Hello! I’m posting this on a few club forums. I am an American who married a European a few years ago. My husband is more of a rugby fan but also has an interest in football/soccer. During the World Cup, I fell in love with the game and have decided to choose a Premier League team to root for. For my selected team, I will buy a basic team membership, and when my husband goes to the UK for his work later this year, we’ll spend a few extra days there, during which we’ll watch the team play, if we can get tickets.
I've done research, but more depth than breadth, so I haven’t researched many of the clubs. If you think there are other clubs worth considering, please let me know. This is what I've found out so far, which I know may not be accurate.
I would appreciate it if you correct any inaccuracies, make a case for/against certain teams, and let me know anything else that might help me make a decision.
Some of my reasons for liking or disliking a team may seem silly or stupid to you. Please don’t berate me for having those reasons. People support teams for different reasons, some of which may not be rational.
Arsenal
Pros: Like Alexis Sanchez and their new goalkeeper, David Ospina
Cons: Named after violent weapon; shirt and stadium sponsor is official airline of country with poor human rights record; current goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny made Tweet about a teammate looking like a rapist, thus perpetuating the myth that “clean cut” guys can’t be guilty of rape
Aston Villa
Pros: Americans on past and current roster; allowing Brad Guzan to develop skill and experience that will help him in international matches and continue the line of quality American goalkeepers. Developing a team of world-class outfield players takes a long time, and in the meantime we’ll continue to need good goalkeepers
Cons: Shirt sponsor is gambling company, which preys on a serious and potentially catastrophic psychological problem and may contribute to a culture of match fixing and corruption; sounds like a snooty overpriced car
Everton
Pros: Americans on past and current roster; USA World Cup performance would not have been possible if Everton hadn’t believed in Tim Howard and allowed him to develop the skill and experience needed to compete internationally; cool team nickname
Cons: Shirts, which are sold to kids, are those of alcohol company; stateside reports suggest that Tim Howard may have let the fame get to his head, like countless other famous people
Liverpool
Pros: Used to babysit for lovely family from Liverpool, whom I still keep in touch with, when the father was on a two-year project in the US, and the boy I babysat was a big Liverpool fan; impressed by Steven Gerrard’s loyalty
Cons: Use of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” seems like a misappropriation of a song originally sung to comfort a wife whose husband had just committed suicide
Manchester United
Pros: ?? Surely there are some, considering how big a following they have
Cons: Alex Ferguson, who by many accounts was a bullying asshole, is worshiped; new manager Louis van Gaal seems like an asshole too and encourages pathetic strategy of diving/flopping. (If you were wondering, the American media calls it flopping because that's the term used in basketball, so it was easier for them to use a term the viewers are already familiar with than to teach them a new term.)
Stoke City
Pros: Three Americans on current roster, more than any other team; demonstrates willingness to invest in American outfielders, thus allowing them to develop the skill and experience needed to compete internationally; pottery is a serious hobby of mine
Cons: Shirt sponsor is gambling company, which preys on a serious and potentially catastrophic psychological problem and may contribute to a culture of match fixing and corruption; attempts to get ball boys to influence outcome of game by selectively toweling balls
Tottenham
Pros: Past and current Americans on roster; allowing Brad Friedel to recover financially when he went bankrupt after spending his life savings to create a non-profit academy to teach the sport to low-income children; Benoît Assou-Ekotto is exceptionally good at
turning to the left and folding his arms. (I highly recommend reading the article. It’s HILARIOUS.)
Cons: ??
Thank you!
lol
