I don't pretend to know anything about soccer, but since I recently moved to San Jose I thought about going to some Earthquakes games. Is American Soccer a joke, or is it actually worth watching?

Well that depends on which team you're watching. San Jose is a pretty good team; they have US soccer posterboy Landon Donovan and veteran defenders Troy Dayak and Jeff Agoos. I'm not a big Quakes fan so you might want to check out their website or the MLS website (mlsnet.com) for more info.

Hey thanks metro, I did check out their website, Wow, I'm glad the Quakes have Landon Donovan! Can't wait to see the team play.

I wouldn't call USA soccer a joke (especialy after the last World Cup), but I admit I just can't get as excited about it as seeing a European game.

Even having seen few games, and all of those televised, I see a higher level of play and excitement in routine games among teams and fans outside the USA.

I guess you have to be able to enjoy watching great plays and no scoring for extended periods.

I make a few DC United games a year. The problem is that I have seen English Premiership Football live (Aston Villa) and Ireland's league live, as well (Finn Harps), and I just can't into the game here in the US like I did over there. As much as I would love to see the MLS succeed, I would still prefer to go to an NHL or MLB game any day. I just can't explain it. It's like the excitement is lost or something over here...

Maybe the problem is the stadium......MLS only has one team playing in a soccer-specfic stadium (the Columbus Crew), but one more (LA Galaxy) will be in one by the end of the year, the Dallas Burn has one coming in 2005, and the Metrostars are supposedly building one to be opened in 2005 also. Other than that, the empty seats, and in some cases (Gilette Stadium), completely empty sections, cause some of the atmosphere to be lost.

BTW- if you get a chance, head out to the Columbus Crew Stadium....I was just there last week, and it was great!

The Columbus Crew's facilities are soccer-friendly with the right capacity. Back when I lived in South Florida, I did not get into the Fusion games like I did with the old Ft. Lauderdale Strikers in the NASL. Lockhart Stadium was retrofit for the Fusion and it was the right capacity but the ownership kept the Miami name and did not do any marketing like the Strikers did.

I have not been to a Chicago Fire game since I moved up. I have seen some of their games on TV. Currently, they are playing at Naperville's North Central College stadium which is cozy and festive like old Lockhart. They are playing in Naperville until Soliders Field is completed. However, the Fire is looking into possible soccer friendly sites here in Chicagoland region (Naperville, Arlington Heights, and UIC).

I think the San Jose franchise did the right move when they took back the Earthquake name. I think the two Florida franchises, Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion, in the MLS failed because they did not have any leaks to the successful past with the Rowdies and Strikers in the NASL.

Hopefully, the MLS is getting their acts together and take expansion very slowly.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Busch family, patrons of the Cardinals, pump a whole shitload of money into youth soccer programs at one point?

Seems I heard that a long time ago, but remembered some story that soccer was big in that part of the US as a result. So why doesn't St. Louis have a MLS team?

Wow, the S.J. Quakes are doing alright! (GP 4, 3-0-1 Pts:10) Nice to get off to a good start.

Well I don't know why St. Louis doesn't have an MLS team (maybe because it is too close to Kansas City?) but I do know that one of the best soccer players in US history, Brian McBride, is from St. Louis.

There's a great photo of Beckham shooting one of his famous penalty kick "benders" over the Real Madrid squad in the Guardian. I don't know if it's on the net.

Real are spending obscene amounts of money to get the best players in the world and apparently are still pursuing Becks to the tune of a $60,000,000 dollar contract.

Not bad looking...Real Madrid's squad that is. (They lost 4-3 by the way. Does that mean Becks will want more? :cool: )

Update:

Saw the LA Galaxy shut out the New Enlgland Revolution yesterday in one of the rare televised MLS games I've been able to see.

Kamler's kick to the opposite side of the goal to score their first, was beautiful. Tough to see that cute goalie of Galaxy's get beat but you gotta love a play like that.

[ May 11, 2003, 10:16 AM: Message edited by: sportinlife ]

Re: Real Madrid. They lost that one game 4-3 but really, once they scored the first goal (since the away goal counts as the tiebreaker), they took their foot off the gas pedal. They still won the 2 legs comfortably. Real's first 30 minutes of the game at the Bernabeau was the most thrilling display of football I've ever seen. Too bad they got thumped by Juventus today; it'll be an all-Italian European Cup finZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Re: the MLS. I've watched a few games on TV but it's like watching the game in slow motion. The quality of play is roughly equal, in my view, to the lower reaches of, say, England's Division 1. Due to the limits of foreigners, it's still basically Americans and while that's good for the national team, it's not so great at a club level. As was pointed out above, the lack of dedicated soccer-only stadiums is a big minus. The new Home Depot Center (ugh) in Carson looks like a nice home for the Galaxy and I want to go to a match there.

