MLS Bias

Discussion in 'USA Men' started by Dan Kohner, Jan 29, 2025.

  1. BMWDeuce

    BMWDeuce Member

    AC Milan
    United States
    Aug 15, 2024
    What I've noticed in the games I've seen is a lot of MLS players can hang physically with the teams in CWC and actually have had nice moments dribbling against them. The issues for MLS have been players struggling with the weight of passing, and players getting destroyed in transition (this has mostly been Nouhou for Seattle).

    Funny enough one guy who I think looked up to compete every game both physically and mentally was Christian Roldan
     
  2. GoodHands

    GoodHands Member+

    AC Milan
    United States
    Jul 17, 2024
    Yep Seattle had a perfect Club WC, three losses. They were not totally outclassed but they were simply outclassed.
    LAFC is just as bad and Inter Miami got a lucky draw and actually has a chance to advance but, even if they do advance they will lose. They are playing good only because of one player. The rest of the team is hot garbage, but good enough for MLS.
    The Club WC does show that the USA has a few good, and a couple of very good, players but they do NOT play in MLS.
    That is OK because I no longer have expectations of good USA play and every time they win it is a pleasant surprise, as opposed to the unpleasant surprise of a loss.
     
  3. STR1

    STR1 Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    May 29, 2010
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Mexico has won more trophies than us in CONCACAF. Mexico has better International record than us (and that isn't saying much). Mexico has Olympic medals, 2 runner-ups in Copa America and a Confederations Cup to their name. Mexico has a better resume than USMNT. We "catch up" when they are down. Isn't everyone saying and bringing up stats that this is the worst Mexico ever and that is why Berhalter beat them twice in a final? The own USMNT fans are saying this last part not me. So they pretty much agree we are behind and not caught up.

    Liga MX vs MLS...well, we know the outcome.
     
  4. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    im simply saying that IF the USMNT wants to look for players (at this present moment in time), that they shouldnt be looking in MLS

    Im not comparing "mexican soccer" with "usa soccer" YOU ARE

    rather, i am focusing on the specific pool of usmnt-eligible players in each league....and comparing those.....which NWESFLASH isnt even the same thing as "MLS" bc......foreigners in MLS are the reason it is even as good as it is......so americans in MLS dont reflect mls results or performances....theres a loose correlation and certain relationship...nothing more....and it weakens yearly...this aint 2001



    i would argue that american players in any league represented in the CWC should be given precedence over americans in MLS bc americans in MLS suck (compared to international, World cup standards)

    MLS couldve even got results in the CWC and it wouldnt have made the americans in mls good...or worthy of the usmnt.....(it wouldve likely signalled that MLS has some good foreign players, nothing more)
     
  5. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    mls players cant handle not havaing all day on the ball to take multiple touches......they cant handle not having space and time to change thier minds with the ball....good teams/leagues dont let players have that...but they are used to ahivng it in mls....mls doesnt spend on defense.....mls defenses are trash

    but the players are very fit and athletic..a lot of them even have decent skills.....they just arent quick mentally...and that makes all the difference in the scorelines
     
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  6. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    lol

    Since 2001

    There’s a post on the page before this that provides stats proving my point.
     
  7. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
     
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  8. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Seattle>Inter Milan
     
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  9. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Seattle exceeded my expectations by not getting pulverized.
     
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  10. STR1

    STR1 Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    May 29, 2010
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    I guess my mistake was not saying "since Berhalter USMNT has looked decent and won trophies". Then some of you would agree that this is the worst Mexico ever and that was the main reason we were beating them under Berhalter and ELO rankings prove this is the worst Mexico ever. My mistake.

    But point still stands that Mexico has done more than US and has a better resume. And that isn't saying much nor a compliment since Mexico is just as mid as USMNT (no matter if it's the A or B or Z USMNT)
     
  11. STR1

    STR1 Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    May 29, 2010
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    .
    Did better than Milan lol. Honestly they exceeded my expectations too. Sure they lost but didn't look out of place in the 3 games. The MLS haters are in the mud right now.
     
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  12. An Unpaved Road

    An Unpaved Road Member+

    Mar 22, 2006
    Club:
    --other--
    On reddit I saw someone link to an old comment when the groups were announced that Miami would concede 12 between Porto and Palmeiras. :ROFLMAO:
     
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  13. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't think that second post here is about "since Berhalter." It seems like it's about now.

    And in my response, I specifically said we haven't had to "catch up" to Mexico since 2001, so I don't think Mexico's success in the last century is staying on topic.

    I just get tired of doomsday posts that ignore actual factual history.
     
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  14. TheHoustonHoyaFan

    Oct 14, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    For all the conspiracy theory angst about CWC mercenary signings and how the Euro clubs will have an advantage it turns out that LAFC is one of the few clubs that have taken advantage of the special transfer window to make a short term loan signing.

    LAFC brought in Dilrosun from Club America on a 6 week loan but with an option to make it permanent.
     
  15. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    in the most recent 8 game camp, Poch started MLSers 61 of 88 opportunities (which is insane)

    the next window will reveal a lot.

