Will it affect the players in any way, like physical conditioning? Will the MLS US players be a little rusty? Or will it be an advantage going against a more tired Euro or South American team, because their league just ended?
Personally, I love it. I think that we do have a little bit of an advantage in the fact that not all of our players are coming straight out of a long season. We have a nice mix of players, and I think it can only help us. Of course, that's just one mans opinion.
In 2002 the MLS season helped us a lot with what we accomplished in Korea . Almost all of our team , except a few , played here in America , and were able to train with each other for a way longer period of time than the other nation teams.
Almost all? Half our team played in MLS, the other half in Europe. In June it will be more like 2/3's in Europe 1/3 in MLS...
close.. lol . OK half but still, that half that had an opprotunity to play with each other for a longer period of time really helped us out .
outside of EJ and DOnovan i think the rest of our ideal starters are playing in europe. I guess you can throw mastro in here as well.
The only thing the MLS season has against is that what is supposed to be the best part of the season (when the races are tightning) and post season seems to be running a long with the beggining of football both college and professional. That is just plain dumb.
Germany in June is pretty easy on players, almost perfect playing weather. If the tired factor was an advantage last time, it will be less so this time. Injuries are another matter, but those are as likley to happen to players just getting into shape as those getting tired, I'd think. In any case, four weeks to get ready is quite a decent time.
The timing of the MLS season is good from the standpoint of giving MLS the best chance to succeed. Having a successful MLS is definitely good for the USNT - whether it's current Nats playing there or Nats that have been allowed to develop there. Ergo, the timing of MLS is good for the USNT.
donovan, eddie johnson and mastroeni are the mls guys who reasonably are starters.... the rest being euro based... and the prime reserves are convey, o'brien and bocanegra... so mls won't be playing as large a role this time around....
Ideally, then, they'd want to start the season in February, so the players would have 10-15 games to play into top form. When do they start. I have no idea. The fact that BA will get a full month with guys will help, but not as much as the african cup of nations will help the African teams (an actual competition to get ready for a competition).
The US has 3 World Cup games in 10 days. I like the fact that not everyone is coming off an exhausting season. But it really cuts both ways and comes down to the individual situation. This is perfect for a player like Donovan. He'll have plenty of rest. He'll be happy spending all that time in L.A. (even during camp he can be at home). Then he'll have a few Galaxy games to warm up with before reporting for duty. The MLS schedule works for him. Mastroeni and EJ, on the other hand, probably need games to get ready. And obviously, EJ needs goals to boost his confidence. He'll only get a limited time to score some from April 1-May 15. It doesn't work so well for him. Of course, the extended camp helps, as does the fact that MLS is so compliant with Bruce's wishes. This probably helps more than anything--to know that you've got a league where 1/3 of your squad plays and you can get whatever you need out of that league. Imagine being the coach of Ghana and trying to bring in guys from clubs from all over Europe and Africa and get them on the same page tactically, get them arriving in time for friendlies (in Dallas, no less!). What a nightmare that must be.
Haven't I read that, outside of the CL finals, the EUFA leagues are suspending play earlier relative to the start of the cup than they did in 2002? Plus, no travel to Asia. I don't believe fatigue will be as much of a factor (in terms of it being inequal between different teams) as was reported in Japan/Korea. I also wish to agree with previous poster who pointed out that it is MLS's accommodations of USSF camps, friendlies that is so good for USMNT, not so much the schedule. However, Bruce did say that his situation was unique in the world in that the federation itself had to make an effort to ensure the form of the players; I think it was in one of the interviews right before the draw. So he would seem to think that the schedule was somewhat less than ideal.
Now that there's actually a (kind of) world club championship, I'd love to see MLS pay more attention to the ConChcup.