brian mcbride upset with MLS

[falcon6]

Now i'll have to go harass this pretty boy tommorrow night at the meadowlands. I'm making my sign now " Mcstuck, the Virgin air flight left you in Columbus"

[Damon_D.]

this is the Mark Madden formerly of WCW on BS? the best looking big man on television?

I loved you on every Nitro, you were the 2nd best wrestling annoucer I've ever heard, number 1 being Juvy "The Juice" Guerrera.

[BuffloSoldier]

Regarding McBride's contract end-time....
http://www.dispatch.com/news/sports99/sept99/crew27spt.html

It was the type of play Crew followers have become accustomed to in McBride's first three seasons, when he had 33 goals. Despite scoring just three times this year, the national team forward signed a deal with MLS through the 2002 season.

Unless he signed an extension that was unreported, or the above is incorrect, this is a moot point come December 31st.

Edited to say MLS holds options.
http://www.mlsnet.com/content/99/0921teleconference.html (below is Gazidis)
Both have made a significant commitment, a long-term commitment by signing contracts with the league through the 2002 year and through the World Cup with options extending beyond that ...

Further edited to say the option is for two years.

[glove]

It scares me as MLS we all know operates in a vacuum. The single entity is worse than a free/open transfer market. Keeping our best here will not help it has not made any difference yet. Letting the best head overseas will showcase the league better than it has done now. More money will flow into the league than currently is coming in. League officials are smothering MLS or using it only as a training team for USSF. We cant compete with other leagues money wise so why hold onto players that are not generating instant revenue like a transfer will do. Vice a versa why is the league going to turn down Gazza as he will fill seats with those who love EPL. I know numerous people in DC who have not gone to a United game this year but would go to see Gazza with the hope he might spark DC to a late playoff rally. McBride deserves to write his own ticket if he wants to go let him go he has killed himself for MLS and US soccer.

[dark knight]

Originally posted by mark madden
what, d'ya think i made up the mcbride story? it's ABSOLUTELY true. i do this for a living, y'know.



No offense intended. Just skeptical by nature, especially since it doesn't seem to fit Brian's MO. Is it possible that the Crew PR person misstated the situation? As CrewSchmack said, it's strange that a "PR" person would say he's too pissed at MLS to be interviewed. Shouldn't there be some other spin, especially when dealing with someone in the media? Not saying you're making it up, just saying I will remain dubious, especially of the judgement of that PR guy.

If it's true, it's a shame that Brian would protest in that way. It's hard to imagine what good refusing to do interviews accomplishes.

[Preston North End]

Originally posted by notebook
One aspect of this is that it is the middle of the MLS season. It makes a mockery of the league to transfer away your best players in the middle of a playoff race.

You mean other clubs throughout the world don't sell, or buy, players throughout their seasons?

Last I checked this happens all the time.

Why should MLS be any different?

[BoulderBuck]

Hey Madden,
One more thing to add. First, Benz is a shmuck, and a bad imitation of you. When you were on vacation, the drive home became miserable. second, with all the dough you and benz make at espn radio, couldn't you two chip in and buy jim colliny a raincoat since all you two do is piss on him every chance you get.

keep up the great work and tell benz he wasn't funny in columbus, and he sure as **** isn't funny in the burgh.

[norfcath]

Originally posted by mark madden
i host a sports radio talk show in pittsburgh, and we attempted to get brian mcbride of columbus/US nat'l team as a guest. the crew PR guy told us that brian is upset because MLS will not let him leave to go overseas (presumably to everton) and so will not do any more interviews which he perceives as promoting MLS. i think mcbride is being a baby when he refuses to do interviews, but i totally see his point. it also makes me think that ussf is more committed to MLS than to building a strong nat'l team, and it makes me think that the US showing at WC'02 might turn out to be a peak, not a stepping stone. you can only get so good in MLS. to turn the corner as a player, you need to go to europe. if guys like landon donovan want to stay in MLS, fine. but i don't like the idea of MLS preventing a player who wants to go overseas to improve (and cash in) from doing so. thoughts?

