Anyone with any idea what amount of money we are talking about when we say "allocation money? And is this money that raises the teams salary cap?
Ah, but you really want us to duplicate our first performance in this tournament, since the last time we fizzled out in the opening round (tanking by any other name . . . ).
I can certainly see the merits of crashing out early. MLS as a whole isn't quite at the level to compete in the CCL, while still being great domestically. Depending on what the new CBA looks like, this could change a little. I'd love to win the CCL, but that's a pretty tall order. People will remember things like winning MLS Cup 3 out of 4 seasons before talking about how great getting 2nd or 3rd was. I still feel like 9 times out of 10 we'd likely lose the final, and potentially throwing away domestic dominance in hopes you're you hit that lucky 1 out 10 feels like a lot to lose. I think the LA model shows how good it can be to crash out. You have a lot more extra money to throw around, and you're still getting some CCL exposure and added games for player experience. After a few years, you can hopefully prime yourself to make a deeper run into the CCL, because you've had all that time and money to build a better overall team.
The only problem I have with this theory is that LA doesn't intentionally crash out. Heck, they usually mKe it to the knockout round.
The argument is that they don't field the regular starters in the games. This last cycle, they won the first 3 out of 4 games and were clearly the winners of their group, and so sent scrubs down to play Metapan in El Salvador for the last meaningless game of the first round (which they lost 4-0). If you look at the staring lineup for their games in the knock out round: MAR 12 vs Tiajuana MAR 18 @ Tiajuana If they really didn't care and wanted to tank, why did they bother starting their best XI?
Answer to question #2: YES Allocation can be thought of 2 ways: League money that increases your cap. League money you can use to "buy down" a players' salary that counts against the cap. (Say Javi makes $450k and the max cap hit per player is $387,500, but the team doesn't want to pay the extra $62,500 out of pocket. They use the allocation money to pay $62,500 of his salary so that his entire salary is covered by the league.) I think it's easier just to imagine it as a team's personal "cap over the base cap." Players sign contracts with the league, and the league pays their salaries with the team being the intermediary. Allocation is basically bonus money to allow you to spend more for better players, or as trading asset to other teams. AS for DP's, the league will only cover up to $387,500 of any one player's salary. So if Henry made $4.5million, then Red Bull covered $4.1million of his salary. Allocation is usually viewed as being worth more than a normal dollar, since it can be used in so many ways. The league is very opaque with the allocation money that each team has, so it's hard to guess or determine what is trading hands. I'd say something like $75-100k of allocation gets passed around in a deal. This is taken right off of the mls website: And remember, the new CBA is being negotiated, so a bunch of this stuff might change.
It's also a way to get around making a player a DP, and receive more allocation dollars for having less than 3. So if Javi earns 450k, he's supposed to be a DP. With allocation money you pay that down to under the DP threshold, and now he's not. It frees up the ability to have someone else as a DP, or to receive the allocation money that other teams pay out for using all 3 DP slots.
I'm going to respond twice to your message. Here's an interesting nugget.I'm hearing NYCFC offer for Ryan Meara was $300K in allocation. Huge chunk of allocation to turn down. RBNY have long-term plans for Meara— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) December 8, 2014 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
When the allocation was first introduced with RSL's run to the finals, I believe the amount was $125K. I'm not sure how its evolved since then.
Agree on not necessarily sending A team out on CCL matches. I am border-line ambivalent on us being in the CCL since it means we likely won't do anything domestically if you shoot to win it. Even with our best team ever in 2010, we needed a good dose of good fortune (not facing a Mexican team in the knock out stage) and accommodations (Garber moved a Phily game for us to give us extra rest) to be in a position to win the CCL. Take the allocation dolllars and send B teams to both CCL and USOC. At the end of the day, the MLS cup is the standard to shoot for every season-period
I honestly think the league is a good 5-10 years out from being able to really compete in it. It'll really depend on how the academies grow, along with salary cap increases. That's not to say a team might not get a lucky streak and win it in the meantime. I think currently there's a few MLS starting 11's that could possibly make a run, but the depth isn't there to handle multiple competitions at once.
Especially with all the damn expansion, teams lose quality depth in these rounds of expansion and it's not easy replacing that when you can't really predict it. When MLS finally decides it's done expanding and can build a solid player base team to team then you will see them start competing consistently and not have just a one off team every few years.
Well they recently met with three potential owner groups. Whom do you think will get a team? All of them is my bet; eventually at least. I don't see them halting expansion until the demand has been reached or until we at least see a slight plateau in interest. I just think they need to rethink the expansion draft, or just get rid of it altogether. Give the expansion teams enough allocation money to trade for the players they want then the teams losing the players don't lose them for practically nothing.
I really like that idea Instead of the new teams getting the players for essentially nothing on their books, they should be given a chunk of allocation money and be able to work with teams. If they want to hold onto that allocation and buy down names, that is their prerogative
I think the problem with that is it creates a sellers market that can abuse the expansion teams. Furthermore, it means the established teams get richer still and can compete with the expansion teams in purchasing players. If the league did the expansion draft this way: All players have an allocation $$ attached to them by analysis by the league office. Expansion teams are granted allocation $$ and can spend their allocation dollars to buy players with limits of no more than 2 per team, etc. No more teams protecting players. They will be more or less protected by very high allocation amounts attached to them. Give teams the right to request higher allocation (10% more than league office sets?) for 2 or 3 players after the $$ list is established which can work as a kind of protection system.
As the league grows, losing players via expansion draft will become less and less, since there's more teams to take players from. I think I'm mostly fine with the current setup, but I think the league should offer an allocation amount to a team that loses players. It would certainly lessen the blow of losing 2 players if you got 200k or so in allocation money out of it.
that was new this year I think if it was a more public number (ha ha ha ha ha ha) it would appease people. As is, this whole league has some shady ass shit that goes on so we should be happy we at least get to see the expansion draft happen.