I thoroughly dislike the scousers and QPR are becoming a bit irritating... But the Spuds and Arsenal get to me a lot. They are real London derbies and due to all three clubs being quite close in where we all finish, the derbies are becoming even more important.
To avoid getting petrol bombed on the M62 on the way to the ground. For my money it's: Biggest - Utd vs Liverpool for the size of the clubs and the history of the rivalry, the global TV audience etc. Apparently it gets a bigger TV audience than El Classico. Tho' we really need Liverpool to stop being so **** to make it more relevant to the actual football. Fiercest - Newcastle vs Sunderland. It would be Utd vs Leeds, but that's much more fierce from a Leeds point of view. Utd fans don't really care about Leeds that much any more now they've dropped to wherever they are now.
Any major cup game, and anything against Liverpool (mainly because of a family divide). I love the derbies but for me they aren't as major.
A tought call really because they are all big games with genuine dislike and hatred. In terms of pride and passion and utter importance to your locals then I would say Liverpool - Everton. You do not want to be around when you get beat and you do not hear it down. Losing is unthinkable - hence why they aren't usually great games and are violent as both teams are desperate not to lose. You have to remember that both teams have been successfull for long/decent period of times against each other which is why I put it just ahead of Manchester Derby where one team has been better for pretty much all of history. In terms of nasty pure hatred games then it has to be United v Leeds, West Ham v Millwall and Swansea vs Cardif. Traditional rivarly Liverpool v United. Rivarly and best games has to be Spurs v Arsenal. You havent mentioned non local rivalries as I would put Liverpool v Chelsea right up there, and United v Arsenal. Good thread btw.
Our owners recently said they chose Liverpool partly because they were so shocked at the viewing figures we get each week. 500m watch us play each other twice a year - that's crazy.
Chelsea have some good fans, but many just remind me of the jumped up sons of rich daddies, driving around in their Honda DBIs (Daddy bought it.) Wish that Roman would take his cash away for five minutes so reality could bite and they would realise just how fragile their fortunes are. But as i say there are some good fans too.......
I honestly don't mean any offence when I say this, but it's quite hypocritical of Liverpool fans to say that 'we give it out but can't take it'.
Every club has them but Liverpool and United farmoreso. How many Scouse Chelsea fans would you see? How many London based Liverpool fans would you see? Theres your answer. I have no problem with post-Roman fans. After all why shouldn't a fan support a team local to him or the team his Dad/Mum supported? Fact is todays new fan is tomorrows Season Ticket Holder. I admire fans who travel far to watch their clubs play or have a connection with the club. They are true fans but the Liverpool/United type who couldn't name you a player give that type of fan a bad name
Arsenal stopped being a rival to United the moment they lost 8-2 to them and Fergie said he wanted his team to stop running up the score
Perhaps! Probably stems from the fact we've taken a lot of **** on and off the pitch over the last few years.
I think it's fair to say Chelsea fans take a lot of **** as well mate. The clubs generally hated by everything.
But how many of those do you genuinly know though? I don't know any. I do notice when Facebook pictures/stories come through from official LFC and on Twitter that a lot of our foreign fans from the likes of China, India and various Asian countries talk a lot of bollocks showing a lack of knowledge and respect to certain players/staff. They know the players though. Just don't inderstand their importance - Reina should of been sold according to them! Our fans in UK are pretty clued up regarding the club from what i've found. Plenty of young Chelsea fans who i'm not sure know to much - and the pervy woman who like Lampard!
Chelsea does take stick that is true - I think a lot genuinly hate us after the Suarez affair though, and of course because people like seeing big institutions having a serious wobble or two. When we almost went bust we were getting digs even from teams as far down as League 2 who have no previous connection with us - again kick people when they're down. It doesn't bother me too much but it also explain why we can be quite bitter and defensive over most things!
