SUPERLIGA SQUEEZES IN
By: Alex | August 31st, 2007As the MLS league progresses and starts to resemble the leagues overseas with the likes of international club competitions, some of the league issues are starting to show through.
The arrival of international competitions is so important to the development of US Soccer. However, unless the league restructures itself to accommodate these competitions, the Galaxy “curse” may be reoccurring every year.
Competitions in addition to regular league play generate a strain on team. The strain is not only physical, but mental too. The only way teams can adapt is by adding depth. Most teams in Europe play plenty of league games plus two domestic cups and an international, not to mention smaller shield/cups. They cope with this by providing depth, a second team almost as strong as their first.
MLS has several competitions besides the 30 games of league play. MLS Cup, Open Cup, CC Cup, and Superliga place an additional strain on these teams. While a bottom table team plays only 30 games in a season, the better teams could play in an additional 15 – 20 games all during the regular season.
So what does this do to teams? Look around this year. DCU had a tough start after their CCC run. Houston hit a small slump with their run in Superliga. Galaxy added to their tough times. For example, look at the injuries they sustained just from the final one game.
So how do teams in MLS cope. Well, the have to pick and chose their battles, prioritize. People wonder where the Open Cup went. I will argue that the league is more important than the Cup, so it is prioritized. Proof of that is that 5 of the 8 teams still in the Open Cup this year are USL teams.
So what is the answer? Well, for starters, the number of players allowed on a team need to be increased. Developmental slots should be decreased. Higher cap is obvious.
What are your thoughts in this issue?
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