Boring soccer

The young season has seen a lot of soul-searching in English soccer. Attendances are down noticably in grounds throughout the country. Everyone has their own theories why.

Some contend that the once fast-paced English game has become more defensive and boring. With the financial stakes of not being relegated to a lower division so high, many teams are playing to not lose rather than to win. Others say the change is a natural result of an influx of players and managers from continental Europe where, for the most part, the pace of play is significantly slower. Others blame the 4-5-1 formation that is increasingly in vogue, at the expense of the more tradition English 4-4-2. That is a bit dodgy since most formations can be attacking or defensive depending on the manager's instructions. The Spanish side Barcelona play a 4-5-1 but because of the WAY they play it, the Catalans offer some of the most exciting soccer in Europe.

Some blame increased television exposure and skyrocketing ticket prices for driving away fans. I'm inclined toward the latter. Soccer, much like ice hockey or baseball, is a far better game in person than on television. How is it that the Bristol Rovers (who play in a league equivalent Class A baseball) justify charging twice as much for season tickets as the Spanish side Real Madrid, who are generally considered to be the most glamorous and most expensive team in the world? It's only because of skyrocketing ticket prices that increased television exposure matters. Without it, most people would still prefer going to games.

Others even blame departure from the normal kickoff time. Traditionally, 3:00 PM on Saturday afternoon was soccer time. Now, there are usually games at 12:30 and 5:30 PM local time as well as games on Sunday and Monday... that's in addition to midweek European and domestic cup matches.

Some even take aim at the coaching courses that English managers have to take. They supposedly instill a homogenezation of style and tactics that lead to the current charge of 'boring.'

Interestingly, many Englanders are calling for the removal of national team boss Sven Goran Eriksson and for his replacement with an Englishman like Bolton manager Sam Allardyce or Middlesbrough's Steve McClaren. Perhaps these fans are smoking crack. Replacing 'boring' Sven with Allardyce or McClaren? Have any of these fans actually seen Bolton or Boro play?

I think this epitomize the delusion of many England fans who seem to think that their national team is just the right manager away from winning the World Cup. The fact of the matter is that they aren't that good and that it's not 1935 anymore. It doesn't help that after a single poor performance from any player, fans almost unanimously demand that player never wear the England shirt ever again; Sven's England lost a single game to Northern Ireland and fans are calling for his head.

McClaren even slammed his own supporters because a first round home match in the UEFA Cup against a team I've never heard of and am not sure what country it's from barely drew 14,000 to Middlesbrough's stadium. "The chairman has worked very hard to bring European football to this club and I am disappointed for him that the team has not been backed by the fans," he said. Tickets for the game against this unknown opponent cost over $35... and that was after the price had been REDUCED! Even if I were a Boro supporter, I'd think twice about forking over $35 to be lulled to sleep by that team; I can't think of any (non-Italian) manager who's squeezed so much boring soccer out of so many talented players than McClaren.

In other soccer related news, I was watching the USA-Italy match in the under-17 world championships. It was a shameful, ill-tempered match where the Italians had a player and their coach ejected. After the match, won comfortably 3-1 by the Americans, one of the Italians tried to start a fight with pretty much every member of the US team as well as making obscene gestures to the Peruvian crowd. Though I am Italian and normally support the Azzurri when they're not playing the US, this epitomizes the worst characterstic of Italian soccer: they have absolutely no class when things don't go their way. It's always the ref's fault or cheating opponents or a global conspiracy. Just as bad is that while their fans react angrily to losing, they seem to get little joy out of winning.

And can't players at least come up with some intelligent taunts? The obnoxious Italian player tried to taunt the Americans by simulating a basketball free throw. I'm assuming this is a reference to the fact that I think the Italians beat the USA in the basketball world championships. In the South Korea-USA World Cup match back two years ago, the Korean goal scorer made an Olympic skating reference in his taunting goal celebration. Couldn't they at least do something relevant like point to the scoreboard or something? Oh wait, when it reads 1-3 for the other guys, I guess that's not an option.

In more optimistic news, the New England Revolution are bucking the boring trend. Perenially bottom feeders, New England is having its best season ever with 16 wins, 7 ties and 6 losses. Their exciting, fast-paced attack leads Major League Soccer with 53 goals in 29 games. Let's go Revs!