Is the MLS a shit league?

[Jahyouth]

Seems like men arguing this question plenty so I bring it on its own topic.

I say yes the MLS is a sub-standard league.  But in saying something is substandard one has to ask "substandard in comparison to what?"  In comparison to other established leagues, the quality of play in the MLS is on the mid to lower end of the scale (with La Liga, EPL, Serie A on the high end, and local Central American leagues like El Salvador and Honduras on the low end).

It is a great retirement league for older players, and a decent league for young prospects to cut their teeth, but a man like Landon Donovan for example should not be playing there (in the MLS) if he wants to command maximum respect on the world club stage.

Yes, it is still relatively new.  Yes, it is up and coming.  I know all that.  But it is what it is.  And is boo compared to the other leagues in the Americas like Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and even Costa Rica quality-wise.

It have leagues in Europe that is shit leagues too -- for example the Welsh league, Scotland Second Division, etc etc etc.  So is not just because it is American that I say is shit.

[Tallman]

To make a fair assessment, one would have to compare it to leagues that have been in existence for approximately the same amount of time, like de J-League.

[Jah Gol]

The J league is a very high quality league much higher than MLS. Football is considered a real sport in Japan not just a youth activity like in the US.

Japan played with almost an almost 100% locally based team and you can judge their performance for yourself.

[truetrini]

Boy, if de MLS is a shit league and de US using dat fuh de talent base..and dey keep dropping wood on we, den what dat asy bout we league?

steups.

[Andre]

Boy, if de MLS is a shit league and de US using dat fuh de talent base..and dey keep dropping wood on we, den what dat asy bout we league?

steups.

true dat.

i think it's a good league. mls teams are about as good as any english div. 2/championship team.

[Observer]

The J league is a very high quality league much higher than MLS. Football is considered a real sport in Japan not just a youth activity like in the US.

Japan played with almost an almost 100% locally based team and you can judge their performance for yourself.

The US have done the same. they have beaten Portugal at a WC, they have tied Brazil in the past and lost 1-0 to Brazil recently. Almost all their squad is local based. Jah Gol have you ever seen some of the Leagues in Europe. When we see games from Holland is only Feyernood, Ajax & PSV, yuh never see Breda & MVV or Muscron and Gent in Belgium.  Because one sees most of the MLS games on TV people could be critical of it and pick it apart but boss let me tell you some of the worst football I see is in  Sweden, Norway, Belgium and Scotland. In Scotland after the game yuh have to take the ball to the hospital.

[Jah Gol]

This is What the International Federation of Football History and Statistics says.

1. España 1.189,0
2. England 1.184,0
3. Italia 1.010,0
  Brasil 1.010,0
5. France 999,0
6. Deutschland 899,0
7. Argentina 850,0
8. Portugal 742,5
9. Nederland 693,0
10. Perú 682,5
11. Colombia 659,5
12. Türkiye 637,0
13. Scotland 633,5
14. Belgique 605,5
15. Greece 594,5
16. Ceská Republika 549,5
17. México 547,5
18. Ukraina 541,0
19. Russia 536,0
20. Chile 528,0
21. Uruguay 488,0
22. Österreich 466,5
23. Paraguay 457,5
24. Ecuador 452,0
25. South Africa 413,5
26. Sénégal 405,5
27. Bolivia 394,0
28. Tunisie 390,5
29. Israel 388,5
  România 388,5
31. Costa Rica 386,0
32. Latvija 384,5
33. Nigeria 383,0
34. Slovenija 379,5
35. Srbija i Crna Gora 377,5
36. Bulgaria 375,0
37. Magyarország 370,0
38. Hrvatska 364,0
  Lietuva 364,0
40. Venezuela 353,0
41. Maroc 345,0
42. Cameroun 343,0
43. Korea (S) 341,0
44. Danmark 330,0
 . Ghana 330,0
46. Slovensko 326,5
47. Japan 322,0
48. Sverige 320,5
49. Norge 319,0
50. Éire 318,0
51. Georgia 308,0
52. Schweiz 305,5
53. Saudi Arabia 305,0
54. Eesti 301,0
55. Côte-d'Ivoire 300,0
56. Zambia 297,5
57. Uzbekistan 297,0
58. Angola 295,5
59. Egypt 294,0
60. Polska 293,0
61. Algérie 287,0
62. El Salvador 285,0
63. Suomi 283,5
64. Iran 283,0
65. China 279,0
66. Zimbabwe 274,0
67. Guatemala 271,0
68. Honduras 270,0
69. Iceland 263,5
70. UAE 253,0
71. USA 252,5
72. India 251,5
73. Oman 250,0
  Syria 250,0

