Originally Posted by
jloome
This is still often true. I find it's a mixed bag; some teams have just enough skill to be able to open up space and create some steady flow: montreal, L.A., Seattle two years ago, RSL three years ago.
I watch a lot of MLS because I've adapted to it; you learn to key on the skill players and lament the general lack of tactical approach.
I think Nelsen is trying a hybrid in that he's trying to keep shape solid, like San Jose, but to not only rely on long balls to create. So effectively he's trying to create a two-way team with pretty static roles, but taking advantage of quick ball movement on the break to create openings.
I prefer free flow, a la Mexico, but most leagues you either get small and skillful, like mexico, or strong and fast like MLS -- it's only really the top divisions that combine both, the EPL, the Spanish league, to a lesser extent now the German and Italian leagues.
If you look at second division or below, it's always one or the other. Portugal is like Mexico in that there's a premium on technique and guile; Sweden and Norway are like the U.S. The championship in England is maybe the only hybrid, where the top teams have great flow, and speed, and strength. Of course, in almost any other large country, it would be the premier league.
I get what you're saying; second-division football by its nature will always be inferior, but there's inferior clever and there's inferior hard-working, and mls is the latter. I tend to agree.