Now that the US's World Cup is over, Bruce can really say what he thinks of the MLS

[Old Ska]

Originally Posted by knowwonnose

In fact, I believe it is impossible for the US to become a soccer power until we start keeping out best players in MLS. It seems contradictory that the same people who claim that MLS has helped the USMNT a few years ago are now claiming that they can't compete internationally unless more players leave the country to play.

I don't think so. I agree that we were helped in 2002 by MLS, but MLS has helped us as much as it can and without major changes will not be able to help us any more. What is contradictory about that?

[SoccerPrime]

Single table>East/West. Agreed.

Also, I look to Australia, who has barely anyone on its WC team that plays in Aussie on their team. All of those great players are playing in Europe.

MLS itself isn't the problem. Its not really the crowds, not really the coaches, its the players. Yes, people like Dempsey and Mastroeni (was there another impressive MLS player?) performed well. But when they get back to MLS, they will play people like Matt Bechnke, Steve Jolley or Pete Vigenas. That's the problem. If MLS had more competitive teams then MLS players would improve or get canned. More competitive teams can only come from paying better players more money and upping the competition level.

[utah_heretic]

relagation/promotion, single table issues, salary cap issues all boil down to the same issue...money.

Promotion is worth an extra 22 million dollars per year to teams in TV rights alone, not to mention the extra merchandizing exposure. MLS has struggled to sell its tv rights at all, ESPN is finally now paying for them, but if MLS cannot garner a large enough percentage of the tv audience, they will continue to bleed money.

There is definitely a chicken and egg connundrum associated with this...until the level of play in mls reaches a reasonable level, mls will continue to be a shadow of what football is in top flight leagues, making it difficult to command enough tv dollars to make it financially viable even with its current limitations. MLS definitely needs to build locally before thinking about dragging in more big named players. Unless local fan support is sufficient to fund team operations, you will never see a viable relegation process, which I agree is necessary to improve the overall competition in the league. At this point, relegation would more than likely mean bankruptcy to a team.

[utah_heretic]

As an aside on this...why aren't more MLS teams more seriously invested in youth soccer? Why aren't there RSL youth club teams for example? It seems like I recall that the Fire do a bit of this, but wouldn't MLS teams be more involved developing local youth talent at a club level? I would think RSL would be interested in establishing a local soccer club to raise the level of the local game...surely with their resources, this would be a win-win in terms of community support and player farming.

[AreliusIV]

CONCACAF Champions League - Would It Help?

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by utah_heretic

As an aside on this...why aren't more MLS teams more seriously invested in youth soccer? Why aren't there RSL youth club teams for example? It seems like I recall that the Fire do a bit of this, but wouldn't MLS teams be more involved developing local youth talent at a club level? I would think RSL would be interested in establishing a local soccer club to raise the level of the local game...surely with their resources, this would be a win-win in terms of community support and player farming.

Didn't RSL donate 2 million to youth soccer here in Utah? That's in the right direction, right?

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Aerick

Didn't RSL donate 2 million to youth soccer here in Utah? That's in the right direction, right?

U$D 7.5 million.

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by Burninator

U$D 7.5 million.

Even better!!