It is a good time for the A-League who defeated some of the MLS's best teams in the US Open Cup. It is a testament that the tourney is still competive despite the predictions that the MLS would dominate the Cup. The long feared quality gap between the two leagues has failed to materialize and that MLS teams are not at the point where they can take the tournament lightly. Overall, I take the view that if the MLS expands into one of the cities that the a-league franchise may be able to step up without the problems that others speculate to be a weakness of the quality of play. Ajax
Obviously you haven't talked to any DC fans, who seem to think that the ALeague is nothing more then an adult pick up game. Arrogent 'stards
Just in time for MLS expansion. Now MLS can skim the cream off A-league teams and normality will resume.
haha it will be interesting to see how the new franchises go.. young college guys or A-Leagues/PSL players? what do u guys think they will do?
Wow. All this because three A-League teams won by the odd goal at home and the flagship franchise advanced on PKs against the worst team in MLS. That's sure getting some mileage out of the thing.
Well said, Kenn. There was another thread that went so far as to imply that the A-League and MLS are rival Div 1 leagues, rather than the A-League being D II. I sure hope that never becomes the case. Seems to me a case of fans just preferring how one runs itself versus the other (MLS or USL) Even though I like the USL better in many respects, DCU is still my favorite soccer team (well, OK, besides the Riverhounds, but they are Div III now).
Well, let's just say that the gap isn't big enough for MLS to not take the A-League seriously, but isn't so small that if an MLS side 'brings it', they shouldn't be the winner. As for the DC fans - are you really surprised? Look who they root for? (Watch me duck as the few DC fans that I am friends with who aren't that way throw the nearest book at me for being so generalized.)
The current MLS teams have to make a certain number of their players available for expansion.. That coupled with the draft and signings give the new teams a chance right off to do okay.. Remember what Chicago did their first year?
Ummmm - you're a week late for the A-League vs. MLS completely pointless pissing contest. Try back after next Wednesday when this silly exercise will no doubt be repeated with one side or the other claiming further victory depending on the results.
That's El Jefe having fun. Trust me, he knows all too well the fact that MLS sides can lose to lower division competition. No matter what happens next week, I think the A-League should be proud of what they accomplished in the last round. Good for them. As for what I think will happen? Chicago will be the lone MLS team to fall, so you will have two A-League teams in the semis. And if they stick with the geographic breakdown they currently have, you will see an A-League team in the final (if Chicago falls). And no, that is not *just* my Chicago-hatred coming through. I just see a team that is really beat up, physically and psychologically, and will be struggling to overcome the loss of Beasley, etc. The Kickers, on the other hand, have shown that they can take on a team that is taking the tourny relatively seriously. I think San Jose will take the game against Minnesota seriously, and will probably win. I think Dallas will take KC seriously, but as good as KC is playing, I'm not sure it will matter. I don't know how to handicap the Rhinos-Battery matchup other than to look at the A-League standings. I do think that the "final" will be the West semifinal. Unlike 1999, all three remaining MLS sides are serious players and *ought* to take the remaining games seriously. Kansas City *ought* to be the team that wins the double this year. I am hoping to see a really motivated A-League team against Dallas in the final, and have all the drama associated with it, and have a good game. (And yes, personally, I do want the Burn to win it again in the last year of their existance.)
So if FC Dallas gets by KC, and the rest plays out as you think, would it be Dallas/SJ vs. Richmond/Rochester?
Yes - they have done east and west geographic lines for a few years now. It makes sense from a cost-standpoint.
Dallas would probably have to go to SJ too. I'd love to see Dallas and Richmond in the final. One can dream...
I don't think the A-League can be considered on the level with the MLS if they are constantly picking up the crumbs (castoff players) that fall off the MLS table. In case anybody pays any attention to soccer outside of the US, lower eschelon teams always get wins in Cup competitions, but I don't think you'll hear any English fans debating whether or not Div. 1 is on level with the Premiership. Same thing happens in Spain, Germany, Italy, wherever there are Cup competitions that pit Div. 1, 2, 3 teams against the nation's premier league.
Hell, the two leagues should fight for the title of "Beer League," given the sponsorship dollars that could be at stake.