You people can't be serious. Iraq? We went from being led to believe that we were going to get to see the best MLS players against some of the best players in the world to the Iraqi National Team and you would be happy with that? About the allstar game opponent MLS (Trey Fitzgerald) has said "We still want to have a meaningful international competition. We're talking to other clubs. All of them are world-renown clubs that you've heard of." Does that sound like Iraq to you? Why would anybody pay to see a bunch of Iraqis? MLS would probably like to make some money from the game.
Maybe Benfica is available (but probably can't be confirmed until the new coach gets things in order), but Porto is already playing in Toronto on July 30 and at Giants Stadium on August 1. Somehow I doubt they are available on July 31. And after the weak turnout for Sporting in Foxboro a few weeks ago I'm not sure MLS would jump at the chance to bring another Portuguese team there. And do you really believe that any South American or Mexican team will sell out the game? Some of the bigger clubs, sure, but not just any team.
What about Valencia (Claudio Ranieri's new club)? It would be great to see how the MLS all-stars do against the La Liga champions.
That would be a simple solution but this is MLS we're talking about. Things are rarely simple and straightforward. Besides, after offering us a 5-star meal for the past couple of months and screwing up the MLS schedule to switch All-Star dates, it would seem like the MLS fan would be getting the gyp-job.
I was exaggerating here. I don't think MLS would be bringing in Newell's Old Boys or something...I'm working under the assumption this would be a "name" SA or Mexican team.
Any business worth its salt should have some sort of back-up plan. Just because the chance of Real Madrid collapsing like a house of cards was small doesn't mean that something should have been in place.
Easy for you to say that now. If you were saying that a month ago, you win. You know what else I heard? I heard Luis Hernandez ain't all that good and Lothar Mattheus is over the hill.
I also don't get paid for thinking of such things. the honchos at MLS do. Obviously the contract wasn't guaranteed.
I love hindsight. Even if the contract was guaranteed, Real would still just pay a fee to break it and not come, considering how much they stand to make from the Champions League (or lose if they flame out of it). MLS would get the money, but not get the game.
At least MLS would have a fee to entice another team. I'm not angry we aren't seeing Real - that's their own damn fault. Murcia *shakes head*. I'm annoyed there was no back-up. Yes I am talking about this in hindsight, the point is it's their JOB to prepare for this contingency? Always watch for "in your ear" - isn't that part of why they get paid? shouldn't somebody have said something? At least MLS still has time to get a sub team - and I'm sure they'll do fine. But even though Real's abhorrent play (again, Murcia?) should shoulder a heavy part of the blame - MLS looks Mickey-Mouse again for not having a replacement, and I for one am sick of them looking Mickey-Mouse. It's bad enough my team has the worst FO in the league.
Just FYI, but the Asian mini-tour Real's picked over MLS will bank them over $16 million just for the appearance fee alone. Factor in the sales of gear, other events, etc., and you can see how this was a case of "money talks, losers walk." If MLS had any brains they'd demand a similar fee (just for spite) of Real to appear in Madrid this fall. The Magpie
MLS could demand all it wants, that wouldn't take brains. That would be like me demanding Molly Sims show up at my house tonight.