Comments on: The Sweeper: A Tale of Two Champions Leagues http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/19/the-sweeper-a-tale-of-two-champions-leagues/ A soccer blog featuring essays, news and photography exploring soccer around the world Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:59:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Magicianul http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/19/the-sweeper-a-tale-of-two-champions-leagues/comment-page-1/#comment-8458 Magicianul Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:32:38 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2327#comment-8458 It is all about popularity, in Europe football is the most popular sport, the whole continent is watching UEFA Champions League It is all about popularity, in Europe football is the most popular sport, the whole continent is watching UEFA Champions League

]]> By: Chris http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/19/the-sweeper-a-tale-of-two-champions-leagues/comment-page-1/#comment-8413 Chris Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:42:16 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2327#comment-8413 It's typical of this country's critics to explain away any specific deficit in terms of a fundamental character flaw, but the comment seems to come from the point of view that the rest of CONCACAF treats the CL as the apex of club competition, much like most of UEFA does. I'm no student of foreign (especially Spanish-language, lo siento) media, so I have no idea if this is true, yet somehow I suspect not. And if not, then shove off, hoser. It’s typical of this country’s critics to explain away any specific deficit in terms of a fundamental character flaw, but the comment seems to come from the point of view that the rest of CONCACAF treats the CL as the apex of club competition, much like most of UEFA does. I’m no student of foreign (especially Spanish-language, lo siento) media, so I have no idea if this is true, yet somehow I suspect not. And if not, then shove off, hoser.

]]> By: Kinney http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/19/the-sweeper-a-tale-of-two-champions-leagues/comment-page-1/#comment-8406 Kinney Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:04:15 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2327#comment-8406 The supporters care about the CCL. Its the regular fans that don't follow the team as closely but still make up a majority of the ticket holders that don't care. This is one reason why MLS teams don't take international competitions as seriously as they should. I also think that the US Soccer Media should shoulder some of the blame here to though. If DC United decided to go whole hog on the CCL and miss the playoffs all you are going to hear next year in every single MLS game next year is how DC United missed the playoffs. No mention of a choice to make the CCL playoffs instead of of the MLS playoffs until the CCL games when they would then be praised for taking it seriously. This is in contrast to international media which understands that sometimes a team won't make it to the top of the table because they are concentrating on the Champions League or Libertadores. With the parity that MLS has, this is basically the same thing as missing the playoffs if you are in a situation like DC United is right now. To some extent this is just the media focusing on what the majority of fans know and care about, but to the same degree it is the media not doing its job by explaining the whole situation. The supporters care about the CCL. Its the regular fans that don’t follow the team as closely but still make up a majority of the ticket holders that don’t care. This is one reason why MLS teams don’t take international competitions as seriously as they should.

I also think that the US Soccer Media should shoulder some of the blame here to though. If DC United decided to go whole hog on the CCL and miss the playoffs all you are going to hear next year in every single MLS game next year is how DC United missed the playoffs. No mention of a choice to make the CCL playoffs instead of of the MLS playoffs until the CCL games when they would then be praised for taking it seriously.

This is in contrast to international media which understands that sometimes a team won’t make it to the top of the table because they are concentrating on the Champions League or Libertadores. With the parity that MLS has, this is basically the same thing as missing the playoffs if you are in a situation like DC United is right now. To some extent this is just the media focusing on what the majority of fans know and care about, but to the same degree it is the media not doing its job by explaining the whole situation.

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