In a closed league operated on the national level it is easy to fall back on outdated assumptions because there is no way to prove the quality of any performance and only because there is no alternative. In an open globalised structure competitive comparisons can easily be made and fans are demanding that the barriers to improvement are lifted so that everyone can play on a LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

Players represent the organisation on the field and fans represent them in the stands. Right now US MNT is highly unlikely to be the winner of the World Cup and no US club side can compete in a meaningful match with the best of the rest of the Concacaf region let alone the best in the world. Yet fans are supporting these ‘losers’ in greater numbers – 1-in-every-3 US citizens is expected to watch at least one match at the world cup!

The top level of soccer in the USA is not at the top level in world term, everyone accepts this fact, but nobody should be satisfied with it. Change is essential; change is inevitable.

Think of any great soccer club in this planet, on any of the continents, that doesnt play on a league that practices promotion and relegation!!
Please let me know if you can come up with one!

If that is not evidence, what is?

Incidentally, I think all leagues would be better off with caps. Probably never happen but a more balanced EPL would be more compelling. Although I agree that it’s the best in the world.

Nice article but I think you’ve only hit on half the problem. How can MLS really move to a better system with the players when the league has owners with multiple teams? I would love to see the MLS move to a system where the teams owned the players and functioned more like a traditional league. I honestly can’t see how they achieve that until they get to a point where it’s one team per owner.

Ownership issues, in my opinion are one of the biggest issues for the league to deal with.

A salary cap is probably one of the best things to happen to the NFL and it’s probably the most balanced compelling sporting league in the world.

I’m not saying the MLS cap doesn’t need to be improved, but there is nothing wrong with having it and in the long run the fans will be better off with it.

Inspite of our differences, the facts cant not be ignored!!

Promotion and relegation is used not only in Europe but worldwide.It is the system used by all the best leagues in the planet.It is used in all the World Champion countries. It has been in practice,and proven suscesfull for more than a century.
The issue of identity has been manipulated bastly in the US..”"We are different, we dont have to imitate them”". The right place to show identity is on the pitch.
We have not ever have a really suscesfull league.We have never used a promotion and relegation system. Dont you think it makes sense to give it a try.
We have allready try shoot-outs, wich is not even on the rules of the game, but we wont try promotion and relegation!!!!!

US WILL NOT SUPPORT PERENIAL LOSERS. THAT IS EUROPE.