Disqus - Latest Comments for Kartik

Re: Should the Premiership Have Playoffs?

Kartik — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:43:40 -0000

The Mexican League breaks its 18 teams into three divisions and holds relegation off for two seasons. Other leagues in Latin America are similar. The Mexican League playoffs are twice a year (Mexico has a fall and spring season) the most mad dash of games because they mean so much. They determine CONCACAF Champions League and Copa Lib bids. Those bids are not given based on the regular season unlike MLS who compromised their own playoffs system by giving a Champions League birth to the winners of each conference in the regular season partly due to drum beat of the WSD crowd you mention. Now the MLS playoffs while exciting are less important than Mexico's and merely a beauty contest, or a way for teams not in continental competition to play in.

The poster who mentioned playoffs in American sports is correct: the best usually does not win. That's been the case in Mexico also and generally the case in the Championship play offs also, but they do break up the monotony of the same teams always winning.

Re: Sky Sports Interviews Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller

Kartik — Mon, 05 May 2008 10:10:55 -0000

Gaf, thanks for posting that.

It was instructive and a reminder again as Lou mentioned how out of touch Friedel is with the scene here. Keller despite never playing in MLS or the A-League always has made it a point to fly back as often as possible and bond with the youngsters and take an active interest in what is going on here.

I applaud Friedel for his academy in Ohio but don't think he had nearly the perspective of Keller nor the undying loyalty from national team fanatics like myself that KK will always have. Keller is one of the last footballers in the world that would sacrifice his club for country at all costs and for that he should be held up as an example of virtue in a game going the other direction.

Re: Fulham Plays a Starring Role in The Great Escape

Kartik — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:27:23 -0000

Great photo with EJ who ironically described the world cup as a "war" even though he was AWOL leading the charge.

The enthusiasm around Fulham stateside is remarkable and actually could be what puts the PL over the top and refutes my theory about no growth in the US from a few months back. Surfing certain sites from back home (I am India right now) where American Soccer fans congregate the survival of Fulham was by and large the only issue for most fans, and chelsea v man united was simply not important.

Surfing these sites as I did before writing my article yesterday I was simply shocked at the level of nationalism demonstrated in support of Fulham. I had certainly shown the same a few weeks back when I told everyone Fulham was my sole concern in this EPL season but didn't realize the number of co-horts on the same page with me!

Re: Fulham FC: American Grit

Kartik — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:35:54 -0000

Wow, I hope you guys are right about EJ. I have given up on him. After coming back from a poor World Cup he was miserable for KC in MLS in 2006. In 2007 he started hot, but scored one goal in the last three months of the season. After this slump Fulham incredibly bought him for a huge sum.

I could be wrong but Honduras right now is the team to beat in CONCACAF. With Suazo and Guevara in the midfield they can control possession in an attacking way on anyone, and Carlos Costly could be the best striker in the region.

Mexico has more skill and talent than the rest of the teams in Confederation combined but the coaching situation is a mess and the Mexicans have become more and more like the English in the sense that expectations get over inflated and the clubs and their money are over riding the interests of the national team.

The US right now is not very good. That's obvious every time we play. Defensive liabilities are numerous and save the odd bit of magic from Landon Donovan the team is woeful in the attack and needs set pieces to score goals. On those set pieces we are decent enough, but Bocanegra and Onyewu the two set piece goal scoring specialists are also huge liabilities at the back. (As is Johnny Magillon, Mexico's central defender who like the American duo is outstanding in the air but constantly out of position at the back.) The US' key assett is our play in central midfield in the "bucket formation" (two holding midfielders) played by Coach Bradley. The coach's son Michael Bradley, Rico Clark, Maurice Edu, and Pablo Mastroeni are all very very good options for international play.

Likely Mexico and the US both make it but finishing 2nd and 3rd in the Hexagonal. As I said that leaves little if any margin for error for either and Mexico has one win, six losses and one draw since World Cup 2006 against teams from CONCACAF outside the Carribean islands in full internationals and Olympic qualifying. That is simply not going to get it done and rightfully Hugo Sanchez was sacked.

Re: Fulham Would Be Mad Not To Visit America This Summer

Kartik — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:59:49 -0000

Gaffer,

Good suggestion. Believe it or not as many message boards, websites and emails to my CSRN show indicate the hard core US National Team/MLS fan have now by and large adopted Fulham as "our team" in Europe. Not just in the EPL, in Europe. Fulham now can essentially close the market off for the foreseeable future which is music to my ears as sit currently in Asia, an ocean of Man U and nothing else. In N.America the non-MLS, only Euro fan will continue to support big clubs, but the MLS fan will watch Fulham. I know several people who have written me that they don't watch the PL normally but were watching every Fulham match the last few weeks even if they had to go to a pub to find it.

T, visiting DSG or Salt Lake has usually been a bad move for Euro clubs because of the altitude, and at DSG the wide pitch. Celtic looked dead after 40 minutes there last year and Everton lost to RSL simply because in the pre season you cannot keep up at altitude. So my guess is that even though Commerce City has the best football facility in the country (a stadium I so enjoy I am planning on going to another Rapids game late this year, flying cross country just to sit at that stadium) I doubt Fulham would visit after the Celtic experience last year.

Re: Shinawatra Wants To Sell Entire Manchester City Squad. Or Does He?

Kartik — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:16:00 -0000

Well considering our best player, Joey "jailbird" Barton was already dumped and nobody on the current squad has his passion I could care less. Seriously Barton was once great before all this other b/s took over.

Re: Carlos Bocanegra Released By Fulham

Kartik — Sat, 24 May 2008 09:20:20 -0000

I don't know how the US not making it out of the first round of qualifying is silly. In 2000 with a far more experienced and accomplished team we needed a win against Barbados in the last match to get out of the group. Guatemala gave us fits that time and will once again. True T&T isn't Costa Rica but they are no slouch either. And Cuba political implications aside are far superior to Barbados.

I think the US with Donovan has a 70% chance. Without him it becomes 50/50.

Mexico also may have a tough time but Mexico as we have seen is far superior in skill and savvy to the US so they should survive even without a manager!

Re: Why Manchester United Should Let Cristiano Ronaldo Go

Kartik — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:33:48 -0000

Ronaldo is milking his celebrity for all its worth right now. Keep in mind Portugal has only qualified for three of the last ten world cups so assuming they'll qualify is a stretch especially considering their two golden generations of players have won them absolutely nothing. So he needs to cash in now. Champions League champ, PL champ, Euro hype. Two years from now he may simply be a marginal player coming off the bench at a very good United team who is led by World Champ Wayne Rooney or Carlos Tevez. (Tevez needs to fight his way into the Argentine squad though) That may sound crazy but it isn't as crazy as you think. One missed international tournament and you are yesterdays news. Teams like Potrugal whose football history is spotty could collapse at a moments notice especially in the tough qualifying group they have been handed.

Re: How England Football Fans Are Celebrating The Euros

Kartik — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:54:40 -0000

"the whole world"

No, the whole English speaking world. Folks in Latin America don't care about England. They don't rate England. They don't pay attention to England. But guess what? They rate Germany, Italy and Spain, so it's not like they don't pay attention to Europe.

This could have been their tournament I maintain. You see one of the pitfalls for England has been delusional expectations entering every major event. Yet for the first time since 1970 (1990 was a gritty team and 1996 did well because they were at home) if you go player by player England finally stacks up well with the best in the world. Despite the hype this wasn't so in 2002, 2004, and 2006. England needed to over achive to even get as far as they did in 2002 and basically got as far as they should have in 2004 and 2006.

But now with a healthy Rooney, a revitalized Beckham, Gerrard and Lampard in their prime, a solid Rio and Terry at the back and some flair in form of Bentley coming off the bench you'd be hard pressed to find a more talented team in the Euros than England.

That having been said as I have stated over and over again English players have no tactical sense. They have no idea how to react to circumstances on the pitch and that doesn't come from their current coaches as much as it does from their upbringing and the problems with English football are much more deeply seeded than simply saying "oh Sven was terrible", or " oh that Keegan was a joke", etc as the British press does.

Re: ESPN2 Sees 64% Increase in Households For Euro ‘08 Over Network Average | EPL Talk

Kartik — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:22:32 -0000

A fundamental problem is most Anglicized American soccer fans are used to a European style product. They are willing to watch MLS and give it a chance but the league is very latin in its style and with the exception of the Central Americans who do like MLS, most latins in the US have checked out on it. So the European soccer fan cannot recognize the product and thus trashes it even though by Latin standards it is certainly an above average league. The Latins won't watch because they can watch their own league. What you have left a listless product which has been propped up by the shrewd financial managment of Garber and Gazids, but whose future is bleak if somehow either the US or Mexico were to miss a World Cup in the near future and I believe unless things change one or the other will miss WC 2010. Second Choice Sven may become last choice Sven after it is all said and done.

