***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (4 Viewers)

[NewlyRetired]

Speaking of MLS...

https://sports.vice.com/article/the-mls-labor-battle-is-not-going-to-be-pretty

I guess we're about to see how close the league is to taking off the training wheels. I don't follow the league quite closely enough to have an opinion on whether MLS is ready to move to away from the single-entity system, but salaries most definitely need to go up if the league wants to keep growing.

Garber could not be more clear about single entity. It is not going anywhere. The below was posted yesterday in the US thread. The CBA is going to be ugly in so many ways.

“Single entity, as I remind everybody who asks me, is a mechanism that provides our owners the ability to make decisions collectively on everything related to the game,” Garber said. “That structure will remain the same. There are elements that we do decide to do together that might change over time—and have changed over time, particularly in our current collective bargaining agreement.”

“But the idea that owners will sit around a table and decide how they will collectively chart the turbulent waters of professional sports is something that I believe will always exist,” Garber added. “Because if it didn’t, Major League Soccer would not be here today, and I don’t believe it would be able to do what it needs to do in this incredibly competitive environment to succeed.”

 

[roadkill1292]

Unpopular though this opinion may be with some of my fellow futbollers, I don't think Mr. Garber will be able to control this situation indefinitely. I just don't know how "single entity" can become one of the great leagues of the planet. And sometime in the future a bunch of rich guys with that goal are gonna remove it from Garber's hands.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Unpopular though this opinion may be with some of my fellow futbollers, I don't think Mr. Garber will be able to control this situation indefinitely. I just don't know how "single entity" can become one of the great leagues of the planet. And sometime in the future a bunch of rich guys with that goal are gonna remove it from Garber's hands.

:goodpost:

Garber can only play the cards the owners give him, when they want to change the game, they will

 

[NewlyRetired]

Unpopular though this opinion may be with some of my fellow futbollers, I don't think Mr. Garber will be able to control this situation indefinitely. I just don't know how "single entity" can become one of the great leagues of the planet. And sometime in the future a bunch of rich guys with that goal are gonna remove it from Garber's hands.

I don't understand your point.

Single entity is not driven or mandated by Garber. It is driven by the owners.

Garber works for the owners. If and when the owners want to dump single entity, they will and if Garber is still the commish at that time he will simply adapt.

Single entity was around before Garber and it will almost certainly be around after Garber leaves in 2018.

How single entity evolves to give the clubs more control is what we need to watch for in the next decade or so imo.

The CBA should give us some clues, especially if they intend to clarify the player acquisition rules.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Looking for a new soccer podcast - any recommends?

I listen to these a few hours a week while biking, walking at lunch, working in the garage, etc. I currently bounce around among Soccer Morning, 5 Live Football Phone-in and World Soccer Talk.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Unpopular though this opinion may be with some of my fellow futbollers, I don't think Mr. Garber will be able to control this situation indefinitely. I just don't know how "single entity" can become one of the great leagues of the planet. And sometime in the future a bunch of rich guys with that goal are gonna remove it from Garber's hands.

I don't understand your point.

Single entity is not driven or mandated by Garber. It is driven by the owners.

Garber works for the owners. If and when the owners want to dump single entity, they will and if Garber is still the commish at that time he will simply adapt.

Single entity was around before Garber and it will almost certainly be around after Garber leaves in 2018.

How single entity evolves to give the clubs more control is what we need to watch for in the next decade or so imo.

The CBA should give us some clues, especially if they intend to clarify the player acquisition rules.

I don't think the guts of the SEM will ever go away. It's so favorable to the owners that the NFL looked into whether they could turn the league into a SEM too.

Whatever changes that come will be down to the players. How hard do they fight in CBA negotiations? Will they eventually be willing to jump ship to Mark Cuban's alternate soccer league to make their point? (I'm spitballing here, work with me!)

That's where the change will come from -- just as it has in every other sports league. The owners never give an inch until the players -- through a court or a competitor -- force them too (ABA, AFL/USFL, elimination of the reserve clause, collusion cases, etc).

 

[roadkill1292]

Unpopular though this opinion may be with some of my fellow futbollers, I don't think Mr. Garber will be able to control this situation indefinitely. I just don't know how "single entity" can become one of the great leagues of the planet. And sometime in the future a bunch of rich guys with that goal are gonna remove it from Garber's hands.

I don't understand your point.

Single entity is not driven or mandated by Garber. It is driven by the owners.

Garber works for the owners. If and when the owners want to dump single entity, they will and if Garber is still the commish at that time he will simply adapt.

Single entity was around before Garber and it will almost certainly be around after Garber leaves in 2018.

How single entity evolves to give the clubs more control is what we need to watch for in the next decade or so imo.

The CBA should give us some clues, especially if they intend to clarify the player acquisition rules.

