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Personally, although I admire the older players and sometimes even marvel at what some of them can still do on the pitch, as a fan of the league I wish clubs would stop going after the 35+ year old superstar players. I don't think its good for the game , the league as a rule, the clubs or their fans. I know players come and go on every team yearly and maybe these star players may sell some tickets in the short term but I don't see how it helps to sign overpriced, overage players in the long run. Marco DiVaio went from MVP to retirement and the Impact went from placing as playoff team to being the worst team in MLS. Now you have Gerard already talking about quitting or retiring and he hasn't even played a full MLS season as of yet. Drogba played in 11 games and he stated he may not come back. Even though he is back now, he is turning 38 next week. Whether he scores goals or not, I don't possibly know how he will be here next season. That to me isn't good for anyone.
I am sorry but Marco DiVaio and Drogba aren't in the same league as Gerrard. From what I seen so far , even if he leaves tomorrow there's no love lost.
As someone mentioned in the CCL thread, I think that some of this money should be directed at the top South American talent in Liga MX. They may not have the big name but they could make a real impact for a few years and improve the overall quality of the league. As soon as these players start making some noise in Liga MX, MLS should be ready to pounce and pull them away.
Oh I totally agree about both Gerrard and Lampard and I was against those two signings even before they played their first MLS games. I still think its wrong however for MLS to employ over 35/36 year old players regardless of their names and spend astronomical money to watch them play 1 & 1/2 seasons. I also don't see what changes by singing them and the level and quality doesn't really improve all that much. It just does nothing for me as a fan of the game of the league nor do I really see the huge lure of signing them. Yes I also believe this to be true. Also, the DP and salary cap rules should be changed and the money would be better spent or distributed across the board on maybe signing 4-5 younger or 20 something players from Latin America , Europe or even Africa as opposed to over 36+ year old's who are at the end of their careers. Clubs have invested a lot of time and money to the academies and youth movements and there isn't anything wrong with it (even though I'm not sure as of yet on the immediate return) , I think they should also use the abundance of assistant coaches and GM's to do more scouting of foreign leagues across the world.
Oh boy....another "old guy" discussion. They make my lunatic fringe JK rants last summer look like War and Peace. Never ending, tedious and way overblown with no end in sight.
Its probably because superstar players are getting older each year and MLS clubs keep throwing money at them. Now they are talking about signing a 40 year old in Francesco Totti? I also want to know when does it all end?
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/02/2...er-mentor-chris-armas-still-share-strong-bond nice feel good story about Michael Bradley and Chris Armas
At least there aren't stories of teams looking at signing out of form goalkeepers for $2 million/year.
Very simple. When they stop making an impact....some do, some don't. When names stop bringing enough casual and media attention. If these types were the only ones MLS was signing, and if all successfull teams were doing this, I'd feel like you do. Not the case....unless all you want to do is fixate on it. If that is the case then start writing the novel. Will have plenty of time to.
Actually, very few have really made an impact on the field. I've seen more failures as opposed to game changers. Maybe they helped improve things somewhat and also helped attendance (Beckham) and some also scored some goals (Henry). The only over 35 year old player I can think of who won anything since at least the year 2000 however, was Guillermo Barros Schelotto and he was never a world renowned name. Other than him, I can't name many others.
What is happening in Rapid Land. http://www.espnfc.com/story/2816370/tim-howard-set-to-join-colorado-rapids-from-everton A few years ago they had a solid group of youngsters and Oscar Pareja. Now they need Rapidman to come back and knock some heads in the FO.
This was a good summary of what has gone on and where we are. I am even a little more optimistic about the guy and think that the conditions are right for getting real change done - particularly because so many people who might block it are desperate for help right now.
Older players aren't for hardcore fans of the team, they're for the casual who knows a name and will be attracted to go see a game. Hopefully you might gain new fans to the team like they did in Chicago with Blanco. The problem is when the star player leaves and the team doesn't convert the new fans with a winning team. Now they come and go because the team failed to engage them with new players that they can get behind. It's one of the things the Galaxy seem to do so well as they've been able to blend high priced DP's with up and coming homegrown players & win the Cup.
