1) Why is it that this coming week, Canada, Mexico, ####mp;T, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama (among others in the CONCACAF region) will play matches on the international dates while the USA remains idle?
It can’t be that the Fed doesn’t want to “disturb” a season in progress— after all, Mexico’s deep into their season too and it’s not like that’s ever stopped anyone anyway. Club have to release their players, so there can’t be any argumenst from the foreign clubs, either.
This is now the third international date that U.S. Soccer has missed since Bruce Arena’s departure, and with such dates becoming scarcer and scarcer, why aren’t the men taking advantage of the opportunity to get together. Arena constantly told all of us that coming into national team camps only made players better, and new USSF president Sunil Gulati says he wants the U.S. men to be able to take on the world. If you believe Gulati, then ask: Why isn’t the USA playing?
2) Do American soccer fans know that MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s annual salary now exceeds that of all but one MLS player? Yep. According to the SportsBusiness Journal, Don Garber’s new contract — which carries him through the 2010 World Cup has a base pay of $1.3m annually, with incentives that could take him above $2m a year.
The only player in MLS whose base pay comes close to that is the salary of Juan Francisco Palencia, who has a guaranteed base of $1,360,000 at Chivas USA (Figures according to those leaked by the MLSPA to the Washington Post earlier this year)
Yep, your faves Landon Donovan ($900,000), Freddy Adu ($550,000), Clint Dempsey ($86.488) and Bill Gaudette ($11,700) don’t match the main man.
3) Speaking of cash, why is MLS so hesitant to sell players when it has good offers for them?
In the past year, MLS has turned down $3m for Clint Dempsey from Charlton and $5 million for Eddie Johnson from Benfica (to say nothing of a reported $2m offer from English 2nd division side West Browich Albion).
Now, Johnson is earning some $875,500 this season in KC, which works out to about $55K a game to date (or $437,750 a goal — not bad if you can get it), so a change of scenery wouldn’t necessarily put more cash in his pocket.
But Dempsey, who earns just about $6600 a game (all figures are arrived at by dividing salaries by games played to date) would stand to make a sizable chunk of cash if he moved — his cut of the transfer fee alone would be about 4 times what MLS pays him in a single season!
Three seasons ago, there was another guy who wanted to leave the league badly, and his game suffered as his transfer saga dragged on. That guy was DaMarcus Beasley (who, shockingly, is now unhappy at PSV Eindhoven), and the club was the Chicago Fire. The situation hurt both the player and the club.
Dempsey is in the same boat, and the fact is that MLS will lose his services after the 2007 season anyway, so why not get cash for him now while an offer is on the table? And Johnson, who hasn’t been burning up the league either, can only see his stock go down the longer he remains in Kansas City.
MLS likes to pretend that its players are widely sought after, and that they are, in the words of Garber, under-appreciated stars. Unfortunately, neither of these suppositions is correct. Dempsey is a great guy, but even he’d admit that he isn’t driving ticket sales to New England home games. That isn’t his fault — there isn’t a single player in the league who does.
We disagree with Arena (who reportedly earns $1.4m at RBNY, in case you’re curious) on many things, but he is correct when he says the league was better a few years back when players such as Carlos Valderrama and Marco Etcheverry were on the rosters. Those guys were genuine world stars and the lack of men like them today points up MLS’ Achilles’ heel. This is a league that must compete against leagues at home and foreign leagues and teams on TV that are stocked with stars and do have the best talent — MLS just can’t keep pace no matter how hard the guys try.
From where we sit, the first step to solving this is fairly simple: Sell the guys who are in demand. Then use the money to help attract some folks that would improve the quality of the play on the field or provide leadership and teaching to a new generation of players.
UPDATED: Josh Wolff's proposed move to Derby from KC fell through after Wolff failed to get a work permit from the British government. While Wolff was on the World Cup team, he did not appear in 75% of their matches over the past 2 years, which is the common work permit standard for internaitonals. Wolff also does not have an EU tie or an EU passport.
Shalrie Joseph's $1m move to Celtic from New England was also nixed, but this time by MLS, which refused to sell him.
4) As it happens, we had lunch with Dempsey a few weeks ago and one of the things that he said he finds so frustrating about the league as it stands right now is that teams play so many meaningless games.
“I’d love to be in a league where every game matters,” Dempsey told us.
This has been a fan complaint for some time; when players start talking about this, however, the suits should listen up. Why? Well, how can players — especially those folks earning $11,700 a season — be expected to give their all day in and day out if they feel every game doesn’t matter?
