Comments on: So Where Do Actual MLS Games Fit Into The Galaxy’s Plans?

By: Bill Urban

Bill Urban — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 00:36:12 +0000

Laurie:

cheers for the link, came across it in roundabout, shamelessly-tardy fashion via DCenters; big fan of D, Kinney and Oscar’s takes on All Things United.

“But in the long run, there has to be a better plan than playing a bunch of league games that nobody watches.”

break it down…

Bill

By: Laurie

Laurie — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 01:28:03 +0000

Ben, I like your ideas. I’m a huge fan of Champions League and would love to see your “International Cup” implemented. It feels like right now everything is pretty scattered and every idea that somebody comes up with gets the green light. (World Series?!?) I’d like to see it more centralized and pared down to a few things that really matter.

Jeff, I am so with you on this! My reference point from now on will always be the physical implosion of Arsenal/France striker Thierry Henry this year. He just self-destructed under the weight of Champions League, World Cup, and the EPL season and cup competitions. The problem, of course, is that the best players are frequently on the clubs and NTs that will go all the way in all of these competitions, e.g. Arsenal to last year’s Champions League Final and this year’s Carling Cup final and France to the World Cup final. The bodies get no chance to heal. NOT a healthy situation! And now Henry is out at least three months after being out close to a month earlier in the season. And he turns 30 this year, so there is a chance that he’ll never regain his previous form. What a waste! And I’m not sure how to prevent it happening in the US.

By: Jeff Bull

Jeff Bull — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:04:56 +0000

For what it’s worth, I’ve been passively obsessed with the split-season concept since last summer. Seeing Urban’s piece today – and the way all the Galaxy’s schedule plays out in practice – really has me wondering if LA does hate their players. Raising the team’s profile matters, but wearing out the players makes for a lesser game, etc. In any case, it reminds me of that yo-yo team on that old episode of The Simpsons: “Get back in the van, we’ve got a five more schools to do before lunch.”

By: ben

ben — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:41:35 +0000

Cheers Laurie

I think they only way for the MLS to be taken seriously is sort out the mess of competitions including the National Team and their Tournaments.

It’s way to crowded and some things really are hilarious

National Teams:
World Cup
Copa America OR Gold Cup, but not both

Clubs:
1 League (MLS)
1 Concacaf Cup (waiving the US Open Cup and SuperLiga)
1 International Cup (with Teams from all over the World*) – using a similar system as the UEFA Champions League.

4 Teams from each Zone: Asia, Oceania, Comnebol, Concacaf
4 Groups
1 Team from each “Zone” per Group:
3 Home and Away Games
Top 2 Advance in Quarter Finals

= maximum, almost globally media exposure, merchandising sales etc and creditability.

You can’t fight the European Cup, the Clubs and History, but make a rival cup that is just as good – at least over time.

that’s a typical European View on things, but we made it work aswell profitably (if that’s a good thing or bad thing remains another question)