Blatter: MLS "still struggling."

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by X@V!3R, Dec 30, 2012.

  1. X@V!3R

    X@V!3R Member

    Apr 6, 1999
    Land of the Lost
  2. Darkwing McQuack

    Darkwing McQuack BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 11, 2011
    Morrisville, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's so amusing how out of touch he is.
     
  3. zensum

    zensum Member+

    Jan 22, 2008
    The Bronx, NYC
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Wow, there could easily be a back story somewhere in there, maybe the international calendar or pro/rel or single entity/salary cap or retroactive justification for World Cup decisions.

    Or maybe just ignorance or not liking Garber and crew.

    Paging Don Garber...
     
  4. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I just wish the head of FIFA understood there is no such thing as an international calendar. Or is he also demanding Scandinavia, Ireland, etc. also change their seasons?

    There are international match windows, which more and more MLS is leaving open, but even then there are plenty of leagues that play through match windows as well and I don't see Blatter going after them.
     
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  5. PhillyMLS

    PhillyMLS Member+

    Oct 24, 2000
    SE PA
    I'm still waiting for him to bitch about Brazil not conforming to the "international" calender.
     
  6. X@V!3R

    X@V!3R Member

    Apr 6, 1999
    Land of the Lost
    Bump.

    For example ... in 2012 ... on the following FIFA match days, Brazil's Serie A ...

    June 1-5 . . . . . . . . .Played games on the 6th (Weds)
    June 8-12 . . . . . . . Played games on the 7th, 9th, and 10th (Thurs-Sun)
    August 15 . . . . . . . Played games on the 15th (Weds)
    September 7-11 . .Played games on the 6th, 8th, 9th, and 12th (Thurs - Weds)
    October 12-16 . . . Played games on the 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, and 17th (Weds - Weds)
    November 14 . . . .Played games on 10th, 11th, 17th, and 18th (Sat - Sun)

    Seems to work out just fine for them.

    Not to mention the Serie A season runs from May - December.
     
  7. Totoro

    Totoro Member+

    Dec 3, 2009
    Colorado
    I guess MLS is in a sweet spot for European complaints. Significant enough to give a damn about, but not so significant that people around you care when you say something stupid about it.
     
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  8. Inca Roads

    Inca Roads Member+

    Nov 22, 2012
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    We represent a lot of money they can't seem to get ahold of.
     
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  9. carnifex2005

    carnifex2005 Member+

    Jul 1, 2008
    Club:
    Vancouver Whitecaps
    He wasn't talking about that in the interview though. I know it's easy to jump on old Sepp but he said that the US doesn't have a strong set of soccer leagues and only has MLS as of now that is popular. In that case he's right. Only in the last couple of years it is starting to look like the 2nd and 3rd divisions of soccer are starting to get stronger. There is a pyramid but it's a rather weak one right now.
     
  10. Heist

    Heist Member+

    Jun 15, 2001
    Virginia
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It would be amusing if he weren't running FIFA.
     
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  11. looknohands

    looknohands Member+

    Apr 23, 2009
    Louisville, KY
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  12. Editor In Chimp

    Editor In Chimp Member+

    Sep 7, 2008
    Perhaps Sepp ought to worry about La Liga collapsing under the weight of the two dominant teams more than our perfectly fine, growing league.

    Also, he can take the "international" calendar nonsense and go scratch.
     
  13. ceezmad

    ceezmad Member+

    Mar 4, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Red Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well the USSF keeps voting for him right.
     
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  14. WraithXx

    WraithXx Member

    Jun 14, 2007
    Dallas, TX
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    what's the argument against moving to the international calendar (apart from the stadium issue)? I don't really follow MLS so I'm genuinely curious is all
     
  15. soccerusa517

    soccerusa517 Member+

    Jun 23, 2009
    Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    MLS is growing, quality of play improving, but the TV ratings are still poor, very poor. Most soccer fans in America watch the EPL or Liga MX. Americans don't like 2nd, 3rd best. They want to watch the best players, in the best league.

    In terms of popularity and mainstream no, but in terms of the quality of play getting better and a more stable league, yes.

    Gulati is a tool, like many other's in his position.

    I should add, MLS will never be as popular as the top Euro leagues, nor do I think the top stars will come. The UEFA Champions League, the history and prestige certain clubs have surpasses anything in the Americas. I mean that as no disrespect to the Copa Libertadores or the great clubs in South America either.
     
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  16. Harper916

    Harper916 Member+

    Mar 30, 2001
    Lake Charles, La.
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  17. Editor In Chimp

    Editor In Chimp Member+

    Sep 7, 2008
    This has been discussed ad nauseum, but weather would be #1 (you would struggle to play any games from Dec-March in Chicago, NY, NE, Col, TOR, MON, and PHI) followed by "there's virtually no good reason to hold to one arbitrary way to schedule your league as opposed to another."

    I don't want this thread to go down that sinkhole, though. I just thought that Sepp bringing THAT up in the context of what he was saying was stupefying.
     
  18. MasterShake29

    MasterShake29 Member+

    Oct 28, 2001
    Jersey City, NJ
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yep. Sunil Gulati loves him obviously.
     
  19. WraithXx

    WraithXx Member

    Jun 14, 2007
    Dallas, TX
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have a football club just down the road from me that I should do a better job of supporting (FC Dallas)... that's part of my New Year's resolution to be honest
     
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  20. Twix1138

    Twix1138 Member

    Jul 9, 2010

    in bold


    Getting really tired of hearing that, specifically the word "never".

    With all the money in this country, it is most certainly possible for MLS to rival the top European leagues.
     
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  21. X@V!3R

    X@V!3R Member

    Apr 6, 1999
    Land of the Lost
    Heh, yeah, it is easy to pick on 'ol Sepp ;)

    [​IMG]
     
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  22. Inca Roads

    Inca Roads Member+

    Nov 22, 2012
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Soccer in America is still all about actually being there. If people want to watch soccer on tv, yes, they'll try to watch the best they think they can find. But dude, make it out to a few Dallas games and see if MLS isn't at least a lot of fun...

    I think Blatter's just out of touch because he thinks we should try to align ourselves with Europe's dominant schedule. If we do make that switch (and it would be a tough thing, that year where we have months of no playing or anything because the schedule has moved) it would far more likely be because we want to align with Mexico et al. Well, that's not the only reason he's out of touch. But in this case, trying to leverage us with England (or with international dates for things like the World Cup, in which we will, I would have to guess, give up maybe a dozen players for in 2014 during our season?) instead of trying to convince us via our closest neighbor and greatest competition.
     
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  23. soccerusa517

    soccerusa517 Member+

    Jun 23, 2009
    Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Doubt it. The teams dont have the allure of a Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, AC Milan, Inter, Barca, R. Madrid. And they don't have to for the league to be successful but that casual fan is still going to ignore the league and watch Chelsea instead.

    That money wont be there and the cap wont see a significant increase until the TV ratings are better. Ratings must improve. Attendance has, and that's good to hear but better TV ratings, more incentive to spend.
     
  24. SoccerPrime

    SoccerPrime Moderator
    Staff Member

    All of them
    Apr 14, 2003
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Lets see Series A or Ligue 1 etc take on MLB, NFL, NBA, NASCAR and college sports and do a 1/4 as well as MLS.

    Please.
     
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  25. MasterShake29

    MasterShake29 Member+

    Oct 28, 2001
    Jersey City, NJ
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They would do fine. No one would watch MLB or NFL. Both countries have basketball leagues already. No one watches NASCAR, but Formula 1 is huge in both countries. And college sports would be considered... strange and weird.
     
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