Print

Please post once and this message will disappear! Introduce yourself, say hello, jump into a discussion...

[feverpitch]

If so, where?

I am getting fidgety without my dose of soccer. Normally, I like following the Preimera Liga, Serie A, English Premiership in that order, but the Champions League is a bare must. I normally support Barca and Ajax but have in the past supported AC Milan, Real Madrid, Dinamo Kiev, Liverpool, Man U, Galtasaray, Fiorentina, FC Kobenhavn, Chelsea [during the days of Gianfranco Zola, ie, before it became Chelski] etc in spurts. At home, I am a die hard Mohun Bagan supporter [even though they are not doing too well these days].

Internationally [and this is important this year because of the WC], I am a Brazil diehard, but I have also supported Holland, Argentina and on occassions the ex-Yugoslav republics [Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia etc], Romania, Denmark, France, Portugal, and some African countries in some intl championships. Basically, I like attacking football, so anyone who plays all out gets my support.

[inoc]

feverpitch
regularly watch it on sky, itv here in the uk all matches are usually live somewhere or the other.
its chelski now as you call it but good games all over.
i am also a mohunbagan fan but unlike most not a brazilian lately.

[Blwe_torch]

My favorite team has been France since the days of Platini.
As far as our home-grown teams are concerned..well...I am an East Bengal supporter.
I also like the JCT Mills of Punjab( of late they are a bit down).
Klinsmann/ Mathaeus's Germany also inspired me...particularly when they won the World Cup in 1990...and later on the European Cup.

[dhruvdeepak]

my favs are Spain, Germany, and Liverpool.

[justforkix]

My favorite teams are Spain and Barca....

I get to watch here in US on fox sorts world or espn whenever they show soccer.  I used to watch on SS, but I think they have stopped it for a while no.

[Blwe_torch]

Hope to get some old video clips here...or atleast the links.

[toney]

I used to watch it on ss
Though soccer is not as popular in India, all the CL matches were shown live. And timings were not bad, 12midnight. In the US, watching CL matches is an expensive affair and timing is not great either.
 My fav club teams: Barcelona, Man Utd (not a huge fan nowadays)
 Country: Brazil, Brazil and more Brazil.
I still remember how heartbroken I was when Brazil went out of the WC 1986 and Olympics, 88. Olympics 88 was Romario's WC and to think the Russians could win that one
I do love the Arg Eng matches and usually feel sorry for the loser but nowadays, I dont feel any emotion towards English teams, football or cricket.

For me, Portugal is a favourite too, especially when they get going. Of course, that is once in a blue moon.

[feverpitch]

Incidentally, what do most of you guys feel about Ronnie Jr. [Ronaldinho Gaucho]. I certainly feel that whether Brazil win the next WC or not, he can already be put up there with the absolute best. I am never a great fan of Pele, so I will whittle down the competition to Maradona. And going by some of the latest tricks that he seems to be forever inventing, I'd put him ahead. Some feel it is still early days for making such grandoise statements, but maan, in case you haven't seen him play recently, just do a video.google on him and watch some of his pirouttes, flip-flaps, nutmegs, passes, freekicks, juggling... etc. I could never believe that anyone could do ALL THAT, far less at such break neck speed on the field, and unlike that stupid cow Denilson, all his 'acts' seem to be solely directed at scoring a goal... and then pleasing the gallery...

In one word, this guy is not human... and to think he was considered to be unfit to be a 'galactico' by Vicente Perez. I say, good for Ronnie, good for Barcelona, and Real can go suck their wizened thumbs...

[kban1]

feverpitch:

A little shocked that you do not like Pele ? I am sure you have your reasons but would love to pick your brain

[feverpitch]

Well, Pele is great no doubt, and could be a delight to watch too. And was a big match player as well. But I still do think he is a bit too overhyped. I mean, there is this sense of a canon, which you will notice in other fields as well [like films, where Citizen Kane has been consistently voted the best film ever in practically every poll conducted by all the big film magazines], where one is supposed to romantically accept everything from olden days as better.

And yet, from what little I have seen of him on video, he seemed to me to be reluctant to move back and defend quite often [he of course always played in super teams]. Also, simply in terms of wizardy, some of the things Ronnie can do -- I have never seen anyone do -- ever. Even Maradona could do some tricks that I have never seen Pele do. Both [DM and RG] of course are players who play(ed) from well below; ie, they play(ed) at either the 'hole', or as central schemers who would also score profusely. To his credit, Pele was an astounding finisher, and also an unselfish passer.

As far as freekicks go, all three are up there with the very best. Ronnie probably has more accuracy, but Pele and Maradona could swerve the ball more viciously from a short distance; all three can/could make it dip alarmingly.

However, I guess my real reason for not being too enamored by Pele is because of his regular and extremely tiring pronouncements before each world cup about possible winners [which are invariably wrong], and his relentless self promotion since retirement. And all this is keeping in mind Pele's recent attempt as the Sports minister, to reform the domestic soccer scene in Brazil, where he is said to be doing some seriously good work.

Ultimately, it is all very subjective, since I also remember not being particularly fond of Maradona at his peak; but slowly getting round to appreciating his unique talents and ultimately becoming a diehard fan after his retirement. Quite likely, it is the underdog complex at work. All I can say is that in his fallibility, his proclivity for relentless mischief, Maradona appears to be more human, and more personable, and therefore I choose him over Pele. Of course he also won a WC and put Napoli on the map almost single handedly.

But all that was before Ronnie. This guy always carries a wide grin on his face, does things no one could imagine doing, and is utterly unselfish on the field. My man!