There are very few things that he said that were illogical and/or didn’t make a lot of sense. I love soccer and would love to see it grow in the US, and I don’t think it hurts to talk openly about what can be done to improve it. In fact, I think it hurts us to hide behind this obsession with convincing someone who doesn’t know the game by endless promotion and hype, rather than actual improvements to the infrastructure and the players in it.
Seattle Sounders plays Chivas USA 3 times, but only play NYRB once… and that is away.
Seattle fans will not get to see Henry and Marquez (nor any of the redbull players) at all in the season but they’ll certainly get their fair share of West Coast teams.
The Brimstone Cup just got a bit more competitive b/c the Fire are only playing FCD once this season… at home, so i guess we can just give them the cup >:(
yeah i dunno, id personally rather improve the quality of play in the mls enough so that we can keep our best players around, and our 2nd and 3rd tier guys go to europe. Honestly i wouldn’t watch the nfl or nba if every time an adrian peterson or kobe bryant came around and played for my team (btw im not a lakers/vikings fan) they would just leave to europe… maybe in europe its easier as everyone is on the same continent and pretty close, but i don’t think its a good choice for the mls
I like the NFL, but the NFL model doesn’t translate well to an international game like soccer. And I know you guys have talked promotion and relegation in North American soccer before (reminder: I agree with you guys, and that’s why I’m so high on NASL at the D2 level). It never hurts to revisit the topic, even if the powers-that-be in MLS have their heads up their asses on it.
The whole youth development subject I have talked about before. they mentioned Ajax. My example was Chivas who sell/loan players not just abroad but within the league too.
I would like clubs to produce and sell players to make a name for MLS. Wherever they go abroad and especially do good, they can say I am from MLS with pride. (Ask Chicharito if he still considers himself a Chiva and I bet he’d say yes and Chivas followers follow him still). The best youth would want to come here.
CCL is not as prestigious as UEFA’s Champions League or the Copa Libertadores. I blame this on the monopoly Mexican clubs have had which they treat like a “US Open Cup” tournament fielding reserves. Competition MLS clubs can bring to CCL will make it better. Then it can be a tournament of at least 9 plus a couple competitive teams(4 Mex, 5 MLS + others)
Single table balanced schedule would place the best MLS teams into CCL. By chance #1, 2, and 3 qualified to CCL but so did #7 (Houston)
I see if an unbalanced schedule is done to lessen travel, but rivalries? I think rivalries naturally build themselves.
With unbalanced schedules, conferences and the NFL model, I see a big problem: the NFL does not have a Champions League, MLS does.
People may have different opinions on the what they want the direction of MLS or North American soccer to be. The MLS Cup or Supporters Shield should not be the ultimate prize. Each league should be looked at like a conference to qualify to CCL.
wynalda is right!!!!!…..on all points!
You missed the point.
Teams only play each other a max of 3 times, not 4 or 5.
There are very few things that he said that were illogical and/or didn’t make a lot of sense. I love soccer and would love to see it grow in the US, and I don’t think it hurts to talk openly about what can be done to improve it. In fact, I think it hurts us to hide behind this obsession with convincing someone who doesn’t know the game by endless promotion and hype, rather than actual improvements to the infrastructure and the players in it.
Seattle Sounders plays Chivas USA 3 times, but only play NYRB once… and that is away.
Seattle fans will not get to see Henry and Marquez (nor any of the redbull players) at all in the season but they’ll certainly get their fair share of West Coast teams.
The Brimstone Cup just got a bit more competitive b/c the Fire are only playing FCD once this season… at home, so i guess we can just give them the cup >:(
yeah i dunno, id personally rather improve the quality of play in the mls enough so that we can keep our best players around, and our 2nd and 3rd tier guys go to europe. Honestly i wouldn’t watch the nfl or nba if every time an adrian peterson or kobe bryant came around and played for my team (btw im not a lakers/vikings fan) they would just leave to europe… maybe in europe its easier as everyone is on the same continent and pretty close, but i don’t think its a good choice for the mls
I like the NFL, but the NFL model doesn’t translate well to an international game like soccer. And I know you guys have talked promotion and relegation in North American soccer before (reminder: I agree with you guys, and that’s why I’m so high on NASL at the D2 level). It never hurts to revisit the topic, even if the powers-that-be in MLS have their heads up their asses on it.
The whole youth development subject I have talked about before. they mentioned Ajax. My example was Chivas who sell/loan players not just abroad but within the league too.
I would like clubs to produce and sell players to make a name for MLS. Wherever they go abroad and especially do good, they can say I am from MLS with pride. (Ask Chicharito if he still considers himself a Chiva and I bet he’d say yes and Chivas followers follow him still). The best youth would want to come here.
CCL is not as prestigious as UEFA’s Champions League or the Copa Libertadores. I blame this on the monopoly Mexican clubs have had which they treat like a “US Open Cup” tournament fielding reserves. Competition MLS clubs can bring to CCL will make it better. Then it can be a tournament of at least 9 plus a couple competitive teams(4 Mex, 5 MLS + others)
Single table balanced schedule would place the best MLS teams into CCL. By chance #1, 2, and 3 qualified to CCL but so did #7 (Houston)
I see if an unbalanced schedule is done to lessen travel, but rivalries? I think rivalries naturally build themselves.
With unbalanced schedules, conferences and the NFL model, I see a big problem: the NFL does not have a Champions League, MLS does.
People may have different opinions on the what they want the direction of MLS or North American soccer to be. The MLS Cup or Supporters Shield should not be the ultimate prize. Each league should be looked at like a conference to qualify to CCL.
wynalda is right!!!!!…..on all points!
You missed the point.
Teams only play each other a max of 3 times, not 4 or 5.