Mailbag: Is MLS really as good as the EPL?
Bigger than MJ and Tiger?Alexi Lalas has always been known for using his head, whether clearing balls out of danger on defense or using it as a canvas for the goatee and long hair that made him a marketing success, but some people may start to wonder if the Los Angeles Galaxy president took a few too many knocks to the noggin after he claimed the talent in MLS "wouldn't miss a beat" if placed in England's famed Premier League.
Lalas made his comments in response to opinion coming out of Europe, and especially David Beckham's native land, that the England international and recent Real Madrid star is heading to the United States to enjoy a glorified retirement tour with the Galaxy. For the coup de grace, Lalas added that Beckham will have a higher profile in the United States than the likes of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods.
So what's your take, SportsNation? Is Lalas crazy? Will Beckham be the biggest celebrity in American sports? And has MLS really improved to the point that it's at least comparable with some of the best soccer Europe has to offer? We'll post selected responses.
VOTE: How would the best MLS team fare in England?
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Ryan (Solon, OH): Alexi Lalas is going to kill American soccer. I've lived in America my entire life. I watch the EPL, along with the leagues in Italy, Spain, and Germany ... to compare the MLS to the EPL is like saying there is no difference between college and pro BASEBALL. The best MLS teams MIGHT be able to get by in the Championship over in England, but in the EPL they'd be in the bottom 5 easily. The MLS is starting to get better, but people like Lalas are going to keep it as a joke.
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Ben (Oklahoma City): Are you kidding me? Let's not kid ourselves. This is like saying the European basketball league is on par with the NBA. It just isn't. The soccer clubs in Europe have been around since before the Red Sox were playing the Yankees. I think the MLS has enormous potential, but if you think the MLS cup is anything like the UEFA Champions League, then you are clearly deluding yourself.
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Josh (Santa Clara): I think that MLS teams could compete in the Premier League. They certainly wouldn't be on par with teams like Chelsea, Man U, Liverpool or Arsenal. But I could see them beating West Ham or Fulham. The way Newcastle's been playing, FC Dallas might be able to take them. Unfortunately, Beckham won't be the biggest celebrity in American sports IN the U.S. He might be the biggest American sports celebrity outside the U.S. Perhaps unfairly, the MLS lacks credibility; they need to sign a few guys like Fowler and Zidane who can give the league some instant credibility in terms of talent. Getting the most marketable player in the world--although does things for popularity of the sport, which is huge, does not do anything for perceived credibility.
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Matt (Avon): Alexi Lalas has always been a huge proponent for American soccer and he?s also been known to say stupid things. This is one of those stupid things. The quality of the MLS is increasing drastically as can be seen with teams like Kansas City not really hurting horribly from the loss of a player such as Eddie Johnson and his amazing hot streak. While you hear players like Juan Pablo Angel be surprised at the quality of football we play here in America. But we are not on par with EPL it just isn't the fact yet. Beckham is the biggest global celebrity there is. Micheal Jordan gives him a run but I think Beckham wins out whether its people loving him or hating him he is known everywhere. But He won't be the Biggest Sports Celebrity in the US. Soccer is still a 2nd or 3rd tier sport to most of the American public. So even the greatest celebrity in the world probably won't be the #1 name just do to the access to the sport. Lalas is speaking out for his love of the American game and out of frustration from all those people claiming Beckham is to good to go to America. He may have gone a little to far but his point is Beckham won't be wasting his talents coming here and that is true.
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Ken (NYC): The existence of this 'forum' is proof that Lalas got exactly what he wanted, publicity. My advice is to ignore him and perhaps he'll go away.
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Rob (New York): You can not even say that MLS is even close to the EPL. A MLS all-star team could probably not even beat a mid-level team like Everton or Tottenham. If Cristiano Ronaldo played in the MLS he would score 100 goals. The real test for MLS teams is to play in the Champions League or UEFA tournaments to see how they far against the best football clubs in the world. EPL is equal to the Major League Baseball. MLS is equal to Double A Minor League Baseball.
