Ms FootyNut: End of World Cup Means Loss of Interest For Average Fans

It seems like the topic of the week is whether or not this 2010 FIFA World Cup had any lasting effect on US soccer's fan base.

IMHO I agree with Mr FootyNut's post that it may grab a converted fan or two, but I don't think it will reach a critical mass of any sort. I speak from experience in this as I was enamored with the World Cup while "my teams" (USA and England) were still in it. But as soon as they were eliminated I found myself dramatically less interested in the game. I'm sorry, Mr. FootyNut, but I have no desire to watch MLS or EPL games (unless I'm in the stadium).

In fairness, I have no desire to watch any other sport - unless it's a major competition...and most of the times not then either. Basicallym yes, I will only watch sports on television during the Olympics and now, World Cup. So, for a few weeks, every few years. But unlike even those who are annually dedicated to the Final Four, the Superbowl etc, my interest in sports in general do not go that far.

I think Americans who actually like watching sports on television, and who also watched this year's USMNT (US Mutant Ninja Turtles!!) may have a higher conversion rate. However, I don't get the impression that the t.v. networks (sports based or otherwise) are going to help fuel the Slightly Interested into becoming Super Fans. I think part of it boils down to accessibility to the game. If you show it, they might watch. If you don't...well, you get it. I would guess that someone with a friend (or partner) who is obsessed with footy is more likely to convert because they have a leader.

I also think fans of other sports are annoyed by blatant dives and become bored by what can be considered low-scoring games. Teams like Germany and Argentina have had higher scoring games recently and - on paper at least - that could be seen as more exciting. But during the group stages, the teams were more concerned with not losing than they were with winning so they settled for draws more often than in the later stages.

I'll conclude by saying that it will take time for me to become a Super Fan all year 'round, not just quadrennially. I think that will be true of most lay people who watched this World Cup.

In case you missed it, Ms FootyNut is guest blogging here to give a layperson's view of soccer and the World Cup.

What's Next For U.S. Soccer?

And so another World Cup has come and gone for the United States' soccer team. But instead of crashing out of the tournament like in 2006, the Americans fought on until a heartbreaking ending saw them exit with unfulfilled potential and questions of what might have been.

Now that the din has died down and half of America has forgotten what a yellow card is and what the World Cup is all about, the long-term question arises: What's next for U.S. Soccer?

5. Youth Development













In the next two decades the United States Soccer Federation and its top tier professional leagues need to fine tune their youth development system. As Stateside Soccer reported back in February, United States U17 star Luis Gil was the center of a supposed signing battle in which Major League Soccer beat out Arsenal to sign the youngster. In doing so, however, the MLS arguably robbed a future USMNT star from experience in one of the world's best development systems. I'm all for developing US players at home, but the MLS has neither the resources nor the competitive level to properly develop the talents of our youngest players. The result is a stunted growth wherein the players reach their peak later than many other world talents.

4. MLS Expansion














With wild speculation flying around about the make-up of a 20 team MLS, the consensus seems to be that MLS is growing and will continue into the next decade. Whether the league will creep past 20 teams or the US Soccer Federation will step in and develop second and third tier leagues is yet to be seen. But either way, soccer will be growing over the next four years and - as long as the speed of growth is kept at a responsible level - it can mean nothing but good things.

3. 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup














If there's one thing the 2009 Confederations Cup taught us it's that experience matters and confidence counts. Without their spectacular run to the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup it is hard to see how the USMNT would have found the realistic confidence to go up against world powers like Spain and Brazil. So the first step to the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil starts with the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup next summer. It's simple if the US wins, it books its ticket to the tournament and with it some much needed tournament experience ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

2. Michael Bradley












If there was one high quality constant throughout the World Cup for the U.S. it was the 22 year old midfielder and son of the coach, Michael Bradley. He was ever-present in the midfield, winning balls, linking up with the forwards and even scoring the crucial tying goal against Slovenia in the U.S.'s second group game. Bradley's performance for the National Team has long been one of a consistent but relatively unsung backbone for an otherwise schizophrenic midfield and the U.S. soccer community has sensed greatness. Now the NY Times Goal Blog has given statistics to his performances, placing him high in rankings such as tackling and distance covered. And with as many as two more World Cups ahead of him, he may just be the future of US Soccer.

