I've been wanting this to happen since day 1. I think it will be great competition. Although MLS could get truly embarrased by the level of South Americans so what? Didnt Mexican clubs went through the same process? I just cant wait for MLS to compete vrs the Big Dogs. This will be the biggest gift MLS can give to futbol fans in America! Signing Riquelme could be a good gift also.
mls can't even get to the group stages of the concacaf champions league, much less compete in the Libertadores Plus, i don't think it'll ever happen. The distances are too great. Can you imagine flying from New England or Toronto to Buenos Aires for a midweek game? Also, no MLS fans will grasp the tradition and meaning of the Copa Libertadores
It does make sense, it will still be great to watch those games, the level of competition is great. Other than traveling what else could be a problem in the future? there is got to be something they can do to make it possible!
No, it's just not time yet. Maybe in 2 years at the earliest. Until MLS can do something consistent in the Champions League akin to what Spain, England, and Italy do in UEFA's Champion League, then MLS does not need to be stretched any more.
MLS definately needs deeper pockets to start with all of this. We need rosters with two to three deep at every position. This will only get accomplished by raising the salary cap. We definately have to begin beating the teams in our region before we get ahead of ourselves. There is a huge difference between Joe Public,Marathon, Pumas, and Saprissa and the teams of S.A. like Boca, River Plate and others. I am all for getting into this competition eventually, but lets take it slow. Remember we are still ironing out the kinks in our own league, and there a lot of kinks. I do agree this will eventually come, and it will be great for american football fans.
Saprissa is good. Big Mexican clubs use their B team in Mexico and take their "varsity" to copa libertadores when they have to play big clubs like Boca, wouldnt that be an answer to the traveling problem? Copa Libertadores 2010. If not, dont expect to have the respect of true hardcore futbol fans in the US!
True hardcore futbol fans in the US should know that MLS isn't ready just yet, and they may not be in 2010 either. It all depends on the salary cap after the next CBA. Do we really want a repeat of what happened in the CCL this year? Hopefully that embarassment will push the league.
I said 2 years minimum, but that's only if there was a huge increase in the salary cap and a lot of teams went after some great talent. If that doesn't happen, which is likely, probably no sooner than 4 years. MLS has at least 4 more teams coming into the league in the next 3 years. MLS has to make sure to take the necessary actions that the expansion will not hinder the progress that is has been making with the on-the-field product. If the league improves its scouting, raises the salary cap, and increases the number of international slots, then it should try to compete in Copa Libertadores. Without those steps being taken, the league has no reason to be there.
20 years. If MLS can't walk over the concacaf minnows then I see no point in them going to the Conmebol tournaments and pass embarresments
Never gonna happen. The Copa Libertadores won't be a better competition by letting MLS teams in. And the whole issue of flying say from Foxborro, MA to Rio de Janeiro is about a 9.5 hour flight... I don't see it happening, ever.
club america advanced out of the group stage the first year mexican teams participated, losing only 2-1 aggregate to river plate. that was 98. 99 monterrey finished last in their group. 00 atlas reached the quarter finals and club america reached the semi finals, coming a few minutes away from advancing past eventual champions boca jrs. final score was 5-4 agg. that boca team also went on to beat real madrid in the intercontinental cup 01 cruz azul reached the final, beat boca jrs in buenos aires 1-0 but lost on penalty kicks. so yeah, they did pretty well for themselves.
...and we have a winner. Close this thread. Another thing to consider is that the league needs to do a hell of a lot more work explaining (and promoting!) these out-of-league competitions to the U.S. sports media and the casual fan (who makes up a lot more of the MLS fanbase than the "hardcore" ones do).
Yes but those two nations account for 34 of the titles. The 4 other nations' clubs who have won it only account for 17 total titles.
Step 1 for MLS is to make a profit. The league is still losing money. We need to get our house in order before we'll have a team to send that is worthy of competing. Yes, I look forward to this, but it's going to take several years.