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JD (Washington DC): I'm all for supporting the US and the MLS, but Alexi Lalas has no clue what he's talking about. He's just trying to hype up the MLS and Beck's move. In reality, if ANY MLS team had to play a typical schedule of an EPL team, they'd be dead by week 10. FA Cup, EPL League, possibly a CL or UEFA Cup game.... Please. The best team in the MLS can't compare with a good EPL team. A bottom dweller, maybe. But even then ... those lads are way more physical than ours.
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Glen (Aurora): Not a chance, not even close. The Premiership is FAR superior to MLS. I'd probably put MLS on par with League One in England, with a couple of the top teams maybe in the Championship. I think Alexi has taken one to may crosses off the noggin here.
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Mike (San Diego): Some of the best MLS players could compete in the EPL, but not a lot of them. The EPL is much much better than the MLS. However, Lalas might have something right about Beckham, he is already a world-wide figure, and his popularity in the US (the world's largest celebrity market) will continue to grow.
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Jon (Darien, CT): David Beckham in no way will ever compare to Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan in terms of profile and international impact. He is a washed up, ever-overrated player who will garner some hype for a short period of time upon arrival. The largest spotlight on Beckham will undoubtedly come in form of a reality TV show of he and his wife on E! before the ratings force it to be shelved and he is benched on another team soccer team.
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Mike (New York): Lalas is a little delusional here. The best MLS teams could handle the bottom half of the Premiership, but would have great difficulty with the top half. Look no further than Juan Pablo Angel scoring at will in MLS while being benched at Aston Villa.
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Chicago: Lalas isn't far off. There is no doubt that world class clubs such as ManU, Chelsea, and Arsenal are far ahead of any team in the MLS. However, there is not only a big gap at the top of the premier league (can anyone remember the last time Wigan won the Premiership?) but also, these three are far ahead of most teams anywhere in the world. When examining the overall composite of MLS teams to the entire composite of Premier League teams, including teams like Newcastle, Boro, Charlton, and Pompey, the MLS is about as good as the EPL. The MLS needs to take a lesson from the EPL, and allow promotion and relegation, as well as to do away with salary caps. Don't restrict the money coming in; at least wait until you have it to restrict it.
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Manuel (Houston): I keep up with all of the European soccer leagues and the MLS, and I would have to say that the MLS cannot even come close to compare with the Premier League. Watching the MLS is frustrating because of how bad the players are and how sorry their inability to execute simple tactics is. Sometimes the games get so frustrating that I flat-out change the channel because I'm yelling at the television because of the dumb mistakes they make all the time and how they never shoot from outside of the penalty box. Almost all of the goals are either headers or really close to the goal. They pass it too much inside of the penalty area. If you are that close you have to shoot!
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Matthew (Peoria, IL): Hey, his point is that the English media are the joke, not the MLS. They all puff their chests about how good the EPL is and how good England is, but England hasn't done much better than the U.S. over the past 20 years of soccer on the International Level. EPL has 4 good teams, the rest are just average, that?s what he's saying. Better Competition Top to Bottom in MLS.
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Mark (Cincinnati): "Lalas added that Beckham will have a higher profile in the United States than the likes of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods." This is the one that made me spit my drink on the monitor. A sport has to be relatively popular before a star of Tiger or MJ's caliber can then elevate it to greatness. Beckham playing for the galaxy will be grabbing all the headlines on page 8 of the sports section.
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Daniel (Cincinnati): Lalas has no business comparing David Beckham to Tiger Woods. The individual achievements of these two legends far outweigh any collection of accomplishments by David Beckham. David Beckham is a worldwide superstar and may be just as popular as those two icons, but he never transformed his profession the way that Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan have done for their respective sports. If we want to compare a Futbol player, let?s talk about the likes of Pele, not a spice girl.
