Final Team USA roster announced (not women's sports SH)

[DukeJack]

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Guzan.
Defenders: Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Spector, Steve Cherundolo, Clarence Goodson, Jonathan Bornstein.
Midfielders: Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Stuart Holden, Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber, Jose Torres, DaMarcus Beasley.
Midfielder-forwards: Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan
Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez, Robbie Findley.

Missed the cut: Chad Marshall, Heath Pearce, Sacha Kljestan, Robbie Rogers, Alejandro Bedoya, Eddie Johnson, Brian Ching.

[AZGrizFan]

Love the disclaimer, DJ.

[89Hen]

Goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Guzan
Defenders: Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Spector, Clarence Goodson
Forwards: Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez, Robbie Findley

Guess I don't follow soccer as closely as I used to. I've never heard of these guys.

[bandl]

Kind of surprised that Ching was cut, although I am happy about it.
Findley is a surprise, especially considering he didn't play last night.

[Grizalltheway]

Kind of surprised that Ching was cut, although I am happy about it.
Findley is a surprise, especially considering he didn't play last night.

Where's TexasTerror when you need him?

[GannonFan]

Goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Guzan
Defenders: Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Spector, Clarence Goodson
Forwards: Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez, Robbie Findley

Guess I don't follow soccer as closely as I used to. I've never heard of these guys.

DeMerit? Really, you didn't hear of him? He had a great Confederations Cup against Spain and Brazil - it was almost impossible to miss him if you saw those games.

[bluehenbillk]

I know anything on let's say 8 guys on the team. If you asked me on a blank piece of paper to name people on the US team I'd get probably 2. That's why the World Cup doesn't excite me nor the overwhelming majority of Americans.

[GannonFan]

I know anything on let's say 8 guys on the team. If you asked me on a blank piece of paper to name people on the US team I'd get probably 2. That's why the World Cup doesn't excite me nor the overwhelming majority of Americans.

And that matters how exactly?? They're still going to hold the World Cup even if you don't watch. And heck, even in the US, soccer outdraws hockey on TV - the last World Cup had more than a 2M per game audience - playoff hockey this year is sometimes 1/4 of that number. So either people are just leaving their TV's on or someone is watching. As much as I like hockey and the Flyers, soccer is most likely the 4th most followed team sport in America (granted, a big step down from the triumverate of football/baseball/basketball, but nothing will ever crack those 3).

[bluehenbillk]

I know anything on let's say 8 guys on the team. If you asked me on a blank piece of paper to name people on the US team I'd get probably 2. That's why the World Cup doesn't excite me nor the overwhelming majority of Americans.

And that matters how exactly?? They're still going to hold the World Cup even if you don't watch. And heck, even in the US, soccer outdraws hockey on TV - the last World Cup had more than a 2M per game audience - playoff hockey this year is sometimes 1/4 of that number. So either people are just leaving their TV's on or someone is watching. As much as I like hockey and the Flyers, soccer is most likely the 4th most followed team sport in America (granted, a big step down from the triumverate of football/baseball/basketball, but nothing will ever crack those 3).

You're comparing apples & oranges and you know it. You want a fair comparison on the sports you brought up then fine, compare TV ratings on MLS vs NHL. If you want to talk about WC #'s for say USA/England, which will most likely be the peak I'd imagine, compare them vs what USA vs Canada did in the Olympics. I believe the hockey rating was pretty high so the World Cup has it's work cut out for it. And you're correct, they don't sniff the #'s or attention the big 3 sports get.

[Grizalltheway]

And that matters how exactly?? They're still going to hold the World Cup even if you don't watch. And heck, even in the US, soccer outdraws hockey on TV - the last World Cup had more than a 2M per game audience - playoff hockey this year is sometimes 1/4 of that number. So either people are just leaving their TV's on or someone is watching. As much as I like hockey and the Flyers, soccer is most likely the 4th most followed team sport in America (granted, a big step down from the triumverate of football/baseball/basketball, but nothing will ever crack those 3).

