CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
Olivier! Be still my heart.
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***Official 2022 World Cup Thread*** (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter gianmarco
- Start date
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Even Mbappe just wants to be held in Giroud's strong, safe arms.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Giroud is all time leading scorer for France now
The Gator
Footballguy
I had a "Lloris on the take?" post ready to roll but let it slide. Not the best half he's had
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
I think a better parallel than American football is basketball.
More international players are finding their way into the NBA, and not just as peripheral players. I think part of that happened during the 80's and 90's, when American coaches who couldn't get their break in the US went overseas. Part of the formula was already there, as the rest of the world had incorporated the 3-point line into their strategy before we did. When they started beating our B and C level teams in the Olympics, the flood gates opened, and the Dream Team, despite showing there was still a BIG gap between us and the rest of the world, not only increased the game's popularity, it also encouraged them to keep working to close that gap. How does seeing that gap in reverse with soccer affect the development of the game here? Will the investors give up because we haven't closed the gap enough to justify their continual spending, or will they see how much closer we are in just one generation of athletes, which to me is less than 10 years when it comes to soccer.
To me, the bigger obstacle is breaking choke hold the NFL has on our national attention and media. I don't get how FS1, where the 'S' stands for soccer, has more non-soccer content on its daily schedule than soccer content, except that maybe there is some sort of conspiracy exists to keep steady access to soccer on TV. ESPN used to show all kinds of "sports" when they started because they were desperate for content. There is absolutely an abundance of soccer content available and the the most logical reason it doesn't run is because channels like FS1 and BeIn make more money showing other content. Not sure how to break that, but to me that's as important a battle to fight as it is having facilities to develop world-class talent.
Maybe we need that kind of 'beat the best' moment to galvanize the masses, but I think that despite the lack of consistent TV exposure and the persistence of 'pay to play', the game is growing at the grass roots level, and with 2026 looming and businesses wanting to capitalize on the financial bonanza that comes with it, the pieces are in place for a big jump in popularity and maybe a more permanent seat at the media table.
More international players are finding their way into the NBA, and not just as peripheral players. I think part of that happened during the 80's and 90's, when American coaches who couldn't get their break in the US went overseas. Part of the formula was already there, as the rest of the world had incorporated the 3-point line into their strategy before we did. When they started beating our B and C level teams in the Olympics, the flood gates opened, and the Dream Team, despite showing there was still a BIG gap between us and the rest of the world, not only increased the game's popularity, it also encouraged them to keep working to close that gap. How does seeing that gap in reverse with soccer affect the development of the game here? Will the investors give up because we haven't closed the gap enough to justify their continual spending, or will they see how much closer we are in just one generation of athletes, which to me is less than 10 years when it comes to soccer.
To me, the bigger obstacle is breaking choke hold the NFL has on our national attention and media. I don't get how FS1, where the 'S' stands for soccer, has more non-soccer content on its daily schedule than soccer content, except that maybe there is some sort of conspiracy exists to keep steady access to soccer on TV. ESPN used to show all kinds of "sports" when they started because they were desperate for content. There is absolutely an abundance of soccer content available and the the most logical reason it doesn't run is because channels like FS1 and BeIn make more money showing other content. Not sure how to break that, but to me that's as important a battle to fight as it is having facilities to develop world-class talent.
Maybe we need that kind of 'beat the best' moment to galvanize the masses, but I think that despite the lack of consistent TV exposure and the persistence of 'pay to play', the game is growing at the grass roots level, and with 2026 looming and businesses wanting to capitalize on the financial bonanza that comes with it, the pieces are in place for a big jump in popularity and maybe a more permanent seat at the media table.
Moe.
Footballguy
Interesting post @Charlie Steiner, I always like the comparison to basketball as they are clearly the two most popular sports worldwide.
The days of lack of tv exposure being a thing are over though. Soccer is everywhere on tv all the time, just gotta know which service has what.
The days of lack of tv exposure being a thing are over though. Soccer is everywhere on tv all the time, just gotta know which service has what.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Isn’t FS1 just Fox Sports 1??
AAABatteries
Footballguy
FSC was Fox Soccer Channel and I’m pretty sure it no longer exists.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Just watch on Telemundo.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Pours one out for Fox Football Fone-In
Moe.
Footballguy
Can you translate for me?
AAABatteries
Footballguy
The Nicks and Steven were pretty decent to listen to - Wynalda not so much. That Daily podcast or whatever it was was pretty entertaining too.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
They have been over for a decade or more. For as long as I can remember we have had more soccer choices on TV than pretty much any country in the world. Just unlimited choices really given the technology of the time.
