Comments on: MLS – A League For The Future http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/ Football News Sat, 26 May 2012 07:19:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: ivan http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-83169 ivan Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:18:24 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-83169 Good article and good comments. Bottom line is, MLS is on a path of slow progress. Remember, it is only 13 years young and the room for growth is limitless. Give it another 20 years, and then I believe the league will reach its full potential. Ticket sales, interest, and even awareness about the league is up in the country. Quality of play is getting better by the year. Once they get rid of the salary cap, move to one table, and have relegation in the picture, things will be even better. Be patient and continue to support MLS. Good article and good comments. Bottom line is, MLS is on a path of slow progress. Remember, it is only 13 years young and the room for growth is limitless. Give it another 20 years, and then I believe the league will reach its full potential. Ticket sales, interest, and even awareness about the league is up in the country. Quality of play is getting better by the year. Once they get rid of the salary cap, move to one table, and have relegation in the picture, things will be even better. Be patient and continue to support MLS.

]]> By: Liviu Bird http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-82683 Liviu Bird Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:12:50 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-82683 All valid points. I agree that the NCAA (college soccer system) is GENERALLY not a good avenue for players. I will not be playing in the NCAA, but that's because I'm going to a much smaller school. But it remains one of the best ways, even if it's not the only way, to get noticed by professional sports organizations in any sport. In terms of the cold weather, it can get down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (that's -20 Celsius) in the middle of the winter in New York and Toronto. I don't think even European fans would turn up in that weather. Add a little wind and playing is miserable. The MLS does need to start observing FIFA's calendar for many reasons. Nobody will argue against that. The one thing that people do not realize is that the American system is different, and probably always will be. It's more of the country's mentality than anything else. Americans believe that they live in the best country in the world and they don't need to change anything. While this is far from the truth, it still plays a role in everything we do business-wise. And no matter what the old-timers will say, football is a business. All valid points. I agree that the NCAA (college soccer system) is GENERALLY not a good avenue for players. I will not be playing in the NCAA, but that’s because I’m going to a much smaller school. But it remains one of the best ways, even if it’s not the only way, to get noticed by professional sports organizations in any sport.

In terms of the cold weather, it can get down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s -20 Celsius) in the middle of the winter in New York and Toronto. I don’t think even European fans would turn up in that weather. Add a little wind and playing is miserable.

The MLS does need to start observing FIFA’s calendar for many reasons. Nobody will argue against that.

The one thing that people do not realize is that the American system is different, and probably always will be. It’s more of the country’s mentality than anything else. Americans believe that they live in the best country in the world and they don’t need to change anything. While this is far from the truth, it still plays a role in everything we do business-wise. And no matter what the old-timers will say, football is a business.

]]> By: ykk http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-82300 ykk Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:58:16 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-82300 Russia's season starts in March... it's way too cold there. I think the bottom line is it's going to take a few generations to build the fan support and create a soccer culture in the US that would make the League competitive with top European leagues Russia’s season starts in March… it’s way too cold there.
I think the bottom line is it’s going to take a few generations to build the fan support and create a soccer culture in the US that would make the League competitive with top European leagues

]]> By: Box http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-82250 Box Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:17:48 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-82250 most things i can see here is: 1) please try to change the MLS season so that it can accommodate with the other leagues and international games in the world. if playing in cold weather is the main issue here, then just think about the other players who play in Russia, Crotia, Scotland etc, etc during winter. they're feeling as cold as you! who knows, maybe someday the MLS can play in much more Championship games alongside the rest of the world, and the players' trades will be more easier. 2) i agree with YKK in saying that MLS doesn't seem to respect FIFA international dates at all. MLS plans to bring more quality players (especially from Europe) into their league in order to help MLS being more competitive. however, if they don't change their playing schedule sooner, MLS will go nowhere as these quality players will be going back to their country to play international games. surely you don't want only RETIRED, 35-40+ years old "great" players to play in your league? honestly, i'm from asia n i've never followed MLS before Beckham went over there (so, you Americans should be greatfull to him ;>), and i found that the current MLS schedule is actually quite a big problem for MLS - especially when they put playing dates side by side or clash with the international dates. do MLS really not care that much? it is bad enough that, unlike the rest of the world, Americans (not all of you here) don't care about soccer/football at all, but please don't alienate yourself, MLS, from them. from us. 3) lastly, if you don't want to "delete" the salary cap, raise it. especially to those talented American players in order to prevent them moving to Europe easily. well..some ppl playing football/soccer for the money and food you know! most things i can see here is: 1) please try to change the MLS season so that it can accommodate with the other leagues and international games in the world. if playing in cold weather is the main issue here, then just think about the other players who play in Russia, Crotia, Scotland etc, etc during winter. they’re feeling as cold as you! who knows, maybe someday the MLS can play in much more Championship games alongside the rest of the world, and the players’ trades will be more easier.

