Why USA isn't a world power in soccer (yet)

[keepngoal]

I always wondered why cutting away from a NASCAR race for commercials is acceptable to the watching public.

I am not a roundy-roundy fan, so there is bias. But strictly from enjoying a sport point of view, why would you tolerate being left in the dark for 4 minutes of commercials while action is taking place. Its like buying a movie theater ticket and getting up 8 times in two hours to go to the bathroom. Rent the movie ....

 

[3TrueFans]

Actually, I think it was the NHL playoffs that really helped me understand what I personally (just me, no judgment on anyone else) find unsatisfying about hockey and soccer. There is great action and teamwork for almost the entire game. However, the final result so often comes down to a split second combination of the same skills that have been used all game and a moment of good/bad fortune. I think most hockey fans really like that excitement and consider it an asset, but I find the split second good/bad fortune to be too much of a factor too often.

I really don't understand this, they should be able to score at every opportunity because they're using the same skills and teamwork as when they score at other times in the game? You know there's another team out there also using high levels of skill and teamwork to stop them from doing just that, right?

 

[Cycsk]

I thought a little analysis of my experience with soccer and hockey might help to explain a bit of why it hasn't taken off in the US. Now, I'm finding that I'm repeating myself and don't have much more to say. So, rather than run the risk of being labeled like tuco or 110, I will bow out and let the rest of you take the thread wherever you want to take it.

 

[Bigman38]

I don't think I've ever seen a split screen ad in a soccer match.

They used to do it with MLS games. But I haven't sat down and watched one of those for years now. I've never seen it during an EPL match.

 

[NATEizKING]

You should lose a point in soccer for shooting and missing the goal entirely. The damn thing is 192 square feet and teams only get single digit shots on goal in 90+ minutes?

So how many negative points for missing a field goal?

That thing is infinite in size

 

[boone7247]

High scoring allows for greater differentiation. Lower scoring increases the odds that a "lucky" play is going to be the deciding factor (e.g. the US win over Ghana). In higher scoring games, the "lucky" plan toward the end is only significant if the score has remained close.

I'm not judging anyone else's preferences, but I think I'm figuring out why I am not as interested in soccer.

I don't disagree with what you said, however, both of the goals the US scored were skill goals. Maybe they were luckly to only give up one goal, but part of that was the defense they played.

 

[3TrueFans]

I always wondered why cutting away from a NASCAR race for commercials is acceptable to the watching public.

I am not a roundy-roundy fan, so there is bias. But strictly from enjoying a sport point of view, why would you tolerate being left in the dark for 4 minutes of commercials while action is taking place. Its like buying a movie theater ticket and getting up 8 times in two hours to go to the bathroom. Rent the movie ....

It should be the same as soccer but people seem to accept it. Now I have no interest in racing, but technically the action never stops so the coverage should never stop, just like watching a soccer match. It's probably much too late to change now but I think if people had gotten up in arms whenever that practice started things might have gone differently. I would be furious if I were watching a match and they cut away for a commercial break.

 

[3TrueFans]

So how many negative points for missing a field goal?

That thing is infinite in size

It just keeps going up and up forever, how could they ever miss!?!

 

[Cyclonin]

Honestly if they got rid of offsides. I think I would be more into soccer. I just can't compute in my head why you get penalized for beating the other person to a spot. That is just me. I hate that rule. Also, if they got rid of it the scores would be higher and I think more Americans would buy in. BTW every time the world cup comes around the same discusion is had. Soccer people think this is the one that is gonna make Amercians like soccer. It never is. Until the NFL folds. America is a football country.

Getting rid of offsides would completely change the game. I hope you aren't serious.

Not a straight comparison, but what if Megatron got to start behind the corner back on a play, Stafford could throw it up to him and score 95% of the time. That would be ridiculous.

In soccer, you would expand the field and have cherry pickers and essentially change the whole dynamic of the game.

 

[Bigman38]

Honestly if they got rid of offsides. I think I would be more into soccer. I just can't compute in my head why you get penalized for beating the other person to a spot. That is just me. I hate that rule. Also, if they got rid of it the scores would be higher and I think more Americans would buy in. BTW every time the world cup comes around the same discusion is had. Soccer people think this is the one that is gonna make Amercians like soccer. It never is. Until the NFL folds. America is a football country.

Because getting rid of offsides would be like getting rid of goaltending in basketball. It would kill any sort of meaningful strategy. And cherry pickers are the worst.

 

[Mr Janny]

I get your point, but the same could be said about soccer scoring. It takes a lot of strategy in soccer. Look at the Swiss game on Sunday. Ecuador had a chance to win the game with about a minute left. The Swiss defense stepped up and stole the ball. A series of passes ensued that took the ball all the way up the field in 30 seconds where the Swiss put in a goal to win it.

