Barcelona Soccer is now the Best Sports Team to Watch

[cernjSHU]

I know this is a basketball forum but from time to time we speak about soccer. Barcelona has played some of the most entertaining and thrilling games all season long but the last 4 out of the five games have been on a different level. Barcelona plays a beautiful attacking style of soccer. They have played two great Classicos with Real Madrid with a 3-2 win and 4-3 win for La Liga today. They also played two outstanding games against Inter Milan in the semi finals of the Champions League with a 3-3 draw and a 3-4 loss to 'inter Milan.

I hear many say they don't like soccer because there is not a lot of scoring. Well, Barcelona scores a lot of goals and because they play a high defensive line, they will give up some goals as well. It all makes for an exciting game with super skilled players. Barcelona has a core of young Spaniards that also makes up the core of the national team. They too play in an exciting and skilled manner. Soccer has taken over as my favorite sport. Those of you who are not into soccer, give it a chance and watch Barcelona. Although the season is just about over, there is always next year.

 

[mga pirate]

Soccer is awful

 

[Medugorje]

Soccer is outstanding; most watched sport in the World an the most played sport!

 

[cernjSHU]

Soccer is awful

Well, you are the guy I am targeting. Go watch Barcelona play. Go watch the replay of today’s game or inter Milan game and then they’ll me if it’s awful.

 

[STLPirate12]

They're loaded with individual talent and their super aggressive style is very entertaining to watch, but they're tactically naive at times and rather poor defensively. It cost them dearly against Inter, who were far less talented but a more cohesive unit as a team.

Even so Barca's attack was impressive as Inter conceded 6 goals over 2 matches against them and only 5 over their prior 12 matches in the tournament.

 

[Seton75]

i side with mga.

 

[SHUHoopsFan]

I’d much rather watch the New York Knicks or the Edmonton Oilers than any team in Barcelona

 

[mga pirate]

Soccer is outstanding; most watched sport in the World a the most played sport!

Cool I'm not a foreigner

 

[Seton75]

Cool I'm not a foreigner

i find tke skill of soccer players amazing, but most of the time, from my eye, nothing is happening that i find interesting.

 

[Fishjam]

I get involved in the excitement with the World Cup and am looking forward to next year with the games in the U.S. Have never been able to get into the club teams.

If the U.S. had some star players or became a power in international events I feel it would go a looong way in getting more Americans into soccer.

The U.S. needs a transcendent superstar - a Magic/Bird, MJ, Tiger, Serena/Venus type. One player at the right time can be a powder keg. Problem is it's harder for 1 player to dominate with 22 on the pitch. A lot easier in an individual type sport.

 

[Bud Boomer]

Lamine is must see TV. Raphinha too. This Barca team reminds me of the prime GS Warriors - just mesmerizing skill and speed. A must watch if they are on.

The Barca/Inter legs were incredible, and today was obviously great too.

 

[Bud Boomer]

They're loaded with individual talent and their super aggressive style is very entertaining to watch, but they're tactically naive at times and rather poor defensively. It cost them dearly against Inter, who were far less talented but a more cohesive unit as a team.

Floyd Mayweather was the most tactically gifted boxer who ever lived. His fights were unwatchably boring. Barca is like Tyson in his prime. Pure talent unleashed. Haymaker after haymaker after haymaker.

 

[cernjSHU]

I’d much rather watch the New York Knicks or the Edmonton Oilers than any team in Barcelona

Edmonton Oilers?? What is that you don’t like about Barcelona? One of the great cities of the world.

 

[SHUHoopsFan]

Edmonton Oilers?? What is that you don’t like about Barcelona? One of the great cities of the world.

Yes if I picked the teams I enjoy watching based on cities they play their games i promise I wouldn’t be on a message board for a team that plays in Newark NJ

 

[cernjSHU]

Yes if I picked the teams I enjoy watching based on cities they play their games i promise I wouldn’t be on a message board for a team that plays in Newark NJ

More fascinated with your anti- Barcelona sentiment

 

[SHUHoopsFan]

More fascinated with your anti- Barcelona sentiment

like most on this board I find soccer boring. The high speed of hockey is much more fun to watch.

 

[cernjSHU]

like most on this board I find soccer boring. The high speed of hockey is much more fun to watch.

Listen I can understand that if you have watched MLS and American soccer it’s boring. I can’t watch it either. But my post was specifically for guys like you. Go and watch Barcelona v Madrid or Inter Milan games that happened the past few weeks. I guarantee you, it is not boring and thrilling to watch. It will change ur mind about soccer

 

[Bud Boomer]

The older generation of Americans isn’t worth trying to persuade, cern. They don’t like it, and that’s ok. The younger generation, however, is on board and soccer will be one of the two biggest US sports - if not the biggest - within a generation.

Also, no MLS hate will be tolerated here. It’s c-level soccer, but it’s still good fun.

 

[STLPirate12]

Listen I can understand that if you have watched MLS and American soccer it’s boring. I can’t watch it either. But my post was specifically for guys like you. Go and watch Barcelona v Madrid or Inter Milan games that happened the past few weeks. I guarantee you, it is not boring and thrilling to watch. It will change ur mind about soccer

To be fair, this Barcelona team are unique in how they play and while entertaining, it wouldn't be accurate to call them a great representation of the game. The number of clubs in the world that have the talent to play their style without it backfiring spectacularly could be counted on one hand.