2) i agree with YKK in saying that MLS doesn’t seem to respect FIFA international dates at all. MLS plans to bring more quality players (especially from Europe) into their league in order to help MLS being more competitive. however, if they don’t change their playing schedule sooner, MLS will go nowhere as these quality players will be going back to their country to play international games. surely you don’t want only RETIRED, 35-40+ years old “great” players to play in your league? honestly, i’m from asia n i’ve never followed MLS before Beckham went over there (so, you Americans should be greatfull to him ;>), and i found that the current MLS schedule is actually quite a big problem for MLS – especially when they put playing dates side by side or clash with the international dates. do MLS really not care that much? it is bad enough that, unlike the rest of the world, Americans (not all of you here) don’t care about soccer/football at all, but please don’t alienate yourself, MLS, from them. from us.

3) lastly, if you don’t want to “delete” the salary cap, raise it. especially to those talented American players in order to prevent them moving to Europe easily. well..some ppl playing football/soccer for the money and food you know!

]]> By: ykk http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-82208 ykk Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:20:39 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-82208 From what I've seen (very little), I don't think that college soccer in the US is at a level where it can contribute to the League on a productive basis. Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've seen, college players spend way too much time on the ball for a league as fast paced (but not very technically sound) as the MLS. Additionally, it seems that they want to take on their defenders, even in tight situations down the sideline instead of passing. That's from what little i've observed. From what i've read, American-grown players are at a superior physical and athletic level, but are lacking in technical abilities. Some of these players don't even seem to understand the importance of a good first touch. Maybe an academy system for the MLS clubs will do the trick, if they are willing to invest in good youth coaches. In this way, clubs can find the homegrown local kid to play for them for a few years at a cheap price. Who knows, maybe in a few decades, a MLS club will have academy reputation like West Ham's. I personally wish that the schedule could be more "European" so there can be breaks for World Cups... I don't think MLS even respects FIFA international dates. The climate issue is a problem but hopefully the game gets to a stage where fans will attend a game in horrible weather. In the same vein, you can't rule out the possibility of promotion/relegation if the demand for more soccer past 20 franchises arise. I'm not saying this will happen overnight or even soon, but it is a possibility. Finally, I don't think MLS can ever match the prestige of UEFA clubs just for the simple reason that they cannot manufacture a history (well not quickly). The possibility of playing in the Champions League drives some players even in Europe to move on to bigger clubs (e.g. Berbatov, Anelka). I think if the rumored Euroleague happens, MLS is in big trouble. From what I’ve seen (very little), I don’t think that college soccer in the US is at a level where it can contribute to the League on a productive basis. Again, correct me if I’m wrong, but from what I’ve seen, college players spend way too much time on the ball for a league as fast paced (but not very technically sound) as the MLS. Additionally, it seems that they want to take on their defenders, even in tight situations down the sideline instead of passing. That’s from what little i’ve observed. From what i’ve read, American-grown players are at a superior physical and athletic level, but are lacking in technical abilities. Some of these players don’t even seem to understand the importance of a good first touch. Maybe an academy system for the MLS clubs will do the trick, if they are willing to invest in good youth coaches. In this way, clubs can find the homegrown local kid to play for them for a few years at a cheap price. Who knows, maybe in a few decades, a MLS club will have academy reputation like West Ham’s.

