Anyone follow the MLS these days?

**Emily_Haines** · 05-28-09, 06:06 PM

Something just dont smell right about Chivas. I think they are massively over achieving. I lean to Chicago in this one. Just wish I would have bet earlier when I could have got a full 1/2 goal.

**Phillth** · 05-28-09, 07:31 PM

Massively overachieving? They have finished 3rd, 1st, 2nd in the west the last three seasons. They have one of the best squads in the league.

**Emily_Haines** · 05-28-09, 08:51 PM

My bad just regular over achieving.

**Phillth** · 05-28-09, 10:38 PM

Looks like they are over achieving in this match also. Damn they pass the ball so well.

**Emily_Haines** · 05-28-09, 10:48 PM

Yes they look much better than Chicago tonight.

I'm going to need a miracle.

**englishmike** · 05-28-09, 10:58 PM

Much better quality, much better attendances and cities that actually care about their teams (Toronto, Seattle Sounders,) and a meausre of just how far MLS has come is X Box paid 20M over 5 years to have their name and logo on the shirts of Seattle.

A downside would be four teams(as of a few weeks ago) are yet to have shirt sponsorship, but there's no doubt MLS has made giant strides in the last 5 years.

**tacomax** · 05-28-09, 11:28 PM

Yeah Mike but it's still...you know...kinda shit.

**BatemanPatrickl** · 05-28-09, 11:34 PM

Originally posted by tacomax

Yeah Mike but it's still...you know...kinda shit.

Go back to England if you don't like MLS. I like how you constantly bash America yet you invaded our country and now live in it.

**englishmike** · 05-28-09, 11:35 PM

It is but it's a whole lot more credible since Beckham turned up. Like him or not, he took MLS to a new level, not so much in the US but around the world.

He also got a raw deal from ill-informed tv people and journos who critisised his decision to go to Milan but that's another story.

**Phillth** · 05-28-09, 11:42 PM

Well theres your miracle.

**Emily_Haines** · 05-28-09, 11:46 PM

Too many yellow cards from Chivas. Without the man advantage no way Chicago ties it. Just got a little lucky at the end with the pk.

**tacomax** · 05-28-09, 11:47 PM

Don't disagree about the credibility. But the Beckham debacle proved why MLS is fighting a very uphill battle. He was attracted by the money and his wife by the lifestyle. But in the end, he was drawn away for the last opportunity to play at the highest level. Unless big names are here, MLS can't attract other big names.

**unknown Gambler** · 05-28-09, 11:51 PM

MLS.... Mike Loves Scholar

**tacomax** · 05-28-09, 11:58 PM

Originally posted by unknown Gambler

MLS.... Mike Loves Scholar

I bet even mike chuckled at that.

**englishmike** · 05-29-09, 12:05 AM

I did chuckle.

You make a great point about Beckham, American soccer journos and talk show hosts don't realise the importance Euro players attatch to playing for their national teams and after playing well for L.A. and being repicked for England, he was told in no uncertain terms he wouldn't be picked for the world cup if he continued to play in an 'inferior league.'

He was a victim of his own success and will get slaughtered when he comes back here, in my view, wrongly.

**Pokerjoe** · 05-29-09, 12:50 AM

I can see why Blanco got called up by Aquirre. He still is able to do very smart things with the ball.

**Phillth** · 05-29-09, 01:23 PM

A relegation system with the usl would be pretty sweet although i dont think usl teams have the stadia to support top flight games.

**Karayilan9** · 05-29-09, 03:34 PM

Mls league is not as bad as some would make out, most these people haven't watched a game before. I've been tracking some teams for a few months now.

- RSL are strong at home but have and create alot of chances in games but its such a shame they have Movisyan as striker, he is a poor finisher and screws up so many chances. RSL are a team to take at home but fade away.

- Columbus crew have been pretty impressive but can't keep their leads.

- Chivas and Seattle are the strongest teams I've watched, Seattle have quite a strong squad, its great to see Freddy Ljungberg and Kaysey Keller playing again.

Tacomax
Unless big names are here, MLS can't attract other big names.

This method doesn't work, the Arabs tried it, they pay ridiculous money for big names but nobody really wants to play for one of their teams and as long as they carry on thinking big players will make them a big league they may aswell burn that cash.

10-15 years ago, leagues like the Turkish, Ukranian, Russian, Greek were some joke leagues, nobody took them seriously, loosing to a team from these countries was a real embarrasing. But now they are big leagues and getting stronger and more respected each year. They build from the bottom up, invested in the local talent, built youth facilities and year after year improved. Now Turkish, Ukranian and Russian teams have won European titles, are well known, have huge fanatical fan bases and now they can attract big names from outside their country.

