Stuck in Last Year's Thinking - MLS Still Targeting Wrong DPs
by Dave Clark on Apr 6, 2010 6:08 AM PDT
in Major League Soccer
21 comments
IMScouting is saying that MLS is targeting the following 5 players for the Secondary Window this summer - Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira, Ludovic Giuly and Camel Meriem. If we assume that this is true, and since the first three have been linked fairly frequently it may be, this is an indication that MLS is still stuck in MLS 2.0 mode when the Designated Players had to be perfect.
Henry, Pires and Vieira are attempts at signing the type of player that was ideal for the old DPs rules. Relative icons, potential difference makers, they occupy the same land that Beckham, Blanco, Angel and Ljungberg do. Old players, icons, very expensive, and yet needing a team with a few more quality men.
Giuly is 33, and while on the wrong side of peak for a forward at least he is being sought from a lesser league. Signing him would be about what he does on the pitch and not on the airwaves. Meriem is more intriguing as he's younger (still 30) and from a league that is marginally better than MLS. That may be an indication of a slight shift, looking for good players, only slightly older, but ones making lateral rather than downward moves.
All five players have their final shot at a World Cup with only Henry and Vieira having good shots at making the South Africa squad, but it should be noted that NONE will be on the 2014 National Team. The name players that are going to be attached to MLS over the next two transfer windows will be players who are done with their National Team experience. With at least 26 open DP slots though MLS should not confine itself to those players and instead should use the shift in rule to shift its thinking. Get PRE-PEAK players using MLS as a ladder up, not as a walker for post-peak players headed to retirement.
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I think they've tried
In a few cases, I think teams HAVE tried to lure younger players. The question becomes, who the heck would want to come and play in a league that flies coach, lives second-class, has little to provide them in challenge, and is known as pretty much the roughest league on the planet? No one. That’s the answer. Even if you offered many of those guys their weight in gold, they still wouldn’t come.
Seattle on the other hand, has a little something more to offer. A rabid and loyal fanbase. An attractive city. A consistently competitive team (last week aside). AND we can offer a nice chunk of change.
My feeling is we (MLS) should be going after the 26-30 y.o. player who may not be a star on their team, but is considered steady, heady, and ready. That’s SHR for those of you keeping track of the acronyms. Eschew the big names (because, really, you’re only going to get the fading stars) and focus on getting players who will be in the league a while, can mentor our players, and provide a nice foundation for future growth.
No?
Good Points
Drawing rising players to this league will be difficult, but I think you’re right about forgoing the older, worn out players. If the MLS could convince up-and-coming stars to potentially be one of the best on their team (and perhaps the whole league), they would have more incentive to sign with us. I’m not sure how the money will figure into it, but hopefully it will be about the same.
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by deepsouthsoccer on Apr 6, 2010 8:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Maybe guys from leagues clearly below MLS level
That are in fact rougher, less skilled with fewer fans, likley lower standards of living and less money
You know most of Asia, Africa, South America, and CONCACAF
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You're not being realistic
Really talented players are snapped up by European teams, regardless of where they’re from. There’s good reason why MLS is looking at post-peak players — they’re the ones the league can afford, and they’re the ones willing to come. Look at Beckham’s example — even he had certain buyer’s remorse after coming here, when he realized he had a chance at more World Cup glory. Few players with real World Cup possibilities will come here. We can snap up a few from CONCACAF minnows, because the Europeans still aren’t convinced, but even the best CONCACAF players go over there. Look at Honduras and Costa Rica — they’ve got lots of players over there. They make more money over there than they would here, and they have better competition — just like the USA players that go over.
European clubs pay gobs of money just for the transfers. MLS doesn’t do that — can’t do that. DC United tried to get a rising Bolivian talent, but his club wanted too much money. MLS went after top Honduran players, but they were too costly. Even Carlos Costly is too costly. However, the league can get out-of-contract stars whose international days are behind them. In some cases, they can outbid the European clubs, or they can simply offer something new and different for guys who have earned too much money already.
Young SHRs aren't typically DPs
…because they don’t NEED to be.
MLS has had some success in wooing young up-and-coming players from Central and South America who will use the league as a stepping stone to Europe. Fredy Montero and Marco Pappa are good examples (and I’m hoping Christian Castillo will be too!). And none of these players have needed DP contracts. But its good that teams now have the flexibility of offering larger DP contracts if thats what they need in order to lure young studs to the leauge.
by Martin Shatzer on Apr 6, 2010 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Landin
is one who probably doesn’t see MLS as his final destination.
If we gave DP money to Fredy, the same would apply.
Europe “poaches” our best players. We need to do the same with lesser leagues. It won’t have the name recognition, but it might be more effective roster construction.
by Cornchops on Apr 6, 2010 10:56 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
At some level I agree with you.
I kind of feel that the next three years, MLS needs to have a break thru with the soccer fans in this country that currently won’t give MLS the time of day. Those fans are sitting out there thinking that MLS is a fourth tier league with a bunch of never will be’s filling shirts on the pitch. I think it’s those fans that the DP rule is aimed at. It’s an attempt by the league to say “hey, we are serious about improving the quality on the field.”
I hope that the guys they bring over are a mix of old stars and up and comers. We’ve seen a number of young players brought into the league this off season. Did anyone in the mainstream press notice? Did we really take note? I only remember one young signing making it to the mainstream press, Freddy Adu.
There has to be some effort to move the needle popularity wise for the league. Right now it is about putting butts in seats and moving the TV numbers from 300K to 600K. Will lesser known, mid table players do that? Henry does that for you in a way that young players can’t.
