Stuart Holden debuts at Bolton
by Steve Davis on Feb 26, 2010 1:06 PM EST
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Amid the clutter of
On the one hand, launching your career in a 4-0 loss is hardly ideal. Tottenham spanked
On the other hand, Holden received some pretty solid reviews. If you get a 6 (scale of 10) on a night when your team has been clobbered by four goals, you must have done something right.
Here are a couple of reports on Holden’s outing, one from The Daily Mail (it has ratings included), one from Goal.com and one from The Guardian. (The last one really doesn't say anything about Holden; but since I took the time to find it, there 'tis for ya.)
Bottom line: it’s a little like going out on a first date and having a pretty good time – before your girl finishes the night attached to a toilet, throwing up due to bad clams. Even if wasn’t your fault, there might be a bit of bad association to overcome.
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I don't know how you come up with this stuff
" it’s a little like going out on a first date and having a pretty good time – before your girl finishes the night attached to a toilet, throwing up due to bad clams."
You must lead an interesting life.
I've had similar experiences...
except for clams it was tequila. But it’s good to see an increase in Americans in the EPL. Guzan on Aston Villa is from like ten minutes away from my house so that’s pretty cool
Legacy of KA(i)NE
by Kaner's Revenge on Mar 2, 2010 5:32 PM EST up reply actions
Sure, he got a 6, but...
If you’ll notice, every player rated for Bolton got either a 5 or a 6. And they took it in the shorts to the tune of 4-0. He may have been the best 6 on the park, but it didn’t do much good obviously.
Chad the Ref
At least though...
he overcame any sort of anti-American sentiment or bias, and scored a 6 along with the rest of the lot…
by chrisperry1983 on Feb 27, 2010 4:17 AM EST up reply actions
Sort of
I wrote that being halfway sarcastic. But of all the European soccer leagues, I’ve never heard more anti-American soccer sentiment than from England. Maybe it’s just broadcast more, I don’t know. For example, every liveblog I was reading during the World Cup draw was written by an englishman, and every single one had some snide comment about “oh, excellent the Americans! Those stupid yanks don’t even play football over there, that’ll be an easy win!” Or something to that effect. So if analysts are scoring him as well as the rest of the team, I almost think maybe he played even better than that.
by chrisperry1983 on Feb 27, 2010 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
I've addressed
this elsewhere on here but it’s just not true. The four American ‘keepers are regarded as some of the best in the league, Donovan’s getting universal praise, Altidore gets great press and, as noted here, Holden was understood to have one of the better games while the team got a proper shoeing. The guys at Wednesday and Watford get less press outside their home towns for obvious reasons. If you’re going to take random sampling from the ‘web then you’re just asking for trouble; the main reason I only post on SB Nation is because British football forums are patrolled by mouth-breathers and trolls. They’re no guide to what the average fan thinks: they’re a guide to what the loudest fans think.
Sure, everyone laughs at Beasley, but then EVERYONE laughs at Beasley; that’s not due to his nationality – it’s due to him being a tool…
I understand what you're saying
I do admit only reading blogs and not having any real access to analysts aside from what I’m able to find from BBC or Premier League press releases. I’ve just never felt like the US has been taken seriously as far as the game goes. MLS is considered worldwide as a second tier league. So when you pull people from a second tier league into the Premier League, I feel like it takes a lot more for them to prove themselves.
I’ll try and branch out more, and try to take your word on this.
by chrisperry1983 on Mar 1, 2010 12:21 AM EST up reply actions
Put it this way
Of the Americans currently in the Premier League, (or the Championship League, or for that matter, Serie A, Bundesliga, et cetera,) which ones do you think have been underrated, or been given a tougher road than others?
I have no examples to give
It’s just the general attitude I’ve been accustomed to seeing. Surely we don’t take the Canadian Football League as seriously as the NFL, and if a CFL’er came over to the NFL I would assume critics would be harsher of his mistakes, given he’s from a lower league.
by chrisperry1983 on Mar 1, 2010 6:00 PM EST up reply actions
Ok...
then give me an example of a CFL player who came to the NFL who was criticized more harshly for his mistakes?
Maybe that was a bad way of putting it
I guess what I really mean is someone from the CFL would be easily written off as a transplant that didn’t make it. Donovan was for years after his two failed attempts before he really started bringing it and turned heads in order for Everton to notice him.
Anyway, I don’t think this is going anywhere. I suppose this is more of a gut feeling I have.
by chrisperry1983 on Mar 2, 2010 1:08 AM EST up reply actions
To be fair
and I don’t mean to be offensive, but MLS IS a second-tier league in World Football, surely? Haven’t we just had that discussion on this site? :-)
Where’s Sounder with his awesome algorithm when you need him…?
Ooh, found it: http://www.dailysoccerfix.com/2010/2/18/1316240/englands-lower-tiers-mls-quality
Maybe I'm missing what you're saying here...
but I totally agree MLS is a second tier league. And yes, I read Steve’s article :)
by chrisperry1983 on Mar 1, 2010 6:02 PM EST up reply actions
He had
a fair game, to be honest. Spurs were just having one of their good days and rolled right over Bolton (who didn’t help themselves by scoring two Own Goals!). It’ll be interesting to see how much time he gets on the pitch as the pressure on Coyle to abandon playing attractive football in the desperate hunt for points grows…
today's game
apparently he played really well today in their win over wolves. not sure what his rating was, but the recap at espn said very positive things.
by michaeljspinelli on Feb 27, 2010 5:13 PM EST reply actions
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