I simply do not want the MLS to go the way of all those so called 'better' leagues like the EPL etc...where frankly...it is incredibly rare when a lesser team (Leicester) actually wins. Most of the teams in those leagues play to avoid relegation. No offense but that is not fun to me. The few teams at the top play to win...the second tier plays for berths in some of the cups. To me...those leagues suck to watch. I like that to be consistently better then other teams in MLS means your organization has to be very good at putting a TEAM together. Alas, Heitz is not that man. Nice thing is though...'always next season' actually can be a turn around in MLS. Last to first and certainly last to playoffs is very possible...and I like that. Honestly, for me it is so hard to determine if some of those so called great leagues are even better then MLS at this point. At the top sure...Barcelona and Real Madrid clearly better then anything MLS can even try to put together...but the rest of the league? Hmmm. Suspect. They might be way better...but those fans are all hoping for the rare once a twenty years upset of the top 2...and playing for 3-rel spots. No fun to me. I do not even know how fun it would be to root for the top 2 in a league like that. Literally its about the couple games vs the rival and that would be it for me. So...though as Juice said the 'byzantine' rules of MLS are likely unnecessary at this point...I am glad our league is where it is.
It might be an advantage to teams with owners willing to spend more to get a winner ( or not in some examples close to us). Probably works against parity.
I agree with all of this. Of course, watching a team that is constantly near the bottom of the league without relegation is not much fun, either. At least we don't have that relegation drama! We can "wait till next year" without worrying about playing (and losing to) Indy 11 or Rio Grand Valley Toros FC in front of 1,500 at Soldier Field!
agree with all this and I acknowledge it’s a tough job to balance growth of the league with keeping it healthy and competitive unjust think you can do it in a way that’s a lot less confusing than the current method
Agreed. The parity achieved in the MLS results in a the odd surging back and forth of table standings...and "hope" for every team throughout the majority of the season. 8 of 15 have around 1PPG. 8 of 15 have 4(or less) wins at home. Most have 8 games remaining...so any of bottom 8 could "get hot"...but they are largely all fighting for the last 2 play off spots. From a 100k foot view, it's better than most.
I just wish the "Well, there's always next year" wouldn't happen until at least September but when this sh*t seems to be happening in April/May the last few. years that seems a little early.
I agree 100% that the EPL does suck! The cup tournaments save foreign leagues/teams, though. This Leagues Cup crap is done so poorly we might as well just extend the number of games in the season but Cup games interspersed throughout the season make for some really interesting choices, lineups, etc. You get to watch actual squad rotation not just dictated by injury, but by tactics. You get to see real squad depth and formation changes and tough choices by the coach. You get to see the kids play in meaningful games. These things are fun. If Man City aren’t completely decimated by FFP then the European leagues will truly be destroyed and the Superliga should just move in.
Im not as anti-Leagues Cup as some but I wish it at least followed the USOC schedule with games smattered throughout — the full month break is a momentum killer I understand that the Liga MX schedule adds a challenge, but you can just do part in the Apertura and part in the Clausura
Exactly. I like Cup tournaments and they add some fun during a season but this whole month crap feels more like a waste of time than anything else.
I saw Chelsea is trying to sell off their women's team to their parent company. Their also trying to sell off real estate the same way. They're probably valuing them more, maybe a lot more, than their fair market value. https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/chelsea-women-sale-blueco-premier-league-fair-market-value-wsl/ Everton's prospective buyers took a look at the books & backed out. It's a shame that modest clubs like Everton & Nottingham Forest are punished severely, while Chelsea & Man City barely get a slap on the hand for far great rule breaking. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cz47yqpr5pwo Can the microscope fall on MLS & Saudi League flouting the rules everyone else is forced to play by?
Saw some postings elsewhere about Shaqiri by TyrusRose that tell me math was apparently not his favorite subject in third grade.
Just read the MIR article on Fire roster moves. In this article, and others, it is mentioned that the roster is full and no acquisitions can be made until “somebody” substantial is moved out. In the past, posters on this site have said freeing up a roster spot is not terribly difficult. Seems to be a conflict here. Does anybody know what the rules are for mutual termination? It would seem that an easy solution would be to approach a player (or two or three) at the end of roster who are not getting any time on the field and have little future prospects and tell them “ we will pay you the rest of your contract now if you just leave”. If permissible, this would seem to be an idea that should work.
Agreed, although I am uncomfortable with thought of Heitz/ Pelzer acting in a timely manner. My post was requesting information regarding the rules. What is possible? Apparently some people think the current full roster is a significant barrier to any current acquisition activity and, in years past, a number of people posting here said it was not.
I don't understand why we should be excited....or actually even *care* about the transfer window. The folks calling the shots for it are the same ones who have reliably mucked it up for their complete tenure. Club changes at the top? Count me in, I would be excited and hopeful and maybe something cool will happen. Absent that, cool is only going to happen by accident.
You hope some key players (assuming we have any) are ringing up the decision makers and asking when they intend to strengthen the squad. Since the mass media has checked out and the media that does cover the team is neutered, no one else can hold the team accountable.
I think you mean the last window was apparently slightly better-jury still out on some players. No acquisitions summer of 2023 ( another problem of current regime).
What do you mean, no acquisitions summer of 2023?!? We signed Designated Player, umm, Doubla? What was his name? Ousmane Doumbia (honestly, I had to look up his name as I had forgotten it. He made that much of an impression) That probably makes your point better than anything else.
Yes having judged the fact that all the GREAT MLS teams make big summer moves and conversely the Fire have RARELY if ever made big summer moves aside from Jairo Torres and Ousmane Doumbia, I do not expect much. But yes, getting Shaqiri off the books ASAP should be a priority to free up a DP slot, remember Gimenez can be bought down so IF there was someone they were looking at that would require a DP tag that's one place to get the DP title from. But also yes, moving guys on the bottom of the roster is a way to get rid of bodies selling them off to other MLS clubs or USL clubs. Will anything of any significance happen? I am not holding my breath and oh yes, I also could not give 2 sh*ts about Leagues Cup. Wallower status confirmed. Give me USOC please?
Is there any possibility that no moves are being made this summer because Joe has come to his senses, and is tired of good money after bad, and told H&P that they're not to make any moves until their replacements arrive aftwr this season end? I know, I know, take it to the Optimism thread. If we had a Delusion thread I'da puosted it there.
We can probably cross another one off our list. Antoine Griezmann to MLS is on! LAFC 'make progress' in deal to sign Atletico Madrid star with France international offered deal to become second-highest earner in MLS https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/an...elease-clause-summer-move/blt2969c0a583879ed c