Comments on: US Soccer Bites the Hand that Feeds Its US Open Cup http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html League Football, Soccer News and Views from Around the World Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:57:06 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: alex w http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html/comment-page-1#comment-147803 alex w Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:49:06 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html#comment-147803 "Its only the most hard-core soccer fans who watch European leagues with great regularity." I'd say that is incorrect. Myself, along with most of my soccer watching friends, we watch european leagues regularly, and only MLS when nothing else is on. It's just too hard to sell the MLS to americans, because we are used to spectating the best, and MLS is far from the best. By and large we all support the USMNT, but we are all resigned to the fact that soccer in the US will probably never reach the level of european teams. “Its only the most hard-core soccer fans who watch European leagues with great regularity.”

I’d say that is incorrect. Myself, along with most of my soccer watching friends, we watch european leagues regularly, and only MLS when nothing else is on. It’s just too hard to sell the MLS to americans, because we are used to spectating the best, and MLS is far from the best. By and large we all support the USMNT, but we are all resigned to the fact that soccer in the US will probably never reach the level of european teams.

]]> By: G http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html/comment-page-1#comment-147801 G Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:05:58 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html#comment-147801 N, the matches that you are referring to are organized by parties outside of CONCACAF, so all that the confederation could do is request, like the AFC did, that teams shorten their trips. They aren't under any obligation. I don't believe that CONCACAF made the same request. While the confederation does care about the cup, remember that in 2007 (when the AFC made the request), the tournament qualified teams for FIFA's confederations cup. This time it is just for bragging rights, as we can all see. Also, Laurie is right - every U.S. player that played in the confed cup has now been released to their club teams (many teams still have players on vacation). My personal opinion is that having great European teams come really helps make soccer more popular in the U.S. Fans here really support the big European club friendlies, and as they start to see how much fun a soccer game can be, some of those same supporters will watch USMNT and MLS games. Many people say that European clubs are such a higher class that the fans that came out to these matches won't see MLS teams. Let me tell you, TONS of people at these games have never been to a live soccer game, and this will help drive their enthusiasm. Its only the most hard-core soccer fans who watch European leagues with great regularity. N, the matches that you are referring to are organized by parties outside of CONCACAF, so all that the confederation could do is request, like the AFC did, that teams shorten their trips. They aren’t under any obligation. I don’t believe that CONCACAF made the same request. While the confederation does care about the cup, remember that in 2007 (when the AFC made the request), the tournament qualified teams for FIFA’s confederations cup. This time it is just for bragging rights, as we can all see.

Also, Laurie is right – every U.S. player that played in the confed cup has now been released to their club teams (many teams still have players on vacation).

My personal opinion is that having great European teams come really helps make soccer more popular in the U.S. Fans here really support the big European club friendlies, and as they start to see how much fun a soccer game can be, some of those same supporters will watch USMNT and MLS games. Many people say that European clubs are such a higher class that the fans that came out to these matches won’t see MLS teams. Let me tell you, TONS of people at these games have never been to a live soccer game, and this will help drive their enthusiasm. Its only the most hard-core soccer fans who watch European leagues with great regularity.

]]> By: Laurie http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html/comment-page-1#comment-147722 Laurie Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:30:58 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html#comment-147722 Saving thoughts on your real topic for later, but the US is playing the B team in the Gold Cup. Onyewu played the Confederations Cup and then was allowed to go back to real life, along with almost everybody else who played in South Africa. A couple of players (Altidore, Davies, Adu etc.) got the second call-up, but even they were allowed to go home during or right after the group stages. I think Bob Bradley decided that the Confed Cup was the real deal and this is the proving ground. Even so, the team has made it to the Gold Cup final, which isn't too bad. Saving thoughts on your real topic for later, but the US is playing the B team in the Gold Cup. Onyewu played the Confederations Cup and then was allowed to go back to real life, along with almost everybody else who played in South Africa. A couple of players (Altidore, Davies, Adu etc.) got the second call-up, but even they were allowed to go home during or right after the group stages.

I think Bob Bradley decided that the Confed Cup was the real deal and this is the proving ground. Even so, the team has made it to the Gold Cup final, which isn’t too bad.