I think it's possible that an entirely new batch of rich guys could swoop in and blow everything up. Their timing has to be right, though.

It's also certainly possible that this is based more on hope than logic on my part. I don't want another American franchise system. We've got enough of those.

 

[Moe.]

Looking for a new soccer podcast - any recommends?

I listen to these a few hours a week while biking, walking at lunch, working in the garage, etc. I currently bounce around among Soccer Morning, 5 Live Football Phone-in and World Soccer Talk.

Howler Radio is one of my favorites right now.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I think it's possible that an entirely new batch of rich guys could swoop in and blow everything up. Their timing has to be right, though.

It's also certainly possible that this is based more on hope than logic on my part. I don't want another American franchise system. We've got enough of those.

Now that I think about this more, I think FIFA's power pretty much precludes guys like Cuban or a bunch of other Al Davis ####-you types from starting up a separate league. FIFA could fail to recognize the league and penalize any FIFA-sponsored FAs that competed against it.

No international friendlies, probably don't get picked for the national team, no pan-continental championships, can't play in the US Open Cup -- FIFA provides a huge barrier to entry that didn't exist on other sports.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Continuing the Bundesliga-EPL battles today after Dortmund did the Germans proud yesterday, it seems the trend of injury-decimated German teams will hold with both Bayern and Schalke missing several players. Bayern is probably the worse off with Schweinsteiger, Badstuber, Ribery, Thiago, Martinez all out, Rafinha and Robben limited. Pep can still put out a very strong team and it could be a good game if Pelligrini plays for a win. Chelsea should have it much easier at the Bridge, possibly even getting a chance to give Luis, Remy or others a run. Maybe even throw the back-up goalkeeper (old helmet-head) out there, although that might be a bit too extreme for Mourinho. Both English clubs will be looking ahead to their meeting on Sunday at the Etihad.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Unpopular though this opinion may be with some of my fellow futbollers, I don't think Mr. Garber will be able to control this situation indefinitely. I just don't know how "single entity" can become one of the great leagues of the planet. And sometime in the future a bunch of rich guys with that goal are gonna remove it from Garber's hands.

I don't understand your point.

Single entity is not driven or mandated by Garber. It is driven by the owners.

Garber works for the owners. If and when the owners want to dump single entity, they will and if Garber is still the commish at that time he will simply adapt.

Single entity was around before Garber and it will almost certainly be around after Garber leaves in 2018.

How single entity evolves to give the clubs more control is what we need to watch for in the next decade or so imo.

The CBA should give us some clues, especially if they intend to clarify the player acquisition rules.

I think it's possible that an entirely new batch of rich guys could swoop in and blow everything up. Their timing has to be right, though.It's also certainly possible that this is based more on hope than logic on my part. I don't want another American franchise system. We've got enough of those.

I agree with this. My confusion was what this has to do with Garber. He did not put single entity in place nor is he an owner.

As an aside, most of the MLS owners are already new. Unless this current batch sells very quickly, I don't see that happening in the near future. Those new owners all bought in because of single entity and the combination of SUM.

I still think single entity will evolve over time as it always has.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Looking for a new soccer podcast - any recommends?

I listen to these a few hours a week while biking, walking at lunch, working in the garage, etc. I currently bounce around among Soccer Morning, 5 Live Football Phone-in and World Soccer Talk.

Men In Blazers!

 

[NewlyRetired]

I think it's possible that an entirely new batch of rich guys could swoop in and blow everything up. Their timing has to be right, though. It's also certainly possible that this is based more on hope than logic on my part. I don't want another American franchise system. We've got enough of those.

Now that I think about this more, I think FIFA's power pretty much precludes guys like Cuban or a bunch of other Al Davis ####-you types from starting up a separate league. FIFA could fail to recognize the league and penalize any FIFA-sponsored FAs that competed against it.No international friendlies, probably don't get picked for the national team, no pan-continental championships, can't play in the US Open Cup -- FIFA provides a huge barrier to entry that didn't exist on other sports.

Actually well before FIFA would be US Soccer. As we know US Soccer and MLS are joined at the hip via SUM. There is no way US Soccer would ever sanction a second division 1 league to compete with MLS. It would die before it even got to the vine much less what FIFA would say about it.

But aside from that I though Roadkill was talking about new MLS owners, not a competing division 1 league but I may have misread his point.

 

[Eephus]

Single entity is kind of a twin-edged sword. On the one hand, it manages competitive balance and controls cost. On the other, at some point it will be an impediment to growth. I don't we're at that point yet. Hopefully, the powers-that-be will be able to come to some equitable carving of the growing pie. The league isn't stable enough yet to survive a strike/replacement player debacle without some negatie side effects. I'm looking for an increase in the salary pool along with some baby steps aware from the current model in the next CBA.

 

[The Gator]

Looking for a new soccer podcast - any recommends?

