I will be in London for work the week prior, and I’m staying an extra day to see an English Premier match. If the chosen match is outside of London I could travel there Friday, so please factor that in. Here is the fixture for Saturday, 13 December, 2014. (Home team is listed first)
Chelsea vs Hull City
Leicester City vs Man City
Sunderland vs West Ham United
Chrystal Palace vs Stoke City
West Bromwich Albion vs Aston Villa
Burnley vs Southampton
Arsenal vs Newcastle United
Thanks,
Pash
Sunderland and Burnley are a long way to go for no particular reason.
If you’ve no particular reason to go to Birmingham (West Brom) or Leicester, I wouldn’t bother with those.
Of the 3 London teams, I would guess Arsenal v Newcastle would be the most interesting game.
Sunderland v West Ham
A lot of respect to travel up to Sunderland to see a game as a tourist - like you were in London and could have gone to the Emirates or to Stamford Bridge, but there were just too many arseholes. So you decided to keep things real and head north. Unimpeachable fan credentials for ever more.
You might struggle to get tickets for the Arsenal game. Palace vs. Stoke looks a better bet - seems there are still tickets available in the Stoke sections.
I’ll suggest Palace as well–they seem to have a very good atmosphere there. Also, they have cheerleaders? It’s very weird and out of place in the PL–I think the Men in Blazers may have been on to something when they suggested it was a psychological ploy to distract the opposing team who have to run between two lines of busty ladies in short skirts on their way to the field. They also have an eagle? Crystal Palace is weird, but anyway.
If you want some serious football geek cred, you might try going to a Championship/League 1/League 2 match during the week. At a glance, there are 4 Championship sides (including Fulham, recently of the Premier League), one League 1, and two League Two. I’d suggest AFC Wimbledon–owned by the fans and created after a new owner took the original Wimbledon side, moved it to Milton Keynes and changed the name, thereby creating the most despicable club in English football. Also, John Green is a sponsor, so they have “DFTBA” on their shorts, I think.
Have you seen where Wimbledon are playing these days? It’s a grotty little non-league ground directly adjacent to an operational sewage works. That’s a bit too hard-core, I’d say.
I’d watch Chelsea crush Hull. Chelsea is the most complete team in the EPL and one of the best teams in the world. It features 4-5 of the the top players in the world. Costa, Fabregas, Hazard, Oscar, Courtois, plus many more.
Chelsea destroying Hull would be pretty boring to me, even though I thoroughly appreciate Chelsea’s excellence. I think the OP would have a good time at Palace and see a very competitive game that would have the crowd into it every minute. Plus there’s American Geoff Cameron to cheer for.
Arsenal v Newcastle will likely be the most exciting of the matches with lots of goals.
I’m going to throw in my opinion and agree with everyone else that either the Chelsea game or the Palace/Stoke game are the way to go. The Chelsea game won’t be a great game, but depending on your level of interest it might be fun as a neutral to watch Chelsea just go out and be awesome at football. The Palace game will be a more competitive game, and may be more fun to watch if you want to pick a side and enjoy the drama. Pick the experience you want and go that way. Either could be fun.
I’m a Tottenham fan, and it’s too bad you can’t go see them play, but they play on Sundays right now.
Don’t go see Arsenal.
Bah! Sounds like atmosphere to me. …ok, you can probably skip the 'Dons, unless they’re away to someone with a decent home ground.
Incidentally, if it were me, I’d be heading to Leicester and sitting with the City fans, being one myself, and having the absolute time of my life singing and being an idiot. But with how Leicester’s been and City showing some decent form at last, I expect this to be a bit of a slaughter–not worth going out of your way for as a neutral.
Update: I’m seeing Crystal Palace vs Stoke at Selhurst Park! Any nearby lunch recommendations or nearby pubs for before/after the match? Anything I should know about Selhurst Park, or watching live Football in general?
After dozens (hundreds?) of live professional Baseball, Basketball, and (American) Football games, this is my first live professional Football/Soccer match.
Oh, and thanks for all the suggestions!
I find it mindboggling that you got so many recommendations based on supposed street cred rather than what would be the most entertaining game for you. I hope you have a great time, but Stoke and Crystal Palace? Yesh. At least you didn’t go to a League 2 game.
Well, I have to admit, ticket price was a factor. Still, I think I’ll have a great time.
don’t cheer any goals by the team in the opposing section would be my main recommendation!
Gotta say, this is a legitimate point–take note of whether you’re in the Palace or away stands and cheer accordingly. There’s a bit of a hilarious story on the Sports Party podcast of a couple of fans who couldn’t get seats in the away section and so sat in the home stands and then accidentally cheered their team. It was not good. 
Had my doubts about the choice of palace v stoke but 2 goals in the first 15 minutes might prove me wrong 
Post-Match Report: Yes, the play was generally uninspired, but I think I made the right choice. Great stadium filled with the great CPFC fans, plus a loud Stokes section. I got to chant along with the Palace faithful. Got to cheer like a life-long supporter when Palace scored the first goal. Saw some players I recognized from the World Cup. Got to see the only cheer team in English football (with equally uninspired dance moves, but still very charming). Saw the Palace Eagle fly throughout the stadium in pregame. Bought a scarf! Made some friends over a pre-match pint at The Albion ‘Home of the Eagles’ (yeah, it says it right there on the sign, along with the laminated ‘Home Fans Only’ sings posted in the windows - had to show my ticket to get in the pub, verifying I wasn’t sitting in the Stoke section). Had a great seat near midfield in the 20th row, and really gained an appreciation for how physical the game is compared to how it looks on TV.
Overall a great sport experience.
‘South London’s number one,
You know it’s true,
We’re red n blue’
GO PALACE! (Just try not to get relegated, okay?)
Brilliant! And a Palace supporter is made in perhaps the best possible way. I think you’re safe from relegation w/ how QPR, Hull and (sigh-my second favorite club after how they treated the rags) Leicester are playing.