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If NFL Franchises Were Football Clubs

If NFL Franchises Were Football Clubs

What do you reckon to these comparisons?

Anonymous

Anonymous

Ok, so let's simplify this NFL stuff. It takes a while to warm to it but once you're in the club you'll find a whole new and fresh sporting universe opens itself up. It's like a good box set, after reluctantly doing the first few episodes you're all in and NFL is exactly the same.

Football can be predictably repetitive, look at Spain, Italy, France and Germany to name a few and footballers as characters are largely as unlikeable as ever. There's movement year on year but it's minimal. Almost pre-booked three semi finalists in the Champions League, a certain top 4 battle, you know how it goes.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still a football fan first but I longed for something else. Something a little more unpredictable and stimulating. I found that with NFL and you can now split your weekends over both sports, trust me it works. I'm casting some bait that should tempt you in, let's look at some NFL teams and see how we could compare them with our beloved (mostly) Premier League stalwarts...

Dallas Cowboys = Manchester United
Labelled 'America's Team' the Dallas Cowboys are often the talk of sports radio in the US. A huge brand, scrutinised season after season the best comparison I can make is with Manchester United. How? Well both were huge in the 90s with both being the brand leaders of their leagues during that time. Both have huge national support despite the regional identity and both seemingly have a problem with their 'franchise/star player'. Should the Cowboys move on from Tony Romo? Should Mourinho move on from Rooney? Interesting parallels. Both the Cowboys and Man United are desperate to return to the glory days of Tamagotchis, Etch-A-Sketch and a cuddly McCauley Culkin where winning was just another day at the office.

New England Patriots = Chelsea
Most hated team in the America, unless you like them of course is no doubt Brady and his Patriots. Can you already see where I'm going with this? In 2002 the Patriots won the Super Bowl and so began an NFL dynasty cast of Iron. Just over a year later, a shady Russian by the name of Abramovich took over at Chelsea and trophies soon followed the oil money. Both owners, Kraft and Abramovich are equally demanding, except Mr Kraft has had the formidable Bill Belichick at the helm for 16 years whereas Abramovich can't be far off 16 different coaches during his rule. Bottom line, both are decent, always challenging and both are relatively hated.

New York Giants = Arsenal
The Giants are so irritating to so many of their fans. Arsenal are so irritating to their fans. Check Twitter for confirmation. Comparison done pretty much. I'll elaborate. New York is a huge sports market and Arsenal still dominate their share of the market regionally and globally. Both have huge, relatively untapped potential and resources. Even until recently both had relative dinosaurs running their teams except Tom Coughlin has managed to do the right thing and retire gracefully after some good years in New York. Coughlin knew his time in the game had passed; question is when will Wenger find sense to do the same at Arsenal?

Seattle Seahawks = Manchester City
In sport, we love a dynasty. Studies and viewing figures prove it. The next one to rise in the NFL could well be the Seattle Seahawks. With two Super Bowl appearances over the last three years and a stocked roster once again we could see Russell Wilson and Co take over the baton from Brady and the Patriots. They are fresh, powerful and have huge leaders on both side of the ball in Chancellor and Wilson. Similarities already apparent with the Citizen's leaders Kompany and Aguero. Both look set for continued dominance. Oh how Seattle would like to find a Pete Carroll replacement as innovative and revered as Pep in a few years.

San Francisco 49ers = Liverpool
Another fun comparison built on the foundation of historical symmetry. Both were huge in the 80s. 49ers had Montana and Young, Liverpool had Souness and Dalglish. Household names back in the day. Both racked up honours for the beautiful people of the Bay area and the working class Dockers respectively. Fast forward to the present and things look different. San Fran are a mess right now and are hopeful the new-age Chip Kelly, who divides opinion, can revive their fortunes with his revolutionary up-tempo offense. Liverpool are now also in the hands of a radical leader in Jurgen Klopp and his 'Gegenpressing'. Both have work on their hands. Liverpool look promising, how will the 49ers fair?

Carolina Panthers = Leicester City
Last year, the Panthers came from relative obscurity to almost win it all at the Super Bowl. Leicester City did come from nowhere to claim the Premier League. This comparison is 15 pts from being perfect, granted but there are similarities. Both have charismatic and iconic leaders on the field in Cam Newton and Jamie Vardy, Carolina have built their success on excellent drafts and player selection just as Steve Walsh had done at Leicester with the likes of Mahrez and Kante. Also both coaches are old school with a surprisingly yet suitable lax grip on team discipline. Question is for both, was it a one season wonder or are they here to stay?

Cleveland Brown = Leeds United
Cleveland is a dumpster fire of a franchise. Almost without question the worst run team in the NFL and arguably all of American pro-sports. Current owner, Jimmy Haslam even bought the over-valued franchise off an apathetic Randy Lerner, for another nice bit of NFL/Football crossover. We all know what wonders Lerner worked with Villa. If you could get relegated, the Browns would arguably be playing in the equivalent of the Vanarama National League over in the states. They wasted a number-1 draft pick on the sure-fire bust, Johnny Manziel, much like Cellino wastes good paper on managerial contracts. Both are train-wrecks with long suffering loyal fanbases.

Washington Redskins = Tottenham Hotspur
I like this one. In 2014, the Redskins hired sought after and decent ex-player, Jay Gruden as their coach on a five year contract. In 2014, Spurs hired sought after and decent ex-player Mauricio Pochettino as their coach on a five year contract. Both brought instant success with Washington going 9-7 and making the playoffs with Tottenham pushing Leicester hard for the title to claim a comfortable UCL spot. Both are based in their respective attention-soaked capitals and both look settled, well coached and well placed again for successful seasons.

LA Rams = Stoke City
If they hadn't just relocated to the glitz of LA this comparison would be almost perfect. Both teams have pretty much been the definition of boring. Even the Fisher/Pulis comparison was close. Each season they get their wins in a roundabout way but they're just too vanilla. Granted, Mark Hughes has added a little sparkle to the matt emulsion at Stoke in the form of Shaqiri just as RB Todd Gurley has added a little razzamatazz to the Rams. Perhaps the move to LA will stir the fires a little but both teams lack a certain watchability element.

Oakland Raiders = Everton

This is all about the talent and a little bit of my favoured historical parallels. In the mid 80s, both teams had cult followings that almost swept a nation. Raiders were the NFLs attitude, whereas Everton were well learned Merseyside success with a Toffee twist. Both are potentially huge teams currently lingering too far into the doldrums. Soon enough though, things could change. Both have perhaps star-studded, young talent. Carr, Cooper and Mack at the Raiders with Deulofeu, Barkley and Lukaku at Everton. Each looks well coached and both look well positioned for a resurgence.

Words by Jamie Morrall

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