**Official** English Football Season 2024/25

[Pothas]

Well I always went to watch Brentford so I guess I was still a fan but my from the age of about 8 to 17 I was primarily a Newcastle supporter. I can't remember exactly when it dropped off but it did completely by the time I was 18 or so.

My Dad used to be a Liverpool fan but then started to go to Brentford in the late 80s think and they just became his team.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I can't remember exactly when it dropped off but it did completely by the time I was 18 or so.

Probably when they were relegated you glory hunter smh

 

[sledger]

Probably when they were relegated you glory hunter smh

Haha I can attest it was a few years before that, tbf.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Got to laugh at that Everton fan who sold blue flares in red wrapping to the Liverpool fans.

Genius that is.

 

[Pothas]

Probably when they were relegated you glory hunter smh

Absolutely. Swapped them for a league two team. Actually I think Brentford got promoted that year so maybe I am guilty.

 

[Pothas]

Haha I can attest it was a few years before that, tbf.

Yeah about 2005/6 I think.

 

[sledger]

Yeah about 2005/6 I think.

Yes, it was around the time Solano went and N'Zogbia came in, I think.

 

[wpdavid]

Since we're doing this, I started out as a West Ham supporter. Not that I lived anywhere near them, so my reasons weren't especially thought out. My best mate at school supported them, and Bobby Moore, who was my favourite player at the time, wrote for 'Shoot!' magazine, which I read every week. They seemed as good a couple of reasons as any. Certainly nothing to do with my dad, who grew up in North East London and supported Charlton as a boy.

Anyway, in 1970 my dad started buying season tickets for Crystal Palace, who were just about the closest team to our part of Surrey. So we attended their home games for three seasons, which split my allegiances. This was during their first spell in the top flight. I was still a West Ham fan when they won the FA Cup in 1975, but also a Palace fan when they reached the semi-final 12 months later. So I probably favoured both teams. But when the 'Team of The Eighties' (don't ask) emerged in the late 1970s I started making my own way to their home games and simply became an Eagles fan.

 

[Molehill]

Makes me wonder who I might’ve supported had my Dad (Pompey fan) stayed in Hertfordshire where I was born and not taken a job back on the S Coast? I fear it may have been Watford, I’d certainly take the Portsmouth rollercoaster over that rather tedious existence!

 

[Skipper Pup]

Shout out to Arsenal for having no atmosphere for a home UCL semi final.

Deserved to lose by more. Good luck in Paris

 

[Skipper Pup]

Since we're doing this, I started out as a West Ham supporter. Not that I lived anywhere near them, so my reasons weren't especially thought out. My best mate at school supported them, and Bobby Moore, who was my favourite player at the time, wrote for 'Shoot!' magazine, which I read every week. They seemed as good a couple of reasons as any. Certainly nothing to do with my dad, who grew up in North East London and supported Charlton as a boy.

Anyway, in 1970 my dad started buying season tickets for Crystal Palace, who were just about the closest team to our part of Surrey. So we attended their home games for three seasons, which split my allegiances. This was during their first spell in the top flight. I was still a West Ham fan when they won the FA Cup in 1975, but also a Palace fan when they reached the semi-final 12 months later. So I probably favoured both teams. But when the 'Team of The Eighties' (don't ask) emerged in the late 1970s I started making my own way to their home games and simply became an Eagles fan.

So not only did you choose a non-local side despite living in England, you also then switched teams.

Jeez! you're lucky they aren't lynching you here

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Absolutely. Swapped them for a league two team. Actually I think Brentford got promoted that year so maybe I am guilty.

Don't let the truth get in the way of a good narrative.

 

[Molehill]

So not only did you choose a non-local side despite living in England, you also then switched teams.

Jeez! you're lucky they aren't lynching you here

I reckon you might've been a Man Utd fan in the 90's and are hiding your switch to Liverpool.

Shout out to Arsenal for having no atmosphere for a home UCL semi final.

This is a valid point though, the players shouldn't be having to encourage the fans to make some noise. But then it's nothing new for Arsenal.

Maybe they should've loaned in some Pompey fans for the game....

 

[Skipper Pup]

I reckon you might've been a Man Utd fan in the 90's and are hiding your switch to Liverpool.



This is a valid point though, the players shouldn't be having to encourage the fans to make some noise. But then it's nothing new for Arsenal.

Maybe they should've loaned in some Pompey fans for the game....

Haha not quite, I didn't really watch football until ~1997 because it wasn't on TV where I lived (was mainly league and if it was on it was usually Serie A). Dad and my older brothers were rugby players and had no interest in football so it was not really on my radar. I dragged them all to a Liverpool friendly in 2015 but that was the only live game any of them have ever been to. Come to think of it now maybe I am the black sheep of the family

As I said in a previous post Michael Owen caught my attention as far as English football and Liverpool went. Before that my favourite player to watch was Roberto Baggio. That's probably why I'm more drawn towards technical players and constantly contemplating where the flair in the game has gone.