Re: How England Football Fans Are Celebrating The Euros

Kartik — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:28:58 -0000

I'd rate England from a squad standpoint better than anyone in the tournament and after seeing Argentina struggle with two vastly inferior teams the USA and a weakened Brazil the last two weeks England has to be considered the most talented side on the planet. However, they will continue to fall short because of many of the problems with their game and mantality that I have outlined in the past. When I say England has the most talent I am not saying they have the best team. When I say Argentina has the most talent I am not saying they have the best team either. And clearly when I say Mexico has 5 X the talent of the US I am not claiming they are a better team either than the US, because right now they are not.

England crushed Russia 3-0 at Wembley and before the official and the turf got the best of them were dominating the match in Moscow as well. Seriously, very few people rate England outside of areas with large penetration of English language football shows. Even the Guardian admitted so much as when they talked with a correspondent in Brazil about England's non qualification he said it was not news there and that "it's not like Italy or Germany did not make it."

Has the soccer survived w/o England? These ratings would be higher no doubt if England were in these finals. I am more confident than ever about that when seeing these numbers.

Re: Spain And Italy’s Bore Draw Gives Soccer A Bad Name

Kartik — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:18:25 -0000

I'm a total hypocrite.

I've editorialized as most of you know over and over again about my objection MLS playing matches while so many MLS players are away on international duty, like today when again many players were with their national teams. Well the Italia match was typically Italia in a big tournament and the US match was boring and being played on a cricket pitch, so I did the only thing I could do (as I believe Jeffy did also!) I switched to telefutura and watched in stunning HD most of the second half between DC United and San Jose. Both teams were missing guys who were on international duty, but four goals in the 25 minutes or so I was watching while casually flipping back to the US and Euros every few minutes made me feel much much better.

Re: The Thin Line Between Euro 2008 Winners And Losers

Kartik — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:39:46 -0000

I met Donadoni a few times while he played in MLS and he was amazingly arrogant. I don't cry for him or Italia.

This is a good piece. Players have to execute, which is why national team fans who continuously blame managers and we see all the instability in int'l management are so foolish and out to lunch.

Re: New 08/09 Chelsea Away Shirt: Pictures

Kartik — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:33:39 -0000

No more yellow?

Re: Spain And Italy’s Bore Draw Gives Soccer A Bad Name

Kartik — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:33:11 -0000

Yeah ABC has a soccer doubleheader.

DC United- Galaxy at Noon
Spain-Germany at 2:30

About time the network gave soccer its due!

Re: 5 Reasons Why The European Football Championship Is Better Than The World Cup

Kartik — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:44:54 -0000

You make solid points but I would still argue the Copa America is the best competition of all. The most artistic and exciting attacking football around. I rarely if ever see South American sides play the sort of negative cynical football Spain and Italy engaged in the other night.

The minnows in the world cup like Saudi Arabia, the USA, the 4th African qualifier, etc do hurt the competition. But the truth if the Asian Confederation and CONCACAF are both improving. Saudi Arabia has made three straight world cups after never qualifying previously but now given the level in Asia they may not.

The US has been an absolute horror in four of the last five world cups but having watched CONCACAF qualifying as much as I have watched the Euros I can assure that the US is not one of the 3-4 best teams in the confederation any longer and may not qualify. So we'll have some new blood and get rid of some of the dead weight in the next World Cup. So give it a chance. The Euros are great but their has been plenty of dry, boring, cynical football, and quite frankly without England the tournament has less meaning for many Americans as I have discussed today over the CSRN website.

Re: 5 Reasons Why The European Football Championship Is Better Than The World Cup

Kartik — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:19:13 -0000

I'm not saying the Euros are less enjoyable w/o England, although that can be argued. I'm saying Americans are less passionate about the tournament and many are simply "keeping an eye on it" because England, the de facto national side of many Americans is not participating.

Regarding the US team, I watch more CONCACAF national team matches than just about anyone in this country. I know to what I am speaking. The US two years into this world cup cycle still have not identified or developed comparable replacements for several players who led us in 2002 and 2006:

Claudio Reyna
John O'Brien
Brian McBride
Eddie Pope
Tony Sanneh (2002)

The top three on this list represent the most technical players the US has arguably ever produced save Tab Ramos and Hugo Perez. Right now the US has no technical skill, little tactical awareness and nothing in the attack especially when Landon Donovan who is a class footballer (but the only one we currently have) is injured are unavailable.

Mexico has lots of issues as well but at least has Gio, Vela and Guardado integrating into their national side on a more accelerated schedule than we are integrating Jozy, Freddy and other youngsters that can help us.

Sorry, the US was fairly dire in 1994 also, but no not a disgrace by any standard. That 1994 team and even the 1998 team that had good results before and after the World Cup just not in France could absolutely thrash this current US side if Donovan were unavailable.

Re: Euro 2008 Coverage Has Failed To Match The Tournament

Kartik — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:47:11 -0000

I would take anyone with a pulse over Motson. Lawrenson is pretty dire as well.

Re: Euro 2008 Coverage Has Failed To Match The Tournament

Kartik — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:16:45 -0000

The bias against both Arsenal and Chelsea in the British media is very striking to an outsider like me. Very transparent and quite poor journalism.

Re: Are Football Match Programmes Slowly Becoming Extinct?

Kartik — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:33:37 -0000

MLS has stopped publishing the informative magazines they used to sell at the book shoppes in the early days of the league: the season preview, the all star program, etc. Also, they now give the paper thin programs away which features out of date info. MLS' website is very good, but you cannot "collect" websites.

Football magazines too are suffering. Recall Total Football from England? Gone. Shoot is going bye bye also. Four Four Two? Still alive but getting less useful as time goes on. World Soccer? Still indispensable but needed a major makeover to stay that way.

Re: 5 Reasons Why The European Football Championship Is Better Than The World Cup

Kartik — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:13:31 -0000

Actually only two of the three can qualify ahead of the US because they've all been grouped together.

Yes, Mexico is suspect right now. Will Sven straighten them out? I have my doubts and have already heard of some serious resistance within the mexican football community to his methods and style.

Columbia was pretty poor too last year in the Copa. The US, yes a C team!

Why can you guys not be all as reasoned as Simon in your opinion?

Re: Euro 2008 Semi Final Preview Germany v Turkey

Kartik — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:14:40 -0000

Rae was ready to do the "radio" call it seemed. Why they went back to the studio team is bizarre.

Re: Euro 2008 Semi Final Preview Germany v Turkey

Kartik — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:22:01 -0000

oh oh. Here we go again.

Re: Euro 2008 Semi Final Preview Germany v Turkey

Kartik — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:04:16 -0000

Steve Banyard is great! He did the FIFA U-20 WC in 2005 and 2007. Some of the most memorable US calls including our wins against the eventual world champions, Argentina and Brazil were with him. Love him!

Re: 5 Reasons Why The European Football Championship Is Better Than The World Cup

Kartik — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:43:19 -0000

FACT: Mexico made the Semifinals of Copa America and has advanced out of the group stage of six consecutive Copa Americas and four consecutive world cups. The US has advanced out of the group stage in one Copa America (1995) and only two world cups since 1934.

FACT: Mexico has defeated Brazil three times since 2005. The US has defeated Brazil once in our history, in 1998.

FACT: Mexico defeated Germany in 2005, the most recent meeting. The US has lost three consecutive meetings against the Germans after winning two in a row when we had a MUCH better team than now.

FACT: Mexico is ranked higher in the FIFA World Rankings.

I will point out I think Sven's hiring is a big big risk. Things could blow up if he doesn't grasp the culture of mexican football quickly.

FACT: Honduras reached the final of Copa America in 2001 and defeated the US at RFK the same year in a qualifier.

FACT: Honduras absolutely dominated the US for 80 plus minutes in the 2005 Gold Cup before the US scored two very late goals. Honduras has not played the US since but the Hondurans have since improved led by David Suazo of Inter while the US has regressed.

FACT: Costa Rica finished ahead of the USA in the first qualifying group for the 2002 WC and in
the Hexagonal.

FACT: The US needed pks to defeat Canada in the 2002 Gold Cup and Panama in 2005. Then in 2007 Panama scored a goal against the US down a man. The US only scored its two goals up a man. Then in the semis the US got a gift pk call to take a 2-0 lead but then gave up a goal and was fortunate that the ref absolutely blew Gooch's backpass that led to what should have been the tying Canadian goal. Besides the US was the host country and yet still struggled to beat Canada and Panama.

Canada has a better squad than the US if you compare player to player. Landon Donovan is better than any Canadian player, but after that a huge dropoff occurs. DeRo, DeGuzman, Rob Friend, Atiba Hutchinson and even Ali Gerba are all better attacking players than the 2nd best US attacking player.

I could be wrong but right now I'd take Canada's team over the US. But they are of course hamstrung by an inept CSA, and being in the group of death.

I actually hope you are right. Nothing would make me happier than to be proven wrong and us be able to look back and say US Soccer was so strong in the late part of this decade. But I don't see the players we used to have on a technical or tactical level. The fact that Canada, Honduras, even to a certain extent Costa Rica and Jamaica have developed these players is a huge cause for concern as time goes on.