I personally wish that the schedule could be more “European” so there can be breaks for World Cups… I don’t think MLS even respects FIFA international dates. The climate issue is a problem but hopefully the game gets to a stage where fans will attend a game in horrible weather. In the same vein, you can’t rule out the possibility of promotion/relegation if the demand for more soccer past 20 franchises arise. I’m not saying this will happen overnight or even soon, but it is a possibility.

Finally, I don’t think MLS can ever match the prestige of UEFA clubs just for the simple reason that they cannot manufacture a history (well not quickly). The possibility of playing in the Champions League drives some players even in Europe to move on to bigger clubs (e.g. Berbatov, Anelka). I think if the rumored Euroleague happens, MLS is in big trouble.

]]> By: Brad Barnett http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-81999 Brad Barnett Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:53:22 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-81999 Juv3ntus466, I agree with the better scheduling, but No Salary Cap would make this league go broke too quickly. Incorporating rules such as the "Beckham Rule" where teams are allowed to sign 2 players to any desired amount is plenty for the league right now. As for promotion and relegation, I've thought about this and it's just not possible in today's game here. There is no way that a USL 2 team can afford to play teams such as the LA Galaxy. Then what do you do when Beckham comes to town and your stadium, and I use that term loosely, only holds 5,000 people? You have to pay rent for a larger stadium, which costs money, that you do not have. It can work, and will work, but not yet. Juv3ntus466, I agree with the better scheduling, but No Salary Cap would make this league go broke too quickly. Incorporating rules such as the “Beckham Rule” where teams are allowed to sign 2 players to any desired amount is plenty for the league right now.
As for promotion and relegation, I’ve thought about this and it’s just not possible in today’s game here. There is no way that a USL 2 team can afford to play teams such as the LA Galaxy. Then what do you do when Beckham comes to town and your stadium, and I use that term loosely, only holds 5,000 people? You have to pay rent for a larger stadium, which costs money, that you do not have. It can work, and will work, but not yet.

]]> By: Juv3ntus466 http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-81862 Juv3ntus466 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:57:25 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-81862 Better scheduling Promotion/Relegation No Salary Cap Then we'll start talking Better scheduling
Promotion/Relegation
No Salary Cap
Then we’ll start talking

]]> By: Liviu Bird http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-81854 Liviu Bird Mon, 03 Mar 2008 03:18:25 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-81854 The problem with that is certain climates definitely do not allow for it. New York, for instance, would have to play in extremely cold weather and snow at home. Toronto is another place that would be affected be the adverse conditions. The problem with that is certain climates definitely do not allow for it. New York, for instance, would have to play in extremely cold weather and snow at home. Toronto is another place that would be affected be the adverse conditions.

]]> By: Keeper Coach http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-81842 Keeper Coach Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:34 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-81842 One other thing that I wish the MLS would do, however, I seriously doubt that it will ever happen is move the season to be congruent with other big leagues in the world. I know that MLS doesn't want to go head to head with the NFL - but as a soccer coach and fan I would love to see MLS played in the fall/winter/spring. One other thing that I wish the MLS would do, however, I seriously doubt that it will ever happen is move the season to be congruent with other big leagues in the world. I know that MLS doesn’t want to go head to head with the NFL – but as a soccer coach and fan I would love to see MLS played in the fall/winter/spring.

]]> By: Liviu Bird http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-81840 Liviu Bird Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:26:50 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/mls-a-league-for-the-future/6225/#comment-81840 Jason, those are valid points, but I still don't think those leagues are as well respected as the European leagues. Shaun, I definitely agree that Americans are score-happy. NBA games frequently end in triple figures for both sides. However, you're just a bit off on the time differences. London and Bucharest are two hours apart (I've made that trip plenty of times) and New York and Los Angeles are three hours apart. Alaska and New York are four hours apart and Hawaii and New York are five hours apart, but sadly, there are no MLS teams in either of these states. Jason, those are valid points, but I still don’t think those leagues are as well respected as the European leagues.

Shaun, I definitely agree that Americans are score-happy. NBA games frequently end in triple figures for both sides. However, you’re just a bit off on the time differences. London and Bucharest are two hours apart (I’ve made that trip plenty of times) and New York and Los Angeles are three hours apart. Alaska and New York are four hours apart and Hawaii and New York are five hours apart, but sadly, there are no MLS teams in either of these states.

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