I mentioned that before on the designated players being midfield or forwards. It does make for an exciting league and attacking play is great with not so great defending. Looking forward to the Whitecaps in Portland tonight. Cannot beat a Cascadia Cup game.
I think there is a salary cap applied to each team as a whole, outside of that clubs can sign designated players - the list of DP's is in the article linked. BWP is on $660k a year at the moment - about £8000 a week.
'Normal' players get paid on average 90k a year, but this is inflated by those on 'designated player' salaries. The fact is a right back can get paid 36k a year playing alongside Kaka who is getting $7m. How team managers instill kinship is a mystery, and the managers get paid shit as well!
'Normal' players get paid on average 90k a year, but this is inflated by those on 'designated player' salaries. The fact is a right back can get paid 36k a year playing alongside Kaka who is getting $7m. How team managers instill kinship is a mystery, and the managers get paid shit as well!
I suppose some of the players just see it as an honour to play alongside people like Beckham, Gerrard, Pirlo, Kaka, Giovinco, Martins, Dempsey, Donovan, Henry, Villa, Lampard and Corey Gibbs
Correct @SE9ADDICK The MLS was desperate not to get themselves into the same mess as the NASL did in the 80's. In many ways they haven't with new soccer specific stadiums, a growing and competitve league, decent crowds and a more than decent national team. However they still need to throw in a Beckham, Pirlo and Gerrard to keep the sports fans interest and just as important keep and attempt to grow the media coverage.
Interesting that one of the best and most impactful DPs also gets paid the least - Diego Valeri is Claus Jensen with hair & an Argentinian passport. Watch him most weeks for the Timbers - a great player.
I often think that the attacking play in the MLS is of a very good standard but the defenders and goalkeeping can be pretty poor which is why you get quite a lot of high scoring games.
Odd when you consider how many good goalkeepers the USA national team have had over the years.
That is a good observation ... but you forgot to mention that the refs are Sunday league as best.
Pirlo deserves to go over there and live the life. But it is such a shame he's not playing in the champions league etc still. He is like Federer, his style of play means he could compete at the very top until he is like 40.
On our hols in Florida so we went to Orlando City v Columbus Crew last night, a really entertaining game which finished up 5-2 to Orlando.
Had no idea what expect pregame, managed to park just opposite the ground in a lot where locals were having their tailgate routine, barbecues and beer etc. Not a lot else around the ground so we went in fairly early and was immediately delighted to note beer was allowed in seats. Decent selection of food, the pulled pork nachos were better than anything I've had at home. $10 for a draft beer so not cheap, that and the $5 for water would have had the management at Wembley nodding in appreciation.
Difficult to compare to any particular standard at home, lots of mistakes but some quality touches as well, often trying the showy stuff rather than a simple ball though. Fast paced I thought and the pitch looked short which, added to the artificial surface and bounce, gave an end to end feel that the score probably reflects. Some shocking defending, apparent inability to track runs off the ball and poor marking at set pieces. The home keeper looked like he had been taking lessons from Thuram on positioning at corners. Comedy own goal to finish amused the crowd, as it would when you are 5-1 up.
Attendance was just over 26k and filled the lower tier of the Citrus Bowl, but still left an awful amount of empty seats in a two / three tier stadium. The atmosphere was lively though with ultra style chanting ('Iron Lion Firm', no comment) and drums at one end. I'd prefer to think this was a reflection of South American culture rather than the saddos at Selhurst. Nice nod to the English game with a rousing 'can you hear Columbus sing' with excellent emphasis on the good bit, and they are also in the process of building a new stadium which is more in our tradition, with what looks like four covered stands. One difference from home was that the vast majority were in colours, which is possibly something to do with the weather. The National Anthem pregame was superb although we could probably do without the glitter confetti that went up after a goal, going to look a bit ridiculous with that floating about if the opposition equalise quickly!
A really good night, goals always help of course...they are at home again on Saturday although I might be pushing my luck with that one!
Great report Swerve. I enjoy the MLS - it's great that the game is catching on over here - we have tickets for the California Classico in a few weeks which should be fun.
Ditto. Great post Swerve. Orlando will be in a much better place when they get their soccer specific stadium from next season. Great loacation a mile from the Citrus Bowl and nearer to downtown.
My team Vancouver Whitecaps smashed Seattle Sounders 3-0 at Century Links Field in front of 53,000 on Saturday night. We have one of the best defences in the MLS and an average age of 23. No overage Dp's. Carl Robinson has done a great job with the squad. Now play The Sounders again on Wednesday in the America's version of the Champion's league. I'll be going to this one. Love it when we beat Seattle!
My team Vancouver Whitecaps smashed Seattle Sounders 3-0 at Century Links Field in front of 53,000 on Saturday night. We have one of the best defences in the MLS and an average age of 23. No overage Dp's. Carl Robinson has done a great job with the squad. Now play The Sounders again on Wednesday in the America's version of the Champion's league. I'll be going to this one. Love it when we beat Seattle!