A lot has to go perfect for that play to happen. Positioning at all times is important. If one of the Swiss players was out of position or the forward made a different run/touch/etc, that could have completely changed the outcome.

I view that as increased strategy or drama. To see a ball travel 100+ yards, in between 11 defenders, with 1-2 touches per pass is magical to me.

No it can't. Soccer is scored only 1 point at a time. Assigning different point values to different types of scores gives football a layer of strategy that soccer does not have. That's just not even an arguable point.

 

[NATEizKING]

if that's what you think I was getting at then you missed the point entirely. The idea is that multiple types of scores = increased strategy = added drama = added excitement.

USA's game on Monday gave me a feeling that's only been duplicated watching ISU basketball, that second half was intense without too many real scoring chances.

 

[CyFan61]

They used to do it with MLS games. But I haven't sat down and watched one of those for years now. I've never seen in during an EPL match.

Yes, I have seen it with the MLS.

I really think that American soccer is hurt by its small-but-hardy group of fans in the USA paying most or all of their attention to overseas leagues. A casual sports fan in Atlanta will watch the Falcons and the Braves, but not Everton or Bayern Munich.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Getting rid of offsides would completely change the game. I hope you aren't serious.

In soccer, you would expand the field and have cherry pickers and essentially change the whole dynamic of the game.

I hate that excuse: cherry pickers. Like Clint Dempsy is just going to sit there by the goal until the ball is hit to him. Teams that do that will lose a man on defense so that's their choice. I wish some soccer league would just get rid of the rule and try it. Just try it for a season.

And it's not like goaltending at all. Goaltending would be the equivalent of a position player using his hands to stop a goal. This is a red card and they get the goal anyway. Imagine an offside rules in basketball - half the highlights would be gone instantly. Americans want highlights.

 

[jdoggivjc]

How many times has a football or basketball game gone down to the last play or last possession? That is very exciting. Soccer just doesn't have that "goal line defense" situation that we crave. I really hate the offside rule (and I was a sweeper for 10 years) because it disrupts the flow of the game. It's like basketball not allowing an offense player to make a alley-oop or something.

Apparently you missed the Ghana-USA game on Monday, because it was exactly as you describe. USA trying to hold a lead late in a game and failing (in a type of goal-line stand fashion), only minutes later to score the game-winning goal (in a walk-off fashion).

 

[NATEizKING]

How many times has a football or basketball game gone down to the last play or last possession? That is very exciting. Soccer just doesn't have that "goal line defense" situation that we crave. I really hate the offside rule (and I was a sweeper for 10 years) because it disrupts the flow of the game. It's like basketball not allowing an offense player to make a alley-oop or something.

Soccer has many close possessions at the end of the game that could have a result, the fact that any one of them could have a game changing impact is a level of excitement that soccer fans equate to a goal line stand.

As for the offsides comparison, yeah you can get a layup like you can get a breakaway, but you can't stand in the lane for 3 seconds waiting for that oop.

 

[Cyclonin]

No it can't. Soccer is scored only 1 point at a time. Assigning different point values to different types of scores gives football a layer of strategy that soccer does not have. That's just not even an arguable point.

Sorry I guess I shouldn't have included the word scoring. Wrong point I was trying to make. The rest holds.

Soccer still has drama, excitement, strategy. And because their is only one way to score (and in your mind, less strategy that goes along with it), we don't enjoy it as much? We have different views and that's fine. I guess I don't put that much weight on different ways to score.

 

[Cyclonin]

I hate that excuse: cherry pickers. Like Clint Dempsy is just going to sit there by the goal until the ball is hit to him. Teams that do that will lose a man on defense so that's their choice. I wish some soccer league would just get rid of the rule and try it. Just try it for a season.

And it's not like goaltending at all. Goaltending would be the equivalent of a position player using his hands to stop a goal. This is a red card and they get the goal anyway. Imagine an offside rules in basketball - half the highlights would be gone instantly. Americans want highlights.

I never mentioned goaltending. I compared it to a WR able to start behind the CB or Safety.

 

[mctallerton]

So my understanding of this thread is lets turn soccer into a combination of baseball, basketball, and football. Only then will Americans enjoy it.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Apparently you missed the Ghana-USA game on Monday, because it was exactly as you describe. USA trying to hold a lead late in a game and failing (in a type of goal-line stand fashion), only minutes later to score the game-winning goal (in a walk-off fashion).

I watched the entire game and the first minutes was great and the last 4 were great. The other 95 minutes were boring - and yes i played soccer - and yes I understand the strategy - and yes I know the excitement of coming close to scoring.