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Post by Soccerhouse on Nov 4, 2019 10:27:10 GMT -5
click the tweet to read the entire thread:  |
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Post by atv on Nov 4, 2019 12:39:24 GMT -5
Link is not working for me
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Post by Soccerhouse on Nov 4, 2019 12:39:58 GMT -5
try this??
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Post by Brinker on Nov 4, 2019 14:49:51 GMT -5
The size and population of a country are of course relevant, but so is a soccer culture. US is still working on that.
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Post by guest on Nov 7, 2019 12:49:24 GMT -5
So in an area a little larger than Georgia, Spain has how many pro teams with fan bases, youth academies, money, etc? Let’s not compare US Soccer with (fill in the blank) soccer until there are a dozen or so MLS teams in GA. Or, can we stipulate that there is more to it than population, area, demographics. Someone mentioned ‘soccer culture’. Bingo.
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Post by atlfutboldad on Nov 7, 2019 13:42:11 GMT -5
Population-wise, Spain has 46M people in an area a little smaller than the combined states of GA, AL, NC, SC and FL (which have a combined population around 50M). In Spain they have 20 clubs in the 1st division and 22 clubs in the 2nd division in that space. I'm going to assume most of those top 42 clubs are at least somewhat profitable. In the aforementioned states we have a total of 3 MLS clubs (including Inter Miami) and 6 USL Championship clubs, most of whom are not likely very profitable.
At this rate it will likely take over a century to match their soccer culture, if ever.
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Post by mistergrinch on Nov 7, 2019 14:27:08 GMT -5
Population-wise, Spain has 46M people in an area a little smaller than the combined states of GA, AL, NC, SC and FL (which have a combined population around 50M). In Spain they have 20 clubs in the 1st division and 22 clubs in the 2nd division in that space. I'm going to assume most of those top 42 clubs are at least somewhat profitable. In the aforementioned states we have a total of 3 MLS clubs (including Inter Miami) and 6 USL Championship clubs, most of whom are not likely very profitable. At this rate it will likely take over a century to match their soccer culture, if ever. Digging up this one again. It's about England, but clearly applies.
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Post by rifle on Nov 7, 2019 17:21:36 GMT -5
Population-wise, Spain has 46M people in an area a little smaller than the combined states of GA, AL, NC, SC and FL (which have a combined population around 50M). In Spain they have 20 clubs in the 1st division and 22 clubs in the 2nd division in that space. I'm going to assume most of those top 42 clubs are at least somewhat profitable. In the aforementioned states we have a total of 3 MLS clubs (including Inter Miami) and 6 USL Championship clubs, most of whom are not likely very profitable. At this rate it will likely take over a century to match their soccer culture, if ever. Lower level leagues are the difference. The foundation of the game, supporting a club that means something to your city. When your club from nowhere USA can rise to the third or second or even the bottom of the first division table.. it is an achievement because the rest of the country could not. Who cares if a couple super clubs dominate? In a properly structured federation, it’s a huge achievement to play against super clubs. Even bigger to compete with and beat them... not something to be ashamed of. If every club had a first team and the best ones could play their way up the ladder.... ANY team in any city could partake. Instead, our corrupt federation works with MLS to throw tacks in the path of everyone outside of MLS. Creates “league standards” voted on by guess who.. a bunch of MLS guys. This country has a LOT of soccer fans and a lot of soccer first demographic that is underserved by our federation. The federation works to help the OG, not the game of soccer. Women’s soccer is a success in spite of the federation. And somehow, most fans believe this is fine, because those poor guys invested some money. |
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Post by atlfutboldad on Nov 7, 2019 18:14:34 GMT -5
Well, also, our "soccer culture" mimics our other sports. It will be/would be a MONUMENTAL shift to get the European model to fit the way that people think here.
Akin to watching your local HS team and hoping they can advance to play in the NFL. I would say HS football is the closest thing we have to European town-level club soccer, in that its well supported at the local levels. We only have the concept of minor leagues in baseball and hockey and I don't think they're all that well attended.
As Americans we expect the cream to rise to the top by the pro level, where there are few pro teams, 10x that many college teams, and 10x that many HS teams...its a pyramid. If you don't make the cut from one level to the next...you just stop playing, there's really no alternative (go to Europe/Asia?). Changing this thought process would be a monumental effort.
As it is, most of the best kids from rural areas typically move to soccer clubs in ATL by the early select ages. They don't even stay in their rural clubs. We already have consolidation in our soccer clubs, so you'd likely never get the local support for the local clubs. Mega-clubs would fly in the face of the concept of the European model, where the rich clubs buy talent from the other clubs, not the other clubs themselves.
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Post by rifle on Nov 8, 2019 6:31:31 GMT -5
Minor league baseball caste system is not worth emulating.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Nov 8, 2019 9:34:09 GMT -5
Agree with the high school football -- its more of a community based initiative, come out and support the local team.
I admit its very cool watching guys play in the NFL that played for the high school around the corner.
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Post by oraclesfriend on Nov 8, 2019 11:15:25 GMT -5
Agree with the high school football -- its more of a community based initiative, come out and support the local team. I admit its very cool watching guys play in the NFL that played for the high school around the corner. The high school football analogy is interesting and I agree that it fits well in this community. You see children at these high school games that have ties to the school that a minimal...they go to the elementary school in that district. There are often no older siblings playing or dads coaching yet they are still there. It is cool. This doesn't play out everywhere in the US though. When I was in high school we occasionally went to the games to socialize with our friends. It was something to do on Friday nights. There were no little kids there or random adults from the community and if even 1/6 of the kids that attended the school were there on any given Friday I would be shocked. Out of a school that had nearly 4000 kids we barely had 1000 total attending our high school football games. I feel like many places in the US don't really have that sense of community that I feel Europe has. This seems especially true nearer to the big cities. Anyone else feel this way or is it just me? |
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Post by atlfutboldad on Nov 8, 2019 12:02:26 GMT -5
Community is lost in the bigger cities. Thats why the big clubs have several supporter clubs, they bring a sense of community to a place where its not really natural. ATL UTD games I've been to (only around 7, I'm a VERY casual fan) there are lots of people around us who have very little soccer knowledge and plenty that aren't really paying much attention at all, its merely something to do...and that's cool.
I went to a HS where you had to watch out for gang activity in the early 90s in inner city Montgomery, so I never went to any football games. Currently we live in a rural place though, and the HS games are very well attended (and the big college games the following day). At the HS home games, you have a good 300 kids under HS age just wandering around the stadium, hanging out and playing and socializing. But the HS students are in their student section doing a good job supporting the team.
I guess that's my point, in the UK I'm sure there are plenty of people that attend the 3rd and 4th tier club games just because its something to do, and that's a great thing. Have a few pints and cheer on the hometown bhoys, win or lose its something to do. I'm curious if the local followers of the small clubs also have favorites in the EPL (akin to how a college football fan might also have an NFL team they follow).
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