MLS' Mexican nightmare continues

2008-09-10T07:16:31-04:00

2007-10-03T13:52:17-04:00

2008-09-10T06:40:27-04:00

2007-10-26T09:37:09-04:00

sjackson1

No City 178177

I live here in Argentina, and I was quite upset that the USA did not send a real squad to the Copa America in Venezuela after winning the Gold Cup. We sent a bunch of young, inexperienced guys who were like sheep being led to the slaughter. Our only hope for a goal was a long ball to Johnson, with a lucky touch for a goal... that kind of play may work against an el salvador, but against the Argentinas, Brazils, etc. that play will never work. I would have liked to seen our best guys go against their best, to gain international experience, and to improve our level of play. 83683

2007-10-04T22:10:49-04:00

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yankatoxford

Oxford 5360

MLS club sides need to keep competing in "international" footballing tournaments where-ever possible. However, I would argue the "Gold Cup" defense as you summarize it, while defensible, is ultimately a poor, short sighted view at both the international and club level. If the United States will ever be truly consistently competitive at the World Cup, our best players need to be tested as a team against top competition. Avoiding the likes of Brazil and Argentina in Copa America with a true first XI squad is pathetic. As is the idea that MLS clubs should restrict their emphasis to the CONCACAF regional tournament... MLS will only improve if continues to face quality (read: superior) opposition. Finally, I feel that for MLS to ever reach the standard of South American Club teams, and in the distant future, European teams, the development of club based academies is a MUST. Currently, our country is reliant on NCAA level "soccer" to develop squad players, and that standard is terrible. While the initial wave of top talent that has thus far been recruited by European clubs can be counted on two hands, Euro recruiting represents the most promising avenue for improvement in the short term. As the finances of MLS increase, eventually a tiered structure that rewards/penalizes clubs performance through promotion and relegation is the ultimate destination. While such a system would destroy MLS now, in 20 years hopefully the sport will be robust enough to evolve in this way. The roots of the system are already in place in the USL 73704

2007-10-04T18:06:00-04:00

109

viajero

Washington 95299

I would tend to agree that while the MLS should not turn down opportunities to play in South American competitions, it first needs to find a way to win in our own confederation. While it has shown that it can be competitive playing at home, the MLS record on the road remains abysmal. Despite DC United???s two recent close games in Guadalajara, the stats remain quite appalling. Over the past 5 years in CONCACAF, the MLS record playing in Mexico and Costa Rica is a combined 1W-16L-0D with a 9-49 goal margin. Even that one solitary win comes with an asterisk as in 2003 the Revolution played both legs against Alajuela in Costa Rica. After Alajuela ran out easy 4-0 winners in the first game, the Ticos then lined up their reserve team in the second (with only one regular starter) and New England was able to prevail in a driving rainstorm. Unfortunately, Morado is right in his comment above; the MLS has yet to show that it???s even the SECOND best league in our region. The MLS in improving and given that the Costa Rican teams are particularly weak right now, it may soon get at least that far. But it???s still a long way from matching the Mexican teams. If the MLS is ever going to be taken seriously internationally, it has to be able to hold its own when playing outside the US. 73699

2007-10-04T10:58:35-04:00

correcaminos7

West Palm Beach 159969

Come on Freedman!!! "In the kingdom of blind men the one-eyed is king"... Is that what you are suggesting? you got to be kidding!!!!!!!!!!! Have you realized how Mexican teams got better? They got better after entering the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana... after many years, look where they are now... 11570

2007-10-04T07:51:56-04:00

HenryFTP

Washington 159611

Freedman's views neatly encapsulate why American soccer is viewed as strictly minor league in Europe and the rest of the world. Getting a pass to play in an elite world club tournament because you beat some weak sides in CONCACAF is pathetic. There's no such thing as an easy path to the European Cup final, and that's why the winner of the European Cup is so often acknowledged as the best club in football, because they have to beat the best to get there. American soccer will never reach the top ranks of the game unless it takes up the challenge of competing in the top ranks. Playing less than topflight competition permits our best players to acquire bad habits, such as thinking they can beat two defenders on the dribble, which may work against Guatemala but gets stuffed against Ghana. It also can lull us into thinking that good players are better than they are -- Clint Mathis, anyone? We're overmatched in elite competition because we don't play enough elite competition. If Greece can be champions of Europe, then surely it's not outlandish to think the United States can steal a march towards a title one day too -- but that means spending some time getting schooled in the Maracana, the River Plate and the Centenario. 71058

