Comments on: Jack Bell is a Wanker

By: booji

booji — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:58:00 +0000

wow. jack bell was totally right though. fsc concentrates on the english game, not because it is more entertaining... hell no. argentine, brazilian, spanish, french, dutch football are all far more entertaining. EPL though has the $$ and probably more importantly the language advantage. it is easier for them to just grab the feed for the english game as opposed to spanish or another language.

please don't kid yourself when you think that the reason the epl is shown on fsc more often than anything else is because it is more entertaining? you're obviously a brit who thinks the world revolves around england or britain.

fsc needs to stop focusing on the english game so much, it is probably a bad thing that the fans end up supporting england because of this, when they should be supporting the USA. personally i've grown to HATE the english national team, along with many other people as well because they are shown on fsc all the damn time and that pub team can't even qualify for the euros. then you think a majority of those who watch fsc actually root for this sorry side? americans hate the british remember? as do a majority of the world. you are the wanker.

By: JC

JC — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:27:00 +0000

Question for Is this betting:

You mean to tell me you guys have the option to listen to the game, but not the commentators? Are you kidding? If that is true that is awesome!! I have been dreaming of having that option in baseball (and all sports) for the longest time. You’re giving me hope that we might eventually see something similar available over here!

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:01:00 +0000

Sorry to stray a bit off topic, but "Anonymous" (how bloody clever) clearly needs a reality check...

Hey 11:20 take you and your yank attitude back to American Football or some dumb sport like that. American Football cost England Euro qualifying and American writers don't understand football even if they try......

There is no doubt that NFL game wrecked the pitch at Wembley, and the downpour of rain prior to the Croatia match certainly didn't help matters.

But before you start blaming the NFL, Bush, Clinton, Gilligan, McDonald's and everything else American for England choking (and that's exactly what England did -- choke), that pitch had problems with it well before that NFL game.

People have been complaining about the pitch at Wembley since the Chel$ki/Man Utd FA Cup Final. It's been relaid at least twice since the stadium opened and I read after the Croatia match that they're going to look at totally redesigning it.

So in addition to America and the NFL, you might want to include some blame for the Met Office for not doing a good enough job in shooing away that rainstorm. Perhaps you'll consider having a go at the people who so poorly designed Wembley's pitch in the first place. And if you're really feeling ambitious, you might try blaming those directly involved in the debacle -- The English Team, the ones who really lost the match.

We have more than enough problems in America right now without having to accept misplaced blame for the failures and shortcomings of English football.

And by the way, I agree. Jack Bell IS a Wanker.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:48:00 +0000

If the PL was so popular ESPN would have bid on the rights, particularly the early Saturday game (Noon BT kickoff) and the Monday night game. My hunch is that the raw numbers for the PL are substantially lower than MLS. Now English footy fans are in your face with their kits and teams because it is their primary sport, but the reality many casual sports and even more casual soccer fans check out MLS from time to time. In addition, 7:28s comments is correct- the vast majority of American fans willing to give the game a shot just check out the World Cup and the US vs Mexico friendlies. The ratings fro US-Mexico games both in English and in Spanish exceed that of any other competition or match between world cups.

By: Kartik

Kartik — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:47:00 +0000

I too know several people who cheer for England and only follow England. They don’t even know if and when the US is playing and don’t care. No offense, but I think our soccer media is skewed towards the British point of view, not that I particularly mind it, but other do. Take my dad for instance. He was born in India and has been in the US since he was 20. He has no interest in BPL or UEFA Champions League but has watched MLS since its inception and used to take me to NASL and ASL games when I was a kid. He has ordered Direct Kick and in general seems disdainful of all the English oriented coverage on American networks. Thus my dad watches far less of FSC than he would if it were more “American” in its presentation.

By: Simon Burke

Simon Burke — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:50:00 +0000

Good debate this, the article is written by a muppet in honesty but I can see why an American soccer channel should be more American. ESPN presents its coverage in a more American manner and frankly I hate it, I think the Americans on FSC are very good (and the Canadians) and yes they are modelled on the British way of doing it but its more in depth than ESPN’s coverage which is all glitz and shouting. ESPN’s Europeans however are better than their American counterparts (come on, Julie Foudy? Eric Wynalda?)but that may just be personal preference.
Gaffer is right in that the EPL doesnt clash with MLS in terms of time so air them both (which they do). The Americans tend to overly focus on Americans in the EPL so Bell’s argument isnt great here either. Also I know several Americans who cheer on England – most now support America finally (this wasnt always the case) but a lot cheer England as a second team. You can make soccer more American in its lingo here but that doesnt mean te product will be any better – I dread to think what Bell would think of Ray Hudson who i cant stand and is an example of terrible British commentating.

By: bcjohn02

bcjohn02 — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 12:49:00 +0000

To anonymous at 2:44 am

You mean to tell me that the pitch could not be replaced in one months time? You mean to tell me that you simply cannot admit one simple fact and that is the England National Team simply does not play…oh wait for it…like a team? Sorry the fact is that while you may claim you have the best players in the world (and time and time again it’s been proven wrong)you do not have the best team. They are two totally different things and sadly your blinded by ignorance to that fact. Either grow up or seek some professional counseling.

By: is this betting

is this betting — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 12:45:00 +0000

It's quite ironic to hear about whether the commentators should be American or British as in England few people take any notice of at the commentators are saying.

Most people will watch the game with the commentators turned off and view the game with just the stadium sound option.

If you know who the players are then there is no need to hear the nonsense most of them talk.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:44:00 +0000

Hey 11:20 take you and your yank attitude back to American Football or some dumb sport like that. American Football cost England Euro qualifying and American writers don’t understand football even if they try. The world would be a better place if a bomb dropped on the Home Depot Center and we never heard from US Soccer again. Then we could focus on the real game- the English game.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 04:20:00 +0000

MJ,

I wish you were right but I know plenty of Americans who think of them selves as worldly and sophisticated and have no family ties to England, but root for England over the USA because they think it makes them appear more sophisticated as football fans. One of these people I know actually roots AGAINST the USA on a regular basis because he doesn't want the game to polluted by Americans.

As for MLS it is our domestic league and if you want the game to be successful here it is going to happen through your domestic league. The domestic league being a punching bag to fill the egos of euro loving left wing hippie types that embrace the game for its international aspects is pathetic. Those people including my friends should move to England if they hate our league and our national team so much.