Comments on: 2008 MLS Preview

By: Prashant

Prashant — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:37:47 +0000

Hi everyone,

It’s not intrusion but an humble request to the community here.

I have recently started an articles website and would request you (I will appreciate if you can) to please spare some time and post articles about soccer at my site.

Thanks

Prashant
http://www.depositarticles.com

By: Lee Watson

Lee Watson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:08:32 +0000

Great piece.

Its a shame that the Guardian didn’t follow it up> I hope you didn’t send them the whole thing on spec. (An easy mistake to make as you might imagine that they would appreciate it. They won’t and you can only lose out)

I read somehwere above that you are doing a PhD - Is it fooball and culture related. I recently received my doctorate after completing a thesis on Football and Catalan nationalism in Spain.

Let me know if I can be of any use or interchange ideas.

Lee

http://spanishfootball.typepad.com/la_liga_review

By: John

John — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:45:43 +0000

To answer Jason Burke, if Houston spent some time marking up, they’d be able to compete in any league. The accuracy with which they complete long balls is staggering..

Cheers,

John
http://www.spotlightsoccer.com

By: Jason.Burke,Murphy

Jason.Burke,Murphy — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:58:55 +0000

When I point out that attendance for teams like the Houston Dynamo are higher than many Premier League clubs, I am not claiming that the Dynamo would stay up in some other league.

I’m only pointing out that teams like the Dynamo, without Beckham visiting, create a lot interest and enthusiasm and prove that soccer is as popular as any other sport here. More play it and more watch it if you count all the leagues.

That said, I really don’t know how long a top-ten EPL team would last through the Texas heat. I’m not kidding. Many games break 35 degrees celsius. It’s another sport at that temperature.

By: David

David — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:26:21 +0000

Jon - I don’t think the players going abroad are those who are going to be the “home-grown idols.” Well, there are a few (Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson, and Jozy Altidore when he leaves), but what worries me more are the good but not great players leaving for higher pay in small European leagues. These players have raised the level of play in MLS overall and their loss will bring it down.

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:16:00 +0000

Hi David,

I found your website through googling Tim Vickery (and I came across your interview with him).

Just wanted to say that your site is brilliant. Really well written, really interesting subjects (particularly enjoyed the history of clubs names) and I will definitely be coming back in the future.

Keep up the good work, it’s nice to see a footballing blog so well written.

Rob.

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:50:18 +0000

Goo preview, feel like I grasp it a bit more now! Particularly insightful about American talent going abroad - do you think this also means that the growth of the game in the US is stunted because of a lack of home-grown ‘idols’ for aspiring footballers, or can the ‘foreign legion’ of Beckham et al inspire them in the same way?

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:54:02 +0000

Mr. Burke, having a bigger average attendance than Wigan is not somethong to be too proud of. Of course it is an acomplishment but i doubt most of the MLS teams could make it in the championship nevermind Premiership. I am sure it will get better though with Jozy Altidore as a good prospect along with numerous others.

By: Chad

Chad — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:58:19 +0000

Great writing. I found your blog when I googled Tim Vickery (after I heard him on WSD) and found a blog entry you wrote. I was surprised that I had never heard of your blog before. I am impressed with your writing skill, and I wasn’t surprised when I read you’re a phd student. I myself will be applying to grad school for philosophy next year, so I really appreciate clear writing. Good Job, I find the premise of your blog incredibly interesting and novel (i.e. a blog on football with a focus on the intersection/interplay between the sport and culture). I will continue visiting. Awesome and intelligent…

By: Micah

Micah — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:27:58 +0000

Good preview. But I’m not suprised the English press has no interest in your piece. Oh well. It was a worthy effort.

Your article points out both the good and the bad when it comes to MLS. Salary needs to be stressed much more and I’m glad it was mentioned in your piece.

Fantastic work as usual. Cheers!