Welcome to World Soccer

The MLS began as a place for the best of the world game to be put out to pasture. But recent years have seen a shift in the quality of player both coming thorugh the ranks internally, and joining from abroad. The game has grown in popularity, more and more youngsters play the game and therefore participation in soccer at college level has grown. We ran an article on some of the best rookies to look out for this season earlier in the month and you can read that story here.

But the biggest sign that the MLS is catching up with other league’s around the world, came from Landon Donovan’s mouth this weekend. Unhappy at the way that Steve Nichol’s New England Revolution had set their stall out, Donovan vented his frustration to the media. “They had no intention of winning the game” Donovan is quoted as saying by the Boston Globe. Not only do we have a situation where a team is considered to have enough quality and dangerous players in its ranks, but we have another team who have the players and the mentality to go out and stifle that creativity. A scenario that is played out around the globe week in, week out and something the former Evertonian should be used to. But this sophisticated or even unsophisticated gameplay demonstrates a further evolution of the MLS.

The MLS is now a very competitve league, and that is what is drawing the crowds to stadiums all over the country in greater numbers. The Seattle Sounders average over 35,000 for home games at Qwest Field. This weekend even saw over 700 fans of the Portland Timbers gather to watch their team’s game at Denver in a local movie theatre. Approximately 400 fans also made the long trip to see their team defeated in their opening game on the road.

Whilst it is difficult to draw a tangible line from the arrival of David Beckham to the popularity of Soccer in the US, it is not so difficult to argue that one big name attracts another. And with the quality the US colleges are producing, the American game can only get stronger. In fact the MLS may be a better stomping ground for EPL reserve players who get sent to Bournemouth and other lower league clubs on loan. The quality of football in the MLS is more like what they will face playing for their top flight clubs in England, than the standard in League One and League Two.

As well as big European names like Beckham and Henry joining the fold, big players from other US sports are coming out in support of the MLS. Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns basketball team was revving up the fans at the home of his Vancouver Whitecaps this weekend. Nash is a part-owner of the franchise and made a quick trip in between games to get amongst it at Empire Field. As well as Donovan’s short spell on these shores, Stuart Holden, Brad Friedel, Jonathan Spector and others have made an impact in the English Premiership. And with the MLS now a real player in world football, it is likely we will see more players transfer between the two leagues.  With better quality, better coaching and more competitive matches, the talented youngsters in the MLS are being developed in to potential targets for the scouts of big European football clubs.