You're comparing apples & oranges and you know it. You want a fair comparison on the sports you brought up then fine, compare TV ratings on MLS vs NHL. If you want to talk about WC #'s for say USA/England, which will most likely be the peak I'd imagine, compare them vs what USA vs Canada did in the Olympics. I believe the hockey rating was pretty high so the World Cup has it's work cut out for it. And you're correct, they don't sniff the #'s or attention the big 3 sports get.

I'm a pretty big soccer fan, and I hardly give MLS a second thought. Just not comparable in quality to the big leagues in Europe.

[dbackjon]

Soccer snob...

[GannonFan]

And that matters how exactly?? They're still going to hold the World Cup even if you don't watch. And heck, even in the US, soccer outdraws hockey on TV - the last World Cup had more than a 2M per game audience - playoff hockey this year is sometimes 1/4 of that number. So either people are just leaving their TV's on or someone is watching. As much as I like hockey and the Flyers, soccer is most likely the 4th most followed team sport in America (granted, a big step down from the triumverate of football/baseball/basketball, but nothing will ever crack those 3).

You're comparing apples & oranges and you know it. You want a fair comparison on the sports you brought up then fine, compare TV ratings on MLS vs NHL. If you want to talk about WC #'s for say USA/England, which will most likely be the peak I'd imagine, compare them vs what USA vs Canada did in the Olympics. I believe the hockey rating was pretty high so the World Cup has it's work cut out for it. And you're correct, they don't sniff the #'s or attention the big 3 sports get.

Well, as for MLS ratings (and EPL ratings too since ESPN has those rights now too) they pull in about 500k per game - which is about the max that Versus pulls in for NHL playoff games. That says a lot right there.

And apples to oranges comparison? You chastise that for me and then throw out for comparison a WC final (which happens every 4 years) with a US/Canada gold medal hockey game in prime time in the US (I think that's happened all of once so far - ever). Sure that had the higher number (27M for the hockey game, 2006's Italy/France final had just shy of 17M in the US), but considering the circumstances and who was playing, it's not like the WC number was shabby.

[Grizalltheway]

You're comparing apples & oranges and you know it. You want a fair comparison on the sports you brought up then fine, compare TV ratings on MLS vs NHL. If you want to talk about WC #'s for say USA/England, which will most likely be the peak I'd imagine, compare them vs what USA vs Canada did in the Olympics. I believe the hockey rating was pretty high so the World Cup has it's work cut out for it. And you're correct, they don't sniff the #'s or attention the big 3 sports get.

Well, as for MLS ratings (and EPL ratings too since ESPN has those rights now too) they pull in about 500k per game - which is about the max that Versus pulls in for NHL playoff games. That says a lot right there.

And apples to oranges comparison? You chastise that for me and then throw out for comparison a WC final (which happens every 4 years) with a US/Canada gold medal hockey game in prime time in the US (I think that's happened all of once so far - ever). Sure that had the higher number (27M for the hockey game, 2006's Italy/France final had just shy of 17M in the US), but considering the circumstances and who was playing, it's not like the WC number was shabby.

You should probably take into account the fact that ESPN usually comes with basic cable, whereas Versus doesn't.

[Grizalltheway]

Soccer snob...

Guilty as charged.

[EPJr]

Well, as for MLS ratings (and EPL ratings too since ESPN has those rights now too) they pull in about 500k per game - which is about the max that Versus pulls in for NHL playoff games. That says a lot right there.

And apples to oranges comparison? You chastise that for me and then throw out for comparison a WC final (which happens every 4 years) with a US/Canada gold medal hockey game in prime time in the US (I think that's happened all of once so far - ever). Sure that had the higher number (27M for the hockey game, 2006's Italy/France final had just shy of 17M in the US), but considering the circumstances and who was playing, it's not like the WC number was shabby.

You should probably take into account the fact that ESPN usually comes with basic cable, whereas Versus doesn't.

it don't ????

[DukeJack]

Goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Guzan
Defenders: Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Spector, Clarence Goodson
Forwards: Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez, Robbie Findley

Guess I don't follow soccer as closely as I used to. I've never heard of these guys.

Hahnemann - GK for Wolverhampton in England, 37 or so, played most of his career in the first and second divisions of England. Next to Brad Freidel who's retired, our most in-form goalie right now, over Howard, IMO.