We’d like to offer a solution. With Toronto entering the league next season, creating an unbalanced league, MLS has a fine opportunity to jettison the conference structure and go to a single-table system.
The rewards of this are obvious: If you award the league title to the overall point leader at the end of the year, every game means much more than if you’re just jockeying for one of eight playoff slots.
Now, we know MLS loves the playoffs (we cannot figure out why, as they have been consistent flops in terms of attendance and attention, but whatever), so we think we have to keep them. And we would: Make the MLS Cup a League Cup to be competed for at the end of the regular season.
Here’s how it could work:
All teams are eligible. Give the top four teams at season’s end a two-round bye. Make the 12th place team play the 13th place team for the wild-card berth. Then, have the fifth through 12th place team (or the wild-card slot) play in a home-home knockout total goals series. Five plays 12/WC, six plays eleven and so on.
That leaves four teams, who then join the top four in what is a de facto quarterfinal round. Play a home-and-home series again with No. 1 playing the lowest seed alive and so forth, and you get four teams. A home-home semifinal leads into the MLS Cup.
This forms a five-week playoff series, counting the wild card. Teams get bonuses for each round they get to, and the competition forms the third major trophy in the American case, next to the US Open Cup and the new League Championship.
It seems to make sense to us — what do you fans think?
I think the playoff structure can provide some excitement and meaning if the number of eligible teams is reduced from eight to four. Since we don't have promotion/relegation, we lose some of the end of the year drama without a playoff scramble of some kind. By reducing the number of teams qualifying, it would make each match much more significant and get rid of the possibility of a champion that just got hot at the end of the year.
Last edited by united12 on August 30th at 9:47 AM.
I think it makes too much sense, Jamie. And that's why the MLS won't change it. Seems to me the management of the MLS are hell-bent on everything being their way, and it does little to offer fans/outsiders opinions. I have drawn up a perfect scenario for the MLS to expand and increase attention, fan-base and media exposure. Feel free to contact me and I'll share my plan. If only I had a voice to MLS.
BTW, when I noticed the international break, I immediately linked to USSF homepage. I was shocked not to see any matches scheduled the USMNT in the upcoming months. I also have this disaster feeling in my head that US will miss out on Klinsmann, Quieroz or some other coach with an international pedigree and end up signing another MLS guy. Fantastic. Yippie. Hoo ahh.
In the conversations you've had with people in MLS, have they ever said why they want the playoff format to be like it is? Do they not care that it makes no sense at all?
Do they realize that if you win the MLS Cup Playoffs you don't actually win the "MLS Cup?" You actually win the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy. You don't see the NHL calling their championship the NHL Cup Finals and then handing the winner the Stanley Cup.
I like your playoff structure idea somewhat. I'm definitely in favor of a single table. But I don't think the League Cup would add anything other than confusion for the casual fans.
I think MLS needs the top 4 teams in the playoffs (even with 13 teams). The 1 seed plays the 4 seed and the 2 seed plays the 3 seed in 2 legged semis. Then have a 2 legged final. But no away goals rule.
Last edited by MrRedDevil on August 30th at 1:10 PM.
I know Super Garber wants the league to eventually be 16 teams, and if that happens, it should still be single table, with 6 playoff teams. Top two teams get byes. Like the NFL playoff system, except with two legged series.
I can't believe I'm writing this, but I agree with you 100% on the playoff setup Red Devil. 4 teams as present, 6 when they get to 16 or 18. There will still be a race for the last available spot at the end of the year, as the second place team usually is not widely seperated from the rest of the pack. Teams could not take it easy during any point in the season and each match will have atmosphere. It's the best solution to the problem b/c it does facilitate some jockeying for spots, rewards only good teams, and presses teams to compete in each match.
Eddie says he would have gone to Benfica if MLS had agreed a fee with them.
In this SI article from July 12, 2005, Grant Wahl reports:
"MLS turned down a $4 million transfer offer for Johnson from Portugal's Benfica. Clearly MLS didn't want to lose another young marketable star to Europe, but many observers wondered why the league refused even to negotiate with Benfica; MLS never countered the initial $4 million offer. In hindsight, Johnson said in May, he would have jumped at the chance for a higher salary with one of Europe's storied teams.
"If they were offering that much money, they must have wanted to play me," he said. "I look at it as, what's important for my family and my future? If the MLS said we'll sell you, I would've gone.""
