The top MLS sides competitive in the English Premier League?

Question

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AqoxpM.L7RnH1F6C8OYURhgmw7YF?slug=ro-mailbag041508&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
I came across this article, in which an MLS club manager or executive claimed what several have in the States: essentially that MLS clubs could compete in Top flight English football.
Personally, I say this notion is emphatically rubbish. Dont get me wrong, im not an MLS belittler or basher, but honestly, Top flight English football has a vast tradition of over 130 years to MLS's 15 or so if even that as far as time is concerned at least. Furthermore, many of the typically very defensive-minded MLS followers ive encountered online, seem always to belittle top flight world leagues, and try to tear down the walls between them by stating preseason results, and results of preseason UK clubs against "MLS All-star" sides. It seems they fail to realise the personnel used and very purpose of a preseason tour for the english and scottish sides who've visited, as well as the mls'.

Answer 1

i completly agree with what your saying, i read that article aswell and found it laughable what the MLS coach had to say. i have to say though that i am an MLS basher because i think that it is just a glorified pub league, america think they have the best of everything, its time they accepted that europe, and mostley england, have the edge on them in this competition. i am a liverpool supporter and i have to say, that after watching our reserve side, and watching some MLS football aswell, their is only one winner in any matchup and that is liverpool's reserves, due to the sheer talent on offer, name if you will one american player that has suceeded big time in europe?? Freddy Adu who is one of america's top prospects had a trial with Man U who quickley released him as he was not good enough, now he is a bit part player for benfica, landon donovan did nothing in his time in europe and thier are also others who are so dire it is unbelieveable, so the MLS, a league which is predomiantley made up of american players has no chance of competeing with an english side, and it is like you say all the friendlies were pre-season and intended on getting players match-fit. in any regular season in the EPL, an american side would be slaughtered week in week out, they probably couldnt keep up with 2nd division standards.

Answer 2

Chad, you were wrong in your question about the MLS franchises, and you're wrong here too. I have been saying the exact same thing for months here, and Steve Morrow has got it right. Moreover, I think he's in a much better position to judge than most.



What I have said is that the better MLS clubs would probably perform in the lower half of the EPL. Morrow said "I genuinely believe we are at the stage now where the top sides could survive in the English Premiership", which sounds like very much the same thing and is not exactly "competing" I suppose. David Beckham has also been defending the league against criticisms of poor quality play. Again, he is in a position of authority on the subject.



The problem is that most Europeans' exposure to MLS is likely through the 2007 Galaxy, who were not good, with or without Beckham. Extrapolating that the entire league is bad from that kind of knowledge is suspect logic. Moreover, Europeans tend to have an inflated opinion of the quality of their own leagues, especially the EPL. I see many of the same errors committed in the EPL as I do in MLS, and the EPL's mad rush style of play is crass, frankly. It lacks finesse and can be extremely boring. It also explains why England is becoming less and less competitive internationally.



Another error you make is to assume that 130 years of tradition make for a better league now than 15 (actually 2008 is the 13th season, although the league was founded in 1994). Looked at another way, the EPL is only a few years older than MLS, and MLS has a soccer tradition here in the US that goes way back, even beyond 1950. It also assumes that the 130 years were all good. They weren't, not by a long shot, despite what the FA told itself for decades. Besides, with international players all over the league, the MLS has the traditions of many soccer-playing countries to draw on anyway.



Next, you dismiss MLS wins against European teams because they were playing teams in pre-season mode, but criticize MLS for losing in CONCACAF tournaments, ignoring the fact that the MLS teams were in pre-season/early season mode themselves. That is an unjustifiable double standard.

Answer 3

I agree that most (not all) MLS sides could hang with the third tier of English football. And, as you said, considering the MLS only began in 1995 (I remember because I actually was called up for a try-out with Dallas but was cut), that is pretty good progress. But there are just too many other big money sports in this country attracting the best athletes for MLS to ever be in the same class as the EPL.



Now, to challenge S.G.Y.N... about American players; you are forgetting American goalkeepers. 4 starters in the Premier League this season and Tim Howard was brilliant at Manchester United. The USA is becoming something of a goalkeeper factory.

Answer 4

In any given series home or away, the best MLS teams could beat a EPL team ranked anywhere from 14 to 20th I believe. However, because of the lack of depth (due solely to the horribly small salary cap) no MLS team could survive an EPL season much better then 16th in my opinion. Take an MLS team and add another teams reserve or bench players, and maybe just maybe finish 14th.

Answer 5

To be honest even Gretna can play better than any of the American clubs.

Answer 6

MLS=crap

yeah but thin about hey won't really say the true that they will get routed in every game

Answer 7

yeah, i read that too.....the MLS is still miles behind the english premier league.