I’ve tired and I just can’t watch it. I’m always irritated when sportscenter has soccer plays as #1 play in the top ten.

 

I actually like watching soccer highlights. The players do some incredible things. I just cannot watch an actual match for 1.5 hours to see two phenomenal athletic plays. The highlights are usually great though.

I've come to appreciate soccer. The lack of scoring that many people bemoan doesn't bother me. When a team gets in a position to take a shot and then takes a shot, that is exciting. Whether or not the shot is good of course makes a difference but just getting to that point is normally a result of skillful play. I hate the flopping but I do enjoy the athleticism and the lack of time-outs and commercials during the match.

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen the “who, me?” pose, I’d have a lot of dollars.

I have tried to watch . Just can not enjoy it. I have several grandchildren who play soccer. I go to watch them and encourage them, however I am grateful the games only last 1 hour.

Here’s a theory. The more primitive the bench seating, the tougher the sport.

 

I’m watching an EPL game now, and the substitutes are sitting in what look to be gigantic overstuffed recliners.

5+ years ago, I never would've sat and watched a game other than my kids' games. However with my daughter playing at a high level, I've come to appreciate the game more, and I'll sit and watch a game at all levels. I've got a much better understanding of the game and it's nuances. Now, I don't understand all the leagues outside the US, and I have no desire to learn them.

I think I may have mentioned this before on here, but the only time I truly enjoyed soccer was when I watched the Cleveland Force from the MISL back in the early-mid 80's. It was indoors, and the players played basically in a hockey type enclosure (with artificial turf instead of the ice).

 

There was enough room to make passes around defenders, but you could also use the sideboards and bank the ball around, too. Seemed like scores were 5-3 or maybe 6-4 types of affairs with dozens of shots on goal for each team.

The Richfield Coliseum rocked during that time!

The beauty of soccer is the players’ “touch” on the ball, control with body parts other than arms and hands, runs into space, and the well-timed pass. Then, of course when this culminates into a goal opportunity, the excitement peaks. What makes soccer seem so slow is that the fields are quite large, and the limits in substitution at the high levels. I would be a fan of more liberal substitution rules to have fresher players.