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Advice for soccer noobs

RJKarl said:
The reality is for over forty years some Americans have been saying, "Soccer is coming". It hasn't.

Yes tens of millions of kids have played. But that doesn't matter. For the vast, vast majority once they are big enough to play baseball, football, basketball and even hockey, they switch sports.

As the WSJ shows (http://online.wsj.com/articles/is-this-soccers-moment-in-america-1403819659), MLS only averages 174,000 viewers for regular season games. The league championship got 505,000 viewers.

The World Cup is like the Olympics. People love to watch USA, but stop watching gymnastics, swimming and track and field for the next four years when the final ceremonies end. It's the same with soccer.

Will soccer get a bump in popularity? Yes.

Will it become a Top 4 pro sport in the US in the next fifty years? Very highly unlikely.
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I'd wager friendlies, qualifiers, and other matches on ESPN get plenty of high ratings. ESPN also carries the Euro Cup and I think that does well for them. Fox is invested enough in soccer that they show the Champions League finals on regular Fox each year rather than one of their cable stations. You are wrong. Dead wrong.
 
DiegoTiger said:
Here's the case against Everton....they are losers. They are not going to win the Premier League, and they are very likely not going to see Champion's League football as well. 5th this year is their ceiling. Next year Tottenham and United will leap them and they will settle back into the 7/8/9 range where they belong.

It's admirable not to want to be a "bandwagon" fan, but honestly, that kind of sucks when rooting for a team in Europe that you have no connections with. If you are like me, and I know you are because you are a Wake and Padres fan, then you have multiple teams that love to lose. There really is no reason to add another team that's just going to consistently lose. There is enough fight between the top 4-6 to still create drama.

And following a team for one player is also an issue. When I first started watching, Schevchenko was my boy, so I started following Chelsea. Well he leaves, as all players do, and I come to realize Chelsea are a miserable crew. Their style of play is maddening, and my homie Vad tells me their fan base is filled with nazis.....kinda screwed at that point, because I've already developed a hatred of Man U and Pool, so they are not options...

So I would suggest watching the top teams, following them, getting to know their history, and picking one of the big dogs that you connect with.
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Good post. Not only will Everton not win, but they'll break your heart in the process. This year they had 4th place wrapped up and managed to drop points to beatable teams to squander it all.

I would definitely pick a team based on style of play vs a particular player who probably won't be around for very long with the team, aside from a few exceptions. If I wasn't already a Liverpool fan, I would have become one last year after watching their style of play. Lots of counters and through balls, leading to lots of goals.
 
Marquee Moon said:
After the WC is over, what's the best way to jump into the world of soccer?
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Don't and keep watching American sports like baseball, basketball & football. Soccer doesn't in in an "L" therefore it is an activity, not a sport.
 
I wonder if soccer will increase in popularity simply at the expense of the NFL. I don't think the concussion issue is anywhere close to being resolved, and I expect to see more stories in the coming years like Junior Seau regarding players that become more and more familiar to us because we watched them in their prime. On the other side, you'll see parents start to pull their kids out of youth football or not enroll them at all.
 
BarcaDeac said:
I'd wager friendlies, qualifiers, and other matches on ESPN get plenty of high ratings. ESPN also carries the Euro Cup and I think that does well for them. Fox is invested enough in soccer that they show the Champions League finals on regular Fox each year rather than one of their cable stations. You are wrong. Dead wrong.
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People have been saying that reality is wrong for almost half a century now. Reality has been right.

If you took a minute to look at the article, you'd see EPL averaged about 395,000 viewers during the season.

Basketball is the least watched big three sport. It averages over 2M viewers per game during the regular season. This is over 1100% more than soccer.
 
This is anecdotal, but relevant. The 4 families we hang out with play pick up soccer almost every weekend. We play pick up football maybe 2-3 times a year. Basketball and baseball/softball almost never. And the parents are all old enough that most of us didn't even have the option of playing soccer in school.

It may be a slow process, but soccer is becoming more popular here.

I too need a soccer team to pull for. This has been a great thread. I was leaning towards Everton, but being a WFU fan and living in Houston the "we already pull for teams that will never win" argument is compelling.
 
