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 It's time once again to take the pulse of American soccer, and this month "State of the States" is all about "F" words. Lest you get the wrong idea, I'm not going to engage in any obscenity-laced criticism of the FO of my poor DC United. Instead, we're going to talk Friendlies and Flagship Franchises.
Coming To America
On the heels of the World Cup, the "summer of soccer" continued with a series of friendlies on American soil involving big clubs from across the pond, often against MLS opposition. And the American clubs have held up pretty well against the likes of Manchester City, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Manchester United. Sadly, in the one match that had the most domestic media attention, the All Star game, the best of MLS were drubbed 5-2 by the very same Manchester United that had been pegged back by the Wizards just days earlier.
Still, the crowds and results were, in the main, impressive, even if the opposition were not playing their strongest teams and still working on fitness. What became overshadowed (witness the relative size of the crowds) were SuperLiga (last year for this tourney, particularly in light of the money raked in through friendlies?) and the qualification stages of the CONCACAF Champions' League, competitive matches for MLS teams already suffering the long haul of summer, though not quite so lucrative.
Flagship Taking On Water?
One such suffering club are the LA Galaxy. After a tremendous start to the season that saw them persevere despite the World Cup absences of Donovan and Buddle, the recent weeks have seen them sputter and fail in both MLS and the Champions' League qualifiers. Though they still sit atop the league, their points lead is eroding. That said, coach Bruce Arena will probably be worried less about a handful results in a congested portion of the schedule than that his previously strong defense is starting to ship goals.
All this for one of the big-market, "flagship" franchises in the league that seemed to have turned itself around after the mess of Beckham's arrival. The curious observer might wonder at the dual effect of Euro-clubs sniffing around Donovan and the impending return of Beckham next month, not to mention the Ronaldinho rumors that won't go away. If indeed the DP circus is causing trouble in camp Galaxy, what does that portend for the other big-market team going for the Designated Player full house?
Three's Company?
After one of the most miserable seasons in league history in 2009, the Red Bulls have been on the right end of the MLS table in 2010. There can be little doubt that league bigwigs would be pleased to have strong teams in both Los Angeles and New York, but three Designated Players? The incumbent Juan Pablo Angel has been joined by Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez, both formerly of Barcelona.
To date, the DP rule hasn't provided a consistent benefit on the field in isolation (off the field is another matter entirely). But with three such high-quality players at their disposal and a new coach and FO that seem to have settled relatively quickly in the oft-troubled waters of MLS, surely the Red Bulls must be among the favorites to secure the MLS Cup? But are they mortgaging the future of the club for immediate success in 2010, or is there a sustainable, multi-DP model going forward?
Looking Ahead
As we wind our way to the conclusion of summer, what stories should we be keeping our eyes on?
- Will Sunil Gulati and the USSF pull the trigger on extending Bob Bradley's contract as USA boss? If not, where does he land? More importantly, who would replace him?
- Don Garber says Donovan is staying in MLS, but if the right suitor comes calling with a big sack of cash, how long will such resolve last? And how will LA fare without him?
- Where will various Yanks abroad be playing their ball this year? The likes of Adu, Altidore, Goodson, and Beasley are either trying to find new homes or are the subject of transfer talk.
- What is the future of professional Division II soccer in the US? The USSF has put their plan on the table, but how many, if any, of the current lot satisfy the hefty financial terms and stadium situations required?
Thanks for reading, and see you next month.
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