Alert: Gallardo: ¨MLS is NOT a easy league¨

Seems like a class guy, he could take the easy road and slam everything MLS, but he offers constructive comments.

 

I agree with him, especially the bit about imagination.

 

Nice comments. Fair comments.

 

Yep. I think his comments are pretty much what an unbiased person watching the league would say, especially from a DC perspective.

 

Beckham had 250 Million reasons not to slam MLS and he did.

 

Gallardo is a classy guy. I will miss him.

 

completely off topic, but Beckham doesn't make that much money in MLS (he earns 6.5M for playing soccer each year in LA).

and Beckham has not said anything that would be considered slamming MLS, and his comments haven't been significantly different than the reasonable and fair comments from Gallardo.

 

very true.

but the athletes in MLS more often than not realize their skill limitations, and shy away from the imaginative moves (as those often lead to failure within the style and capabilities of a typical MLS team).

a lot of skill (and some guys in MLS have that) is required if a player is going to go heavily into the imagination department.

again, as others have said, there are nice comments and fair comments from Gallardo about MLS and his time in DC.

 

And alot of guys have that coached out of them during development - coaches yelling at them to "stop hot-dogging and play team ball", etc. Like how you coach football or basketball at the youth level (although basketball now seems to have gotten over this almost too much and encourages flair maybe too much sometimes).
I bet alot of players are scared to use their imagination for fear of being disciplined for not passing.
There needs to be a fine line, but that's asking alot from some coaches, especially at youth level - you'd think college coaches would encourage the guys' freedom some.

 

You can pass and still use imagination, like how gallardo did last year(when he wasn't injured) by playing the ball into space that someone should have been running to, but no one did most of the time.

 

I actually think more of it comes from the American mantra that defense wins championships. Outside players are probably discouraged from looking for inventive runs and making themselves available for a pass that might not come because they might open up a lane in the back.

Forwards stop and play the ball back far too often for my liking in MLS. Go forward, put the defender on their heels, possibly force someone to come and help out and open a pasisng lane.

In other words, Ihate how the New England Revolution play soccer.

 

NO, his contract is for more than 6.5mil. His image rights bring that number up considerably. While he might only get 6.5 to play, he walks away with ALOT more because of his liason with MLS. Hence the 250 million reasons to be nice to MLS. I would even go as far as saying "he should promote it anywhere he goes".

Oh wait.

 

To continue your threadjack

His MLS contract is $5.5 - $6.5 mil per year. His endorsement deals are not part of that MLS contract.

Also, please link to some quotes from Beckham slamming MLS.

 

wow, this got moved to alumni fast - and I think incorrectly, but what do I know. It isn't like it is a thread ABOUT Gallardo, but about something he said about the team and league in general. If Goff (or Ray Hudson) had said it, it would be in the main forum, what's the diff?

Beckham I don't think has "slammed" MLS, but he sure hasn't said anything very nice about it. "frustrating", "few skilled players", etc.

 

It might be "very nice" but it's certainly true. I don't think he was saying it to be mean, just trying to tell it like it is. And it's not like Beckham is the only one saying these things.

 

Ditto!

 

Good to hear he had nothing but positive things to say, and didnt slam the team or league. I think it was made clear the type of ORG. we are the second we made contact with him, and presuade him to come to us.

Its good to know he is passing the word about our heart that we have everygame, and our fans.

I found his comments right on, especially with the taking chances part. That is something that is apart of latin american soccer, taking chances with imaginative moves, back heels, etc. This country still doesnt get it, and considers it 'hot dogging'. Its all in the mentality of the coaches that made these players growing up, maybe in time it will change. Because thats half the fun in playing soccer, is taking chances, and either looking like a god by a cheeky move, or failing at it and getting a laugh at yourself later.

Im glad that gallardo came here, and i wish he would have stayed a little longer and played out his whole year, but things happen for a reason. Hopefully he shines in river and can retire in peace.

With that said, how is he doing over there? I know he still hasnt played for River yet. Is he still recovering? I know The Ogre lol Fabbiani is playing real well for them.

 

Beckham can't say anything, because everything he says is in English and covered by all different types of media outlets.

It says a lot of Gallardo to not only say those things, but he could have easily slammed DC United and MLS while doing a club radio show on the other side of the world.

 

Exactly. I love the league, but just because someone points out its shortcomings does not mean that they are slamming it. From what I have seen, beckham has only said that soccer will take another 10 years or so to really develop its foothold here. That's far from a slam, but a true understanding that the league has done some great things, but real growth takes time to mature.

 

Don't forget, Becks had to play with Alan Gordon and Landon Donovan while Gallardo was alongside Fred, Emilio and Moreno.