Fire Away

Here’s a question to ponder: How bright is our future? For all that we like to wonder about how players like Altidore, Adu, and Bradley will develop, it’s difficult to see where we will be in eight years. Can we actually get better? It seems like we have a growing pool of talent that hasn’t yet been implemented but given that we play in CONCACAF how much improvement can we really expect? We face the age old of problem of not truly being forced to improve. We can schedule friendlies with Spain, Argentina, and England as much as we want, but when you get by even when you field teams with aging players like Eddie Lewis and Brian Ching what can you really expect?

I often here people talk about how they don’t think the US would make the World Cup at all if it were in CONMEBOL. I’m not sure I agree with this. I’ve seen us play well against some of those countries. I do think, however, that it would force our team to play better. There will and shouldn’t be any combination of these two conferences. Really we just have to keep hoping that players like Altidore and Adu will develop into great players.

Maybe Charlie Renken will destroy in 2012. And sure, some European blogger will scoff at our optimism and laugh that even try to enjoy football. Who cares. There’s nothing wrong with hoping right? Every football fan dreams of their country of winning the World Cup. What can’t we?

PS: Coke and hookers.

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All I got from that was “coke and hookers.”

You got what mattered.

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I was really scared there for a minute…I was searching for a joke, couldn’t find it. Thanks for the PS. Crisis averted! Now…WHO ELSE THINKS THIS TEAM WILL ROLL IN THE WC?! WOOOOOOO.

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who else thinks Papa Bradley will dig up Frankie Hejduk’s decomposing corpse and bring it to the WC?

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That is most definitely happening. I think Frankie could be playing from his hospital bed.

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The US will forever be mediocre. South america and europe will always be home to the world’s most quality football…and hookers (so I’m told).

CW that is FALSE! I think you’ll sooner see an American team win the World Cup than you’ll see England or Scotland win one. Too many of our top athletes were getting siphoned off the pitch into playing football or basketball or baseball or track, but now as more Americans are discovering the beautiful game at such a young age, its inevitable that the US makes the jump to elite status.

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Elle: I think Bradley likes the defensive coverage that Hejduk and Eddie Lewis can provide with their walkers. Try getting a free kick past one of those things, let alone two!

CW: That’s a sad point to make (on both counts). I’m not sure if I’m confident we will ever be a world power in football, but I do think we can close the gap a bit more between us and the top flight.

BMatt: That might be an optimistic view. I think our top athletes will continue to stick with American football, basketball, baseball, etc as long as that’s where the money is. If MLS ever starts paying players on par with those other leagues, then we might see more gifted kids choose the beautiful game.

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The money still does exist in NFL, MLB and the NBA. But I think that Soccer is still in its infancy in the US and we will see consistent improvement. That being said, I do have a reputation as a serious homer (the NYGiants haven’t had a bad team in 20 years!)

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Oh sweet Jesus, you’re a Giants fan, too? You and Carter. Can’t wait till the Eagles trounce them.

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The other option for the Giants haven’t had a bad team in 20 years was “The Eagles haven’t had a good team ever”.

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With all of this talk about salaries how can you not point out the fact that European football players get paid BANK? Obviously MLS doesn’t pay their players as much but if european soccer gets more exposure in the US kids will see that’s where the real money is. Not to mention, let’s be honest, european soccer players get mad booty. Much more than the roid raging football behemoths and ridiculously huge basketball players. Shit, even Peter Crouch gets hot ass and that dude is a ridiculously awkward 6′7″ british goon.

If the issue is money and fame then kids obviously don’t have a clue what the life of european football players is all about.

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That’s true GS, but there’s two factors working against that:

1) As you said, European soccer doesn’t get enough exposure here for kids to see how heavenly the life of a footballer can be.

2) Will American kids really want to move overseas to have that life when they can play a different sport have it (or something close to it) here, closer to home and family? Sure, some will, but I don’t know how many families will want to send their 12 year old to another continent because Sir Alex thinks they can be the next Zidane.

Of course, maybe I’m underestimating the desire for fame a fortune, no matter where it may come.

Someone get the word out in the hood that footballers make more money. Then we’re set.

Posted from  United States