Is the MLS the new force in football
Discussion
Or Soccer!
With David Beckham taking on a Miami based franchise the league seems well established. To my mind, there are some very average teams with moderate support in the Premier league ( there are bigger teams in the Championship) I think the MLS will start to attract better, younger European player and be more appealing to many. I can see the day of a global league where the top European sides take on the top South and North American teams. What do others think?
With David Beckham taking on a Miami based franchise the league seems well established. To my mind, there are some very average teams with moderate support in the Premier league ( there are bigger teams in the Championship) I think the MLS will start to attract better, younger European player and be more appealing to many. I can see the day of a global league where the top European sides take on the top South and North American teams. What do others think?
I am not sure, living in Europe we naturally overestimate the significance of football. Spending time in the US opens your eyes on how far behind football(soccer) is behind American Football, Basketball and Baseball. Most people I met couldn't care less about soccer and I don't see this changing much.
topgunkos said:
I am not sure, living in Europe we naturally overestimate the significance of football. Spending time in the US opens your eyes on how far behind football(soccer) is behind American Football, Basketball and Baseball. Most people I met couldn't care less about soccer and I don't see this changing much.
I agree football is way behind those sports, but why don't you see it changing? The US team get to World cups, the league is established, they have huge catchments of fans and I don't think Beckham will do it any harm. No sport is going to explode on the scene but organic growth that's well managed is happening. The point that most couldn't care less is less relevant tan the fact there are so many that do.As I understand it the team David Beckham is involved in has yet to actually enter he MLS, has no stadium, no final agreement with local government with regards to one, the project does not even have MLS board approval for it's general financing (of the club itself).
So I think it's a little early to start predicting world domination based on a Beckham vanity project largely backed by his celebrity friends, which isn't even up and running.
MLS will grow, but no I don't see a world league with Arsenal playing away games in California, and I don't see the top young players going to the MLS not when you consider the business model they have with regards to wages is totally different to what we have in Europe.
I also don't see football ever taking over from baseball, basketball, NFL,- so at best it is going to be the fourth sport, even that is debatable.
The other issue is that in my opinion it will never be a 'global' league in the way the PL is today with millions watching overseas every weekend, and MLS teams will struggle massively to attract support outside of their own town or perhaps state, let alone their own country.
So I think it's a little early to start predicting world domination based on a Beckham vanity project largely backed by his celebrity friends, which isn't even up and running.
MLS will grow, but no I don't see a world league with Arsenal playing away games in California, and I don't see the top young players going to the MLS not when you consider the business model they have with regards to wages is totally different to what we have in Europe.
I also don't see football ever taking over from baseball, basketball, NFL,- so at best it is going to be the fourth sport, even that is debatable.
The other issue is that in my opinion it will never be a 'global' league in the way the PL is today with millions watching overseas every weekend, and MLS teams will struggle massively to attract support outside of their own town or perhaps state, let alone their own country.
Thankyou4calling said:
I can see the day of a global league where the top European sides take on the top South and North American teams. What do others think?
I think following Chelsea in Europe in expensive enough. Don't think my finances can cope with an away trip to Boca Juniors.But I can see it happening. Maybe the 2 winning semi finalists in the Champions League meet the winning semi finalists in a South American equivalent, to make a group of 4. The top 2 in the group play the final for the World Club Championship.
I think at the moment only Europe and S America are in that league. N America, Asia etc. are still a long way behind.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
I think following Chelsea in Europe in expensive enough. Don't think my finances can cope with an away trip to Boca Juniors.
But I can see it happening. Maybe the 2 winning semi finalists in the Champions League meet the winning semi finalists in a South American equivalent, to make a group of 4. The top 2 in the group play the final for the World Club Championship.
I think at the moment only Europe and S America are in that league. N America, Asia etc. are still a long way behind.
That sounds interesting. For me, I'm not so sure that an MLS team is a long way behind. I'd accept a top premier league team such as Chelsea yes but over a season, half the teams prime objective is to stay up, they're involved in a relegation struggle and the quality is not great. We will never know but I think an MLS team wouldn't be one of the worst three in the prem league. But I can see it happening. Maybe the 2 winning semi finalists in the Champions League meet the winning semi finalists in a South American equivalent, to make a group of 4. The top 2 in the group play the final for the World Club Championship.
I think at the moment only Europe and S America are in that league. N America, Asia etc. are still a long way behind.
The new force in world football is Chinese money....it dwarfs the potential of MLS.
I had a meeting a few weeks ago with someone who has been involved on a relatively high profile basis with a few of the football clubs in this country changing hands over the last few years. The money that is potentially there for major clubs with commercial tie ups out of China is ridiculous...absolutely dwarfs existing revenue streams especially combined with the rest of Asia.
I had a meeting a few weeks ago with someone who has been involved on a relatively high profile basis with a few of the football clubs in this country changing hands over the last few years. The money that is potentially there for major clubs with commercial tie ups out of China is ridiculous...absolutely dwarfs existing revenue streams especially combined with the rest of Asia.
Thankyou4calling said:
That sounds interesting. For me, I'm not so sure that an MLS team is a long way behind. I'd accept a top premier league team such as Chelsea yes but over a season, half the teams prime objective is to stay up, they're involved in a relegation struggle and the quality is not great. We will never know but I think an MLS team wouldn't be one of the worst three in the prem league.
A MLS team would be bottom by a long way in the premier league. Tim Cahill is pretty much the star player in the best MLS team!KD678 said:
A bit like the NASL in the 70's I still think the MLS is perceived as a place where fading starts can go to earn easy money. Tim Cahil was way past his best when he left Everton, and he is starring in the MLS now.
I'd suggest Ryan Giggs is way past his best and he still plays regularly for the premiere league champions. There are a lot of very good homegrown players in the MLS, I accept they bring in others but I think they'll start to attract more top players who are in their prime. Overall the league appears well run with decent stadiums, a good strategy and a growing fan base. I've got a season ticket at Red Bulls to keep my fix of live football up. I think people underestimate just how big footy is here and more importantly how much money they're pumping into the schools and youth system. There's a decent crop of players coming through the youth ranks and at some point they're going to start surprising people at the international level.
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