Change in the air could help MLS

I've got a couple of friends who are way into baseball, but they're enjoying the tournament as much as I am, and whenever we hang out we're always having good discussions about it. People are becoming more open minded, for sure.

 

Soccer is huge in USA, most international leagues make millions in the USA. But MLS isn't up standards most soccer snobs, especially with MLS teams doing poorly in CONCACAF ( bad marketing for MLS ), not enough international stars, cheapo owners ruling over owners who want spend on their teams, poor refs quality etc...

I do think this season has best young Americans, rookies and other young internationals in MLS history. But these players are victims of MLS screw-up from past, for general public to see.

 

I've got. . oh. . .I'd say 20 friends who have asked to get them Galaxy tickets for games in July. The World Cup dove-tailing into the 2nd-half of the MLS season is going to do wonders.

Also, and this can't be stressed enough - this isn't 2002 and it isn't 2006.

I've known so many people that once they go to a Galaxy game, they stay interested. Once they get it - they really get it.

Now, if a New Yorker or a NJ'er decide to take in a Red Bulls game, the experience is fantastic, as opposed to Cavernous. Fans in Philadelphia and Seattle have a place to go, with great stadiums and great fan bases.

It's gonna be a lot of fun.

 

It's true that MLS has a golden opportunity here. But MLS really needs to grab the bull by the horns. The opportunity is here but it could be fleeting. All MLS teams should go on an aggressive promotional push immediately following the Cup. Cut prices for a game or two, get those stadiums full.

Also, we need to remind ourselves not to be disappointed if MLS attendance only increases by 10% or so. I doubt World Cup fever is going to translate into sold-out MLS stadia from coast to coast.

------RM

 

I've been giving non-stop lessons for the last two weeks on the qualifying process, rules, Champions/Europa League, etc. It's actually great to spread the gospel considering I became a fan only 5 years ago.

Now my friends are trying to pick their favorite club team, so I referred them to the Bill Simmons article where he explained his rationale in finally settling on Spurs.

 

We need to reel back in our own national team....

 

If you're referring to keeping them MLS that's not possible and stupid. Players at that level are going to want to go to Europe 90% of the time. Not because of the money, but because its Europe. That's where the best competition is.

Even if we could keep them here for the good of the Nats we shouldn't. If we want the U.S. to get better they have to play every day against the best.

 

Yes, but:

1. Europe is not uniform in quality.

2. Riding the bench is not valuable experience.

 

I saw more bad referees in the WC than MLS. It is easy to spent other people's money, it's grass root movement, the league gets better TV deal and than they can spend on better players. It takes time to build to the league to level of which you're have in mind.
On CCL , they should take the games seriously, it sure does leave a bad impression.

 

Our best player on the team has played most of his career in MLS and has done just fine. I'm talking, of course, about Landon Donovan. He is the United States best player and has played most of his soccer for the San Jose Earthquakes and Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS. Sitting on the bench in Europe, or in Jozy's case, being relegated isn't the best scenario. Europe isn't always the best solution.

 

And a grand total of two other players on the team currently play in MLS. Donovan is the "exception that proves the rule". And even he has hinted about making the jump back to Everton.

Do you really think you could pry Tim Howard out of a starting role at Everton to come back to NY? Dempsey from Fulham to NE? Gooch from AC Milan to DC United? Even lower down the roster, players like Edu and Hahnemann spent their time in MLS and moved on to better teams.

Some players (like Altidore and Adu for example) need to make better decisions when they make that jump. Starting in the Netherlands or France is better than riding the pine in Spain or Germany. I'd much rather have Altidore in a relegation battle than in NY though. There's pressure in a relegation battle unlike what you face in MLS. We are decades away from MLS being a true competitor for most of the best American players though, and trying to keep the best Americans here for the good of the league hurts our national team in the long run.

 

Who says they have to go back to their original teams? I'm not even saying they should come back. My response is that sending our players over to Europe doesn't necessarily mean that will help our USMNT. My point being, our best player has been playing in MLS, even right before he left for the World Cup.

 

True, but the original post I responded to talked about "reeling back" our National team. That's not going to happen, nor should it.

And while our best player has been playing in MLS, what about players 2-10?

 

the point of MLS teams is to give that jumpstart for a player. it reminds me of that Nike advert about the Dutch guy playing for Arsenal and working his way up to the national team, all from the first person perspective.

MLS needs to be that beginning league. a chance for players to give professional soccer a chance. can you imagine where LD, Howard, Altidore, Gooch, wouldve ended up without MLS there?

im liking the USA's chances in the world cup. but first there is NOTHING else but Ghana in the way. first them.

i think what will help MLS IMMENSELY is watching an MLS side win the CONCACAF Champions League and Club World Cup. if not that then at least always staying in contention for it. THAT will help the club level interest go up.

 

I'm not disputing that. I agree with you. But who's to say that Jozy is as good as he is because of Hull and not New York. He hasn't really done much at Hull. Who knows what would've happened if those players stayed in MLS. I'm not saying MLS is as equally talented as the top European leagues. I'm just saying that Europe isn't always the answer to a better National Team. They may have a better chance in Europe, or ride the bench and not do anything. I'd much rather see Donovan play a full 90 here in LA than come in on the 70th minute over at Everton.

 

i really think the U.S can make it all the way to the semi-finals, Ghana and Uruguay/South Korea are beatable...this would be great for soccer here in the states and for the MLS...as we already know soccer is very popular in the U.S it just sucks to see the english speaking media ignore it ( not the case for the U.S Spanish speaking media)

it also sucks to see so many hardcore soccer fans in the U.S just totally ignore or dismiss the MLS, a piece of advice: quit being so snobbish and go support your local team, its great that u choose to support ur mexican or euro team from your television but c'mon the MLS needs you! embrace it and maybe it will grow and at an even quicker pace, the more we put into it the bigger and better it will become

 

Sadly, we have a lot of those here. Not even giving MLS a chance is just sad.

 

i wouldnt necessarily call them bandwagon people, more like fair weather fans..

but those are the mild soccer fans aka beckham fans not LA Galaxy fans

its the hardcore soccer fans that piss me off, here in Los Angeles theres thousands of harcore soccer fans that fully support Chivas Guadalajara, America, Barcelona, Boca Juniors etc but they refuse to give the MLS a chance...and yeah many of those fans are immigrants who understandably root for their homeland team but many are american born and simply ignore the MLS while they are okay with supporting the Lakers/Dodgers/USC football etc..i have several friends who do exactly this