There is alot of potential in this league they just need a few good managers, to build a fan base and get smart scouts. Latin America is next door to the U.S if I was involved in any MLS club I'd send all my scouts down there to find some quality up and coming players and get a few before there all shipped out to Europe. Next I'd build a youth academy and build up the local talent. Then use what ever resources necessary to find a proper striker, if a decent finisher went to this league he would wreck havoc!

I should build an MLS team

**Jimmy0607** · 05-29-09, 03:52 PM

Thats exactly how I feel ,why not go to countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Colombia to get young players like the euros do if you take out the south americans in the euro leagues they wouldnt be as great as they are

**Phillth** · 05-29-09, 05:24 PM

Two words: Salary Cap

The MLS salary cap is set to $2.3 million. Each team is allowed one "superstar" player which takes up 415k of that total. The remainder of the cap must be divied up between the other 27 players on the roster. That "superstar" player takes up 1/5 of the cap! Why would a brazilian prospect come play in the states when a greek club is offering him a contract he could retire off of. Not to mention they give him a car and a house to live in.

**englishmike** · 05-29-09, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by Karayilan9

Mls league is not as bad as some would make out, most these people haven't watched a game before. I've been tracking some teams for a few months now.

- RSL are strong at home but have and create alot of chances in games but its such a shame they have Movisyan as striker, he is a poor finisher and screws up so many chances. RSL are a team to take at home but fade away.

- Columbus crew have been pretty impressive but can't keep their leads.

- Chivas and Seattle are the strongest teams I've watched, Seattle have quite a strong squad, its great to see Freddy Ljungberg and Kaysey Keller playing again.

This method doesn't work, the Arabs tried it, they pay ridiculous money for big names but nobody really wants to play for one of their teams and as long as they carry on thinking big players will make them a big league they may aswell burn that cash.

10-15 years ago, leagues like the Turkish, Ukranian, Russian, Greek were some joke leagues, nobody took them seriously, loosing to a team from these countries was a real embarrasing. But now they are big leagues and getting stronger and more respected each year. They build from the bottom up, invested in the local talent, built youth facilities and year after year improved. Now Turkish, Ukranian and Russian teams have won European titles, are well known, have huge fanatical fan bases and now they can attract big names from outside their country.

There is alot of potential in this league they just need a few good managers, to build a fan base and get smart scouts. Latin America is next door to the U.S if I was involved in any MLS club I'd send all my scouts down there to find some quality up and coming players and get a few before there all shipped out to Europe. Next I'd build a youth academy and build up the local talent. Then use what ever resources necessary to find a proper striker, if a decent finisher went to this league he would wreck havoc!

I should build an MLS team

Excellent post. I've often thought managers are the key to MLS breaking through because they're the ones with the connections to bring in decent players. If at some stage MLS can ever attract names like Houllier, McClaren, SG Erickson, Hodgson and even Wenger, Benitez, Mourinho or Ancillotti, you would see MLS grow in reputation overnight. It's a way off yet but it will happen and as soon as one decent manager comes over more will follow.

**Karayilan9** · 05-29-09, 05:50 PM

Philith
Two words: Salary Cap

The MLS salary cap is set to $2.3 million. Each team is allowed one "superstar" player which takes up 415k of that total. The remainder of the cap must be divied up between the other 27 players on the roster. That "superstar" player takes up 1/5 of the cap! Why would a brazilian prospect come play in the states when a greek club is offering him a contract he could retire off of. Not to mention they give him a car and a house to live in.

There are a few things which really need to be changed in the MLS, one is the introduction of a relegation system which makes leagues much more competitive. I can't understand why bad teams get rewarded for being awful.

Secondly this salary cap need to go, what is the point of it? teams don't become successful in football/soccer because of one superstar, the whole team needs to be good. Manchester City in England found this out the hard way this season, they bought in a few superstars but have now realised they need to first build a team, then the superstars can have an effect.

MLS teams need to have a bottom-up approach, it only takes one team to start the trend. If just one team,
- invests in the youths
- builds a football academy for the new potential players and nurture their talent
- build or make connections with feeder clubs in South America, Africa or Asia to get a piece of the up and comming talents
- bring in a serious manager
- then once this team has its first American legend and this player will come, every up and comming league had their cult players who everybody knows, it may not sound important but it creates a culture. Part of the draw of European teams is their history and tradition.

Then the other teams will follow because the first team or teams that do this will create such a quality difference between the good and bad teams that the others will have to step up.

**TurkzZ** · 05-30-09, 09:29 PM

yh i follow MLS, iv began tipping the league to