Originally posted by RicFlair
Wow...and even better you got rid of all the sh!te clubs....It's about time people realize that the MLS has grown by leaps and bounds...not that it's on par with the Top leagues talent but more the bottom of the Top Divisions I.E. DC United are a better club than Norwich City, Crytal Palace, Soto etc...
Recognize....
Brother, I live in the States, and granted, I've only seen 1 MLS game in person and about 5 on TV...but I can't agree at all. The match I saw was last year after the USA v Poland match in Chicago, and I must say, there is no MLS team that could beat any EPL team if they played a series, like a best out of 3. The English style alone would be too much to handle for an MLS club.
Not only that, but in terms of popularity, I don't think that the MLS has come very far. I love soccer, it's my favorite sport, but it makes me nauseous to watch an entire MLS match. The quality of players on any given team is poor, they play in American football stadiums with lines on the pitch, and no one goes to the games to begin with.
American clubs lose most of their star players to leagues in the world that actually matter. Just look at Beasley and Donovan, for instance. Where are Bocanegra, McBride, O'Brien, Convey, Freidel, and Howard playing? Not in the US. Alot of our young talent has gone over to Europe as well, look at Spector of ManUtd (currently on loan to Blackburn), Karbassiyoon at Arsenal (currently on loan to Ipswich), Simek at Arsenal, Hahneman at Reading, and DeMerit at Watford. For Convey, one of the top MLS players, to go from DC United to Reading, a middle of the table Championship team (old 1st division) in England says it all. If he thinks that an English Championship team is a step up from the MLS...there's not much more to argue. You can see how the players feel about the MLS. Don't listen to what they say, look at what they do.
I do think it's good to have a league in the US, because it helps our young players develop because they get to play every week. However, if they go to Europe, they'll be even better prepared when playing for the national team because they face quality opponents every week. In the MLS, they face mediocre teams each week, which can be more like a training session, and doesn't prepare you for events such as the World Cup.
Alright, well, that's enough of that...you get my point.