What is the talent level of MLS?

[phcitywarrior]

I think the MLS and US National soccer should follow the model of Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil and Argentia.

Use their leagues as a farm league for bigger clubs in Europe and develop their national talent overseas. Just look at some of Belgium's National team's XI and where they play their club football.

Lukaku - Man U
Hazard - Chelsea
KDB - Man City
Mertens - Napoli
Fellaini - Man U

Ship your players away to the better leagues and bring them back to compete for your national team.

 

[MikelArteta]

MLS is championship (English 2nd division) level. The biggest problem of MLS is depth. You can have a great 1st team but once injuries start to happen that's when you see the level of play drop. As someone said earlier the league is improving dramatically. You have to remember that the league isn't even 30 years old.

You can't have a single table because there's not an even number if teams. Also conference help stoke rivalries. I would rather play Midwest teams 3 times than everone twice. It gives me an opportunity to go on more road trips. Remember US is huge and a single table hurts fan travel.

Playoffs are fine. There's a supporter shield for the best team if the regular season. Everyone knows the playoffs are a separate entity, Americans like playoffs and it doesn't hurt the league.

Pro/rel can't work for a multitude of reasons right now. Lower leagues play in smaller stadium ( A lot are less than 10k) and they need around 20k staidum, There's not enough talent, and probably the biggest reason is there's no way in hell an owner just payed 90mil for their team to enter MLS as an expansion and have the possibility of going down to a lower league. I can't see the owners ever signing off on it, there's no benefit for them.

bournemouth plays in dean court only seats a little ovr 11k

 

[phillycavsfan]

I've watched MLS for almost 10 years now. Atlanta United, the best side, might finish top 10 in the Championship. DC United is like Sunderland-status, they'd get relegated to League 1 if they played in England.

On a player level, it's tough to say. I've seen players leave bottom-of-the-table Ligue 1 sides and becomes solid players in MLS. Gerrard, Lampard, and Pirlo all struggled in MLS, but Bradley Wright-Phillips came to MLS from a 3rd division English club and became one of the best strikers in MLS.

 

[So UnThotful]

Them getting paid by MLS teams didn't harm the national team, them not being good and constantly being given important roles harms the team. Let's not act like if MLS wasn't around they would magically get better, that doesn't make sense. They found their peaks, then they cashed out. They would be fools not to.

I feel like what you're still talking about USA missing the WC though, which would have been solved with a better coach and better team selection.

I'm not saying Jozy or Bradley is world class but without that Payday from MLS they would be more consistent at least. I know Jozy flopped at Sunderland but he would have gone back to the Dutch league if not for that good offer. And I'm not mad at them getting paid, good for them.

I attribute alot of things for that failute, Sunil being too scared to fire klinsman earlier. Going from an anti MLS to pro MLS coach didn't help and on top of that, the band aid approach of hiring Bruce Arena is another factor. But I say this, what was one of the criticism of Arena selection? He was too biased to MLS players

 

[phcitywarrior]

Bradley, had he stayed at Roma, could have been on track to becoming a top 50 holding midfielder in Europe.

In his Roma days he was actually competing with a fit Strootman for a starting place in the Roma midfield. AS Roma ain't not slouch. Sure, they're not Juve, but they are competitive. Easily top 25-30 club in Europe.

 

[blues_funk_reggae]

MLS just doesn't develop talent, that's my biggest issue with the league. They need to develop talent and sell it over seas for big money.

I feel like if they open up the salary cap these teams are gonna start throwing money at players signing everyone and their mother to wild contacts. And with that comes players that are flops. These teams right now can't afford to be in that kinda debt.

Promotion/relegation. Have y'all seen some of the stadiums in the lower USA leagues? Alot of people love talking about pro/rel without taking a look at the infrastructure. It's just not there at the moment, MLS just isn't ready.

 

[phillycavsfan]

Bradley, had he stayed at Roma, could have been on track to becoming a top 50 holding midfielder in Europe.

In his Roma days he was actually competing with a fit Strootman for a starting place in the Roma midfield. AS Roma ain't not slouch. Sure, they're not Juve, but they are competitive. Easily top 25-30 club in Europe.

He couldn't be a holding midfielder, he's not physical enough. He could've been a box to box midfielder at mid or lower table English side like West Ham or Brighton.

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

MLS is not on the level as the English championship brehs that’s fukking ridiculous

I'd have to agree. I remember owning an old ass FIFA game where Leeds was a pretty good squad. They went through a big implosion and were relegated. Now they are what a middle of the pack team in the championship?

If you look at the roster it's not like they have a bunch of English farm boys. Their roster is loaded with players from all over the world. I'd assume they would crush these MLS teams but someone can correct me if I'm wrong there...

 

[Charlie Broadway]

I'd have to agree. I remember owning an old ass FIFA game where Leeds was a pretty good squad. They went through a big implosion and were relegated. Now they are what a middle of the pack team in the championship?

If you look at the roster it's not like they have a bunch of English farm boys. Their roster is loaded with players from all over the world. I'd assume they would crush these MLS teams but someone can correct me if I'm wrong there...

I was just going off the eye test but I’ll admit that:

1. I’ve seen more mls than the efl championship
2. Maybe ridiculous was a bit much

I do absolutely believe that mls is worse though. I’m not sure mls teams would get “crushed” but I think the vast majority of them would lose to championship squads more often than not.

They are doing well overall though and I’m pulling for them. I’m kinda skeptical on the amount of teams they’re adding. Also not really a fan of the conferences and playoffs. Hopefully these end up being the right decisions.

 

[Baka's Weird Case]

I'd have to agree. I remember owning an old ass FIFA game where Leeds was a pretty good squad. They went through a big implosion and were relegated. Now they are what a middle of the pack team in the championship?

If you look at the roster it's not like they have a bunch of English farm boys. Their roster is loaded with players from all over the world. I'd assume they would crush these MLS teams but someone can correct me if I'm wrong there...

leeds used to be a champions league caliber team