Chivas USA to improve MLS

By: Alex | December 10th, 2007

Chivas USA would like to improve the MLS by providing better performances on the pitch. Not all teams feel the same way.

I know it sounds weird, but it’s the truth. While searching for more Fonseca rumors, I stumbled upon this article. It talked about a divide in MLS regarding how much the players should be paid (the cap).

So there are two schools of thought.

1. Raise the cap so a better product is on the field. More people will come.
2. Slow steady growth is how we got here today, we should keep it this way.

Now I see both sides of the argument. However, a 4% growth doesn’t sit well with me. Here’s why.

First off, the average inflation rate is 2-3% a year. So we are actually increasing the cap by about 1 percent. These guys deserve better.

Second, a lot of these guys have 5% raises written in to contracts. so what does that leave the team to put towards new talent? Not much.

So the only tool teams have to bring talent to the league are the DP’s. 400k counts towards the cap, while the rest is free. But teams with a DP are kind of screwed. Take LA for an example. Their 3 ring circus drives me nuts, but between Landon and Becks, much of the cap is eaten up. A team trying to bring talent to the pitch cannot afford supporting players. $725,000 of the 2.3 million is tied up in those two. This year that equals to 10 Galindo’s, 14 Guzans, or 5 Ante Razovs. How do you get depth?

So here’s the deal. The LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Houston Dynamo and Chivas USA want to increase the cap significantly to allow the league to grow like option #1.

New England Revolution, FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew like option number two. I call this the MLS will be a feeder league for 20 years option. I’m going to do a little math. Bear with me…

Year 1 2.3
2 2.392
3 2.5116
4 2.611
5 2.715
6 2.82
7 2.93
8 3.05
9 3.17
10 3.3

So at the end of ten years, based on a 4% cap increase the cap will be at 3.3 million (please don’t critique the math). Based on a 28 man roster, that gives the average player $117,857.14 bucks a year. that blows.

So I guess I have a point. Many LOYAL MLS fans watch the sport with the hope that someday, MLS will be a world class league. At this rate, it will never happen.

Please MLS, consider a little bit bigger percentage. Like 7. I like 7. In 10 years, 7 could equal good things. MLS’ time has come.