General MLS Discussion

An excerpt from the Athletic Zlatan
article. It’s pretty funZ

“Zlatan spoke up and said something along the lines of: ‘In games like these we need to have more bite, we need to be nastier. Like Kevin,’” says Perry Kitchen. “And he pointed to me, over in my direction. I was like, looking around, to my left, to my right, making sure there wasn’t a Kevin on the team. I said, ‘Are you pointing to me? My name is Perry. It’s right above my locker.’”

“Yes,” replied Ibrahimovic. “You are Kevin.”

"You are Kevin and I am God." - Zlatan
 
ah - the great and proud nation of Sporting Kansas City

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Wild.
Was just typing my own post:

They had 5 players who should have been DPs.
Team fined $2 million.
Team loses $2.27 million in Garber bucks over 2 years.
Sporting Director Paul McDonough suspended from all MLS activity through 2022.
One owner, Jorge Mas, fined $250k.
Other owners including Beckham cleared.
No players implicated and all contracts remain in effect.

The loss of Allocation money and McDonough suspension are pretty big punishments that should deter future similar violations.
 
This was brazen cheating on a large scale. There was no foot fault. They were paying people under the table and not reporting it to the league. The exact mechanism is unclear, but I am very curious how it was done.

The reduction in allocation money strikes me as an insufficient punishment. There is some ambiguity about whether the $2.27 million is the total over 2 years or the reduction for each year - I’ve seen it described differently in media reports. It’s either 11.9% of the full salary budget (including AM) over this time or 23.8%. It seems something they could easily manage around to me - particularly at the lower number.
 
This was brazen cheating on a large scale. There was no foot fault. They were paying people under the table and not reporting it to the league. The exact mechanism is unclear, but I am very curious how it was done.

The reduction in allocation money strikes me as an insufficient punishment. There is some ambiguity about whether the $2.27 million is the total over 2 years or the reduction for each year - I’ve seen it described differently in media reports. It’s either 11.9% of the full salary budget (including AM) over this time or 23.8%. It seems something they could easily manage around to me - particularly at the lower number.
I read it as the combined hit over 2 years but I agree it is ambiguous.

But I disagree as to the effect. I think it is rather substantial. I can't think of any business, agency or non-profit who would deem an 11.9% salary budget haircut as something easily managed around. Hell, I would not want to play MLS fantasy with a $12% budget penalty. It would be crippling.
The difference between $6 million and $4.9 million is IMO massive. You cannot just cut a $1.2M player, or $450k plus $650k, because you still have to have 25-30 players. You have to cut a $1.5 M player and replace him with someone at $300k, or something that adds up the same. I think it's tough, and should affect their ability to compete.
 
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I read it as the combined hit over 2 years but I agree it is ambiguous.

But I disagree as to the effect. I think it is rather substantial. I can't think of any business, agency or non-profit who would deem an 11.9% salary budget haircut as something easily managed around. Hell, I would not want to play MLS fantasy with a $12% budget penalty. It would be crippling.
The difference between $6 million and $4.9 million is IMO massive. You cannot just cut a $1.2M player, or $450k plus $650k, because you still have to have 25-30 players. You have to cut a $1.5 M player and replace him with someone at $300k, or something that adds up the same. I think it's tough, and should affect their ability to compete.
Your position seems to be the consensus. I am doubtful that it will cripple them in the manner they deserve. I suppose we will see - of course, even with all the cheating they weren't that competitive last season. They're better this year.

As for the exact amount of the reduction, ESPN says it's cumulative over both years, and the Athletic says it's for each year. Other stories are more ambiguous. I suspect the amount is combined over both years.
 
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I’m watching the Red Bulls (haven’t in many months) vs. Orlando and they look very good. Or Orlando looks very bad.
 
Nani being out def hurts them.
Also, RB style of play is super aggressive, they are basically fouling constantly. Ref has calibrated to it. Has to let a lot of it go, otherwise the game would end up a series of free kicks. Plus they whine to the ref every time an opponent touches them.

ugly, cheaty style. Reminds me of the Patriots.
 
Switching between CLB-TOR and CIN-NER and I have no idea which team is which or even what game is on because nobody is wearing their colors for the stupid Parley uniforms.
 
Your position seems to be the consensus. I am doubtful that it will cripple them in the manner they deserve. I suppose we will see - of course, even with all the cheating they weren't that competitive last season. They're better this year.

