Gathered with some family members and debated which one is a better league. I’m not talking about national teams just simply which country has a better league.
MLS is basically the China league of CONCACAF. Spending loads of money on players from Europe and buying washed up super stars in hopes of improving their league; however, I've seen more players from MLS go to European leagues than K-league to Europe.
I agreee that they are washed up but what this does is it bolsters abs the brand and nothing else. Just because you have Lampard and Rooney playing doesn’t mean that your league is superior
And remember, all of our 2002 members were from the Kleague and I truly believe that true talent can and will be found in Korea’s domestic league system. I will watch fc seoul play suwon any day of the week over some California Classico. MLS is all glam but no show
MLS is only slightly better because they have far more international slots available. And a lot of money pumped into MLS. Let's have this debate when MLS have limited amount of foreigners like the K-League.
I watch both leagues. MLS 10 years ago, inferiority to K-League 10 years ago (I think K-League kind of peaked about 10 years ago). I use to watch the NY/NJ Metrostars in late 90s. Still watch MLS time after time, mostly Red Bull matches. MLS have made huge improvements in their quality of play. The league use to be horrible, even 10 years ago. But now in 2019? MLS quality of play is better than K-League, tho the lower-level and even mid-level MLS teams might struggle against Jeonbuk. Defending in K-League is a bit head-scratching and tactics are more old-school/hoofball/direct style of play whereas MLS tactics vary more. As some other poster said tho, it's comparing crap and turd.
As plastic as MLS is (what kind of team has supporter chants and designated rivalries before they play a single game?), have to admit they've done a better job than the K-League. But for any player looking to go to Europe, both are sideways moves more than anything.
Not going to repeat everything I've said elsewhere, but this is a tired, old and inaccurate depiction of MLS. The league has one of the youngest average ages of any top flight league in the world and is comprised heavily, these days, of young and very talented players from Latin America. Aging Euro stars, you've got Ibra and Rooney right now and I can't think of anybody else. Against that, you've got a ton of high quality youth like Ezekiel Barco, Alberth Elis, Luciano Acosta, Diego Rossi and many more. Next level up is mid-20s to late 20s guys like Pity Martinez, Carlos Vela and Jonathan Dos Santos. Basically, if you think MLS is washed up stars from Europe, you know about as much about MLS as the average non-Korean (or Korean for that matter) knows about K-League. As for the question of which is better, who cares? Ask any Euro snob and they'll say both are shit.
If Americans actually gave a hoot about football (soccer) it would be no different than the NBA, MLB, NHL - the best in the world.
In my honest opinion, MLS will become a top league within 15 years. I wish I can say the same for KL. The way the leagues operate, the marketing, stadium/fans..It's night and day lol.
MLS has way better Administration and Marketing. KLeague has better homegrown players...for now and that is probably the most important thing.
Why is this even a thread? This question could have been easily asked in the Other Team or K-League Misc. thread.
I'd generally agree with this but I'd add that the homegrown issue is compensated by the international player limitations in K-League that don't exist in MLS. Many more international slots plus easy green carf which exempts players from international slots. On top of that, location to Latin America and desirability. The number of actual Americans starting in MLS is rapidly shrinking.
Ok, so you're opining on a league without actually knowing anything about it. Gotcha. To educate you on those specific guys, as two of them were almost part of this European transfer window and the other two will be in the next few years: Alberth Elis - 22 year old Honduran, lighting fast. Offers this past month out of multiple European teams and Besiktas but Houston wasn't ready to sell yet. Ezekiel Barco - 19 year old Argentine, was already on European radars when Atlanta paid $15 mil to get him. Luciano Acosta - 24 year old Argentine, PSG wanted him this week, he actually went to Paris for a physical yesterday but agent payments got in the way so deal won't happen right now. Diego Rossi - 20 year old Uruguayan playing for LAFC, extremely talented. More generally, my local team is fairly indicative of what MLS teams are comprised of now. Opening day, only American starters will be GK, RB and maybe LB. Rest of the team will be: 23 year old Colombia striker 22 year old and 27 year old Honduran wingers 23 year old Argentine attacking midfielder 27 year old Colombian midfielder 23 year old Argentine midfielder 22 year old Venezuelan center back 28 year old Slovenian center back So yeah, not aging European fading stars.
Geez lighten up. I personally couldn't care less what Americans say about K-league. Nor would I go on an American forum just to defend a shitty league. And you forgot Bastian Schweinsteiger. Guess you don't know much about your own league after all.
They're not european fading stars but we can say that noone gives a care about players like these. I feel like these "stars" you mentioned are "stars" because youre a fan of the league. I can say the same for players from the KLeague and how much potential they all have. Let's not do a parts to whole argument lol