Most Americans accuse soccer of being a boring game to watch and I always try to explain to them that you can't watch the game as a whole, you have to break it down to its individual players and respect each of their talents. Now some games are just boring as hell to watch, but that is true of any sport. However, there are those rare teams that whether they win or lose they are bound to put on a great show.
For me that team is Arsenal (my favorite club team). Even if you hate them I don't think you can deny the beautiful way they move the ball around. They aren't overloaded with superstars, just players with great talent on the ball. The team seems to play as if they are one and I can't remember the last time I was bored watching them.
On the opposite end you have Chelsea who are just appalling to watch considering the talent they put on the pitch. Maybe that will change now that Mourinho is gone, but I don't see how you can love their brand of soccer.
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apogee
Written Oct. 12, 2007 / Report /
I have some friends who are huge baseball fans and they tell me soccer is boring. I find baseball boring to watch on TV but if I go to a game with them and they explain some of the intricacies of the game, it's fun. Plus, it's just fun to soak in the atmosphere at a baseball game.
Flipping that around, I think a soccer game on TV could be boring for a baseball fan. On TV, you can't see the runs that players are making off the ball. When I took one of my friends to a DC United game and explained what was happening, they really enjoyed the match.
As for teams that are enjoyable to watch, I concur that the Gunners play a fast-paced, fluid game. I liked them better when they had top quality players like Bergkamp and Henry, but some of their younger players show great promise. For example, Adebayor and van Persie are very skillful and work well together.
With Torres now at Liverpool, they sometimes play a faster game. Gerrard is top quality, too. However, they're not as consistent as clubs like Arsenal, ManU or Chelsea. Outside of England, I'd say Barcelona is the most beautiful team to watch. You can't go wrong watching the brilliance of Messi and Ronaldinho. Deco and Henry aren't bad, either. ;-)
KingPenguin
Written Dec. 24, 2007 / Report /
My personal favorite team to watch is Roma, which is in a pretty similar situation to Arsenal. Chelsea can be compared directly to Inter Milan, because both are ugly teams with superstar, extremely expensive rosters that just can't seem to lose no matter how hard they try to. Roma is perpetually stuck seven points behind Inter, who just beat AC Milan to show they really will never again lose a match. Things are going exactly the same as last year in the Serie A, and it's depressing.