My latest piece for espn.com, focused on the stigma of MLS, has garnered some interesting reader replies.
1)We are all fooling ourselves to think that MLS deserves any respect right now. The reality is this, until we start winning trophies against other leagues, we will never get any respect. It really is that simple. That is why the Super Liga is important. And, I think MLS should enter the Copa Libertadores.Until then, bringing older players from Europe is not going to elevate the leagues standing in the eyes of Footballing world. Trophies do.
2)Juan Pablo Garcia is making what he believes is the best decision for himself. No one could argue with that. I'm sure that he probably heard it all the time, "why play in MLS when you can be a star in your own domestic league". This is why. The Mexican leagues aren't very well respected either around the world. Even though their national team is highly ranked, you can count on one hand how many Mexican nationals are playing top flight football in Europe or even South America. Every player should aspire to play at the highest level. Playing for your country should not be dependent on where you play your game. MLS has lost an exiciting player. That may or may not contribute to others deciding not to take a chance on playing in the US.
Unfortunatly, it shouldnt be your national team coach making that decision for you.
3) People think MLS is inferior? Duh. Seria A thinks every other league is. La Liga also. P'ship also. Why the insecurity and need for the average fans and media perspective? 10 years ago the Mexicans thought out Nats still sucked. Even a mere 5. Now they show respect but still deride the style we play. That will never end. Who cares? No one ever gives anyone credit in the soccer world. Whether it's strength of league, style of play everyone is a homeboy to the end. Your article seems very simplistic and panders to the insecurity and ignorance of the average casual viewer here. The league is scouted more than ever. more offers than ever. More players are showing success abroad stepping out right from MLS. Maybe Garcia isn't as good as he or many think he is? Maybe his style just can't hack it here? He said it was tough, what more do you want? Do you actually think people are looking to give a non soccer US nation, with politics and fear of US soccer growth, any credit at all. Best part is you quote Peter V. A guy who is way overpaid by MLS satndards who people in LA would love to be rid of, especially withthe naive idiotic remarks he just made recently. Gee, he makes 120k a year, sucks, earns a decent salary for s guy that bad and he complains? Rich. Sorry, Andrea, this is a common sense article for those who understand the game here, and how it works elsewhere, and you try to turn it into some sort of epiphany that MLS supporters don't want to hear or understand.
I'll add my take:
ReplyDelete(1) MLS level of play is better than some folks in Europe and South America believe it to be. Is it on the par with the best leagues (EPL, Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga, Eriedivisie, or French League 1)? Surely not, not many leagues are. But it is a young and growing league.
(2) To combat that perception, MLS needs to play in international tournaments of quality.
Superliga is a good start. However, the next step should be Copa Libertadores. I think that MLS should try, if possible, to gain at least one spot in that tournament. It will add more excitement to the MLS season and it will provide a platform to play against quality opposition. Frankly, this one seems like a no-brainer.
(3) Improve the national team.
Because MLS probably does not gather that much overseas press, its perception is tied, fairly or otherwise, with the performance of the national team. When the team did relatively well in the 2002 World Cup, the league was dubbed "young and growing." When the team underperformed in the last year's tournament, MLS's perception plummeted.
Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI've yet to read your new Soccernet piece (though looking forward to doing so), but your blog post makes me think of a comparison between the Mexican league and the J-League in Japan. In both, the players are very well paid and treated as stars by fans in those countries, despite the fact that their leagues are not well respected around the world. Ironically, high levels of compensation and adulation seem to be, in these two countries at least, a hindrance on their players heading to Europe and achieving their potential.