nobodybeatsthewiz
09-05-2008, 09:25 AM
Knight: A two-tier MLS?
We're in pure fantasy land this morning, folks. Just you, me and a dumb idea that landed on my shoulder the other day, and will not leave me.
This past week – and coming weekend – we are getting textbook lessons in the limitations of Major League Soccer. The single-entity structure, tight roster limitations, maverick scheduling and salary cap have added up to the New England Revolution being pecked to death by pigeons in the CONCACAF Champions League, and Toronto FC charging their loyal, vocal fans full fare to watch them hobble out against Chivas USA tomorrow with nine key contributors away on international duty.
Here's what you face if you're an ambitious team in this deeply self-protecting soccer loop:
- Lots and lots of games. Regular season, U.S. Open or Voyaguers Cup, Super Liga with the Mexicans, CONCACAF Champions League, MLS playoffs.
- Tight financial restrictions. Even if you generate millions of dollars selling players, the league sharply limits what you can reinvest in on-field talent.
- Small roster. This murdered New England the other night, when they had no healthy forwards to send out in their 0-4 loss to Joe Public of Trinidad.
There are benefits, of course. MLS teams can't spend themselves to death, like the old NASL did. They also get access to a draft of incoming players, something North Americans take for granted, which would be considered bizarre – even illegal – in the rest of the world.
This whole Champions League thing blew in very quickly. MLSers started planning for this year not even knowing they might face a six-game international group stage overlapping the playoff stretch drive at home. The Revs just played nine games in a calendar month. They must secretly feel that their chances of returning to the MLS title game for a third-straight season are significantly higher, now that they don't have to tour Mexico, Honduras and Montreal.
Read more (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080905.WBsoccerblog20080905092633/WBStory/WBsoccerblog)
We're in pure fantasy land this morning, folks. Just you, me and a dumb idea that landed on my shoulder the other day, and will not leave me.
This past week – and coming weekend – we are getting textbook lessons in the limitations of Major League Soccer. The single-entity structure, tight roster limitations, maverick scheduling and salary cap have added up to the New England Revolution being pecked to death by pigeons in the CONCACAF Champions League, and Toronto FC charging their loyal, vocal fans full fare to watch them hobble out against Chivas USA tomorrow with nine key contributors away on international duty.
Here's what you face if you're an ambitious team in this deeply self-protecting soccer loop:
- Lots and lots of games. Regular season, U.S. Open or Voyaguers Cup, Super Liga with the Mexicans, CONCACAF Champions League, MLS playoffs.
- Tight financial restrictions. Even if you generate millions of dollars selling players, the league sharply limits what you can reinvest in on-field talent.
- Small roster. This murdered New England the other night, when they had no healthy forwards to send out in their 0-4 loss to Joe Public of Trinidad.
There are benefits, of course. MLS teams can't spend themselves to death, like the old NASL did. They also get access to a draft of incoming players, something North Americans take for granted, which would be considered bizarre – even illegal – in the rest of the world.
This whole Champions League thing blew in very quickly. MLSers started planning for this year not even knowing they might face a six-game international group stage overlapping the playoff stretch drive at home. The Revs just played nine games in a calendar month. They must secretly feel that their chances of returning to the MLS title game for a third-straight season are significantly higher, now that they don't have to tour Mexico, Honduras and Montreal.
Read more (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080905.WBsoccerblog20080905092633/WBStory/WBsoccerblog)