"Playing" in Europe did excrement for Landon. He developed in the USA!

[notebook]

Originally posted by Preston North End


You mean other clubs throughout the world don't sell, or buy, players throughout their seasons?

Last I checked this happens all the time.

Why should MLS be any different?
Let me state upfront I do not follow any overseas leagues, not out of any principal, I just don't. But I assume these teams make player transactions because they improve their teams either through other players acquired or an improved financial position. I assume they do not transfer players in mid season to the detriment of the team's season in order to place said players in a better, more prestigious league. I don't think this is a viable approach for our first division soccer league.

[M]

Originally posted by notebook

Let me state upfront I do not follow any overseas leagues, not out of any principal, I just don't. But I assume these teams make player transactions because they improve their teams either through other players acquired or an improved financial position. I assume they do not transfer players in mid season to the detriment of the team's season in order to place said players in a better, more prestigious league. I don't think this is a viable approach for our first division soccer league.

Well if his contract really does run out at the end of the year and if MLS really does want some money for him, they really have to sell him this summer as the closer it gets to the end of his contract the less willing anyone will be to shell out money for him.

[MarioKempes]

Originally posted by M


Well if his contract really does run out at the end of the year and if MLS really does want some money for him, they really have to sell him this summer as the closer it gets to the end of his contract the less willing anyone will be to shell out money for him.

Right, which just underscores the folly of the whole thing.

[Bruce S]

with $250 Million invested in MLS, why would they even consider selling one of their most visible players for $1 million. If they did this, they should join forces with Enron and Worldcom. Get some perspective people.

[notebook]

Originally posted by M


Well if his contract really does run out at the end of the year and if MLS really does want some money for him, they really have to sell him this summer as the closer it gets to the end of his contract the less willing anyone will be to shell out money for him.
Frankly, none of us know the exact terms of his contract. But if the Crew has concluded that having their best player through the rest of season and playoffs is better for the team (and fans) than whatever transfer fee is available, that does not sound like an unreasonable approach to me.

Would a Major League Baseball team trade away its best pitcher in the middle of a pennant race? Now between seasons I would hope MLS teams will take a broader view and try to work out win-win solutions with individual players.

[bunge]

To me McBride is a bit of an exception. I'd try and give him his way because he's "old school" and deserves a little bit of respect. That said, I wouldn't do anything seriously detrimental to the league or his team to get it done.

What's the middle ground? Good question. I guess I feel like the Crew losing McBride shouldn't hurt their team TOO much because if they get Lassiter from DC so DC can sign Gazza, the Crew is in pretty much the same place they are now....

[fidlerre]

Originally posted by bunge


I guess I feel like the Crew losing McBride shouldn't hurt their team TOO much because if they get Lassiter from DC so DC can sign Gazza, the Crew is in pretty much the same place they are now....

that is f***ing funny. lassiter is not coming to the crew, no way in hell do we need this joke.

we have buddle, cunningham and washington that will do just fine if mcbride leaves.

personally i say let him go. he has given a lot to mls over the past 6 years and it is about time that we let him have what he wants for once...he is on a very ordinary team in an amazing soccer city that really loves mcbride, but if he were to leave i wouldnt be sad...i would be happy to see him move on to greener pastures in england.

[Nimbus2000]

Originally posted by Bruce S
with $250 Million invested in MLS, why would they even consider selling one of their most visible players for $1 million. If they did this, they should join forces with Enron and Worldcom. Get some perspective people.

The MLS investors promised land of financial freedom are TV contracts, not player transfers. Given the recent downturn in transfer fees this has become that much more true. The exception is horse-trading Central American and Carribean talent, a la Stern John. McBride could conceivably be worth more to MLS for the remainder of the season and going on a free transfer than any amount they could get now. Of course, ideally (for MLS) they sell him in September for top dollar.

[bunge]

Originally posted by fidlerre


that is f***ing funny. lassiter is not coming to the crew, no way in hell do we need this joke.

Well, the Lassiter portion of my comment was facetious.