Re: 5 Reasons Why The European Football Championship Is Better Than The World Cup

Kartik — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:30:20 -0000

Nas,

Perhaps it is because I am American and I support my national program. I'm just stating my opinion about the current state of the program compared to where it was 5-10 years ago. By the way I am far from alone in my opinion. Many think I am "too soft" on the USSF in my blogs and on my radio show. I get more complaints about complimenting the effort of individual players in losses than I do from people like you who assume a national team is like a club team and you can root for whomever you want. That's not how it works. You root for your country!

In fairness the listeners to my show are like me> Driven by the national team first and foremost and not as interested in the daily working of club football. even when I watch "Yanks Abroad" it's with an eye towards the next hurdle for the national team. So perhaps we all have a tendency to hyper analyze every game and every opponent. But the fact remains many think I am soft on the team in particular after this last qualifier. Others like my CSRN colleague Johnathan from the Third Half aren't so kind on his blog and on his show. I happen to disagree with him strongly about of a few of his assessments but find some others spot on.

Sanjay,

I agree with your list. Does OFC playoff with the AFC now? if so how ironic if Australia finishes in that play off position!

I agree with Simon. (not the impostor Simon whose posts have been rightfully deleted.) We'll finish in the top 3, probably third perhaps 2nd if second choice sven tanks mexico as it is possible he will. Sven is going to have more trouble than people think with El Tri.

Re: 5 Reasons Why The European Football Championship Is Better Than The World Cup

Kartik — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:31:23 -0000

A great sit down with JP Dellecamara, if you want to understand the American Soccer mind a little more from Goal.com

http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?Contenu...

Re: 5 Reasons Why The European Football Championship Is Better Than The World Cup

Kartik — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:58:20 -0000

Nothing would make me happier than to see the Kiwis win that playoff. The Aussies were so arrogant in their move to the AFC simply assuming they'd have no trouble winning trophies and qualifying.

I should also point out I have seen a number of CONCACAF teams advancing to the next stage in person within the last year and a half. The US several times, Mexico once (vs the US), Canada once (vs Panama), Honduras three times (vs Columbia, vs Switzerland and vs Venezuela), Guatemala once (vs Panama), Haiti (vs Jamaica) and Jamaica (vs Haiti and vs Columbia). While we no longer have MLS in south florida we get more non Mexican/American friendlies than any other place in the country so I've seen all the above mentioned teams and have made many of my assumptions based on actually watching these teams unlike many of you who base it on the reputations in the media and biases of the British media in particular.

Re: Euro 2008 Semi-Final Plagued By 17 Minutes Of TV Transmission Issues

Kartik — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:55:55 -0000

Where is Alexander Stephens or Stonewall Jackson?

Buddy, I bet I know about Southern history and the South than you do. Want to find out. Email me at kkfla737@yahoo.com

Re: ESPN’s Euro 2008 Dream Goes According To Plan

Kartik — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:46:54 -0000

Andy Gray is so very biased and clearly knows zilch about players not based in the PL or on the top clubs in the other top leagues.

Another subject and a bitter one at that. Why are so many E glish commentators and writers so blatently biased against the Germans . I have sene numerous articles and blog posts in the last 72 hours originating from the UK claiming no German player outside of Ballack is good enough to play on the top PL side and that England has far better players than Germany. Also I have seen stories about how little quality Germany has and how little talent they have. When will these people finally get over their transparent bitterness about Germany's success. For years the British media has tried to disparage the Germans and their football style by applying a british standard to the football, and somehow implying it is tainted. Martin Samuel is a lone exception to this worrying and pathetic trend among British writers.

Re: ESPN’s Euro 2008 Dream Goes According To Plan

Kartik — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:17:19 -0000

Yeah but let's be real here.

Charles DeGaulle sits in Britain during WWII leading the Free French and once France is liberated he buddies up with Adenhour.

Do you want a history lesson on WWI Betysy Bolton's Bum Baster?

Who started the war? Was it the Germans? Or was it the Serbians killing the Archduke and the system of alliances perpetuated by the British and Frnech partly because they were colonizing the whole world something I remind you Europeans that call today's Americans "imperialists" we did not do. Read Wilson's 14 points and you'll understand the American mindset on these matters. Had France treated Germany with more respect in the treaty of Versailles the whole horrible thing your nation and my jewish friends endured in WWII would have likely been avoided. (my wife is jewish BTW) Maybe you like your history simple and like to blame the Germans for everything. Well it's never that simple.

But for journalists to be so transparent in their agenda is pathetic. They have a responsibility otherwise. Oh and by the way, you are the ones who have made the Germans so worried about expressing any sort of nationalism that their previous tournament triumphs have had muted celebrations while other European fans can ransack towns and shops when they play.

BTW, as someone with dark skin as was pointed out above I faced much less hostility in GERMANY than in any other place in Europe in my travels many years ago. These days things are alright throughout Europe but 20 years ago Germany was much tolerant. Certainly more so than the UK I must add, since one of you keeps using racist code towards me.

BTW, we don't practice multiculturalism in the US like in the UK. WE ARE ALL AMERICANS. In the UK, Tony Blair's embrace of multi cultural ism leads to things like Joey Barton's brother killing someone based on race. We don't have that here. Yes we have crime, lots of it but it is hardly if every simply based on race.

It's funny that some of you profess to try and "teach" me history. I know more about European History and especially Roman History than all of you on this site. The Gaffer is a good man as are the article writers but many of the posters here (simon, hudsonland, and a few others excepted) are complete provocateurs who hide behind a handle and feel they can incite trouble and attack people from behind their handle and keyboard just for having an opinion. It is truly pathetic.

Re: Spain-Italy Most Watched Match So Far And Other ESPN Euro Ratings News

Kartik — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:09:32 -0000

Look guys, I am glad we have so much interest in US Soccer/MLS here. I thought everyone who posted here was what I call a Eurosnob. Watch United today take the Gals to task and we can save this discussion which is very valid for my blog which is linked on my name. Also, I encourage anyone with a dissenting opinion to write me at kartik@csrnusa.com if you'd like to discuss your views on MLS Talk or CSRN's American Soccer Show.

Re: Jack Bell Is A Wanker, Part II

Kartik — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:14:47 -0000

I respect your view, but I actually two days ago when Bell wrote the piece sent him a note thanking him for his courage and asking him to be on my show.

I believe his point is that American sports producers and editors automatically determine that if you are from the British Isles you are more qualified to discuss football than someone with an American accent. Paul Gardner even admitted this to you, Gaffer in your interview with him where he said the paper assumed he knew the sport because of his accent. Now Gardner is a great writer but other writers and commentators that hail from the British Isles and arrive on our shores are overally condescending to our domestic scene. Adrian Healy whose background is in covering MLS and US Soccer is a very notable exception.

What that amounts to is a subtle form of discrimination. Like all other discrimination it should not be tolerated.

Re: Jack Bell Is A Wanker, Part II

Kartik — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:43:39 -0000

We have plenty of commentators with American commentators who understand world football.

The point is ESPN has hired the most "european" sounding announcers. They have made every effort to marginalize their American commentators from calling European matches. Even with their studio that is the case. Janusz Michalik who btw played for the US National Team is on the set during the CL because of his polish accent and some other former US team mates of his who know more were certainly not considered because they don't fit the "profile," meaning they have the wrong accent. Part of this is the continued self hating mentality of some American fans who assume if you watch MLS or are Americanized in your descriptions of the game you are some how inferior in football knowledge or understanding that someone who looks down upon MLS and US Soccer and uses anglicized terms to describe the game.

The Deportes announcers are actually more in tune believe it or not with the domestic scene here which is more Latinized than Anglocized despite the seeming ignorance of our media. The average Mexican Primera match gets 5 X the viewers of the average EPL match. Our Americanized commentators do not speak Espanol well enough to be on the air there. When Landon Donovan retires that another story but right now Deportes and mainline ESPN are two different issues entirely.

Re: Spain-Italy Most Watched Match So Far And Other ESPN Euro Ratings News

Kartik — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:52:35 -0000

Hopefully ESPN/ABC will not make today's game a "Euro Final Preview Show."

Becks is feeling low with many of his mates competing in the Euros but today is a day for him to rekindle his interest and learn once again why RFK is MLS' best venue.

Re: Official Premier League Ball For 08/09 Season

Kartik — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:52:06 -0000

Any comment from Jens Lehman?

Re: Jack Bell Is A Wanker, Part II

Kartik — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:09:28 -0000

I have to also point out Goal breaks lots of stories: They broke the Jozy transfer deal and a number of other stories related to the Red Bulls. It's too bad they cannot break Man U stories because the Red Bull not some EPL side is their HOME team.

My co-host is from ESPN. He works for the Disney networks covering all sports including Soccer. I'll ask him to defend it if he cares to. My guess is that he'll take a pass.

