There hasn’t been a post-World Cup soccer fatigue for fans in the U.S.
Both MLS and international preseason tours are reaping the benefit at the turnstile of the World Cup’s record-breaking TV and social media ratings in the U.S., sparked by the national team’s performance in Brazil.
A record crowd of 109,318 watched Manchester United defeat Real Madrid on Saturday at “The Big House” in Ann Arbor, Mich.
It was the largest crowd ever to watch a soccer game in the United States.
The game was part of the International Champions Cup, which is really just a glorified preseason tour /marketing opportunity of the U.S. for eight powerful and historic European-based clubs, dressed up as a tournament.
The final will be Monday between longtime English rivals Liverpool and Manchester United in Miami.
But that many fans proved that, once again, America is a country that likes its soccer.
The average attendance at the 12 International Cup games has been a healthy 49,181.
At the same time, from the World Cup final through Saturday, MLS average attendance per game has increased from a pre-finals average of 18,486 fans to 19,504.
Real photo?
Speaking of the record-breaking game, it seems that the Manchester United fans outnumbered their Spanish counterparts.
That didn't set well with Madrid, so they used technology to "fix" the problem by taking most of the red shirts in the crowd and turning them white with a little photo editing software.
Geoff Cameron
Remember Bob Bradley’s take on the trouble that American players have with European clubs?
The first poster child for this issue was Clint Dempsey, who kept producing and then kept getting put on the bench at Fulham until he finally became a fixture in the starting lineup.
The next example is Geoff Cameron, who has faced this same issue with his club and the U.S. national team, and is now going through it again at Stoke City.
The Potters just brought in a player who also plays right back, the position that Cameron has held down at Stoke for two years.
Keep in mind that Cameron isn’t a right back. He’s a center back and center midfielder, but earned his way onto the field at that spot and has played well. Stoke earned more points last year than in club history.
As that has gone on, U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann – who has begged his players to go to Europe to compete against the world’s best at the club level– still doesn’t want to give credit to Cameron by playing him at right back for the national team, even before Fabian Johnson took the spot. Klinsmann instead has consistently hedged against playing Cameron on the right or in the middle. Instead he has moved him around to different positions. The one field player who has consistently proved himself in what’s considered the world’s toughest league still isn’t considered an automatic in the starting lineup.
So, it seems that Cameron is up for sale and there are several clubs interested.
But will his position saga start all over again?
Silverbacks
The Silverbacks continued their solid play in the second half of the NASL season with a 4-2 win at Indianapolis on Saturday.
Atlanta is now in third place in the Fall standings as it tries to fight its way into a spot in the playoffs.
The Silverbacks will host the New York Cosmos, which defeated them in the Soccer Bowl last year, on Saturday.
MLS and Atlanta
How MLS players with ties to the metro Atlanta area did this week:
Joe Bendik, Toronto, GK, Kennesaw
Played 90 minutes in team’s 3-0 loss to D.C. United on Wednesday.
Played 90 minutes in team’s 2-0 win over Montreal on Saturday.
Next game: At Columbus on Saturday.
Mark Bloom, Toronto, D, Marietta
Didn’t make the 18 for team’s 3-0 loss to D.C. United on Wednesday or 2-0 win over Montreal on Saturday.
Next game: At Columbus on Saturday.
Alex Caskey, D.C. United, M, Dunwoody
Didn’t make the 18 for team’s 3-0 win over D.C. United on Wednesday.
Next game: At Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Ricardo Clark, Houston, M, Jonesboro
Continues to sit out.
Next game: At Seattle on Sunday.
Warren Creavalle, Toronto, D, Acworth
Played 90 minutes in team’s 3-0 loss to D.C. United on Wednesday.
Played 90 minutes in team’s 2-0 win over Montreal on Saturday.
Next game: At Columbus on Saturday.
Sean Johnson, Chicago, GK, Snellville
Played 90 minutes and made two saves in team’s 0-0 draw with Vancouver on Wednesday.
Played 90 minutes and made three saves in team’s 1-1 draw with Columbus on Saturday
Next game: Will host New York on Saturday.
Alec Kann, Chicago, GK, Decatur
Did not make the 18 for team’s 0-0 draw with Vancouver on Wednesday or team’s 1-1 draw with Columbus on Saturday.
Next game: Will host New York on Saturday.
Steven Kinney, Chicago, D, Norcross
Did not make the 18 for team’s 0-0 draw with Vancouver on Wednesday on team’s 1-1 draw with Columbus on Saturday.
Next game: Will host New York on Saturday.
Chris Klute, Colorado, D, Silverbacks, Clayton State
Played 90 minutes in team’s 3-0 loss to New England on Wednesday.
Played 90 minutes in team’s 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Next game: At Dallas on Saturday.
Jack McInerney, Montreal, F, Alpharetta
Played 65 minutes in team’s 2-0 loss to Toronto on Saturday.
Next game: Will host FAS on Tuesday and is at Philadelphia on Saturday.
Michael Nwiloh, Chivas USA, D, Conyers
Didn’t make the 18 for team’s 1-0 loss to Dallas on Sunday.
Next game: At Portland on Saturday.
Walker Zimmerman, Dallas, D, Lawrenceville
Came on as a sub and played six minutes in team’s 1-0 win over Chivas USA on Sunday.
Next game: Will host Colorado on Saturday.
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