The single entity concept needs to be scrapped. I understand the initial reasoning but it only now restricts player movement, salaries, transfers, and affects the quality of play. It's time for MLS to realize that by allowing individual/group ownership make decisions on their club, as well as allowing these persons to spend money on players, that the league will prosper (of course, continue with a salary cap but do increase it considerably; and do limit how much in transfer fees clubs can spend each year). Better salaries will garner the attention of US and foreign players, and this in return will draw fans and press with a better product on the pitch. But I get the sense that MLS management is a control freak and wants to run it's league like the former Soviet Union ran its country.
I think a single table system would work in the us if you had some other showcase competitions going on and relegation. This might be far off but i would like to see the USL somehow attached to MLS so that we can have a relegation system. Then you could have the winner of the season win the MLS cup, have only the USL and MLS play in the US Open cup. Then I would have the top 2 teams in the MLS get sent to the copa liberadores and the 3rd and 4th place team go to the copa sudamerica. I think this might be far off from happening, but I think this would make every game mean something, and you would have extra financial encentive to make it to the top four to get in one of the bigger tournys. I think a system like this would catch on in the us and it would give the MLS more credibilty as a league around the world.
uhhhh...why don't they just make the Supporters Shield a bigger deal and play the MLS cup at the beginning of the following season based on the standings? Gives you added "titles" and you really wouldn't have to change anything.
A: I agree with Jamie 100%. All of the ideas he voiced are valid for the following reasons:
1. The single table system is the most viable for the sport. In fact, a couple others could benefit from it as well.
2. I feel that European players want to play here. Of course, their are a few obvious factors (money, prestige, money, skill, money, etc.) keeping them away. Still, players like Beckham or even a Ronaldinho or Zidane would like nothing more than be an ambassador for soccer in the same manner that Pele joined the Cosmos in the 70's. Ask any big name player the following: "If you knew your arrival to play in the MLS meant a solidified future for soccer in the U.S., would you go?" I bet the yes's would be surprising because these players aren't like the majority of American athletes today. They take pride in the game.
3.Lastly, if MLS ever evolves to the relegation system, the single table is the way to go because of the conflict factors. I don't know the ins and outs of relegation as yet, so if I'm wrong, sorry to waste anyone's time. With a two table system, relegation would have to work in some sort of playoff system. The single table system should eliminate that by lopping off the bottom three and bringing the top 3 from a lower league (say, USL).
I think its a great idea to send all of the major players on the USMNT over to Europe. Brian McBride is a star over at Fullham and
when I watch the USMNT matches,(no disrespect) all my faith in a good perforance or win rides on McBride and Reyna's shoulders. In fact,
all of the mens national team players that are over in Europe play a very important role week in, week out in the success of their
respective clubs (Freidel, Convey, Keller,...). It would be benificial to the success of USMNT on the world stage, and financially to the
MLS. The idea of the MLS Cup competion is great. Cup competions played throughout the season provide entertainment unique to that of
the weekley fixtures. To this day, I still think daily of Steven Gerrard's split second, stoppage time, weight of 'Liverpool World' on
his shoulders, equalizing, brilliant wonder goal in the 06 FA Cup Final against West Ham. I'd like to see both these ideas kicked into
gear.
Sorry,I know nothing about MLS, there probably is a season long cup competion. But I stick by my comments of letting men's national teamers play in Europe.
If you are trying to increase MLS's appeal to those soccer fans who support European teams and are used to seeing multiple competitions, then your idea has legs. But if you think a championship that is based on a round robin league format, plus a completely separate League Cup, will appeal to the average U.S. sports fan, I disagree.
Between NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and the fall and spring college sports schedules, MLS has been hard pressed to convince Americans that they need to watch soccer. To add another MLS competition to an already saturated sports market would be difficult, I would think. I don't think the public will understand why they need to pay attention to a league cup competition (frankly, Europeans find it hard to get excited for league cup games).
Has the MLS ever thought about partnering with one of the big domestic sports leagues? For example, selling franchises across different sports, like having NY Giants and Washington Redskins soccer teams? It would tap into existing fan affiliations, promote cross marketing opportunities, as well as provide an economy of scale for the MLS.
Like the majority of the others I totally agree with this proposed system. Another thing I would like to happen would for there to be some kind of Americas Champions League; not just the Concacaf region, but also with clubs from South America, with some kind of cash incentives. Its more fun to see some variety to the matches and the MLS players might benefit from playing with the different playing styles of the South and Central American Clubs.