Regarding Andy Gray, his knowledge of European football outside England is limited. He has so little knowledge about the majority of players on the Germany side who play in the Bundesliga it is criminal he is calling the final. Plus his biases for Man U against Chelsea and against leagues outside the EPL are so obvious it hurts his credibility.

Re: Jack Bell Is A Wanker, Part II

Kartik — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:01:18 -0000

Final word on this matter.

In my blog whose latest headline was devoted to the DC-LA game but whose greatest part was spent on Gray, here is what I write:

I am thrilled that Andy Gray won’t be seen on these shores until World Cup 2010 at the earliest. For all the accolades given him by a generally Premier League affected oriented soccer blogger community, I feel he was exceedingly biased, poorly prepared for matches that did not involve many players in the Premier League and condescending to boot. ESPN has plenty of good soccer commentators in its midst to not have to pull Gray from Sky Sports. Perhaps Shaka Hislop or Robbie Mustoe would have been better suited to cover the event if it was British accents the powers that be at ESPN were looking for as the New York Times Jack Bell feels in this piece. In fact Mustoe and Hislop both meet my litmus test for foreign commentators: they understand the American game and the American soccer audience. Hislop went to college in the US, and Mustoe now coaches college and runs coaching clinics in the U.S. Moreover, neither player has the obvious biases that Gray demonstrates.

So again, I'm not against British accents. I'll take Mustoe or Hislop. I just won't take a biased commentator who talks down to us. Is that reasonable?

Re: Fox Soccer Channel Poll

Kartik — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:19:29 -0000

I think it is a bit unfair to bash FSC for this past month. (And trust me: FSC is not my favorite network). GOL TV was able to secure the CONCACAF qualifiers that did not include the US or Mexico via their established relationship with Traffic Sports.

SCP kept the COMNEBOL qualifiers and sold them on PPV which a few suckers like myself bought thanks to canceling Setanta for the time being.

MLS and USL have limited live game rights for FSC. They showed what they could. For instance they are showing a doubleheader of MLS games Saturday night, but in June was stuck showing too many games from the west coast with late east coast start times.

The England Classics are pretty good. Many of those games have been quite frankly better than the matches in the Euros.

The Premier League Archive was a mixed bag. The TWI condensed matches from late 1990s and early part of this decade were a cannot miss. Those were the days when the PL was less defensive and more exciting. On the other hand the matches they showed from the last two seasons have been utter trash.

All in all not the best month for FSC, but not much they can do considering their limited budget and how much World Cup qualifiers cost. GOL TV has gambled that the CONCACAF qualifiers coupled with German National Team matches can sustain the network during international breaks. We'll see. I know I'll be watching GOL TV, but not sure how many others will be.

Re: ESPN Has The Power To Make Soccer Successful In America

Kartik — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:40:06 -0000

3.1 overnight for the Euro Championship

That compares with an 8.6 for the 2006 World Cup Final a 3.3 for the 2007 Gold Cup Final and a 1.1 for the 2007 Copa America final.

So Gaffer's point has been proven about the Euros vis a vis the Copa America based on the ratings, and the Euros almost beat the Gold Cup which shocks me.

MLS got a 0.2 leading in. Pathetic and shameful. Was Beckham really worth it with those numbers?

Re: ESPN Has The Power To Make Soccer Successful In America

Kartik — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:42:06 -0000

Let me add the Gold Cup and Copa numbers are for Univision. GOL TV and FSC are not included. The 2006 World Cup final got an over night of 14.1 if you add Univision and ABC together, so however you spin it the World Cup still blew the Euros, the Gold Cup and Copa America out of the water.

Re: ESPN Has The Power To Make Soccer Successful In America

Kartik — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:26:18 -0000

Great point Glen Garry.

I recall a time when the West Palm affiliate of NBC (CH 5) ran local programming instead of College Basketball. This was back when NBC had college basketball and the sport was as unpopular in Florida as Soccer was.

I spoke to someone close to the Galaxy just now and he made an excuse for me when I told him the pathetic rating of the Galaxy game.

"It was 9 am out here, and people like me simply tivo-ed the game."

Pathetic. I wonder if people still care to argue with me about MLS' finances and the opportunity USL does have in some respects to compete?

Re: ESPN Has The Power To Make Soccer Successful In America

Kartik — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:26:08 -0000

I sincerely apologize. The overnight for the MLS match was a 1.2 which is very respectable for a noon ET start. I had heard it as a 0.2. Obviously a big difference.

US Open Cup night tonight with some good action online. Crystal Palace Baltimore, Miami FC, Carolina, and Charleston have all scored first against MLS opposition.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:34:23 -0000

The absence of any World Cup qualifying matches while GOL TV has several and also had a twice weekly wrap up show called "2010 Report" was the most glaring thing. I like the England Classics, and understand why FSC is limited in the MLS matches they can show since ESPN is the first choice network for MLS and HDNet I believe is locked into the the Saturday 7:30 pm ET slot most weekends.

I believe MLS does not want HDNet and FSC showing matches at the very same time and since HDNet is more homes and is quite honestly more professional in its presentation they win out.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:47:06 -0000

I'm amazed that the production of USL Live on the USL website is as good if not better than the USL matches on FSC. Turner Sports I know has a hand in broadband USL production. But how is a broadband production superior to a TV production of the very same league?

Re: FSC and MLS. They do have a doubleheader this weekend I notice since HDNet has opted to show a match on Friday night instead for the holiday. That's good but a one week thing. My complaint about MLS on FSC is that while Max is awesome and Sully/Grisham passable, they focus very little on what is going on around the league and seem to want to avoid paying for rights to show highlights of other matches.

They need to get some WC qualifiers. I think we were reminded this summer that while ESPN will let FSC get the occasional US friendly, all qualifiers will be snapped up by Disney. That leaves FSC with nothing since England is on Setanta. GOL TV has Germany and non US/Mexico CONCACAF as well as rights to show clips from SCP's coverage of COMNEBOL. What does FSC have. Nothing. Why not pursue rights for Italy? Or perhaps English language rights for Mexico?

I agree with BBBB on the original programming on FSC. Why is it that the best analysis show of MLS/USL/US National Team is on GOLTV when FSC has the rights to all those things and GOL does not?

Why is the production so poor at FSC? So cheap? So pathetic at FSC? I could go on and on. Gaffer, thanks for this thread. I'm not an FSC basher but you and I have discussed their shortcomings which become apparent every time I watch the channel.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:16:16 -0000

Are you sure FSC doesn't have the Copa Lib final tonight? If they don't I have to find it online. I saw it the first leg the day after on FSC last week so I assumed that had showed it live.

If they cannot even bring us the Copa Lib. final what good is the network?

Re: Benitez Burns His Bridges

Kartik — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:08:51 -0000

How could you?

How could you write a piece about a side that has won so many Premier League titles and dominated the English game lately. The team wearing red has changed the perception of English football the world over and has converted the masses to the game. They are truly a super club with a legendary manager and the greatest collection of players any club in the world has had over the past 15 seasons.

Oh my fault. I confused Liverpool for Manchester United. I'm sorry. On second thought

GREAT PIECE!

Re: Benitez Burns His Bridges

Kartik — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:04 -0000

Liga wins the Copa Lib!

Had to mention it. It was so improbable and what a game, what a tournament. Thanks to FSC for not showing the finals. :-)

Back to Liverpool. Maybe if you people actually thought about your clubs failures and then re-read this article and considered the amount of money wasted by Rafa in the transfer market this would make sense.

Oh yeah, Reds fans NEVER think rationally.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:18:57 -0000

Lou, GOL TV already bought the rights to the rest of CONCACAF. FSC missed that chance. Maybe in 2014.

Being a south Floridian who is surrounded by Latins, GOL TV is the soccer network of record. FSC isn't even on most people's radars. If they watch MLS they watch it on Spanish channels anyhow, and they don't follow the PL or Serie A.

FSC is nowhere with regards to this region. I cannot believe they did not show the Copa Lib final in English tonight. That's this hemisphere's version of the Champions League final and I had to watch it on Justin TV until Jonathan was good enough to call me and tell me Ch 425 was showing it. (they have the English language rights to the Libetadoras and Sudamericana via a deal with Traffic Sports who owns the rights)

They've made their decision to pursue an ex-pat/anglicized strategy. That's fine, and certainly a market exists. But if ESPN encroaches on it, look out. News Corp could conceivably pull the plug.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:51:34 -0000

Good news for the FSW Canada watchers:

All 15 Superliga matches will be broadcast on FSW Canada beginning next Saturday.

I'll be watching the matches in HD on Telefutura down here in the states! :-)

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:29:27 -0000

Good suggestion Ryan.

I never saw the Gold Cup broadcast in English and feel it should be replayed- it was our continental championship. Instead FSC replays garbage MLS games from the weekend 5 days later and Fulham v Derby. What a thrill that was.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:08:53 -0000

Red,

It's simple. FSC is targeting an anglocized soccer community. The Copa Lib doesn't fit their model. Really a pity. If some of the readers of this site watched the knock out rounds Copa Lib they may even think the UEFA Champions League is second rate.