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mehul (Dallas, TX): David Beckham will clearly be the best player in the MLS and is paving the way for many other internationals as a viable option for a league to play in. With that said, the English Premier League is on a class of its own, where the world's best go to play. Alexi's comments are the equivalent of saying European basketball leagues are on par with the NBA. There is a reason why Dirk Nowitzki and Tony Parker play in the NBA, because it is the best league in the world. There is a reason why America's best soccer players including Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, Demarcus Beasley, Brian McBride, and others try to make it in the EPL. Alexi Lalas is simply trying to make a shocking comment to seek more attention for his club. Beckham has come to the U.S. because of the Hollywood lifestyle and because he is not the same player he once was. Although he can still strike the ball on corners and free kicks better than anyone, he is not the great all around player that many perceive him to be. He will be a huge attraction for soccer in the U.S., but Alexi Lalas is clearly way off on this one.
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Franco (Miami): Lalas, may be trying to help Beckham keep his place in the national team and also refusing Real Madrid the ability buy out the contract of Becks. But he's insane. The EPL is much stronger, the MLS is more comparable to the Scottish one.
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Steve (NYC): Juan Pablo Angel has a MLS record 9 goals in his first 7 games. This is a guy who was on the Aston Villa reserve side at the end of his EPL league. I wonder if all the people that are working their butts off to grow the league just cringe everytime this idiot opens his mouth.
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Jose (Wallingford): Michael Jordan 6 Time NBA Champion & Finals MVP 5 Time NBA MVP 2 Gold Medals NCAA National Champion Winner of the Naismith and Wooden Awards. Tiger Woods 12 Majors (second all time) David Beckham Married to a Spice Girl.
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Luis (Washington, DC): Anyone who thinks Tiger Woods has a greater international profile than David Beckham has no clue what they're talking about and should just be ignored. Beckham, and other international stars like Ronaldinho, are on another stratosphere compared to US sports stars. I do agree that Beckham won't be the biggest star in the US from an American perspective. As for Lalas, he is an idiot. I think a top MLS side, plus some added depth (the biggest shortcoming in MLS right now) could survive in the EPL, but would be near the bottom of the table. MLS compares very favorably to the Championship.
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Toby (Baltimore): How many MLS players have moved to the EPL and achieved even a modest level of success? Three or four? The fact that EPL teams aren't scouring the MLS for young talent, and the fact that the MLS is scouring the EPL and other Euro leagues for old talent speaks volumes. MLS players lack the class, pace, and talent of their counterparts in Europe. It's not a knock on them, but rather a testament to the superiority of the EPL. Lalas is the PT Barnum of the MLS and I commend his efforts. However, a dumb statement made with best intentions is still a dumb statement.
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Ben (Dener): Lalas' comparison of the two national teams is in disregard of so many other factors. USA has an incredibly easy route to the World Cup every fourth year, competing against teams like Guatemala and Canada. Qualifying in Europe is far more grueling and the top English players often play 70-80 games in a World Cup year. Half of the team is either hurt or physically drained. Also, England don't lose to teams like Iran in the World Cup. USA got to the quarterfinals once after playing a very favorable schedule. Let's not put them up there with England just yet.
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Kyle (Chicago): If the MLS could compete w/ the EPL than why are the best American players overseas? Not only the EPL, but the leagues in Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, etc. are superior to the MLS in talent and quality of play. The challenge for the MLS is to keep the best American players here, but personally I'd rather see our MNT players in England and throughout Europe playing in an international environment against better competition. The more Americans playing in Europe, the better our national team will be.
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Mike (Virginia): First off I think most everyone on this board who are saying that MLS teams could not compete the EPL are Delusional. I don?t agree with Alexi, not every MLS team could compete in Europe (Columbus Crew for example) But I certainly do believe that teams like N.Y. RedBulls, DC United and a few others would do very well over there. Man U, Chelsea, whoever, doesn?t matter, we can beat them on any given day. You saw Chelsea barely beat DC United when they came on their American tour. So people open your eyes American soccer and the MLS are on par and we are no longer the underdogs we can beat anyone in the world period.....and I?m not even an American.
