Only way to make SuperLiga the real deal

In addition to the fact that I don't see why the FMF would go for it, I think it's a lousy idea. Winning SuperLiga should be able to be its own prize -- the purse is certainly big enough for that. The Royal League doesn't grant the winner anything more than bragging rights and money and that's basically the exact same type of competition.

Furthermore, why would SUM want to run only one lucrative tournament (A SuperLiga that leads to Libertadores berths) when they can run two (SuperLiga and Interliga)?

Besides which, does anything think that SuperLiga was lacking intensity or wasn't the "real deal"? It was a great competition.

 

they need to work on making people care about teh club world cup too

 

First of all, CONMEBOL would have to be conviced that having MLS in the tourney would add greater benefit to the CL.

Second of all, FMF worked really hard and has invested a lot of money to get in the CL. I wouldn't bet on FMF giving up even one ticket just for the Super Liga.

 

Hate to tell you this, FMF doesn't give a shit about SuperLiga. The Mexican teams are playing in it only because of money.

FMF does not need to grow it's fanbase in the US. The fanbase already exists, it has a higher per-capita income than their fanbase in Mexico, and it doesn't get to see Mexican teams on a weekly basis. So, there's a whole lot of $$$ to be collected, just by having Mexican teams play each other. However, in order to play games in Mexico, it needs permission of USSF which requires them to be nice to MLS and throw them a bone.

Good news, kids, is that it seems that $1 mil. is enough to motivate both Mexican and MLS teams to play hard and make it a good tournament. So why put more on the line?

 

To address the primary point, I'd love to see MLS team in Libertadores in a few years once they have better depth and more facility control. But I'd like to see MLS get those berths for themselves, just like FMF has their own berths. I don't want to share them.

I think when the time comes and MLS is ready for it, CONMEBOL would be happy to make allowances for MLS teams in Libertadores -- they have already invited MLS teams to Sudamericana and Copa Merconorte in the past and have invited the USMNT to Copa America.

Actuially, there is a downside: it de-legitimizes SuperLiga as a goal in itself. Instead, the tournament would become less important than it potentially could be. Instead of being proud of being the SuperLiga champ, a team would only care about the Libertadores berth. I'd like to see SuperLiga grow on its own merits and be a prominent and interesting tournament itself -- based on the intensity that we saw this past summer, I don't think that it will be an issue.

Anyway, it's pointless because there's no way FMF willingly gives up its spots to Libertadores. And since SUM makes plenty of money off of Interliga, they have no reason to want that to change either.

 

First and foremost they have to get some games on English speaking tv.

 

How are they not getting the US tv market?? Beckham? Shit! He is going to be out pretty soon. Next! The South American leagues already produce the stars that are on caliver of a Beckham. They do not need a Beckam. They already got one of key markets in CONCACAF, FMF. They already have TV deals in the US. The only way MLS is going to play in CL, aside from increasing the level of play, is to do it via CONMEBOL. Lobby.Lobby.Lobby.$.$.$.$.

.5 ticket. 1/4 ticket. It don't matter. FMF ain't letting of any ticket because of the Super Liga. FMF has been investing deep $$$ to be in SL and they ain't about to give any just because of a recent tournament like SL.

I don't know the financials on the SL, but I was reading a article that basically stated that MLS was footing the bill for the tourney and FMF was just putting in the teams.

Because MLS is excited about getting FMF fans check out the FMF teams at the same time they play MLS and earn revenue out of it.

 

Why the hell are you still allowed to make topics?

 

There is no chance is HELL, the FMF will ever give up half a ticket to the Libertadores. Do you know how long and how hard it was for mexico to get 3 direct tickets to Libertadores? If MLS ever goes to Libertadores, which they might in the future it will have to be independent from Mexicos tickets.

 

I don't know what it was that motivated them, but the Mexican teams I saw play sure as hell cared. You don't see the teams spill out from the sidelines to fight in games where one side doesn't care.

Is it the money? Pride? I don't know, but there wasn't "motivation" lacking. Some of the players might say they didn't care, but actions speak louder than words.

Personally, I don't really care if you cared. If it didn't entice you, you didn't have to watch. I know that I cared and was thoroughly entertained. And the TV numbers back up that viewership was actually pretty decent. People watched and enjoyed. And the teams played hard and celebrated. I didn't see a proble,

Next year, teams are actually qualifying instead of simply being invited. Sure, I'd like English language coverage too, but it's young. I don't see any reason why the teams need more motivation beyond that already in place.

 

To be fair and to make it legit, they should also have a home and away in the group stages and the knockout rounds.

 

Dude, Superliga does not have to justify itself to you. I assure you the boat does not care that you missed it.

 

SuperLiga is a match up between US and Mexican squads. That rivalry does have a lot of interest in the US and Mexico. Again, if you don't care, that's your business. Other people do, so you can stop speaking for them.

As a way of reiterating, a lot of people in Scandanavia care about the Royal League. Just because it's less important than the UEFA CL doesn't mean that "nobody gives a shit". It is possible for different tournaments to co-exist, y'know.

All tournaments are made up. It isn't like there is a decree from heaven above that declares some tournaments "real" and others "made up". Even Libertadores started off somewhere.

SuprLiga might wither away and die. Or it might grow and become very important. Who knows what the future holds? But all these kinds of tournaments have to start somewhere. And it looked like agreat start to me.

I have no idea what motivates specific playters, but I've seen plenty of boring soccer between teams "going through the motions". The SuprLiga games were nothing like that, but were very intense and hard fought by and large.

Now, if you want my opinion as to why the players were motivated, I suggest this: Mexican players hate to lose to the US and are already frustrated by the relative performances of the national teams -- this carries over to the clubs where the Mexicans still hold the upper hand and don't want to give it up. And the MLS squads are fighting for international respect and recognition and beating up on the closest "strong" soccer country is a way to work towards that goal.

It was very evident that the players -- on both sides -- cared more about those games than your typical domestic league match.

Anyhow, I'd suggest again: you don't like it, don't watch. Those of us who cared -- including the teams -- will be just fine without you.

 

The whole problem? Sounds like a personal problem to me.

 

I would agree. Or they could make the knockout rounds at neutral sites, but I think that would be tough to draw people to (though perhaps a final at a neutral site would work). I am curious as to whether there are plans to do that in 2008 or whether they are staying with just US-based matches. Or maybe it would all be in Mexico next year (I doubt it, though)?

But I think at the very least, having the games in the US was "fair" to the extent that the crowds were generally pretty balanced between the participants. It's probably about as neutral as you could get with only one country hosting in most any competition.

 

Has Mexico announced its qualifying criteria yet?