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What MLS really needs to do to make soccer popular

14
Vote

by Joga bonita

Style and Flair

if MLS really wants to bring back the glory days of the New York Cosmos, it should not be placing such a big importance on someone the likes of Mr. David Beckham. Yes, Beckham is a good player, but he is not as great as he is made out to be. Plus, he is not the style of player that will bring more fans to the sport. Americans like style and flair (not that Mr. Beckham doesnt have style, he just doesnt have style in terms of playing). MLS needs to bring in someone who will do amazing soccer moves such as the rainbow, the maradona, the rabona, etc not just someone who is known for nothing other then his ability to cross the ball well. Once the American people realize that Beckham won't be doing sweet tricks, making multiple defenders look stupid on any given play and scoring hat tricks every game they will become disillusioned. Bring in a player of the likes of Theirry Henry, Samuel Eto, Robinho. I know that these players would be next to impossible to get to play in the U.S., but the MLS should bring in players like them in terms of style of play. Bring in the dazzling freestyle players that will make defenders look stupid and spectators amazed. Do that and then more people will watch soccer and then when that occurs, salaries will go up and with that, player skill will. In turn, respect for the league will come and in the end it will bring the likes of Henry, Robinho and Eto.

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MegECass110AAA-er
862 days ago
Score 1+-
Thierry Henry coming to the United States will get me legitimately interested. Even though he's French.
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Baltimoresports247All-American
862 days ago
Score 1+-
unfortunately he just inked a deal with Barcelona...puts him on the same team as Ronaldinho
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SSreportersLegend
862 days ago
Score 3+-
You're right, we need style and flair. But the problem is, outside of Beckham, they try to shut everyone out so they can make it a 95% American league. That way, they can boast about the MLS being the best in the world in the wild dream that they do well in the 2010 world cup. Most other leagues in Europe don't do that. They try and make it diverse.
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Joga bonitaJV Squad
862 days ago
Score 2+-
something else that would help would be bringing in a coach of the likes of Sven Goran Eriksson,Steve McClaren,Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger or even a famous ex-player along the lines of Carlos Valderama (reportedly very interested in being a coach)
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Ea34Div-I Stud
862 days ago
Score 2+-
The coaching is just as important as bringing in new players. We need coaches here that will foster and encourage creative, free-flowing soccer.
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DeuelioJV Squad
862 days ago
Score 0+-
Amen brother. I remember a quote I read from Claudio Reyna who has two young kids growing up playing soccer. He said the Americans place too much emphasis on doing things exactly right as opposed to just playing and letting your creativity take over. You need a balance obviously, but one thing I've noticed is that the US is severely lacking in the offensive creativity and flair department...at all levels.
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JgiuffraDiv-I Stud
862 days ago
Score 1+-
The main problem with the MLS is that the rules are different from the rest of the world. Why is an ordianry penalty boring? Why is a massive run up more interesting? If there was parity with the rules then the American teams would be more able to compete in some of that larger club tournaments. If they were able to do that, the clubs could increase revenue and worldwide exposure. Lets be honest, a talented kid who can get a $500K American Football contract is not going to be interested in a $20K paycheck from the MLS. It's all a matter of money. That's why Beckham always has that big smile on his face.
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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer
862 days ago
Score 3+-
You're right. The NHL has different rules to the rest of the world. And notice in the Olympics that neither the USA or Canada (who were entirely NHL based, and had played with those rules for a long time) got past the Quarter Finals? The NHL should be the same rules as the rest of the world too. So should MLS - there's no need for 10 minutes of extra time for no reason.
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JuTMSY4Legend
862 days ago
Score 2+-
or the rest of the world should use NHL rules... America is always right...ask the iraqis...
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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer
862 days ago
Score 3+-
You won't get players like Henry or Robinho. The players in Europe are there for one reason - to play in the Champions' League. The top Brazilians play in Italy or Spain for instance, and the top from Europe play in England, usually. MLS doesn't have the appeal - the players want to play against the best - something they're not going to do in MLS.
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NejoshiDiv-I Stud
862 days ago
Score 1+-
Yes, thats true, the only way to solve this is to have the best team in the MLS qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The Champions League is a long tournament with several qualifying rounds before it reaches group play. I'm sure at least the best MLS team can compete with the dozens of club teams that must make it through qualifying. That way the MLS teams will truly get a taste of how good European club soccer is and see where they stack up against them.
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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer
862 days ago
Score 2+-
That will never happen for one fundamental reason. It's a Europe only competition. UEFA aren't going to suddenly allow non-European countries to enter teams.
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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
862 days ago
Score 0+-
I don't think the Union of European Football Associations will be having MLS teams in the Champions League, unless the Houston Dynamo move to Portugal or something.
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Baltimoresports247All-American
862 days ago
Score 0+-
wouldn't you consider Ronaldinho a top Brazilian? He plays for FC Barc...
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DeuelioJV Squad
862 days ago
Score 0+-
I've said it before, the western hemisphere needs its own champions league. All the top clubs from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina etc etc need to come together to form a league like the champions league. I think it would be really good for American soccer if a team like LA Galaxy got to play a home and home with Boca Juniors or someone like that. There would be some growing pains obviously, but it would be huge for American soccer and MLS.
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TyduffyRed-Shirting
862 days ago
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SS Reporters - That is the biggest load of BS I have ever heard. They don't "shut anyone out" to make it a 95% American league. The league is loaded with Latin American and Caribbean players. The MLS' brightest young star is Juan Toja whom they scouted from Columbia. Their second big signing this year was Blanco. Do some research before just spouting off about something you know nothing about.
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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
862 days ago
Score 1+-
"Do some research before just spouting off about something you know nothing about."

