The distinction between Latin and European playing styles is of vital importance to American soccer. It is intimately related to the question of a playing style for the U.S. men’s nationalteam. Briefly: during its 100-year history in the USA the sport has been largely organized and controlled by European immigrants or by Americans under European […]
SoccerTalk with Paul Gardner
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
America in search of a style (Part 1): The never-ending era of the ad hoc teams
The same old question keeps coming up: what style of soccer should the USA be playing? It keeps popping up because the U.S. men’s national teams — all of ‘em — so obviouslylack style. By which I mean there are no natural airs and graces to the American game. And what the hell do I […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
We expected a rousing Liverpool vs. Manchester City game. We got a boring Jurgen Klopp vs. Pep Guardiola stalemate
It was a busy Sunday for me, so I limited my soccer gazing. Just one TV game: Liverpool-Manchester City. The obvious choice and, as it turned out, an utter waste of two hours. I quickly learned during the TV buildup (first question: whyon earth was I listening to that poppycock?) that I was not watching […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Thoughts on the Englishness of the English Premier League
LONDON — The English Premier League certainly displayed its diversity credentials this past weekend. On Saturday we got Chelsea vs. Liverpool — a top of the table game betweentwo unbeaten teams, both loaded with spirited attacking players. A game that promised much, and a game that pretty much delivered the goods. Both teams looking to […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
England: 'We talk about diving all the time …'
Reading the English press, listening to the British commentators, it’s quite impossible to escape the topic of diving. Even though examples are rare — this is not an every-game occurrence, evenwhen you include all the false accusations by coaches and TV commentators, and the incorrect referee calls (there are plenty in all categories). An English […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
The lectures that referees give to players: Meaningless? Embarrassing? Childish? Farcical? Probably all of the above
I have been trying for quite a few years now to persuade referees to let me listen in on what they say to players during a game. Not live, a tape will do nicely. I make it clear that whatI’m interested in are those short scenes where a referee intervenes after some rough play and […]
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Today's coaches could learn a lot from Ron Newman (1934-2018)
Ron Newman, dead at 84. He’d been out of soccer for a while — since 1999 when he ceased to be coach of the Kansas City Wizards — as I wrote at the time: “‘resigned’ if youread the press releases, ‘fired’ if you’re not a halfwit.” That was it for Newman. He didn’t fancy an […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
D.C. United vs. Orlando — and a glaring VAR failure that MLS needs to explain
Back in February, MLS referee boss, Howard Webb, was asked some very specific questions by Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla. What Woitalla wanted to know was whether MLS referees would be takingany action against aggressive goalkeepers during the upcoming season? Webb’s reply was, on the whole, encouraging. Yes, he said, the situation wasbeing monitored, and referees […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
A splendid All-Star evening in Atlanta — only the ending was off-key
From Atlanta, there was — almost — nothing but good news. A glittering evening, a huge, record crowd, lots of good players, and some pretty good soccer. If the All-Star Game is looked at mainlyas an attempt to show that MLS is on the same level as baseball and the NFL, then this event made […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Soccer's way with words — and the 'performing' of the national anthem
So George Orwell was right? Words, it seems, are losing their meaning. He saw that coming in his analysis of the way in which politicians dress lies up as the truth. His wonderful 1946 essay “Politics and the English Language” is wortha read for those unlucky enough to have missed it first time around. It’s […]