Seattle Sounders 2015 Season Thread

[Uncle Si]

As for the transformation of the academy I was more referring to the MLS-USL partnership, and the "first generation" reaching the pro level. While I agree that some talent will be sold overseas, there will be more that stay in the league....and those that do stay in the league will still elevate the quality, IMO.

Hard to say really... I mean do Championship or League one teams provide any true talent for the PL? Its a start. It gives the MLS reserves a place to play. I'd prefer the MLS have it's own Reserve league.. but minor points.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

As for the transformation of the academy I was more referring to the MLS-USL partnership, and the "first generation" reaching the pro level. While I agree that some talent will be sold overseas, there will be more that stay in the league....and those that do stay in the league will still elevate the quality, IMO.

Hard to say really... I mean do Championship or League one teams provide any true talent for the PL? Its a start. It gives the MLS reserves a place to play. I'd prefer the MLS have it's own Reserve league.. but minor points.

Yes but England is a terrible example to use. The Premiership is in a cash bubble right now. Teams make crazy amounts of tv money just for participating. This means that the mid to lower teams are in win now mode and will overpay for extremely mediocre talent from home and abroad to stay in the league. If teams go down it's a financial disaster given the money they'd make in the Premiership compared to Championship as sometimes they are stuck with the Premiership players they paid for. Like a major league team moving to AAA. Teams like Leeds, Bolton, Wigan have/had crazy debt due to this. This in turn means that young English players are less likely to get developed or brought threw the systems as mistakes are less likely to be forgiven and this is being shown by how poor the English national team now is. Even 10 years ago you had West ham and Ciy bringing through quality players and Gareth Bale playing for a terrible near bust Southampton team in the Championship.

There are definitely still talented English/British players in the lower leagues. The problem is that they are developing at that level when in the past they could have developed in the top division. Any stand out player in the Championship is bought up at an inflated fee as well.

The premiership is definitely the best marketed league in the world but not the best quality. Even in the bigger teams there has been a bit of a decline- just look at top teams european records. I think most German and Spanish teams could take their English equivalents.

A good example of talent in lower leagues is France. They regularly, bring up players from youth academies and the lower leagues. Giroud was playing in Ligue 2 not long ago and many players from the French African colonies start off there.

 

[Uncle Si]

Don't disagree Glasgow.. (the talent gaps in the leagues will have to be a discussion for another time. But i'd still suggest that top to bottom the Prem is a far higher caliber than the other leagues. Just not at the very top). How long does the MLS have to keep expanding and relying on developed talent from the lower leagues and aging stars to support its growth?

My concern with the MLS has always been its sustainability. While the Premiership may be fanning itself in a cash bubble, the MLS is living in the same increased bubble of soccer's popularity. That popularity is driven by the Euro leagues, as it was in the 70s and early 80s. The MLS is capitalizing on something that is not uniquely there's. Which is great, and fine and whatever. But the more teams they add the more they increase the chance that sways in popularity and interest will redefine what Americans want to do with their time.

Talent will need to come up from the youth ranks, something I've touched on in several posts. It will be keeping it that is essential. The MLS will need stars. Homegrown players that they can market. I'd prefer an MLS reserve league than a partnership with the USL... but that's just a personal preference in how to better develop players.

Or... it will need to start attracting players closer to their prime.

Either way, expansion is a dodgy business, and a risky one.

Maybe i'm uptight about it. I can't support the Sounders with any interest because I went down that road and watched them die off.

 

[Smurf]

Don't disagree Glasgow.. (the talent gaps in the leagues will have to be a discussion for another time. But i'd still suggest that top to bottom the Prem is a far higher caliber than the other leagues. Just not at the very top). How long does the MLS have to keep expanding and relying on developed talent from the lower leagues and aging stars to support its growth?

My concern with the MLS has always been its sustainability. While the Premiership may be fanning itself in a cash bubble, the MLS is living in the same increased bubble of soccer's popularity. That popularity is driven by the Euro leagues, as it was in the 70s and early 80s. The MLS is capitalizing on something that is not uniquely there's. Which is great, and fine and whatever. But the more teams they add the more they increase the chance that sways in popularity and interest will redefine what Americans want to do with their time.

Talent will need to come up from the youth ranks, something I've touched on in several posts. It will be keeping it that is essential. The MLS will need stars. Homegrown players that they can market. I'd prefer an MLS reserve league than a partnership with the USL... but that's just a personal preference in how to better develop players.

Or... it will need to start attracting players closer to their prime.

Either way, expansion is a dodgy business, and a risky one.

Maybe i'm uptight about it. I can't support the Sounders with any interest because I went down that road and watched them die off.

Stop being a pussy Si and go all in on the Sounders.


Also, its not mistake that MLS keeps spending $$ on USMNT players. They know what the american soccer fan likes...and thats their guys...Bradley, Altidore, Mix...All bought to peak the interest of American fans.

 

[Uncle Si]

All bought to pique (is the word you're looking for) fresh off the World Cup. 2 years from now its a strong possibility those guys won't be big draws. American soccer fans "like" Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar. Let's be honest. Right now it's the atmosphere that is drawing the supporters moreso than the product on the field. A reality recognized by Sporting when we spoke with their marketing department. I think that has surprised people, and to an extent shows how much people in this country love the sport, which is awesome. The MLS needs more players to identify. (Why I asked who the new young stars would be at the start of the season... I got Kaka, Bradley and Altidore)

Soccer has already let me down here, Smurf. And when i watch the MLS, it doesn't inspire me, even the Sounders. Passive interest in Sporting simply because I work for them. Great atmosphere, great soccer specific stadium. We shall see what holds for MN United.

