[Reaper16]

Holy shit, this blog post: http://theshinguardian.com/2012/05/3...-time-is-nigh/

The scoreline was harsh, but we were well beaten. However, the second half was a blast. Going forward we were a menace, creating chance after chance and forcing Brazil’s first time goalkeeper into a brilliant performance. Our chances weren’t just from long balls or set pieces either, but came at the end of quick passing and creative play. Despite the scoreline, I was glad to see us play our style and punch back. I was disappointed, but optimistic. Predictably, the narrative of this match became, “That was a wakeup call for America. They were getting a bit high on the hog after that Scotland match. This will take them down a peg. These dumb American soccer fans were handed a good old fashioned reality check.”

My blood was finally brought to a boil with a tweet from an English soccer commentator (whom I actually like so I won’t give his name) which said, “Many will disagree, but until US fans and media find 4-1 homes losses unacceptable, US will not become an elite team.”

Once again, dumb Americans don’t know how to be true soccer fans. Sigh.
* * *
My response…“blow me.”

Let me take that back, what I meant to say was, “BLOW ME.”

England’s national team is a joke and has been for most of my life. Their FA is clueless, and the top English league isn’t even English anymore. Americans, Russians, and Saudis own the best clubs in England and their teams are filled with players from…well, not England. Their fans and media have so little perspective that every match the national team plays could be cause to fire their manager. The English media is a joke and spends more time covering the shopping endeavors of WAGS or showing photos of some dumb blondes’ tits than providing any real soccer insight.

I need advice from the English, or any European for that matter, on how to be a soccer fan about as much as I need a second urethra. We’re doing just fine, and we haven’t even touched the tip of the iceberg. The potential for soccer talent, wealth, fandom, and success in this country is literally unmeasurable. Sure we have a long ways to go, but even in our infancy, we’re finishing ahead of England in our World Cup qualifying group. Go cheer for your dying regimes and corrupt FAs in your crumbling stadia. I’m an American soccer fan, and if I need you to provide perspective on my team’s wins and losses, I’ll beat it out of you. Until then, keep your Euro-soccer snobbery to yourself. The dumb American fans you think you’re talking down to don’t exist.

Buy in time is nigh.

There is no longer any reason for American soccer fans to be ashamed in front of anybody. We have our own culture, our own experts, and we support our teams in our way and do it well. Not only that, but we’re getting better and growing from strength to strength. I’m buying into Jurgen’s defiance. If he’s going to undertake a culture change, I’m willing to come along for the ride.

/swag