[Foosinho]

Originally posted by Mike Segroves
Not Brian McFlagshipofMLS! Say it isn't so.

I officially declare BigSoccer "Back-To-Normal".

[Elizabeth]

No way a journalist with any integrity at all wold post this thread. Where are the mods?

[FootyMundo]

Originally posted by mark madden
i host a sports radio talk show in pittsburgh, and we attempted to get brian mcbride of columbus/US nat'l team as a guest. the crew PR guy told us that brian is upset because MLS will not let him leave to go overseas (presumably to everton) and so will not do any more interviews which he perceives as promoting MLS. i think mcbride is being a baby when he refuses to do interviews, but i totally see his point. it also makes me think that ussf is more committed to MLS than to building a strong nat'l team, and it makes me think that the US showing at WC'02 might turn out to be a peak, not a stepping stone. you can only get so good in MLS. to turn the corner as a player, you need to go to europe. if guys like landon donovan want to stay in MLS, fine. but i don't like the idea of MLS preventing a player who wants to go overseas to improve (and cash in) from doing so. thoughts?

Mark,

First, if that is really you - a hearty welcome to BigSoccer.com. I've read several of your columns and you do a nice job.

Second, McBride is 30 years old. He is a marquee player for MLS and he is not going to be staying with the national team. So I think your point about '02 being a peak based on the refusal to let a player like Brian go overseas is probably incorrect. He isn't the future of the national team anyways.

Third, I would agree with you that MLS and the USSF are walking a fine line. On the one hand they need to keep and develop talent to promote their own league. On the other hand, there is a strong sentiment that players need to play against the best competition they can find to keep improving. Whether a player should be permitted to go to Europe should have little to do with the national team IMO. I know this isn't going to the heart of your point, but my own personal feeling is that if a player wishes to go to Europe (or anywhere else), they should be accomodated. They only live once afterall.

Fourth, to partially offset your point, keep in mind that this WC team had an entire roster full of MLS attackers. The team scored seven times. Five of those goals came from MLS players. And three of those seven total goals were assisted by an MLS player. Also one of the goals scored against Portugal was an own goal that bounced off a defender from a Donovan cross. Point being that we finished 8th in very large part because of MLS - not in spite of it.

Fifth, whether we can continue to improve our results is up for debate for any number of reasons. Our rise will not continue unabated is my opinion. There will be some valleys as well as the peaks. The 1998 team was light years past the 1994 team in terms of talent, yet the results were not there. We could have a better team in 2006 and not advance as far as this last tournament. What we have to really be striving for is a consistent level of play and improvement over time (and that is not just measured by one tournament's results). No doubt the media will focus on the big event, but if I'm running US Soccer I'm looking at this for the long haul. Continue to become more and more competitive. That get's you consistent results and eventually advances you to the top. MLS is absolutely crucial to any such development because it provides an outlet for talent development. That in turn provides more depth and with more depth will come more consistency and more success.

Sixth, ultimately what gets you over the top are star players. And there I do tend to agree with you. I think our best players will become tougher and more conditioned if they play overseas, especially in leagues on the European continent as opposed to the EPL. O'Brien was extremely central to our success this WC and he was wonderful at holding the ball and controlling quite a bit of tempo. Ditto for Reyna at times. Both have played in Europe. Also, although the EPL has changed and is still changing, I still think the continental style of play which stresses possession of the ball and shorter passing is the better model. It is just one guy's opinion, but watching England desperately seek for an equalizer against Brazil was downright painful. They'd get the ball and play it long. Brazil would fetch it and hold it for minutes at a time. Game over.

Hopefully you'll continue to post here. Also, you should watch somemore MLS games. The level of play has really improved in the last couple of seasons. Mind you it isn't quite as controlled as the big Euro leagues, but it is often very enjoyable to watch and our showing in the WC is just evidence that it is making progress. Not one attacking player on our roster except Joe Max-Moore played in Europe. Donovan, McBride, Wolff and Mathis are all MLS guys. And in the midfield Beasley is quite an attacking option as well.