Re Arsenal, I think they've just run into a PSG side that is in red hot form and has a very savvy experienced manager. Gabriel and Havertz are huge misses but ultimately Arteta isn't quite experienced enough to overcome it and there is a weak underbelly there.

The fan side of things was tongue in cheek but honestly disappointing to see. I can't imagine how expensive those tickets would have been.

 

[Uppercut]

I thought the Emirates atmosphere was as good as I've seen it last night... for exactly 3 minutes. Dembele with one of the most fitting sshhh celebrations I've seen.

I don't think there was much in it in terms of chances created. It looked more one-sided than it was because PSG play much more attractive football and were ahead for the whole game. Still, as away performances in CL semis go it was really impressive.

 

[sledger]

Yeah, I thought Arsenal actually played fairly well once they actually settled down tbh, just came up against a very impressive side who did a very effective job of getting the job done.

 

[Molehill]

I thought the Emirates atmosphere was as good as I've seen it last night... for exactly 3 minutes. Dembele with one of the most fitting sshhh celebrations I've seen.

I don't think there was much in it in terms of chances created. It looked more one-sided than it was because PSG play much more attractive football and were ahead for the whole game. Still, as away performances in CL semis go it was really impressive.

Agreed, Arsenal had 2 really good chances (Martinelli/Trossard) and you can argue that Donnarumma shouldn't really have been given a chance to save them. But then PSG missed 2 equally good chances late on that could've killed the tie. I thought the performance was very similar to the one they gave at Liverpool, question will be whether they can match it in Paris. I honestly think Arsenal are still very much in this with Partey to return. I gave him some grief earlier in the season (I don't think he adds much when playing inferior teams) but he's vital to the balance in matches like this.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Makes me wonder who I might’ve supported had my Dad (Pompey fan) stayed in Hertfordshire where I was born and not taken a job back on the S Coast? I fear it may have been Watford, I’d certainly take the Portsmouth rollercoaster over that rather tedious existence!

Only thing being a Watford fan is the dementure tests are naming your managers from the last 10 years. Everyone's knackered there.

 

[Skipper Pup]

Agreed, Arsenal had 2 really good chances (Martinelli/Trossard) and you can argue that Donnarumma shouldn't really have been given a chance to save them. But then PSG missed 2 equally good chances late on that could've killed the tie. I thought the performance was very similar to the one they gave at Liverpool, question will be whether they can match it in Paris. I honestly think Arsenal are still very much in this with Partey to return. I gave him some grief earlier in the season (I don't think he adds much when playing inferior teams) but he's vital to the balance in matches like this.

He's Arsenal's most important midfielder. I don't care what anyone says. I think its been the case all season and most of last. I would actually go as far to say he's one of the most underrated prem players of the last 5 or so years, just his body has let him down too often.

The issue Arsenal have is that PSG are an entirely different beast in Paris. That game at Anfield was pretty even but they absolutely played us off the park in the 1st leg. We haven't been dominated like that in years - probably going back to that 7-2 thrashing we had from Villa under Klopp in 2021. I've been to that stadium and it's a proper bear pit when their fans get going.

I think it's going to take something very very special tactically from Arteta to get the win and a memorable individual performance from someone. Raya in particular is going to be critical.

European Cup semi-finals don't come along often so enjoy the occasion. Of course keep the hope up cause the tie ain't over yet.

After watching the game this morning I'd be relatively confident the ultimate winner is coming from the Arsenal v PSG side of the draw.

 

[govinda indian fan]

He's Arsenal's most important midfielder. I don't care what anyone says. I think its been the case all season and most of last. I would actually go as far to say he's one of the most underrated prem players of the last 5 or so years, just his body has let him down too often.

The issue Arsenal have is that PSG are an entirely different beast in Paris. That game at Anfield was pretty even but they absolutely played us off the park in the 1st leg. We haven't been dominated like that in years - probably going back to that 7-2 thrashing we had from Villa under Klopp in 2021. I've been to that stadium and it's a proper bear pit when their fans get going.

I think it's going to take something very very special tactically from Arteta to get the win and a memorable individual performance from someone. Raya in particular is going to be critical.

European Cup semi-finals don't come along often so enjoy the occasion. Of course keep the hope up cause the tie ain't over yet.

After watching the game this morning I'd be relatively confident the ultimate winner is coming from the Arsenal v PSG side of the draw.

Arsenal are missing a striker like kane or haaland