Was that really necessary Mr. Duffy?

Flaming doesn't go over very well here at the 'Chair. I should know.
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Baltimoresports247All-American
862 days ago
Score 1+-
I second that Tyrone lol
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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
862 days ago
Score 1+-
Hey Baltimore, its not like people take things here WAY TOO SERIOUS around here from time to time! :)
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Baltimoresports247All-American
862 days ago
Score 0+-
LOL
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AngeHammJV Squad
862 days ago
Score 0+-
You know, nothing guarantees football ratings like the following:

1) Whore-like cheerleaders implying lesbianism and jumping in and out of hot tubs

2) Determining posession at the beginning of the game by having two players scramble for the ball at mid-field.

Only by embracing the above can football survive in America.


...wait, wrong football.
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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
862 days ago
Score 1+-
Isn't the point of the MLS to provide a place for American soccer talent to develop and play? I mean, it'd be great if I could go to a NE Revolution game and see Thierry Henry play with a bunch of European and South American stars, but what would happen to all the American talent? Where would they go if even their own league were dominated by foreign players? The mLS is soccer, not football. I'm not trying to be Americo-centric, but the League is for mostly Americans to play in order to give them a full-time league so that Team USA can be better. I'm never going to be an MLS fan, but I'll always be a Team USA fan, and whatever is good for the national team matters most.
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WoodsmeisterVarsity Captain
862 days ago
Score 0+-
The refereeing in MLS is also hideous. It is definitely not world class. Another reason that top American players go over to Europe is that they let the teams play offense in Europe and don't reward the goonish behavior that passes for defense in the MLS. Brian McBride had to get out of Columbus in order to simply survive he was getting hurt so much by thuggish defensive behavior that wasn't even being called. It's better than it used to be, but it's still not very good.
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TyduffyRed-Shirting
862 days ago
Score 0+-
American players leaving MLS has nothing to do with "letting teams play offense." Teams all over the world play cynical football. Brian McBride did not go to the Prem to escape thuggish behavior, it often is worse over there. Two of the most successful teams in England, Liverpool and Chelsea, do that. American players leave MLS to challenge themselves on the highest level, but also primarily for the money. A decent Premier League player can make as much money in a week as an MLS player makes in a year. A lot of Americans will jump to one of the lesser European leagues because they can double their salary immediately.

I agree that MLS does and should spend the time to develop American talent, which they are doing. That was the biggest weakness of NASL, that there was no American backbone to support it. The youngest generation as represented by the U-20 squad has shown a tremendous amount of potential.

As far as the players specifically mentioned in the article, that is a lovely pipe dream but I don't see it happening any time soon. The closest might be Ronaldo coming over when his AC Milan contract runs out.
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Joga bonitaJV Squad
862 days ago
Score 0+-
oh for sure none of the players mentioned will be making the move to the MLS anytime soon and probably none of their class will be over here within 5 years but the MLS must build towards that with players like Juan Pablo Angel, Ronaldo (who will be palying here by next season), Andriy Shevchenko (family lives in LA and has said previously that at some point will play in America) and other players of the good but not great caliber and with them the quality of play will rise and then mabye MLS will be able to draw top flite players over
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JamelAll-American
862 days ago
Score 0+-
You want to make soccer popular??? How women playing it in bikini's- like the lingerie bowl-

Remove men from the scene completely- Then I'll watch it-

And commercials need to be all beer commercials- half time- girls jumping on trampolines-
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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
862 days ago
Score 0+-
Why is it even important for soccer to become more prominent in the US?
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JamelAll-American
862 days ago
Score 0+-
Yeah- why are they trying to push their sport onto us??? What are they: Team Soccer: Pushers onto the World??
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JamelAll-American
862 days ago
Score 0+-
Why not just have Keeley Hazell be on of the soccer players- if you don't know what I mean trust me on this look it up
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TyduffyRed-Shirting
862 days ago
Score 0+-
While FIFA chairman Sepp Blatter did suggest that the Women should wear hot pants to attract more interest...
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