I'd argue that most soccer fans love the game for its tactical subtleties and occasional moments of brilliance more than it's high flying, end to end action.

 

[Seton75]

i took a boat from barcelona to mallorca once. went to a greasy spoon diner by the water. ordered a bowl of soup, described as soup with fish in the menu translation, and was served a bowl of the most wonderful paella i ever tasted!!! easter week 1976 lol. so f'in old. now, that was one helluva week!!!!!

sold a computer system to two guys from brazil a few years later. they were friends with pele and carlos alberto. met carlos at their office . he was playing for the soccer team that played in the meadowlands.

still cant get into a whole socer game, though the highlights are amazing!

 

[Burnsly]

I find soccer extremely boring. Lacrosse too.

 

[cernjSHU]

To be fair, this Barcelona team are unique in how they play and while entertaining, it wouldn't be accurate to call them a great representation of the game. The number of clubs in the world that have the talent to play their style without it backfiring spectacularly could be counted on one hand.

I'd argue that most soccer fans love the game for its tactical subtleties and occasional moments of brilliance more than it's high flying, end to end action.

The World Cup is coming to the US next summer. The people not into soccer are missing out. I would argue the the World Cup is the greatest sporting event. Barcelona played the style in which soccer should be played. Yes, you are right that most teams cannot play that way. But I am very tired of seeing teams park the bus and play a tactical game. I am hoping that the game can be opened up. But to watch teams like Barcelona play will make people fans of the game and I think it is important.

The great thing about the Word Cup is that there are teams that play that high flying attacking style. Spain has a lot of Barcelona players like Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Gavi, and others. Spain is loaded with talent and play a great style. But there are other teams that play with flair and offensive minded games like Argentina, Germany, Brazil (especially with Ancilotti coaching). England can play that way. and the team with probably the most offensive talent is France, except the manner in which they play is awful and not up to their talent level. I am so excited for the World Cup. Can't wait to see it come back to the States.

 

[SHUSource]

I wouldn't call myself a huge soccer fan, but it really is a terrific game. my viewing tends to be around the World Cup and I'll even check out the Philadelphia Union every once in a while (and it's been a while).

But I love the World Cup -- it's appointment viewing. I also say I'm going to start watching the EPL from the start of its season, but it never seems to work out (Sunday morning viewing just doesn't align with my priorities, I guess). But every time I've given myself to the sport, I've found it rewarding.

 

[mga pirate]

The older generation of Americans isn’t worth trying to persuade, cern. They don’t like it, and that’s ok. The younger generation, however, is on board and soccer will be one of the two biggest US sports - if not the biggest - within a generation.

Also, no MLS hate will be tolerated here. It’s c-level soccer, but it’s still good fun.

Been hearing this since early 2000's. Only reason that has a chance of happening is because of all the people from central and South America coming here.

 

[Bud Boomer]

Been hearing this since early 2000's. Only reason that has a chance of happening is because of all the people from central and South America coming here.

Whatever the reason, it’s going to happen. My kids and their friends all have favorite teams, favorite players, etc. They follow it like my generation followed football. The shift won’t happen for a few decades probably, but it 100% will happen.

 

[Bud Boomer]

I wouldn't call myself a huge soccer fan, but it really is a terrific game. my viewing tends to be around the World Cup and I'll even check out the Philadelphia Union every once in a while (and it's been a while).

But I love the World Cup -- it's appointment viewing. I also say I'm going to start watching the EPL from the start of its season, but it never seems to work out (Sunday morning viewing just doesn't align with my priorities, I guess). But every time I've given myself to the sport, I've found it rewarding.

It’s an incredible sport. College hoops is still the best for me, but soccer is a close second. No in game commercials, the best of the best athletes, and a set up that makes every game matter. Even the worst teams have to fight to avoid relegation.

 

[metalpirate07]

I personally find it hilarious how many Americans dunk on soccer as "too boring" yet they'll watch baseball with 162 meaningless games of strikeout after strikeout, endless pitching changes and terrible bullpen management, an occasional home run, all taking 3+ hours with maybe 15 minutes of any real action per game and the rest is the players standing around scratching their junk. Soccer's biggest issue in the US is that it doesn't translate well on tv, especially with most of the English speaking announcers being stuffy British guys and former MLS players with zero personality. However, the in stadium experience is remarkable, even in MLS, which is the equivalent of AA/AAA minor league baseball depending on the club. It's the closest to college sports out of the Big 5 because the fans are actually into the games and Ultras are comparable to the student sections at college football/basketball. The only thing that compares to this in US pro sports is the Clippers and "The Wall".

Soccer will be more popular in the US than baseball in 10-15 years once baseball's core of fans die off. According to a study a few years back, the average baseball fan is 58 years old, compared to Soccer around 40ish and the other sports being in their Mid-late 40s.

MLS shot themselves in the foot by taking the upfront money and putting their entire league behind a paywall and basically ignoring every team except for the Pink Flamingo Barca Boys in Miami. World Cup here next year should be amazing.