I ended up, for whatever reason, paying a lot of attention to this little tourney. I watched a lot of games, or partial games, on FSW or FSW Espanol. Just about every team I watched played at a very high level, and the pace seemed to be faster than the normal MFL game, maybe because the temperatures were less than normal Mexican temps (though that's a wild guess). I have to say I am/was VERY impressed by the technical aspects of the Mexican game - the ball sticks to the foot of all 22 players (including goalies) and is very hard to dislodge. They show a tremendous amount of skill and pass the ball around with incredible consistency. There were also numerous golazos - absolutely beautiful goals as a result of long blasts, extraordinary combination play, etc. Maybe the defenses were just poor, but the games were high scoring and left me wondering how MLS defenses would fair against some of these teams. (Unfortunately, it reminded me of Columbus losing 6-0 or something like that last year in the CCC.) The crowds were great for the most part (especially at the HDC where they were often electric) but a lot of the fields were absolutely horrible: Spartan was a disaster, the sidelines of Reliant were horrible, and Dallas didn't look much better. I did find out from Max and Allen that the Mexican League - top to bottom - may be better than either the Argentine or Brazilian leagues at this point (well, I guess this is an opinion of theirs as oposed to a fact), especially considering the influx of foreigners into the MFL and with more money in the Mexican game. This may be one reason why the argument that Mexicans don't go abroad being a detriment to their game may not apply anymore - many foreigners are coming to them, and therefore the overall play has improved as have the challenges. Anyway, I'm not usually a shill for the MFL or anything like that, and I doubt I'll be watching many more games than usual, but the InterLiga was great. (Though I still don't understand why the two champions from last year's aperturas didn't qualify as part of the 8 teams. Maybe overall record?) Too bad more MFL games don't have the English-translation button or whatever 'cause I might watch more; if it was in English I'd learn more about the players, the circumstances of a game, etc., which always helps enjoy a match. The HDC, by the way, looked 1000 times better than it did for the MLS Cup, with no sand whatsoever spraying around with every kick or foot plant. It was just pure grass and looked great. It will hopefully be in fine form for the Denmark game despite there being a doubleheader there last night. Anyone else catch any games?
O yea, the American refs get a C+ for their performance. They gave some iffy penalties, lost control of some matches, pulled out too many yellows, and generally had some poor performances. After having a great MLS playoffs where I thought there wasn't a bad game amongst the bunch, many looked "out of form" as it were in the InterLiga. Maybe the speed of play got to them, I don't know. Some of the Mexican players seemed to chaff at having American refs used and got upset way too easily (fitting the classic American stereotype of the Mexican player) while others showed a lot more class in how they dealt with all the inconsistencies of the ref. Still, it was great to see them out there getting more experience and being on another type of stage as opposed to simply another regular season contest in MLS.
Thanks Flashman, As I read your 1st post, I couldn't help but think how excited I would be if some of our MLS clubs were also participating in the Interliga. Oh well, a guy can dream... BTW, nice posts.
I enjoyed the games as well. Flashman, the two MFL champions did not qualify because they will play in the much more important Concacaf Champions Cup.
You're welcome!! And yes, I agree, I forgot to mention that: it would have been great to see the Quakes and the Fire - or whoever - participate in this round robin tourney. Would have been a great challenge for any MLS team and it would have made for a great spectacle. With the taking over of the tourney by MLS/SUM, I think we'll see this in a year or two. O yea, by the way, I imgaine MLS/SUM made a nice chunk of change on this, and will make even more in the future. So it's a win-win for me.
don't forget that there were lots of goals. 8 goals yesterday in 2 games. I don't know the goal average for the tournament but it was very high. The games (and goal average) got higher from the first matchday to the next etc. if you are an mls fan that wants to see some soccer in the offseason you should definitely go watch the Interliga next year (if they are coming to your town). Intense games, lots of goals and If not mistaken the price for tickets was cheap and you got doubleheaders.
