But MLS (and Seattle as the representative team working/negotiating to acquire this DP) was "bidding against" Everton or whomever. Dempsey was being shopped around globally. MLS (Seattle) came in with the best offer to Tottenham. Yes, conditions/circumstances can/might change in the future if multiple MLS teams are trying to acquire the same DP which they believe they can afford. My assumption would be that Seattle approached MLS HQ and said they were negotiating with and hoping to sign Dempsey, and MLS HQ ensured that no other teams interfered with that process Had Seattle not been able to reach a DP deal with Dempsey, I'm assuming some other club (NY, LA whomever) could have then started their own DP negotiations (with MLS HQ then again limiting and intra-league interference and the prevention of any direct and coinciding bidding war within MLS). But again, MLS/Seattle likely or possibly were facing rival bids from foreign teams for Dempsey's signature.
It does specifically say that A (the Allocation process) and B (Designated Players) are two separate player acquisition methods (mechanisms that operate independently of each other). That is a clear and simple reading of the rules. If the Allocation process is going to be utilized, yes there are requirements within that Mechanism A. But there is no requirement that Mechanism A be used in the first place. Mechanism B can be used independently and a DP can/will be signed without any of the other Mechanisms coming into play other than Mechanism B. (It is not a useful role of outside observers to try to read or interpret the league's rules differently than how the league writes/reads/interprets its own rules. But, then again, people are easily confused and like to complain -- so we get threads like this.)
This is a great point, and I've been of the opinion that players worthy of retention funds should have been content to wind their contracts down and move for free anyway. That was my opinion before the announcement and it is still my opinion. Allowing a player that is clearly worthy of a much-improved contract to get into his final year seems very risky to me from MLS' standpoint. Perhaps most young players would prefer to stay, perhaps not. I know the league probably does not want to entertain the idea of handing out fresh deals before entering the final year, but if they did I'm not even sure you would need the new retention fund mechanism.
You not understanding the rules does not equal bogus. Get over it and go back to ranting about homosexuals.
Unlike Becks, who certainly cost the other owners money through the extra deals he cut like the expansion discount, Dempsey is not really required to put any fans into opposing stadiums. He is however required to help Sounders attendance during the regular season and more importantly, get them to as many lucrative home play off games as possible. He will also be used as a poster boy for new shirt and local TV deals when they come up. The Sounders pre game crew were speculating that with Dempsey, the team had a chance to average 50k next season. I don't know if that is doable, but they certainly think out there he might make a difference. If he draws any fans for away games, it will be a bonus.
Maybe, maybe not. We will have to see how the situation with Omar Gonzalez plays out since there are reports that LA is seriously considering giving Omar DP level money to stay. I think that we are starting to see glimpses of MLS' path over the next few years.
Yup, the Omar situation will be a good litmus test. I personally yhink he needs a Euro environment. I beleive every sitaution is different, and fit very important, but I can't help but think it will help him mentally in so many ways. If we can keep "highly rated" young players away from Scandanavia and Scotland I will be very happy.
I vaguely remember that too.... I thought they already sold out. Do you mean they will open up the stadium? Wow, that would cool to average 50k a match.
20 pages of arguing over whether or not the written/un-written "rules" cover/don't-cover this-or-that scenario ipso facto proves the charade of "parity" is a joke for those willing to look behind the curtain. the league is an exhibition where 80% of regular season games are meaningless, many of the franchises are nothing but complex tax shelters masquerading as entertainment properties, a quarter of the franchises are serious footballing clubs, and pitiful few like New England, Dallas and San Jose are nothing but schedule fodder to fill out the dance card. but the insanity must continue, because going to the same system as the rest of the world will destroy the complex set of interlocking ownership 'vehicles' and 'tax shelters'. mark abbott is a brilliant man. what was simple and straight-forward when it started in 1996 has become a behemoth. god help them if the cabal ever faces a credible anti-trust challenge.
And that attention span will be a few weeks, or maybe even a few months. Unfortunately, the Sounders will be on the hook for his salary for the next few years. Everything you wrote about Dempsey, you could've written about Beckham a few years ago. And by the time he left, the general reaction was almost "He's still here?" In any case, if the Sounders want to blow that kind of coin on one player, it doesn't bug me either way.
After two MLS Cup titles and two more MLS Cup final appearances, I sort of get the impression that the Houston fanbase isn't exactly screaming for AEG to set piles of money on fire for this DP or that one.
I'd say there's actually a difference. Beckham was like Brad Pitt or something, non-sports fans liked him. Dempsey has a solid, loyal fanbase here already. And, I'd say Beckham's influence lasted well into his final days at LA, away teams regularly had their highest regular season attendances at games where he featured.
The thing is, I could've written what I did about five other players. You're welcome to cling to "But this time, it's different!" however.
Please do name some of the other players who's signing had an impact on the league like Dempsey. I get what you're saying, but, I'm on a few different Seattle forums and I've already begun to see new members who were "undecided" on an MLS team who have thrown their hat in with Seattle because of Dempsey. I'd say in alot of ways this time it actually IS different.
Blanco had an impact while he was here. Henry has had an impact to a certain degree. Ljungberg did have an impact in Seattle in the build up to that first season helping to push demand. But I would say after that first season he really didn't have an impact in the stands. Once people got hooked, they were hooked. Hopefully the same thing happens with the Dempsey bump.
Over the years they have added to the capacitybthey are willing to sell. And the last couple of years they have chosen to open up the stadium fully for a few games (3 this year, first of which will be Dempsey's home opener). Who knows what they plan to do next year. Maybe add more capacity again, or maybe open up 4 games for the whole stadium. I am sure they bean counted a few ways to help reduce Dempsey's cost.
I mean, those guys were all past it (maybe not Henry). But, the main reason I think this is different is because of the amount of money an AMERICAN soccer player is making. Kids care about those things, it helps make their decision to be a soccer player or baseball player just that much easier. Americans care about money and this is big money. Edit: the reason why I point out that Americans care about money is this. I'm sure this doesn't apply to all, but alot of wealthier people don't want to go watch a team of guys making significantly less money than them. I know that sounds shallow, but, I guarantee that money makes a difference. Edit to my edit: Hell, even the average middle class people make more money than alot of MLSers. People want a spectacle, people want idols. Someone to look up to, to aspire to someone that came up the way they did and made it big. Dempsey is a guy that gives alot of fans a reason to be hopeful.
The players union released the previous CBA ( it is still online now ) but for some reason they never linked the 2010 CBA from what I could find. Here is the old CBA http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/collective_bargaining_agreement__final.pdf