How to Choose a Football Club - A Fan's perspective.

If it hurts you that every time that you don’t have a team to cheer for whereas your friend keeps putting his arm up and jumping his seat when his team blows hot and cold. Then you are the right page reading the perfect article and not wasting any bit of our precious time.

Here are a list of key attributes which will help you identify and surrender yourself to highs and lows of a soccer fan cult. The top clubs garner the craze in majority of footy fans. But before here are few rules to be followed. Identify whichever role interests you first, do not switch minds. There can be only one God, though you may favor another club in a different league so adorn to its principles. The Who’s who of football command their disciples, let go off every weekend, choose a cult and start roaring.


Warning: “Football craze is said to be the root cause of all evil.”

The Three lions and “A Big Four”.

Manchester United: Served by a legendary manager for around 20 years, choose this club if you want to be amongst 5 % of world’s population in cheering for them. A mesmerizing attack backed by a red hot defense. Lots of flaunting, very skillful and audacious players will melt you in their bloom day. Red –devils will be your logo and a 3 page thorough reading of its history is mandatory if you seek admission to cheer this club. A must for every Ronaldo fan. Rooney and co will be your Gods and Sir Alex Ferguson is always right. Your main rivals are Liverpool, Manchester city, Leeds united and off lately Arsenal.

Chelsea: The Blues of England are an empire built by an oil baron from Russia. The rich powerhouse club never misses the attention of any wealth seekers around the world. A staggering 85 plus games unbeaten at home with a remarkable show of consistency unmatched by its rivals. Domination and control are their forte and battles are won in the mid field. If laying siege is your priority, then you might well choose the Londoners. They rarely lose to minors and any lose is considered as being assisted by the Gods of football. Rest assured you never hang your head in shame against any of your lesser opponents.

Liverpool: A.K.A the Reds, the most successful English football club. You got to be an Anfield faithful all your life if you choose this club but we bet “You’ll Never Walk alone” and at times when the chips are down, the reds will ooze of adrenaline that will sway any football fan. If Colossus (read as Gerrard) was your favorite childhood word and “Never say Die” is your attitude, you need not read any further. Just get up and pick up a Red Liverpool jersey and start yelling. Liverpool fans are supposed to be one of the loudest. This is a pro-Spaniard team for its high content of Spanish soldiers and a Spaniard general.

Arsenal: The most youthful, dynamic and exuberance of the lot. The gunners are a hit across the globe for the beautiful game they play. A favorite of many up coming prodigies and continental talents, the gunners’ disciples rarely believe in playing for a draw and boring their fans. Unpredictable is a word sticky to the gunners and choose this club if results don’t matter much when compared with the attractive display put on by the gunners. An unconventional club in all its senses of transfers, style of play and its methods but definitely a club any football fan would secretly envy for.


The Beautiful bulls and the Ugly Matadors:

Real Madrid: The Spanish Giants are the ruling powerhouse in Europe. If power and wealth is your priority, then your needs are met at this club. Vote for your favorite player and they might buy him for you next season. The most successful European club boasts of money and talent very few clubs would have seen. All players start their careers with a dream and Real Madrid remains a dream for many till date. The Santiago Bernabau stadium is your temple; ups and downs are part of this legendary club which is voted the most successful club of 20th century by FIFA. The Los Merengues Fans known as Castilians boast the highest attendance in Europe and have paid the highest fee ever to land Zizou in their town. Its arch rivals are Barcelona and cross town team Athletico Madrid. Be prepared to be sacked.

Barcelona: If you aim to see yourself in a blue red jersey with Messi written behind, you will be identified as a Culer and a supporter of the Catalans. The club boasts of the richest talent mix from home grown academy players to South American sizzlers. One of the finest short passers in the game, the Catalans are known for terrorizing defenders across Europe. Consistency is a hallmark of their game with walk in finishes and solo runs from Messi & co being a common sight in the liga. El Clasico is an important event in your life (Barcelona Vs Real Madrid) and it can’t be any shameful if you aren’t supporting them on that important day.

A Fan’s Guidebook to easy viewing.

The following Views and recommendations are real and true. Any resemblance to living or the snoring is purely intentional and deliberated to invoke responses from the audience.

Ten things which can maximize your pleasure of watching weekend football and minimize stress.

1. Get your local timings intact, be prepared and leave early to the field. A 5 minute delay can break your heart, a Gerrard screamer or an early red card can’t be missed. Check the timings more than once and make sure the field remote control will not be occupied.

2. Nothing adds to the joy of being prepared well for a match. Invite friends to come over, ask them to get some cans, munchies and your favorite snack. Never run out of stock in-between, chewing nails isn’t good for health. Have keen attention and a loud support scream for over 2 hours. Make a chorus and let the others follow suit.

