I need the kind of help that only a British person could give me.

[EgonSpengler]

Overlaying the Wikipedia maps of the 2015 UK election results and 2016-2017 Premiere League clubs, it appears the only club in an area won by the Lib-Dems is Crystal Palace, who are just keeping their heads above the relegation line. They're far from perennial Premiere League achievers, but they seem to have some history, being around since 1905. Their nickname is The Eagles, giving them some commonality with us Yanks. They play in South Norwood, a ward in the borough of Croydon, which I know bupkes about.

If we look to the Labour Party, there are more options. It looks like the areas around Arsenal, West Ham, Spurs, Swansea City, Everton & Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Sunderland all went Labour. However, I don't know what the relationship is between the Lib-Dem and Labour parties and socially-liberal issues. As with so many elections in so many countries, it seems like UK politics right now are mainly about the economy and representation.

 

[EnglishEdward]

'heavily left wing' by American standards is effectively a lib dem by British standards. At least, that is my interpretation. I apologize for not clarifying.

The Liberal Democrats party is the most pro Europe UK party.

It is also the most pro gay UK party.

However many of its MPs (those that survived the 2015 electoral massacre) seem to largely
ignore its policies and are still there today because they are oustanding constituency MPs.

For a party that claims the educated elite, it has a lot of spelling mistakes on its website.

e.g. http://www.libdems.org.uk/tax

The Conservative Government if failing those on low and middle incomes. They
have from slashed even more from welfare for low paid working people, while
increasing stealth taxes so that we all pay more on things like insurance.

I suppose that is equal opportunities for dyslexics

 

[caketastydelish]

I'm bored with the lib dems now. I think Catharsis made a much more riveting tale than anyone else in this thread ever could. Nothing the lib dems might or might not be is relevant next to what he pointed out.

 

[Traitorfish]

I want a new British team to support. Here is my criteria:

1) They must be in the Premier league. They definitely don't have to be a top team, but at least be within the Premier league. Teams not in the Premier league don't even get TV coverage (at least where I live, in the US). Plus I can tolerate a lot, but the team can't suck THAT bad.

2) They should be as culturally close to Seattle, Washington, as possible. What does this entail?

The condensed version: Somewhere heavily left wing. Somewhere very educated, with the majority of the population holding Bachelors degrees or higher. Somewhere where people are articulate and informed. Somewhere with a good music scene. Somewhere where the fans act civil and not like animals.

Any ideas?

Sounds like Manchester to me. Just trade United for City and you're set.

 

[caketastydelish]

So my presumptions of Manchester city (not the club but the actual town) are incorrect?

 

[Traitorfish]

Yeah, Manchester is about as liberal, educated and cultured a place as you'll get in the UK outside of London, and it comes with the additional bonus of being outside of London. United has a bad following for the same reason it gets exposure in the states: they're a well-established brand with a history of success.

 

[really]

When I was in the toilet of a pub in West London years ago a man said hello and being polite I acknowledged him.
Hearing my accent he asked who do you support. I told him I had no great interest in football but he insisted that Irish people always support the big names or whoever is doing well. He was getting a bit aggressive so I was wondering how I could get out of the conversation as quickly as possible so I said I liked Brentford - the local no hope team. It satisfied him and he staggered away happy.

Edit: Brentford seem to be doing well. They were bottom of the fourth division when the above happened. They are in the second division now.

 

[caketastydelish]

Every single poster in this thread has given me a different answer, with only Catharsis answer providing major entertainment value. I'm more confused than ever, but I'm going to lean towards Catharsis purely based on emotions. Typical for any good Seattleite.

 

[Chukchi Husky]

Isn't Tottenham Hotspur the Premier League team that Americans support the most?

 

[sophie]

Spurs or Everton would be my recommendations.

Chelsea if you don't mind people giving you **** for being a dirty bandwagoner.

 

[caketastydelish]

Isn't Tottenham Hotspur the Premier League team that Americans support the most?

Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. Has nothing to do with my specifications I laid out.