I'm still a little pissed that Brian McBride was recalled from Everton to start the MLS season; I understand why but he was doing well for the Blues and they could have used a few of his goals down the stretch of the Premiership, when Everton faded from a European spot.

When the MLS started, it looked like DC United were going to be the Yankees of the league. However, after 3 MLS titles in the first 4 years, they have spiraled their way into a nightmare of a team. I believe they are 0-2-4 as of this posting. I was thrilled for Bruce Arena when he was chosen for the US National Team. ...and the fact that Arena seems to be a winner wherever he goes was really evidenced in last year's World Cup. However, where does DC United go from here? Etcheverry, whom I was shocked to find out was actually a year younger than me moves around the field like an old man. They have had a different goaltender every year since their last MLS cup. I know what it is like to support a team that loses--have been a NY Rangers and Knicks fan my whole life. But I just see no progress here, and my desire to go to their games has just lessened.

i watch the MLS, really enjoy soccer and theres some good talent in the MLS. Landon Donovan is a very good player and one sexy guy too.
Ive attended a few games and really enjoyed it

The rumo(u)r mill in England has the MetroStar's Tim Howard being linked with Manchester United, in light of Sir Alex Ferguson's reputed displeasure with Fabien Barthez. Howard has Tourette's Syndrome, which is stereotypically pictured as involuntary cursing but is more along the lines of tics and habits. If he does transfer to Manchester United--and I can't figure out why Ferguson would want him as Howard's not even a US team regular and he's stated his goal of winning the Champion's League next year--he'd better have skin thicker than the earth's core because the fans in England will be absolutely BRUTAL towards him re: his Tourette's. I'm pretty sure that Leeds, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City fans (among others) are already working up chants for 40-50,000 people to sing:

Tim Howard
F-f-f-f-f**k
S-s-s-s-shit
P-p-p-p-piss
C-c-c-c-***
That's Tim Howard of United

Jim Allen, there was word out that Ferguson is also interested in Paul Robinson of Leeds United, and perhaps Rustu Recber, the Turkish goalkeeper in the last World Cup, who plays for Fenerbahce. But it appears that Arsenal's Arsene Wenger is also going after these two guys, so it will be very interesting to see how this unfolds...

My guess is that Ferguson would prefer the 23-year-old Robinson.

Well, Leeds have said that there is absolutely no way, under any circumstances that Paul Robinson is going to hated rivals Manchester United or anywhere else for that matter. Of course, they said the same thing about Rio Ferdinand, so obviously that means he's going! Leeds have staggering debts, in the region of about 80 million pounds (about $120 million US), due to their buying spree that was predicated on them making the Champions League, which they didn't. So, they might have to sell Robinson; I'm sure they'd prefer to The Arse. Maybe my favorite footballer, the Leeds second choice keeper Nigel Martyn, will actually get to play again if Robinson is transfer listed.

Speaking of Leeds players... I would really like Man United to go after Harry Cutie... umm I mean, Harry Kewell!

His contract is set to expire in 2004, and it appears that the transfer price is far less than previously commanded!

Leeds was such a brilliant club only just a couple of years ago... So many up-and-coming young players... Sad to see the recent liquidation sales.

Finally... It took 8 games, but DC United beat the Chicago Fire 2-0. It also took me having to leave DC for a few days to break the jinx. Now they are 1-3-4! :cool:

You know I will feel absolutely horrible for Tim Howard if any f***ing Arsenal or Liverpool or etc. fans make fun of him....he is certainly just as good a player as David Seaman and in case you missed it....he stopped a penalty kick a few weeks ago against Dallas, this week was the first time he let up more than 1 goal all season, and I cant exactly blame Fergie for wanting him...he is the best GK in MLS

Now I do have two problems with Man U taking Timmy: A. I HATE MAN U and B. Who are the Metros going to get in net? Joe Cannon, the former Quakes goalie is a possiblity, but because of the leagues single-entity system, SJ still holds his right and want big payment (i.e. potential Rookie of the Year Ricardo Clark) for him. Other possibilities include Boca Juniors reserve team keeper, Johnny Walker, a US goalie who has been playing in Chile, and the Metros backup Paul Grafer

What do you all think...if Timmy Howard heads off to Manchester, will he be a reserve or the first-teamer?