A recent comment made to me about the MLS stating that someone loved soccer so much that they even watched the MLS.
Ok, I see that point. Yes, if you love soccer so much then I could see watching the MLS. BUT......I think the thing is that I LOVE soccer so much that I cant stand watching a professional league that is full of mediocre players. Players who cannot pass to save their tails, can't shoot worth shat, and can't even make a decent play without some sort of fluke bounce.
Out of all the players in the MLS, theres about a handful that are actually decent. David Beckham is one, Juan Pablo Angel is another, and then theirs the likes of Freddy Adu who is quite the prospect for European Clubs, namely Manchester United, who have been watching this kid like a hawk. But what else does this league offer that the many European ones don't. What does the MLS give to the football world that every other league doesn't already? The answer is nothing. It gives a whole lot of NOTHING.
Exciting Football X
Good players X
Decent Coverage X
So what else does the MLS have left then? The league has been labeled a league of wash-ups, has-beens, and players who just aren't good enough to play anywhere else but in their own country on a bad team.
I don't have a personal problem with the MLS, contrary to popular belief, i think its a good way to get Americans attuned to the game. The problem is they are doing it all wrong. Brash statements such as "We are better then the Premier League" and "We could hold our own against the best in England" are simply stupid comments coming from dumb American soccer players who, ironically, only played in the US for their careers. Lack of experience here hurts them.
Lets take a look at the Copa America. The USA lost all three of its games, one to Argentina, Columbia, and Paraguay. Yeah they were missing their "star" player Landon Donovan, PFFFF, what a over-hyped piece of American Media. The guy sucks, no one wants him. The player they could have used was Brian McBride. A quality player who is actually good at the game.
Case and Point, I'm a massive fan, I love the game, so much so that it hurts to see bad soccer being called good. I like the idea of the MLS, but don't make it out to be the best league, or even a top 10 league. I don't like the league because of how it has been marketed and how it doesn't live up to any of the hype. Figures though, Americans trying to look the best at everything they do, too bad they fall short this time, very short.
8 comments:
Does a die hard baseball fan that owns season tickets to the Goldeyes become any less of a fan because they like watching a bunch of noodle armed pitchers that can't top 85 mph with their fastball? Or the hitters that can only hit 85 mph fastballs and get destroyed by any good breaking stuff?
A true love of any sport doesn't mean you simply settle on watching the elite. You can watch anybody play and still have an appreciation for all the players playing for the love of the game. I have no idea how much the average MLS player makes, but it can't be a whole lot.
And to answer your question of what the MLS provides that no other league does: what about the highest level of professional soccer in North America. If you're a soccer fan in one of those cities you'll probably go and attend the games much like baseball fans in the city of Winnipeg go to Goldeyes games.
And can any entity these days be blamed for wanting to be the best in their field these days? Or even exaggerating the quality of their product? Because, you know, this never happens in any other field. Or wait.....
Im not sure if thats the point.
It's not about elite or not elite. There are European leagues that are better then the others, and i watch them all.
The problem with the MLS is perception. They over-hype it, over-market it, and completely ruin it in the long run. They are more worried about making money off the field then actually making a good product on the field.
I much rather watch a team like the goldeyes in that respective sport, then the MLS and football. Ill watch teams around the city here play at the high level that they do because it is a good product.
The problem with the MLS is it isn't a good product, so they have to over hype it all and make it seem way better then it is. I don't watch it, it doesn't make me any less of a fan of football. But when i watch football i want to watch a game, not a marketing ploy.
The beautiful game is pretty ugly in America.
Even Beckham is worried about this:
"The hype is there at the moment and the hype will be there for maybe six months. But to keep the interest in soccer, that's going to be the challenge."
-SkySports
This is the exact problem with the MLS. It shouldn't be a challenge to make the soccer the focal point, it should be the focal point.
*Queue blatant, and unimpressive marketing gimmicks.
You watch recreational soccer in Winnipeg. If you're willing to watch that (and play it) why wouldn't you be willing to watch mid-end soccer on TV?
Yes and...
I don't consider MLS anything by a massive marketing ploy concealed behind the sport of soccer.
And when there is a choice between Elite soccer on TV and wash ups and old timers, I'm pretty sure anyone normal would pick the better soccer.
Most people rather watch the NHL rather then the AHL. MLB rather then the Triple A. NFL rather then CFL or Arena Football. And the list can go on forever.
The biggest thing to come to the MLS is David Beckham, and he doesn't really want to be there, he wants to be back in Madrid, he has said so himself. Problem is he signed a contract. Don't be surprised if hes gone after this season though. If it wasn't for the money hes getting and new sponsors, he wouldn't be over here. And that is the MLS in a nutshell.
City soccer is great, i enjoy it a lot. It has passion. Something the MLS lacks immensely, and that Europe overflows with. I could go on forever about the MLS, but its Rubbish, I rather watch ants mate.
Beastiality... Another sin.
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