Is selling US born players to European leagues good or bad for the MLS?
D'A said 07/06, 04:18 PM
Selling US born players to European leagues is absolutly bad for the MLS. MLS is a young and growing league. It's popularity hangs by a thread. Even many american soccer fans don't follow it because they care more about the bigs guns in Europe or South America. There are many ways to advertise and market the league to attract more attention, and one obvious way would be to have more home grown talent. Sure Blanco attracts the large mexican population and Beckham attracts the annoying screaming young female population, but in a nation as patriotic as this one, i feel many Americans would rather see a fellow countrymen tear up the league. Home grown hero's like Taylor Twellman can give home grown fans more to cheer for. I for one, lost a lot of interest in the RBNY once Altidore was sold. I'd rather watch a budding american star then European cast outs. So the more American talent there is to market and advertise, the more the league will attract the large amounts of soccer fans already present in this country and also the more the league will be able to create new fans.
DYHARD SI DOUG HEFERNAN said 07/06, 09:39 PM
Alright, well for the sake of this is a tournament, I will argue.
I say that selling US born players to European leagues is GOOD for the MLS. They MLS gets money by selling their US bornplayers to the European teams.
They are getting other countires players. They have Beckham. He brings in the young female population and they buy Beckham clothes and merchandise, which makes money for the LA Galaxy and the MLS.
Blanco attracts the LARGE Mexican population like you said, which has the Mexican's buying merchandise of Blanco's and even go to the games to watch Blanco, which helps the MLS gain money, and the teams that are playing against Blanco.
American soccer fans are going to start paying attention to the MLS if it is on TV. I know jeevs and Keeper pay attention to the MLS, but don't have a favorite team. People follow the MLS and with the other players FROM Europe and South America, it helps get more money to the MLS and their teams.
I don't think that all US born soccer players get sold to Europe. I think there are some that stay in the US, and that helps population of the sport.
Other countries players that play in the MLS, bring that country's fans to games
D'A said 07/07, 03:00 PM
Selling players is not the only way to gain money. If attendance at games were higher then the clubs would be making more money. When Argentina played us about 70,000 fans showed up at Giants Stadium. 70,000! If these fans had the chance to watch the best American soccer players play here don???t you think they would? Now obviously many of those people were probably more interested in Argentina, but still, 70,000 is a lot of people.
MLS teams signing foriegn stars has nothing to do with selling the home grown talent. LA didn't sell Landon Donovan in order to make roster space, or salery space for Beckham. So MLS can still attract foreign players and their fans without off loading the top American talent.
I don't have much trouble viewing an MLS game on TV. FSC plays them regularly as does ESPN, and (at least locally) MSG plays Red Bull games.
DYHARD SI DOUG HEFERNAN said 07/07, 09:58 PM
Selling players to Europe is going to get money. If you sell good players, that is even more money. Better the players, more money you get for them.
Attendance isn't everything. They can get attendance higher if the seats to a game were cheaper.
There were 70,000 people there at Giants Stadium to watch Argentina. They get to see a different country's team LIVE and IN-PERSON, and that is going to get a lot of money.
Now let just say that now the MLS gets different country's players, people are going to go to the game and see a different player from a different country. Plus, you will get fans of that team from that country the player is from. (Example:Seattle Mariners and Ichiro and Boston Red Sox and Dice-K)
When you are selling the home grown talent, you are getting money for that. That money can be earned different ways, but the EASIEST way to earn cash for the MLS is to sell the great, young US born players to Europe.
LA sold Landon Donovan for MONEY. They wanted more MONEY. They sold Landon Donovan because they wanted Beckham and they needed money, and other things to have Beckhem.
The MLS gets money from ESPN, FSC and MSG (locally).
Out of room.
D'A said 07/08, 11:48 AM
The MLS's largest pool of players is obviously from the US. If the MLS continues to sell the most talented American players, then they are diminsishing the Level of play in the league. So obviously selling US players is bad for the league because you are lowering the largest amount of talented players in the league.
Bringing in players from other countries may attract interest from other countries, but if the MLS is going to succeed, it needs the people in the US to be interested. The Americans need to be the die hard fans: they need to show up at the games, and they need to buy the merchandise.
Selling American stars might be the easiest way to make money, but its not the only way, and it is still hurting the league. The MLS needs to be able to market someone other then David Beckham to attract interest in the league. American soccer fans would certainly love to watch the likes of Adu, Dempsey, Beasly etc, tear up the league, it would add more entertainment for the US fans.
Selling American stars can lower the interest level of American fans, how is that good for league?
