Adopt a foreign club.

[Dougal]

I have to admit my sole focus rests on the Premiership and Spurs. Since Setanta wrapped up the Scottish coverage it's been harder to keep track of my second club, Celtic. I always seem to have something else to do when La Liga games are on and I'm not quite sure who has the Italian football now, is it still five? Basically my European football knowledge is very very weak, unlike a lot of people here who seem to be able to tell you what the Foggia reserve goalkeeper had for breakfast this morning and where the holding midfielder of Athletico Madrid gets his tyres checked along with where he could get a better deal. It could be a lot to do with a certain football management game but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, coverage being what it is. But next season all this will change, very slightly.

I'm adopting a club in a foreign league and keeping tabs on them during the season, hopefully learning a bit more about them and the league they're in. I haven't decided on a club as of yet but the idea came from Jol taking the Hamburg hotseat so they are favourites at the moment. I also have a soft spot for the aforementioned Italian club after getting hooked on Championship Manager Italia 10+ years ago.

So, who has a foreign team that they keep track of? Why that team? Does anyone get to many games in Europe? Who should I follow next season?

Over to you...

 

[TheChosenOne]

I look for the Waterford results sometimes, dunno why 'cos they are pretty crap.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I watch as much football european, south american or whatever is on. I adopt foreign teams due to players I liked in the past eg

AC Milan - since the channel 4 days when they had Gullit, Riijkaard, Van Basten

Barca - Since Romario and Stoichkov

Boca - Well just because I like there stadium lol and because of Riquelme

I find Argentine and Brazilian football quite good but they just come on at strange times so I tape them on Sky Plus.

Decent programmes to watch would be Eurogoals or Goalissimo which shows on Ch 4 on Saturday mornings I think, they give a general roundup of what is happening in Europe and the Americas.

 

[Dougal]

I look for the Waterford results sometimes, dunno why 'cos they are pretty crap.

I'm the same with Sligo

 

[Zuben]

My adopted foreign team is Fenerbache, after I went to watch them in Istanbul and year or so ago.

The atmosphere was amazing, the team plays decent football and so I thought they would make a decent foreign side to support. Check em out son!

 

[TheBlueRooster]

For some strange reason mines been Real Madrid. When I was a kid we had a book at home called "The Real Madrid book of football". It was a small paperback and had a picture of referee Arthur Ellis on the back at the Battle of Berne. I don't really support them like Spurs but they play in white and I followed them a bit more when Beckham was there.

 

[Duzza]

go for Sporting, great football great stadium great city.. and you'll be able to tell everyone about the next amazing portuguese winger to come through the academy before anyone else..

 

[haxman]

I'm the same with Sligo

I've given up checking the Monaghan Utd results cause every game it seems to be another +1 in the loss column of the league table. :roll:

Scotland = Celtic - 'Mon the hoops!

Italy = Milan - for the same reason DEFchenkOE said

Spain = Valencia - because of what they achieved in La Liga and in Europe a few years ago despite Barca being strong and the Galactico era at Madrid. Pablo Aimar was at the top of his game back then. :bowdown:

Those would be my other teams.

 

[Netty]

I don't exactly follow them but whenever I'm in Spain (couple of times a year) & they're playing, we go watch them. Their stadium is right by my in-laws apartment. They're called Alone De Guardamar, they're in the Tercera Division (group 6), although they are bottom! I might start taking a bit more interest this year though, just for something to do! Take a look at their state of the art stadium: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HNtOdnrJQaM !! The fans are nutters, think I've seen about 3 pitch invasions in the 7 or 8 games I've been to!

 

[jimbo]

Does Torquay count as abroad?

 

[Reece]

Hamburg! lol

 

[Dougal]

Does Torquay count as abroad?

Yes.

But it doesn't count as a football club.

 

[Marty]

So, who has a foreign team that they keep track of? Why that team? Does anyone get to many games in Europe? Who should I follow next season?

As some of you would already know...

Who? SK Brann from Bergen, Norway. Please never, ever call them Brann Bergen like so many English people do when they crop up in Europe as I die a little inside every time I hear it. It's just Brann.

Why? Because I lived in Bergen for 12 years and now spend every single holiday there now I'm back in England. Plus the Norwegian league is a summer league so that means I have football all year round

Get to many games? Used to see them regularly when I lived there, and try to catch as many as I can when I go back, basically every home game that's on when I'm not working.

You should follow Brann because they will be playing in the Champions League qualifying stages this year having won the Norwegian League last season. They got absolutely thumped by Everton in the UEFA Cup this season (8-1 on agg.) which I'm sure some people will remember.
They have players such as Eirik Bakke, ex Leeds, Azar Karadas, ex Pompey and Robbie Winters, a Scot who is most famous in this country for having to go in goal during a Scottish Cup final when he played for Aberdeen because their goalie got injured and they didn't have a sub goalie to put on, despite being a tiny striker.
Plus of course it gives you exciting (though not always high quality) football all year round!
My dad compares supporting Brann to supporting Spurs. Always exciting and intense, but hardly ever fun.

 

[miles_64]

My adopted foreign team is Shinnik Yaroslavl', last season's Russian 1st Div Champions! I stayed in Yaroslavl' for 8 months and I honestly believe my university team could thump them. The games only cost a quid to go to and the one against Spartak Moscow was the scariest I have ever been to. 3000 away fans, 3000 police/army!

 

[Sally_G]

Sorry BMJ, but the coolest team in Germany are Hamburg's rivals St Pauli. OK they're a bit shit, but they're very left wing, have an openly gay President, and from the club shop you can get a club toaster that burns a skull and crossbones into your slice of bread...

 

[HuggyBear]

I support the swedish tanning team.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

I'm trying to show an interest in Melbourne Victory (Aussie football really isn't that shit. Then again I did use to follow Brighton and Hove Albion each week). Seeing as I'll be living there for the rest of my life (unless Mrs Oddie catches me with the ladyboys again ) that's probably where i'll be watching most of my live footy in future.

 

[Fordy]

I watch as much football european, south american or whatever is on. I adopt foreign teams due to players I liked in the past eg

AC Milan - since the channel 4 days when they had Gullit, Riijkaard, Van Basten

Barca - Since Romario and Stoichkov

Boca - Well just because I like there stadium lol and because of Riquelme

I find Argentine and Brazilian football quite good but they just come on at strange times so I tape them on Sky Plus.

Decent programmes to watch would be Eurogoals or Goalissimo which shows on Ch 4 on Saturday mornings I think, they give a general roundup of what is happening in Europe and the Americas.

pretty much like for like!

 

[Kushal]

Arsenal anyone? :wink:

Seriously, my foreign team has always been Marseille - ever since the glorious days of Papin and Tapie.

 

[HuggyBear]

Arsenal anyone? :wink:

Seriously, my foreign team has always been Marseille - ever since the glorious days of Papin and Tapie.

I started watching them when we sold Waddle and have done for a while except now Ligue 1 makes me want to skewer my eyeballs