Now with the streaming services, if you are willing to pay, every single game from so many countries and international competitions are available.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
There is definitely more international soccer on TV now, but it still feels like MLS could be on more. I know that's a tough sell since their season conflicts with college baseball, hockey, the NBA and the NFL.
You're right. My bad. Must have watched to much Emily Litella and SNL when I was a kid.
Sorry for the rabbit hole. Carry on.
BTW, I'm out of town and none of the channels available in hotel are showing WC games right now.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
Oh man Olivier robbed of another beauty
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Note that the investors, from a 5000 foot point view, don't really care whether we are closing the gap or not.
They only thing they care about is if the development model is profitable and if it is repeatable.
Ever since Alphonso Davies broke through the barrier and was sold for a lot of money, every MLS owner sat up and said "wait....this actually works?"
Since that time, MLS teams have been selling off young players at an increasing clip grabbing many many many millions along the way. Those initial transfers are going to fund development for decades to come as the model should be repeatable. Some players will fail after transfer, and others will succeed. As long as enough succeed, players will continue to be sold and the development cycle should be endless and self sustaining.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Somebody make an appt for Scooby for his four hour erection
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
You probably mean Nationally for MLS. Don't forget that MLS acts more like baseball/hockey/basketball in the the vast majority of the games are shown locally.
That is all changing next year though once the new Apple deal kicks in.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Yeah, it seems like Apple is banking on soccer growth in the 5 years.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
They must see something I don't (not in terms of soccer's growth but in terms of people willing to get yet another streaming service). I am a huge fan of soccer and MLS and I don't think even I am going to get AppleTV.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
As Doyle just mentioned on twitter, it is amazing to think Giroud did not play a game in Ligue 1 until he was 24. That seems ancient now a days to get your division one debut.
BlackCrowes
Footballguy
good grief he’s good
AAABatteries
Footballguy
So good - this one is over.
The Gator
Footballguy
that was basically a free kick with no wall since the two Polish defenders didn't want to close him down
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
lol wtf was Glik doing
Close him down
They gave him three seconds to tee that up. One player has to step and at least force him to move.
The Gator
Footballguy
imo he reminds me of Brazilian Ronlado with his pace and power.
Rich Conway
Footballguy
Apple TV has some pretty decent content even without the soccer, and it's cheaper than most streaming services.
Ted Lasso, Mythic Quest, See, and others are all worth watching.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Messi was a long time vet by 23 and the best in the world during Barca's hey days.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
C'mon John. Pele played less than one game before getting injured in the 62 World Cup.
titusbramble
Footballguy
Rugby's been pretty hot in terms of dealing with concussions and/or head/neck injuries in general, it's not too dissimilar to the protocols used in the NFL. I wouldn't say that health concerns are turning fans away, if anything it is the often excessive nature with how even the remotest challenge that is anywhere near the head is dealt with, over-sanitising what is my nature a physical game
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
And my wife’s. She sent me a pic of him when the WC started. I told her, “I’ll allow it”.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
He had time to ask his caddy for a wind read.lol wtf was Glik doing
Close him down
They gave him three seconds to tee that up. One player has to step and at least force him to move.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
Weak penalty. that pause was lame.
Capella
Footballguy
I don’t understand that. Isn’t a well-placed strike almost impossible to stop? Seems weird to let a goalie have time to plant his feet and stop a dribbler.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
Sterling dropped again
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Not dropped per say. He is not dressing due to an off the field issue (family emergency was mentioned but I don't know the details)
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
The idea is to get the GK to bite on the pause, forcing him to pick a side, then the taker can go the other way. I think that’s pretty much what Lewa did on this one. But I agree it does seem to be a cheap tactic and prefer when they fire it into an unreachable spot.
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CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
we’re all Senegal for this one, right? other than our resident Brit.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Said the same thing last week. The thing where they go from 0-60, bodying defenders while the ball stays like six inches off their foot the whole time seems very similar.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
It is strange to look at fat Ronaldo now and realize he was one of the worlds best athletes (in any sport) at one time. His physical gifts were off the charts before he found the buffet table.
titusbramble
Footballguy
Rashford benched, Sterling out for personal reasons. Would prefer a lineup that doesn't involve Henderson, but that'd either involve bringing in Grealish and playing Foden at 10, which is workable but aggressive, or bringing in Mount, which do not want
titusbramble
Footballguy
Fat Ronaldo at PSV/Barca was basically unplayable
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