It certainly can't hurt!
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At West Ham I'm pretty sure our business is all done save for a few players we will be selling off.
With a new manager and 7 new players, I'm quite looking forward to the new season!
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The 2017-2018 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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With a new manager and 7 new players, I'm quite looking forward to the new season!
Well there was always the year we signed two young Argentinas as the window closed.
But I'm pretty sure our chairman's wallet is shut now!
Haha, but at least you know they are trying to get better. I hate when clubs don’t do anything after a year that wasn’t the most successful. I am going to be very upset with Madrid if the sale of Ronaldo is all we do. I know we had a few other small transfers, but after selling Ronaldo, they have to make a big signing. There are just too many goals lost that this current roster can’t make up.
Funny. I follow a small select group of clubs that are my "favorite teams", and then there are other clubs that I like to see do well.
I bet there are several folks on here who do the same.
With the advent of the FiFA games it's just going, and IMHO already has, to become more common.
In case you want to get me something for my birthday:
Sheffield Wednesday
Dumbarton FC
Columbus Crew SC
USMNT
I second that! I have several myself.
My team would be of course
Real Madrid
I follow and wish these clubs well:
Tottenham
Man City
Everton
Atlanta United
USMN
Spain
England
France
Belgium
Brazil
My father had teams he supported in every major league he watched on TV; that is, one team, he admired and supported in the leagues of other countries.
To make matters more exciting and interesting (and add further exquisite torture to his existence) he also used to choose (or stumble over, or somehow select) a team he hated per league - a team that he passionately wanted every other team to beat; otherwise, the intensity of the emotional engagement wasn't as richly satisfying as it might otherwise have been.
Funny I have one club I like to see do well, and a long list I love to see struggle! 
Funny I have one club I like to see do well, and a long list I love to see struggle!
Whereas I sometimes have managers and/or players that I want to see struggle.
On the subject, or topic, of Mbappé (and indeed Pogba) performing well when on international duty representing their country on the world stage, and - perhaps - being somewhat less stellar at club level, has anyone thought to question the role (or influence) of the respective managers of both club and country when seeking to explore this matter further?
While I cannot speak with any confidence or knowledge about Monaco, I do know that Pogba has been a revelation at this World Cup, and that, as a player, he is diminished and a lesser force when playing for Manchester United under Mourinho. And this I lay squarely at the feet of Mourinho, who seems to reduce, shrivel and diminish some of his great players, rather allow them to grow, develop or build their confidence.
Funny I have one club I like to see do well, and a long list I love to see struggle!
I won’t speak for all Americans, but growing up we didn’t have a club team to cheer for. I think that is where my love and interest of several teams come from. I have no loyalties to one club because of locations. It was a player or a brand of football that has brought me to a club.
I think you are on to something with this, but also don’t you think playing for country just brings something out of a player? The pride they play for?
I recall a friend from my youth who grew up a West Ham supporter. He then switched to Ipswich then finally Chelsea (well I've not seen him in decades so who knows).
When I mean switched I don't mean liked assell. I mean totally anti his former team etc.
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Depends on the player.
Some have it for their club too. But I feel there are less players like that than their used to be.
It’s crazy right? To completely switch teams and hate the one you previously loved. I will say, Ronaldo brought me to Madrid, but once I was there, he didn’t keep me a Madrid fan. I fell in love with the culture, the white kits, the team, just all of it. Now that he is gone, I haven’t lost my love for Madrid at all. Do I wish he still was a part of Madrid, absolutely. I am a loyal fan though. I don’t turn my back on a club. I will be a Madrid fan for life.
I say all that to say I get a lot of hate for it. I am compared to Europeans that love the Yankees because they are the most successful baseball franchise. I get the comparison, but that never had anything to do with my love of Madrid. It’s more than winning and losing for me. It’s all of it! I would encourage everyone to read the book The Real Madrid Way. It’s a great book about what the club is really about.
That’s very true. Do you think Pogba doesn’t have passion for Man U, or is it Mourinho that is keeping him from being successful? He has the skills, we saw them all in the World Cup.
yup.
And in the UK your club team might quite literally play a block or two away from your home.
And then around the corner from that there may b another club team.
