Submitted by giedris klivecka, Jan 4, 2008 20:05

having read and known of paul gardner for more years than i care to remember, i must say that like fine wine, he seems to get better with age. in fact, he is the most cogent writer about the world soccer scene out there in print right now. as irrascible as ever, his comments on goalkeepers and commentators are right on target. the FSC commentators (from the U.S.side) as abysmal and annoying. i am tired of hearing about "collective defense" and "wonderful anticipation of open space pontential by running diagonally away from a potential defensive situation" what nonsense! how stupid and self serving. i am sorry but every time Eric Wynalda is the commentator, i have to turn off the sound. listening to him is painful. ESPN ,which knows nothing about soccer, must think he has something pithy to say about the game. instead, he talks about the "intensity of the goalies eyes" or some such nonsense. he is the posterboy to the saying that goal scorers dont know how to play the game, they just know how to score goals (see Chinaglia ). i agree with Mr. Gardiner that less is more when it comes to commentary. the game is on the screen to see, and if there is nothing interesting to say as it pertains to the game, dont fill in the space with nonsense

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.