However, this entry will contain no picks that enable you to lose your hard earned cash and curse me out. Although I would like to elaborate on some topics that have interested me lately.
Sorry Clint. The MLS has found another way to screw
you over without suspending you.
First, the soccer transfer window has produced a flurry of moves to keep fans interested before the real soccer season starts (Sorry MLS). This transfer period has seen some big changes, including Ruud moving from Manchester United along with Ronaldo getting chummy with Rooney again. For me, I was personally interested to see if any U.S. National team players would finally make the move to the Premiership. It isn't like there was too much on display at the World Cup for the Americans, they got trounced by the Czech's, battled admirably with the Italians and got out classed in a winnable game with Ghana. There were a few bright spots in an otherwise flat, predictable and hesitant attack, that bright spot being Clint Dempsey. Good ol' Deuce brought his bravado, step overs and pace to the American attack. Even before the start of the World Cup Dempsey was hoping for a transfer overseas. Well a team finally called, Charlton Athletic, the MLS received a transfer offer of 1.5 million for the midfielder. Ultimately the MLS decided against the move, their logic was that they wanted to renegotiate Dempsey's contract to keep his services in the states. This would be fine if Dempsey wanted to make some good money (he already makes 80 grand) but Dempsey unlike Landon Donovan has his eyes set on bigger things and wants to take on a bigger challenge as a player.
Now the question I have is where and how is the U.S. Soccer Federation involved (in this case not involved) with this situation?? People will tell you that the MLS is an improving league and that about half the players on the World Cup roster were from the MLS. Well thats all nice and dandy but isn't the U.S. concerned with how and where their premier players are developing? Dempsey has even been quoted saying he doesn't want to play in the MLS anymore, so why is the MLS taking this route? It's disturbing, especially the way the U.S. finished in the World Cup. I just don't see how core veterans of the national team who play in the MLS can be prepared for situations such as the World Cup when they are playing in front of maybe 10,000 fans a night and remain relatively anonymous and unscrutinized in the cities they play in. The MLS has been around for 10 years but they have to finally accept a few harsh realities.
A. The MLS will NEVER be the premier soccer league in the world. First of all the MLS has to realize that they will never become the EPL, Serie A or Bundesliga. There are too many sports competing in America to produce that many quality individuals and the best players in the world, Europeans and South Americans will always be lured to their own leagues first.
B. Landon Donovan aside, premier MLS players should and will want to make the natural progression to better leagues. Do you think when Manu Ginobili was playing in Europe he wanted to stay there and bypass the NBA when the oppurtunity arose?
more tommorrow.............