The Superliga issue is complicated. I've been told Telefutura is given exclusive US rights because otherwise the MLS package was not worthwhile for the Univision family of networks. They failed with MLS once before as did Telemundo. Giving them exclusive Superliga rights (which forces dominant English speakers like myself to watch TF for the event, though I don't mind totally since I get TF in HD) which did get excellent ratings last year is what you would call a pay off to the network.

So in other words without Superliga, Univision/Telefutura never would have taken the MLS package to begin with a few years back after having failed with it at a time when the league had bigger stars than when they acquired the package for a second time.

Re: Fox Soccer Channel & Setanta Sports Announce 08/09 EPL TV Schedule

Kartik — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:31:28 -0000

I have DirecTV and yet do not subscrible to Setanta but keep broadband, because you can watch the matches from wherever including business trips and broadband features some additional leagues from around Europe where some americans play that I need to keep track of.

Re: Fox Soccer Channel & Setanta Sports Announce 08/09 EPL TV Schedule

Kartik — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:08:33 -0000

Chris,

Do you know where in Miami you will be staying?

That'll give me a good idea about the pubs/bars nearby.

Re: Columbus Crew 1-3 West Ham United: Your Reaction To The Game And Violence

Kartik — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:31:59 -0000

The Crew should be ashamed of their performance. Two years ago they were a credit to the league when with the worst record in MLS they drew Everton and probably should have won.

Now they get smashed by West Ham and for probably the 5th time this year they have had an incidence of Hooliganism or racism. For those that don 't follow MLS we've been dealing with this all season from Columbus and their hoodlum of supporters. Recently Mark McCullers their GM blamed Toronto's fans for brining this culture to MLS. Whether that is the case or not it is the Crew fans who have brought discredit to the league and to soccer in the eyes of the American media and public with their incidents of throwing glass bottles on the pitch, shouting racist slogans towards New England players, throwing streamers at players when they take corners and general rowdy behavior. Every Crew home game their is an incident like this. I feel bad for the good people who support West Ham who thought this would be a nice benign holiday. Going to Crew Stadium is anything but these days.

Re: Columbus Crew 1-3 West Ham United: Your Reaction To The Game And Violence

Kartik — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:37:44 -0000

I'd also like to point out MLS' reaction to this is to ban streamers at Crew Stadium and to throw one fan out for life.

Until the Crew are docked points for not policing themselves nothing is going to change. The culture of Hooliganism that has taken hold at Crew Stadium combined with the inability of American police forces to understand what they are facing and deal with it the way the English police or Italian police deal with these things means we will continue to have incidents like this at every Crew match. Those of you who do not follow MLS don't realize that this is an old story! It has happened at just about every Crew match this year! Until these fans are dealt with it will continue to happen.

Re: Columbus Crew 1-3 West Ham United: Your Reaction To The Game And Violence

Kartik — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:34:55 -0000

This is a nightmare. My phone has been ringing off the hook about this incident.

Months ago when I targeted Columbus fans on the American Soccer Show and my blog and got nothing but hate and vitriol and "oh Toronto is the hooligans, we promote family atmosphere" b/s.

We even had Crew fans spam my blog with attacks on TFC and threats of not bringing their types to Crew Stadium. We had Columbus fans blaming their attendance woes on other teams "hooligans"

The behavior in Columbus has already been used as convenient fodder for Jim Rome, Tony Kornheiser, Brian Burwell and all the other insular, immigrant hating, soccer bashing media elites in the US.

We did not need this to happen now, right in the middle of summer after the momentum from the Euros and the first round of Superliga both of which got excellent TV ratings and hooked new fans on the game. The fact that Columbus i playing friendlies while other MLS sides are in a serious competition like Superliga tells you the relative importance of their club.

Now their fans continue the season long campaign to destroy the credibility of this game with our press and fans we are in the process of educating about the wonderful aspects of football. So many people in the US are afraid of football because of how its been depicted in the press and movies here as a showdown for hooligans. Having a team like the Crew in middle america run by its most violent fans is not helping the cause in this country.

Re: Columbus Crew 1-3 West Ham United: Your Reaction To The Game And Violence

Kartik — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:34:35 -0000

One incident?

Go to any website that cover hooliganism in this league including some of the papers websites including Steve Goff's Washington Post blog and Faank Delappa in the Boston Globe and they will have twice as many articles and mentions of problems at Crew Stadium than all other places in the league combined.

Moreover, if you go to MLS Rumors you'll find McCullers statement as well as details as to all the trouble at Crew Stadium every week. Columbus has had more trouble than the rest of the league combined this year. Bottles, racism, streamers, fights, etc. Disgusting. Really discrediting the game. Your fans are right now the embarrassment of the league. As a media member I don't lob accusations out there without cause. Columbus has given everyone plenty of cause for concern. What's even worse is your supporters continue to blame everyone else for the continued troubles at Crew Stadium.

Having not made the playoffs since 2004 makes you guys also rans in this league. It's really a shame. I loved the Crew in the days with Stern John, Cunningham and McBride and still have the foremost respect for Guille and Sigi Schmid. They deserve better than your fans.

Re: Columbus Crew 1-3 West Ham United: Your Reaction To The Game And Violence

Kartik — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:51:11 -0000

Check out MLS-Rumors.net for a good interview with Dougie Brimson on the subject of Columbus.

The interview was conducted last night by my friends at the site.

http://mls-rumors.net

Re: Columbus Crew 1-3 West Ham United: Your Reaction To The Game And Violence

Kartik — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:26:16 -0000

USA in 2018

I agree with you on some points but also disagree on a few things which makes Columbus far and away the biggest offenders in MLS or USL.

1) Portland has rowdy fans that sing throughout the matches but hardly ever pick fights with the other teams supporters.

2) In Houston you describe the incident correctly but failed to mention the club itself and the other large supporters group the Texian Army took strong action against EB and little trouble has occurred since.

3) Chivas USA banned several members of a supporters group that picked a fight with the LA Riot squad outside the SuperClassico match in April from several matches and the entire Supporters groups choose to sit out the matches in solidarity with their members.

4) DC has had no violence or trouble between the Barra Brava which tend to be Latinized and the Screaming Eagles which are not.

5) TFC dealt with the problems of violence on the GO trains after matches as well as frequent pitch invaders and no trouble has occurred since. The Metropolitan police in Toronto have increased their presence around the ground on matchdays.

6) New York has had assorted rowdy behavior but as some other writers bemoan the ejection of many Red Bull fans Saturday night versus the Galaxy let me applaud the police for stamping out trouble before it started.

Now let's look at Columbus and contrast it with the above situations:

1- Columbus did not adequately police the tailgate area before the season opener with Toronto and thus many TFC fans were attacked and with a lack of port o lets for such a large tailgate area, inevitably tensions flared and not only did fans piss on the ground but they began fighting w/ one another.

2- At the same match the police presence was so minimal several TFC fans were able to storm the pitch and head towards the goal Columbus was defending.

3- When I discussed the Toronto situation openly and honestly and tried to engage TFC fans on my CSRN show the complaints about me being "too soft on the canucks" all seemed to come from Crew fans. Days later several Crew fans were shouting racial obscenities at New England players.

4- The organization and supporters group in complete contrast to the strong a decisive actions of Chivas USA and Houston in fighting hooliganism tried to cover up the situation and wouldn't give up the individuals involved. The team would not take action so the league had to after several embarrassing columns were written in newspapers, some of which hardly cover the sport normally.

5- In defiance of a league wide ban Columbus fans began sprayed confetti and streamers on opposing players while attempting a corner. Now I cannot recall the specific match but it was done. Why the security did not confiscate the items at the gate is beyond anyone's comprehension.

6- A bottle was thrown on the pitch during a Crew home match in June. Again I cannot recall the specific match but it happened.

7- The Crew hooligans yesterday started a fight with the West Ham group. Now West Ham has a reputation for having rowdy fans, but we've hosted English clubs before and never had trouble. As I mentioned earlier the Crew hosted Everton two years ago, played them to nationally televised draw and no problems occurred.

Here is my thesis. Hate me if you wish: Columbus attendance once the highest in MLS has now become among the worst in the league. I believe the organization, desperate to create an "atmosphere" and attract new fans is purposely turning a blind eye to the things other organizations are stamping out immediately. As I have said to this point we've had no repeat incidents in Houston, Toronto or LA because those matters were dealt with by the club before the next home match. Columbus on the other hand has allowed things to fester. They are going to have to take action this time for the good of MLS and Soccer in this country.

It's really a shame. At one time the Crew were the model for MLS. They built their own ground while the rest of the league was still using NFL/College Football stadiums and had such a good record of finding players and developing talent. But this year's version of the Crew while talented on the pitch has left a sour taste in many people's mouths because this stuff just keep happening and happening.

Please, Columbus clean up your own mess and stop blaming others for your problems.

