The Perception of the MLS in England


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Watched a few games on tv. The standard can swing hugely depending on who you watch. The Beckham thing will draw interest but it seems to me like another attempt at making it showbiz, which American football needs to move away from. He'll have all sorts of celeb players and fans hanging off him.

The atmosphere at the gsmes looks to have massively improved as a new generation of fans who are very knowledgeable and seriously into the sport, every bit as much as we are about Sunderland, come through.
 
This thread has brought forth a lot of interesting points and has made me aware that the MLS is still, even after all these years, trying to find its identity. It wants to be understood by the American public so in order to do that, it needs to behave like the other American sports so no promotion/relegation and yet, it wants to be accepted by the Football World so it tries to recreate the atmosphere and feelings of the matches and bring in "names". I don't know that the prom/rel concept would work here in the US right now, but only because it doesn't exists in any other US sports.
I think most fans who go to the games over here would welcome promotion and relegation the big stumbling block are the owners. The next two teams to be admitted to the MLS in 2019 are Nashville and Cincinnati. They each will pay 150 million dollars in franchise fees which will be shared between the current owners. If there was promotion the current teams wouldn't get a dime. The owners agreeing to promotion and relegation would be like Turkeys voting for Christmas.
 
But even then with the youth development, isnt it just the college draft system the other sports use rather than the actual football club developing its own?
Okay, yes, there's that too... the college system to pro is another problem. I would never discourage anyone from attending college, but some of these young athletes simply attend college to get into the pro system.

I think most fans who go to the games over here would welcome promotion and relegation the big stumbling block are the owners. The next two teams to be admitted to the MLS in 2019 are Nashville and Cincinnati. They each will pay 150 million dollars in franchise fees which will be shared between the current owners. If there was promotion the current teams wouldn't get a dime. The owners agreeing to promotion and relegation would be like Turkeys voting for Christmas.
Your knowledge of the MLS system far exceeds mine, my friend, so I am grateful for your input on this thread. Thank you for the valuable information, it is appreciated.
 
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Okay, yes, there's that too... the college system to pro is another problem. I would never discourage anyone from attending college, but some of these young athletes simply attend college to get into the pro system.


Your knowledge of the MLS system far exceeds mine, my friend, o I am grateful for your input on this thread. Thank you for the valuable information, it is appreciated.
I have been watching MLS soccer since 1996. I was at the first ever game between San Jose and DC united and My first San Jose game I saw was way back in 1981 at Spartan Stadium not long after I arrived in the States. You will soon Catch up. Looking forward to coming down for The LAFC game.
 
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But even then with the youth development, isnt it just the college draft system the other sports use rather than the actual football club developing its own?
College draft in MLS is mostly for "leftover" players, the top U18s go straight to Europe (Pulisic, even Gooch) or try to come up through the local MLS club's academy. It's not like NBA where you can get LeBron James.

The college game is bizarre in general actually. Infinite substitutions! But players will stick with it because it's just part of the process if you're not on the top of the top of the talent pyramid.
 
I have been watching MLS soccer since 1996. I was at the first ever game between San Jose and DC united and My first San Jose game I saw was way back in 1981 at Spartan Stadium not long after I arrived in the States. You will soon Catch up. Looking forward to coming down for The LAFC game.
Unfortunately, I won't be attending that match - but I do think you will enjoy it. Would love to hear about your experience so please let me know how it goes
 
College draft in MLS is mostly for "leftover" players, the top U18s go straight to Europe (Pulisic, even Gooch) or try to come up through the local MLS club's academy. It's not like NBA where you can get LeBron James.

The college game is bizarre in general actually. Infinite substitutions! But players will stick with it because it's just part of the process if you're not on the top of the top of the talent pyramid.

An example of the academy trend. Kid that plays for Vancouver - Alfonso Davies. Came through their academy, played a handful of games with the reserve team at 15 and was fast-tracked into the first team. He's 17 now, had a goal and three assists last week against Orlando.

Most of the players at the top level of college soccer are coming out of the academies and are the ones teams didn't want to keep at 18 or 19.
 
Being an American and a fan of football, I have been following the LAFC (Los Angeles Football Club) since talks first started of this team forming three years ago to this, their opening season. I have traveled to away matches in Portland, Seattle, and this weekend, San Jose and I have to say that the quality of play plus the passion of the fans has greatly improved in the past couple of years. I am not comparing it to the Premier League, but comparing the MLS and its fans a few years back to now; there's a huge difference. The fans are chanting, singing, and cheering for the entire game and it's truly a very fun and contagious environment. Football (soccer) is becoming a big thing here in America, and you can see it and feel it when you attend these matches or just walking around some of these cities. The advent of the LAFC is a good thing for the MLS and for Los Angeles, you see a lot of excitement about the team everywhere you go.

