You might not like the xenophobia on here but I thought I’d try and give a succinct brief of where it comes from. You will probably tl; dr but don’t question why people hold these views.
• American football fans are seen to denigrate the home fan’s support because they introduce an element of choosing their club, while still trying to maintain the illusion of being a ‘die-hard and equal supporter’
• This is not just linked to Americans, it can be done from those born in the home of football, see this comment - https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/2yprwd/actual_local_fans_of_big_teams_that_gloryhunters/cpbuo8u
• Choosing a club because you like the style of play is not how football started or what it should be about. If everyone did that, then nobody would support anybody but a handful of teams in the Premiership and the elite of Europe and every other team would have no fanbase
• Football used to be a way of life for the working class, a sense of community, independent of the quality on the pitch. This attitude of only choosing a good team, as some sort of middle class hobby, ruins that
• It is acceptable to admire other teams and wish them success, follow their progress keenly, but to keep the game alive people should support their local professional team or a team they have some family tie to, a team their parents and family brought them up with
• If you don’t live near a good team, then you don’t have to support someone in the Ryman Premier, but support someone local, don’t just support Arsenal if you live in Wolverhampton and can’t get to Championship games, when Aston Villa are on TV every week
• For Americans, support the MLS first and foremost. You argue the quality isn’t good enough but that doesn’t support millions supporting lower league teams around Europe. MLS quality is just as high as the lower leagues in England or France or Italy, as high as the top tier in Scotland, but you don’t see the Scots swerving Motherwell in favour of Barcelona
• If you want to follow the European leagues, that’s good and choose a team to make it worthwhile but don’t act as if you have the same connection. You don’t go to games.
• If you follow a European club, choose a club where the supporters speak your language. People who elect to support Madrid and Bayern etc. have nothing in common with those who pay to go every week