US vs. England

[pcgd]

For soccer fans, US is playing England in a friendly match right now on ESPN.

US is without Eddie Johnson and DeMarcus Beasley. England is without a few marquee players like Beckham and Wanye Rooney.

Still should be a good match with 2 top 10 national teams.

US down right now halfway through the first half 1-0.

[NJTank]

Soccer

[pcgd]

US lost 2-1. Pretty good match. One of the rare "home" games for the US that seemed like a home match. Usually they are almost outnumbered on their own turf.

I'm glad you find soccer so boring you chose to post in the thread, not only that, search for the sleeping smiley. Well played.

[DEAD!]

I'm glad you find soccer so boring you chose to post in the thread, not only that, search for the sleeping smiley.  Well played.

Well, why not have a come back with....

..... that's what all the women said after they spent the night with Tank..... *rimshot* ....... WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M OFFSIDE? ......

[jkrdevil]

I watched the last 10 minutes or so after the Yankee game became a blow out. Here's a few reasons I think that Soccer isn't as popular in America.

1. The clock. First it counts up which means you have to do math to see how much time is left. It doesn't stop which doesn't lend itself to TV. There isn't much time for replays. Plus the fact there is no commercials TV networks probably aren't the biggest fans. I know companies sponsor certain parts of the game but the networks could probably make mor with commercials.

The biggest problem with the clock not stopping is stoppage time. The half or game doesn't end when it's supposed to. So even if the clock counted down you wouldn't know how much time is left. It seems like it would be easier for the timekeepr to stop the clock rather than figure out how much time was lost do to stoppages. If soccer wants to appeal to America the lcock needs to count down and stop at stoppages. The MLS being the American league should do this.

2. The lack of control of the ball. I'm a hockey fan so I can deal with the lack of scoring. What bothers me is the lack of control the team has with the ball. It seems on transition the team just kick it down fild hoping his teammate will get it. He kickins it then there is a jump between opposing players to get the ball then bounces away to someone else. The of control also causes less scoring.

3. Large Net, little scoring. Again I can deal with the low scores. However i have a problem when they can't score and the net is huge. The net is like twice the height of the goalie and much more the width of the goalie. Yet they can't score. And it's not like the goalies make these amazing saves constantly. Half the time they can't even hit the net.

The big things is the clock and control. Fix the control and scoring rises.

[slapshot]

I can't speak about the lack of control, most soccer games I've seen are the same way.

The MLS used to have a count-down clock. In the beginning the league was trying a few gimmicks to lure fans to the games. Countdow clocks, shootouts, penalty kick OT, etc. But now that the league has been around 10+ years, they wanted to be more respected worldwide.

Look at other country's leagues, like England, Germany, Italy, Mexico, etc. From what I've seen, all those leagues play their games the same way. When they look at the MLS they still see a gimmicky league. So the penalty kick/shootout OT and countdown clock went away. In order to be taken more seriously and build the reputation as an acceptable league to play, the MLS had to adapt to the worldwide game.

[FiddySicks]

I watched the last 10 minutes or so after the Yankee game became a blow out.

So the Yanks got beat in both games right?

[pcgd]

I watched the last 10 minutes or so after the Yankee game became a blow out. Here's a few reasons I think that Soccer isn't as popular in America.

1. The clock. First it counts up which means you have to do math to see how much time is left. It doesn't stop which doesn't lend itself to TV. There isn't much time for replays. Plus the fact there is no commercials TV networks probably aren't the biggest fans. I know companies sponsor certain parts of the game but the networks could probably make mor with commercials.

The biggest problem with the clock not stopping is stoppage time. The half or game doesn't end when it's supposed to. So even if the clock counted down you wouldn't know how much time is left. It seems like it would be easier for the timekeepr to stop the clock rather than figure out how much time was lost do to stoppages. If soccer wants to appeal to America the lcock needs to count down and stop at stoppages. The MLS being the American league should do this.

2. The lack of control of the ball. I'm a hockey fan so I can deal with the lack of scoring. What bothers me is the lack of control the team has with the ball. It seems on transition the team just kick it down fild hoping his teammate will get it. He kickins it then there is a jump between opposing players to get the ball then bounces away to someone else. The of control also causes less scoring.

3. Large Net, little scoring. Again I can deal with the low scores. However i have a problem when they can't score and the net is huge. The net is like twice the height of the goalie and much more the width of the goalie. Yet they can't score. And it's not like the goalies make these amazing saves constantly. Half the time they can't even hit the net.

The big things is the clock and control. Fix the control and scoring rises.

