1. The casual 'sports fan' is covered by Messi, Son, Mueller, and other high-profile DPs. Moving the calendar results in: 2. fewer disruptions by summer international tournaments. 3. no disruptions to the playoff schedule 4. fewer disruptions caused by players transferring mid-season. 5. easier player transfers in and out. Imo, this is more about improving the logistics of a league that is more integrated into the global footballing industry, and that is starting to make TV money. In terms of actually moving the needle w/re to the league's profile: 1. add a 4th DP and make 2 of each team's 4 DP slots sellable. Ambitious teams should be allowed to accumulate DP slots. This could be a good compromise between doing nothing and eliminating the cap. 2. get rid of Discovery Rights, which are the true MLS legitimacy killers. 3. a modest increase in the cap to continue to improve the player pool 4. participation in the Copa Libertadores, which should become logistically easier with the advent of Boom Supersonic.
There will likely be a lot of changes to the league with new CBA in 2027. There's been lots of chatter about certain owners in the league wanting to "take off the training wheels" after the World Cup. I think we also know that the existing MLS summer schedule was partially a result of many MLS teams not owning their stadia or not being able to fully control scheduling. Playing a bulk of the schedule in the spring/summer when the NFL wasn't active made sense........................... Now we just have a few stragglers in that regard, and many of those situations are changing. NYCFC, for instance. Hopefully New England.
Yeah the last step is really increasing the spend per team and/or allowing teams to spend the same amount of money but with more flexibility and less rules.
I have a horn. It is mine. I am tooting it! MLS listed optimizing their transfer market activity as the primary strategic reason for their shift just like I predicted. I did consider new signing integration but I didn't list it. I didn't even think about international callups interrupting the playoffs.
Well said Roldan! "I made the move to a deep-lying midfielder about a year and a half ago, and it's worked out. The game has slowed down a whole lot for me," Roldan said. "It allows me to use what I'm good at, and that's hunting players down, that's winning second balls, that's being aggressive, communicating, being a leader, using my voice a whole lot more, organizing the group." https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_...mnt-afterthought-mauricio-pochettino-favorite
Something I was pondering watching last nights game. The most capped players on this camp's roster are Ream and Aaronson. Who is next? Who on the current roster has the 3rd most caps after those two? Its Christian Roldan. He's now at 42 caps and has a great chance to get to 50. Once you get to 50, you've been a significant part of the program. [All of Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Turner, Antonee, Weah, Musah, Zimmerman, etc. have more caps. None of them are at this camp.]
Apparently the guy is running around saying stuff that was outdated in the 1980s. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/18/philadelphia-union-ernst-tanner-mls-investigation
Berhalter and Tillman both played very well in the recently concluded USMNT November camp. Now we get to see them face off in a Western Conference semi on Saturday at 8:30 ET. Can't wait!
Watching USL Championship Final. Pittsburgh has 84 Lumber as a shirt sponsor. Thats a pretty big company. I remember when MLS had some dodgy shirt sponsors. Remarkable how far the sport has come.
Like…??? Unless you’re referring to MLMs like Advocare and Herbalife…but those are pretty big companies. Surely less dodgy than various Asian betting companies.
I saw most of the second half, so much good American involvement. Delgado was a key figure in driving LAFC forward and back into the game. It’s a shame he missed his PK. Seb was all over the field and very helpful in moving the ball, he served up a great ball to Blackmon at the back post late in the game that he hit well but Lloris made a good reaction save. Blackmon didn’t seem fully fit and got himself sent off after two tactical fouls in transition moments.
One game is hardly indicative, but LAFC being up a man and for a time, up two men and being unable to put a goal in is one of the weaknesses of shifting so heavy to counter-attack as a club philosophy. They certainly had their chances -- they hit the post a number of times -- but this isn't the first time LAFC has really struggled when a team doesn't let them counter.
Of course, the USL players from both teams came out with a different kind of shirt. Quite a message. The CBA between the USL Player's Association and the league is being renegotiated now. U.S. Soccer Players Protest for Improved Standards As League Considers Pro-Rel
That shirt gets to the heart of why pro/rel is a bad idea not just in the USL, but every pother two bit league (EPL, BuLi, etc) where it's used.
WoW! What a bizarre summary for a magnificent match! You clearly did not watch the game because your summary has zero to do with the match and frankly detracts from the dominance that Vancouver had in the first half and the sheer heart and will they displayed at the end of the matcha and in extra time. Both squads tried to be aggressive, press, and play on the front foot but Vancouver dominated and kept LAFC pinned back for most of the half. CMNT Ahmed channeled his inner Yamal and abused arguably the best defensive RB in the league and made Palencia look incompetent. With Tillman pressing high with Ordaz, Son, and Bouanga, Delgado was exposed and offered little on either side of the ball. The caps got a route 1 goal and then a set piece and was up 2-0. Dolo changed the match at halftime by moving to a 4-3-3 from a 3-4-3, replacing CB Tafari with CM Moran and WF Ordaz with WF Martinez. The 3 CMs were able to get a hold of the match and turn the tide in favor of LAFC. LAFC dominated the 2nd half and had numerous chances to win the match. Andres Cubas saved Vancouver time and time again playing like prime Tyler Adams stuffing numerous LAFC advantages which would typically lead to goals. Shows the importance of having a dominant backline protector. Berhalter refused to lose and willed his team on when down to 10 and then 9. What a display of determination and refusal to accept the seemingly inevitable. In the end with all the shots off posts and shots barely missing it became clear that the soccer gods were not on LAFC's side.
Delgado was totally absent the first half of the match. Was overwhelmed and offered nothing in the double pivot in the 3-4-3. Came into his own when Dolo switched to a 4-3-3 then Marky had 2 other CMs to support him.
I clearly did but was just commenting on Cherundolo and his overall coaching arc with LAFC has been to make them one dimensional. It's a key reason why he's had a good team that seems to lose these games with increasing frequency. They did play well in the second half, but the inability to convert a man up ... and then two men up is not just Vancouver playing well. Cherundolo had taken all of that out of his team's toolbox so even with Son and Bouanga, they couldn't get through.
MLS is built on parity. For a coach like Cherundolo to have won the domestic treble (MLS Cup, SS, and USOC) says a lot. And parity not just with 5 teams, but with 30. Its frickin' hard to win trophies in MLS. 2025 was a year of being the bridesmaid. Finished with the 3rd most points in the West; 3 points behind San Diego. Knocked out of the playoffs on penalties in the conference semifinal by Vancouver. Knocked out of the CCC on penalties in the quarterfinal by Messi and inter Miami. Went unbeaten in the Leagues Cup group stage against Tigres, Pachuca, and Mazatlan. Didn't advance. Played three really good games in the CWC against Chelsea, Flamengo, and Tunis. Eliminated in the Group phase, but walked away with their heads held high. Count me as somebody who thinks Cherundolo did an awesome job with LAFC. It'll be really interesting to see what his next move is. Hannover is interesting. If they dont' make a move into the promotion spots in Bund2.............they could do worse than Cherundolo.