The classification of the best leagues of the world is made objectively without any out side influence of any sort. We follow the criteria that the level of performance of a league is reflected by the best classified teams of that league who in turn usually represent their country in international club competitions. If one looks at the football power-houses of the world, one notices that regularly 4 or 5 clubs of their leagues are always competing in con tinental competitions. By adding the points won in all competitions by the five best placed clubs of each league, we have the points for the country which in turn helps to establish a fair classification. It is important to note that only the yearly classification is representative, since all competitions move along the whole season and over twelve months, we have an objective view of the best. This system has been used since 1991, and it is recognized today as the most precise in rating the leagues of the world


The US national team has an extremely good structure and a good coach. Their National team is doing well but realistically people is the US better than Portugal or Italy ? The best American player with the exception of Keller wouldn't even be in either of those squads.

[truetrini]

that classification takes a lot into consideration.  Yuh feel Scottish League better dan de Mexican league?

or de Greek league?

me eh feel so.

I feel MLS better than most ah dem league above it.

China?  Tunusia?  Egypt? Venezuela? Ghana?

at all!

[Marcos]

After watchin MLS games I conclude it is a sh*$#y league, however it is improving. And as it improves, so does the standard of US play. It is a good example for the Pro League to follow.

[truetrini]

what allyuh does be saying?

Is ah shit league, but improving and we League should emulate that shit league.

ok.

[Observer]

The classification of the best leagues of the world is made objectively without any out side influence of any sort. We follow the criteria that the level of performance of a league is reflected by the best classified teams of that league who in turn usually represent their country in international club competitions. If one looks at the football power-houses of the world, one notices that regularly 4 or 5 clubs of their leagues are always competing in con tinental competitions. By adding the points won in all competitions by the five best placed clubs of each league, we have the points for the country which in turn helps to establish a fair classification. It is important to note that only the yearly classification is representative, since all competitions move along the whole season and over twelve months, we have an objective view of the best. This system has been used since 1991, and it is recognized today as the most precise in rating the leagues of the world


the reality of these stats says little. The International Club Competition in CONCACAF did not have representives from the USA, because they did not have a league. This is also why Canada is never represented to date, they do not have a National League. The USA (MLS) league was established in 1995.

Since then both DC United & LA have won the CONCACAF Club Championship. DC even beat Sao Paulo over two legs in the InterAmericas Cup. the same Sao Paulo that narrowly lost to Milan the same year in the Toyota Cup.
The other leagues will show different in the stats simply because they existed for a period of time. Some like Scotland over 100 yrs. Notice some of the countries listed and one would see what I mean. In Europe there exist 3 International Club Competitions some may even say 4. CL, UEFA, Super Cup & Intertoto. Who knows how many in Asia, Africa etc. Where as in CONCACAF we only have one.

[jusme]

i think it's a good league. mls teams are about as good as any english div. 2/championship team.

I would go even further and say that MLS teams could compete very well with the bottom 8 or 9 teams in the premiership.  People basing the statement that the league is a sh!t league on comparison to the big leagues they see on tv, but what they doh consider is that when a game on tv it does be ManU/Arsenal/Chelsea/Liverpool 9 times outta 10.  I watch West Brom and Southampton and teams like dat play each other and it wasn't too pretty. you can't even count on mid-table teams like Aston Villa to put on a good showing.

[football king]

so according to this table places angola, zambia and venezuela have a better league than mls
look i can't say ah watch football in every country but i seriously doubt many of those countries better than mls
i would rank mls 19 or 20 of the ones i have seen. but hey this from fifa the governing body so ah guess it should be right-obsserver raise a good point though.

[Jah Gol]

You are talking about England. That their style of play. It doesn't look pretty.

If look at Osasuna v Levante(Spain) or Lecce v Bologna (Italy) you see how high the quality of those leagues are.

[jusme]

You are talking about England. That their style of play. It doesn't look pretty.

If look at Osasuna v Levante(Spain) or Lecce v Bologna (Italy) you see how high the quality of those leagues are.

Fair enough.  I don't have much experience watching bottom of the table teams in the Italian and Spanish top leagues.

that being said I still feel the average MLS team (i.e. everybody but Chivas and RSL) could hold their own against anybody who finish below 12th in the Premier League, and nobody would say the EPL is sh!t.

the MLS all-star game features the MLS all-star team vs Fulham if I'm not mistaken.  One team will be on pre-season and the other will be a put-together team, so we can't really expect a true evaluation, but we should be able to pick up on any noticeable difference in class.

