The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

Fox Soccer Channel is changing formats from all soccer content to Fox Sports 2. While this is a sign of the proliferation of soccer on other platforms/channels and ultimately a very positive reflection on how the sport doesn't need to be boosted up by specialized channels because it can survive being just another major sport in the cable sports portfolio, I can't help but be bummed out. FSC carried the torch for soccer in this country before that seemed like a good idea financially for a long time.

 

Other major sports are able to have content on other channels and still maintain their own specialized channels as well. With the sheer amount of soccer leagues, you'd think that soccer would be able to do the same.

Bein Sport & GOL TV are still soccer-exclusive. GOL will go away because Fox Sports 2 (FSC) will probably beat them for German league rights. They're starting their Dutch league rights next year as well.

 

So off the top of my head soccer property in the US currently looks like:

 

NBC - EPL (starting next season), World Cup, MLS (split).

Fox - Champions League, Dutch Eredivisie (next season), EPL (this season only)

GOL TV - German Bundesliga, various south american competitions

Bein Sport - Spain's La Liga, Italy's Seria A, France's Ligue 1, USMNT road qualifiers minus the Mexico game)

Univision - Liga Mex (split)

Galavision - Liga Mex (split)

ESPN - MLS (split), USMNT friendlies and home qualifiers + Mexico away game, EPL one game a week (this season only)

 

So there's more soccer than ever on more platforms than ever and the niche that existed for soccer-exclusive channels is being cannibalized by Bein Sports seemingly bottomless checkbook. All of this = soccer rights being more expensive than ever and more viable on major channels than ever.

[Banedon]

That's what I get for commenting on something I have little knowledge of.

[USSoccer]

ESPN has the 2014 World Cup, still. It doesn't switch over to NBC until 2018 & 2022.

 

When FSC lost MLS, Serie A and EPL rights in the span of about 5 minutes, that was about it. As much as they were the torch carrier for a while, I don't begrudge the loss of the SD broadcasts or terrible production values.

 

I will, however, always miss the Bretos/Sullivan pairing, and the amazing CCL broadcasts in which CONCACAF managed to somehow make FSC's broadcast quality worse (I think Fox still owns the CCL rights, no? GOLTV still owns the US Open final rights as well).

[wolf stansson]

I will, however, always miss the Bretos/Sullivan pairing

Somebody needs to give Sullivan a job. Always liked him.

[shnsajax]

I still don't get Bein on Fios. Not sure how I feel about the WC going to NBC. Bob Costas better not be on it.

[wolf stansson]

Any US or Canadian players who suit up for the Cascadia "National" team are dumb. What a joke. Hey hipsters, you're not Catalonia. You've never been a sovereign state. GFY.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Any US or Canadian players who suit up for the Cascadia "National" team are dumb. What a joke. Hey hipsters, you're not Catalonia. You've never been a sovereign state. GFY.

wait, this is a thing?

[brinoch]

Any US or Canadian players who suit up for the Cascadia "National" team are dumb. What a joke. Hey hipsters, you're not Catalonia. You've never been a sovereign state. GFY.

wait, this is a thing?

 

Uh... someone is actually promoting this as an idea?

[wolf stansson]

Any US or Canadian players who suit up for the Cascadia "National" team are dumb. What a joke. Hey hipsters, you're not Catalonia. You've never been a sovereign state. GFY.

wait, this is a thing?

 

Uh... someone is actually promoting this as an idea?

It's non-FIFA so it would basically be an amateur exhibition team so US or Canadian internationals could suit up for Cascadia without affecting their respective international eligibility, but yes, it's getting off the ground.

[minnesotacubsfan]

"Cascadia" as a place is always talked about here. It's kind of xenophobic imo

[brinoch]

"Cascadia" as a place is always talked about here. It's kind of xenophobic imo

 

I live in Portland, and see the Dougie Flag, etc., but as an international soccer team? It's more of a regional identity thing. Portland/Seattle/Vancouver are closer to each other than any other city in Canada or the US and are otherwise pretty geographically isolated.

[minnesotacubsfan]

They're taking that next step: 1st a soccer team, next the gulags!

 

( I live near Seattle, kitsap peninsula)

[wvcbxl]

Despite the great form individually and on the league table, I don't like Clint on Spurs. That O doesn't flow. I'd like to see him elsewhere.

 

You'll have to wait.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20978938

 

We always believe in Dempsey as a striker

[wolf stansson]

Agudelo to Celtic almost done - http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11781/8390695/Celtic-are-closing-in-on-the-signing-of-United-States-international-Juan-Agudelo-from-Chivas-USA

[wolf stansson]

I gotta get a Rapinoe Lyon kit.

 

[Guest]

QPR-Tottenham looked like a US CONCACAF road game.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Directv dropped Fox Socccer Channel from its sports package, and added its Choice Extra package.

[wolf stansson]

@OfficialBWFC

Freedman: "Stu Holden and Josh Vela are both in the squad for tomorrow's game at Sunderland." #BWFC

 

Fingers crossed, Stu is back to first team action.

[brinoch]

Love it. Let's hope he can stay healthy.

[shnsajax]

Feel like if he can make it through the rest of the year he will be good. One more injury might be too many for him to recover from give the extent they have been.

[shnsajax]

Pep to Bayern is done. Curious to see him with a team without Messi and Iniesta.

[wolf stansson]

It's weird to see a club that won it's league in the first two months of the season and is probably co-favs for the Champions League title to announce something like this mid-season.

 

That said, this is either going to be as successful as his Barca run or a spectacular failure filled with boardroom tension, arrogant Bayern legends spouting off in the press and Pep leaving in a huff to coach Spain or something.

[wolf stansson]

The Fire have done some good work this offseason. Got rid of Fernandez, added Lindpere and Jeff Larentowicz.

[shnsajax]

Any idea on when they will announce where the June WC Qualifiers will be. Might be going to Boston around that time anyway, figured I would try to arrange it for around then if possible.

[USSoccer]

Any idea on when they will announce where the June WC Qualifiers will be. Might be going to Boston around that time anyway, figured I would try to arrange it for around then if possible.

 

 

2/6 at Honduras

3/22 vs Costa Rica (Home)

3/26 at Mexico

6/7 at Jamaica

6/11 vs Panama (Home)

6/18 vs Honduras (Home)

9/6 at Costa Rica

9/10 vs Mexico (Home)

10/11 vs Jamaica (Home)

10/15 at Panama