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Johnathan(New York): Lalas isn't far off the mark. Obviously MLS teams don't compare to the premier league giants, but it isn't a stretch to say they are close to a lot of the table.
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Mark (Chicago): The EPL may be a bit overrated for the bottom 10, but that certainly does not mean that MLS is on par with the EPL. There might be one or two MLS teams every year that would survive EPL relegation (which puts me amongst the kindest poster on this thread), but none of those squads would ever compete for Europe. The standard is far better than most give credit for (ask the players and coaches who have played in both leagues or Chelsea who was downed by an MLS All-star squad that never played together before) and the league is more competitive as far as being less black and white between the haves and have nots, but Lalas rambling speech is nothing more than headline grabbing. His comment about the helicopter is accurate, but a far greater percentage of EPL players could handle MLS than vice versa! Lalas? most accurate comments involved the evolving global nature of club football, which in time will lead to a cross-continental Champions League. While the EPL teams to play a ton of games, it is not uncommon for top MLS sides to add up to 15 more games to their slate a season between US Open Cup, MLS Cup Playoffs, CONCACAF Champions League, and friendlies of all kinds versus European and A-league squads.
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Daniel (New York): I think Lalas is a brilliant marketing guru. This should spark some interest in the MLS at a crucial time of growth for the league. Outlandish - Yes, but his comments will definitely make some people watch. We are embarking upon a remarkable time in world football where parity will reign supreme.
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Bill (Boston,MA): Lalas is incredibly far off in comparing the quality of play in the MLS to that of the EPL. While the MLS has clearly improved recently, there is NO way that any team in the MLS could stay in the Premiership. However, if the MLS continues to improve at the rate it is, there is a chance that some of the teams could reach a level to compete in the Premiership in a few years. While a player the quality of Beckham certainly improves the image of the MLS, this announcement is incredibly premature, and insults many of the teams in the Premiership.
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Nate (Santa Barbara): Why is anybody listening to Alexi? Anyone who knows anything about soccer in this country knows he's the "Don King of US Soccer." He runs his mouth cause he's smart and wants to keep the attention on his sport. Good talk or bad talk, he just wants you talking about MLS.
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Clifton (Washington, DC): I somewhat agree with most of the posts here that Lalas is overstating the quality of soccer in the MLS compared to the EPL. However, I feel that is just what the MLS needs to boost the value. If comments by Lalas keep appearing on the main page of ESPN, maybe your typical fan will start to listen and check out a game. I think this league has come very far since its inception after the 1994 World Cup and will only continue to grow. I don't know if Beckham will be bigger than Tiger or Jordan, but his face will be MLS Soccer for the next 5 years. If he comes over and is successful in the MLS, I think this is the snowball that turns the MLS into an avalanche of popularity. At the games he plays in, he will sell out most stadiums. Getting the new fans to the game will exponentially increase, and that is how you grow a sport the quickest. While some may disagree that soccer will never be as popular as baseball or football in America, I think twenty years down the road they will be biting their tongue. Soccer will take over those sports when the money is there in the MLS to compete with the big sports. That is when America's best athletes will lace up the soccer cleats rather than baseball or football shoes, and Americans will dominate Soccer on an international level just as they dominate every other sport that pays well. Beckham is going revolutionize American soccer. Just you wait and see.
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Bort (Liverpool): I think that if Lalas means that a good MLS team would hold their own in the EPL as a whole I think he is correct. If he means that a good MLS team is as good as the top 4 EPL teams or would beat them I think he is crazy. However, after the top 4 or so teams there is a huge dropoff in quality in the EPL and there are MLS teams who are as good or better than the weak EPL teams.