]]> By: N http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html/comment-page-1#comment-147721 N Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:14:05 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html#comment-147721 Sorry to turn to different topic but is it not a bit counter productive to the development of game in the CONCACAF region by having Chelsea, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Club America playing in the same country at the same time of the regional championships? Having all these top class teams is great, but, trying to win over North American (in particular US) supporters to follow their national team might be distracted with the likes of Zlatan, Milito, Ronaldinho and one of Mexico's biggest teams. Also I saw Oneyu (poor spelling) played for AC Milan in this tournament....did he end up playing for USA against Honduras?? Surely playing for your country in a regional tournament is more important than some shonky pre-season comp? Man Utd. was told by the AFC to cancel (or shorten) its trip to Malaysia on the eve of the 2007 Asian Cup to keep interest in the tournament. Sorry to turn to different topic but is it not a bit counter productive to the development of game in the CONCACAF region by having Chelsea, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Club America playing in the same country at the same time of the regional championships?

Having all these top class teams is great, but, trying to win over North American (in particular US) supporters to follow their national team might be distracted with the likes of Zlatan, Milito, Ronaldinho and one of Mexico’s biggest teams.

Also I saw Oneyu (poor spelling) played for AC Milan in this tournament….did he end up playing for USA against Honduras??

Surely playing for your country in a regional tournament is more important than some shonky pre-season comp?

Man Utd. was told by the AFC to cancel (or shorten) its trip to Malaysia on the eve of the 2007 Asian Cup to keep interest in the tournament.

]]> By: Laurie http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html/comment-page-1#comment-147718 Laurie Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:14:55 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html#comment-147718 Response from Josh at USOpenCup.com <em>We are trying to work out a compromise when it comes to that. We may be able to work out a deal where we create a splash page that reminds people that the domain name of the original site changed. I don't know what their plans are with the domain name. I'm assuming they will forward it to their current Open Cup page on ussoccer.com, but I'm just speculating. </em> Response from Josh at USOpenCup.com

We are trying to work out a compromise when it comes to that. We may be able to work out a deal where we create a splash page that reminds people that the domain name of the original site changed. I don’t know what their plans are with the domain name. I’m assuming they will forward it to their current Open Cup page on ussoccer.com, but I’m just speculating.

]]> By: Laurie http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html/comment-page-1#comment-147711 Laurie Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:57:45 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html#comment-147711 I was wondering that too, Dave. My guess is yes? This seems like a relatively amicable split, all things considered. I can check, though. I was wondering that too, Dave. My guess is yes? This seems like a relatively amicable split, all things considered. I can check, though.

]]> By: DaveS http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html/comment-page-1#comment-147708 DaveS Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:25:27 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html#comment-147708 Will US Soccer at least redirect requests for usopencup.com to the new website? Will US Soccer at least redirect requests for usopencup.com to the new website?

]]> By: Adam http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html/comment-page-1#comment-147689 Adam Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:43:23 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html#comment-147689 what's missing here is the legal proceedings? Demosphere just gave USSF the domain name? why? is there legal precedence that copyright to a name holds over for a URL? what’s missing here is the legal proceedings? Demosphere just gave USSF the domain name? why? is there legal precedence that copyright to a name holds over for a URL?

]]> By: Dave http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html/comment-page-1#comment-147682 Dave Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:04:47 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html#comment-147682 Doesn't it seem like sometimes the USSF would rather promote 2girls1cup than the US Open Cup? Doesn’t it seem like sometimes the USSF would rather promote 2girls1cup than the US Open Cup?

]]> By: Chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html/comment-page-1#comment-147681 Chris Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:58:02 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/us-soccer-bites-the-hand-that-feeds-its-us-open-cup.html#comment-147681 Count me among those unaware that usopencup.com was not run by USSF. Given how terrible ussoccer.com is (and has always been), it doesn't surprise me though. It's a great shame. Count me among those unaware that usopencup.com was not run by USSF. Given how terrible ussoccer.com is (and has always been), it doesn’t surprise me though. It’s a great shame.

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