1. The 2018/2022 US World Cup Bids











When the curtain falls on South Africa in two weeks, the world's focus will turn to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the announcement of the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup. The United States has bids to host the 2018 or 2022 tournament. MLS Commissioner Don Garber, US Soccer president Sunil Gulati, Henry Kissinger and Michael Bloomberg are on a board who has offered forth nothing but American football stadiums as venues (though, admittedly, they had few alternative options). The announcement for the host nations will take place some time in December of 2010.

Will the Bump in TV Ratings for the World Cup Translate to Interst in MLS?

US fans look on as Landon Donovan scores a goal against Ghana (AP)

ABC/ESPN is reporting that viewership for the US vs. Ghana game on Saturday was up 10% compared to the US vs. England game two weeks ago.

While this may be all well and good for the quadrennial soccer bandwagon and flag waving fans, what does it mean in terms of the long-term viability of the sport? It's one thing to draw in the casual fans who will cheer for anything if it has the American flag on it and another thing entirely to turn them into fans of the sport. A large number of Americans will watch the Olympics once every four years, but it's not like they're chomping at the bit for skating or gymnastics during the other three, you know what I mean?

But the outlook is looking good. Some reports have this season's overall MLS attendance to date up 10% compared to this time last year. More people are going to see their local team in person. And even though this year's numbers to date include the numbers for Philadelphia's two home games at PPL park with an average attendance of more than 29,000, they remain promising. More people are joining in the culture of American soccer. The sport isn't growing everywhere (that same report has attendance for New England and San Jose down by double digits), but it's growing. And I count that as a win.

Stateside Soccer is Now on Facebook

Stateside Soccer launched its Facebook fan page Friday. The page is open to any fans of soccer from the United States and abroad.

Blog readers and followers of @StatesideSoccer on Twitter can enjoy the same level of news and commentary on soccer leagues, teams and trends from around the globe, including:

• The one stop shop for breaking news from FIFA, the US Men's National Soccer Team, Major League Soccer, USSF-D2, and the USL Premier Development League.
• Easy to read guides to the fundamentals of soccer for new-comers to the Beautiful Game.
  
• Exclusive commentary on soccer trends in the United States.
• Predictions and brackets for major tournaments and matches.
  
• Analysis of soccer in the US media by a communications professional with experience in journalism and public relations.
• The occasional off-beat post by Ms. FootyNut, a new-comer to the sport and an expert in layperson soccer commentary.
  

In the next few months following the unfortunate, but unavoidable end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Stateside Soccer will examine the gains soccer has made in the US, the return of MLS soccer and the ramp up to the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the announcements of the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

For more information on Stateside Soccer, the information it covers and any media inquiries, email StatesideSoccer (at) gmail (dot) com.

Stateside Soccer is a soccer blog based in Detroit, Michigan covering US soccer and soccer from around the globe, including Major League Soccer (MLS), the US Men's National Team (USMNT), English Premier League (EPL), UEFA Champions League, Australian A-League and the general popularity of soccer in the United States. Follow Stateside Soccer on Twitter @StatesideSoccer and on Facebook.

Promotion/Relegation League System Part of US Soccer's '50 Year Plan'

Sunil Gulati (left), President of the US Soccer Federation (USSoccerPlayers.com)

A Stefan Fatsis article published Saturday on Slate Magazine's website has wrenched my attention from the World Cup for a minute. In the article, US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati implies that a promotion/relegation league system with a fall-winter-spring season will be given a strong consideration by the USSF in the next 25 years.

According to Gulati, such changes are part of a 50 year plan aimed at cementing the United States' status at soccer's "adult table." Never mind that the plan was unheard of before last year. Never mind that there has been no serious talk of how to go about implementing such a plan in light of the MLS's fierce protection of its centralized franchise system and the inability of second tier professional leagues to maintain a viable business model. And never mind that it was more of a rhetorical reaction to FIFA president Sepp Blatter's joke that after a conceding 3 goals in the second half of the 3-2 loss to Brazil in the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup, the US would do well to remember that soccer is a game of two halves.

My main concern when it comes to a promotion/relegation league system in the United States is the question of financial and organizational viability. While a most of America's "big" sports have multi-tiered leagues, non of them are interconnected and most of them are set-up as player "farms" to feed top-tier teams. In fact, a number of second and third and even more fourth tier soccer teams in the United States have developmental ties to Major League Soccer franchises. If these teams were to become independent, self-determined entities, it may become more expensive for teams to recruit and develop players, which in turn may increase player development costs across all tiers.

