Hey from California USA

[TLaw10 28]

Hey everyone, my name is Tommy and while I'm a new football fan I played all the way through college. I follow international play and have been to some MLS games but never any in Europe. I recently decided that I was going to pick a favorite team in the EPL and go all out in my fandom. I chose Chelsea mainly cause I liked playing with a lot of their players on XBox One. The last week I have immersed myself in nothing but the Blues. I feel like I'm getting more comfortable with the team and the league as a whole. Since DirecTV broadcasts all the games I look forward to an exciting season. I joined the forum as a way to learn from more experienced fans and eventually offer my own opinions. It's funny how quick my allegiance has blossomed, I was rooting hard against Arsenal today in the Champions League, lol. Thanks for all the insight and I look forward to earning my stripes as a fan!

[Fulham Broadway 16,845]

Welcome Tommy. Good intro, and we look forward to your comments.

[TLaw10 28]

thanks for the warm welcome, this place is cool!

[chelsea blue 615]

Welcome TLaw1010

Just love Chelsea and hate spurs

[Ripamaru 8]

The Spurs shameless attempt to try and get American fans to flock to them helped turn me off. I would love to see Chelsea come play here again so I can see them live but the way the Spurs did it by their own admission was simply to get fans of the MLS clubs they played to choose them as their EPL team.

I want to see Chelsea here to reward the loyal fans here not just to cynically grab for more. The article I read says they have more American supporters than anyone in the EPL.......This is odd if true considering they are 3rd in their own city :

[1chelsea 864]

Welcome Tlaw1010 you enjoy your time here, love your spirit

[TLaw10 28]

I totally get the diehard attitudes of disdain for American bandwagoners. That's why I'm trying to understand the fans and the team from all perspectives. You have to start somewhere and sometime and I hope to learn and cheer with you lifers. I did see that the Sours signed Yedlin after visiting Seattle( i've been to a few Sounder games), but there's just something about the Blues that got me

[Ripamaru 8]

I certainly hope that I am not considered a bandwagoner by fellow Blues fans. I take my teams very seriously and in spite of my nationality (which I not only cannot help but rather dislike largely due the crazy neo fascist party that holds power in congress and somehow has convinced poor people to vote against their own interests and who make all Americans look bad with their foreign policy.

I can assure you that while I am a new fan I will remain one through any ups or downs until the day I am buried. This is my nature as a fan.

[TLaw10 28]

Despite your Niner love I love American Chelsea fans,

[LukakutoStamford 779]

I guess I can overlook your dislike of the 49ers but welcome aboard! don't let the Belgian flag fool you, I'm in CA as well. The 4:45am start times are a bitch.

[TLaw10 28]

Ya I'm about 5.5 hours north of SF right next to the ocean. Big Seahawks fan so u can understand my Niner love, lol. Thanks for the welcome, I'm really excited about this season. I just rewatched the Real Sociedad game cause I can't get enough!

[KevinAshburner 1,270]

Hi Tommy nice to meet you. I am Kevin Ashburner. I am from Johannesburg in South Africa and I have been Living in Auckland in New Zealand over 9 years now and I am A New England Patriots Fan and I Love All State of Massachusetts Sports Teams.

Welcome to TalkChelsea.

[TLaw10 28]

Nice to meet ya Kevin, glad to see American football is spreading world wide!

[chelsea blue 615]

Ya I'm about 5.5 hours north of SF right next to the ocean. Big Seahawks fan so u can understand my Niner love, lol. Thanks for the welcome, I'm really excited about this season. I just rewatched the Real Sociedad game cause I can't get enough!

Go to this site you can watch lots of Chelsea games

http://www.footballorgin.com/

[Ripamaru 8]

It is great now that NBC picked up the EPL and you can get every single match on Directv or on NBCSN Extra online. Chelsea is almost always on the main NBCSN and some big matches on NBC proper. This will help grow the EPL in the US.

I really think though that the biggest keys to American success in football is both getting some of the best athletes in the states to choose the sport over American football, Baseball, and to a lesser degree basketball. DeAndre Yedlin was a big win for the sport here as he had those chances, chose football, and now is with Spurs (though I expect he will be loaned for a while).

I think educating young athletes about the advantages of choosing football is critical. In America we have a school system that uses the athletes in some cases up til age 23-24 without pay (except a university scholarship) We need the EPL clubs to all set up youth systems here in the states. Especially in the states the produce the most elite athletes (Texas, Florida, California, Ohio, and the Northeast). The rest of the southern US is likely a losing battle as American football is so deeply entrenched in the culture but even there there are MANY great athletes who are not academically inclined and get left out in the cold because they cannot make the grades. Outside of Baseball and Hockey you are basically required to go to college in order to succeed.

If they are able to reach young people by explaining that even as a 14-15 year old you can get professional training and make a salary however small, it would be huge. The majority of our best athletes come from poverty and would see this as a much better chance to help immediately to bring their families out of that situation.

Sorry for the rant.......BTW I think the NFL should do similar things in Europe. There are tons of potential American football players there that don't fit the world football prototype. Big 300lb lineman for example. Players who can throw but may not be great athletes otherwise, etc.....

[TLaw10 28]

Ya most people i know think there is a line between american football and football(or soccer as most here refer to it). I played both growing up and can't see why both sports can't flourish. I will say that with all the concussions and injuries there are a lot of parents steering their kids away from American football. In my area there is a lot of youth programs and travel teams for soccer(football) but they need to get out there in the bigger cities. Just watching the World Cup shows you how far the US has to go to even compete on a World Stage. The MLS has at least started the trend, i just hope more kids give it a try. WHile ive always loved the sport i'm finding myself intrigued and fascinated with the transfer/loan/squad building aspect of the professional side of the game. Not many Americans even understand the whole process and are lost when trying to follow global football.

[Ripamaru 8]

Everywhere I look there is no replay of the game today. I am getting very sad and discouraged. There has to be enough Blues fans to upload the EPL matches.......

[TLaw10 28]

It was on nbcsn on Directv for me. I had to wake up before 7 to watch it, lol. the torrent is on piratebay if you want to get it that way