I didn't hear about any of his players getting in trouble or doing drugs or playing with guns. From what I can tell he was coaching some fine outstanding citizens that the US should be proud of. And we want to fire this coach just because the US suffered one of the most embarrassing loses in US Soccer history? Blasphemy!!! Who would do such a thing. If anyone should be fired, it should be the US swim coach or the US women's soccer coach. Look at all them thugs they coach. It is not important to whip Russia or China or Germany at anything as long as everyone is being a good boy and girl. Winning is not a top priority, just being a good citizen is. Now bring back that Soccer Coach! Now keep Charlie and let's celebrate these fine young men that are representing the University of Texas!
I have watched soccer a few times. What does a soccer coach do besides tell them where to stand at the game starts?
I don't keep up with soccer much anymore, but weren't there whispers of him being arrogant and treating some players poorly? I don't know, just seemed like there was stuff out their like that. Plus isn't he German? Not that that should have anything to do with anything, but obviously they wanted to go in other direction. We'll see if they go with an American.
In your defense you did say you've only watched a few times. Its like saying what does a hockey coach or basketball coach do? The players run around or skate around haphazardly the whole time once the game starts.... Not.
You're comparing apples and frying pans. Yes, both can be found in a kitchen. Gulati has unrealistic expectations for the current USMNT based on decades of flawed youth development structure. In 5 years US soccer will be much better, and when the Pay-for-Play system is usurped, the US will become a world soccer power. That may take another 40 years. This would be a VERY apt analogy if Duke were to fire Cutcliffe after this season.
F***ed up development system is a better descriptor. In 5 years nothing will be changed because those making the decisions are clueless.
Can we become a power house with poor viewership? I'm sure live matches are a hoot, tough to watch on tv for me though. I'm afraid much of America feels the same way. I respect the athletism required
How to develop a following for the pro game as the game is still dominated by foreign players, and what Americans there are no one knows. The scary part is the women's side, which has been very successful, is starting to take up some of the men's failed development aspects.
I can watch good matches from Bundesliga, Barclays, and La Liga. But it's hard to watch the weaker teams play, and MLS is just not that good yet. All of that said, soccer is easier on the TV than my beloved hockey, and it has a very manageable impact on my sports viewing: I know that in 2 hours the game will be over. With college football, a game can last anywhere from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours. The NFL found a way to make their games last just over 3 hours by running the clock virtually non-stop. The weakness with football is all of the lost game time between plays. That and the commercials on every injury, change of possession, kickoff, timeout, touchdown, field goal, safety, and crotch scratch. And it's slowly infecting the college game too. Baseball games can run as long as a cricket match, and I can't take the faux drama of a pitcher repeatedly stepping off the rubber to force a runner back to the base or a batter calling for time because he's tired of waiting on the pitcher to throw the damn ball. The only downside of watching soccer on TV (assuming you don't hate the sport) is that you don't have time to go to the can or the fridge... unless you have a DVR. Ironically for me, hockey has the same "big picture" problem as soccer. Newbies who are in the stadium/arena love the game and the spectacle; however, that energy is lost on the TV viewer.
77, As best I can tell, you take a group of people, dress them in basketball uniforms, put them on a football field, give them a kid's size basketball, put a shrimping net under the goal post, and tell them no contact, and you can't use their hands. I think i heard George Carlin described it once.
Relax SAMMC. Charlie is getting fired... There is no need to hit below the belt like that, comparing UT football to soccer.
I am glad to see others complain about this. For me that is the single most reason I do not watch a game, but I have watched NFL Red Zone. Now that is entertaining. And I agree completely on the 'good' vs just a soccer match being easy, even exciting to watch, but what I like best about a match is NO TIME OUTS! I do get annoyed at the flops though.
Apparently, shaming doesn't work (there are some hilarious Youtube videos). The leagues should review game tapes and fine players 1/2 game salary for flopping.
Horns beat TCU and they decide to wait till after the bowl game...then what? Just sayin. But I agree, the soccer analogy was pretty lame...sorry.
What is even more amazing is that we watch it even though it is about 1 3/4 hours of commercials. The biggest reason I don't watch the NFL is because they take so many commercial breaks. They take commercial breaks with :03 to go in the quarter and then take a 5 minute break at the end of the quarter.
Viewership has only gone up. Live absolutely soccer games in my opinion are a superior product to both college and NFL games. Its 45 minutes non stop. Short half and another 45 minutes and youre done. The action never stops. And its almost all action. At the highest level the pace and speed of the game is impressive and you never know when a brilliant pass will lead to a score. Youre engaged the whole time. There arent annoying breaks and sideshows to keep people interested because the game stops 50 times. On TV to me its just as entertaining. I get unbelievably annoyed at all the stoppages with American football. Football on TV is bearable because of commentary and graphics. In person I hate games that are televised. Theres more dead time than actual game play.
Flops are in almost every sport. In soccer its tough because at game speed sometimes its hard to tell and players know it. And there isnt instant replay. Also, because players are running full speed in close quarters and are kicking at eachother, it doesn't always take much contact to take another player off his feet. What might not look like much contact often times is enough to trip someone up. And its easier for players to fake it at game speed. Im in favor of retroactive red cards for diving if it results in a goal for the faking players team.
Well, thank God for DVRs! Just start watching the game about 45 minutes after it starts. Skip most of them. But, isn't it amazing how that is one of the things the super bowl is now famous for. The commercials!
A very gullible and easily misled person that you never give an even break. Wait!! That would be a sucker. Sorry, misread it.
