Some people follow teams based on success there's no denying that but the majority of 30 somethings that follow an English team have been doing so since the early 80's when madia exposure wasn't major and united weren't the all conquering team they are now. Your point is lost on those that don't have a local team, I am far more comfortable cheering on a team across the water than I would a Dub or Limerick team. I would be as much a blow in to St Pats as I would united or Liverpool. I also think that the 'ye support english teams but not england' argument is the LoI followers version of 'how do ye watch that crap'.But being a football fan is not about deciding to follow Utd becuase they're good, it's about identity and passion and pride. That's why they're called MANCHESTER utd or Liverpool or whatever. I'm not from Manchester or Turin or Madrid, I'm from Dublin so my football club is from my town in my country and while we might never win the European Cup, at least when we do play in Europe we'll be representing my town and my country and most of all MY CLUB.
If you want things to be so local then surely your team should also only field local players so that your team can represent your town and your country.
I won't have native Mancunians/Scousers/Cockneys making snide remarks about Paddy blow ins (and they do...read their fanzines/message boards).
Supporters can be narrow minded in every country.
The LoI won't improve by taking pot shots at supporters that follow teams abroad, they need to find ways of making them duel supporters and get them to the grounds, funnily enough a recession might be the best time for it. If the teams price their gates right they might start encouraging people out of cheap curiousity.