-Also, MLS needs to weaken their control over the clubs and players(Low chance that will happen), right now MLS seems like one big team split into a bunch of groups which scrimmage each other rather than individual teams with individual budgets. This is due to the fact that control almost every aspect of the teams, the teams should be making their own transfer decisions. Just look at the MLSnet website and you will immediately notice their control; all the team webpages are almost all identical formats. IF you go to the websites of EPL teams they are very individualized.
-Also,they should try to get more teams like red bull new york which are owned by a big time company or some rich guy(ex. Chelsea) and then let the money from the company or rich owner buy or sell players and also dictate any other transfers or salary decisions with less MLS involvement. As of now, the MLS seems sort of corrupt and resembles some totalitarian nation like the USSR, like Giggsy said. I try to support mls, but I dont like to see their players stuck in the U.S., they will gain more attention as a better league if there are MLS players overseas that f
Anything the MLS does to put it more in line with European leagues, the better. This system would certainly be a significant improvement.
Also, I agree that the MLS needs to attract some of the bigger name players entering the twilight of their careers.
Let's face it, the MLS is likely never going to be a global power, but bringing in players a the end of their careers, you get name recognition from overseas (and at home as well) as well as the fans the players bring. Don;t try to tell me alot of Americans wouldn't love to see Barthez playing on a regular basis, for example.
I guess my message was a bit long, anyway if U.S players are alowed to go overseas they might become better in Europeans eyes and also MLS might be regarded as a better league, thus mls teams will be able to get better prices for their players.( if MLS allows them to be traded)
-YOu should create a website dedicated to talking about MLS reforms and then you and your members can form a "MLS Constitution" then all the members can flood MLsnet's email with it. Maybe then will it get some notice.
I agree with you Twl, it needs to try and be more European. It would also be cool if some MLS teams could buy some non-famous brazilian players from futsal teams or just club teams because their players play with more moves and tricks and could thus attract attention from some americans who are not that interested in soccer. Im glad we are getting a lot of latin american players lately, a lot from argentina recently it seems. Not that I dont like american players, but players from those countries add new playing styles and could add experience to mls players
Last edited by Purplehayes on August 30th at 8:43 PM.
Clint Dempsey's salary amazes me. He should just hop on a flight to England. I'm sure there's some legalities that could render his contract null and void overseas, invoking the "They're going to pay me literally ten times more than I currently make" clause.
MLS should combine into two teams, "FC East" and "FC West." Then you'd have some higher quality starting elevens. They could go "FC North" and "FC South," but that might get a little too civil war-esque, and frankly, nobody needs that. We're a united country, Gosh Darnit.
As far as MLS goes, I have always wondered why don't they combine MLS, USL, and any other pro league we have out there. Then you could have more teams and even do a A and B divisions like everywhere else in the world. You are right on about selling some of our players and getting some world class players in the league. If we build an attractive leage they will come.
I agree with RonnieP. A single table, each game counts, and then at the end of the year the top two USL teams get promoted and the bottom MLS teams get demoted. I think the round robin thing at the end of the season is just an excuse to have players play more games, not increase quality of play.
Jamie, here is something I would like to see from you. I feel like in several of these articles you do a good job of painting your view and we all have a somewhat collective view of the middle, but I have yet to see you write about information "from the inside". There are a lot of things inside MLS that I don't think the fans know about and so we are simply left up to our own assumptions of looking inside from outside the box. I want some insider information as to financials of the league, the business plan for the next 10 years of MLS. How does the commish get chosen, the actual running of the league. And I want goodies - you know - you have a friend that is anaonymous for the purposes of this article kind of thing. This is where I feel some of your content is lacking. Now I also understand that getting some of this info is probably tricky and most insiders wouldn't want to provide it. Is there some place online that we can find out some of this info?
Here's the problem with relegation in the US: Wealthy investors aren't going to risk big money on a club that could be relegated after a season or two. The big money (in the US) is tied into the MLS tv contract. The USL offers very little return on an owner's investment. The only way I could envision a relegation/promotion system would be for MLS to unite with or purchase USL and label it MLS-2 (or something catchy that doesn't appear to be a defacto league). Then guarantee a certain amount of revenues (sharing system) to be filtered to MLS-2 as well as player availability, salary cap, etc.
