Major League Soccer

[Wireman]

I figured I would start a thread about MLS only...

 

The league has some talent in it right now. I'm getting ready to watch the All Star game and they mentioned Dempsey, Villa, Lampard, Kaka, Keane, Pirlo and a few others.

 

What are your thoughts on MLS soccer?

[Wireman]

I also forgot about Dos Santos and Gerrard.

[mexitucky]

Don't know. I just know that Pirlo looked very quick against Orlando City and that can't be a good thing.

[mexitucky]

Dos Santos will wind up being a HUGE get for the league.

[Habib]

I've kept up with it a bit more this year. I tried following the Union closely, but that's been difficult for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that they are an awful organization.

 

I like the Timbers more and more.

 

I would have enjoyed watching the All-Star Game if I had been home.

[MentschTrachtGottLacht]

....

 

The list of MLS All Stars that did NOT play was as impressive as the ones who suited up. I thought Kaka's interview about the league was well done. It is still on the come, but it is a solid league and getting better.

 

I loved a tweet that came out from an MLS centric journalist: (paraphrasing) the All Star Game, where if the All Stars win 'it doesn't mean anything', but if the Spurs win 'it shows the league still stinks'. Nicely done.

[Wireman]

What could be done to make MLS better?

 

I know it would be nice to get some soccer stars in their prime years but how do they accomplish that?

[Getslow]

I'm not really into MLS. They had the chance to build something amazing when starting a pro league from scratch but all they've really succeeded in doing is creating a league on the same tired model of corporate welfare and salary suppression that the other pro leagues in this country are built on. I'll be cheering for the local team no matter what (and the city's about to get roped into another terrible deal to build them a stadium too) but I wish MLS wouldn't try to model themselves on the NBA or NFL and try to build something potentially great.

[Getslow]

What could be done to make MLS better?

 

I know it would be nice to get some soccer stars in their prime years but how do they accomplish that?

 

With the salary model they have right now, it can't happen. Great players want to play with other great players to win trophies and make their own game better. Right now the league has a few guys making boatloads and their teammates all make pennies.

[born2reign]

What could be done to make MLS better?

 

I know it would be nice to get some soccer stars in their prime years but how do they accomplish that?

 

I think the league is fine. I think they have carved out a great spot for itself in a country where soccer is an afterthought for the average sports fan.

 

What would be awesome for the league is an unquestioned great American born and raised player that stayed here and raised the profile of the league. Even better would be two players that rivaled each other.

[Wireman]

I've watched the games today...

 

Los Angeles, Seattle and both NY teams have major talent. NYC has Pirlo, Diskerud, Villa and Lampard on the field at the same time right now. Those are big names for MLS.

 

The Red Bulls have Wright-Phillips

 

Los Angeles had a lineup that included Gonzalez, Keane, Rogers, Dos Santos, Zardes and Gerrard. And they brought Alan Gordon in off the bench. That's also a big time roster.