http://disqus.com/people/bsumm1/enWed, 03 Sep 2008 14:35:06 -0000http://majorleaguesoccertalk.disqus.com/impact_wins_mls_falters/#comment-2033253Kartik, I do understand where you are coming from in this analysis of the performance of MLS sides in the Champions League. I would warn, however, against being to quick to judge MLS as a whole league based on the performance of two of it's teams. As a Revolution fan since 96 I am disappointed at being ousting from this tournament, but not distraught or nearly as pessimistic as you seem to be feeling. The Revs' schedule this season has been unbelievably hectic, and considering the fact that the team which merited a spot in the tournaments like Superliga or Champions League a year ago was not at all the same team participating in said events. In this 2008 MLS season, of the full current Revolution roster, HALF are MLS rookies most of whom are fresh out of university. To go out into the league and maintain a first place position only to be removed from that position just a week ago with a squad full of inexperience should not be seen as a sign that MLS is not as competitive as people say. I would argue that it absolutely is, otherwise why would these strong, young, limber, vivacious players be getting the snot kicked out of them? It is by no means easy to play in MLS, and deriving the message that the league is “not very good by any objective international standard” from this specific situation can be detrimentally misdescriptive. If you want to get a picture of how MLS stacks up to other leagues in the world at this point, try for instance comparing Eddie Johnson at Fulham with Andy Dorman at St. Mirren or Danny Califf at Aalborg (now with Midtjylland) and look at there time in MLS, their growth, and their current form in Europe. Using specific examples I feel is a healthier, more empirical way of assessing our progress in the US rather than making broad generalizations based on isolated cases occurring under extenuating circumstances. Also one must take priorities into account. In terms of this new Champions League it is more advantageous for teams like Tauro and Joe Public to do well in this tournament so as to raise the status of their own domestic leagues. The MLS has many avenues for raising its international status, the CONCACAF tournament being but one way. The Revs have already won Superliga and have almost surely cemented themselves into the playoffs, so what do Nicol and Mariner really want to focus the remaining energy of the team on? Should they do well in yet another fledgling international competition, it would mean more travel time, more strain on an already exhausting schedule, more potential chances for injuries, the list goes on. I believe the priorities of the team at this point are to get everyone healthy again and make a strong post season push to another MLS Cup Final and hopefully winning it this time! Using the two Champions League matches as a chance to to give valuable experience to the younger guys would seem to be the most ideal way to use such a tournament to the Revs' advantage in the long run. All of this can be duly applied to Chivas as well. The fact that these tactical choices have to be made by MLS managers must only further how competitive an MLS team has to be in a season. Again, I 100% agree that MLS tends to try to run before it has learned to crawl in some aspects and this can be disheartening to see for true believers in the success of the game in the US. But be careful Kartik, this league of ours is much stronger than you may give it credit for, and if anything, the competitive level is one of the last things this league needs to improve upon. Rant over.bsumm1Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:35:06 -0000