I'm waiting either for some of my players to make a breakthrough (a couple kids I've worked against are in the MLS), the MN United to settle in or just a new born star to emerge and take over the MLS.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Also, its not mistake that MLS keeps spending $$ on USMNT players. They know what the american soccer fan likes...and thats their guys...Bradley, Altidore, Mix...All bought to peak the interest of American fans.

While I agree with you Smurf, I'm perplexed as to why Altidore and Bradley are in Toronto and not US city. IMO their value to the league would be ten fold if they played on a US club.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the fans in Toronto love having two good players on their roster, but that's as far as it goes for a Canadian club.

 

[Uncle Si]

Also, its not mistake that MLS keeps spending $$ on USMNT players. They know what the american soccer fan likes...and thats their guys...Bradley, Altidore, Mix...All bought to peak the interest of American fans.

While I agree with you Smurf, I'm perplexed as to why Altidore and Bradley are in Toronto and not US city. IMO their value to the league would be ten fold if they played on a US club.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the fans in Toronto love having two good players on their roster, but that's as far as it goes for a Canadian club.

Because its a bit much to suggest that the MLS "targeted" them as harbingers of stardom for the league.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Also, its not mistake that MLS keeps spending $$ on USMNT players. They know what the american soccer fan likes...and thats their guys...Bradley, Altidore, Mix...All bought to peak the interest of American fans.

While I agree with you Smurf, I'm perplexed as to why Altidore and Bradley are in Toronto and not US city. IMO their value to the league would be ten fold if they played on a US club.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the fans in Toronto love having two good players on their roster, but that's as far as it goes for a Canadian club.

Because its a bit much to suggest that the MLS "targeted" them as harbingers of stardom for the league.

Oh I wasn't suggesting that, and me thinks with USMNT stars AND foreign stars it's more about where THEY want to play, rather than cities or clubs MLS wants to put them with.

I'm sure as with most returning USMNT players, they're given a short list of clubs willing to take on their DP salaries, and then they choose. So Obviously Bradley chose Toronto because it's a cool Metropolitan city and it's close to his home in NJ.........and Altidore the same. Both NJ boys.

Were the Red Bulls not in the market to replace their two DP's? idk..............but again I think the MLS is not a league yet where they can dictate where DP's go, it's far more about where the DP's willing to play.

 

[Uncle Si]

I agree... which is why I'm not sold on the "MLS is targeting US stars to help create interest" angle Smurf was going for. If that was they case, they'd be in a market like KC, NY, Chicago, Seattle, etc.

The MLS teams spending money on internationals isn't some groundbreaking philosophy. "Hey, we want to be good, who should we get?".. well, let's start with a list of top players.. here's the USMNT roster... go.

From a marketing perspective, however, having 2 of your top 3-4 identifiable USMNT "stars" playing in Toronto is a waste

 

[hawkfan68]

It looks like Ronaldinho Gaucho may be ready to make the move to MLS...he would fit nicely with the "Rave Green".

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...referral&utm_content=News&utm_campaign=Unpaid

 

[knownone]

It looks like Ronaldinho Gaucho may be ready to make the move to MLS...he would fit nicely with the "Rave Green".

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...referral&utm_content=News&utm_campaign=Unpaid

Have you seen him play recently? He's been pretty awful in Liga MX. The Sounders are capable of landing a truly impactful player and sadly that's not Ronaldinho anymore :\

 

[hawkfan68]

It looks like Ronaldinho Gaucho may be ready to make the move to MLS...he would fit nicely with the "Rave Green".

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...referral&utm_content=News&utm_campaign=Unpaid

Have you seen him play recently? He's been pretty awful in Liga MX. The Sounders are capable of landing a truly impactful player and sadly that's not Ronaldinho anymore :\

I haven't watched his play recently...but the same was being said about Thierry Henry and he turned out to be better than expected. He was roughly the same age that Ronaldinho is when he entered the MLS. I would say that Ronaldinho is a better player than Henry. If they can find someone and sign better, more power to them. Sounders are linked to him as he visited with them while they were in Dallas.

 

[Smurf]

Ronaldinho isn't coming to seattle. And we shouldn't want him to.

 

[hawkfan68]

Two goals from Martins and one from Dempsey has the Sounders up 3-1 against NYC. With about 23+ minutes remaining, Martins may have a shot at the hat trick.

 

[razgriz737]

What a fun match! Was really fast paced at the beginning. The build-up to Oba's second goal was ridiculous.

 

[Smurf]

The boys felt it tonight. Great performance.

Remick was outstanding along the back. Evans looking like a solid CB now.

 

[knownone]

This team feels like a Supporters Shield worthy team again. I'm gonna piggy back on what Smurf said, Evans has looked like a fringe all-star the last few weeks.

Great win.

 

[dumbrabbit]

This team feels like a Supporters Shield worthy team again. I'm gonna piggy back on what Smurf said, Evans has looked like a fringe all-star the last few weeks.

Great win.

I'd rather let the Galaxy win the Supporters Shield, just so they have to go through what the Sounders went through in the playoffs, haha

 

[Seabhac]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BenDudley88/status/595164696107470848[/tweet]

Shouldn't the ECS - after so many years - be past this by now?
One thing (besides the massive flags in my way during important runs of play) that chaps my ass - is the distribution of song sheets at the matches. Come on guys - the world is watching!

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Come on guys - the world is watching!

Well, it's the MLS, so more like Sounders fans and maybe a coupled dude's in NY who fell asleep in their Lay-Z-Boy with the TV on.