As for the exact amount of the reduction, ESPN says it's cumulative over both years, and the Athletic says it's for each year. Other stories are more ambiguous. I suspect the amount is combined over both years.
Clarity from the Athletic.

 

Some interesting points

  • It will start off with MLS reserve teams ( not all MLS teams will have a team) but independent teams expected to join later on. It is expected that independent teams that are part of the MLS NEXT can potentially join later on.
  • It will apply for a third division license, but the league it self wont have any age restrictions, the idea is to use it for development of academy graduates not yet ready for first team.
  • It is expected this league can be part of the broadcast deal coming up for the league, so the venues will have to be able to handle a high quality broadcast.
  • Official announcement from MLS can be as early as the summer.
 

Some interesting points

  • It will start off with MLS reserve teams ( not all MLS teams will have a team) but independent teams expected to join later on. It is expected that independent teams that are part of the MLS NEXT can potentially join later on.
  • It will apply for a third division license, but the league it self wont have any age restrictions, the idea is to use it for development of academy graduates not yet ready for first team.
  • It is expected this league can be part of the broadcast deal coming up for the league, so the venues will have to be able to handle a high quality broadcast.
  • Official announcement from MLS can be as early as the summer.

Direct shot at USL1, but more likely they are just ignoring USL and doing their own thing. (I doubt NISA registers on MLS's radar.) Here's the list of MLS NEXT teams:


The MLS model could certainly produce some quality D3 first teams that take their place at the pinnacle of some established academies. By having a TV deal established, and likely some additional subsidies from the league that outstrip USL, the USL is going to have to emphasize some of their other differences -- perhaps accelerate on their pro/rel commitment which will never be a part of the MLS model. They may also have to shift further towards the independent side of the spectrum to continue growing, as they could lose opportunities from ownership groups that don't mind centralization to MLS NEXT.
 
Direct shot at USL1, but more likely they are just ignoring USL and doing their own thing. (I doubt NISA registers on MLS's radar.)

on twitter im reading so much about this being "declaring war" on USL and the lower leagues. I dont see it though, a bunch of USL fans ( and allegedly owners) wanted the MLS 2 teams out, and now they are leaving to create a reserve league. I dont see how this is war though.
 
I am genuinely asking, is there a fan base for the USL? I feel like the whole schtick is that they aren't MLS and don't have a salary cap. But what little I know of the league is that it currently holds many MLS 2 franchises (which makes it really funny how they are against MLS but house all the leagues reserve team) with a few free standing clubs. Therefore it gives off a minor league look. So how are they even trying to compete with MLS/be the first division in the US if it has all of the MLS 2nd teams? It seems to me that if soccer wasn't hipster enough in the US (and Canada) the USL has the hipsters of the hipsters following their league, so to speak. Seems kind of funny if you ask me. Plus how can you talk of Pro-Rel if the 2nd teams can't move up to the first division (MLS)? Would you make a league below USL and bleed money as the second division with USL being the first division? Seems really odd to me.
 
I am genuinely asking, is there a fan base for the USL? I feel like the whole schtick is that they aren't MLS and don't have a salary cap. But what little I know of the league is that it currently holds many MLS 2 franchises (which makes it really funny how they are against MLS but house all the leagues reserve team) with a few free standing clubs. Therefore it gives off a minor league look. So how are they even trying to compete with MLS/be the first division in the US if it has all of the MLS 2nd teams? It seems to me that if soccer wasn't hipster enough in the US (and Canada) the USL has the hipsters of the hipsters following their league, so to speak. Seems kind of funny if you ask me. Plus how can you talk of Pro-Rel if the 2nd teams can't move up to the first division (MLS)? Would you make a league below USL and bleed money as the second division with USL being the first division? Seems really odd to me.

A few do have a good fanbase ( Louisville, Tampa, Phoenix, New Mexico) but they are not big in numbers. There has been rumors and comments that USL owners and fans want to kick out the MLS 2 teams from the USL leagues for a while now. So this would be something they would want, but they claim now that is an attack on the lower league ( which i still dont see it).

As for Pro/Rel all i see is basically have MLS banned and removed and let the other teams in leagues "grow". Even with MLS gone i dont see how owners in lower leagues have the money to spend on livable salaries or other costs. I have read that USL championship and lower dont all pay that well, that is why many are willing to sign with an MLS team and legit never play and stay in bench all season.
 
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