They come and go because they are too old and/or injured to begin with. When I lived in Italy, I worshiped Nesta and when I wanted to see him play live, there was either the excuse that he was injured or suspended. I also later found out from reports in Italy that he didn't want to come all the way out the west coast so he made up an injury excuse. Same thing happened with Henry and I never got to see him play because of a similar circumstance. I don't see how these signings are supposed to be good for either hardcore or casual fans , for that matter. I also doubt they convert many of the so called fans who deem their presence as they are just here on vacation for one last paycheck. I know these players were needed especially to help jump start the league but I'd like to think by now or after 20 years, most MLS fans will have become more sophisticated about the game. I also never really met many fans of the game who want to pay to see an almost 40 year old superstar.
This is true of literally any type of player signing ever. Pick any class of signings, any age range, any nationality and this will be true. You have no point.
No the point is you sign more younger, faster, better skilled and possibly even cheaper players. Players who will stick around for maybe 3-4 years and who will contribute on the field and who fans will be able to relate to. Also, those same players can subsequently be sold for a profit. Every league in the world pretty much does this and very few employ 35+ aged players for large amounts of money. That is pretty much a a fact the whole world over and I don't see why MLS should be different. Anyway, to each his own but I still don't know many fans of the game who wouldn't want to see younger players playing as opposed to over 35 and/or almost 40 year old's.
You You keep thinking like a soccer person and not a casual. Look at the attendance for galaxy road games. It isn't the "base" that's turning up in record numbers, it's the casual fans. Look how the Tv contract has increased in value. Charlie Davies is a nice player with a great story but he's not bringing in the casual fan. Later on new fans might find his story intriguing and start to root for him. That's the point, it's kind of like how Tiger Woods got casual fans to tune into golf. They gained a lot of fans who watch gulf now that started by rooting for him. This league isn't the best in the world which Americans are use too. But the extra revenue these aging stars create with revenue from the gate and tv has let MLS the opportunity to bring in New teams, stadiums & build academies. I'm surprised you can't see that.
Yeah I know and see all of that but the time has come that we now concentrate on the game and raise the level of the league and nothing else. Seriously who cares about all this crap in the end? will those casual fans keep coming back when all these old players retire? Will they help the league in the end? Can we rely on them to buy merchandise or season tickets? The league needs to grow on the pitch and skill wise and improve the lackluster play. Garber wants to win the CCL but he won't do that by playing older players and drawing at home against Mexican teams and signing crap Ashley Cole who thinks he is coming here to go to the beach. I followed him at Roma and if he plays like he did in MLS like he did there, he won't do one darn thing! I also really question the "extra revenue and TV money" these guys are really bringing in. Although I hope it works out in the end, I still have yet seen any benefit of what the academies will bring. You can do a lot more with signing better, younger players. You scout a Kaka or Pato at 22 years of age, buy him for $8 million like AC Milan did and sell him for $100 mil. That is the profit I see. You won't do that with Pirlo at 36 years of age while he is high on cocaine. This by the way is a fact because I worked in Italy at Fiorentina and everyone knew Pirlo was in drug rehab. I loved Pirlo in his prime and next to Baggio he was one of my top 10 favorites but the league needs different types of players. I for one as an Italian -American was ashamed to see Pirlo lost on the pitch last season and I hope I am wrong but I have my doubts he will do much better this season. In Italy there is a saying, "largo ai giovani" or give room for the young. This is what MLS needs more of. Again, I don't know of any hardcore or casual fan who wouldn't want that in their domestic league. Anyway, this is my opinion and you don't have to like or agree with it but I stand by it and this is what I wish MLS will one day soon adhere to.
Paraphrasing different parts of the Big Soccer collective wisdom: We shouldn't sign the aging superstars but we should panic when China does. Got it!
China can sign the old retirees and keep them. I lived in Europe and I know most players would kill to come to live and play in America for the right amount of money. Especially more so than China.
The casual fan doesn't care about any of that, hence why they are casual. MLS hasn't brought any 22 year old for 8M and sold them later nor do I think they would be able to as most European countries would not think they were worth that much because of the level of competition. The other thing is, you keep saying after 20 years but that's not an accurate statement as more than half the league is less than ten years old. The majority of the aging stars are on the new expansion teams so they are definitely trying to attract new fans.