re: New Soccer Fan - HELP!

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I have always wondered how teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid fall into soccer on the European level. I always hear people in pissing matches (that I don't understand) about what is the best league in the world. Before I started watching in February, I thought all of Europe played each other.

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The only time all of Europe plays each other is in various tournaments and/or friendlies. The most prestigious tournament in Europe (the world, IMO) is the UEFA Champions League. ( READ THIS)

Currently we are in the semi-finals of the Champions League which includes Chelsea (England), Real Madrid (Spain), Atletico Madrid (Spain), and Bayern Munich (Germany).

What happens in the course of a season is every team plays in their own league (usually within their countries' borders; the EPL has Welsh teams). For example, in the EPL you play every other team twice--- once home, once away. That totals 38 games in the English league season.

Each team also usually competes in various other regional and/or continental tournaments. All of the countries have some form of these tournaments (usually multiple types). It's possible and usually happens that the big clubs in Europe will play 50+ games from around August to May.

Hope that clears that up a bit.

***Barcelona and Real are intense rivals in Spain, they are 2 of the best clubs in the world. Their history is steeped in political and regional tension and it's not truly possible to be a fan of both.

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DByrd2

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he's a biting racist

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Yeah don't follow Liverpool. You don't want to be associated with a player like that. Morality and gentlemanliness are the #1 most important things in competitive sport. I'd go with Everton if I were you.

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From what I can tell you don't seem nearly douchey enough to pick Liverpool but if you like players like Suarez we don't want you at Chelsea.

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Yeah so he should like dudes like John Terry.

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Yeah so he should like dudes like John Terry.

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I had NO CLUE they were huge rivals. Puts me in a pickle, Ron Burgundy style.

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Well really, the intensity of that rivalry only goes one way. Liverpool's greatest rival is Manchester United. United/Liverpool is considered the greatest rivalry in England, and one of the greatest in the world. The derby with Everton falls much further behind that. There isn't as much unbridled pure hatred between the two Merseyside clubs as there is in the Northwest Derby, although that is starting to change.

Thats how it is with the fans at least - Everton/Pool has the most red cards amongst any derby match in English history. So on the field its always blood and bruises.

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it seems like y'all have your shite together and aren't as treacherous, by any measure, as the OT/Politards.

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We're a pretty welcoming bunch and we're happy to help explain anything you don't understand about the game. Literally the complete opposite of the OT/Poli self-indulgence shite show.

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So it is about like (forgive me in advance, don't want this argument started) Arkansas and LSU? LSU has bigger fish to fry, and the biggest fish Arky wants to fry is LSU.

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If you want the college comparison I'd say its more like LSU/Ole Miss. They're our historic rival, and we don't like them, but its nothing like our hatred of a team like Bama.

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I don't mind being the fan of the team looking up. You'll never see me be trashy about it though.

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Everton and Liverpool fans go back and forth but its mostly respectful. In the states and in England. Its called the "friendly derby" and its the only rivalry game in England that doesn't segregate the fans. This is because most families in Liverpool are split down the middle: dad and daughter are blue, mom and son are red, etc. Makes for a very interesting dynamic that you don't find anywhere else.

Also, there is a city pride that takes precedence, which is unusual for a rivalry. Scousers hate Mancunians, no matter what color. So its pretty normal to hear both Liverpool and Everton supporters sing in unison about Manchester being a hell hole. This would happen especially when the two would be above both Mancunian teams in the table or when both Everton and Liverpool were playing in a Cup final (both of which used to happen quite often). A famous chant that used to be sung was "Merseyside! Merseyside! Manchester are you watching?" If you can find a video of it it will make your hair stand on end listening to an entire stadium sing in unison about teams they hate more than each other.

If you choose Everton most LFC supporters would tell you its a good choice. Much better than picking one of the plastic clubs.

(no message)

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my dad is from Liverpool and is blue with 3 of his siblings. the other 2 of his siblings are red

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Case in point. This doesn't really happen anywhere else.

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Manchester and Liverpool aren't just rivals on the pitch though both cities have been economic rivals for a while.

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Manchester Ship Canal. United's badge is basically an economic slap to the face of any Scouser.