Bad Idea: MLS considering games against foreign clubs to count in league standings

ThreeApples · Oct 31, 2002

From SoccerAmerica MLS Confidential:

"A visit to Bayer Leverkusen to discuss the Landon Donovan situation
is on the agenda as are discussions with clubs regarding a proposed
Challenge Series for next season.
To supplement its regular-season schedule, MLS would bring over
foreign clubs for games that would count in the standings, much as
the NASL did in 1970, 1971 and 1973."

"Under a proposed plan, each MLS team would play two games against
foreign teams in the summer. Some games would be played during the
Confederations Cup in June and others would be held during the
CONCACAF Gold Cup in July."

I believe this would truly damage whatever credibility the MLS regular season has. I would also suggest that such games not be counted for purposes of awarding the Supporters Shield. Games where one team is playing for league points and the other is engaged in a preseason friendly would be a complete joke.

Nothing wrong with playing foreign clubs, but let them be friendlies or create some separate competition.

Northside Rovers · Oct 31, 2002

Originally posted by Noah Elliott
Nothing wrong with playing foreign clubs, but let them be friendlies or create some separate competition.
Click to expand...

I agree COMPLETELY. BAD IDEA.

STAY AWAY FROM GIMMICKS. THIS IS A US DOMESTIC LEAGUE.

Why do I get surprised when these kinds of bad ideas get seriously considered? Why can't MLS not be tempted by this kind of stuff?

jmeissen0 · Oct 31, 2002

i completely missed that portion

that would be a ************ing horrible, horrible, horrible idea

that has to be a screw up in information getting passed along, they can't be that ************ing stupid

ignatz · Oct 31, 2002

Agreed. We should play the game the way the rest of the world plays it, and quit looking for gimmicks.

SABuffalo786 · Oct 31, 2002

We were a table reconfiguration and OT rule away from being normal. Leave it to MLS, *exasperated sigh*

BigLarr · Oct 31, 2002

Oh boy this makes me queasy.

Matrim55 · Oct 31, 2002

Every BS member should throw their 2 cents into this thread about how ABSOLUTELY FREAKING HORRIBLE an idea this is. Then we should send the link to MLS HQ about a billion times.

FlashMan · Oct 31, 2002

No one could be THAT stupid, could they?

Might as well call the whole regular season an exhibition and let everyone into the playoffs, seeded by largest attendance averages...

Jeremy Goodwin · Oct 31, 2002

Having a couple scheduled friendlies during the season is fine, in fact, it's a great idea.

But having those games count in our league standings is totally and utterly unbelievable.

No, they should not count in the standings, and if the league is stupid enough to count them, we should not.

Benedict XVI · Oct 31, 2002

i think it sounds cool.

now if we can just get an offside line, MLS would be perfect.

pething101 · Oct 31, 2002

It stinks.

My .02.

ThreeApples · Oct 31, 2002

They could bring back the shootout, the 35-yard offside line, enlarge the goals, add time-outs, have kick-ins, have blue cards and a stampede, bring back the Colorado Caribou uniforms, play every game on AstroTurf, disperse Clint Mathis to a new team each year, and none of that would make me as ill as this idea.

clubfoot · Oct 31, 2002

I think they should also allow 13 men on the field. And the defenders should have big inflatable bats to beat the forwards with. And there should be cheerleaders. Lots of cheerleaders.

dcajedi · Oct 31, 2002

i am totally against the friendlies counting in the standings, but as for the single table, i am against that.

simply put, the reason why a single-table league works in europe is because you can fit the whole EU into the United States. the usa is so big that a totally balanced schedule would cause a lot of problems travel- and fatigue-wise.

also, to emphasize games against nearby teams creates rivalries and puts butts in the seats. having four dc-metros games a year gets more traveling fans and places some importance on those games.

Real Madrid · Oct 31, 2002

One ot the stupidest ideas to ever come from MLS (worse than than clock ending and 5 point play offs).

Don't do it!!!!!!!

FlashMan · Oct 31, 2002

I think the boys at MLS HQ and Ridge know it's a down time on Big Soccer on the MLS board, so they just slipped this to us like a mickie, to get us all going.

Either that or they slipped themselves a mickie and Garber's out ridin' his Harley, chasin' down unsuspecting potential I/Os, unable to tend the store back in NY.

Wizardscharter · Oct 31, 2002

Re: Re: Bad Idea: MLS considering games against foreign clubs to count in league standings

Originally posted by Northside Rovers

I agree COMPLETELY. BAD IDEA.

STAY AWAY FROM GIMMICKS. THIS IS A US DOMESTIC LEAGUE.

Why do I get surprised when these kinds of bad ideas get seriously considered? Why can't MLS not be tempted by this kind of stuff?
Click to expand...

This is every bit the same quality of idea as changing the playoffs to pool play or a stupid two game series with barely a home field advantage.

ThreeApples · Oct 31, 2002

Re: Re: Re: Bad Idea: MLS considering games against foreign clubs to count in league standings

Originally posted by wizardscharter
This is every bit the same quality of idea as changing the playoffs to pool play or a stupid two game series with barely a home field advantage.
Click to expand...

Not really. At least with those ideas, the MLS championship is determined by MLS teams playing MLS teams and no one else.

weasel · Oct 31, 2002

The absolutely stupidest idea they've ever had. F'ing idiots.

spejic · Oct 31, 2002

> One ot the stupidest ideas to ever come from
> MLS (worse than than clock ending

The clock always ends the game (unless the ref isn't folowing rules). It would be a lot better to have that clock public, as was done in the early MLS.

rksehga · Oct 31, 2002

Re: Re: Bad Idea: MLS considering games against foreign clubs to count in league standings

Originally posted by Northside Rovers

Why do I get surprised when these kinds of bad ideas get seriously considered? Why can't MLS not be tempted by this kind of stuff?
Click to expand...

Mainly B/C Don Garber is a ************ing idiot.

BallStateMiddie · Oct 31, 2002

Originally posted by clubfoot
I think they should also allow 13 men on the field. And the defenders should have big inflatable bats to beat the forwards with. And there should be cheerleaders. Lots of cheerleaders.
Click to expand...

Congratulations. My vote for POTW. Thanks for a laugh out loud moment with myself.

As for the idea, there's no possible way they're considering this. I think the guy at SA either made this up completely or the original poster made it up, as there's no link to anything. Can anybody corroborrate this? Is this a real quote?

mjtate · Oct 31, 2002

Do you think Soccer America maybe got their information wrong? I wouldn't sweat this one too much. Don't think this is a serious considerstion.

Lets hope not.

rksehga · Oct 31, 2002

Originally posted by spejic
> One ot the stupidest ideas to ever come from
> MLS (worse than than clock ending

The clock always ends the game (unless the ref isn't folowing rules). It would be a lot better to have that clock public, as was done in the early MLS.
Click to expand...

True, the clock always ends the game, btu it is silly to not allow for injury time. I agree that they should keep the clock running in stadia so fans can get a sense of when that whistle is gonna blow, but the anticipation of the final whistle is always nice.

JCUnited · Oct 31, 2002

Very stupid idea. Too stupid to waste my time on. But I must say this: Why in the hell would a single table be difficult in a travel standpoint for MLS? They already play each team at least twice. How hard would it be to travel (or stay home) one more game? IF you play each team three times (for a total of 27 games a year), you might have a Galaxy travel to New England twice, at most. Well, if they can do it once a year (as they do now) how would twice a year be too hard to pull off? Think about it. It is about 1/8 as stupid as this foreign club thing. And that is saying something.