Now that the US's World Cup is over, Bruce can really say what he thinks of the MLS

[AreliusIV]

Claudio Reyna, the United States captain who is retiring from the national team to focus on his club team commitments with Manchester City in the English Premier League, said he agreed with Arena that more players should go overseas.

"Because of the intensity of the leagues, and the pressure from the press and the fans, you're under that situation all the time," Reyna said. "That could be that little difference to make teams progress into the next rounds."

Donovan, the American playmaker who underachieved in this World Cup, should consider a return to Europe to sharpen his game, Arena said.

[fuegote]

Originally Posted by AreliusIV

Claudio Reyna, the United States captain who is retiring from the national team to focus on his club team commitments with Manchester City in the English Premier League, said he agreed with Arena that more players should go overseas.

"Because of the intensity of the leagues, and the pressure from the press and the fans, you're under that situation all the time," Reyna said. "That could be that little difference to make teams progress into the next rounds."

Donovan, the American playmaker who underachieved in this World Cup, should consider a return to Europe to sharpen his game, Arena said.

I'll say this again....our overseas players didn't show up for the world cup while those who played in MLS actually looked like they belonged on the pitch (minus donovan and pope). Granted from top to bottom the leagues overseas are better, but this world cup, (except for Gooch and Mcbride) our overseas guys just didn't do anything.

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by fuegote

I'll say this again....our overseas players didn't show up for the world cup while those who played in MLS actually looked like they belonged on the pitch (minus donovan and pope). Granted from top to bottom the leagues overseas are better, but this world cup, (except for Gooch and Mcbride) our overseas guys just didn't do anything.

True dat! MLS is the future of the american player.

[Old Ska]

I have followed MLS from the first season with a great deal of interest, but I will also say that one of the things that makes that easy is that it is played in the summer when the really great soccer played elsewhere (EPL) is on hiatus).

MLS has definately helped the overal American game, no one can question that. I wonder, however, if there is any more that MLS can do to help the game given how MLS is currently set up. Make the league a single table, preferably one that means something...with various final positions having actual meaning (say, the top 6 teams participate in a cup with other North, Central, and South American teams). Drop the salary cap immediately. Lose the superdraft. No ridiculous championship format. Shorten the season (this would emerge naturally from a single table). Develop local academies affiliated with the teams. And perhaps most important of all...diversify the ownership of teams and the league (many of the duties now performed by a purely business-minded group would have to be taken over by the something like the USSF, or even better reoganizing into a better USFA). Do those things and the overall play of MLS will improve.

But I do not see how an argument can be made that for any individual player who is developing that they would be best served by staying in MLS as opposed to even playing for a champions league team like Queens Park Rangers, much less playing for a low-end EPL team.

I'll keep watching and traveling and cheering and shouting for them for the rest of my life, or for as long as MLS is around, but it seems to me that there is little question that for a long time our league and our National team will continue to be weaklings on the world-stage.

[montgjules]

Originally Posted by Old Ska

Make the league a single table, preferably one that means something...with various final positions having actual meaning (say, the top 6 teams participate in a cup with other North, Central, and South American teams). Drop the salary cap immediately. Lose the superdraft. No ridiculous championship format. Shorten the season (this would emerge naturally from a single table). Develop local academies affiliated with the teams. And perhaps most important of all...diversify the ownership of teams and the league (many of the duties now performed by a purely business-minded group would have to be taken over by the something like the USSF, or even better reoganizing into a better USFA). Do those things and the overall play of MLS will improve.

Seems like a good list of ideas. But it woudl take a while, no?

[Old Ska]

Originally Posted by montgjules

Seems like a good list of ideas. But it woudl take a while, no?

I don't know. I do know that a contingent of MLS GMs desperately want a meaningful single table and no pointy-ball style championship. I would think that by 2008 we will see some of this implemented. Some want a change to the salary cap and recruiting policies, but I don't think Mr. and Missus Garber-Anschutz will be up for that because that would infringe on their contual raping of the league.

Actually, what I would really like to see is an MLS commissioner who actually has experience and standing in international soccer. That relatively small, but easy to implement immediately, move would do more to improve play in MLS than if Ronaldo, Beckham, and van Nisterooy all came to MLS next season.

[Jose Luis Luviano]

What's wrong with playoffs?

The Mexican League has playoffs and Mexico has now been in the 2nd round for 4 World Cups in a row. (Better than France, Argentina and, um, the USA.)

I like Single Table in theory. But MLS could spend its money on cross country airline tickets or it could spend money on regional air travel and put the rest towards player development. My choice would be player development.

[SoccerPrime]

We'll never get true single table, with relegation and promotion in our life times. Seriously.

With that said, the only thing that can help MLS is to lose the salary cap, play lower end players more than $11,500 a year and allow MLS teams to get world famous players and create world-power-like teams.

The big problem with that, is that some teams are just barely keeping afloat as it is. If they got into a player "arms race" with each other, MLS might become the NASL. The ideal solution is that with improved product, MLS will have higher attendance, TV ratings and marketing. At least thats the dream.

[knowwonnose]

I think is it pretty unprofessional and poor logic for either Reyna or BA to pin their poor performance on the fact that there aren't enough Americans playing overseas. I don't think either of them performed well at all, and, as already pointed out, MLS players played as well or better than the euro-club players.

In fact, I believe it is impossible for the US to become a soccer power until we start keeping out best players in MLS. It seems contradictory that the same people who claim that MLS has helped the USMNT a few years ago are now claiming that they can't compete internationally unless more players leave the country to play.

[Old Ska]

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

We'll never get true single table, with relegation and promotion in our life times. Seriously.

I agree, we won't see promotion/relegation, but I think we will see a single table as opposed to an East/West thing in the next 3 years.