Sports Center #1 Play of the Day

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Where do the guys who scored tonight play? Hint: not MLS.

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Comment of the day!

"The MLS can't win a road game in Mexico."

But the US can *hype* the league to neophytes via twitter ALL year long.

I've been following MLS since it's inception, and NASL, and USL and a few others before that. I only really know what the league is like by reading what ex pros like Lothar Mattheus(and others) say when they enter the league well past their primes.

The one thing that all have in common is that they say the league has a high fitness standard. Others comments range from a few of the players could find places within European clubs.

In regards to those traveling teams that *visit*, most come without their core players.....and they still make it look very simple to move the ball around us.

It's OK to be a fan, but it's wiser to spend some time understanding the game, before commenting on it.

You people are nuts. Ajax would run away with the MLS and so would AZ and so would a couple of other teams. Ajax has won multiple Champions League and European league titles. The MLS can't win a road game in Mexico.

Did you watch Ajax play a couple of years ago when they were here? If you couldn't appreciate the gulf in quality you're hopeless. More than half the Dutch national team plays in the Eredivisie. Last I checked they were a fair amount better than us. It's great to be supportive, but don't be naive.

With respect to Agudelo, there's a reason why Stoke want him and not whoever it is that you think is better in MLS. The Stoke manager said today that he thought he'd be a ten million pound player. On the same topic, there's no question that the EPL is better than Eredivisie but that's not the point. I don't think Jozy went to Holland because he thought it was a step down from MLS.

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Comment of the day! #2

Maybe over time, folks will *get* it?

Where do the guys who scored tonight play? Hint: not MLS.

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Ummm, not really.

Out of the 31 players that are going to the WC from MLS, 15 are on the U.S. Team,, naturally, Julio Cesar is on Brazil and Oswaldo Minda of Chivas USA plays for Ecuador. Nobody else really plays for what would be considered a top team. And many probably don’t really consider the U.S. in that category either, despite the PST rankings here.

Spin this however you want.

This little tidbit 'fact' swings the pendulum to it's rightful place.

http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2...gues-dominate/

Like you said, believe what ever you want disregard twitter and wikidpedia.

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MLS Vs Eredivisie

When comparing the leagues, it is not just about which league is "better" top to bottom in a competitive sense, it is also about the style of play and the contrasts between them.

MLS has a lot more parity and is competitive top to bottom, however it is a more physical, less skillful league that is also more of a retirement home for older players. Many players are on the downside of their career arc.

Contrasting it with the Eredivisie is very interesting because they are essentially on complete opposite ends of the spectrum, the Netherlands is top heavy and is a very technical league, less gritty league, that is a development first league that does not retain their best players, they are interested in selling them off and developing the next one. Many players are at the beginning, in the ascent of their career arc.

My objective reference for what anyone familiar with these leagues knows is inherently true from subjective observation? The average age of the leagues: http://comparetheleagues.com/img/foo...rison-2011.png

MLS avg age is 27.94, that is OLD like really old. It would be the oldest average age in European leagues by a good margin, even older than Italy which is world renowned for old players like Totti. The Eredivisie on the other hand is the youngest league at 23.9

That difference is massive and encapsulates imo the fact that although these two leagues are comparable in overall strength and players at the World Cup, in actual fact they could not be more dissimilar.

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Young talent on the ascendency versus that on the way out or that never quite made it. Or you could put it this way. MLS players are more physical but can't play as well. That about sums it up.

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get a clue

Too bad WST kicked his family out of their club.

Yup kicked them out of the Club. That is why the younger brother still plays for the Club and that is why their dad still coaches. Get your facts correct before spewing your venom.

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Understanding the impact

of socialism on the single entity league MLS.

vs. capitalism in all other world competitive leagues.

Someone on this site was trying to explain that the MLS has a much better competitive balance from Team A to Team Z...really did you come up with that just by watching? Pro Soccer in the states can't handle having top teams dominate, like la liga, epl, bundesliga & serie...they fear is a few good teams rise above, that come from smart ownership, intelligent general managers and top level coaches it will ruin the league and Americans won't support the teams that struggle to keep up. NASL Version 2.0

That's what's great about the MLS it's a socialist stew that makes every game taste the same..the players are all average throw in that the owners, GM's and coaches are irrelevant and interchangeable...guess that's why the sad pitiful reality is the bland nature of league on the field makes the fans (Timbers Army) relevant and entertaining.

American ingenuity.

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of socialism on the single entity league MLS.

vs. capitalism in all other world competitive leagues.

Someone on this site was trying to explain that the MLS has a much better competitive balance from Team A to Team Z...really did you come up with that just by watching? Pro Soccer in the states can't handle having top teams dominate, like la liga, epl, bundesliga & serie...they fear is a few good teams rise above, that come from smart ownership, intelligent general managers and top level coaches it will ruin the league and Americans won't support the teams that struggle to keep up. NASL Version 2.0

That's what's great about the MLS it's a socialist stew that makes every game taste the same..the players are all average throw in that the owners, GM's and coaches are irrelevant and interchangeable...guess that's why the sad pitiful reality is the bland nature of league on the field makes the fans (Timbers Army) relevant and entertaining.

American ingenuity.

That's probably an accurate view at this point in time and in the past, but it doesn't take into account a couple of factors.

1. Soccer has never been a big revenue-generating sport in the US, which means that in order to survive, the league has to keep salaries relatively low. Which they do through means that are "socialistic."

2. The quality of play in the MLS is slowly improving as the league gains more traction and revenue slowly grows. The expansion of the league in markets like Seattle and Portland, which support their teams helps with this growth, as does the new TV contract.

