Will the American soccer league take off?

Question

I happened to catch an American soccer game on t.v last night and what a travesty it was.

There was absoulty zero skill involved and it seemed more like a game of pinball.

On the plus side every player looked extremly athletic but there was no heart in their game.

Do you think they will ever improve or even understand how footie should be played?

Answer 1

no, not until they stop calling headers "head shots"

Answer 2

Well, it is getting better as we go, but the most natural talents in the US go to the NFL, NBA, and MLB, so it's tough to fill an entire league for a minority sport. The talent difference is evident in the fact that the few really talented players end up playing in Europe (i.e.: Claudio Reyna, Tim Howard, etc.) And therein lies the problem, too. If we could retain the best domestic talent and even attract international talent, the league would improve exponentially. As it is, our better teams would probably only be able to compete in English second or third division.

On the other hand, the fan situation is getting better. Teams are getting good attendance, overall. There is better coverage and exposure, thought still slight. It can be hoped that this will improve over the next couple decades as kids who grew up playing in the excellent youth systems we have look to hold on to their interest as adults.

Let me add that this nonsense from incongru cracks me up:

"I can't see soccer ever taking off in the states, frankly. Not enough razamatazz. Americans like to "whoop and holler" when their team scores, in a manner similar to a herd of baboons."

Heh, kind of like, um, oh yeah, English football fans. Fans are fans, and frankly, English football fans are some of the most boorish, uncivilized fans on the planet, so you might reconsider your poor observations.

Answer 3

who really care's.i remember watching a game from the state's once and it was embarrassing to even call it football. your right they have no heart they cant tackle with passion. the only good amercian players on this planet are playing in europe. the only way for there game to improve is if the brittish coach's take over there teams put a bit of passion into there game. but it wont happen and it never will because football is not there no 1 sport. they would rather watch sum guy hit a ball with a bat(how boring) or even how about a stop start game that last's for 4 hours(zzzzzzzzzz) even wrestling has more influence than football has ha ha. they are one of the few nation's in the world that football aint there no 1 sport they will never catch up. they are a country of oddball's they want to be diffrent from the rest..

Answer 4

Americans like to see loads of goals and don't really understand a game where the players can play for 90 minutes without a goal being scored.

I can't see soccer ever taking off in the states, frankly. Not enough razamatazz. Americans like to "whoop and holler" when their team scores, in a manner similar to a herd of baboons. If there are only one or two goals they would feel cheated.

I wish the "ladie's" soccer league had taken off in the States though. some of those women were magnificent specimens.

Answer 5

It'll probably get better, but its a long road when there's so much competition from other sports that are considered "authentically American".

Salary caps in the league don't help, as they get fewer washed up world stars to put bums on seats. Not that a salary cap is a bad thing, looking at the Premier League these days....

Answer 6

Unless they widen the goals to allow scores similar to NFL (i.e. double figures each), allow replays to resolve everything, allow people to pick up the ball and hoof it from anywhere and change it into 4 quarters from 2 halves then no.

Also, extra time would have to be played to the death (Literally sometimes) to allow for a decided game.

They don't seem to take much to games they haven't invented.

On the plus side, it gives has been pro's from Europe a chance to earn a few more grand by playing on for another couple of years (Goodbye Mr Beckham).

Answer 7

It is work in progress. The league has survived it's first 10 years. I think it can only get better for them. Of course, there is no need to compare the teams to the big powerhouse teams in Europe.

Answer 8

I have great respect for americans. Whatever they set their mind on, they almost always can achieve.
However, this is more a cultural problem than anything. Americans just don't have soccer DNA.

Answer 9

They've tried and failed on numerous occasions to bring football to the USA unfortunately they can't get their heads round a sport that can end in a draw!

Answer 10

the american soccer league will take off approximatley the same time as thunderbirds 2 does

Answer 11

no the americans are to concerned with there other sports. interesting they have a world series [something like that] but its only americans playing in it. huh???