OT: - Why does soccer appeal | Page 2 | The Boneyard

OT: Why does soccer appeal

Rugby and American football have a lot of similarities.

Waquoit, rugby games have a lot more action than soccer! There was a 1 point World Cup final between New Zealand and France not long ago. Epic game. Ended 8-7, New Zealand, I think.
 
I played soccer but never beyond middle school (like many youth). Really got into it when I played FIFA years ago and then went to a a game while in Swansea back in 2010. Been a fan ever since. The game is just amazing and a joy to watch. Like others have said, the fans alone make every game so intense due to their passion. You can be playing the last team in your league and yet everyone is chanting, cheering, singing, and carrying on. It's unreal.

The fact that every game matters also makes soccer more interesting. Whether your team is involved or not in the promotion/relegation race, it's still something to love and follow in the last few weeks of the season. Teams at the bottom are legitimately fighting for their survival due to the financial implications and prestige.

The transfer window is something that is exciting and for fans outside of the Big 5 in English soccer, can be a period of nervousness for losing your best player.

Almost every game can change at any point. Games are usually separated by a goal and the other team can change that lead at any point. So you are constantly on edge that your opponent will level or your own team will level the score. Stoppage time can be nerve wracking for many reasons.

Finally, the games go for 2 hours and then they are over. No hours of games due to commercials.
 
UCFBfan said:
Almost every game can change at any point. Games are usually separated by a goal and the other team can change that lead at any point. So you are constantly on edge that your opponent will level or your own team will level the score. Stoppage time can be nerve wracking for many reasons.
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That's an important point and one I didn't appreciate until I became more of a fans. Just to give you a negative example, I'm at the Hartford Athletic playoff game and it's 0-0 in stoppage time. We're thinking our team looks fitter, we can win this in OT. Just then the ref misses a handball and the other team scores. Season over.
 
i played futbol in hs for a nationally ranked team. my position was to make sure that the last seat on the bench was kept adequately warmed. i played rugby in college. my position was to organize the snacks for the campus legendary after parties. those soirées were the reason why i went out for the team. my college crew experience ended after multiple times of rowing the charles on another frozen, sideways ice crystals blowin, ridiculously cold march day. at 7 am. 'i should be back at the dorm, in my jammies.' mebbe it's different where you can row and not have every exhale turn into ice cubes, idk.
rugby was by far the funnest to actually play. 'hey cliffy, we're ahead by a ton, so get out there and hit someone, but don't get injured. that guac you make is a fan favorite.' i highly enjoyed that conga line we'd do after some parties, out in street, where we'd drop our shorts, and one hand reached thru our 5 hole to grasp the hand of a teammate behind, while the other hand grabbed the hand of one in front. i think we called it 'the elephant walk.'
last in line, with no mate behind to shake hands with, was the 'bad' slot, cuz if you used ur other hand to cover ur junk, then more penalties would follow.
futbol afters are lame. what's the biggie there, wearing ur undies turned inside out, on ur head, if ur mates decided that u had a lousy match?
i always seemed to be stuck with a clipboard those days. lesson? don't be 'clipboard dude' for any group, unless they have great parties.
 
.-.
UCFBfan said:
Almost every game can change at any point. Games are usually separated by a goal and the other team can change that lead at any point. So you are constantly on edge that your opponent will level or your own team will level the score. Stoppage time can be nerve wracking for many reasons.
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Nothing more blood pressure raising than a corner or free kick in the last 5 minutes of a game when you're level or up by a goal.
 
Butch said:
I highly doubt that. Balancing a ball with everything but your hands. Big whoop. We used to hacky sack as kids.
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It takes years to become a decent soccer player. For rugby, it just takes beers.
 
Waquoit said:
It takes years to become a decent soccer player. For rugby, it just takes beers.
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Which rugby? Regardless, it’s comical to contend good class pro-level ruggers of each category and particularly top class pros and national team players are not exceptionally athletic. Never been to a good quality game yet?
 
