Will a League Two style Wage Cap work for Major League Soccer?

What makes you think I didn't know they already brought in their first DP? It was talked about during the GC. That doesn't explain why Kroenke will fork over 66M for Ozil yet waited years to even bring in a single DP.

That however doesn't begin to touch on what I said. Good lord you have an inferiority complex.

 

Because he's a businessman first? While I think a Torres-like DP could have been financially successful prior to this I can see the business side that maybe it wasn't worth the investment. MLS is business first, and so far Kroenke's on-field decisions have for the most part been sensible business moves.

Off field, on the other hand....

 

I'm less concerned about Ozil and more concerned about Kei Kamara's move to Middlesbrough. On one level I get it: he's 29, he wants to get to England and the clock is ticking for him. But Middlesbrough doesn't appear primed for promotion, so he may well spend two years in the Championship, which, apparently, he finds a better option than remaining in MLS.

Earlier in this thread, I agreed with Stan's point that MLS players might soon reach the point where players would conclude remaining in MLS might be professionally preferable to a lower level EPL club. Kamara's move from a very good situation in MLS to the Championship suggests we are still a long ways off from that point.

 

The Mexican League says, Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?

 

Oh god not again. They did not use a European model. Just because they have pro/rel does not make it European. They started out without pro/rel and gradually created it artificially through a new 2nd Division 6-7 years after the first J. League season.

Today it is different to Europe. Hell, even the contracts are different than from Europe!

 

Agree. The average to above-average MLS player can still mainly get into Championship to mid-Premier League level clubs. I mean, look at Roger Espinoza. He was one of the better players in MLS, moved to Wigan in the Premier League, and now finds himself in the Championship.

Tim Ream was close to Rookie of the Year in MLS, goes to Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League and now he finds himself in the Championship.

However, it is better than when Robbie Rogers did good in MLS, went to Leeds United in the Championship but could not make it there nor League One.

 

mexican league is single table

 

Really ?

La liguilla says you're full of it.

 

Are you unaware of the playoffs south of the border? Cause you should look into that. I guess it might be a single table until the playoffs arrive, but it sure isn't how they determine a champion.

 

It wasn't 3 years ago, when it was still the most popular league in this country. So obviously soccer fans here don't really need single table to like a league.

And regardless, it still uses a playoff to determine its champion.

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/2012/08/26/cubs-minor-league-daily-playoffs/jim-mora-playoffs/

 

Would a League 2 style wage cap work for MLS? YES

Does the BS bully brigade want it? NO

 

I'd do the same if I was Kei. I know some will disagree, but I still rate the Championship above MLS, by a decent amount, and think the atmosphere for the most part is superior. Sure Kei was in a good market for MLS and SKC has a great stadium, great fan support, but the road games for the most part in the Championship will be superior. Higher tempo, more quality through out rosters, much higher media pressure.

It's still closer to being in the spotlight by moving to Middlesbrough and still will feel like you're closer to the big time.

Also think MLS is years away from players turning down lower level EPL clubs for MLS. Years. Turning down Sweden, Norway, other 2nd tier leagues? That's not too far, but lower table EPL clubs? Doubt it. It's one thing if you don't see offers from an EPL club, like Omar/Zusi/Besler/Pontius, etc, guys who probably could have success in top 4 leagues but haven't reportedly rejected actual bids. Aside from Landon(and I don't think he ever rejected and actual bid although easily could have left this winter with a number of options), is there a player who's actually rejected a bid to a top 4 league to stay? Has any player actually ever rejected a bid from the Championship, Ligue 1, Ered or Denmark? "Interest" is one thing and is vague, all the four players I mentioned above had interest, but actual bids are the proof. Bologna(not EPL) has interest in Zusi, but no bid has come. If one does come I would be shocked if he rejected it. MLS/teams rejecting a bid is something else, but I've never heard of an MLS player recently rejecting a bid to any of these leagues if given the choice. And, I think more and more bids will be coming and they'll be larger bids as well.

I think this applies from earlier today:

BRADLEY: What was the whole thought process like in deciding to make that move?

AGUDELO: It was basically, as I played and knew my contract was up, I began to think of possibly making a move overseas. When the chance came up with Stoke, it was hard to say no. Especially at my age, I felt it was important to take the chance rather than possibly have regrets down the road that I didn’t give it a shot when the opportunity was there.

BRADLEY: Would you have considered staying on a Designated Player contract?

AGUDELO: Yeah, maybe. But I don’t know if anything could have changed my mind. I’m not really sure there’s anything that would’ve kept me around. I want to take my shot in England.

BRADLEY: And what do you make of Clint Dempsey's return to the league? What’s it like to see an American player in his prime returning to MLS and making so much money?

AGUDELO: I think that helps out a lot of us who are thinking we’ll be back in MLS after our spells in Europe are over. I’m really happy for him. I don’t know if Clint even realizes what he’s done for the whole league by coming back, but it’s huge. The whole process of making the league better took a huge step with him coming back. It’s awesome for him.