Re: Fox Soccer Channel & Setanta Sports Announce 08/09 EPL TV Schedule

Kartik — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:42:31 -0000

Chris

In Miami proper we have a few good premier league friendly pubs. The best is Churchill's on NE 2nd AVE at N E55th street. They show every PL match available on satellite there.

In Orlando, Cricketers Arms is the best. It is at the Festival Bay mall and is PL, Championship and MLS friendly.

Re: Columbus Crew 1-3 West Ham United: Your Reaction To The Game And Violence

Kartik — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:55:21 -0000

So much misinformation and nonsensical rhetoric in these responses it is comical.

First off. 1776 was simply a date. The colonies were being slaughtered in the war and it wasn't until Saratoga and French entry into the war in 1778 that the tide turned. So some of us Americans would rather not recall 1776 when New York was occupied by the tories and the cause seemed lost.

Secondly, Britain didn't capitulate to the Germans the way other European countries did and hardly needed American help to stave of the Germans. What they did need was American help to finally liberate Europe. But the UK did well on its own as did the USSR in that war. American aid helped but to assume the English would have fallen without American military help is not grounded in any way factually. Truthfully as far as Europe was concerned the US was the third most important actor on the Allied side but clearly the most important one in the Pacific.

Now back to the football. Crew man you are a racist. If you are who I think you are, you were among those who asked me to stop appeasing the canucks or some such thing a few months ago. Now you're attacking Houston and Chivas fans because they are somewhat darker than you. Mexican troublemakers? The real troublemakers are people like you who don't seem to accept that our country unlike many in the west has long been a melting pot and no amount of tough talk on a message board or blog is going to change that.

If you want to talk to me directly about you and your friends disgraceful behavior at Crew Stadium email me at kartik@csrnusa.com

Oh and for those who said this weekend that Columbus ought to be invited to Superliga because they had the best fans in the league, can you imagine if this sort of disgraceful behavior advocated by racists like Crew Man took place in a tournament match against a top mexican team? All I can say is thank goodness for American Soccer and the harmony of the races that Columbus did not qualify for Superliga.

Re: Columbus Crew 1-3 West Ham United: Your Reaction To The Game And Violence

Kartik — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:06:22 -0000

Let me point out about the game specifically, Columbus played two starters, so essentially West Ham beat a reserve MLS side that would probably struggle to beat a semi-pro side in our PDL 3 to 1. That's something to be very proud of, Hammers fans. At least you didn't lose to worst team in MLS, like Everton did last year to Real Salt Lake.

Re: West Ham & Columbus Violence Is The Wake Up Call America Needs

Kartik — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:26:11 -0000

Good article Chris. Very good article actually.

This is precisely the point I made two months ago on my CSRN show and blog and got beat up for. The simple one word association most Americans have with the sport is "hooligans." The second word is "foreign."

Particularly in a place like Ohio where Xenophobia runs hight that's a bad combination. That's why countless posters on my blog and here at EPL Talk don't get it. They lists incidents from NFL, NBA and NHL games bit that doesn't matter. The bottom line is the media will treat and the public will perceive any incidents at an MLS match differently than anything at a mainstream American sporting event.

College Football has in the past proved to be a violent sport. Deaths have surrounded the Florida-Georgia game, the Texas A&M-Texas game and Michigan-Wisconsin game in recent years. But that sport is such a fabric of American life especially in the rural south and midwest it's always chalked up to being drunk college fraternity kids who are living the American way.

I have to repeat for the 500th time: significant elements of the media wants this sport to fail and go away. Everytime something has happened at an MLS match this year no matter how minor it's ended up on the "shout shows" like PTI, ATH and Rome is Burning as proof that Soccer is foreign and dangerous. Every time something happens at a College Football game it is simply "those poor kids" and "how terrible."

Having spent several years working closely with a major polling firm I can tell you most Americans don't have the critical thinking skills of people in Europe any longer. It sounds condescending or racist to say that but it is true. I have empirical evidence to back up my statement. The reason: Too many Americans depend on TV news to shape their perceptions. This trend started in the late 1980s but really intensified in the late 1990s. It's a bi-partisan thing as the two most prominent prime political shows, the O'Reilly Factor and Countdown, both feature hosts who bash Soccer as foreign and un-American. One host is a right wing conservative and the other a left wing liberal. The liberal actually has a sports background where he used to bash Soccer.

This is what we are facing. I'm so tired of MLS/USL fans telling me "we are no worse than the thugs at an NHL game." That may be true but that's not the point. We don't shape the perception, they do and we cannot give them fodder to bury this sport just as it is surging into the American conscience.

Re: England World Cup Qualifying Campaign | EPL Talk

Kartik — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:36:46 -0000

One and one. England will win the group with ease and Ukriane may just edge out Croatia for the second spot. It would be a shame for the Croats. Since their wars ended they have qualified for every world cup (98,02,06) but being drawn in with the most talented side on the planet when you are supposedly seeded is simply not fair.

Does FIFA rig these draws? We have a problem here in CONCACAF where four of the top six ranked teams in FIFA's own rankings have been grouped together, while the two other seeded teams, the US and Costa Rica are playing teams ranked far far below them. Mexico in other words got screwed the same way Croatia did. So Sven has to hit the job running or his tenure will be very short indeed.

Re: Poll: Landon Donovan Heading To The EPL? | EPL Talk

Kartik — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:19:55 -0000

Why not jump off the MLS ship. If I were in a league that kept losing critical matches to the second division in my country/region, I'd do the same.

Congrats to Montreal for making the Champions League and congrats to TFC for showing a bunch of Coca Cola Championship players cannot beat a good USL side, even if they dominate MLS!

Re: Poll: Landon Donovan Heading To The EPL? | EPL Talk

Kartik — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:27:42 -0000

Look if Donovan cannot succeed overseas no American can. He's by far the best current American field player. It's not even close. I wouldn't put anyone within range of him. The results for the US are only respectable because of him. When he's not around the national team is even hard pressed to beat the likes of Barbados and South Africa. We've seen a major decline in top of the pool talent for the US since 2002 but Landon is one player Yanks like myself can continue to get excited about.

How bad is the US starting XI outside of Donovan right now? Take away Landon and Canada I guarantee you has a better starting XI. (DeRo, DeGuzman, Stalteri, Gerba, Friend, and Hutchinson are all better than the 2nd best American field player right now)Too bad Mo Johnston didn't find that out until playing some of those guys in the Canadian cup and getting whacked by USL sides with home grown players!

Re: Poll: Landon Donovan Heading To The EPL? | EPL Talk

Kartik — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:49:06 -0000

I'm all for Jozy as he's a local kid from the next town over from me, but seriously how can you compare a guy who has scored one full international goal and looked totally out of his depth in his first experience at the U-23 level in the Olympic qualifiers better than Donovan? If the US made the World Cup and it started today, Altidore would not be one of the 23 men on the squad and if he were it would be more for the future than based on his current capabilities.

Re: West Ham United v MLS All-Stars On ESPN Tonight

Kartik — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:54:34 -0000

If West Ham wins they join a long line of USL and lower division sides to beat the MLS this year.

MLS just two years ago beat Chelsea in an all star game that I was pleased to attend in Chicago. I look at that side and compare it to tonight's and I wonder, where have all the stars in MLS gone?

MLS still hasn't lost one of these games to foreign opposition leading some to believe the games are fixed. That Chelsea game wasn't fixed for sure: MLS played damn damn well, and had me believing the future was bright for the league and soccer in this part of the world. But without Freddy Adu, Rico Clark, Ronnie O'Brien Dwayne DeRosario, Eddie Robinson, Chris Albright and Jaime Moreno who were outstanding that day the MLS all stars will have rely on 30 somethings like Beckham, Angel and Blanco to get a result as well as second rate American players other than Landon. Taylor Twellman the other really outstanding American is hurt, and several Americans of note are already gone to Olympic team duty. So really this is now turned into a second tier group of "All Stars."

In other words I'd be shocked if West Ham does not crush the "All Stars" tonight. The one MLS player worth keeping an eye on is Shalrie Jospeh. He's one of the best the league has ever produced and Steve Nicol on three separate occasions turned down large transfer fees for him, twice from Celtic!

BMO should be rocking tonight, but it's always rocking even when TFC loses to second division sides!

Re: West Ham United v MLS All-Stars On ESPN Tonight

Kartik — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:58:26 -0000

One more note on that Chelsea game. It was actually later, actually in August just a few days before the Community Shield and Jose choose to blame the loss on Sheva not being acclimated with the Chelsea way yet. I recall Mourinho saying that starting Sheva was due to trying to get him on the same page with Drogba and the loss was because they wasted a half trying to get the two working together. I'm glad to see two years later that worked out so well for the boys from Fulham.

Re: West Ham United v MLS All-Stars On ESPN Tonight

Kartik — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:58:57 -0000

or are they from Kensington? I know one think. Stamford Bridge is not in Chelsea!