So while Gulati's statements may be less of a concrete plan and more abstract conjecture, they have basis in a comforting truth: Soccer's progress in the United States over the past 25 years has been meteoric and the next 25 years may be even bigger.

Contributing Blogger - Meet MsFootyNut

Hello Blogosphere, I’m so pleased that Mr. FootyNut has invited me to blog with him. He thinks my perspective as an "outsider" may be amusing. I think he's barking, but if you bear with me, you can be the judge.


To give you some background, I was never a huge fan of soccer. I played in elementary school, sure. I spent many semesters and summers in the UK as a young adult and thought I would very much like to understand soccer, but I never made the effort. Then when Mr. FootyNut revealed he was a fanboy, I knew it was all about to change. I can’t really call myself a huge fan now, but I watch the important games and I cheer when a team scores, and yell when they get fouled or robbed of what was obviously going to be the most spectacular shot evar!! And I try really hard to understand the idiosyncrasies of the off-side rule.


As Mr. FootyNut previously wrote, his head exploded on June 5th when the USA met Australia. While I too have a mushy place in my heart for that continent "down under", my head stayed intact. It was just a friendly after all. However, this will all change tomorrow when the US meets England.


I guestimate that more than half of my heart lies with England. In 2006, ROOTS had a sale of all the World Cup stuff (after it was all over) and I bought an England t-shirt. I don't even remember if they had a USA one made! And this year, when purchasing some fan gear in preparation for this little tourney, I chose an England scarf over the US scarf – if only 40% because it was easier to find!


Don’t get me wrong, I really want the US to do well in this race. I really want to show our country that soccer does matter!! But on the other hand, England deserves to win again. It's been a long time, and they're more likely to go all the way to the finals than anyone else in C group – did I also mention I'm of Arab heritage and am secretly routing for Algeria too? I'm a complicated woman. Slovenia, you’re on your own.


Anyway, this ain’t no friendly game of footie here!! This counts towards that shiny gold thing Morgan Freeman is so fond of! So on Saturday afternoon I may be the only one in our pub supporting the "limeys" over the "yanks" and I'll just have to be ok with that.

Cheers.

US Soccer on Sports Illustrated Cover: Progress or Status Quo?

One of America's oldest sports journalism institutions is Sports Illustrated. Its covers have chronicled the interests of the American public and have made household names of sports stars of no less renowned than Michael Jordan, Nolan Ryan and Tiger Woods.

So when today's copy of Sport's Illustrated hits newstands featuring US Men's National Team members Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard on the cover, one may be tempted to announce that soccer has finally arrived in the US. But the truth is, SI has a respectable history over the past three World Cups of highlighting the USMNT's efforst in the tournament.

2010


Today's cover comes on the heels of two other soccer covers (the most for any year since the magazine was first printed in 1950): a preview of the World Cup on May 29 and an overview of "The Beautiful Game" on May 24.

2006


The USMNT's success in Japan and Korea in 2002, left the American sports scene at attention and wondering if the US had actually arrived on the international sports scene. Were we actually good at this sport the rest of the world seemed inexplicably obsessed with? Unfortunately for US soccer fans and the popularity of the sport, the US hadn't quite arrived and bounced out of the tournament's Group of Death.

2002

If 2010 is the year of US soccer's maturation, then 2002 was its coming of age. Going into the tournament less than favorites and in the same group as European stalwarts Portugal and Poland and with the energetic hosts, South Korea. Yet after a dynamic win against Portugal and a well fought draw against Korea, the Yanks were into the knock-out rounds.


And so the US Men's National Team grabbed the attention of the American public by the hair and propelled themselves into the knock-out round. After an emphatic victory against their CONCACAF rivals, Mexico, and a heart-breaking loss to Germany in which even the Germans admitted the US had been the better team, the US exited the tournament in their best finish since the start of the tournament in 1930.

1994

The 1998 World Cup was a disaster for both the US team and its media exposure. Chalk it up to an uninspired team unable to score more than one goal or to the fact that the tournament was hosted in France, it just never made the media's radar in the States. The 1994 World Cup, however, was hosted in the USA and is generally accepted as the spark for the modern revival of soccer in the United States. The fact that the US was hosting the tournament meant that Sports Illustrated featured the US team on its cover for the first time.