 

[Traitorfish]

It occurs to me, reading this thread, that there's probably a good reason that people traditionally support their local team, and not whichever they imagine most aligns with their values. It saves so much confusion.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

Pick Liverpool because my sister is like their world's biggest fan.

 

[Lohrenswald]

Cake you need a vacation

 

[warpus]

As most people know I was born in Chippenham, in the south-west of England, so you should definitely consider my well informed advice.

The stipulation that the team must be in the premier league can only be fulfilled by the teams that will probably not get relegated in the next 20 years. So basically only these teams: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur. Maybe West Ham? Every other team I can see realistically be relegated at some point in the next little while. So it seems you would not want to become a hardcore fan of any of those teams, since once they get relegated you wouldn't have much of a way to follow them..

Out of all the teams listed I recommend you become a fan of Portsmouth

 

[sophie]

I mean Swansea's a dumpster fire at the moment, but that team definitely has the money to stick around if they can make it through the right now. They actually looked half-decent for a hot minute last season. West Brom just got bought by a Chinese Investment Group headed by a billionaire this past year, so assuming that group doesn't bolt, West Brom's probably a pretty decent bet too.

The teams you listed are more important if you want to be a part of Champions/Europa league proceedings, I'd say.

 

[PhroX]

As most people know I was born in Chippenham, in the south-west of England, so you should definitely consider my well informed advice.

The stipulation that the team must be in the premier league can only be fulfilled by the teams that will probably not get relegated in the next 20 years. So basically only these teams: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur. Maybe West Ham? Every other team I can see realistically be relegated at some point in the next little while. So it seems you would not want to become a hardcore fan of any of those teams, since once they get relegated you wouldn't have much of a way to follow them..

Out of all the teams listed I recommend you become a fan of Portsmouth

There are few truly unforgivable sins in this world, but supporting Portsmouth is unquestionably one of them...

 

[caketastydelish]

Cake you need a vacation

I would have to travel extensively all over the UK to have a truly informed decision. This kind of a trip would cost the kind of money that I don't have. Or if I do have, would go to much higher priorities such as finishing my Bachelors degree (which is not free in the United States, as it is subsidized in the UK as I understand). A trip of this magnitude would require several weeks of stay in every single Premier league town, thus effectively making the trip take literally around a year, if not more. The only would it would even be feasible is if I worked while there, and I would have to do some sort of work that allows me to travel wherever I want. Or If I fall in love with some rich British chick who will take me wherever I go, which would be even more preferable, come to think of it.

All of this being said, making a thread on CFC is by far a simpler, and more cost effective solution. Of course, considering there is no agreement whatsoever from the posters here as to what team I really should be supporting, I am left more confused than ever. As stated before, Catharsis knows how to tug at my heartstrings, and that's by far the most important. Nobody else even brought Kurt Cobain into the discussion.

 

[caketastydelish]

I mean Swansea's a dumpster fire at the moment, but that team definitely has the money to stick around if they can make it through the right now. They actually looked half-decent for a hot minute last season. West Brom just got bought by a Chinese Investment Group headed by a billionaire this past year, so assuming that group doesn't bolt, West Brom's probably a pretty decent bet too.

The teams you listed are more important if you want to be a part of Champions/Europa league proceedings, I'd say.

My mother is a diehard Swansea fan. Which doesn't bother me at all, but I just happen to know they're Welsh -which doesn't bother me either. However, I also know that YOU are Welsh, leading me to believe there is a conflict of interest with you telling me I should be supporting 'a dumpster fire at the moment'.

 

[sophie]

My mother is a diehard Swansea fan. Which doesn't bother me at all, but I just happen to know they're Welsh -which doesn't bother me either. However, I also know that YOU are Welsh, leading me to believe there is a conflict of interest with you telling me I should be supporting 'a dumpster fire at the moment'.

I wasn't telling you to support Swansea. I was saying that Swansea will probably continue to be a mainstay in the Premier League, assuming they can dodge relegation this year.

I told you you should support Tottenham, Everton, or Chelsea, as they most closely fit your criteria. City'd probably work too, I guess.