Guzan - GK for Aston Villa in England, mid 20's, started his career with Chivas USA played for 3? years and transferred to AV. Currently backing up Freidel who has been having career seasons despite being about 40. Mostly gets into cup games and relegation-level opponents, any goalie not getting 90 minutes every week will look like he did last night.

DeMerit - CB for Watford in England, 29-30, played his whole career for Watford after signing for a seventh division club out of college and winning a tryout after a friendly with Watford. He really came on for the US last summer in the Confederations Cup when Boca get moved to LB and if it wasn't for an eye/abdominal injury right now would probably start for us at CB in south Africa.

Spector - D for West Ham in England, mid 20's, another guy who emerged at RB last summer, serves in a very good cross and most importantly for us right now can play any position on the backline, played RB, CB, and LB for the Hammers this season.

Goodson - CB for IK Start in Norway, late 20's, gotten a few caps over the last four cycles with most coming in the last year, had a horrible performance in the Gold Cup last summer, was personally responsible for 3 goals against in one game. But he does start every game for IKS, something which very few of the other CBs can say

Buddle - FW for LA Galaxy, 29, only previous cap came in 2003, has always had some "mental" issues putting his full game together (think Eddie Johnson), but has finally put everything together this season with LA; leads the league in scoring with 9 goals in 9 games

Gomez - FW for Pachuca in Mexico, 29, just transferred to Mexico this winter, had played in MLS his whole career, lead the Mexican league in scoring with 10 goals in 14 games, the first American to ever do this in any league outside the US.

Findley - FW for Real Salt Lake, mid 20's, had a great season last year, has just one goal so far this year, has been complete crap in the friendlies this year. A speed option on the bench, that's it.

[slycat]

Plus NHL gets much more hype and stories in newspapers and websites. Finding a MLS article in a newspaper is like looking for a needle in a hay stack.

Heck ESPN.com is all about the NHL playoffs but the MLS portion of the website looks like a 1st grader is in charge.

If MLS got as much coverage in media as the other professional leagues then ratings would be much higher. But its near impossible to get MLS info unless you really want to find it.

[Grizalltheway]

You should probably take into account the fact that ESPN usually comes with basic cable, whereas Versus doesn't.

it don't ????

At least not out here in the sticks...

[DukeJack]

On way Findley was picked over Ching....

[Findley's] speed when he comes into a match, his willingness to try and run behind a defense....We felt that we had a good feel for where Robbie was after the earlier games this year, including most recently Holland. What he's shown is that his movement along the front line is good, his speed, his ability to try to get behind the defense....Brian has been such an important player but it's tough when you have an injury at an inopportune time.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccer ... .html#more

[DukeJack]

Also, I've been looking for some hard numbers and will post them when I can find them, but the Mexican Primera is by far the most popular soccer league in this country, and it's ratings crush MLS, EPL, and the NHL. The market is there - it's just getting MLS to the point where it can win over these fans who can still easily connect with their team.

Got 'em - ranges from 750k to 3.3mil on Univision and around 650k on Fox Sports Espanol:

Thirty-four of the 35 top-rated sporting events on Univision in the last year featured teams from the Mexican league, with audiences ranging from 750,000 to 3.3 million. The other was the Mexico-U.S. game that drew 5.9 million.

Twelve of the 15 highest-rated sporting events on Telemundo featured the Mexican national team, with audiences ranging from 1.6 million to 3.2 million. The other three were games from the Mexican league.

The numbers are by no means NFLesque. But the national team games are in line with audiences for “Sunday Night Baseball” and early round NBA playoff games, with pops that are even better. And the Mexican league games dwarf the MLS — and the NHL, for that matter. In today’s fractured landscape, that sort of consistency — and access to a targeted consumer — resonates with advertisers.

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/62347

[bluehenbillk]

[
And apples to oranges comparison? You chastise that for me and then throw out for comparison a WC final (which happens every 4 years) with a US/Canada gold medal hockey game in prime time in the US.

For the record the Gold Medal Game was a 3:00pmEST start, not prime-time.