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David (Cleveland): I have to agree that the Lalas isn't being too wild in his comparison of MLS and EPL. Look at some of the basement teams in the EPL, they are filled with the same retreads and slobs that are in the MLS. Now I don't think that Lalas was really comparing any American club to ManU or Arsenal, but we need to remember that those are world wide teams that have a fan base larger than the population of England. It?s just like comparing some of the MLB cellar dwellers to a top team in Japan, not far off/
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Alex (Los Angeles): Why does Alexi Lalas have to say such a ridiculous thing just when the US was starting to gain momentum for the Beckham coming? Unfortunately, Lalas has no credibility as his Galaxy is struggling in the table right now. It's a shame Beckham will have to put this issue right next time he speaks to the media. Although Beckham is extremely popular at the moment, I don't think it overrides Jordan's popularity while he was playing his career. Hopefully Lalas thinks before he speaks next time.
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Matt (NYC): The English national team and U.S. national team have very little to do with the competition level of the MLS and EPL. The fact that the majority of the best players in the world play in either La Liga, Seria A, or the EPL shows that these are the elite leagues in the world. The Bundasliga is also top flight. Yes, there are the big four in the EPL, (Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal) but even Everton, Spurs, Pompey, or Newcastle, would wipe the floor with the best teams in the MLS. These players are playing 40-60 games over a 10 month season. The MLS elite players are average players in the EPL and stars in the MLS. If Chelsea can win all but three or four game in the EPL, They would run off amazing streaks in the MLS. The highest paid American in the MLS is Donovan who makes just around $1 million. Meanwhile, Ronaldo on MAN U is banking 10-15 times that. That is elite. The sport is huge there which is why ratings and support is huge, which creates need for top flight competition. The MLS doesn't have any of those things the way the EPL has them. One day, maybe the MLS will be the 5th or 6th most popular sport but it will never compete with the EPL.
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Kyle (Boston): April 24 MLS Columbus vs Los Angeles: 5,424 Attendance May 19 EPL Manchester United vs Chelsea: 89,826 Attendance Sure, MLS is on par.
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Logan: I understand why Lalas reacted the way he did, however inaccurate his assertions may be. As a huge Liverpool supporter, I watch a lot of EPL games. MLS, while it has improved, is simply not on par technically. Possession is inconsistent and, I must agree, the defending largely suspect. I would say it is on par with the Championship League in England, with maybe one or two teams able to compete in the bottom half of the EPL.
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James (Austin, TX): I have to agree somewhat with what Alexi actually said, that MLS players could move to the EPL and fit right in. Of course an entire MLS team would have trouble not being relegated if they were to move into the EPL, but I don't think our better teams (Houston, New England) would necessarily be automatic drops; I think they could hang with the Charltons, Watfords, West Hams of the EPL. Just look at how easily Dempsey has begun to make his mark for Fulham. After he was able to crack the line up for some playing time, it took about 4 games for Fulham fans to start wanting to see him in the starting XI.
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Toronto: I can't believe what i've read on some of the responses. Exhibition games are completely pointless for crying out loud, these European teams come out for show and not compete, this is their off season so why should they really care if they win or not? The MLS is far from being the same level with the EPL. I grew up in Singapore being an Aston Villa fan and i'm happy for Angel to be doing well for New York. But go figure, a lot of these former European guys were not that great in Europe and now excel because the pace is far more slower than that of the EPL. To think a MLS team could compete in the EPL is a total misunderstanding of the game. Yes maybe one of these teams can beat an EPL team once out of 10 tries. But there isn't any team in MLS that can actually compete for a Champs League or UEFA Cup spot. I suggest a lot of these posters and viewers who think the MLS is on par need to review their comment and situation, its like saying College Basketball teams can play with the NBA teams. There is a huge gap in terms of skills, natural talent and coaching.
