Should Footie Fans Watch MLS?
Davey recently opened up an interesting thread via email that I thought I'd move here by asking the obvious question - "Why are the Red Bulls playing in the Western conference finals?"Look, we know that a lot about MLS doesn't make sense to real footer fans. The question is - should they watch it regardless of the poor quality and asinine structure?
It's clear to me that the forming of MLS was a key turning point in bringing high quality football to our tellies. But is there still a connection or are the Premiership, Champions League, Serie A and so on big enough brands to sustain themselves here without MLS?
posted by The Blue Devil @ 6:47 PM
11 Comments:
"I like turtles."
So I'll take that as a vote for watching MLS, eh Trev?
You bring up an interesting point Bob. It's possible that the Premiership and the Champions League is becoming popular enough that it draws a completely different set of supporters from the MLS. There certainly are signs of that, the 5-6 live games each Saturday and Sunday, the 4 CL live and tape-delay games every match-day, plus daily Sky News and FSC News that features European leagues prominently. Plus, I opened the Aretha Franklin issue of Rolling Stone, and in the random notes section, there's Bruce Springsteen and his wife and two sons, one of which is wearing a MUFC home shirt. Add in that ESPN just snaffled up rights to show the Championship games, and someone picked up the Carling Cup from next season and it certainly looks like a juggernaut.
I think there are two factors that draw the American fan to the MLS. The first is that it is the live footie experience on offer in this country. With that, you do get the atmosphere; the day out with your mates and kids, a few beers in the parking lot, and a chance to take in the drama of a live event. Still at a reasonable price, I would add.
The second factor is that the USA is so geographically huge that it's only the lucky like me and Johnno, Simon, and Phil, that live close enough to actually attend a MLS match. Davey can't be expected to truck some 325 miles to and from the Meadowlands to watch the Red Bulls. And Steve C, and Greg Dosedel are at least a day's drive away from an MLS club, one way. How close can their connection ever be to the MLS, if they're only exposed to the televised form of it, when they also have the televised Prem, CL, and Euro Leagues?
Your question of whether the MLS can continue to exist will depend on the stewards of the game in the US. The US Fed is busy identifying young talent like Altidore, Eddie Johnson, Freddie Adu, etc, but are they catching these kids young enough and are coaching standards at Bradenton high enough? Are too many European and S. American stars looking to the MLS as a cushy topping off to their retirement accounts? And will the MLS suits ever manage to tap into the huge immigrant populations of the major metropolitan areas to lure those fans into the stadiums. We'll have to see.
Fair point Steve , I didnt realise how many people arent in arms reach of an actual game to attend and college soccer isnt a good substitute either.
If its a straight TV experience, its the Prem or Spain by a mile over MLS which to me doesnt come across well on TV due to the lack of quality, lack of crowds etc..
If ESPN picks up some Prem games as is rumoured to be coming then I cant see MLS competing at all.
I dont like Championship set ups and the MLS is a true championship with play offs etc... a proper tournament should not be both a gruelling league then settled by a joke of a cup - the World Cup has that balance right. A national title however cant be settled this way.
Absolutely spot-on when Simon brings up the ludicrous play-off system. I think this may be the thing that brings on the ridicule of the game played in the US. Not the asinine "yellow card" celebration at Columbus, or those cheerleaders at RSL, or even that Darren Hucklebee can come over and immediately run riot through the MLS's defenses, but the ridiculous play-offs.
The MLS has been lucky so far that most of the time, it's the team with the best record in the league that wins it. But not always. A team like DCU that won the Shield in 2006, fell victim to injuries and lost two straight to Chicago and we were done.
Starting immediately, the Shield, awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the season, should be elevated to be the measure of the Champion, and the Open Cup competition should replace the MLS cup.
Gooner, how could you let Simon's attack on collegiate soccer go unanswered? Bloody hell, mate, you were on the touchline for many a GWU match, were you not? Surely, you'd like to testify to the quality of the play of one scraggly-haired center midfielder.
Did I mention I like turtles.
I'm not sure that it would make a difference given the points that Gooner raises about the draw or lack thereof of MLS, especially in areas not covered by league, but I would like to see these immediate changes:
1) Single table
2) Eliminate the play-offs
3) Promote the Open Cup
That would be a start and eventually down the line they must experiment with promotion and relegation in tandem with the A-League.
Sorry Johnno, those days were pre-MLS. Have you watched Collegiate level footie recently. I have and it's not the same competition that you or Davey had in the '80s. The MLS has creamed off the top talent. If the MLS had been around when in 1986, you and Davey and Kevin Brynie could have had a fair shout at a career. I can't say that many of the guys I've seen on those Friday night games lately will.
Answering Bob, there's no way that a promotion and relegation system will ever take off here. What I continue to see is clubs like the Kickers and the Battery from the USL feeding the MLS guys like Boyzeee Khumalo and his ilk.
I must say I like the idea of a single table, with multiple divisions, but it's just too vast a country.
Single table with the winner picking up the Shield, then an elevated Open Cup that would serve to replace the MLS cup which is a flippin' circus anyway.
Hey, I had an interesting experience yesterday. I was reading the Culpepper book on the Metro and some guy started talking to me about it. American, late 20's and he saw the cannon embroidered onto my hat and guessed that I was an Arsenal fan.
He identifies with DCUnited because he buys into the ethos of supporting your "home" team and while he likes watching the Prem and the CL and all the foreign leagues, he considered DCUnited as the legitimate club to support because he lives here.
So there is some hope for the MLS, but I think my point of needing to be in an area where the MLS has a francise has also been validated by this guy.
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