Look up Dundee Fc and Dundee United FC... still blows my mind.
I Chose Dumbarton one season when they were fighting for promotion based on their badge!!
It’s hard because growing up in the US and liking football, what other options do you have then to choose a European team? What was the easiest one to get access too? Man U or Real Madrid. Man U more so than Real Madrid. Oh how I wish I had a local team growing up. Now I am spoiled by European football, I can’t really watch MLS.
Look up Dundee Fc and Dundee United FC... still blows my mind.
I Chose Dumbarton one season when they were fighting for promotion based on their badge!!
Haha that’s the way people pick NCAA basketball brackets. The team logo and colors.
Yes, I do.
As we saw in this World Cup, several were indeed motivated by passion and pride in country: For example, I remember the white cloud of chemical pain-killer hovering over Mario Mandzukic's leg as he was treated behind the goal, shortly after his knee had collided with Pickford's studs - an injury that would normally have led to his being ferried off the field on a stretcher - he could hardly move when they treated him - yet, passion and willpower kept him going sufficiently long to allow him to score shortly after that against England.
There could be some truth to that; jaded palates, spoiled, wealthy and entitled young men, but - especially for players from the smaller countries (Belgium, and Croatia especially, but also France and England, and indeed Russia) pride and passion did play a role in how well they performed during the World Cup.
I blame Mourinho.
Compare him to Guardiola - players thrive and grow and find themselves confident and positive under his tutelage - whereas they are diminished and shrivelled and lesser players and human beings under Mourinho.
Candidly, this is not just confined to Pogba, who has never delivered (nor been allowed to deliver, and has had his confidence eroded) under Mourinho. Fellaini - and I don't even like the guy - was superb at the World Cup and was an absolute revelation when playing in Belgium's colours.
Could not agree more!
I blame Mourinho as well. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t the only one. I hated him from his days a Madrid. Look at all the talent he wasted there. Ozil, Di Maria, and list could go on. I have no use for him. Don’t forget Martial and Rashford. He hasn’t helped them either.
We all blame Mourino. He's ruining Pogba, Rashford and a few others. Too many sideways and backward balls!
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I support West Ham as my god father used to take me as a boy. They were our local top flight (well often second flight back then!) team. But still a good hour and a half from home.
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Your joking right? Most Man Utd fans have never been to Manchester!yup.
And in the UK your club team might quite literally play a block or two away from your home.
And then around the corner from that there may b another club team.
Look up Dundee Fc and Dundee United FC... still blows my mind.
I Chose Dumbarton one season when they were fighting for promotion based on their badge!!
I support West Ham as my god father used to take me as a boy. They were our local top flight (well often second flight back then!) team. But still a good hour and a half from home.
Ha!
And how many other grounds did you go past or, were in a close proximity to, on your way to, their grounds?
As for Man U, there are a lot of them(fans) around the world that is for sure.
And I never said anybody went any place. I said they liked a lot of teams.
My oldest son is Man U because of Rooney and CR7. And a Real fan too...
My youngest is a fan of Arsenal because of FIFA. And a Dortman fan too..
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Yup. They are on the telly here more than most. And they travel here more than most as well.
I think Man U is doing a summer trip here again this season, right?
he he he You've figured out my system.
Well being a West Ham fan, I've never been accused of being a glory hunter!Ha!
And how many other grounds did you go past or, were in a close proximity to, on your way to, their grounds?
As for Man U, there are a lot of them(fans) around the world that is for sure.
And I never said anybody went any place. I said they liked a lot of teams.
My oldest son is Man U because of Rooney and CR7. And a Real fan too...
My youngest is a fan of Arsenal because of FIFA. And a Dortman fan too..
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Yup. They are on the telly here more than most. And they travel here more than most as well.
I think Man U is doing a summer trip here again this season, right?
he he he You've figured out my system.
Growing up in Essex you would mostly see West Ham or Ipswich shirts. Yes there were a few Liverpool fans as they were the top team at the time.
But nowadays you see the big four team shirts all over the country.
As I stated I was taken to West Ham from 5 or 6, so the decision was made for me.
But once you have aligned yourself with a team you stick with them through thick and thin.
Well being a West Ham fan, I've never been accused of being a glory hunter!
