***Official Soccer Thread***

[JPH83]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

For the wnba yes. The uswnt is different. They're killing it in ratings and sponsorships and that includes their exhibition tours in off years. The demand is more than there. Not to mention the gazillions these parents have spent on everything from uswnt jerseys to sports bras and cleats.

What's lacking is investment. From fifa who's done an absolutely shitty job promiting on a world stage, to investors committed to building good teams. It took decades to build MLS not after decades of struggle and that soaked up the priority. But the same devotion and resources were not put into the women's game. For good reason but now that tides changing. What you need is more people like brittany and Patrick mahomes who can commit to growing a market and the league the way the Hunts did. It won't measure up to even MLS but it also doesn't have to to be very successful

Is that true of viewing figures? I would be amazed if so. Like I say, I reckon Burr's right. There's a lot of harrumphing from (some) women about how.men should watch women's sport. Sure, but you first. I get the point on marketing but i don't think there's a lack of knowledge amongst women about women's sport, as much as a lack of interest. But I'd be happy to see more of what you're talking about, and I could see that's part of the problem.

[BWillie]

Someone should do some soccer exhibitions with 6 or 7 soccer players on the field instead of 11. It would be waaaay more exciting. Tough to score goals when so many players on the field mucking it up and less players would make more 1 v 1 situations which is exciting. Would also help the more athletic soccer players thrive.

[ToxSocks]

BTW, i've been watching the WNBA all month.

/ducks for cover

**** you guys, it's the dog days of sports and I'm a sports junky.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

BTW, i've been watching the WNBA all month.

/ducks for cover

**** you guys, it's the dog days of sports and I'm a sports junky.

I'm teaching my wife to play golf because **** having my own hobby, right?

Anyway, we're watching a lot more LPGA now which isn't such a bad thing.

*Wasn't sure if I should post this here or in the Asians thread

[alpha_omega]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

BTW, i've been watching the WNBA all month.

/ducks for cover

**** you guys, it's the dog days of sports and I'm a sports junky.

Ha. I was with you when you said you were watching NASCAR, but WNBA is a bridge too far for me.

[AussieChiefsFan]

Matildas going all the way idgaf

[AussieChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by AussieChiefsFan

Matildas going all the way idgaf

Our Prime Minister has said he wants to give us a public holiday if the girls win it all.

And beating the poms on home soil tomorrow would be amazing

[Garcia Bronco]

The MLS hasn't "caught on" in the United States. The only claim to fame that they have right now is Lionel Messi. Who's playing in the United States because it is the last refuge for professional soccer players that aren't good enough to play in any other league.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

The MLS hasn't "caught on" in the United States. The only claim to fame that they have right now is Lionel Messi. Who's playing in the United States because it is the last refuge for professional soccer players that aren't good enough to play in any other league.

I mean what are people expecting? That it's going to be the NFL? It doesn't have to be. And women's soccer doesn't have to be as successful as MLS. MLS is more than viable.

[DJJasonp]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

The MLS hasn't "caught on" in the United States. The only claim to fame that they have right now is Lionel Messi. Who's playing in the United States because it is the last refuge for professional soccer players that aren't good enough to play in any other league.

LOL….Messi just won the World Cup. He can play anywhere in the world and still be a top player.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

The MLS hasn't "caught on" in the United States. The only claim to fame that they have right now is Lionel Messi. Who's playing in the United States because it is the last refuge for professional soccer players that aren't good enough to play in any other league.

MLS has a decidedly minor league feel, but there's nowhere near the money that there is Europe, unless you're one of these gray haired superstars on a retirement tour.

But the league has stuck around for almost 30 years old now, and the teams play in better stadiums than comparable teams in other leagues... the third tier in England or whatever. It's doing OK for what it is.

The level of play won't improve until the money improves, but with changing demographics in the US the money could improve over time.

[Woogieman]

Originally Posted by Razaele

MLS has a decidedly minor league feel, but there's nowhere near the money that there is Europe, unless you're one of these gray haired superstars on a retirement tour.

But the league has stuck around for almost 30 years old now, and the teams play in better stadiums than comparable teams in other leagues... the third tier in England or whatever. It's doing OK for what it is.

The level of play won't improve until the money improves, but with changing demographics in the US the money could improve over time.

The money will improve and slowly but surely, global talent will come at younger and younger ages and a Top 8-10 league in the world is very realistic in the next decade.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by Woogieman

The money will improve and slowly but surely, global talent will come at younger and younger ages and a Top 8-10 league in the world is very realistic in the next decade.

I don't believe that, simply because there's nothing that can rival the academy system and all the rest of the development structure that you see in Europe. There is a reason why there are no great American players and that Americans are virtually absent from top professional leagues. The player development structure still isn't there.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Razaele

I don't believe that, simply because there's nothing that can rival the academy system and all the rest of the development structure that you see in Europe. There is a reason why there are no great American players and that Americans are virtually absent from top professional leagues. The player development structure still isn't there.

Yeah I agree. Europeans recruit soccer the way we do basketball and football. We can identify talent practically right out of the womb. It will always be a challenge especially considering how aggressive recruiters are in picking off the best athletes. I think US men's can still get better but we're probably starting to hit our growth maturity.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Razaele

MLS has a decidedly minor league feel, but there's nowhere near the money that there is Europe, unless you're one of these gray haired superstars on a retirement tour.

But the league has stuck around for almost 30 years old now, and the teams play in better stadiums than comparable teams in other leagues... the third tier in England or whatever. It's doing OK for what it is.

The level of play won't improve until the money improves, but with changing demographics in the US the money could improve over time.

This is sort of a lazy take IMO because it has done just that.

Year after year the level of play and money get better I am not sure what else you can ask about a league that started in 1996 and really got serious around 2009. I think the level of play is most comparable to the English Championship. Other leagues are ID'ing great players in MLS and those players are starting to move up in the world with the transfer fees to match.

They have tried to get bigger cautiously though. I think the ghosts of the Cosmos still echo in the halls of MLS HQ. The machinations for teams to spend money though not so much the balance totally keels over are changing every year.

I don't think the Top 10 league thing is that crazy especially because of the large fall off you get if you move beyond England, Germany, France, Spain, Italy...the leagues beyond that? There is room to say you can start to compete with them.

You see it in competition as well an MLS CONCACAF Champion and right now in Leagues Cup you see MLS having lots of success against Liga MX teams its been pretty fun.

And hey I am an MLS fan I see first hand ways in which they fall short but sometimes when people cast the situation they are in it feels pretty unfair or based on old first impressions that don't really hold as much.