Is it OK to switch team support?

For me, changing favorite teams would be like cutting out my own heart...not very probable. I'm sure there would be valid reasons for some but for me, no way. I may follow several teams but I only live and die with one.

If people want to switch support...whatever that's their business, I'm with the teams I support come hell and high water (and a few scandals and bought referees)

That would be the definition of a true supporter...

I feel it is OK if you are a newer fan. It take a while for a newer fan to see a lot of teams and find one that they can relate to and feel a part of. Maybe you like a certain manager starting off and like his style. ie Mark Hughes. So you start to follow BB and then he switches to MC. There might be a situation of changing teams, maybe or maybe not. My advice for a newer fan is watch all the football you can, even the "bad" teams. A certain club will rise to the top after a couple of months. Read the history of certain sides that interest you. Perhaps there is a club with supporters that you identify with. Anyway a club will choose you.

My answer is yes for us non-ex-pats

When I joined this board I came on as a Newcastle supporter. I don't follow any other English team (or any other team aside from New England) but every day I check the internet for rumblings of the next "big" thing for Newcastle. Unfortunately it is all about Joey Barton's FA Charges these days but that doesn't stop me from looking. With Newcastle the way it has been since Bobby Robson, it's easy for me to see why I have become disenchanted with the side.

I have found over the last few years I identify more with the Revolution than I do Newcastle (probably because of my involvement with ATL90). In the mid 90's when MLS was starting out I was more of a fan of Newcastle, but only as an internet fan.

I have never been to St. James Park, or Newcastle for that matter. I have never seen a premiership match of any kind, much less a Newcastle match. I think it is safe to say that any true Geordie would not consider me a fellow supporter. I am more of an "interested observer".

However, we are talking separate leagues here again. MLS is here and in my face, whereas England is so removed from me I find myself getting apathetic about the goings on in the EPL.

I once said on this board that if Newcastle were ever to face New England, I would be sitting with the Newcastle supporters. I no longer feel the same way. New England 'til I die.

Fair enough, Hank....you have no roots affinity with the toon and as you say, Revs are your local club and you were Revs before following the geordies.

However...I have the reverse situation here....the club I live and breathe has been to hell and back recently and caused me health problems, time off work etc. Thank god my wife is a Leeds fan, or there would have been family probs as well!
The Revs who I have NO affinity with, have won two major trophies in the two years I've followed them. I follow them live until deep in the night over here, as you know...cos I chose them as my MLS team.

You'd not give up the Revs if they went thru a lengthy bad patch, anymore than I'd give up Leeds.
But I'd probably lose interest in the Revs, if they started disappointing me on a regular basis, as toon appear to be doing with you. I have no affinity with them.

In all honesty Twiggs, I started following both around the same time. Remember MLS didn't really get going until 1996. Despite the proximity of the Revs, it was actually easier for me to follow Newcastle as there was so much more coverage on the internet. Local papers would hardly cover the Revs at all. Best we could hope for was a score line.

As you say, I have no affinity toward the Toon. I still don't think I will ever follow another English club to the lengths I follow Newcastle. A down spell of a few years won't put me off (probably do the club some good too - they could use a little humility).

Heck I waited my whole life for the Red Sox to win the World Series, and that took 36 years! I have only been following Newcastle for 12.

And I always have the Revs.

Hey Hank, why did the Revs not have the Concacaf CL patch on their kit like Joe Public did? To me that did not look good or organized for the start of this great competition I'm also wondering if the Revs will take this seriously unlike their match vs DC in the semis of the Open Cup. Fixture congestion or no fixture congestion that was plain wrong.

Never saw the previous response DDT. My apologies. My thoughts on the Champions league are well documented. Nicol wanted to focus on the league. He let himself get caught up in winning the league and the MLS Cup, and ended up losing Twellman in the process, when qualification for the playoffs was pretty much a done deal.

I won't lie to you and say I didn't want it all, but perhaps I was being too greedy. I am on Nicol's side when he says that the Revs roster was not built for the multiple competitions in such a short period of time. There has to be some serious change in the roster from that standpoint. That being said, who will the Revs look to in the future to fill the lack of offense in the lineup - Ralston and Twellman are only around for so long.

To the topic at hand.... I am sticking with Newcastle. If another team comes up (Wolves, Forest, or even Watford) I may throw them a bone if they put on a good show.

I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for Forest or Watford!