Growing up in Essex you would mostly see West Ham or Ipswich shirts. Yes there were a few Liverpool fans as they were the top team at the time.
But nowadays you see the big four team shirts all over the country.
As I stated I was taken to West Ham from 5 or 6, so the decision was made for me.
But once you have aligned yourself with a team you stick with them through thick and thin.
I think that one of three factors can influence this choice: Growing up near the team or in the region of the team in question, or being born into a family where a particular team was/is supported, (my father supported Manchester United - he had a thing about the Busby Babes, so one of my brothers - who was his eldest son - did so as well), or coming to soccer awareness when a team is either at the top for ages (as Liverpool were in the 80s, and Manchester United and/or Arsenal were later) or, has a bizarre once off season (Leicester).
My other brother fell in love with Sunderland as a very small boy in 1973. The fact that they have broken his heart into smithereens on a regular basis ever since did little to dampen his (increasingly frustrated and embittered) devotion, until relatively recently when - like a bad marriage - he has taken to announcing (somewhat unconvincingly) "I don't care anymore. I really don't."
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Yep another American summer tour for Man U, Man City, Real Madrid, Juve, and one other EPL team. They know where the money is don’t they?
Juve plays the MLS all star team in Atlanta this year. I thought about going, but I don’t know if any of the big players will be playing for Juve at that point. Just would like to see some live European football lol. They have figured out how to tap into the US market that is for sure. They should all be thanking FIFA quite a bit too.
Going to those games can be a crap shoot for sure. You'd be surprised who shows up too though. I think a lot of guys like to come to the US and it's a free trip. If you can go I think you should.
Yeah a lot do, but I was thinking because of the World Cup most will be on vacation. I know with Madrid anyone who was in the World Cup are off until August I think. If it were Real Madrid playing, I would be all over it lol.
I'm looking forward to the new season because there will be lots of new faces.
My predicted Top 5;
Man City
Liverpool
United
Arsenal
Spurs
Chelsea
Liverpool have spent big, they're approaching City/United territory in terms of outlay. I don't think any manager has had access to this much money since Dalglish which means Klopp no longer has an excuse. Not winning the EPL will be a disappointment. Not winning a trophy will be a disaster. They will probably be dark horses for the EPL but i just don't see anything stopping the City Juggernaut.
United still have an issue of differing philosophy between club and manager. But they have a good team.
Arsenal may disappoint but i think not having many players in the WC, and a new face/structure might prove to be an advantage.
Spurs basically supplied the personnel for England's WC campaign. Fatigue + injuries + no bodies in since the window opened + new stadium makes me think they will struggle
Chelsea are in disarray. Brought in a Manager who hasn't won anything because they're running out of managers to go through. Their 2-3 best players are on the verge of leaving. Also their best players were in the latter stages of the WC so...again fatigue.
Honorable mentions; Everton & West Ham. Who look set to improve.
Juve will probably win Serie A.
Madrid will struggle and wont be surprised if they don't win anything
Overall i'm looking forward to the outcomes given the movement of the chess pieces since last season
My predicted Top 5;
Man City
Liverpool
United
Arsenal
Spurs
Chelsea
Liverpool have spent big, they're approaching City/United territory in terms of outlay. I don't think any manager has had access to this much money since Dalglish which means Klopp no longer has an excuse. Not winning the EPL will be a disappointment. Not winning a trophy will be a disaster. They will probably be dark horses for the EPL but i just don't see anything stopping the City Juggernaut.
United still have an issue of differing philosophy between club and manager. But they have a good team.
Arsenal may disappoint but i think not having many players in the WC, and a new face/structure might prove to be an advantage.
Spurs basically supplied the personnel for England's WC campaign. Fatigue + injuries + no bodies in since the window opened + new stadium makes me think they will struggle
Chelsea are in disarray. Brought in a Manager who hasn't won anything because they're running out of managers to go through. Their 2-3 best players are on the verge of leaving. Also their best players were in the latter stages of the WC so...again fatigue.
Honorable mentions; Everton & West Ham. Who look set to improve.
Juve will probably win Serie A.
Madrid will struggle and wont be surprised if they don't win anything
Overall i'm looking forward to the outcomes given the movement of the chess pieces since last season
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