Adopting a Team in the English Premiership?

[Yachtzee]

I've decided to adopt a team in the English Premier League.

Okay, so the World Cup will be over soon and yet I want more. I got my first taste of professional soccer with the MISL back in the '80s (Cleveland Force all the way) and really got into it when I lived in Salzburg, Austria, when Salzburg made the Champions League. I've passively followed the MLS since its inception, but it's been difficult since Crew games don't seem to make it on TV/Radio in Cleveland and it's hard to keep track of when ABC or ESPN might be showing the random game. In any case, I'd really like to follow some top flight association football.

Since I'll never be able to follow Salzburg's games on TV or Radio, I figure my best bet is to pick a team in the EPL to follow. They get on TV at least once in a while, right? Plus, the EPL is supposed to be one of the best.

So here are my questions?

Which team would be a good one to adopt and why?
What is the best way to actually follow the games over here, other than Fox Soccer Net (I don't want to have to pay for the extra package on DirectTV)?

[RawOwl UK]

Not Sheffield United !!!!!!!!!!

How about a Cincinnati Reds of the Prem ? maybe Blackburn Rovers perhaps.

Also follow Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship

[Red Heeler]

If you have DirecTv, both Fox Soccer (613) and Gol TV (614) have games from EPL, Germany, Spain, France, and Italy as well as South American teams. I personally like the Spanish league the best of the major leagues. Brazil is the best for the minor leagues. Both play a more free flowing style than the EPL or Germany.

Manchester United is sort of the Yankees of the EPL, but they are currently in the midst of a changing of the guard as the core of the team got old. Arsenal is fun to watch. They play a more aggresive offensive game than most other EPL teams. Chelsea has spent a boatload of money to buy the EPL title the last two years. Liverpool has a great history.

[MWM]

I sort of adopted LIverpool a few years back because I'm a big Michael Owen fan. He's no longer there, but I still follow them somewhat.

[Nugget]

Well Liverpool are officially known as the REDS, (not to be confused with ManU who are the red devils).

Also you have a teams which plays some pretty good football, some big names but not overly endowed with money. You have a broad cross section of footballing skills and a number of footballing regions represented.

[WMR]

Chelsea is fun to watch b/c they have true world-class players at every position. They're the Yankees of the EPL.

Liverpool has some good stars, and Gerrard is unbelievable when he dons the Liverpool jersey.

If you want to root for an underdog with some serious American representation, how about adopting Reading? Bobby Convey was voted by his teammates as their MVP as he spearheaded their campaign to win the Coca-Cola Championship and win promotion into the Premier League. This is the team I'll be rooting for. I've really never "rooted" for a team in a professional soccer league, I just appreciate the great performances and certain players that I like. Reading's GK is Marcus Hahneman, back-up US WC goalie.

Winning promotion and having a Yank voted as MVP by his teammates is such a cool story. I hope they have lots of successes next season.

You really need Fox Soccer Channel, if you don't already have it. They show an ungodly amount of EPL matches.

Go Reading! Can't wait till they upset Chelsea next season.

[WMR]

Well Liverpool are officially known as the REDS, (not to be confused with ManU who are the red devils).

Also you have a teams which plays some pretty good football, some big names but not overly endowed with money. You have a broad cross section of footballing skills and a number of footballing regions represented.

Plus they've got that pretty-boy Aussie. lmao.

[Yachtzee]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I would like to have Fox Soccer Channel, and would probably have it if not for having Direct TV. Before I got satellite, Fox Sports World (now Fox Soccer Channel) was part of the basic digital package. Now that I have DirectTV, it appears you have to buy the package that gives you all the channels ($99 a month) to get Fox Soccer Channel. As much as I would like it, I can't justify adding $45 to my montly bill for one channel. Maybe I can find a bar in Akron that shows the matches.

Going back to Cable is not under consideration. I loathe Time Warner and like DirectTV too much. Besides, after I'm done with law school, I have notions of getting Sunday ticket.

[WMR]

Have you checked with DirecTV on that, Yachtzee? I thought they offered an a la carte package giving you FSC (among others) for something like 10 bucks.

[captainmorgan07]

i'd go with Manchester United but reading and convey is inticing

[Yachtzee]

Have you checked with DirecTV on that, Yachtzee? I thought they offered an a la carte package giving you FSC (among others) for something like 10 bucks.

I just checked and I did see that they offer the regional sports package (w/ Fox Soccer Channel included) for $12 a month. I also saw they offer Setanta Sports for $12 a month as well. Does anyone have this? How does it compare?

http://www.setanta.com/na

In any case, I don't think I'm getting $12 a month by my wife until after I get done with law school.

Oh for the days when ESPN used to show English First Division as filler programming. I wish they would get that back and dump the World Series of Poker.

[WMR]

Isn't Setanta a spanish language channel? I may be wrong, but I THINK they show lots more Brazilian and Argentine league matches. Maybe Mexican league stuff too?

[Yachtzee]

Isn't Setanta a spanish language channel? I may be wrong, but I THINK they show lots more Brazilian and Argentine league matches. Maybe Mexican league stuff too?

From what I can tell from the website, Setanta is mostly European sports: Football, Rugby, Gaelic Sports, etc.

[Javy Pornstache]

Just to add my two cents, I always followed the Blackburn Rovers as I had a buddy from Lancashire and I got into them through him - they do seem to be similar to the Reds in stature as mentioned by RawOwl.

[reds1869]

Liverpool and Arsenal would both be good choices if you want quality sides that are on American TV frequently. Liverpool have been my team of choice in the Prem for a long time but Thierry Henry and company made me fall in love with Arsenal. I wish I could make you an Ipswich Town fan but in truth would not wish that on another man.

Stay away from Chelski and ManUre at all costs. Sorry, couldn't resist the childish jabs.