.

[JuicE]

I totally agree with you! However i do like to see entertaining football and i will be happy to watch Barcelona stuff the Gooners!
There is only one team for me!

[Gregzy]

To be brutally honest, as long as it isn't Arsenal or Chelsea, I wish other British teams in Europe all the best. I can't say that I am heartbroken when they lose, but as I have no real emotional ties to any other European country (other than Scotland) I'd much rather European silverware resided in British Trophy cabinets. Just not those of Arsehole or Chelskum... ;)

I do see the point about teams not really representing the nation squad-wise but it's still British fans shelling out daft money to floow their teams across the continent and in the main I wish them every success...

[PooleSpur]

Take your point about the fans. Don't get me wrong.............I just think there is a balance to be found in the make up of teams. Foreign players have contributed in a big way starting with the like of Ossie and Ricky, but a lot of these guys are looking for a big pay cheque which is being financed by those fans. I think its the "discount flat pack quick assembly" teams like Boro and Bolton that contribute little or nothing to the development of British football that really don't do it for me.

[Gregzy]

Sentiments I can well relate to - the flat-pack metaphor is most fitting for Boro and Bolton. Made all the better by the fact that cheap, pre-fab housing imported from Europe has had a hugely detrimental effect on both the UK building industry and its architecture.

I've never like Boro that much - their fans suffer from the same groundless arrogance/delusion that seems to befall all north east clubs and Bolton count Vernon "****ing" Kaye amongst their number.

Still, good luck to them although I'll still be gigglng when they lose... Ah, the wonderful dichotomy of being a football fan!

:)

[Houdini logic]

Great post Poole, agree, totally.

[Houdini logic]

Great post Poole, agree, totally.

[Welsh Spur]

The only team I've ever found it hard to support in Europe is Man United, I've always hated them, being from wales, as when I was younger (I'm 20) all my mates supported them for being top of the league, I was the odd one out, supporting Spurs simply because my first ever (and all-time) favourite player was the legendary Jurgen Klinsmann. I never really developed the hatred for Gooners until about 18 months ago, down in wales I don't think the rivalry is appreciated as in London. And I agree with the comment about northern fans, Newcastle fans have to be the most optimistically deluded I have ever come across. I will follow any 'home' team in Europe, barring Arsenal, and Man United. However I agree also with the comments about the foriegn players, Arsenal is NOT an english team, Chelsea is barely, and it's quite frankly pathetic. Maybe the rule regarding non home-based players should apply in Europe, so the patriotism that Poole speaks of returns. Having a max of 3 overseas players would mean that teams in Europe would be forced to field 8 players from the country they originate. And effectively bring back the combined sense of purpose; bringing European trophies to Britain.

[PooleSpur]

My other bug with the excessive use of foreign players is, for me anyway, the dilution of the player pool available to British national teams. You will never convince me otherwise. Look at Scotland. The old First Division use to be full of great Scottish players who all contributed to the national team. Alfie Conn, Steve Archibald, Alan Gilzean, John Duncan, Billy Bremner, Joe Jordan, Frank McLintock...............the list is enormous. And over the border, Celtic and Rangers were well populated with local players. In the quest for Euro glory, which has never really occurred for them, they have purchased numerous dodgy foreign players, as we have over the last ten years. And now look at the national team. Bereft of experience and limited by the lack of players available. Where are the big Scottish names now? The risk to English football is the same longterm if more teams choose to go the flatpack discount route to obtain Premiership survival. It is what worries me about the parochial approach of these teams whose fans are appeased by local success, missing the big picture for the development of national football entirely. I am happy that I will have some Spurs interest in the World Cup, in comparison to Arsenal, who have scraped three in..........somehow. I have spoken to Arsenal fans who are obviously happy wih their success in the Prem, but would like to see more players showing up in the national team. I hope Spurs continue in the vein they are currently pursuing and I hope other teams follow suit. The future of our national teams is at stake..................rant complete. Turn off "Land of Hope and Glory"......and relax.

[Danishspurs]

I'm from Denmark, bit don't really support any danish teams, because my first ver club was spurs and supporting a club comes from the heart, i't not something you can chose.... Tottenham till I die...

[shoot_ffs]

i think the uefa cup will be good next year as all our teams play attacking footy. You'd fancy newcastle to get through the intertoto too. I'll watch man utd in europe mostly as they have rooney, but liverpool are usually pretty uninspiring.

[highlander]

Take your point about the fans. Don't get me wrong.............I just think there is a balance to be found in the make up of teams. Foreign players have contributed in a big way starting with the like of Ossie and Ricky, but a lot of these guys are looking for a big pay cheque which is being financed by those fans. I think its the "discount flat pack quick assembly" teams like Boro and Bolton that contribute little or nothing to the development of British football that really don't do it for me.
well boro are contributing a lot to english football. firstly they have a great chairman who is actually a fan, secondly their contributing steve McClaren and thirdly they have a huge onus on developing british youngsters, last week they feilded 11 english-men 10 of which were born 20 minutes from the stadium.

[Danishspurs]

Yeah.. Boro developing a lot of british talents, FX. Downing and adam Johnson...

[PooleSpur]

where in Denmark? I spent some time in Karup and Aalborg when I was in the Royal Air Force