Spread the "League Cup" campaign throughout the season like the English do, with two-legged semifinals after the regular season ends ... of course, ditch the conferences in favor of a single-league entity ... but if you really want every game to be meaningful, relegate MLS's bottom two to the A League and let the Rhinos start playing "major league" soccer.
Good blog. I agree that the US squad needs more activity. But on the players playing in Europe, trust me, owners of mexican teams make it just as hard for the players to leave. It's the reason Mexico is yet to see a title. It really upsets me because like you said they wait too long until eventually there is no interest from europe. The worst is when these guys impress even a little at the world cup and the owners pass up like you said probably their best chance of making any money. I also think these international friendlies are great and would like to see more of them, for both the mexican and us teams.
Wouldn't incorporation the relegation idea also help the sport grow so much more? I mean you may live in a city and know nothing about the MLS but all of a sudden a local team could move up to play with the big guys. Maybe its just me but I think it would have to create some kind of stur in some cities. That would be great
Daisy -- Actually, I do quite a bit of that, though I agree that it hasn't appeared in this blog this year. Part of that is due to the fact that the blog itself is only four months old, but the big reason is that until July, this was a blog about the Cup.
Having said that: Look in my archive. You'll find quite a bit about MLS' finances and biz plans, as well of some of the dirt you so crave.
1) No grand reason. The reason that the US isn't playing any friendlies is because no one at the federation gives a rat's behind. This is typical of an organization populated by non-football people.
2) I don't care what kind of experience or how much of a profile Garber has in the US sport scene. Nothing justifies that much of a salary while a majority of players have to make do with, probably, the lowest salaries in US professional sport.
3) Same answer to number one, plus the fact that these suits are just not good businessmen. Their decisions are just plain stupid no matter how you look at it. I might even suggest that this is another case of American exceptionalism at work. "We don't have to do this the way the rest of the world does because we are an American league."
4) These meaningless matches are the number one reason I tune out and have given up my season tickets. It was fine for the first four or five years. I felt like it was my part in supporting my domestic league. I now see it as a waste of my time. No surprise to me that players feel the same way. We all know that sport is entertainment. We can at least pretend that it is still mostly about competition, can't we? But there are those in this business who care nothing about the latter. There are many ways that we can serve entertainment without diluting the thrill of competition. You just gave a perfectly fine example. I've had my own idea involving a two phase MLS season for years. It answers the need of the owners to have enough matches to sell tickets without
diluting the thrill of competition. You just gave a perfectly fine example. I've had my own idea involving a two phase MLS season for years. It answers the need of the owners to have enough matches to sell tickets without pushing those meaningless, pretentious "playoff positioning" dates on the fans. I'm sure any MLS fan can come up with a feasible plan of their own.
The only reason I can see for MLS's refusal to change to a table system is arrogance. They have to do it their way. We the fans are just dollars to them. They know that there will always be football fans in this country who will dutifully attend matches for whatever reason. These owners and their lackeys have made lots of money doing things their way in other sports. Why should they change now? What do these little people (footie fans) know? Well, I know enough not to waste my money, or my time.
I am a football fan first, a club supporter second. As long as I can follow good football on television I don't have to support MLS. If only more U.S. football fans would stop acting like beggars by letting MLS suits take their choices away from them maybe, just maybe, we'd get the kind of league we deserve. Don't sweat it. Just tune out. I want as much as anyone to see a lively, top class pro league in this country. But I'm not begging anymore. Let them build the right league and we will come. Until then maybe we should all start paying more attention to the USL.
Last edited by andelain on August 31st at 4:46 PM.
Hristo Stoichkov, Roberto Donadoni, Jorge Campos, Lothar Mattheus are all gone, without much fanfare or acknowledgment whatsoever from League or Team officials, I would add.
In a League managed by egotistical American marketing suits that crave and enjoy the sports marketing/financial game over anything that has to do with the GAME OF SOCCER/FUTBOL, it is not surprising that the top MLS “STAR” is not a soccer player… No way! The “STAR” is a marketing player named Don Garber.
Who needs Ronaldinho when you have Don Garber?
MLS Commissioner (of marketing babble) Don Garber is taking home a guaranteed $1.3m annually, with incentives that could take him above $2m a year, according to The Sports Business Journal, to top U.S. sports industry trade publication. Garber’s new contract expires in 2010.
The only player in MLS that comes close to “superstar” Garber’s salary is Juan Francisco Palencia, who has a guaranteed base of $1,360,000 at Chivas USA (Figures according to the MLS Players Association, as reported by the Washington Post).
