Comments on: Barcelona’s bid for Miami MLS franchise http://soccerlens.com/barcelonas-bid-for-miami-mls-franchise/13931/ Soccerlens - Football News You Can Trust Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:26:47 -0800 http://soccerlens.com/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Daniel Chung http://soccerlens.com/barcelonas-bid-for-miami-mls-franchise/13931/comment-page-1/#comment-104155 Daniel Chung Sat, 18 Oct 2008 02:41:02 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=13931#comment-104155 The proposition for FC Barcelona to back an MLS club is certainly interesting. I remember being one of the paying fans to go watch Barcelona when they came here to New York (actually New Jersey) and there was certainly a huge interest. Whether having an MLS franchise would create the same kind of interest and passion that a one-off appearance in the off-season has though will be something left to be seen. I think with the success of Chivas USA it is plausible that a Barcelona MLS "inspired" side could enjoy the same success and would do the league a lot of good. But I think there might be a misguided expectation that this Miami MLS team would be the equivalent of a triple A team for a Major League Baseball team. Certainly if a player was absolutely outstanding in the MLS there could be a possibility of that player plying his trade in Barcelona. But FC Barcelona already has s B side that plays in the lower leagues and the cantera (youth academy) feeds its players into that side and then promotes those players who can make the grade on its senior squad. Thus, it is highly unlikely this Miami team would be fielding the future Messis, Xavis or Puyols. I'm in favor of any proposal that can strengthen MLS in general and the recent resurgence of MLS and the increasing global recognition it has received, I would welcome this proposal by FC Barcelona. It highlights the club's ambitions to make its name even more global than it is at the moment. And while the proposal may serve the interests of FC Barcelona, the move will benefit MLS (or so I hope). The proposition for FC Barcelona to back an MLS club is certainly interesting. I remember being one of the paying fans to go watch Barcelona when they came here to New York (actually New Jersey) and there was certainly a huge interest. Whether having an MLS franchise would create the same kind of interest and passion that a one-off appearance in the off-season has though will be something left to be seen. I think with the success of Chivas USA it is plausible that a Barcelona MLS “inspired” side could enjoy the same success and would do the league a lot of good.

But I think there might be a misguided expectation that this Miami MLS team would be the equivalent of a triple A team for a Major League Baseball team. Certainly if a player was absolutely outstanding in the MLS there could be a possibility of that player plying his trade in Barcelona. But FC Barcelona already has s B side that plays in the lower leagues and the cantera (youth academy) feeds its players into that side and then promotes those players who can make the grade on its senior squad. Thus, it is highly unlikely this Miami team would be fielding the future Messis, Xavis or Puyols.

I’m in favor of any proposal that can strengthen MLS in general and the recent resurgence of MLS and the increasing global recognition it has received, I would welcome this proposal by FC Barcelona. It highlights the club’s ambitions to make its name even more global than it is at the moment. And while the proposal may serve the interests of FC Barcelona, the move will benefit MLS (or so I hope).

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