3. Invite “fans and fans” only. Red card at Wall Street is irrelevant. AIG is not any popular than the Red Devils. Also chalk out a strategy about a venue. Your home, his bed room or the local sports bar. With multiple options you can always make a smooth transition in case of pre-occupied field. In case of friend’s house, check for presence of nerds or exam frenzy.

4. Fans should be asked to choose their support and it would be a pleasure if they land up in their home jerseys. End of the day, loyalty and support goes a long way in making your teams win. Also make sure about the loyalties of any third team supporter. He might be secretly rebelling both of you.

5. Only players have intervals, fans don’t. So don’t breakdown or stop your cheering. You might not be aiding your teams cause. All phone calls can be missed and all missed calls can be answered later. Only nature calls are allowed.

6. Speak diligently and use the right terminologies. A miss-pass is different from a good interception. Appreciate the differences and spread your knowledge. Give Gyaan at interval and discuss half time tactics. Wenger needs your input.

7. Declare pre match warnings and issue preventive advice in case of feminine fans turning up at the venue. Ballack is a player and not a model. Ronaldo has a girl friend.

8. In case of high pressure situations and hyper sensitive fans, make sure there is sufficient space around them. Elbow tackles and knee jerks are too painful to take. Edge of the seat is too risky. First aid kit can be a good addition.

9. Replace all fragile and valuable decoratives around to a safer place. A harsh tackle or a slip is definitely around the corner.

10. Frequently engage in reading up pre match reviews and post match analysis from Goal.com. You can claim your podium next to Steve Mcmahon. Passionate fans never miss out on all the pre match hype and fuse. Simulation managers are the best way to let the world know. Sometimes we do plan better than Rafa’s formation.

Raiders of the New Ark - The English Invasion

The English fanfare continues aloud in Europe. The feelings that many amongst us had about the English domination in Europe seems to take life slowly but surely. On last night’s evidence from two English teams who played with stark contrast, the Red Devils and the Gunners drubbed their opponents 3-0 and 4 -0 respectively. First, the traveling reds at Denmark stamped their authority on the Danish side and Sir Alex accepted to have learned his lessons a few years ago. He put forth a strong side and gave the samba lad Rafael his 1st UEFA CL appearance in place of the old warrior Neville. United pressed on the gas from the start and had to wait sometime before Rooney coolly netted the first from a fine pass from the new “central midfielder” Ryan Giggs. The reds then went on to dominate possession, shots and almost everything that could be recorded as a stat till it appeared like a pre-season conditioning game. The Danes had their moments but couldn’t make it count as likes of Ferdinand and Vidic were ready to take it All day long. The feeling had set in both the dug outs and at times the ball rolled only on one side. The one way traffic soon paved way for the second as Olfers’s intended back pass sat up and only to be volleyed beautifully at the back of the net by the Berbatov for his 1st ever united goal. The brace soon followed when the Bulgarian smashed his second with exquisite technique worth 30 million from a deflected cross off Ronaldo. The Danes were exposed in defensive shortcomings and goal keeper was left helpless in most situations. Nani’s part of the game was reminiscent of some school boy stuff when his crosses and corners failed to clear the player at the near post. The shot meter kept rolling over as the teams started tiring in a monotonous game. Ronaldo had all the time and chances to make up for his missing goals from the previous games until the Danish bodies got in front of him. Rafael’s good outing was marked by his dazzling dribbling skills, his occasional solo runs and one touch play. A comprehensive win marked by an opening brace for Berbatov. Sir Alex will not have any complaints except for Scholes’s injury scare.

The Much criticized Gunners over their week end performance put up another display of a perfect team game where everybody had a memorable outing. The emirates stadium saw a fine display of free flowing football from both the sides when the Porto side afforded to attack rather than the usual strategy of the visiting teams to sit back and defend deep. The game was played unusually at the start when Arsenal played slowly and uncharacteristic of them. The home team then drew first blood when the hovering Dutchman Van persie toe-poked the ball ahead of the defender to take a 1-0 lead. Adebayor soon had a free header when Porto forgot the basics of man marking in set pieces. RVP then added a third with a cut back and a poke at the bottom left corner. Adebayor stepped in coolly to take the 4th of a penalty when Bendtner was fouled inside with a careless push. RVP and Adebayor scored braces but the highlight of the match was Walcott’s lightning runs. He deceived almost anybody with his pace and drew comparisons with former talisman Henry yet again. He could have had his name in the score sheet had he been a little better in reacting to a cut back. Nasri put in a good show despite him coming back from an injury and Fabregas was his usual with threading passes and holding possession until the re-enforcements came from. Vela came on for Theo and he seems to be knocking the door for a starting line up very soon. Sagna and Clichy had similar dashes in the flanks and put up a decent performance. When the prediction of a cricket score line over the weekend got banished by Hull, it might have once again cropped up with this comfortable win. Wenger’s men played it beautifully against the former champions of UEFA CL. As they march on, the days are not far ahead when at least half their team enter the score sheet and cricket scores are a reality.