I listen to these a few hours a week while biking, walking at lunch, working in the garage, etc. I currently bounce around among Soccer Morning, 5 Live Football Phone-in and World Soccer Talk.

Beyond the Pitch is solid imo

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Few of the youngins in for Barca today:

Ter Stegen; Adriano, Pique, Bartra, Alves; Samper, Xavi, Sergi Roberto; Munir, Messi, Neymar

 

[The Gator]

Thanks for nothing, Bravo <_<

 

[NewlyRetired]

Single entity is kind of a twin-edged sword. On the one hand, it manages competitive balance and controls cost. On the other, at some point it will be an impediment to growth. I don't we're at that point yet. Hopefully, the powers-that-be will be able to come to some equitable carving of the growing pie. The league isn't stable enough yet to survive a strike/replacement player debacle without some negatie side effects. I'm looking for an increase in the salary pool along with some baby steps aware from the current model in the next CBA.

I think that is what everyone is hoping for.

These are the important items on the table

1) increased free agency

2) better long term health care

3) increases in the minimum salary

4) increases to the salary cap

5) better defined player transaction rules so we don't get the make it up as you go stuff

While DP's are not a direct part of the CBA, I could see the following coming out of the CBA:

*$4.5 million dollar cap(for roster slots 1-20), with 5% increases per year (the cap is $3.1m this year)

*Min salary of $50k for roster slots 21-30, min of $75k for roster slots 1-20

*4 DP slots (where 1 must be used on a youth DP if all 4 are used)

* max salary cap hit is $400k ($200k for youth DP).

* some sort of free agency if a player has 5 years in MLS.

If a team used all 4 DP slots, that would take up $1.2m of the $4.5m. That would leave a relatively healthy $3.3m to fill out the 16 slots 5-20 on the roster, which is over 200k per slot on average, compared to $117k today on average for those same slots.

I think the growth in revenues could support this with out pushing teams to risk too much.

The DP's will still be the differentiating point and with 4 slots instead of 3, it could help the quality all over the league.

 

[NewlyRetired]

The league isn't stable enough yet to survive a strike/replacement player debacle without some negative side effects. .

I am scared to death of this.

I think for the very first time the players are going to dig in. They almost have to. They can't can't be seeing this much money flow into the league and not want a piece.

The only hope I have is that while the players may dig in, the owners actually have some impetus to not dig in. With two new expansion teams starting, a new stadium opening and a new tv deal starting, a significant delay to the season would be horrendous more than most seasons.

I can see this fight easily going into early March though, which would kill any hope for a CCL run with the quarter finals in early March.

 

[Slapdash]

Few of the youngins in for Barca today:

Ter Stegen; Adriano, Pique, Bartra, Alves; Samper, Xavi, Sergi Roberto; Munir, Messi, Neymar

It moved

 

[Kafka]

Finally back in the Champion's League...its been too long....DAJE ROMA!

 

[guru_007]

Finally back in the Champion's League...its been too long....DAJE ROMA!

G'luck today

DeRossi serving his suspension today and will be missed.

A suspension he received 3 1/2 years ago he finally gets to serve.

 

[The Gator]

Finally back in the Champion's League...its been too long....DAJE ROMA!

G'luck todayDeRossi serving his suspension today and will be missed.

A suspension he received 3 1/2 years ago he finally gets to serve.

What? What happened three years ago?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

FoxSportsGo - thanks for making my afternoon completely unproductive.

 

[guru_007]

I believe he punched someone last time Roma's was in the CL. It's been awhile.

 

[Sebowski]

I keep thinking the ref in the Barça game is a fan that rushed the field. Powder blue shorts and just kind of an awkward looking dude.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Hazard is just having fun out there today against this Schalke defender.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Roma 4-0 now

 

[Tom Hagen]

Roma 4-0 now

That CSKA team bus will be going right from the airport to Lefortovo prison.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Roma 4-0 now

Gervinho rampant.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Hazard w/ Felipe Luis seems much more dangerous than Hazard w/Azpi. Drogba not the man he once was.

 

[The Gator]

Hazard w/ Felipe Luis seems much more dangerous than Hazard w/Azpi. Drogba not the man he once was.

Take notes, Jose...

 

[Kafka]

Roma 4-0 now

Gervinho rampant.

Iturbe also (1 goal, 2 assists). Unbelievable start.

 

[Kafka]

Few of the youngins in for Barca today: Ter Stegen; Adriano, Pique, Bartra, Alves; Samper, Xavi, Sergi Roberto; Munir, Messi, Neymar

It moved

It sure did.

 

[Slapdash]

Putin is going to try to invade Italy after this thumping.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Night of the Hunter.

 

[berndog]

A new USL team for Charlotte. Not sure what this means for the Eagles.

