Comments on: Transforming Major League Soccer into a Super League

By: VeRo T

VeRo T — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:01:21 +0000

England have a great level of soccer, but true, en England (and in all Europe) soccer it’s about money… the teams expect to spend a lot of money and in that way achieve something… and is sad that only a few teams have real opportunities to win the tournament… in MLS all teams have real opportunities, and, at least for me, it would be very sad if this change, if only a couple of teams could win and the others only play for nothing

the playoffs at least add some emotion like only the finals can… imagine the NFL without Super Bowl…

I wouldnt get worry… USA is a country that have good plans for the soccer, and they are growing… the good things take time, and in this case let give it some time… in 10-15 years american football will be much better than right now… give it some time, the MLS is just gettin started

By: Angel

Angel — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:51:59 +0000

Well I like what I’m reading from all the respond and comment from everybody here. I will probably raised the Salary Cap at least up to 5-10mil. for 5yrs contract with CBA. Raise more players to at least 30 so MLS team can compete at the CONCACAF Champion & Open Cup. Let each MLS Team do their own contract (free agency)hire and fired and have the MLS be the Administration so call (Human Resources).

By: soccer goals

soccer goals — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:10:39 +0000

Great article. I believe that they should raise the salary cap substantially. Add a domestic DP slot as well.

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:59:28 +0000

You’re going way too far – but a step away from the ultra-conservative model MLS is currently on is probably a good idea.

The bottleneck in all this is the average US player, and that is just going to take time. On the other hand, you could raise the salary cap enough to bring back the players not currently in MLS who play in smaller European leagues or in the USL1 that are better than the guys currently making $30k in MLS. But going to the point of throwing out the salary cap, etc., just won’t work as there aren’t revenues streams established enough yet to support that kind of expenditure.

Don’t think it can happen? Argentina is shutting down its domestic league for a time because it hasn’t sold enough players to Europe……

By: Lars

Lars — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:45:44 +0000

I agree that the domestic talent pool will be diluted, moreso for Canada than the US. HOWEVER, there’s a lot to be said for it giving more opportunities. Basic Sports Economic theory would have us lead to the conclusion that more opportunity for pro level jobs will lead to more investment from the “labour force” in “training” for these positions. This would be what is best for the sport and the domestic players.

Kartik, I disagree with allocating any set amount of cap money to teams. I think if you exempted half of the salaries from the cap for domestic players, you’d actually see more of them in the big markets, and usually the highest quality ones. Get rid of the roster restrictions, bring in a system where only a fraction of domestic salaries count, and have international salaries hit 100%. You’ll see more domestics will stay at home as the big market teams snap them up for high salaries.

By: s.y.l.c.

s.y.l.c. — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:30:24 +0000

I think he meant in situations where it is needed like a cup or playoffs.

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:28:06 +0000

My vision of what I would like to see in regards to MLS…

- 70 man rosters. 25 of whom must be between 14-18 years of age. 18 (if not more) must be Americans (or Canadian). All of the ‘youths’ receive their schooling, board, travel & meals for free. Upon their 18th birthday, they would either be released by the team, or ‘graduated’, where they receive a regular contract as well as a signing ‘bonus’. Any player who ever graduated the teams youth system would NEVER count against the team salary cap. (If he leaves the team, his salary would count for whichever team he goes to)

- Game day: 3 matches, a youth game, a reserve game and a MLS league match.

-Salary cap: who knows, but more than it is now. Say $4 million (easy for me!)

- 3 DP players, none count against cap. DP.1= unlimited, DP.2= $1 million, DP.3= $800,000 (obviously these numbers could be re-worked, but the idea is more important)

- That means the other 42 players (don’t count the 25 youth players or 3 DPs) will average $95,200+. Have the cap have a floor & ceiling. Maybe like $45000/$140000. All of these numbers would fluctuate based on the numbers of graduated players.

it probably sounds crazy, and maybe it is…

Lee

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:09:33 +0000

Why “must” ties be broken? (Other than in finals, of course)

Lee

By: AVR

AVR — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:41:40 +0000

Good ideas Rafael, but Garber and Co. will never do it. They are making money hand over fist and do not want to share it with the hard working American players this league was built on. Maybe if Stuart Holden was Stewart Holzein or if Cory Ashe was Carlos Acuna, they’d get a nice wage from MLS.

Andy Williams? Aaron Rodriguez would get him paid more.

This league with its pay scale discriminates against American players or those also from the Caribbean who have anglicized names. That’s the bottom line.

By: Rafael

Rafael — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:15:33 +0000

MLS needs to raise the salary cap and finally put the death nail to single entity.
MlS should abolish the playoffs and crown the season winner the champ.
After the regular season is over, U.S. Soccer should hype up and stage the U.S. Open Cup.

Having the U.S. Open Cup after the season, would satisfy those who like playoffs and there would be a cup championship to play for. It also gives all the other MLS teams something to play for and fight over with a full first team taking the pitch against the rest of MLS and USL.