Is the MLS the new force in football

[Thankyou4calling]

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?

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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.

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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.

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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.