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Troy (Denver): Does this latest Lalas incident and the attitude of the English press perhaps hint at another issue here... the English's deep-seeded prejudice and disdain for the idea that American soccer might actually be capable of producing some exceptional talent? Clearly, at this point, MLS's overall quality just doesn't compare with the Premier League's. It doesn't come close to the Premier League's popularity, spending power and ability to develop young players. It is making strides, however, and I wonder if the English press will ever be able to admit that. Not sure Lalas is the best spokesman for American soccer, but kudos to him for sticking up for it.
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Peter (Pittsburgh PA): To compare the FA Cup Final attendance to a regular season match is flat out ridiculous. Lalas was trying to make a point that outside of the top 4 teams, the EPL is not that great and the MLS teams could compete. MLS will never be on par with the big leagues of Europe, but the quality is getting to the point where they can compete.
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Eric (West Deptford, NJ): In regard to Mark's comment about Lalas being wrong about Beckham being bigger than Woods and Jordan, I must say you did not understand what Lalas was saying. You are comparing the three at the U.S. level, while Lalas is talking about internationally. And internationally Beckham is regarded right up there if not above those two. As far as the MLS, while it is gaining ground it is not yet up there with the EPL.
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Jeff (Macon, GA): What's even more delusional is the comments made by the idiots who believe the 300 million Americans are the only people on the planet. The other 5.7 billion people slobber all over photos of David Beckham. Also, anyone who thinks golf is a sport, is an idiot. If you want to talk overrated, let's talk Tiger Woods. The guy is on the same par as a player who won 12 majors on the pro bowling tour. Is David Beckham equal or better than Michael Jordan? Nope. Will he add something to the game that will make it better than before. Yep. And that's how he is equal to Jordan. The American soccer game will be better because of him. As for MLS being on par with the EPL, this emphasizes the need for mandatory drug testing in MLS.
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Junior (Temecula): Lalas is totally ignoring the fact that MLS teams have trouble beating Mexican clubs in the CONCACAF Champion's Cup. Before he starts comparing the MLS with the EPL, the MLS needs to start playing in the Copa Libertadores (Sth America's version of the UEFA Champion's League). See if they can handle the level that the Argentine & Brazilian clubs play. I doubt it. Mexican clubs consistently perform well in that tournament and they're not anywhere on level with clubs from England, Italy, or Spain. There's no comparison between MLS and Europe. MLS is the minor leagues...nothing more, nothing less.
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Dave (Edmonton, Alberta): That?s like saying the CFL is on par with the NFL. The MLS is attracting players at the end of their careers; which is why you hear many European/South American stars saying they would like to finish their career in the MLS. Ronaldo has said he would like to do so as has a few other aging stars.
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Johannes(Greenville, SC): People who say that the MLS is on par with the EPL need to travel across the pond and actually attend an EPL game. This has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I lived in Germany for 19 years and I would not even think of saying that the German Bundesliga is on par with the EPL. Come on now people lets keep it real here. The MLS is a minor league compared to the EPL. Let me know when the MLS has an average attendance of 60,000 and not 6,000. This should not even be a discussion
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Mike (Houston): I'm an MLS and Houston Dynamo fan from Texas. I also lived in London and had a Chelsea season ticket for 3 years from 2002-2005. I also spent 6 months in Vienna and watched a good bit of bad Austrian Soccer. I think the MLS could put its top in the Champions league, lose but score in the qualifying round, go to the UEFA, win a game or two in the group stages but likely not get past them. This makes about as good as the Austrian league, the Hungarian league, the Bulgarian league... you get the idea. Our best would challenge for the a top 15 spot in the Premiereship. Our second best gets relegated.
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Joseph (Los Angles, CA): I grew up in Spain and have friends from there who visit from time to time. We'll watch an MLS match and they'll actually giggle if not laugh outright at some of the defending and passing! The EPL league is greatly over-rated here in the US, but it still stands that the best MLS team would be one of the worst in the Premier League. (In the same way that Man U, Chelsea or Arsenal would hardly make the UEFA places in the Spanish league.)
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soccernet
Is this a marketing ploy by Lalas ? because it is getting a lot of airplay