I don't know if the Whitecaps won or the Sounders gave it away. Schoolboy defending on the first 2 goals.
Unbelievable game last night - Portland Timbers (my team) beat Kansas City on pens A went right down to the keepers taking kicks - the Portland keeper scored theirs missed. Incredible scenes - the game is very much alive over here!!
Unbelievable game last night - Portland Timbers (my team) beat Kansas City on pens A went right down to the keepers taking kicks - the Portland keeper scored theirs missed. Incredible scenes - the game is very much alive over here!!
Penalties at the end of a league game or a play off?
Unbelievable game last night - Portland Timbers (my team) beat Kansas City on pens A went right down to the keepers taking kicks - the Portland keeper scored theirs missed. Incredible scenes - the game is very much alive over here!!
Penalties at the end of a league game or a play off?
Play Off 1st Round ads.
Stevie G and LA were knocked out last night as well...
Portland is about a 12 hour drive from here (Alberta) so pretty local!! - started following them not long after we emigrated and now we watch every game with the occasional trip down there to see them live - great to be able to watch games at a decent hour & a mighty fine City as well.
'Normal' players get paid on average 90k a year, but this is inflated by those on 'designated player' salaries. The fact is a right back can get paid 36k a year playing alongside Kaka who is getting $7m. How team managers instill kinship is a mystery, and the managers get paid shit as well!
Under the 5-year collective bargaining agreement signed in March the league minimum salary is $60,000 but players like dos Santos and Robbie Keane make more than $4 million per year while Stevie G is banking more than $6 million per year.
The Seattle Sounders for 2015 have a huge disparity from high to low: high - Clint Dempsey @ $4,505,941 low - 13 players make less than $75,000. Charlie Lyon and Oniel Fisher make $50,000.
Agree with ChicagoAddick, don't know how manager can instill team spirit with such disparity in salaries.
Portland Timbers just mad the final - we will meet New York or Columbus in the final. Currently trying to persuade the Missus that it's a good idea to head over for the final next weekend.
Crazy finish to the other semi final, Columbus leading 2-0 on aggregate with New York. In the 92nd minute NY pull one back with 2 more extra time minutes to go - then in the final second BWP hits the post with a header for NY.
Comments
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designated_Player_Rule
Any wage cap is an irrelevance if they can still pay those numbers
Pirlo deserves to go over there and live the life. But it is such a shame he's not playing in the champions league etc still. He is like Federer, his style of play means he could compete at the very top until he is like 40.
Had no idea what expect pregame, managed to park just opposite the ground in a lot where locals were having their tailgate routine, barbecues and beer etc. Not a lot else around the ground so we went in fairly early and was immediately delighted to note beer was allowed in seats. Decent selection of food, the pulled pork nachos were better than anything I've had at home. $10 for a draft beer so not cheap, that and the $5 for water would have had the management at Wembley nodding in appreciation.
Difficult to compare to any particular standard at home, lots of mistakes but some quality touches as well, often trying the showy stuff rather than a simple ball though. Fast paced I thought and the pitch looked short which, added to the artificial surface and bounce, gave an end to end feel that the score probably reflects. Some shocking defending, apparent inability to track runs off the ball and poor marking at set pieces. The home keeper looked like he had been taking lessons from Thuram on positioning at corners. Comedy own goal to finish amused the crowd, as it would when you are 5-1 up.
Attendance was just over 26k and filled the lower tier of the Citrus Bowl, but still left an awful amount of empty seats in a two / three tier stadium. The atmosphere was lively though with ultra style chanting ('Iron Lion Firm', no comment) and drums at one end. I'd prefer to think this was a reflection of South American culture rather than the saddos at Selhurst. Nice nod to the English game with a rousing 'can you hear Columbus sing' with excellent emphasis on the good bit, and they are also in the process of building a new stadium which is more in our tradition, with what looks like four covered stands. One difference from home was that the vast majority were in colours, which is possibly something to do with the weather. The National Anthem pregame was superb although we could probably do without the glitter confetti that went up after a goal, going to look a bit ridiculous with that floating about if the opposition equalise quickly!
A really good night, goals always help of course...they are at home again on Saturday although I might be pushing my luck with that one!
http://www.cityoforlando.net/venues/mls-soccer-stadium/stadium-facts/
Stevie G and LA were knocked out last night as well...
Portland is about a 12 hour drive from here (Alberta) so pretty local!! - started following them not long after we emigrated and now we watch every game with the occasional trip down there to see them live - great to be able to watch games at a decent hour & a mighty fine City as well.
The Seattle Sounders for 2015 have a huge disparity from high to low: high - Clint Dempsey @ $4,505,941 low - 13 players make less than $75,000. Charlie Lyon and Oniel Fisher make $50,000.
Agree with ChicagoAddick, don't know how manager can instill team spirit with such disparity in salaries.
Columbus - Portland final next weekend in Ohio.