There's talk about how the MLS is looked at differently now in England as well, but I rather hear it direct from the source.... so has the perception of the MLS in England truly changed?

The game here in the USA is totally fucked... You have to look at things from the ground up, pay to play means that some of the best kids out there can't get a game because of the expense of participation. Add to the fact that there is still rampant racism throughout the country when it comes to community leagues and you have to realise that the model used for youth football is fucked. Then you have the debacle that is college football, if you look to the leagues around the world by 18/19/20 those kids good enough are already playing with the professionals, whereas with the MLS those kids are still at University. By the time they graduate at 21 they are nowhere near ready for the professional game, and that's before you have the skull-fuckery that is the MLS draft.

Now as if this whole introduction to the MLS for youth players wasn't enough, you now look at the f***ing stupid scheduling of games here in the MLS. When NYRB can play DC and Philly 4 times in a season, I mean for fucks sake come on its crazy. The quality of the players is improving, although when you look at a player like Bradley Wright-Phillips being described as one of the best players in the history of the league, you then realise just how far away from being an actual serious league it really is. With no relegation there is nothing for clubs at the bottom to play for, so you end up with teams like DC united, sucking ass for multiple seasons in dilapidated stadia just hoping to survive long enough to make their move.

MLS is still what it has always been, barely watchable on tv and dull as fuck in person. As for the cheering sections, they are the most cringe-worthy thing in world sports!!! Grown men paying $30 not to watch the game but to lead fans in pre-scripted chants that do not go with either the tempo or the state of play. There is nothing quite so bizarre as watching a grown man who hasn't watched the game start a chant of "I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN" when the home team is 3-0 with 10 minutes left...

but hey its not all bad.... At least I can take my beer to my seat and drink while I watch that dross!!

An example of the academy trend. Kid that plays for Vancouver - Alfonso Davies. Came through their academy, played a handful of games with the reserve team at 15 and was fast-tracked into the first team. He's 17 now, had a goal and three assists last week against Orlando.

Most of the players at the top level of college soccer are coming out of the academies and are the ones teams didn't want to keep at 18 or 19.

Exception rather than the rule though....

Watched a few games on tv. The standard can swing hugely depending on who you watch. The Beckham thing will draw interest but it seems to me like another attempt at making it showbiz, which American football needs to move away from. He'll have all sorts of celeb players and fans hanging off him.

The atmosphere at the gsmes looks to have massively improved as a new generation of fans who are very knowledgeable and seriously into the sport, every bit as much as we are about Sunderland, come through.

You have pockets of die hard fans around the league, you should see the Atlanta and the Seattle fans though.. Those guys turn up in some serious numbers.
 
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The game here in the USA is totally fucked... You have to look at things from the ground up, pay to play means that some of the best kids out there can't get a game because of the expense of participation. Add to the fact that there is still rampant racism throughout the country when it comes to community leagues and you have to realise that the model used for youth football is fucked. Then you have the debacle that is college football, if you look to the leagues around the world by 18/19/20 those kids good enough are already playing with the professionals, whereas with the MLS those kids are still at University. By the time they graduate at 21 they are nowhere near ready for the professional game, and that's before you have the skull-fuckery that is the MLS draft.

Now as if this whole introduction to the MLS for youth players wasn't enough, you now look at the f***ing stupid scheduling of games here in the MLS. When NYRB can play DC and Philly 4 times in a season, I mean for fucks sake come on its crazy. The quality of the players is improving, although when you look at a player like Bradley Wright-Phillips being described as one of the best players in the history of the league, you then realise just how far away from being an actual serious league it really is. With no relegation there is nothing for clubs at the bottom to play for, so you end up with teams like DC united, sucking ass for multiple seasons in dilapidated stadia just hoping to survive long enough to make their move.

MLS is still what it has always been, barely watchable on tv and dull as fuck in person. As for the cheering sections, they are the most cringe-worthy thing in world sports!!! Grown men paying $30 not to watch the game but to lead fans in pre-scripted chants that do not go with either the tempo or the state of play. There is nothing quite so bizarre as watching a grown man who hasn't watched the game start a chant of "I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN" when the home team is 3-0 with 10 minutes left...

but hey its not all bad.... At least I can take my beer to my seat and drink while I watch that dross!!



Exception rather than the rule though....



You have pockets of die hard fans around the league, you should see the Atlanta and the Seattle fans though.. Those guys turn up in some serious numbers.
Thanks for that... you're knowledge of the football system here in the US far exceeds what little I know so I appreciate you sharing the information. Great points, too.

I have to admit that the whole "I believe that we can win" chant is just about the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life. The first time I heard it when the USMNT were playing, I turned to my friend and asked him if I heard it right. He looked at me incredulous and we listened again and nearly fell out of chairs laughing. "I believe that we can win":lol:
 
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