 

Yeah, you clearly want to debate the issues. When you realize you've got the facts wrong you've got no response other than to insult people.

You know, what you complained about earlier in the thread.

 

It's hard to argue with your assessment of the EPL -- with the new TV deals even the lower tier EPL clubs now have huge financial resources. But the Championship? Players may well think it represents a path to the EPL, but it doesn't appear many EPL clubs rate lower division players all that highly. The pay may be better, but I'm not sure the opportunity is.

 

i wouldn't worry too much about kei kamara specifically. imo he's one of the more overrated players in mls, and seems to have a high opinion of himself.

 

Rickie Lambert, Grant Holt. Just off the top of my head those are two players who went from lower divisions and had success in the Prem.

Not sure how many players in the Premier League put a shift in at lower division clubs but I would guess its a lot higher than your suggesting.

 

There are quite a few players that played in lower divisions in the Prem. But those two you mentioned came up with a promoted side. Probably not the best examples. You might as well just state the names of every player that stuck with a club when they were promoted. I can't remember the names exactly, but Leeds has had a few players poached for the past 4 years or so.

 

Japan had baseball and maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayybbee racing, but that's it for a sporting market. MUCH less competition for attention. Our sporting market is MUCH more competitve than Japan. And the amount of of fanatic supporters vs. casual fans (the life blood of TV ratings) isn't enough to offset the loss of interest and revenue when a team goes south.

Anyway, DP slots have their place now, but I really think they need to be gradually phased out, provided we can maximize revenue to a certain extent. It's still early in the ratings battle but the EPL is likely to lead MLS barring something crazy.

Simply put, while it's provided a good shot in the arm early on, I just don't think in this new EPL on NBC and internet connected age that the Dempsey/Donovan high priced top league import style of DP is all that enticing to TV viewers.

I am an advocate of raising the salary cap in some form ALONG with keeping a certain type of revenue sharing, don't ask me specifics as I am no expert. All I know is I want to see teams move away from DP heavy salaries, gradually of course. Also at some point, we'll have to take the single entity training wheels off.

Maybe what triplet suggested of focusing more on American DPs would be a good gradual turning point. Seeing the number of Americans moving into the Premier League gradually rising, MLS similar (though not as financially robust) could approach a role like the Eredivisie or Brazilian sides in it being a show case of potential international stars, less so established stars on the way out. That would be a great way to get into a more general sports discussion not only from soccer based coverage but from the media as a whole.

 

I find it hard to entertain the idea that a player impressing in the championship would be less likely to come to the attention of premier league clubs than one doing well in MLS.

The championship does, after all, get 100 times the coverage MLS does here. Probably far more in fact.

 

Good source for MLS TV Ratings and EPL TV Ratings on NBCSN

http://sonofthebronx.blogspot.com/

MLS salary cap will depend on TV Ratings and TV Ratings have been flat for the last 10 years or so. EPL tv ratings, on the other hand, is on the rise.

 

Uh wow .... you're only about FOREVER late on that link there guy.

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2013/11/20/major-league-soccers-most-valuable-teams/
MLS 2012 Valuation/Revenue/Operating Income

What if MLS use 30% of revenue salary cap? How soon will MLS top clubs catch up?

Seattle: $48.0 mil x 30% = $14.4 mil salary cap
LA: $44 mil x 30% = $12.2 mil salary cap
Portland: $39.1 mil x 30% = $11.73 mil salary cap
Houston: $32.6 mil x 30% = $9.78 mil salary cap
Toronto: $30.9 mil x 30% = $9.27 mil salary cap
NY: $28.1 mil x 30% = $8.43 mil salary cap
Kansas City: $27.7 x 30% = $8.31 mil salary cap

With 30% salary cap, MLS will have cost certainty. Each team will have 70% of their revenue to pay for other expenses. Only 30% will goes toward players/players acquisition. DP Rule will be scrapped.

credit to Yoshou for this table

Team	Value ($M)	Revenue ($M)	Operating Income ($M)
Seattle Sounders	175	48.0	18.2
LA Galaxy	170	44.0	7.8
Portland Timbers	141	39.1	9.4
Houston Dynamo	125	32.6	8.2
Toronto FC	121	30.9	4.5
New York Red Bulls	114	28.1	-6.3
Sporting Kansas City	108	27.7	5.1
Chicago Fire	102	24.5	-3.2
FC Dallas	97	24.2	0.6
Montreal Impact	96	26.2	3.4
Philadelphia Union	90	21.4	1.1
New England Revolution	89	17.1	2.6
Vancouver Whitecaps	86	23.0	0.0
Real Salt Lake	85	23.0	-0.1
Colorado Rapids	76	18.1	-2.9
San Jose Earthquakes	75	15.0	-4.5
Columbus Crew	73	18.6	-1.6
DC United	71	17.7	-2.8
Chivas USA	64	15.0	-5.5

 

Just because you haven't posted it in a month or longer, doesn't mean it's all of a sudden different and/or better.

 

Will a League 2 style wage cap work in MLS?

Yes, of course it would.

Does MLS want such a system?

No.