Will MLS's mid-season signings become a yearly tradition?

Persoanlly I thought the first 4 matches or so were across the board intense. Impressive. These guys played like they really cared if they won.

These last couple weeks and I have seen a slight decline though.

 

I don't think its all bad from a competitiveness standpoint. Teams get to assess how they are progressing and can make adjustments prior to the final big push in the fall. That does not make the early part of the season meaningless, but it does give coaches and players flexibility.

 

I like the earlier window (mid June)... it used to not open until much later and there were still players coming in at the end of August... that is too late to jell and is really disruptive... Mid June is a fine time for a shakeup and an addition (to a struggling side or one that just needs a new piece to the puzzle)... also, as has been mentined, there are a lot of players going out of contract at that time...

rand

 

I wish the league would fix things so people cant say the beginning of the season is meaningless.

Its awful leadership to keep that impression hovering over the season like this.

 

Somehow I think MLS is listening to these concerns. They shortened the season, expanded and changed the playoff entry requirements. I'm not saying it's perfect, but I can't complain as long as the system is being gradually tweaked.

 

True, but sadly at a pace that we'll see Hally's comet again before this format has any real teeth.

 

I'm surprised no one has named names but speaking just for FCD/Burn midseason adds have been Hugo Sanchez, Graziani, Oscar Pareja (the last two courtesy of New England), Chad Deering maybe Alain Sutter off the top of my head. Some of the best players they've ever had. They just call it a "DP" now but "allocations" were under the same FIFA window. The early season has never meant much. heck in year one DC was terrible at first, culled, gelled and won the Cup. Last year DC and Dallas both shot out to leads, held on until the playoffs and collapsed.