Imagining Every Premier League Team as a Simpsons Character

The Premier League has plenty in common with The Simpsons: Both have been very popular since the early 1990s, both feature an eclectic cast of characters and both have made a lot of money for Rupert Murdoch. 

Now, we answer a perfectly "cromulent" question: If every Premier League team were a Simpsons character, which would they be? 

Take a look through our football-themed tour of Springfield's finest, and be sure to leave your suggestions in the comments.

Arsenal: Mrs. Krabappel

Arsenal might be the Premier League equivalent of Bart's teacher, Mrs. Krabappel: They often try to be sexy, but it typically ends up in disappointment. 

The late Mrs. K also spent decades hoping to make a "transfer" away from Bart, but that big transfer never happened. Sound familiar, Gunners fans?

Aston Villa: Barney Gumble

Barney Gumble is utterly incapable of functioning properly, but he's a Simpson's mainstay who has always been around despite rarely offering a positive contribution. His glory days are certainly behind him.

Yeah, that's Villa.

Bournemouth: Frank Grimes

Bournemouth are Homer's thoroughly downtrodden enemy Frank Grimes: They started out with good intentions but are slowly getting stomped into the ground by the harsh realities of life. 

Like Grimey, they might only be seen in a single season. 

Chelsea: Artie Ziff

Marge's former boyfriend Artie Ziff is filthy rich, arrogant, unquestionably successful and frequently named among the least-liked characters in the series. 

He might just be the perfect personification of Jose Mourinho's loveable lot.

Crystal Palace: Hans Moleman

Crystal Palace are Hans Moleman: They're looked at fondly by neutrals, but you know they'll be sent down sooner or later by a proverbial football in the groin.

Everton: Principal Skinner

There are few better stadiums in England than Goodison Park to pick up a good steamed ham. 

Everton are the Principal Skinner of the league: They're both quite old fashioned, they both dress in blue and they're both held back by their owner/mother.

Leicester City: Roy

Roy was the Fonzie-esque college-aged kid who moved in with the Simpsons during the "Itchie and Poochie" episode before moving on to live with "two sexy ladies."

He came from nowhere, he was very cool and everybody loved him. He thoroughly enjoyed his five minutes of fame before disappearing into obscurity very quickly.

This could be Leicester quite soon.

Liverpool: Troy McClure

Troy McClure is renowned as a hugely successful star of the past whose glory days are long behind him. Subsequent attempts to reinvent himself never seemed to work out. 

Hi, I'm Liverpool! You may remember from such successes as the 1980s!

Manchester City: Dr. Nick Riviera

Hi everybody!

Manchester City might be Springfield's hapless medical practitioner Dr. Nick during a surgical procedure: They know they have all the right tools and resources for success, but they don't really know how to best use them. 

Also, when you think about it, it's a little baffling that either of them came to be in such a position of power. 

Manchester United: Ned Flanders

It might not seem right to compare Springfield's most prominent Christian to a team nicknamed the Red Devils, but hear us out. 

Much like Ned Flanders, Manchester United were okily dokily for many years, but they've been a little lost since they lost their main partner in success. 

Also, they both have pretty noisy neighbours.

Newcastle United: Krusty the Clown

Newcastle are run by a clown, they frequently make terrible decisions and they remain endearingly popular despite some awful PR disasters. 

Hey hey! It's Krusty the Clown! Howay the lads!

Norwich City: Cletus

Could we be crass enough to suggest a team from the flat country plains of East Anglia could be compared to the biggest yokel in Springfield?

We could, yes.

Southampton: Mayor Quimby

It's tempting to compare Southampton to the Sea Captain for their shared love of the coast and history of financial issues, but the Saints might just be the very un-saintly Diamond Joe Quimby.

Why? Well, they both have a very keen interest in young talent.

Stoke City: Milhouse

Stoke might be the Milhouse of the Premier League: They're not particularly fashionable and sometimes seem a little out of place among their cooler associates.

Stoke's mum definitely thinks Stoke is cool—but few others would agree.

Sunderland: Maggie Simpson

Maggie Simpson really sucks, and that's why she personifies Sunderland so well.

Much like the Black Cats, Maggie also has a heated rivalry with a neighbour, and her famous escape from daycare draws parallels with Sunderland's escape from the drop last season.

Swansea City: Bumblebee Man

Swansea are the Premier League's Bumblebee Man. They're from another country and although they appear to have a sting in their tail, they're really not going to do you any harm at all. 

Tottenham Hotspur: Chief Wiggum

Tottenham Hotspur might just be Chief Wiggum: They represent a long-standing institution, but it's generally quite difficult to take them seriously. 

Bake him away, toys!

Watford: Fat Tony

Watford are the Premier League spirit animal of Fat Tony: They have a strong Italian connection and some of their associates have spent time behind bars.

West Bromwich Albion: Professor Frink

West Brom could be Professor Frink: They're not conventionally attractive, they're often lacking in vision and what they attempt is often very smart, but their efforts rarely turn out in their favour.

West Ham United: Crazy Cat Lady

They beat Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, then get tanked by Watford and Tottenham! West Ham are a giant ball of unpredictability—just like the Crazy Cat Lady! 

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