“World class striker” Garber beats fan favorite Landon Donovan ($900,000), precocious would be phenom Freddy Adu ($550,000), hard-working Clint Dempsey ($86.488) and journeymen like Bill Gaudette ($11,700).
Good thing Garber does bring the tons of fans to the stadium to see him suit up and score goals with laser like precision like Ronaldo and dribble like Robinho… Oops. What am I saying? No. He may not score goals but
I'm not sure where to add this, but I think this is an interesting parallel. Note that Greece beat US in the basketball world championships. Another example of the rest of the world catching up to "our" sport. I cannot remember the last time we won.
Now, draw the comparision with US Soccer trying to catch up to this world sport. Perhaps it isn't fair to do this, but it seems to make sense to me (I'm no journalist!). What did Greece, Argentina, etc. do to catch up to our game? Something happened, and it wasn't "youth leagues" was it? Professional leagues in other countries are still considered second tier to the NBA (see MLS < Other leagues), but the quality of the national teams is still there. BTW, I don't buy the "our guys are not trying hard" bit, I think we are just getting beat.
So is there any lesson US Soccer can learn from this? Maybe not, but it seems as though there has to be something here to work with. Thoughts?
Guys, your problem is very simple. You (Americans) are trying to play the game the way you play baseball, basketball, american football, etc; not the way the whole world play's it. All European Leagues use the round robin tournament, home and away set. This is fine if you have more than 20 decent teams in your country; that is not the case of USA. Argentina & Mexico use also a round robin set but divided in 2 seasons in 1 year, this gives the players more "meaningful" games because you get the chance to become champion 2 times. You should start looking abroad for more competition...
I think we all agree that the MLS is all about marketing instead of the actual game of football. They need to start marketing to the other federations and international tournament organizers. Get inclusion into Libertadores and Sudamericana or create a western hemisphere Champions League. Tying the league season and Supporters Shield to get into the tournament will help make the season more meaningful. Also, getting MLS clubs into more international tournaments will help get other players interested in coming to MLS. I think that MLS doesn't want to sell players like Dempsey and Johnson because there is no one of note that is willing to come here. MLS also doesn't want to disturb the "Cup chase" by letting its stars leave in mid-season. Unfortunately, this severely reduces the transfer fee when they do agree on selling a player.
I llike the idea of a single table format. I also like the idea of dumping the MLS Cup playoff format at the end of the season and adding a League Cup, with games played home and home throughout the season.
One thing that I have noticed - maybe I've missed it - but there odesn't seem to be a lot of hype and advertising/promoting of Open Cup games, CONCACAF Champions Cup games etc. Sure, MLS teams haven't done well international tourneys, but building fan interest needs to be more of a priority imho. I get the impression a lot of the MLS teams don't care about outside competitions or even the Open Cup - Houston played essentially second stringers their last game.
U.S. American leagues are insular by nature. But the top world soccer is entirely international.
MLS is building the league as it would build an American business, a start-up company, and with the usual U.S. centric mentality.
It has taken Don Garber and his staff way too long to realize that the action is INTERNATIONAL. It is all about engaging the world, exchanging players, and not being afraid of promoting a foreign stars as marquee atractions.
MLS is determined to feature American star marquee players only. For example, when you see their promotional bits, it is always Donovan, Johnson, Adu and Dempsey. They are afraid to feature Guevara, Gomez and Palencia, for example.
Yes. This is an American league, but the the stars don't necessarily have to be good old American boys...
Fans want personalities, class, style, playing prowess from wherever they can get it...
They are slowly getting on the right direction engaging more foreign teams, but the action is at tortoise like speed.
But at the end the League will succeed, not because of the soccer-less marketing minds at MLS HQ, but in spite of them because of the irresistible appeal of the game.
MLS should take a page from MLB, NBA, and NHL. True all of those leagues have quality American players, but they also have top class foreign talent and market those stars. I don't think the soccer fan or the casual fan in the US cares about the player's nationality. They only want to be entertained and support the top players (and clubs). MLS has their marketing schemes very wrong if they truly think the diehard fan or the common fan care about American stars only. No, we want stars period.
Last edited by giggsy on September 2nd at 7:46 PM.
Amazing Idea, I don't understand why Don Garber (MLS Commissioner) can't think the way you do. It doesn't make any scence why he can't come up with this plan. Hopefully, he'll get a copy of this and FOLOOW IT!! Again, awesome idea!!
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