Da_Aisijimo_Gou said:
Which rugby? Regardless, it’s comical to contend good class pro-level ruggers of each category and particularly top class pros and national team players are not exceptionally athletic. Never been to a good quality game yet?
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Never will. I feel about rugby the way many feel about soccer. And I didn't say anything about rugby athleticism, I said the skill required doesn't come close to soccer.
 
I grew up playing (through high school), but never watching other than a Cosmos game or two when I was very young. It was hard to watch in the 80s/90s. Here are a few things I love/don't love.

What I like/love:
  • Simplicity of the game. There is a ton going on, but in the end, it's a bunch of guys trying to kick a ball into a goal.
  • It's a team sport in every sense, but it also allows for beautiful individual play. When you see that player, they're just different. They move different than everyone else, the ball sounds different off their foot.
  • Diversity of body type: Anyone can play. You can have tiny freaks and giant freaks. And everything in between.
  • Access: It costs nothing to play. It's even cheaper than basketball because you don't need a hoop. Sure, rich kids get nicer stuff and probably more consistent training, but there is a competitive team for any kid. Just show up with a pair of cleats that you can get cheap, cheap shin guards, and you're good to go. My kids play for a small town club and They've smoked some teams where the parents pay thousands. They've also been smoked by teams that show up with a hodge podge of used uniforms. We can argue over our "pay to play" system, but any kid can find a competitive club.
  • Relegation and promotion. Would love to see it in some US leagues. Would even be great for college sports (BC would be relegated to League Two).
  • New tv access. I love that there are games on most weekend mornings. My son and I started watching when he was little and would wake up early. Now I watch during morning workouts.
Things I don't love:
  • The diving.
  • Excessive time wasting.
  • Racism. But I think that is just a reflection of the countries where the players come from and the team's play. Still scary to see sometimes.
 
.-.
UCFBfan said:
Almost every game can change at any point. Games are usually separated by a goal and the other team can change that lead at any point. So you are constantly on edge that your opponent will level or your own team will level the score. Stoppage time can be nerve wracking for many reasons.
Expand ...
Yes! And momentum is huge!
 
Waquoit said:
That's an important point and one I didn't appreciate until I became more of a fans. Just to give you a negative example, I'm at the Hartford Athletic playoff game and it's 0-0 in stoppage time. We're thinking our team looks fitter, we can win this in OT. Just then the ref misses a handball and the other team scores. Season over.
Expand ...

You just described almost every UConn soccer playoff loss back in the day. We would somehow dominate possession, corners, shots, everything, and still lose.

So I guess one thing I would say about soccer is that the best team doesn't always win.
 
HuskyHawk said:
But the team that dominated play didn't.
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But in my example neither team dominated play, it was just that one team looked less gassed late. My point was that it was so abrupt. For some reason you made it about dominating.
 
Who recommends turf shoes and who recommends firm ground shoes when playing on artificial grass? I'm talking about the outdoor longer grass, not the indoor artificial turf.

Just got back into soccer after laying off a few years. I had bought a pair of Adidas Team Mundial Turf Shoes because they were more comfortable and had more cushion even though I was still playing on grass. These are the turf shoes with the many small rubber studs. I don't think they are as good for power but high performance isn't exactly critical. Now the games are played on artificial grass and I think the turf shoes are still fine. I find that they sometimes have too much traction as the souls will really grip the grass when you are trying to pass and your foot drags a little too low. I think most players use the firm ground shoes with the longer studs on artificial grass.

UCONN Soccer was such a huge draw in the '80's and such a unique UCONN experience.
 
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Kolumbo said:
Who recommends turf shoes and who recommends firm ground shoes when playing on artificial grass? I'm talking about the outdoor longer grass, not the indoor artificial turf.