Charlotte Soccer Academy is pleased to announce a financial and strategic partnership with Queen City Soccer Club LLC in their efforts to return professional soccer to Uptown Charlotte at American Legion Memorial Stadium. As part of the partnership, Charlotte Soccer Academy will be the “Official Youth Soccer Academy Affiliate Club” of Queen City Soccer Club and the Team. The Team, to be named Charlotte Independence in honor of the history associated with the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, will begin play next spring. The season will consist of 14 USL PRO home games, at least one US Cup match and several friendlies, which will take place between April and September of 2015. Demand for tickets is expected to be high.

The Independence will use the new OrthoCarolina Sportsplex in Pineville, NC (currently under construction by Charlotte Soccer Academy) as its home practice facility per a five-season agreement with CSA. This will be a great learning opportunity for CSA’s players to observe and interact with top-level professional soccer players.

The Team will begin taking 2015 season ticket deposits at 10:00 AM EST on Thursday, September 18th. Tickets can be reserved by visiting www.charlotteindependence.com or by calling 704-206-1515. CSA families should use code CSA2015 when finalizing their ticket purchase. This code will not be input when making your deposit but will be taken when finalizing seat locations after tickets are released in November.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

LOL Robben.

 

[Sinn Fein]

I am just looking at the stats - but is Bayern that much better than City?

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Blam!

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Nice bounce off Mandzukic. Brutal goal.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Nice bounce off Mandzukic. Brutal goal.

That would be one hell of a deflection.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Germany dominates England this matchday.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Catching highlights of Bayern/City now, nice form on the Bayern supporters' pogo.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Nice bounce off Mandzukic. Brutal goal.

That would be one hell of a deflection.

Had me scrambling to see why my web feed had the wrong teams playing...did learn that Mandzukic needs surgery - scheduled for tomorrow...(on his nose)

 

[shader]

Ouch loss at the 90' minute for Man City. Hurts

 

[Slapdash]

A new USL team for Charlotte. Not sure what this means for the Eagles.

Charlotte Soccer Academy is pleased to announce a financial and strategic partnership with Queen City Soccer Club LLC in their efforts to return professional soccer to Uptown Charlotte at American Legion Memorial Stadium. As part of the partnership, Charlotte Soccer Academy will be the “Official Youth Soccer Academy Affiliate Club” of Queen City Soccer Club and the Team. The Team, to be named Charlotte Independence in honor of the history associated with the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, will begin play next spring. The season will consist of 14 USL PRO home games, at least one US Cup match and several friendlies, which will take place between April and September of 2015. Demand for tickets is expected to be high.

The Independence will use the new OrthoCarolina Sportsplex in Pineville, NC (currently under construction by Charlotte Soccer Academy) as its home practice facility per a five-season agreement with CSA. This will be a great learning opportunity for CSA’s players to observe and interact with top-level professional soccer players.

The Team will begin taking 2015 season ticket deposits at 10:00 AM EST on Thursday, September 18th. Tickets can be reserved by visiting www.charlotteindependence.com or by calling 704-206-1515. CSA families should use code CSA2015 when finalizing their ticket purchase. This code will not be input when making your deposit but will be taken when finalizing seat locations after tickets are released in November.

Eagles get sent down to a lower level of the US pyramid. Finally soccer in Charlotte where you can buy beer!!!

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Pep's Guardiola almost fell out.

 

[Eephus]

Fulham gave up 3 goals in the last 13' to lose at Nottingham Forest. Surely Magath can't survive much longer.

 

[NewlyRetired]

A new USL team for Charlotte. Not sure what this means for the Eagles.

Charlotte Soccer Academy is pleased to announce a financial and strategic partnership with Queen City Soccer Club LLC in their efforts to return professional soccer to Uptown Charlotte at American Legion Memorial Stadium. As part of the partnership, Charlotte Soccer Academy will be the “Official Youth Soccer Academy Affiliate Club” of Queen City Soccer Club and the Team. The Team, to be named Charlotte Independence in honor of the history associated with the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, will begin play next spring. The season will consist of 14 USL PRO home games, at least one US Cup match and several friendlies, which will take place between April and September of 2015. Demand for tickets is expected to be high.

The Independence will use the new OrthoCarolina Sportsplex in Pineville, NC (currently under construction by Charlotte Soccer Academy) as its home practice facility per a five-season agreement with CSA. This will be a great learning opportunity for CSA’s players to observe and interact with top-level professional soccer players.

The Team will begin taking 2015 season ticket deposits at 10:00 AM EST on Thursday, September 18th. Tickets can be reserved by visiting www.charlotteindependence.com or by calling 704-206-1515. CSA families should use code CSA2015 when finalizing their ticket purchase. This code will not be input when making your deposit but will be taken when finalizing seat locations after tickets are released in November.

Eagles get sent down to a lower level of the US pyramid. Finally soccer in Charlotte where you can buy beer!!!

What comes next after USL Pro in the pyramid?