The big upcoming stars, this generations Messi’s and Tevez’s, they are already in academies in Europe. We’ll get the Montero’s of the world and is that worth dropping DP money on them? Will we get the marketing buzz from signing them?
Obviously the adu signing was years ago
That should have read…
“I only remember one young signing making it to the mainstream press, ever, Freddy Adu.
Here's an idea out of left field
What about defenders? I recall hearing a couple REALLY old Italian dudes being discussed, but they’re not what we’re looking for here. If prima donna strikers don’t want to be roughed up, why not try to draw above-average defenders here with the pitch of “this is a defender’s league, America loves stalwart heroes at the back.” ? You’d still have the problem of up-and-comers being worried about international exposure, but at least you could convince them they’d enjoy it here.
With the additional DP spots, I say that some teams have a chance to experiment a bit. We already know that the “old, big name” type guys can put butts in seats but don’t help the team. Well, why wouldn’t a team like the Galaxy splash a little money on a good defender to help them win championships?
A few names to ponder
These aren’t perfect DPs just players that could use MLS as a one or two year step up from where they are.
Younis Mahmoud – sure its just the Qatari Stars League, and other bad mideast leagues, but the one time Iraqi Captain has 128 goals in 169 appearences.
Khalfan Ibrahim - he’s only played in Qatar, but has 35 goals in 100 appearences and has been the Asian Player of Year, at age of 18.
There are 100s of players who are under 30 who could use MLS as a stepping stone, and while it may seem odd to use a DP slot on a non-icon, the focus of the signings should be on those who improve the play of the team at a better value than their contract. Soon to retire players don’t do that.
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Counterpoint
The problem with this comment and your article, is those names do not sell one ticket.
I am sure they are better picks than washed up superstars. I am not really all the sold on Ljungberg ( beyond belief only a few times last year ).
BUT
he sold tickets. he sold jerseys. people talk about him. he is on ESPNs blog. etc, etc.
The NASL Cosmos were selling 50k tickets to games in a league where some teams were selling 5k with that EXACT strategy. Is it the best soccer….no, but this is a business.
I would like to see a strategy that hits both. Get American superstars to stay here. Landon was a start and lucky for us the biggest name the US has. I think that people know enough to say, OK Gooch is playing for a team that US teams cannot compete with, but when players go to the Scotish leagues over the US, it makes MLS look like a 3rd or 4th tier league rather than the second tier it needs to be seen as.
I CAN’T BE THE ONLY ONE THINKING THIS IS A GOOD STRATEGY ?
Studies have in the past shown
that there is no attendence bump for signing a DP, not in MLS
Only Beckham has done that.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Ljungberg ?
You dont think that Ljungberg helped the Sounders ?
I do, Plus Keller, not a DP, but a big name…probably bigger than Ljungberg in Seattle.
Which leads me back to signing Americans. How about Hanhemann in a few years ?
GBS helped CBus?
Or Denilson?
Or Blanco?
Only Beckham truly moved the needle.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Winning sells tickets.
If the players are good, and the team is good, people will come.
If you have a name player, but don’t win, that wears off very quickly.
by Cornchops on Apr 7, 2010 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
McCarthy Notes that this may indicate a shift as well
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Sounder At Heart
Another place to look is at Leagues that don't pay players on time
Like Spain, including the top level
http://www.prostamerika.com/2010/04/07/barcelona-players-set-to-strike-22631/
It is claimed that 85 per cent of footballers in Spain’s top three divisions have been paid late or not at all. The reality of the financial situation in Spanish football is that Barcelona and Real Madrid earn more than four times as much from the domestic TV deal alone as any other La Liga side and their turnover is more than six times as high.
de Guzman came to MLS for that reason
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Sounder At Heart
Pretty nuts
All the more reason for MLS to continue to keep a stranglehold on certain things.
by chrisperry1983 on Apr 7, 2010 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Two big names
Raul !
Henry !
Everyone is saying that the European press is stirring up all these rumors, but I think it is the Euro structure. Henry, if not playing on a top team….He is, but barely…..goes where ?
To a Spanish team that pays him late and loses every meaningful game ? A British team that does the same ? Where ? He can’t pull a Farve and end up on a winning team….this is badly organized Euro soccer, not the NFL.
MLS is a good option. There is a reason that players like Beckham and Ljungberg are here…it is NOT because they can’t play on a losing team in Europe.
There are advantages to signing a 'name' DP, too
For example, let’s take Columbus. Schelotto signed with them in 2007. During the next offseason, they picked up Gino Padula, a very solid left back who was an important part of their championship team. Padula is an Argentine, as is Schelotto. Would Padula pick Columbus if Schelotto hadn’t signed there? Would MLS have been on his radar at all? I don’t have the answer, but it sure seems logical that Schelotto had an influence on his signing.
Or take us. Does Blaise N’kufo sign with Seattle if Ljungberg, a fellow well-known veteran of many years in Europe, hadn’t signed with the Sounders earlier and talked openly about his positive experience? Maybe. Maybe not. The point is, if signing a name DP helps a team bring in even more talent down the line, that has to be taken into account.
Each organization obviously still needs to manage the signing of a DP very carefully, and of course signing the wrong overpaid veteran will be a bad idea, but so is signing the wrong young up-and-coming talent. See: Landin, Luis Angel, who never met an enchilada he didn’t like.
There’s no single type of player that MLS should be specifically targeting, aside from the players who can most benefit the league in one way or another.
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