[truetrini]

I would nmatch the MLS team with dem teams too!

All it will take is some experience as the league grows and more $$$ pour into it the standard will match any other league in the world.

As initially stated, soccer is not big enough in the states, but the MLS still raises its standards each year!

[Marcos]

From d list MLS worse dan Zimbabwe.
I really doubt dat

[dcs]

Dat list is shit.

MLS is sure to keep growing.

[real madness]

That list have some flaws. It hard to believe that Iceland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, El Salvador, etc. have better leagues than the MLS.  But I could be wrong because I have never seen a game in any of those leagues so I can only compare the MLS to leagues I have seen.  I don't think the MLS will ever compete with Spain, England, Italy and Germany in our lifetime.  The US always thrive to be #1 in everything (good and bad thing) so I expect the MLS to eventually be very competitive and attract good players (not the ones past their prime).  If the league is very successful financially, they will be able to pay high salaries and eventually sign better players (not the really big players like Ronaldinho, Crespo, Henry, Nesta. etc.).  I think the MLS can be good as France, Holland, if they improve the quality of players. 
To say the MLS is a sh*t league as a Trini would be a bit drastic, especially when the US national team often beat us using a lot of MLS players.  I could understand a Spaniard or Italian saying that but we cannot at this time.  Jabloteh might be the only local team that could beat a few MLS team.  I still think we have more talent than the US but we all know talent is not enough to be successful.

[morvant]

1. them men playing on ah american football field

2. i just get caught up into the game and they minimize the screen to advertise sprite

3. ah commentator just used the word offsides

4. the field barely painted and as soon as ah man step on the line it rubbing off

5. men does play hard but they sensitive "one knock and they crying"

6. the commentator just say they need special teams for corner kicks and free kicks

[pioneertrini]

boi i know u have ah next 94 reason but u couldnt be botherd to type  in trute i dunno how they can play on an american football field dat shit rel confusing. at least they have an excuse when they shoot di ball over 

[rippin]

They using assists to describe everything. A cross. A through ball. A shot that deflect off the post and a man score........

[Pointman]

This is What the International Federation of Football History and Statistics says.

1. España 1.189,0
2. England 1.184,0
3. Italia 1.010,0
  Brasil 1.010,0
5. France 999,0
6. Deutschland 899,0
7. Argentina 850,0
8. Portugal 742,5
9. Nederland 693,0
10. Perú 682,5
11. Colombia 659,5
12. Türkiye 637,0
13. Scotland 633,5
14. Belgique 605,5
15. Greece 594,5
16. Ceská Republika 549,5
17. México 547,5
18. Ukraina 541,0
19. Russia 536,0
20. Chile 528,0
21. Uruguay 488,0
22. Österreich 466,5
23. Paraguay 457,5
24. Ecuador 452,0
25. South Africa 413,5
26. Sénégal 405,5
27. Bolivia 394,0
28. Tunisie 390,5
29. Israel 388,5
  România 388,5
31. Costa Rica 386,0
32. Latvija 384,5
33. Nigeria 383,0
34. Slovenija 379,5
35. Srbija i Crna Gora 377,5
36. Bulgaria 375,0
37. Magyarország 370,0
38. Hrvatska 364,0
  Lietuva 364,0
40. Venezuela 353,0
41. Maroc 345,0
42. Cameroun 343,0
43. Korea (S) 341,0
44. Danmark 330,0
 . Ghana 330,0
46. Slovensko 326,5
47. Japan 322,0
48. Sverige 320,5
49. Norge 319,0
50. Éire 318,0
51. Georgia 308,0
52. Schweiz 305,5
53. Saudi Arabia 305,0
54. Eesti 301,0
55. Côte-d'Ivoire 300,0
56. Zambia 297,5
57. Uzbekistan 297,0
58. Angola 295,5
59. Egypt 294,0
60. Polska 293,0
61. Algérie 287,0
62. El Salvador 285,0
63. Suomi 283,5
64. Iran 283,0
65. China 279,0
66. Zimbabwe 274,0
67. Guatemala 271,0
68. Honduras 270,0
69. Iceland 263,5
70. UAE 253,0
71. USA 252,5
72. India 251,5
73. Oman 250,0
  Syria 250,0

