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DEL.ICIO.USResolving to make ‘08 great
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I don’t make make New Year’s resolutions. You won’t see me taking up jogging, for example, or munching on rice cakes and raw carrots between meals. But while the 2007 year was filled with plenty of memorable events, especially in Atlanta and the U.S., I’m excited by what awaits soccer-heads in 2008.
Which gives us so much to discuss here.
We’ve got a local team that reached the USL First Division finals and ought to compete for the championship again.
The U.S. men’s national team is gearing up for the start of World Cup qualifying and a local product, Ricardo Clark, is vying for a roster spot.
In sixth month’s time, Euro 2008 takes place in Switzerland and Austria, and every game will be available on the ESPN channels.
In addition are the non-stop domestic leagues in Europe and South America, the cup competitions and the Champions League.
From an American standpoint, there’s never been a better time to be a soccer fan. Or to have access to more games on television and keep up with the game across the world on the Internet.
And a world class convivial place to watch the games.
I’ve never wanted to limit the range of soccer that’s explored here, which is why at times these posts seem all over the map.
So to get started, just one thought off the top of my head:
I’m an avid subscriber to World Soccer magazine, but they don’t make much of their print contents online. In the January issue (coverboy: World Player of the year Kaka), Daily Express columnist bemoans what he sees as one of England’s biggest drawbacks:
“The fear factor.” (Here’s a shorter take in his newspaper column.)
In WS, Holden takes aim at at Stevie G. as one of the biggest culprits of this malady: “Steven Gerrard epitomises the probem with the England team.”
For all the wondrous goals he’s scored and how many times he’s bailed out Liverpool (including a last-ditch winner against Derby County on Boxing Day), them’s fightin’ words to a dedicated Reds’ supporter.
Gerrard’s deficiencies are masked in England, Holden maintains in WS, but they weren’t in November in the loss to Croatia that knocked the Lions out of Euro 2008. “Under the pressure of big international matches, his technique fails.”
This sounds like American soccer scolds, doesn’t it? Our kids are said to be uncomfortable with the ball. They learn a rote, physical style dominated by athleticism, not spontaneity and creativity. Gee, the English really ARE becoming too much like Yanks, eh?
(Interestingly, Holden is silent on Gerrard’s play for Liverpool in the Champions League, for example, so I’m not sure I buy his argument entirely).
If Gerrard’s symbolic of the problem in England, then what ails America can’t be all that bad.
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By Henry
January 4, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
Happy New Year and welcom back Wendy.