This consistent 'battering' of Everton by foreign media.

[bluebloodinmyveins]

Foreign journalists write their sports stories from afar. They rarely even visit the clubs they talk about, or know nothing about the history of the clubs. They write for their audience, which is usually a biased one.

 

[thebes20]

A total ESPN article for those Americans that like to read about their players. Nothing bad about Everton. In fact Everton has been popping up on the sports casts in the states, more now than ever before. (Even without mention of LD).

Does this article bring more traffic to ESPN's site because of LD. Yes, and they get more hits. Nothing more or less. Plus, Davis, the writer is a MLS contributer. He follows and writes about the MLS. How much do you think that he knows about Everton????? They are promoting THEIR player, not downplaying Everton. I bet this guy only followed Everton since LD arrived. He probably only watched the highlights, and then only LD's. He is promoting his league the MLS.

ESPN is gushing because LD has done pretty well, and he is the poster child, or at age 27, the poster player, of US soccer. We, here in the states love to see those articles, and ESPN knows it, and writes them.

The Brits have tons of great players, while we have a handful. Therefore the focus on LD. I am sure that Landon is cringing when he reads these, (if he reads them), these over the top overviews.

Remember that the major media in the US, only knows of very few players. Our keepers are great, but one rarely hears of them, only the field players, and with so many US players injured, well the focus in on Donovan.

This article was not a hit piece on Everton but a fluff piece on Donovan, one of the few US players that the American media knows.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

we're nowhere's ""second side" though.

 

[thebes20]

we're nowhere's ""second side" though.

I scanned the article, and if they said, second side, then they are stupid. They are without knowing it downplaying LD as a player. You can not have it both ways. Great performance! Second side??? Davis has no clue about what he is writing. Typical for the MLS.

 

[TX Bill]

I'm just thrilled about Everton getting any exposure here in the USA. I remember the day when the words "soccer/football" and "journalism" really didn't exist here.

Now there's a ton of it. Yeah, we'll get it wrong from time to time but man, it's great to have several sources to read on a daily basis here in the USA regarding the beautiful game.

 

[Aztattooedfootballfan]

It's ESPN. They know sh*t about football.

100% in agreement. I always try to wean my much more new fans to this wonderful sport off of that website.

 

[Aztattooedfootballfan]

As mentioned earlier, a lot of "foreign" press will only discuss Everton, and others outside the Sky 4, when there's a local playing. Everton rarely got a run in the news here unless they were playing a "big" club, in their eyes.

Once Cahill got in, well, you can imagine the drivelling when he was in a purple patch in front of goals..."Our Timmy" etc. Even the local league struggles to make an impact in the local press, but they are making inroads. Once they do, the local press will get edumacated, and will probably write articles worth reading...yeah, okay, a bridge too far perhaps...

Yeah, I remember ESPN doing a section on Tim Howard about 2 years ago if I remember correctly. I was equally shocked when hearing early commercials for the then upcoming Everton vs Liverpool match on ESPN.:blink:

 

[bluebastardo]

Perhaps the World Cup will do the USA game a bit of good regarding exposure.
Can't wait for it to start.

 

[jdeezy]

Wouldn't even think twice about the article from Everton standpoint, at least not in the manner it was originally received.

I do, however, find it increasingly fascinating to observe how ESPN folks choose to handle "soccer" strategically.

On one hand, there's the overriding growth/expansion requirement as w/ all big business. Considering their domestic dominance, this largely involves international markets. In a perfect world (for them at least), I have no doubt this would look something like our "big 3" sports (football, basketball, baseball) exported across the globe. With the US conveniently dominant across the board, of course, thereby creating a global monopoly of ridiculous proportions.

Realistically, however, I'm sure by now they realize such international growth will inevitably need to come in other areas. See: "soccer". Unfortunately this is by far the least attractive option for them, both for lack of commercial breaks as well as the fact that US does not rule the world.

So they're caught in a bit of a strange catch-22 inflection point strategically. They want to cash in on the global market which would point to soccer, the soccer market is clearly growing domestically, yet don't necessarily want to cannibalize/jeopardize their cash cows.

What to do?? Quite frankly, I'm not sure they know yet. But given their recent ventures into the UK broadcast world, they're obviously at the very least interesting in exploring a bit further before deciding.

Should be interesting to see how it plays out. I've got my 3rd eye on it no doubt.