2007-10-04T00:34:16-04:00

Morado

Boca Raton 13793

MLS teams are underserving of competing in any South American competition until they prove themselves in their own confederation. The only reason DC United gets invitited is because of CONCACAF, as it would get more $$ from gate receipts and TV. This is the official reason.Nothing having to do with quality of their team. After Saprissa attained 3rd place in the World Club Cup they were expecting to play the Copa Sudamericana but CONCACAF felt United would get them more money. Since 2002 MLS vs Costa Rican teams is 1-6 in Concacaf cup. MLS Zero titles. CRC 2 titles one second place. Next year with a revamped confederation cup will be a good place to prove the quality of the 3rd rated North American league (according to the IFFHS.) 75136

2007-10-03T22:57:23-04:00

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the one

No City 41277

I read somebody said US would beat Ecuador and some other countries in CONMEBOL...eh he eh he.. Sorry guys. This is the list of countires US wouldn't beat on a regular basis: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguya, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador. I think US can beat Bolivia. Venezuela and Peru... maybe. But still I have some doubts on that. Interesting to know for some how South American clubs are doing internacionaly. Today the IFFHS posted the world club ranking for 1 october 2006 - 30 september 2007: Club World Ranking: Three South American teams among the ???Top 4??? ! Defensor Sporting Club Montevideo - the World's Club Team of the Month for September 2007 September was a turbulent month with some remarkable trends. Sevilla FC kept the lead despite four defeats, because the European pursuers put in weaker performances or, despite good results, could not improve because of the deletion of so many points from the September 2006. So, for the first time since 1991, three clubs from South America are among the "Top 4" of the Club World Ranking, among them the winners of the Copa Sudamericana and the Copa Libertadores. The World's Club Team of the Month for September is Defensor Sporting Club from Montevideo, who remained unbeaten nationally and internationally during the month and achieved 42 points, improving from 51st to 26th place. Only Arsenal FC Sarand?? achieved more points (46) worldwide, but the team from Argentina lost one league match. In the meantime the situation has stabilized with each three to four clubs from Africa and the CONCACAF area featuring in the "Top 100". Now also the Asian clubs push forward in this area. Also the South American element (currently 31 teams) among the "Top 100" has also increased - all at the expense of the Europeans. This trend will continue in the long-term. In the "Top 100" there are clubs from 34 countries: 61 clubs from the UEFA, 31 from the CONMEBOL, three from the CONCACAF, four from the CAF, two from the AFC, but none from the OFC. The following leagues are represented by the most clubs in the "Top 100": Brazil (10), Spain (8), Italy (8), Argentina (8), England (7), France (7), Germany (5),Colombia (4). Club World Ranking by IFFHS Top 25 (1st October 2006 - 30th September 2007) 1. (1.) Sevilla FC Espa??a/4 285,0 2. (6.) CSD Colo Colo Santiago Chile/3 275,0 3. (3.) Santos FC Brasil/4 272,0 4. (4.) CA Boca Juniors Buenos Aires Argentina/4 268,0 5. (2.) Chelsea FC London England/4 262,0 (5.) Manchester United FC England/4 262,0 7. (7.) Milan AC Italia/4 248,0 8. (9.) AS Roma Italia/4 242,0 9. (10.) FC Internazionale Milano Italia/4 239,0 10. (7.) Liverpool FC England/4 237,0 11. (13.) SV Werder Bremen Deutschland/4 230,0 12. (17.) S??o Paulo FC Brasil/4 222,0 (11.) RCD Espanyol Barcelona Espa??a/4 222,0 14. (14.) Glasgow Rangers FC Scotland/3 212,5 15. (16.) FC Barcelona Espa??a/4 212,0 16. (12.) Blackburn Rovers FC England/4 207,0 17. (24.) FC Shakhtyor Donetsk Ukraina/3 205,5 18. (15.) Tottenham Hotspur FC England/4 198,0 19. (25.) Club Libertad Asunci??n Paraguay/3 197,5 20. (25.) CF Am??rica Ciudad de M??xico M??xico/3 196,0 (22.) Valencia CF Espa??a/4 196,0 22. (20.) Pachuca CF M??xico/3 195,5 23. (18.) Club Atl??tico Osasuna Espa??a/4 191,0 24. (20.) AZ Alkmaar Nederland/3 189,5 25. (23.) Arsenal FC London England/4 189,0 65617