DYHARD SI DOUG HEFERNAN said 07/08, 01:09 PM
When the MLS get players from different countries, the MLS gets money because from the fans OF that country the player is from, and now that team is getting money from those people watching the games, and they are able to expand their market more.
When the MLS sells the best American players, they are getting money, to get BETTER players. They will have good players, but from different countries.
Soccer isn't a big sport in the US, but in other countries (well, most countries) it is, and it is a godo thing to give the best US players to give to Europe.
The MLS has people in the US interested. I'm interested, because it looks interesting to watch.
You don't need to be a die hard fan of the MLS to show up at games, and buy merchandise.
You have other countries showing up to games, and buying merchandise. I have seen plenty of soccer jerseys out there to buy, and plenty of people buy them.
Selling American stars might lower the interest of AMERICAN fans, but other countries fans interest isn't lowered, if they have players from that country.
THis is a good thing for the MLS.
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Comments (18)
But if they stay it will hurt the US National team which matters more
The Pitt Panther loves RUBIO! | 07/06/08, 04:44 PM
Report Offensive CommentThats not part of this throwdown
D'A | 07/06/08, 04:46 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood for the US, bad for MLS.
The US National team gets players experience playing against the best teams and players in the world in more hostile environments. It gives them the chance to experience much bigger and louder stadiums and they are able to cope with the environments.
For MLS it is plain and simple: they lose their best talent.
TheSportsGuy. CLINT DEMPSEY! | 07/06/08, 04:47 PM
Report Offensive CommentThis is about the MLS
D'A | 07/06/08, 04:47 PM
Report Offensive CommentBut I think this is pretty obvious. It will be interesting to see if dyard actually tries to argue this.
TheSportsGuy. CLINT DEMPSEY! | 07/06/08, 04:47 PM
Report Offensive CommentI know D'A. I was just saying...
TheSportsGuy. CLINT DEMPSEY! | 07/06/08, 04:48 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood luck D'A
DYHARD SI DOUG HEFERNAN | 07/06/08, 09:39 PM
Report Offensive CommentI don't know much about the league but are these players being sold or are they going over there on their own free will?
buckybadger | 07/07/08, 12:28 AM
Report Offensive CommentDont know too much about soccer but D'A's arguments made more since to me
Hank Hill is back! | 07/07/08, 04:54 AM
Report Offensive Commentgood luck to you too Dyhard, did you vote?
D'A | 07/07/08, 02:42 PM
Report Offensive CommentYa, I voted.
DYHARD SI DOUG HEFERNAN | 07/07/08, 08:28 PM
Report Offensive CommentI see you voted for yourself as well.
DYHARD SI DOUG HEFERNAN | 07/07/08, 09:00 PM
Report Offensive CommentFor development sake you have to sell them. The MLS is a fine league for a young American player to get experience and time on the pitch but it doesn't improve his game. Let's face facts. The EPL, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, and even the Dutch Eridivise (sp?) are all better technical leagues than the MLS. Our young players going over there and learning the skills of the European game only benefits the USMNT in the long run.
Vote right to dyhard.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 07/08/08, 04:43 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe MLS gets money back. Villareal paid a handsome sum for Jozy Altidore. Benfica offered decent money for Freddy Adu. Fulham offered money for Eddie Johnson. Etc.. Etc... The league adds to it's revenues every time a young player is sold. Nothing wrong with making money, even if it means selling your talent.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 07/08/08, 04:45 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood job you guys. This is a tough one
Big Chaco | 07/08/08, 10:28 PM
Report Offensive CommentNice arguments guys. Tough one indeed.
I think its good. You sell hot prospects, make money, which in turn allows you to bring in players from abroad who bring in a different style, attitude, basically diversity to the MLS game. Yes most of them are past their prime but tell me a Blanco, Angel, Beckham isnt tearing the MLS up and playing a notch or two above the MLS player...
Voting right
ctsubasa | 07/09/08, 11:11 AM
Report Offensive CommentGood arguments, I'm leaning right though
I see the only way for US soccer players to make there name is to go to Europe. Not many people here care about a Taylor Twellman or a Brian Ching except for in their home cities. Donovan is one of the few MLS players to truly be a "star".
Now you see McBride coming from Europe and there has been a big uproar for his return, he will attract fans for what he did in Europe and on the national team. In order to become a star on the national team on the biggest stage (World Cup), you need to play at the highest level, i.e. Europe. Donovan has flopped when it matters, possibly because of his lack of playing at the highest level
Tough choice though
jeevs BS | 07/09/08, 12:52 PM
Report Offensive CommentLol Dyhar, my favorite team is actually the NY Red Bulls
jeevs BS | 07/09/08, 12:52 PM
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