Comments on: The case for separate East and West MLS All-Star matches v foreign powers in 2010 http://soccerlens.com/mls-versus-foreign-powers/28290/ Football News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:36:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: George Gorecki http://soccerlens.com/mls-versus-foreign-powers/28290/#comment-115491 George Gorecki Fri, 15 May 2009 11:57:43 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=28290#comment-115491 The article made a point that MLS rosters contain 40 world-class players. That is far from the truth. I would like to see a list of such players because I don't believe that there is even one. The failure of MLS to respect the FIFA calendar is a different issue, to be sure, so I regret bringing it up here. It's just that the All-Star game is part of the scheduling problem and we would be better off without any All-Star game. It would be easy for MLS to adjust their schedule to leave international dates open. But MLS's owners are reluctant to schedule any more midweek matches than they absolutely have to. Sweden's league plays their schedule on a calendar similar to that of MLS and they have no conflicts with international dates. The article made a point that MLS rosters contain 40 world-class players. That is far from the truth. I would like to see a list of such players because I don’t believe that there is even one.

The failure of MLS to respect the FIFA calendar is a different issue, to be sure, so I regret bringing it up here. It’s just that the All-Star game is part of the scheduling problem and we would be better off without any All-Star game. It would be easy for MLS to adjust their schedule to leave international dates open. But MLS’s owners are reluctant to schedule any more midweek matches than they absolutely have to. Sweden’s league plays their schedule on a calendar similar to that of MLS and they have no conflicts with international dates.

]]> By: L.E. Eisenmenger http://soccerlens.com/mls-versus-foreign-powers/28290/#comment-115481 L.E. Eisenmenger Thu, 14 May 2009 23:18:21 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=28290#comment-115481 George, the international calendar is quite a different issue, very important, and MLS made some changes this season and is looking to make more. Winters in the north and northeast can be brutal, and Dec-Feb games not an option. Most teams have several outstanding players but with short rosters and tight salary cap, they need more players of that level to make a difference. Expanding the international roster creates that opportunity in the future, but two All-Star teams would show the quality as it exists now. George, the international calendar is quite a different issue, very important, and MLS made some changes this season and is looking to make more. Winters in the north and northeast can be brutal, and Dec-Feb games not an option.

Most teams have several outstanding players but with short rosters and tight salary cap, they need more players of that level to make a difference. Expanding the international roster creates that opportunity in the future, but two All-Star teams would show the quality as it exists now.

]]> By: George Gorecki http://soccerlens.com/mls-versus-foreign-powers/28290/#comment-115472 George Gorecki Thu, 14 May 2009 14:05:36 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=28290#comment-115472 40 world-class players in MLS? I doubt that there is even one. The top player in the league is arguably Landon Donovan and he was unable to get a contract after his trial with Bayern Munich. Eisenmenger and I must have very different standards for what is necessary to be described as "world-class." I'm not even sure why MLS stages an All-Star game to begin with. Rather than squeezing in a meaningless exhibition match, the league should work harder at creating a schedule that doesn't conflict with the FIFA international calendar. 40 world-class players in MLS? I doubt that there is even one. The top player in the league is arguably Landon Donovan and he was unable to get a contract after his trial with Bayern Munich.

Eisenmenger and I must have very different standards for what is necessary to be described as “world-class.”

I’m not even sure why MLS stages an All-Star game to begin with. Rather than squeezing in a meaningless exhibition match, the league should work harder at creating a schedule that doesn’t conflict with the FIFA international calendar.

]]> By: Jeff http://soccerlens.com/mls-versus-foreign-powers/28290/#comment-115270 Jeff Fri, 08 May 2009 00:47:47 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=28290#comment-115270 While I agree that there are more than 15 players in Major League Soccer who deserve an opportunity such as the one presented by the All-Star game, I think that having two matches completely takes away from the draw that the "league's best" are taking on a top club. At that point it would just be the best in the conference. It's just a thought. Fifteen is low, but it will make players work that much harder to be in it. While I agree that there are more than 15 players in Major League Soccer who deserve an opportunity such as the one presented by the All-Star game, I think that having two matches completely takes away from the draw that the “league’s best” are taking on a top club. At that point it would just be the best in the conference. It’s just a thought. Fifteen is low, but it will make players work that much harder to be in it.

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