    FWIW....out of 16 games overall ..91 of Poch;s 176 starters have been from MLs.....which is more than the Euros

    its crazy that more than 50% of Poch's starters have been from MLS at a time when the US player pool has more americans in europe than ever before also at better clubs than ever before.....there are sooo many euo-based americans to choose from!

    up to this point, poch has shown a clear bias in favor of MLS in his version of the USMNT

    he's also 0-5 vs top 30 FIFA squads
     
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  16. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Nice stats.

    I’ll grant you that Arfsten over Tolkin was a choice I (and obviously many others) criticized before the fact, and it’s my belief that the actual games supported that choice rather than Poch’s.

    Name others. He couldn’t call in

    Musah
    Pulisic
    Reyna
    Weah
    McKennie
    plus Johnny got hurt

    Given those facts, please name names. Which players from Yurp, specifically, should have replaced MLSers.
     
  17. TheHoustonHoyaFan

    Oct 14, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Aiden Morris instead of LDLT
    Tessmann instead of Berhalter
    Sargent instead of White
    Wiley instead of Arfsten
    Reynolds/Fossey instead of Harriel
    Trusty instead of Miles/Zimmerman
    Zendejas instead of Sullivan/McGlynn
     
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  18. STR1

    STR1 Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    May 29, 2010
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nothing to do with your post but aside from Sargent and Fossey all these options came out of MLS. If fans prefer to see these options why do they claim MLS isn't developing players when they clearly are?
     
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  19. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Tolkin was an MLS player 6 months ago.

    Was it the 2 wins in the 11 games he played with Kiel that made him a superstar?
     
  20. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Tolkin is a Bund2 player for a reason. Wiley is a Championship player for a reason.
    Jonathan Gomez is returning to La Liga2 for a reason. George Bello is in Austria (being connected with a move to the Championship) for a reason. We can keep going.

    They're all in that same band with MLS players like Arfsten.

    6 of one; half dozen of the other for me.

    We have some youngsters that we hope develop. Peyton Miller and friends. They're not ready yet.

    After Antonee, its all the same. Antonee had more assists in the Premier League this season than Cole effing Palmer. Honestly, he might have become the most irreplaceable player in our pool. Cuz there is no other natural left back. Berhalter didn't take one to WC22. We have guys who can fill in admirably if somebody like Pulisic is unavailable. Nobody can even do a cheap imitation of Antonee.

    Of course, Antonee was relegated from the Championship TWICE. So maybe one of these 2nd division players develops into something special. I doubt it, but we can dream.
     
  21. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No. I didn’t watch him with Kiel. I just know based on his MLS play that he’s better than Arfsten.
     
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  22. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, now we know Adam’s sock
     
  23. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #873 adam tash, Jul 14, 2025 at 2:55 PM
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
    bc its not actually being connected to MLS that is the problem

    its the benefit of being in tougher, more difficult environment that makes MLS players better

    some people say oh once player x gets to europe then people will clamor for him to be called in! as if that is hypocritical...when its not

    playing in europe s like lifting heavier weights.....a player gets stronger....if a player then goes back to mls, they get weaker...its an easier league

    1944066928852504694 is not a valid tweet id


    USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi on differences between MLS and Eredivisie ️
    “Just a major difference from the U.S. It's just the speed that you play the game a little bit you don't have as much time as you think or it's just a little bit different intensity,” he explained.
    “But for the most part, both leagues are good and very excited to start my fourth season here, of course.”

    this is the reason players like bassett and mihailovic didnt stick in the netherlands...couldnt adapt to the quciker pace of play and tight control needed in close quarters

    if the same player is playing MLS he will be worse than if he is playing in Netherlands

    anyone who doesnt understand this must have never played competitive sports

    you get better by training at the highest levels...it brings more out of you

    and this is the eredivisie...a league many mls stans fantasize is roughly equivalent to mls

    soccer player performance isnt static...its related to the environment the player is in

    so yeah

    if james sands goes to the bundesliga and kills it....even though its only 6 months after he was in mls....he better get called up and moved up the pecking order...because he would then be a better player....his genetics havent changed but his level has....and its a change that never wouldve happened if he hadnt moved up to germany and stayed in mls.

    i think many of the mlsers who played in gold cup could actaully be good usmnters in the future...IF they were in leagues that gave them less time on the ball than they get in mls.....if they were consistently training in the kind of games like the played in the gold cup final, they could likely adapt.....but they werent used to it...so they struggled. luna disappeared. problem is, higher leagues like that dont usually buy foriegners to let them learn on the job,,,,,,
     
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  24. STR1

    STR1 Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    May 29, 2010
    Club:
    Real Madrid

    Why is that when a player fails somewhere else instead of blaming that player or maybe looking at other factors an entire league gets blamed?

    By that same token Latte Lath was a top scorer in the Championship before coming to MLS. He is a big bust in Atlanta United. Can't score to save his life not even on 1v1 situations. Is it then fair to say MLS>Championship because Latte Lath failed and can't keep up with MLS?
     
  25. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    i mean, why dont you ask ricardo pepi? he says himself these exact things comparing eredivisie and mls

    im actually blaming the players anyway, if you could read better

    there could be americans in mls that would really help the usmnt....its actually odd that there arent.

    but there arent.

    was there any mlser on the gold cup team from mls that you think should start in the world cup? i strongly dont think so. even if one of them did, they would not be a differnce maker, merely background fodder.
     

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