MLS Link with an English Club

[the101er]

It has been presented in the Chelsea forum that the club have gained a few million Portugese fans with their off season southern spending spree. My question then is: could a less wealthy EPL or lower division team, make a huge impact in the USA by concentrating on buying American talent?

Okay, once you've stopped laughing, consider that there are several Americans already plying their trade in the EPL. What would happen if, for example, Brighton hired Bruce Arena in 2006 and he brought in a large contingent of American players: Bocanegra, Donovan, Reyna, Howard, McBride, Adu and others?

I don't think Chelsea planned on, or even cared about, gaining millions of Portugese fans. Chelsea obviously have enough money. But aren't there clubs in England that could benefit from low cost American players and the massive soccer market in the USA? I would think any club would gain a huge US fan base if they hired Arena and he brought in Americans.

Sorry, if this is one of those subjects like pro-rel, that has been discussed to death and I'm just too much of a newbie to have seen those threads.

[denver_mugwamp]

Actually, I don't remember this being brought up before. I think that EPL clubs are quite conscious of the US market and aware the they can raise their following by buying a US player or two. Both Man U and Arsenal have US youth players in their systems and I think it goes beyond the fact that the players have potential. Look at the increased interest in Fulham on these boards since they bought a couple of US'ers. But there's a limited group of US players who can (1) play well enough to start in the EPL (2) get a work permit to play in the EPL. Players from Portugal are part of the EU and don't need work permits so it's not exactly the same thing.

[Wide Boy]

It is an interesting question, but I think Denver Mugwump is correct that work permits would be the critical issue.

To be sure of getting these, the players would need to be regular players for the full international team.

Also, I am not sure about the position regarding a maximum number of non-EU nationals who can play at any one time.

[dirtynine]

It has been presented in the Chelsea forum that the club have gained a few million Portugese fans with their off season southern spending spree. My question then is: could a less wealthy EPL or lower division team, make a huge impact in the USA by concentrating on buying American talent?

Okay, once you've stopped laughing, consider that there are several Americans already plying their trade in the EPL. What would happen if, for example, Brighton hired Bruce Arena in 2006 and he brought in a large contingent of American players: Bocanegra, Donovan, Reyna, Howard, McBride, Adu and others?

I don't think Chelsea planned on, or even cared about, gaining millions of Portugese fans. Chelsea obviously have enough money. But aren't there clubs in England that could benefit from low cost American players and the massive soccer market in the USA? I would think any club would gain a huge US fan base if they hired Arena and he brought in Americans.

Sorry, if this is one of those subjects like pro-rel, that has been discussed to death and I'm just too much of a newbie to have seen those threads.
First of all, I'd go insane if it was Brighton. That would be amazing. Wasn't there an overture years ago by USSF to the FA to let an American Nat. team into one of the the lower divisions, before MLS gave players regular work?