I'd add a clause to the franchise agreement that stipulates that the clubs must sponsor/support at least 1000 people with their USSF license coaching badges in the franchise's area. The 1000 doesn't have to be all at once but can be spread across a five year period.
Actually a few years ago, KC hosted something like this for season ticket holders. The first 50 or something like that had a weekend where they earned their D license (I think it was the D). They had one of the coaches do it. They only did it one year though.
Most MLS teams sponsor or host at least one referee Q&A session for referees each season. I do think that both ideas are fantastic, however.
Klinsmann is absolutely correct, the team needs to get nasty and play much harder,step on toes,feet,throw elbows when ref not looking etc... drive the ref nuts. Not be in awe of these elite teams, if it means getting dirty I'm ok with that.
If i was the don I would not enslave players to contracts and sell them at reasonable not over evaluated prices to good European clubs. I would change the schedule from fall to summer and see if I can enlist Pro/Rel format. I would focus my efforts in raising quality on field so teams don't lose to 3rd division teams or AMATEUR teams, rather than focusing them on finding a 2nd new york franchise. Lastly, I would hire Wynalda as coach or director of talent/quality management because he surely knows how to spot our rejects and train them to beat one of our professional teams with their close to regular starting 11 including ex internationals and DP's. That is all folks
Contracts ... negotiable, I'll give you that they aren't ideal at the moment but they certainly don't "enslave" anyone. Now, the second part of that ? Sure, I'd rather not have inflated prices either. So you DON'T want to be like Europe with player prices. Me either. Schedule doesn't need changing. Pro/Rel doesn't even address, let alone fix a problem for the MLS. I too wish to raise the quality of player here in America. However, Premier League teams, as well as top tier teams in every other soccer playing country in the world, lose to lower division and worse teams. This isn't even a point and does nothing but show your stupidity. Yeah, he surely does. So what about this same team being 9th out of 12 in their actual league ? They can beat the Timbers but they can't be Timmy's Blind Boys FC. I know which is more indicative of their ability. Again, your stupidity is blinding. If only.
If I was the Don.... I would introduce a "Domestic DP" spot on top of the 3 DP's already permitted. Domestic DP's would be either Canadian or American (Most DP's are or have been international players anyways). $250k of the player's salary would count towards the salary cap instead of $335k that currently counts for DP's. This would allow MLS to be a more attractive option to domestic players playing abroad and allow for players like Bocanegra to come home. It would also promote domestic talent locally and help keep some domestic talent in MLS. Players under this rule would be able to receive better salaries. The Domestic DP spot would also free up some funds for clubs who are currently paying down salaries to the cap maximum with allocation. Players I could see falling into this category... DeMerit, Casey, Beckerman, Wondolowski, Feilhaber, Adu, Davis, DeRo, Donovan (if he doesn't split for Europe), Bocanegra, etc
You can't treat a Canadian, under US law, different than any other foreigner and you can't treat a US citizen different from a green card holder.
Technically you aren't treating a Canadian any different than any foreigner. This is a salary issue and not a visa issue. Salaries can be determined by clubs and would be no different than determining the salary structure for a private company. The rule wouldn't be affecting the number of domestic/international foreign player spots on a team, which I understand is the issue. If they are permitted to work/play in the USA then it's up to the club to pay them whatever they want. If for some reason, it was discriminating between Canadians and other foreigners. Then apply the rule to American's only. It would still be able to benefit all teams.
But you can't apply that rule to Americans only. You, under US law, have to treat Alejandro Moreno the same as Landon Donovan. If you are holding open some sort of premier status to a Canadian that you don't extent, to say a Mexican or German, then you are discriminating based on national origin which is a violation of US employment law. This is why there are no "American" slots on US MLS teams, just international and domestic slots. I'm sure many Canadians who have played/play in MLS have green cards, but you can't treat Derossario different than Brad Davis or some other green card holder.
This. If you're treating somebody different in any way based on nationality it breaks the non-discrimination laws. Either you can work in the U.S. without a visa or you can't, that's really the only dividing line allowed.