Just got back into soccer after laying off a few years. I had bought a pair of Adidas Team Mundial Turf Shoes because they were more comfortable and had more cushion even though I was still playing on grass. These are the turf shoes with the many small rubber studs. I don't think they are as good for power but high performance isn't exactly critical. Now the games are played on artificial grass and I think the turf shoes are still fine. I find that they sometimes have too much traction as the souls will really grip the grass when you are trying to pass and your foot drags a little too low. I think most players use the firm ground shoes with the longer studs on artificial grass.

UCONN Soccer was such a huge draw in the '80's and such a unique UCONN experience.
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My kids and their teammates all play in hard ground cleats on the artificial grass. Their trainers recommend them also. I think old school turf shoes are ok when the artificial grass is dry, but are bad when it’s wet. Make sure you take them off outside and shake out the rubber bits!
 
I am highly annoyed at how far UConn soccer has fallen. There is no good excuse. Long had a top ten men’s team and a top 2 women’s team.
 
College soccer has had it's day. Just in time for the new stadium.
 
V.
ClifSpliffy said:
riveting:
HELLTOWN BEER: US Cable Soccer Viewership, Dec 22-28
how many decades now where soccer will be 'the next big thing on tv?'
still no.
i totally get anyone being a fan of, well, any sport. the part that is ridiculous is when aficionados yell 'u have to pay closer attention to the nuance!'
no, we don't. still mindnumbingly boring for the rest of us 329,500,000 not watching it on tv.
ergo, it's viewing 'appeal' to us is factually untrue, and remains such.
on the udder hand, this is what exploding tv viewership looks like:
'In 2020, The Cowboy Channel, RFD-TV, The The PRCA on Cowboy Channel+ App and Rural Radio doubled last year's ratings. It was the most watched NFR of all time.'
Wrangler NFR Viewership Doubles in First Year on The Cowboy Chan - The Cowboy Channel
NFR at dallas cowgirl stadium, in march, will be yuger. folks like watching stuff happen. get ur tix!
and, the Cowboy Channel is now on Connecticut cable, so if u can't make it down, u can still watch it live. noice.
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Factually incorrect and small dick energy in your post.
 
UCFBfan said:
I played soccer but never beyond middle school (like many youth). Really got into it when I played FIFA years ago and then went to a a game while in Swansea back in 2010. Been a fan ever since. The game is just amazing and a joy to watch. Like others have said, the fans alone make every game so intense due to their passion. You can be playing the last team in your league and yet everyone is chanting, cheering, singing, and carrying on. It's unreal.

The fact that every game matters also makes soccer more interesting. Whether your team is involved or not in the promotion/relegation race, it's still something to love and follow in the last few weeks of the season. Teams at the bottom are legitimately fighting for their survival due to the financial implications and prestige.

The transfer window is something that is exciting and for fans outside of the Big 5 in English soccer, can be a period of nervousness for losing your best player.

Almost every game can change at any point. Games are usually separated by a goal and the other team can change that lead at any point. So you are constantly on edge that your opponent will level or your own team will level the score. Stoppage time can be nerve wracking for many reasons.

Finally, the games go for 2 hours and then they are over. No hours of games due to commercials.
Expand ...
Yup. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time and experienced the 2002 World Cup in person. Been hooked ever since.
 
.-.
I tried to watch Rugby and Cricket. I just can’t get any traction with it.
 
ZooCougar said:
V.


Factually incorrect and small dick energy in your post.
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still mindnumbingly boring. and, why do you hate the Cowboy Channel? where else would we get our Secret Service members from, cuz i ain't seen them advertise on any other channel.
u seem to be having a rough go of it. here, have a cookie.
 
ClifSpliffy said:
still mindnumbingly boring. and, why do you hate the Cowboy Channel? where else would we get our Secret Service members from, cuz i ain't seen them advertise on any other channel.
u seem to be having a rough go of it. here, have a cookie.
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The only thing that is Mind numbing is words and thoughts of you and your ilk.
 
zmart said:
Try playing with 2 balls at the same time. Think of the added excitement.
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this is a brilliant idea. capital. outstanding. marvelous in its' simplicity. big fun!
 
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