45-20 is 25 mins left. 90-70 is 20 mins left. Its not too hard. Plus its not like other sports where there could be a last second shot. The end of the game is at the refs discression, if there's a play developing, they won't end the game. Its just what they've always done. Its like the metric system, doesn't make sense to us americans, but everywhere else that's what they do. I mean, does the last 30 seconds of a basketball game taking 25 mins make sense? The advantage of the soccer clock is you know when the game's gonna be over. It takes at most, 50 mins for a half to be played. Football you've got 30 mins of clock time, but 2 hours of real time.

The reason for stoppage time is because the clock runs. This way the game keeps going. If a player is injured slightly, usually they continue to play. Its all a part of keeping the game moving continuously. The only reason you'll ever have an extended period is a severe injury, or if they are trying to sort out a bunch of cards. Stopping the clock opens it up to commercials and the whole integrity of the game being played continuously ended.

The team kicking the ball down field is an effort to get the ball out of their zone. Yes, 2 guys heading it is part of the struggle, but think of it as a tip off or face off, just more often. Two players trying to gain possesion for their team, and most of the time they do know where its going. They can direct it in different directions. There are times to a casual viewer, a long kick down field or a kick into the box just looks like a prayer, but when you start seeing the other players making runs, you realize how good of a pass it really was.

I've only seriously gotten into soccer over the last 4 years. But it only took me about 3 games of watching Club games, friendlies, and International soccer to see the differences in play. This was a friendly match that's played much differently than a world cup qualifier. Club matches are similar to World Cup games, but watching a World Cup match, you'll see the beauty that is soccer. The passion, the skills of the competators, and the stragegies are in full effect.

I don't think everyone needs to like soccer. But once you understand it more, it becomes exciting. But to appreciate most sports, you have to understand the stragegies of the game itself. To the casual fan, hockey looks like figure skating, why is so much time spent passing the puck around behind the net? Baseball looks really lame, why would you only tap the ball? Football doesn't have enough time that they actually play. Most of its spent standing around. But when you realize that that hockey player is setting up a rush up ice, or that you sacrifice yourself to move a runner along, or that the annticipation of the next play and the choice of play is half the game of football, you appreciate them much more.

Its just a different game. You like it how it is or you don't, if you americanize it you'll cheapen the sport, and the US will never be considered a soccer power like they've tried to be for the last 20 years. its really an exciting time. This upcoming world cup will either solidify US soccer as a power, or reduce it down to the struggles it had over the last 20 years.

[JQK]

i'm beginning to dig soccer.

I was a typical american who hated it.. but....

...for some reason i kinda "get it" now.. and i can watch the games without being bored...

[HedleyLamarr]

i can watch the games without being bored...

I call that "drunk".

Americans don't like soccer because there's no high-powered offenses. How excited can one get if the midfielder kicks the ball back to the defender, who in turn kicks the ball to the goalie, who then picks it up and twirls it on his finger for 90 minutes? That's just freakin' boring.

[TFoA]

i'm beginning to dig soccer.

I was a typical american who hated it.. but....

...for some reason i kinda "get it" now.. and i can watch the games without being bored...

I know. It used to be strictly World Cup for me (and even then I barely watched it), but I guess since watching the FA Cup and Euro Cup in a week's span and watching this game, I finally understand the game and can watch it, like JQK said, without being bored out of my mind.

[pcgd]

i can watch the games without being bored...

I call that "drunk".

Americans don't like soccer because there's no high-powered offenses. How excited can one get if the midfielder kicks the ball back to the defender, who in turn kicks the ball to the goalie, who then picks it up and twirls it on his finger for 90 minutes? That's just freakin' boring.

Sounds like a guy playing with a puck behind the net.

Or a batter watching for a sign.

Or a qb barking signals.

Or the 15th timeout in the span of 30 seconds in a basketball game.

Exciting.

[DEAD!]

i can watch the games without being bored...

I call that "drunk".

Americans don't like soccer because there's no high-powered offenses. How excited can one get if the midfielder kicks the ball back to the defender, who in turn kicks the ball to the goalie, who then picks it up and twirls it on his finger for 90 minutes? That's just freakin' boring.

Sounds like a guy playing with a puck behind the net.

Or a batter watching for a sign.

Or a qb barking signals.

Or the 15th timeout in the span of 30 seconds in a basketball game.

Exciting.

Let's not forget a break in play in football. So how much actual action is there in football? about 30 minutes on average.

[mac]

I don't usually like watching soccer, in fact I have never been to a Columbus Crew game, but I watched that uefa champions thing on ESPN classic and man was it great. The red team, liverpool I think, down 3-0 comes all the way back and wins, that was pretty exciting.

[Breakwood]

I think the only reason that MLS isnt making it big in the States is because North Americans are used to seeing the best players in their leagues. the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL are the premier leagues in their sports. The best player allways want to play in these leagues. In soccer the best players will want to play in England Spain or Italy. I think most americans who dont like MLS is because they think its too minor league.

