Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea or even Leyton Orient: A new fan needs a team to support

Either Spurs or West Ham. Why? Well, you live in London so it makes sense to support a London team and you'll never be taken seriously if you opt for the easy decision to support Chelsea or Arsenal. You'll be just another soulless, johnny come lately glory hunter. Fulham, Charlton and all the rest are just too small ever to be anything other than also rans. Which leaves only Spurs and West Ham. Both clubs have a big enough fan base and potential to entertain the possibility that they will eventually challenge for major honours on a consistent basis. But both are some way off that at the moment - so you could never be accused of glory hunting and, if success does follow, you will have the satisfaction of having accompanied the club on that journey. Both clubs are equally capable of the sublime and the ridiculous so, at the very least, you will never be bored. And both clubs have a deeply engrained philosphy - if not always realised - of playing exciting, passing football. I'm a Spurs fan, so I'd tell you to g

I'm a Spurs fan so I'd tell you to go for Spurs (and Muswell Hill is closer to Spurs than it is to West Ham). But either would be a good choice.

all the other gypsies do. And if they don't win anything you can support Man Utd, thats what the rest of the glory hunters do

Be true to your Israeli-Jewish roots and root for the Blues. Abramowich, Grant, Ben Chayim (and previously Ben Sahar). Chelsea have also been active politically in trying to combat antisemitism, which is once again flaring up on the terraces of the Premier League. Spurs, the yids, are for the older generation. By the way, once supporting Chelsea you'll be following a lot of tournaments, with a chance of a happy outcome in all of them. At least there'll be that chance... If you don't go for Chelsea, then at least do me a favor and don't start supporting Man U. (Anti-Semites shall not be bothered commenting on this note)

Dude, take no notice of our poor relatives down at the Lane, they'd have you eat your own grandmother rather than support Arsenal or Chelsea. They are lowly spuds & every so often they get ideas above their station but it's temporary & they'll quieten down soon. As an Arsenal fan, obviously I'm going to recommend them. They play the best football in the EPL and have a nice red kit :-) Plus, come the end of the season, they'll be in the top 4 with a trophy or two to boot, unlike the lepers of white hart lane who will finish probably on their 19th manager on the season (with as many points on the board).

arsenal are a south london club, so presumably they are out of the question. would never recommend anyone suppport chelsea.

If you're going to live in london it has to arsenal, just look at the stunning flowing football that wenger produces time and time again! Hoever if you dont want to seem lik a glory supporter go for west ham! they always give it a fair go and are enjoyable to watch! Wouldn't even contemplate spurs...never in a million years

Ze'ev, if you've had the stomach to read some these comments, you've probably already eliminated Tottenham and West Ham based on the typically idiotic and aggressive attitudes of their fans. (No really, they are usually that moronic.) Why don't you try to see a few games - you'll get a welcome at most grounds, if you can get a ticket - then you can decide where you feel most at home. Good luck.

[quote]Ze'ev, if you've had the stomach to read some these comments, you've probably already eliminated Tottenham and West Ham based on the typically idiotic and aggressive attitudes of their fans. (No really, they are usually that moronic.) Why don't you try to see a few games - you'll get a welcome at most grounds, if you can get a ticket - then you can decide where you feel most at home. Good luck.[/quote] Ze'ev, for atmosphere it's spurs or west ham. ask any neutral. for price, leyton orient. for padded seats, arsenal.

We already have enough fans who just support us because it's seen to be cool. Go and support Spurs, you could dress up like a blue seat (like about 8000 of them did in the UEFA Cup tie). Chelsea also have a lack of fans willing to part with their cash for a seat. Arsenal is full.

I am a Gooner but i agree that you'l never be taken seriously because people will think you're a glory hunter. I say go for Orient. Thats a proper football club. Nothing beats grassroots/lower league stuff. plus orient are on the way up!

Barnet of course. Nice fish and chips nearby and the kids will love it.

Ze'ev. why not break with tradition and join the Carlisle United Supporters Branch. About 16 games a year in London and the South. No petulant Premiership prima donnas and football the way it should be. Over 400 members so you won't be on your own.

