Ok, so we've all heard the question 'if you could screw someone, anyone, for one night and no-one would ever hear or know about it, who would it be'. What if you could just change allegiance, magic wand, in the same vain. If you didn't have the curse bestowed upon you of supporting the Toon, who do you wish you were, and had been, a lifelong fan of and why? As the poser of the question 'tis only fair I answer first. I'd go with Reading. The chairman's a proper fan, really pulling out the stops to do the best for his team. He even built a freakin' stadium. As a 'lifelong' fan, I'd have endured some hilarious days in the old Division 3 and would have gone into the Premier League like a wide-eyed 17 year old strutting into a nightclub for the first time. The ground's accessible, and I've lived quite near the club for many years (good employment down here, like). Some good players have passed through the club in recent times, like Baines, Long and even good ol' Le Fondre (NUFC 1 - 2 Reading anyone?!). The situation there is stable enough and there is the room for a lot more without ever having to worry that people aren't "ambitious" enough. PS. Choosing the Toon is not an option, it's an alternative life choice! Don't get me wrong, I'd not change the Keegan/SBR years for anything. Conversation, as always, is welcome.
What a good idea for a thread. I'd probably choose Southampton. There's just something romantic about that club and they seem to be a blueprint for how football clubs should be managed.
Oxford, because then when I convinced my father to change our location for the sake of my University studies (and the secret ulterior motive of indulging my sporting passion), it might have been worthwhile And, as much as I hate the accent, the city etc, I have to say I grew up loving watching Liverpool. The Champions League and FA Cup wins were special to watch.
Whereabouts do you live Roland? I have an all Geordie family, but I grew up near a Reading. I used to frequent the old Elm Park as a teenager when they were in old div. 3 (watching the likes of Trevor Senior, Michael Gilkes, Martin Hicks and Terry Hurlock) before John Madejski saved the club from total oblivion. Local hero.
I'm going to go to the opposite end of the football pyramid and opt for Leamington FC. They only started out in 2000, having been in hibernation and groundless, and not playing any games, between 1988 and 2000. In 2000 they started again in the Midland Football Combination Division Two (Level 12 of the pyramid - step 8 of non-league). Since then they have risen virtually unnoticed to the Conference North. They have had 7 promotions in their first 13 seasons of being a competitive club and have secured a decent mid-table finish in their first season in the Conference North. They are a real community club and until very recently most of their players were just keen locals. They have now had to get a lot more professional as they have risen through the leagues, but it must have been a hell of a ride for their fans.
Been to the Heed today and saw a bunch of players that played as a team and grafted hard throughout the game, played for each other and played the way the game is supposed to be played. I'm a bit fed up of our overpaid overrated prima donnas going through the motions and not being bothered about entertaining us for our investment in them. I could be going to the Heed next season instead of SJP.
Atletico Madrid. 50 years of being a running joke to a city and country of Real supporters, now ahead of both Real and Barca, 90 minutes away from a Chamions League final, all under the guidance of a passionate young manager in charge of a squad willing to run through walls. Doesn't get any better.
Bournemouth. I have been a lot over the years. Great to see them flying of late under a great boss. My sister lived in Madrid for 3 years. I went to both Madrid clubs a few times. Both great clubs but if your a proper Madridian athletico is the only club to support. Real is more for the tourists.
Monaco. I think me and the prince would get on famously. Good food, bit of gambling, live the high life............go on then.