2007-10-03T21:15:55-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/103/47/thumb/riversface.jpg 8517 IN

IrishR#1

Somewhere In 10367

Hey, who's watching this amazing FC Dallas-New England match? This is great. Twellman has been playing like a madman. He's amazing. 75103

2007-10-03T20:57:32-04:00

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CEU_CARMESIM

CAMPINAS 159670

In Comembol US would beat Ecuador, Bolivia,Venezuela,Peru, and lost to Brasil, Argentina,Paraguay, Uruguay. Tie with Colombia. 75600

2007-10-03T20:49:57-04:00

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CEU_CARMESIM

CAMPINAS 159670

IF THE GAME WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU, WHY HAD NOT SAVED PLAYERS AGAINST TORONTO? 68463

<img src="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/images/copa.jpg" vspace="4" hspace="4" align="right" alt="" />Surprise, surprise. Another MLS team is gone from an international competition. D.C. United went down to Guadalajara, Mexico, with a 2-1 edge over Chivas, but lost the second leg 1-0 Tuesday night and was ousted from the Copa Sudamericana on the merciless away-goals rule. If this is starting to sound like a broken record to you, it should. The fact still remains: MLS teams can’t beat Mexican clubs on their own turf. Without being too much of a shill for a colleague’s extra-curricular activities, check out Luis Bueno’s take on his <a href="http://sidelineviews.blogspot.com/2007/10/another-result.html" target="_blank">Sideline Views Blog</a> -- I agree with him 100 percent. (My favorite line: “This result surprises me about as much as the sun does when it shines through my window every morning.”) Before we go burying MLS clubs again, though, I’m going to argue what I’ll call the “Gold Cup Defense.” You might recall how everyone associated with U.S. Soccer preferred the national team make the CONCACAF Gold Cup its priority this past summer, and not the more prestigious South American Copa América tournament. It’s a similar story with D.C. United and the Copa Sudamericana. Yeah, an American team came up short in a prestigious South American competition again. And again, it was D.C. United on the painful end of a two-leg series, as it was against Chile’s Universidad Católica in ’05. Let’s not lament -- South American club competition is still over our heads. MLS clubs are getting better, but they still can’t hang with the Chivas, Boca Juniors and São Paulos -- the heavyweights of Latin America. What MLS needs to do is focus on its own international competition: the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup (which kicks off in January). Why? A few reasons, and it’s not just because the competition is weaker. (Ever heard of W Connection or Club Xelajú? Me neither.) First of all, with apologies to Costa Rica, the Mexican teams in the Champions’ Cup are MLS teams’ No. 1 antagonist -- one objective in mind, one primary opponent to target. Houston and D.C. came agonizingly close to breaking through this past year, but eventually wilted against Pachuca and Chivas, respectively. But most important, like the Gold Cup, this is our region, our tournament, our bragging rights. If an MLS club can win it, it would be CONCACAF’s representative at the FIFA Club World Cup every December. The L.A. Galaxy won the Champions’ Cup in 2000 and were all set to match up against the likes of Boca and Real Madrid before the global championship fell apart. Those days are gone. The Club World Cup looks here to stay. Don’t get me wrong -- when an MLS team eventually advances in the Sudamericana (or perhaps, one day, the more prestigious Copa Libertadores), it’ll be a great victory. But our American teams have a better shot closer to home of winning an entire tournament. And with that comes the true glory of matching up against not just the Boca Juniors or São Paulos, but the real European heavyweights, too. D.C. United vs. FC Barcelona? Now that sounds really good. 2626 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/459/8/thumb/freedman_jonah.jpg 12 CA

Jonah Freedman

San Francisco 4618