***Chelsea Rules***

[Wardsweb]

Not really but I thought it would get your attention. What can I say I'm in a country that had it's balls handed to them by Poland and knocked out by Germany.

[Walt]

Noooooo ... anything but Chelsea!!

You guys did pretty well in the World Cup. Quarter Finals was well above your weight given the current strength of US football. In fact I thought you deserved to beat Germany, and IF you'd gone past them, well it could have been the final?? Anything could have happened.

Really, the US should be aiming to WIN the World Cup by say, the 2014 finals. Sleeping giants ...

[bully]

2014?
Y'know, Walt, y'all might be right. It is absolutely unbelieveable, to me, anyway, how many 6-12 year olds' are playing SOCCER here, now.
It's like the young parents seem to think soccer is less, er, physical than our football. Well, yeah, as far as that goes. Don't know if it will ever overtake football here in Nebraska, but there is a lot of interest in highschool soccer for both boys and girls. The University of Nebraska has developed a pretty decent women's team in the past couple of years. I think the coach is a Canadian guy, and they've brought in some ringers, too, but they've picked up a lot of local talent.
But, really, ya slam a guy with a good forearm, and y'get carded?! Whazzup with that?
Now, yer rugby, that's sport played with leather balls, eh.

[bigmacc]

Womens soccer is huge in the Sault and Canada a lot of girls from here are getting US university and college scholarships.I don't follow international soccer but believe it's a great game especially for young kids low cost great workout.

But as big as soccer is summer football ages 8 -13 is growning tremendously and junior football ages 15 - 19 has taken off this summer.

Personnally if done right sports are great for kids.

[Walt]

Well prior to the amazing run of Turkey, Senegal, and of course Korea at this year's World Cup, the biggest improvers of the last decade were the US!

They have made giant strides from being 2nd best against Canada and perennial losers to Mexico, to arguably being better than both those two.

Down here football is the largest sport for kids during the winter months, yet because there is really no follow through (read - big money in professional football in this country) the cream of the crop drift away and into the rubgy codes.

It really is shame because the sport is so strong up until the ages of about 14-16. I would imagine the same applies in the US except that I believe it is growing rapidly at College-level, so players are probably being retained until a bit older (into their 20's).

MLS has to survive for US football to continue to flourish. Although the very best players will need to go to the European leagues in order to develop their craft, it is important to have some playing depth, and this is where MLS has to fill the bill.

I don't think it is unrealistic for the US to aim to win the tournament by 2014 ... shoot they went pretty close this year!

[car67]

Well, we all know that Chelsea fans are the biggest hooligans!:D

Agree that USA did a fantastic job at this world cup. I thought it was a great final and the best team in the tournament won so all's fair in the end.

Nice avatar Walt! Where'd you find it? Brings back memories of Charlie George, Pat Rice, Alan Ball, George Graham - all my heroes!

Jack

[Walt]

Actually they've changed the insignia this year!

See this - top right hand corner. Maybe you can use the new and I will stick with the old for avatars?



http://www.arsenal.com/

[car67]

Oh no, the new one sucks!:D

but you stick with the old and I might use new one anyway - until the guys here get sick of Arsenal!:p: Not time today but maybe tonight.

thanks for the web site. should've guessed there was one.

Jack

[car67]

It's done!:D

[Drybasement]

What does this "Arsenal" represent?

[Walt]

Arsenal is an English football club. Last season they won the English Premier League and the F.A. Cup.

It turns out that Jack and I have both been lifelong fans of Arsenal.

Sorry guys but this is a ex-US thing ...