MLS Non-Sporting Discussion [R]

Its really not that different, but it finally aligns with the rest of the world and will allow league play to stop during FIFA international windows!! No more rewarding $hit teams without international players during international play. No more 2 week pauses during the playoffs. No more stupid 3 leg playoff first rounds just to make the schedule work.

I see zero issues with this plan. On the cold side, they avoid Dec/Jan. They were already playing CCL matches in February. Canadian teams can move games into domes. US teams have played USMNT matches in Denver and Minneapolis in the cold. College Cup is in KC in December. Stop complaining. On the hot side, they avoid the heat of June/July, and just August to deal with. Most other leagues start in August.

"The league will also review potential adjustments to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs format as part of an ongoing evaluation process, but has not yet finalized any changes."

How long until someone figures out they created an MLS Apertura and an MLS Clausura, and they run the playoffs like Liga MX? One thing I have grown to hate about MLS is the constantly changing playoff structure and the overall stupidity of the current playoffs. Look south for inspiration please!

 

There's not guarantee the playoff format changes, we could keep the 3 game series...

As for an Apertura/Clausura, I don't see it happening, the fall season, late July to mid-December is long than mid-Feb to April, when the regular season would end.

 

From their announcement: "The league will also review potential adjustments to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs format as part of an ongoing evaluation process, but has not yet finalized any changes."

I know they will continue to f around with the playoffs. It's MLS. But I have hope that someday the Don will finally figure out that you use the regular season to seed a single elimination tournament. Just like every other post season tournament in the US. If he wants a model, look at NCAA, NAIA. or even KSHAA. Pretty simple. Right now you have 18 teams out of 30. Make it 16 and go single elimination with West and East winners in a final. No stupid 3 game series to get to the single rounds needed.

Regarding apertura/clausura, that's absolutely the format they created, on purpose or by accident. Regardless of which is longer/shorter, there's an opening, a long pause, and a closing.

The Don always wanted MLS to be Liga MX. What do they say about imitation and flattery?

 

Don could very well want that, but he's got to convince the owners, his bosses. And they've shown they want to have that revenue from a home game for each team.

 

The Apple deal restructure (win), the league calendar adjustment (win with some weather caveats), playoff structure change (I'll call it a win, though there's time for MLS to make it weird)... Especially impressive given the buy-in from the players. Put all that on top of a World Cup?

I think spending is gonna jump hard real soon.

 

Speaking of Apple, some further adjustments. MLS gets $50M more, but now the deal ends 3.5 years early.
https://www.sportico.com/leagues/soccer/2025/apple-mls-streaming-contract-change-1234876902/

 

So while shorter, it's still through 2029, and a four year deal is kind of the standard contract for a league.
The only disadvantage is a really small and probably not significant one: There was a summer without soccer and over here, MLS was a major player in filling that void.
But I don't think it meant much, just that there was more MLS chatter during the void years.

 

Yup. Seems like all of this just pushed league into another iteration of MLS. What are we on now, MLS 5.0?

 

And we were last relevant in what, v2.5?

 

So, Nancy is in talks to take over at Celtic. I guess that would mean put a line through his name for us.

 

There are plenty of sources more reliable than the S*n reporting it now to use them...

That said, last time Bogert mentioned it on the Soccerwise Discord, Celtic still hadn't reached out to Columbus, though that was late last week.

 

Huh. So, for a couple, years, this guy was my favorite outside back, one of my favorite players.
And Miami has signed him, to replace the kind of unreplaceable Alba (but if an MLS team is going to actually replace Alba, IMO, this is the guy

 

The heat is pretty high under Nancy's seat, which is stupid after three games (okay, three games, three losses for Celtic, who don't lose three in a row). Anyhoo, if he continues to stumble for another couple weeks, he will probably be available (he won't survive at Celtic starting 0-6), and we should grab him

 

So, Miami are thinking, we could do with an upgrade at keeper, and they sign D. St Clair on a free. FFFFFFFFFFFFF
On a free? He stayed in MLS?
So many questions about this. I suppose it boils down to he wanted to play with Messi and Miami is always looking to upgrade.

 

OMFG Miami just keeps getting better, signing strong defenders, shopping for others, grabbing the best keeper in MLS. Bringing back everyone they can bring back. It's now easy to root against them, take MLS v Miami. but I'm not sure MLS can win that one. I know, losing Alba and Busquets was supposed to be a shot, but I think this might end up as the strongest roster in MLS history.

 

San Jose are signing Timo Werner. That's the MLS 2026.

 

I can't tell if you're impressed or think it's hilarious.

 

I'm impressed. He's only 29 and talented enough to be a German international. He's not been playing much because he's out of form, but not because he's injured.

Great candidate for a rehab project. Bruce Arena will turn him into Robbie Keane 2.0.

 

To be fair, it's not everyone in MLS 2026. I've heard of clubs that appear happy to get a couple possible depth CBs in time for camp...

Nashville is a lot stronger. Houston looks stronger. San Jose looks stronger. LAG and LAFC look stronger.

Miami also had a first team with a ton of empty chairs (17 on the roster) but have signed 8, including all of their high end talent, so sit on 25 and it's a very strong 25.

 

I think what we've seen is that against the world's best defenses, he struggles.He could be perfect for MLS.