TheReff said:
Don't and keep watching American sports like baseball, basketball & football. Soccer doesn't in in an "L" therefore it is an activity, not a sport.
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I can't believe I'm engaging you, but what about golf, tennis, and hockey, you rube?
 
thereff and rj agree on a topic folks. think about that. the two stupidest motherfuckers on this board agree.
 
Kent said:
This is anecdotal, but relevant. The 4 families we hang out with play pick up soccer almost every weekend. We play pick up football maybe 2-3 times a year. Basketball and baseball/softball almost never. And the parents are all old enough that most of us didn't even have the option of playing soccer in school.

It may be a slow process, but soccer is becoming more popular here.

I too need a soccer team to pull for. This has been a great thread. I was leaning towards Everton, but being a WFU fan and living in Houston the "we already pull for teams that will never win" argument is compelling.
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what about an MLS team?

follow DC United somewhat myself since their inception. their old logo was better.
 
RJKarl said:
People have been saying that reality is wrong for almost half a century now. Reality has been right.

If you took a minute to look at the article, you'd see EPL averaged about 395,000 viewers during the season.

Basketball is the least watched big three sport. It averages over 2M viewers per game during the regular season. This is over 1100% more than soccer.
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The US TV viewing numbers are in for the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. The match was televised live on FOX, the free over-the-air network, and was watched by an average of 1.9 million people. This compares to the 1.4 million people who watched the 2013 Champions League final, but was far lower than the 2.6 million people who watched the 2011 Champions League final on FOX, between Barcelona and Manchester United.
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http://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/05/...atch-2014-uefa-champions-league-final-on-fox/

ESPN announced on Wednesday afternoon that Tuesday’s qualifier doubled the highest previous rating for a World Cup qualifier, registering a 1.4 rating (which translates to about 2.85 million viewers). The previous record for a World Cup qualifier show on an ESPN network was the 2009 World Cup qualifier between the same countries, which drew a 0.7 rating (about 1,191,000 viewers).

The ratings bonanza wasn’t limited to English-language TV. UniMas posted a new network high for audience rating, recording an audience of 4.8 million for the Spanish-language broadcast in the United States. That total is the highest every recorded by the network for any broadcast.

To sum up, about 7.65 million viewers watched USA-Mexico, making it easily the most-viewed World Cup qualifier in American soccer history.
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http://www.soccerbyives.net/2013/03/ratings-qualifier-records.html
NEW YORK -- Spain's 4-0 win over Italy in the European Championship final drew an audience of 4,068,000 on ESPN, up 8 percent over the 3,761,000 who watched La Furia Roja's 1-0 win against Germany in the 2008 final on ABC.

In addition, 563,000 watched Sunday's final on computers, smart phones, tablets and Xbox, with a minute average of 194,097.

ESPN said Tuesday the 31-game tournament averaged 1.3 million viewers, up 51 percent for the 859,000 average for 2008. Digital viewers averaged 289,000 per game, with an average minute audience of 96,102.
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http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/eu...2012-4-million-watched-spain-italy-final-espn

What was that again?
 
AttilatheHoo said:
what about an MLS team?

follow DC United somewhat myself since their inception. their old logo was better.
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The Dynamos are a possibility. I am a compete soccer noob, but I have the impression (largely from this board) that the best soccer is in Europe. Plus, having watched a butt load of WC games, I know a few of the players now.
 
Go to a local MLS team game.

Follow the us friendly schedule. Go to a game if it's close to you.

English premier league is easiest international league to follow. Watch and see what teams pique your interest. Read up about their history, ownership, etc.

Definitely watch the champions league: best club teams in Europe play in a tournament. Set up somewhat similar to World Cup with group matches then a knockout stage.
 
iodeac said:
Good post. Not only will Everton not win, but they'll break your heart in the process. This year they had 4th place wrapped up and managed to drop points to beatable teams to squander it all.

I would definitely pick a team based on style of play vs a particular player who probably won't be around for very long with the team, aside from a few exceptions. If I wasn't already a Liverpool fan, I would have become one last year after watching their style of play. Lots of counters and through balls, leading to lots of goals.
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Can't the "style of play" leave with a coach? Seems like Coaches tenures are less than players these days.

