If we manage to make it into the competition next year, I’m pretty sure we’ll give full effort in the CCL. The problem is that MLS’s slavish devotion to parity makes it hard to build a team with the resources to compete internationally. From what I’ve gathered, with the exception of maybe one or two teams a year, most MLS teams are pretty much dead even and talent is diffused through out the league. That means that while the average level of MLS might be higher than the other leagues participating in the CCL, the actual teams that MLS teams are facing are truly the exceptional exceptional teams with all the best talent.

I firmly believe that at some point, MLS will have to choose between parity and international competitiveness. Like you said, there are teams that are much more ambitious than others, and if allowed to, those clubs would build the kinds of squads that could really compete in competitions like the CCL. But those clubs would be leaving the rest of MLS behind and parity would be reduced. It’s up to MLS, but if they want more respect as a league, then risks will have to be taken.

You forget that Seattle dont even have close to the depth necessary for the CCL. DCU showed tonight that one bad player can screw you over.

CarlosT, it is very clear based on the success of the pair of USL teams and houston that it really is more of a matter of how many starters MLS teams play and whether they are playing a mexican team. It is clear the MLS is really only below the mexican league in terms of quality in our region.

Also Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole both stated that their main goal was to win the premier league this year. Does that mean they are both proving the premier league is small time?

Btw teams playing on turf “prove” that MLS is a lot more small time than a team deciding which of three tournaments it should prioritize with a 24 man roster. And you might do well to attribute who got the quote. (Goff) True soccer fans see Seattles absolutely magnificient atmosphere clearly the best in MLS, but the quality of the match does certainly suffer a great deal due to the rubber pitch.

Tim, I linked Goff for the quote, which is standard on the web.

As for Lampard and Cole they and their team have a long history of success, so their desire can’t be questioned.

Lastly, you talk about how Field Turf proves that its small time, I might suggest that a team that is so poor that it can’t repeat college bowl lines by AUGUST is smaller than playing on a pristine green pitch. I’d rather excellent Field Turf than the dirt patches that litter most of MLS, and in fact much of European football due to poor maintence and overuse. At least the surfuce here plays the ball true.

umm.. DCU has a long history of succes longer than chelsea’s in fact, and it doesn’t play true in comparison to actually decent pitches. And those lines really aren’t noticable. Its funny that you suggest DCU’s pitch is minor league when it is probably one of the best pitches in MLS. Quaranta also played quite admirally last night so i dont think you can really question his motives.

umm.. DCU has a long history of succes longer than chelsea’s in fact, and it doesn’t play true in comparison to actually decent pitches. And those lines really aren’t noticable. Its funny that you suggest DCU’s pitch is minor league when it is probably one of the best pitches in MLS. Quaranta also played quite admirally last night so i dont think you can really question his motives.And sorry i didn’t notice the link that was really dumb of me.

I can question his motives, but not his professionalism.

DC started with an amazing run in this league, and actually won a few international Cups in MLS 1.0, but to compare them to Chelsea is rather absurd.

I think that most pitches in MLS are minor league, not just RFK (there’s a reason they want a new stadium), I laugh at all the SSS rhetoric that ignores the high school football games, the lacrosse, the concerts, etc

The reason they want a new stadium has nothing to do with the pitch. I couldn’t care less what Tino says to Goff. Goff gets in there and is candid with these guys. They’re professional soccer players, not public speakers. Quaranta pissed me off with his comments, but my guess is he read the avalanche of comments on SI telling him to shut his mouth and go earn his money. Him, Emilio, played with heart last night. It looked like we were going to get a respectable point on the road, only to watch it slip away in the dying minutes of the match. The ref sucked too. The PK retake was a joke. Simms was pushed.

I’m confused dadryan, I thought they turn a profit at RFK (Payne said so), but he’s still wanting a new stadium. If not for profits, nor for a better pitch, why?

and yes, I’m digging at you a lot lately.

Also Chelsea doesn’t have a long history of success they have been successful in this decade. So you right it is absurd to compare DCU to chelsea because DCU has won an international trophy. :) In all seriousness in terms of success both teams have about an equal record, and chelsea is over 100 years old. So if you know your history of both clubs and nations you would see this. And the point is no matter how big or small a club is that they are going to prioritize what competitions are most important to them. DCU just like a club as large as Chelsea will do the same. So do you question lamps or ashley coles motives?

Unless you are privy to information that we are not then you cannot comment on the financial motives of DCU. Have you thought of the possibility that they pay a fairly large lease for RFK DCU, and the more games they are able to play during said lease equals more money they make in order to pay of the lease. So payne could’ve been refering to the fact that they earn a profit in individual games. Your post in response to dadryan just doesn’t make sense. The needs for a new stadium are obvious and really there is no need for me to reitarate it.