3. The slow expansion of the salary cap and the number of DP's, allowed by the growing revenue, is improving the quality of play. 5 years ago, would one team have had two players of the quality of Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey? No, and that is becoming more common in the MLS.

You can look at the MLS as it stands right now and say the glass is half empty, or you can look at the improvement in the league over time and say the glass is half full.

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thanks for a response

Soccer does generate huge TV viewership and revenue for Univision and other Hispanic TV channels across the United States.. sadly they watch Mexican soccer on US broadcast channels..go figure.

Anglo-Americans don't watch MLS soccer on TV..they watch American Football, Basketball, Baseball and Hockey...leaving Soccer competing for viewers with LAX, Fishing, track & field shows and cricket weekly.

In 1994 the league became socialist in structure to avoid an NASL 2.0....After 20 years of giving us the milk toast product isn't time to create a capitalist competitive league. FCNYC and Mr. Beckham in Miami hopefully can change this culture of mediocre and layered nothingness.

Regional support for NASL of ole (present day MLLS) in Portland and Seattle is awesome and just needed to be uncovered again..as 25K+ attended games back in the middle to late 70's when we had only a 1/4 of today's population. That regional flavor and support is cool but doesn't translate into viewership or fans of the sport across the country. Maybe it will if people will like watching for Tifo's and the chorus of drunks social network friends singing..hardly anything to do with soccer. Has some Merit though (no pun intended).

Take a risk...sink or swim on your own..or stick to the socialist safe mediocre method.

Wouldn't it be something if Portland Timbers could be know for their stellar Football vs the ability to paint cool signs, run a chainsaw and sing the national anthem in unison.

That's probably an accurate view at this point in time and in the past, but it doesn't take into account a couple of factors.

1. Soccer has never been a big revenue-generating sport in the US, which means that in order to survive, the league has to keep salaries relatively low. Which they do through means that are "socialistic."

2. The quality of play in the MLS is slowly improving as the league gains more traction and revenue slowly grows. The expansion of the league in markets like Seattle and Portland, which support their teams helps with this growth, as does the new TV contract.

3. The slow expansion of the salary cap and the number of DP's, allowed by the growing revenue, is improving the quality of play. 5 years ago, would one team have had two players of the quality of Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey? No, and that is becoming more common in the MLS.

You can look at the MLS as it stands right now and say the glass is half empty, or you can look at the improvement in the league over time and say the glass is half full.

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None of the US sports leagues allow unfettered capitalism to rule. Baseball comes closest and it's no longer close to the national past time. The most socialist of all the leagues is the NFL. Salary caps, revenue sharing, you name it. Seems to be working well for them since it is the undisputed king of US sports. It's also great television. US fans like competition and they like star performers, they just don't like watching soccer - yet, and might not for a long time.

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How did they start?

NFL-Baseball-Basketball

Before they instituted a salary cap they (U.S. Baseball, Football & Basketball) had to hit the thing out of the end-zone/ball park with revenue and TV dollars then they decided on a salary cap, revenue sharing you name it. In addition they have the world's best players at their beck and call.

Having a salary cap is a logical place to end up after you have proven you can generate more than enough revenue to pay multi-million dollar salaries to nearly all the players in the leagues.

The salaries are insane for the pro athletes in American big 3 sports..Soccer MLS Salaries are comparable to a working class joe.

Soccer is the united states has been ass backwards due to NO INTEREST OR MONEY TO BE MADE. They tried the capitalism method with the defunct NASL and the Time Warner backed Cosmos put everybody out of business..So in 1994 they made a poor sport in the united states even a poorer product. So be it.

Saying the MLS has a Salary Cap is laughable...when 5-7 individual player "exceptions" in this league make more per year than the so called salary cap combined for each team.

NFL, NBA & MLB don't have this kind of crazy economics or salary caps. IT WOULD NEVER FLY IN A COMPETITIVE SPORT'S LEAGUE. Actually this kind of lunacy on exists in dictatorships and monarchies.

Having a salary cap for players in the united states is usually a sign that your league is kicking butt and needs to have a ceiling. Which is in no way reflective of the US MLS Model. Semantics might allow you to believe otherwise...

WORLD FOOTBALL has no such thing as a salary cap or transfer caps and that's why Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Man. United, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea are world brands with the GNP of many countries. That's the model of World Soccer...then there is the MLS model.

Bottom line until you establish a history of producing strong teams at a world level you are just stuck in the spring cycle here..the current structure produces a league full of 2nd tier Central & South Americans, 1st tier Americans and has been's well past their prime from top flight leagues.

MLS Solution? More Expansion. Dilute this quagmire of soccer mediocrity even more..Awesome.

It's disgusting...let's keep chain saws, tifo's and a chorus of singing drunks for now.

None of the US sports leagues allow unfettered capitalism to rule. Baseball comes closest and it's no longer close to the national past time. The most socialist of all the leagues is the NFL. Salary caps, revenue sharing, you name it. Seems to be working well for them since it is the undisputed king of US sports. It's also great television. US fans like competition and they like star performers, they just don't like watching soccer - yet, and might not for a long time.

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Baseball doesn't have a salary cap you dolt.

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NFL, MLB and NBA have more money but similar restrictions on player salaries and movement. There are hugely disparate salaries in those sports as well but they are all vastly higher than MLS. Having a salary cap (or a luxury tax) in US sports means that the majority of the owners in a particular sport would rather make money than allow rich teams to win by buying up all the best talent. The converse of that is requiring the owners to spend a certain amount to keep teams competitive and player salaries relatively equal across the league.

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Baseball doesn't have a salary cap you dolt.

That's what the post said - baseball comes the closest to unfettered capitalism. Unfettered means without restriction. Try reading it again.