The bottom line? If Sports Illustrated covers are any indication of a sport's popularity, then soccer is certainly making strides into the American sports consciousness. On the other hand, the number of articles on soccer written for Sport Illustrated has grown exponentially over the past 40 years. It is growth, but it's the kind of generational growth that only happens through excruciatingly small intervals.

All covers (c) Sports Illustrated.

Australia vs. the US Men's National Team: On Saturday, My Head Will Explode

With only a week left before the Republic of South and Africa and Mexico officially kick off the 2010 World Cup, teams and fans are scrambling with last minute preparations. On Saturday, two of my favorite national teams face off in their final preparation match: Australia and the United States (alphabetical order, for your information). My loyalties will be tested, and in the end, I think I'll be cheering for no one to get injured.

I was born in America, but my father shared his passion for all things Australian with me growing up. When my father died, I was left with an interest in and an undying curiosity for the Land Down Under. So when I graduated from college and it came time to make my way in the world, what did I do? Well, when the going gets tough, the tough go to grad school. And I went to grad school in Australia.

Truth be told, Australia and the United States have more in common than you may first think. Both are countries based on a fierce sense of egalitarianism and self determination. In terms of soccer, both are countries in which the Beautiful Game is a popular afterthought, placed behind two or three mainstream sports. And both are emerging soccer powers who rely on an "ugly," scrappy game patched together with a few international class players.

So when the Yanks meet the Socceroos on Saturday (8:30 a.m. EDT, ESPN 2), I'll be cheering for both teams to get past their pregame jitters and work through the kinks in their strategies. I want both of these teams to do well and I damn well hope they'll get out of their respective groups by the end of June.

But heaven forbid one of them wins their group and the other places second. That would set up a Round of 16 match between them ... and that's something I don't know if I could handle.

Australia vs. United States, Pre-World Cup Friendly, Live from Ruimsig Stadium in Roodepoort, South Africa, 8:30 a.m. EDT on ESPN 2 and ESPN 2 HD

What is "Success" for Soccer in the US?

photo: Columbus, Ohio International Visitors Council

With the fair-weather U.S. soccer frenzy that is the World Cup coming up in just over two weeks, a lot of dialogue will be focused on just how big soccer is in America. From soccer fanatics spreading the word about the global significance of the tournament to the debutante parties being declared for the American soccer fan, I find myself asking: "What's the endgame? What is "success" for the soccer movement in the United States?"

Is it soccer as the most popular sport in America?

Is it a 30 team MLS?

Is it an American media corps and public at large literate in the sport?

Is it a World Cup semi-final appearance by the US Men's National Team?

Or is it some obscure "respect" for the game?

Whatever it is, I think we need to be realistic with our expectations. Enough of this obsession with why Americans "don't like soccer." Enough with the "but it's so popular everywhere else!" And for God's sake, enough with trying to convince other fans that soccer is simply better than baseball, football, basketball or hockey.

The soccer landscape in the U.S. is going to be drastically different 15 years from now. But I'm unsure if we would count it as a "success" as meeting our halfheartedly defined objectives for what soccer "should be" in this country.

For my two cents, I count success as the day when I no longer have to explain why I love the sport to every person I meet at a bar.

What do you think?

US Soccer Identity: Confused or Just Rebellious?

Photo Credits: Unknown

When I find myself watching soccer games in an American bar, I almost always have the following conversation with one of my fellow patrons:

Patron: "What are you watching?"

Me: "Soccer."

Patron: "Who's playing."

Me: "[Team A] and [Team B]."

Patron: "Oh .... So how did you become a fan? Did you play as a kid?"

And there it is, the one pet peeve I have as a soccer fan in America: I am constantly having to justify and explain why I enjoy and follow the sport. But do I really have any room to complain? No matter how many times die-hard fans argue to the contrary, many Americans are convinced that soccer is un-American and that being involved in soccer past the age of 12 is something to be explained. This makes for - if nothing else - a frustrating sense of identity in American soccer fans.

So when Jason Davis of Match Fit USA began musing this morning on his Twitter account about Americans ceding their soccer identity to British announcers, it got me thinking: Is the American soccer identity one of a crippling inferiority complex or just a rebellious adaptation of the world's sport to the American experience?