Hello Ze'ev, Like yourself, I am an Israeli expat now living abroad in New Jersey, US. Soccer has become more popular here in the states recently, but even before this change, I decided to follow Euro soccer due to my Israeli roots. I spoke to my older sister who like many Israelis grew up a Liverpool fan and she convinced me that red was the way to go in terms of English soccer even though I bled yellow and blue when it came to basketball. I now am a happy owner of several Maccabi basketball and soccer jerseys and Liverpool soccer kits and luckily the two never seem to coincide. I recommend Liverpool also because of Yossi Benayoun's presence and the fact that they are one of the most successful clubs in England and abroad. Hope this helps, Doron Tamari

Zeev There's only one team worth following in London, the mighty Os, Martin Ling's red and white army. We'll be in the Champions League in four years (maybe five after the temporary setback at Doncaster). Forget all the others, they are just nouveau-riche swagger merchants. You want a London experience, you have it down Leyton with its array of cheap eateries, shops, a vibrant pot-pourri of multi-culturalism and the best football team nearest to the new London-Paris rail terminal.

Shalom Zeev, Well now you live in my"home town" of Muswell hill - You must follow my tradition - My uncle, cousin and myself where as far as we knew the only O's fans in the area! In fact in the early 70's I was the only O's fan among all the spurs and arsenal fans at Tollington school (now Fortismere) so keep the tradition - at least you'll get in! and they are playing well now!

Zeev, hi, come to the O's. Like Mike I am a Muswell Hill O's supporter and would be happy to introduce you to life at Brisbane Road. We're having a great season and you'll be guaranteed a warm welcome. Eddie

You must follow your heart, then and only then will you ever support your team with the same passion most proper Londoners support their sides. That really leaves only West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur to 'support'. If your a glory hunter, go and watch Chelsea or Arsenal, the latter applies really if you've no heart at all. But whatever choice, please support a London side, there are plenty to opt for,unlike those other so called 'Londoners' who go for Liverpool or Man Utd?, dont know why, if it's that good up North, move up there as we need the space down here

I travel from Norway to watch London football. Do I go to see overpaid primadonnas who are more mercenaries than anything else? No, I go see proper football, I follow leyton Orient. Great team, nice football, the fans are brilliant. Proper football with players playing with their heart on their sleeve. See you at Brisbane Road. regards Jens

Orient are a real football club that can offer you nothing. No overpaid prima donnas, no foreign mercenaries, no fly-by-night playground fans at the wrong end of the country, no sellout games, no away trips to Europe, no season ticket waiting lists, no hooliganism, no PLC shareholders, no match scheduling by Sky, no lids on the tea cups, no instant and therefore hollow glory, no smugness, no stale corporate boxes full of stuffed shirts with their backs to the game, no armchair fans, etc. Orient is just a good old-fashioned grass roots club that any fan can really feel a part of, rather than being just another faceless revenue stream that neither board, manager nor players even know or care if you exist. If you've the guts to walk the log hard road hand in hand with your club through thick and thin, rather than just take the soft and easy stroll to free glory by association with a Premiership team, then get down to Brisbane Road. I personally will by you your first pint and pie.

Unlike their London Counterparts Orient is grass roots football. You will feel part of the club and able to contribute in a way that Chelsea supporters can only dream of. We are just a few seasons away from the Premiership so you will be able to see the Man United's and Liverpool's of this world without being labelled a glory hunter. What more can you ask for? Oh and they sell Kronenbourg in pint glasses made of glass instead of the plastic ones at West Ham! Happy days!!

There are two streams of Footy in England. Oner is the preserve of the ego maniacal super-rich chairmen who throw money all over the place and fill the teams with 95% 'foreign' prima-donnas. The other is the real scene where teams play with blood and thunder (and no mean skill) and where winning andlosing really means something. It has to be Leyton Orient.

The Meat Pie says it all.

no-one seems to have mentioned the added bonus that it won't cost you an arm and a leg to take yourself and your boys to the O's. Also depends if you prefer the ups and downs of the rollercoaster to the monotony of the fast lane.

Bit of an Os invasion, here. But hey, we've found this blog and are claiming you as our own. Why? Well firstly because we need all the fans we can get :oD. And secondly...well, we'll stick to the first reason, eh? Let us know when you're coming down and you won't have to buy a pint all day :o)