Re: West Ham United v MLS All-Stars On ESPN Tonight

Kartik — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:17:02 -0000

10:04, of course the Hammers aren't a second division team anymore. You have Alan Pardew to thank for that. Come to think of it you have kia joorabchian to thank as well!

But a win against MLS and maybe you should play off with Crystal Place USA for bragging rights. The point wasn't to take a shot at you it was to take a shot at MLS. Stop being so sensitive.

Re: Tottenham Hotspur Is Ready To Crack The Big Four

Kartik — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:21:01 -0000

Gaffer,

This is not a serious post is it?

Why do we have this same laughable discussion every year?

Spurs finish 4th. LOL!

The real question is how soon Ramos joins, Jol, Hoddle, G. Graham, Pleat and Venables as managers unable to satisfy the delusional expectations in a certain part of North London.

Re: Poll: Landon Donovan Heading To The EPL? | EPL Talk

Kartik — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:21:23 -0000

Yeah agreed. If he goes to Europe he needs to be playing on the wing.

Re: West Ham United v MLS All-Stars On ESPN Tonight

Kartik — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:57:07 -0000

Blanco getting the MVP , thank god the game was in Canada.

That #$%@@%@#!

Blanco is now and will forever be the enemy of fans of the US National Team. I'm glad he's done well in Chicago and brought new fans to the league. He benefited today from playing with Beckham, S. Joseph and J. Toja, one gifted footballer, one tough as nails and tactically savvy holding player, and one very technical left footed midfielder. Blanco can be brilliant but just don't expect more Americans to like him even though we are greatful he's come to MLS.

I can still see that golden goal he scored to beat us in Azteca in the 1999 Confederations Cup semifinals. We were playing for PKs hoping for Friedel to save us there and we got burned. Brad got way off his line and Blanco in a cheeky fashion chipped it over him for the "golden goal" . We were eliminated and the enemy beat Brazil in the final.

I hate that bastard, Blanco.

Re: West Ham United v MLS All-Stars On ESPN Tonight

Kartik — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:27:31 -0000

By the way, West Ham was sooooooo much better and a credit to this event than Chelsea was two years ago. Despite MLS only winning that game 1-0 Chelsea was dominated, playing at half speed and more concerned about hitting the town or the local bakery in some cases than taking a good account of themselves.

Tonight West Ham was a credit to football and it was an outstanding match, where the English team that was invited actually performed like they wanted to be over here.

Re: ESPN Coverage Hits New Low With West Ham vs MLS All-Stars

Kartik — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:05:11 -0000

Y'all should have switched to Telfutura if you get it. They had outstanding match coverage. I was watching ESPN until the first "SC update" when I switched in disgust and only turned back briefly the rest of the match.

Re: Ashton and West Ham Show Flashes of What Can Be

Kartik — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:53:29 -0000

RE: Cooper

Norway is generally considered an inferior or at best an equal league to MLS. In the past MLS has "dumped" players that weren't going to be resigned in that league including Pat Noonan and Will John.

However, Rosenborg is a different case entirely. They are in the Champions League every single year and even drew with Chelsea last year in the Special One's last match. So it's not MLS losing a player to Norway as much as Rosenborg.

Besides, MLS has shown if a player is American they are more than eager to sell him in his prime, so they can buy more over the hill or very young foreign players. I don't like it (largely because I seem to be one of the few people left who care about the international game more than the club game) but it is a legitimate way of doing business, and MLS is making more money than ever thanks to it. But expect MLS to continue to be more and more foreign and to see more Americans in Europe and Mexico as time goes on. The reality is sort of the opposite of the PL. American players are undervalued in MLS, so they can make more money in Europe or Mexico, but players from Europe and Mexico sometimes get over valued by MLS and thus come here. This situation is continuing to evolve and is worth monitoring.

Oh and if MLS goes to Atlanta over a return to Miami, the league is officially nuts. Atlanta is the worst pro sports town in the country and does anyone really follow the Silverbacks now? Plus, don't they have turf at that stadium.

I'm partisan in this debate but if Atlanta gets a team before we get the team back that was stolen from us, I and many other people are going to be pretty unhappy.

Re: Ashton and West Ham Show Flashes of What Can Be

Kartik — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:23:55 -0000

A funny piece that's linked, I did enjoy it and the DeRo hair, but for the record Clarence Goodson was exposed in the expansion draft he was so worthless to Dallas, and the fact that he signed in a European first division after being one of I believe only 36 unprotected senior squad members for the expansion draft league wide actually is a strong statement about MLS.

Re: Chicago 2-0 Everton: Photos And Match Report | EPL Talk

Kartik — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:56:48 -0000

Blanco did not play, and the pole with no goals scored. Nice win for the Fire but pinch me if I don't believe in them until they score two goals in a game that counts against a team not in town to take in the sights. Right now the Fire is going nowhere real fast. Maybe this game will jump start them but we won't know until their trip to LA this weekend.

On another note, I am not amused that this match was played the same night as the Superliga semifinals. Obviously much of Chicagoland felt like me since the attendance was the lowest for a Fire home match at Toyota Park this year. Besides Everton isn't exactly a draw in the states. Now West Ham, for whatever earthly reason that is a different matter.

Re: Chicago 2-0 Everton: Photos And Match Report | EPL Talk

Kartik — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:49:10 -0000

Sunny,

My record of advocating a US point of view speaks for itself. Simply because I am critical at times and am not drinking the MLS/SUM kool aid doesn't make me a Mexi-phile or Anglo-phile as you seem to claim.

Oh and the Champions League IS NOT NOW AND NEVER WILL BE bigger than the World Cup. Obviously you are the one with the Euro snobbery problem, not me because in the saying something of the sort would have you laughed out of a room.

As I said good for the Fire. I'm happy for them and the league. I never said West Ham's victory over Columbus proved a darn things by the way. You are quoting someone else and mixing it up with me. I tend to ignore these matches. The only one I paid close attention to was when DC United beat Spurs at White Hart Lane in our preseason years ago. That was more meaningful. Oh and the Rapids beating the snot out of Norwich last year in Norwich in the MLS preseason.

Re: Chicago 2-0 Everton: Photos And Match Report | EPL Talk

Kartik — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:53:26 -0000

Moyes is a stand up guy unlike a lot of Prem managers. He's blaming his team for a poor effort , and for some unsporting play as well. He's also credited the Fire as being a very good side. The players and coaches from the FMF can learn a thing or two from Moyes about class and humility.

An all MLS Superliga final. Contrary to what some posters on here say about me, I am proud that we are seeing this, although the MLS is becoming more like the Prem everyday with the same two teams always competing for honors.

Re: English Football: Recapturing True Football

Kartik — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:35:02 -0000

Okay guys let me explain the point of this piece.

Indigenous forms of football are beginning to fade away as greed and desperation sets in across the globe. Lewis you are correct in saying I protect the American game from foreign intrusion: I do: Our national makeup, culturally and geographically is different than Britain's just as Britain's is different than Argentina's and Japan's. I want to protect the game here as I feel the game in England has been corrupted by money and foreign owners and players who do not understand the history of English football and the fact that English football was until recently the purest, most honest form of the game around.

English football conquered the world at large. The above comment stating the popularity of American, stop/start/commercial break/instant replay/take 5 hours to complete sports is laughable. Those games serve at most a small niche audience abroad, and have been almost universally rejected in favor of a more worthy and artistic game, football the world over. American sports with their blatant over hype and constant rules and standard changes are simply scourges on the international sporting landscape and are by and large despite the commercial power and success of the USA, irrelevant. Basketball is an exception but Baseball and Pigskin are less popular outside nations with direct American influence (50,000 troops in Korea, occupation of Japan, invasions of the Dominican Republic, etc) as Snooker or Table Tennis.

Re: Olympics Football Matchday One: Premier League Stars | EPL Talk

Kartik — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:36:41 -0000

He was so so, Collie.

Beligum outplayed Brazil for 70 minutes until Kompany was sent off. His first yellow was a joke and the second yellow while justified probably should not have been given since it would result in his sending off.

Brazil starts tournaments slowly we know, but if Brazil loses to Argentina in the semifinals (where they will meet) Dunga is 50-50 at best to keep the national team job. I think Brazil is in trouble.

Re: CONCACAF Qualifying: EPL Impact

Kartik — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:22:56 -0000

Lou, thanks for the compliments you obviously did not read my post game blog at MLS Talk or CSRN where I bemoan Blanco's lack of sporting play among other things about a guy I simply cannot stand. Blanco's mentality is shared by many of the Guatemalan footballers in their unsporting acts.

The US win was a historic breakthrough, and Mexico is still rubbish (despite the win by El Tri which had me feeling blue for much of last night.) Rejoice!

The England game was meaningless. The most obvious thing to me which Michael hit on in his post game blog is how bad England's flank play is. I know people will get mad here but I believe England has more talent than anyone but the failure to play on proper pitches in the PL, ie 80 x 120 pitches which are rare in English Football is a big big big part of the problem. We've had that problem also but now we're building wider pitches in the US so now our problems occur when we play on a congested, narrow field like we did in Barbados or even last night.