I also really enjoyed Miralles game yesterday. Don't think Lukaku comes back, but he was great last year. and Ross Barkley is awesome. Also thought their manager has had some good insights during world cup. plus Tim. So I feel like I have a few good reasons to pull for them. I like their kits and home stadium as well.

I just don't know how to pull for favorite. I'm all ready slightly embarrassed to be a Lakers fan, but they were closest team in proximity growing up. I only pull for So-Cal Teams, and never picked a team based off anything other than that. I'll watch other games, and see if a team grabs me for sure. But I'm all in on Tim Howard.

I pull for the Sounders hard. I really have enjoyed their play. Dempsey and Yedlin are obvious. Alonso has been a rock. The fans are nuts. And I'm very good friends with the Head of Marketing and Head Equipment manager for them. Plus I lived in Seattle when they first started up, so had instant connection. I know the play of MLS doesn't compare to Europe, but its improving.
 
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BarcaDeac said:
http://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/05/...atch-2014-uefa-champions-league-final-on-fox/



http://www.soccerbyives.net/2013/03/ratings-qualifier-records.html


http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/eu...2012-4-million-watched-spain-italy-final-espn

What was that again?
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I applaud your tenacity. The same things have been said for decades.

US/Mexico is not an everyday game. A championship is not an everyday game. A WC qualifier is not an every day game.

Talk to me when a Tuesday game between Columbus and Seattle draws even 1M viewers.

You have a nice niche sport in the US. That's what it is.

It has a good purpose with really young kids.
 
iodeac said:
Good post. Not only will Everton not win, but they'll break your heart in the process. This year they had 4th place wrapped up and managed to drop points to beatable teams to squander it all.

I would definitely pick a team based on style of play vs a particular player who probably won't be around for very long with the team, aside from a few exceptions. If I wasn't already a Liverpool fan, I would have become one last year after watching their style of play. Lots of counters and through balls, leading to lots of goals.
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i mean it wasn't that great of a post, he's basically just suggesting you follow a team that's gonna win because it's less fun to follow teams that lose

but yea, everton will break your heart

i know most sports fans feel this way about their teams though

this wake/detroit sports fan certainly does

ultimately, if you watch for a while you'll feel a kinship with a team eventually, based on either their style of play or their group of players

i like that everton is the working class liverpool team with ownership that won't just buy their way to success, it fits my sensibilities, but i also am perfectly content trying to verrrrry slowly build a young core and just get my heart broken every year
 
Kent said:
This is anecdotal, but relevant. The 4 families we hang out with play pick up soccer almost every weekend. We play pick up football maybe 2-3 times a year. Basketball and baseball/softball almost never. And the parents are all old enough that most of us didn't even have the option of playing soccer in school.

It may be a slow process, but soccer is becoming more popular here.

I too need a soccer team to pull for. This has been a great thread. I was leaning towards Everton, but being a WFU fan and living in Houston the "we already pull for teams that will never win" argument is compelling.
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Do you relate to a never say die attitude that trickles all the way through the club? Do you like a hint of arrogance to your teams? And do you like a head coach that says things like:
Confident
"I know I'm a very good coach."
Combative
"Am I the one who's so smart, or are you so stupid?"
Honest
"I am who I am: confident, arrogant, dominant, honest, hard-working and innovative."
Arrogant
"Congratulations on signing the best coach in the world."
Cocky
"Louis van Gaal has nothing more to learn."
Cheeky
"When I think I've made an error, it can cause me a sleepless night. But that only happens rarely."
Bold
"I’m not the kind of coach who just goes out and buys players for the sake of it. I’m a coach who wants to – and can – improve players.
Single-minded
"I am the way I am and I've not got an easy-going manner. But I'm not going to change my personality just because some people want me to."
Bonkers
"Running is for animals. You need a brain and a ball for football."



If so, then you might want to check out some Manchester United matches next season. MUFC are going to be entertaining -- very, very entertaining.
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One must tread carefully with this strategy of picking a team when you are already a Cowboys fan.
 
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