Yes, he is serious. Due to Concacaf rules, the league champions must play in the CCC. With the prize of this year's tourny being a spot in the World Club Championships (if they actually happen), the CCC isn't too bad of an option. But I'm sure that in every other year, it would kind of suck to not have the ability to qualify for the Lib.
Mexican technique is indeed splendid, as good as the Brazilians IMHO. If Mexico improved the athleticism of its game -- more fitness, more speed, more uptempo defense, a bit more size -- it would be a true powerhouse, akin to Italy or Argentina. Again IMHO.
Good stuff Flashman. I didn't see as much as you - but it gives me hope that if Chivas and maybe Club America is done right in MLS we can get some more fans at the games and raise the level of play at the same time. That is my hope any way. As well as getting MLS teams involved in this tourney.
They already have great fitness or else they wouldnt last 90 minutes playing in the temperatures of Mexico. I don't know how you can get "more speed and uptempo defense" than they already have knowing the temperatures they play in.
Actually i think its quite possible and alot easier for mls to get a chance through interiga competing for one of the mexican spots, then through a direct spot . All they have to do is to secretly work up a deal with mexico to get a couple of teams in,cash up some dough$ to please the mfl, then cash up some more dough$ to silence any possible opposition from conmebol. All this while completly bypassing jack warner.
First we need to hire Pete Rose to handle the 'deal.' I think Garber would be out of his depth. The Santos/Atlas match was stunning, a real pleasure to watch: the teams, the crowd, the stadium -- just terrific.
have MLS fans GO to the games and watch on tv. Far too few Anglos went to the games, from what I could tell. At spartan there were no more than 30 out of 12,000.
The Interliga tourney was one of the best played of the Pre-Libertadores qualifiers. Not needing to play the pre-pre Libertadores and not having to travel to Venezuela the squads played a more attacking style soccer especially because there was less games to be played. Next year the MFL will get a third spot for the Copa Libertadores. Im thinking they can get 10 teams to compete in the Interliga and have matches in other venues..
Hmmm, well perhaps that's a point. It is true that you're not going to get a up-and-down the field affair at Azteca in July. On the other hand, Mexico brought a team to England a couple of years ago for a friendly and they were completely overrun. Played exactly as the stereotypes would suggest, too damn slow to run, too slow to react to England's quick passing, altogether not fast enough of brain or foot. Whipped 4-0. And that was a nice, cool day. We'll see in Germany, I guess. I still think that Mexico will be one of the slowest-moving, least pressing teams there.
I do not have as big a problem with Mexican clubs as I do with their NT's ... Their clubs have a few talented players and for the most part play attacking soccer, although i also see lots of sloppy defending...... One thing i notice i that they rarely sell players abroad (foreign nor Mexican), but they buy the best players in the region south of their border...I think they want to develop their NTs by keeping most their players home and by strenghtening their league with foreigners (who have gotten better and better as Mexico has lots more cash than almost everyone in the hemisphere)...We'll have to see in the future which system works out better as I see MLS trying to work a combination of strenghtening the league with foreigners/older YAs, and also by letting some US players go abroad and open spots for youngsters....It'll be quite interesting to see what happens in the future both at club and NT levels.... Right now, I think the US has the advantage in youth teams, and a slight one in the senior USMNT....But clubs from Mexico have a moderate advantage over their MLS counterparts...Of course MFL has a much longer history, but still it has become one of the top 3 leagues this side of the world (most of their improvements made in the last 5-6 yrs IMO)...We still have some catch up to do in that respect but hey MLS is still a young league, so there's time....
I love MLS and all, but the overall level is higher in MFL, especially at midfield and forward. We would've been slaughtered in this tourney, especially b/c it would've been off-season.
I agree that MFL teams are very strong at midfield and forwards....It is also precisely on these position where MFL teams load themselves with very good foreign players....Question is: how much will these players help developing the Mexican players (ie will it rub off on them)? Or are they just simply taking spots away and in the end hurting the quality of the Mexican up and coming players? I really think MLS is taking the better approach by balancing things out better, as i stated in my previous post....We are still moderately below MFL clubs quality wise, but MLS is a young league, so still there is lot sof work to be done...