The classification of the best leagues of the world is made objectively without any out side influence of any sort. We follow the criteria that the level of performance of a league is reflected by the best classified teams of that league who in turn usually represent their country in international club competitions. If one looks at the football power-houses of the world, one notices that regularly 4 or 5 clubs of their leagues are always competing in con tinental competitions. By adding the points won in all competitions by the five best placed clubs of each league, we have the points for the country which in turn helps to establish a fair classification. It is important to note that only the yearly classification is representative, since all competitions move along the whole season and over twelve months, we have an objective view of the best. This system has been used since 1991, and it is recognized today as the most precise in rating the leagues of the world


The US national team has an extremely good structure and a good coach. Their National team is doing well but realistically people is the US better than Portugal or Italy ? The best American player with the exception of Keller wouldn't even be in either of those squads.

whey Trini on da list???

[ribbit]

that list suffering from the same defect the FIFA rankings have - the sampling is too sparse. there's not enough play between the leagues to make the list meaningful.

uzbekistan > mls?

[TrinInfinite]

mls aint nothin 2 talk about, de toronto branch will b good

[ribbit]

whey Trini on da list???

what international club competitions do trini clubs participate in? they not on the list bc of this.

[Ponnoxx]

 America is now beginning to embrace football...The MLS is improving and some of the top teams have shown that they could stand up against 'Good' opposition...It might be a sh*t league now but in the next 5 years it could be a great league.

[Jah Gol]

Galaxy travel to Aguascalientes with upset on their minds

15.4.03 - The Los Angeles Galaxy have become adept at grinding out draws on the road in the early days of the 2003 Major League Soccer season. But to advance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, they will have to come away with more than a draw – yet face a CD Necaxa club which could be there for the taking.
The defending MLS champions have come from behind to record two draws in their first two games in the new U.S. domestic campaign. But they surrounded a disaster: a 4:1 loss to Necaxa in the first leg of their quarterfinal series.

Necaxa scored three second-half goals to grab the victory. Juan Franco opened Necaxa's account on 27 minutes, before Alex Pineda Chacon leveled terms in the 36th minute. But Franco made it 2:1 in the 51st minute, then Galaxy allowed two critical late goals, to Luis Roberto Alves ('Zague') in the 81st minute, then Miguel Larrosa three minutes from time.

That match was played in Fullerton, California, the Galaxy’s temporary home while their new stadium is completed. They are opening their domestic season with eight consecutive road matches until it is finished.

For the Galaxy, 2000 winners of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the loss was their worst performance in continental competition.

"It was an embarrassing game," said Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid. "We didn't play well. We let them take the game to us ... there are very few people you can point to and say they played a good game."

But they possibly couldn’t have picked a better time to head to Aguascalientes to face Necaxa, when in Wednesday’s return leg they’ll meet a team that has now gone six consecutive league matches without a victory, after their 2:2 draw away to Colibries CF de Morelos at the weekend. The draw left Necaxa with 18 points from 14 matches, in 11th place in the overall table.

Still, Necaxa coach Raúl Ariás is confident his team has turned the corner: “I think we’ve just a little bit of bad luck: shots before that were hitting the post and going in, now are hitting the post and going out,” he said. “Nevertheless, I believe our bad run has now passed, and we’ve also had the good fortune of staying together in a solid group.”


Ok fellas I know its not fair to judge a league by the performance of 1 team and furthermore the performances in just a few games. Using the rationale presented earlier in this topic that the MLS is better than Central American leagues etc. why are these scorelines the way they are? I 'm not saying that MLS is not better than most leagues in the zone but the question is how much better. These were competitive games, is it that MLS teams don't see these tournaments as important. The MLS can choose from a massive pool of players and has a lot more financial resources than any other league except Mexico in our zone. If this league is so good Saprissa and should be no match for DC or the Wizards.

check dis out
http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/match3.asp?id=1&year=2005

[triniairman]

THE MLS IS BORING TO WATCH EXCEPT WHEN WE PLAYERS PLAYIN AND THAT IS THE TRUTH SO IN MY OPINION IT IS SHIT I RATHER WATCH THE PFL WE HAVE IN TRINIDAD AND I SURE IF WE PFL WAS BIGGER IN TERMS OF TEAMS AND MONEY IT WOULD DEVELOP GREAT LOCAL PLAYERS SO BEENIE WOULD NOT HAVE TO TALK SHIT ABOUT IT BEING SLOW PACED

[dwn]

How far do PFL teams go in terms of developing youth players? How good is the youth system set up.