[Saintsfan]

The reason for stoppage time is because the clock runs. This way the game keeps going. If a player is injured slightly, usually they continue to play. Its all a part of keeping the game moving continuously. The only reason you'll ever have an extended period is a severe injury, or if they are trying to sort out a bunch of cards. Stopping the clock opens it up to commercials and the whole integrity of the game being played continuously ended.

The team kicking the ball down field is an effort to get the ball out of their zone. Yes, 2 guys heading it is part of the struggle, but think of it as a tip off or face off, just more often. Two players trying to gain possesion for their team, and most of the time they do know where its going. They can direct it in different directions. There are times to a casual viewer, a long kick down field or a kick into the box just looks like a prayer, but when you start seeing the other players making runs, you realize how good of a pass it really was.

I've only seriously gotten into soccer over the last 4 years. But it only took me about 3 games of watching Club games, friendlies, and International soccer to see the differences in play. This was a friendly match that's played much differently than a world cup qualifier. Club matches are similar to World Cup games, but watching a World Cup match, you'll see the beauty that is soccer. The passion, the skills of the competators, and the stragegies are in full effect.

I don't think everyone needs to like soccer. But once you understand it more, it becomes exciting. But to appreciate most sports, you have to understand the stragegies of the game itself. To the casual fan, hockey looks like figure skating, why is so much time spent passing the puck around behind the net? Baseball looks really lame, why would you only tap the ball? Football doesn't have enough time that they actually play. Most of its spent standing around. But when you realize that that hockey player is setting up a rush up ice, or that you sacrifice yourself to move a runner along, or that the annticipation of the next play and the choice of play is half the game of football, you appreciate them much more.

Its just a different game. You like it how it is or you don't, if you americanize it you'll cheapen the sport, and the US will never be considered a soccer power like they've tried to be for the last 20 years. its really an exciting time. This upcoming world cup will either solidify US soccer as a power, or reduce it down to the struggles it had over the last 20 years.

Actually the reason for 'stoppage' time is basically that in soccer the referee is the sole arbitor of time, there is no seperate time keeper of any sort. The clock that appears on screen is very unofficial. And actually in soccer the referee can call time mid action, in fact in a world cup match in the seventies a team had a goal ruiled out as the referee had blown his whistle for time just before the goal was scored.

I think with the NHL strike, soccer reeally does have a rare opporetunity to expand in the US market, however I don't think it is quite ready to overtake the NHL quite. But hockey has to be aware of the growing latin population in the US and that soccer is gonna appeal more to them than a game played on ice. For the future of hockey in the US its vital that a deal is struck so that next year a full season can go ahead.

The MLS needs to play its soccer in a style as close to the rest of the world as possible, and I think it is moving that way, I think soccer can make a significant impact in the US, but only if the US is exposed to the real game.

[OMMF]

I think the only reason that MLS isnt making it big in the States is because North Americans are used to seeing the best players in their leagues.

Close. They are used to seeing the best players they know about in their leagues. Until they come over from Europe, you never hear about the best basktball players overseas unless you see them in the Olympics (and see them dominate a US team, at that.)

[Alphabet Man]

what? US lost to England..........even the Socceroos can beat England (see February in 03 in England) and wewon like 3-1 or soemthign i dont the score cos the Socceroos won!!!!!!!!!!

[Cashcleaner]

2. The lack of control of the ball. I'm a hockey fan so I can deal with the lack of scoring. What bothers me is the lack of control the team has with the ball. It seems on transition the team just kick it down fild hoping his teammate will get it. He kicks it then there is a jump between opposing players to get the ball then bounces away to someone else. The of control also causes less scoring.

I'm actually going to agree quite readily with that point. I don't know exactly when or how this practise came about, but it seems almost exclusive to the upper-flight leagues of international football. Far too many times I have seen the goaltender or defender line up and completely belt the ball out of their end........all the way to the awaiting feet of the opposing players. I understand the need to kee the ball moving, and I know that sometimes you just have to get the ball out of your end in the face of a focused offense, but I can't begin to count how many times a player has kicked a ball with so little control, the only person who most likely ISN'T going to receive it is the intended player. Football is a game of finesse a lot of the time, but I get frustrated to know end seeing a ball get kicked all over hell's half-acre for no good reason. Perhaps a rule akin to "icing" would help eleviate that problem and bring the ball back down to ground and under more control.

Other than that, I'm fine with football being played a little more slow compared to other sports. As mentioned, it can be a game full of finesse and incredible set-ups, but I'll agree, more control with equal more points. When has more points been a bad thing?

Oh, well other than golf I suppose.