On one hand, you have the exquisitely passionate groups of fans like Sam's Army and American Outlaws, the Hudson Street Hooligans, Emerald City Supporters, Screaming Eagles and so on and so forth. While they support the subersive "Sixth Sport" (after American football, baseball, basketball, hockey and NASCAR), they are inherently American in their zealous fandom. Painted stomachs, foam fingers, tail gating and other staples of American sport have made their way into US Soccer. The fans have taken their passion as Americans and applied it to their sport, their team, their way of life.

On the other hand, we have the Soccer Mom syndrome which is unavoidably bound with the perception of the sport in the US. Over 90% of all American kids under the age of 10 are shepherded back and forth from practice and games by the infamous Soccer Mom. Soccer is a safer sport. It's far easier and cheaper to equip kids for it ($10 shin guards and an old plastic milk jug filled with water). And in the words of Dave Egger, it tolerates a fascinatingly high level of incompetence in the early years. But by the age of 10, 98% of those kids have dropped the sport to move on to the "real sports." As such, we find ourselves in a peculiar situation: A majority of Americans between the ages of 20 and 30 have played soccer in their life, but were never pressed to take the sport "seriously" or with an respectful consideration.

And then - if all of this wasn't creating enough confusion for the average soccer fan in America - there's the international stigma placed on American soccer. Many American fans are convinced we're "doing it wrong." The best soccer is played in any country BUT the United States. And the inability of the "average American" to understand the beauty and value of soccer in a global context is just another source of beleaguered frustration.

In light of all these contradictions, it's easy to see why the identity of the soccer fan is a prfoudnly confused one. We love our game, but with a genuine knowledge of the game comes the inevitable realization that our leagues, players and teams just aren't the best on the continent, let alone the world. This can be a tough fact to swallow when we are brought up in a sports culture and a country which places an fanatic emphasis on being "the best."

An inferiority complex is inevitable, but the passion continues to grow. And at the end of the day, that's all soccer is really about.

MLS Nabs US U17 Star from Arsenal, But Will They Know What to do With Him?

photo credit: www.ISIphotos.com

According to the Steven Goff over at the Washington Post, the MLS has signed US U17 international Luis Gil (pictured above) in the face of competition from European clubs of no lesser stature than North London's Arsenal FC.

Gil will be assigned to a team through a lottery on Monday. The lottery will be weighted in favor of teams at the bottom last season's table.

So not only did the MLS steal a promising future US international from a team internationally renowned for its outstanding youth system, they are more than likely going to give him to one of the league's worst teams.

I smell another botched career in the making.

To be frank, the MLS has a terrible track record when it comes to developing young players. And now that the MLS reserve system is gone, it seems the track record will only get worse.

If anything, it provides an unnecessarily steep learning curve for the star players who make the unavoidable move to European clubs. Although initially hailed as the savior of American soccer, Freddy Adu is still struggling to prove his international prowess.

"But what about Jozy Altidore," I hear you yell at me. Yes, he spent two successful years with New York, but he has struggled since to find the proper footing in European club football. While Altidore is liking life with Hull City FC, scoring only one goal in 19 appearances may not be enough to keep both he and his club in the Premier League.

On the other side of the argument, you have West Ham United's Johnathan Spector. Signed at the age of 17 by Manchester United after less than a year with the Chicago Fire's youth team, Spector has had a quiet but successful career as a defensive workhorse in the Premier League and at the international level.

Don't get me wrong. I want US youth players to do well. I want them to become the stars I know they can be. I just don't think the MLS is equipped to give them the challenge and discipline they need. The bottom line is that the MLS should stick to the development model it does best, signing college stars, and leave the art of youth development to the clubs that have the money, coaching staff and experience to do so.

When it comes to the future international success of MLS youth players, it's a fine line between a Jozy Altidore and a Freddy Adu, and even longer odds. So while I'm excited to see Gil's MLS debut, I'm slighted worried about yet another brilliant young player whom the league may never fully develop.

A Love-Hate Relationship, Really

I have a confession to make. I abandoned Major League Soccer.

Yeah, I was that guy. I was all excited about professional soccer in my backyard, but by the time I was old enough to know better, I became disinterested.

The problem seems to be that hardcore soccer fans in America spend their lives being told that the MLS is inferior and not worth their time. So they believe its inferior and don't waste their time on it.

Well, no more. It's time to rediscover my roots. Starting with the Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire game tomorrow.