Euro 2008 Vote

[pete]

Originally posted by Real ale Madrid
1. When the world cup was in USA,the MLS started up. So there is a good chance the eL would benefit from hosting the championships.

The MLS has been a failure - one man owns 6 of the 10 teams/franchises now cos other owners kept pulling out.

[The Money Man]

Originally posted by Shed End John

As a result, the Celtic bid has been reduced to nothing more than a farcical circus show, the losing of which the Scots can blame on us, as was the intention from Day 1.

Murphy Out Now!!!

Why would the Scots invest time, money and effort on a bid that they believed they were going to lose from Day 1?

There is absolutely no doubt that we on the inside of the tent can see shortcomings with our national bid. But the bid commitee don't have to sell the concept to us - they need to sell it to the awarding body. By all accounts, they are reasonably impressed with several aspects of the Celtic submission. There seems to be growing consensus that if we can stay in the voting after the elimination of the Nordic bid, that we would pick up sufficient northern european bids to get into the shake-up.

[Real ale Madrid]

Originally posted by pete
The MLS has been a failure - one man owns 6 of the 10 teams/franchises now cos other owners kept pulling out.

I went to two MLS games over the summer and the standard was excellent.The final attracted over 61,000 people. I take your point about the franchises but soccer is starting to firmly establish itself as a major sport over there now,NCAA(college) soccer is extremely popular. I know the yanks have a funny way of doing things but no way can you call MLS a failure.

[The Legend]

Problem is american MEN have as much respect for soccer as we irish guys have for cricket!... women's cricket at that!

[The Money Man]

Originally posted by The Legend
Problem is american MEN have as much respect for soccer as we irish guys have for cricket!... women's cricket at that!

Seemingly the soccer gained something of a following in Boston this year. Their side started the season unimpressively but reached the play-off final by winning 16 of their last 17 matches (or something like that). I think they lost the final in extra time. But by all accounts tickets for the final were highly sought!

[pete]

Originally posted by Real ale Madrid
I take your point about the franchises but soccer is starting to firmly establish itself as a major sport over there now,

I was overstating it by saying it a failure but signs cannot be good if one man pretty much owns the sport there. From what i've read the major owner (name will come to me eventually) is doing so on an altruistic basis. When existing investors pull out & they cannot be replaced also doesn't bode well.....

I don't think MLS is a failure in terms of not becoming major sport as from what i've heard americans pretty much ignorant (nice broad sweeping statement) of & have little time for anything other than the big 3 US sports

[The Money Man]

Originally posted by pete


from what i've heard americans pretty much ignorant (nice broad sweeping statement) of & have little time for anything other than the big 3 US sports

The best example that comes to mind about American ignorance of the game is as follows. Watching ESPN in the States during WC '94 between Ireland games, I heard the following commentary remark... "Wow John, did you see that back-spinner flipper kick?"!!!!

[The Legend]

I'm annoyed cause if i want to see any decent soccer i have to pay a fortune.

... its a tradition thing, soccer just isn't one of their sports, and its hard to change that now.

[Real ale Madrid]

Just one more point about soccer in America. After the world cup was there, more kids play little league (like U-12 or somthing like that) soccer than baseball. Soccer and baseball are the only 2 sports played during the summer. so to get back to the original point the Euro 2008 could well have possitive implications.

About your point about the Boston team Money Man. You are spot on. New England (Boston) won through to the Final and lost to Los Angeles.1-0Cobi Jones (played for Coventry few years ago)scored the goal. Every New England game was on tv.