Re: World Cup Qualifying: Your Running Commentary

Kartik — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:41:00 -0000

I think England beats Croatia tonight.

Serbia will defeat France 1-0.

The US and T&T draw 1-1 with the Soca Warriors dominating the possession but the US nicking a goal on a set piece. Sunil Gulati should then send Roy Keane a thank you card for forcing Yorke to withdraw from the squad.

Mexico will destroy Canada. 4-0 is my pick, although the game not being at Azteca means the home field advantage Mexico normally enjoys they will not have.

Re: England Have Renewed Hope after Croatia Crushing

Kartik — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:10:32 -0000

What a result and it would seem like Capello understands football better than most English managers: for years I have been calling for Sven and Macca to use Emile Heskey as a striker that can hold up play with his back to goal to get Rooney or Owen more space in the attack. It worked against the arrogant, over rated Croats in Zagreb, even though no other England manager recently wanted to try it. Also starting Walcott was genius.

Sadly here stateside we are relegated to "anti football" as I call it promoted by a listless US National Team whose coaches seem less interested in calling in their most talented players and more interested in some sort of phony chemistry. Thankfully we have Sven's inspiring Mexico side and Capello's new found English stars to keep our attention while our boys disappoint.

Re: Legend of Cahill Continues

Kartik — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:17:12 -0000

Maybe he's the most clutch in the PL but Diego has been soooo clutch for Bremen the last year creating late goals and scoring some himself.

Re: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink Has Retired

Kartik — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:36:06 -0000

Good piece, and he is fitting of a farewell testimonial match. How about Leeds v Chelsea?

Re: A Case for Raul, and the Spanish National Team

Kartik — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:38:15 -0000

Spain needs Raul badly. They were pathetic against a poor, 3/4 strength US side last night and I do not fancy them in the Euros.

Re: US Open Cup Second Round Results and Third Round Matchups

Kartik — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:37:48 -0000

Was at the Miami FC/Atlanta match last night. We had a weather delay but the match was cracking. Better than just about anything our alleged first division, MLS produces, without all the bad giveaways and defensive lapses of MLS matches. Got home in time to watch the Sounders thrash Hollywood United. Too bad.

Re: Superliga Matchday Two: Chivas USA-Pachuca

Kartik — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:16:19 -0000

Yeah Will. Preki told the press that AFTER the game. Sorry for the mistake. Preki is down on kennedy though so we'll see who starts Wednesday night vs Santos.

Re: Superliga Matchday Two: Chivas USA-Pachuca

Kartik — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:25:02 -0000

Again PB is my source. He's the English language radio voice of Chivas USa so he has some knowledge of the situation although I will admit that a keeper like Kennedy who has been successful abroad should be fine in MLS. He likely still get his shot.

Re: Superliga Matchday Three: DC United- Atlante

Kartik — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:02:20 -0000

Steve Goff reports on Tom Soehn’s comments:

“There is no sugarcoating anything,” Coach Tom Soehn said. “The performance, especially in the first half, was atrocious. There was no commitment, no passion. We came out flat all over, and that’s unacceptable. . . .

“Today we accomplished all the things we did when we were 2-7 [in the regular season]. That’s the team we looked like today, and that’s not good enough.”

As I have said before whether or not certain fans view this competition as a glorified exhibition and would rather be playing regular MLS games does not matter.

DC United takes every international especially when a trophy and substantial prestige in Latin America is on the line seriously. These last two performances have been an all time low for the team. Injuries hurt but some of us who have watched this league since the beginning expect more from United and more importantly United expects more from United. I’m sure Soehn feels the heat and his comments were on the money.

Re: Manchester City and North America: The Strong Connection

Kartik — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:12:29 -0000

I'm American but a long term city fan. How long term? Since City came here when I was a kid to battle the NASL Ft Lauderdale Strikers.

I didn't really follow them until the early 1990s at the end of the first division, beginning of the Premier League.

My favorite times in some ways were the late 1990s when we went down twice but found heroes like the goat, Kinzlakade, and many others. The Keegan years were good and bad and unlike many I don't despise Stuart Pearce as a manager but did feel he was out of his depth tactically.

However, I will have to pour some rain on the City parade in mentioning as an American, Sven is now public enemy #1 for me since he is the Mexican National Team coach and has been at every Superliga match (our champions league in a sense) DC United has lost this tournament! So he's not only coaching the enemy but a bit of jinx towards one of our best clubs right now.

The list of former United players who have come stateside read David Beckham, Terry Cooke who is more known for his time at City, and a number of former American reserve players: Kenny Cooper, John Thorrington and Jovan Kirovski. Ian Bishop in his time in MLS has a greater on the field impact than Beckham whose lack of pace and inability to really hold the ball is glaring in this league since he doesn't have as much cover to left or behind him. He's an above average MLS player and I am glad he's embraced our league but people are simply buying the hype if they believe he's the best player in the league or even the best player on the Galaxy.

In other words I take great pride in the fact that our club has had a far greater impact on the game in my home country and region than the enemy ever will.

Re: MLS Transfer Thoughts

Kartik — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:08:00 -0000

Soon, John. DC is making moves really soon from what I hear.

Re: Sven’s Green Revolution: Doomed to Failure?

Kartik — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:36:17 -0000

Seriously we've already ascertained that the US is not very good, but if Mexico consistently loses to the US and also mixes in embarrassing losses to Guatemala and Honduras why should we have any faith. I know the U-17 WC in 2005 was a big national moment, but honestly the team has no chemsitry and no tactical sense. Every national team in the world save some countries which have all their players in their domestic league (like Guatemala and El Salvador) have the problem of globe trotting footballers.

I'd still like an explanation why Mexico can never beat the US outside of Azteca when arguably only one American players could even make a 23 man squad for the US. I'm a US supporter and know every time we play Mexico we should lose 4-0 based on the talent yet LaPuente, Meza, Aguirre, LaVolpe and Sanchez all had trouble against a team with little to NO talent.

Seriously if you cannot beat the US, how are you going to go to Toronto in qualifying and beat a Canadian team with a better starting XI than the US has ever had?

Re: Donovan Deal Could Have Killed MLS

Kartik — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:12:30 -0000

Puerto Rico isn't in the Champions League?

I've been watching MLs since 1996, I know the league and know how the average MLS apologists over rates the leagues.

My point is now a days you are seeing more and more kids from the U-17 and U-20 setups going directly to Europe, even to second or third tier European leagues than MLS.

The fact that Garber/Gazidis feel a new franchise is worth $40 is laughable. This is a league whose two teams in the qualifying lost while USL's two teams won. Aleujense who PR beat has won 4 two lef ties versus MLS sides in the past and never lost. From my vantage point that is a superior result.

Did you forget PR, or like most MLS do you assume USL doesn't exist?

Re: Donovan Deal Could Have Killed MLS

Kartik — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:16:36 -0000

Also an MLS side won largely because the final was at RFK. If MLS cannot achieve consistent results over a second division (USL) and the two USL clubs in the preliminary stages of the CL both advanced and MLS teams didn't, what can we infer from that.

I have maintained for years that the former A-league/USL is under rated and under covered by US soccer journalists. MLS on the other hand is a league whose quality does not even measure up to most leagues in Central America IMHO. When you watch those leagues you see better technique on the ball and better shape/structure from their sides. Dom Kinnear's clubs are notable exceptions to this theory of mine but watch the Costa Rican league sometime and compare it to MLS.

The fact that MLS fans compare it to the mexican league is about the biggest joke going. Part of the reason I write for this site is because I want MLS and USL to succeed in this country but feel most of the soccer media terribly over rates the product and takes the league generated propaganda and spins it to make MLS look more competitive than it is.

Re: The Fight For South Africa

Kartik — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:55:52 -0000

Welcome Justin!

I'd call the US MNT "new" but not "improved"

As someone who has followed the national team for 20 years I believe right now we are about at the same place we were in 1993 and worse than we were in 1999 or 2005. WC 2010 if it happens (if we qualify in a tougher CONCACAF with a weaker squad) will be three and out without a goal unless things chance.

Right now if you take Landon Donovan away from the US I am almost positive we are not one of the top 3 teams in the region.

Here is a comment from Paul Gardner the dean of American Soccer writers:

"

Bob Bradley is skilled at producing workmanlike teams. But they play banal soccer — if we didn’t know that previously (those of us who suffered through his years at the MetroStars sure as hell did) we do now. Pedestrian soccer rules, and Banality Bob is saved, on occasions, only by the flair and brilliance of Donovan. As long as Donovan is around, there is hope of something more rewarding than Bocanegra’s crunching fouls or Michael Bradley’s late tackles. The question that needs answering is why — at this late stage in the Great American Soccer Boom — the hopes for skilled, international-level play rest so heavily on one player. Is there an obvious replacement for Donovan waiting to take over? I don’t know of one — yet there should, by now, be three of four such candidates."