MLS has and loves the Designated Player Rule

MLS has and loves the Designated Player Rule
by spade (2018-01-09 08:55:39)
Edited on 2018-01-09 08:58:38

In reply to: What's bad about MLS influence? posted by Mr Wednesday

Here is one reason how what is good for MLS is not good for US Soccer as a whole:

I think this is ruining the ability to develop talent in more skilled leagues abroad. It can be used for good by giving top Europe talent contracts after their best years, a la Henry or Dempsey, but it ruins the ability for young talent like Jordan Morris from going abroad and actually becoming better because instead of $1M at Werder Bremen, he can just play at home for the same without working as hard....which is where our USMNT suffers because the talent which used to develop at Fulham and Roma (like Dempsey and Bradley) is lured into staying home.

This is how MLS and Don Garber are not good for the USMNT. They are indeed doing some things well, but they only care about $$ and keeping that $$ in the MLS and not risking that for the benefit of the USMNT.

And Mr. Wednesday, I'm not saying your points about youth areas aren't as important, perhaps they are more important, but MLS and USMNT values are not perfectly aligned. In the end UNMNT wants to succeed (which of course begets $$$), but MLS just wants butts in the seats, TV contracts and merch sold.

Fair point.

Though handling of higher-end U.S. players is more a general divergence than something within the USSF's orbit—and in a sense, I'd also argue that it's a positive for U.S. soccer in the longer term, because it can expand the pool by making soccer a more attractive sport (you can earn the big bucks without having to go abroad to do it).

I agree, but that's why we didn't qualify for WC2018

Your last point is very true, but in the 4 to 8 to 12 years, the "longer term" before that really happens where the talent catches up with the pay, is why that argument means complacency with not qualifying for the World Cup...which to me is the point of USSF and all National Teams.

Conversely, the Bundesliga I and II and DFB in Germany see a WC win as the end-all for their actions. MLS isn't quite on board in the same way if they wait for the talent to catch up to the pay.