The Beckham rule

[Strider]

Kind of old news, but a year ago MLS (Major League Soccer) implemented a new rule that allows a club to sign a single player outside of their salary cap. This allows the United States soccer clubs to compete internationally for top players. It was referred to as the Beckham rule, because of the possibility of clubs signing high-caliber players like Beckham (although, ironically.. Beckham was the first to be signed under the new rule).

So, after this short introduction, the discussion is basically.. how will this effect international soccer? Will more and more star players leave the older European clubs for the states? Good thing or bad thing?

 

[h4ppy]

I feel I should probably clarify the rule a little bit.

Each team has one DP (IE salary cap breaker) slot but they are allowed to trade their slot to other teams. However each team is only allowed to have two of them at once. So far New York has gotten their second already (in one of the most laffo deals of the year) and LA is really looking hard for another. (Donovan's salary also is above the cap limit but he was grandfathered in from last year-- so if they can't deal for another they will have to trade him before next season)

Anyways, I think that more aging stars will come over since thats certainly how things have been developing lately, but I also think teams will occasionally try to keep some of their better players from moving abroad by keeping them as DPs.

 

[Darkness]

So, after this short introduction, the discussion is basically.. how will this effect international soccer?

It won't. No offense intended to US posters, but MLS is of no consequence in the world of international football. It is merely a domestic league of low-to-mid-tier level. This rule will not make US football teams any more interesting for top level players.

Will more and more star players leave the older European clubs for the states?

No. Not really. Unless they are older players, looking for one last big payday. Kind of like Beckham. Becks looked washed-up until rumours came out about his possible transfer to LA Galaxy. He was playing bad, if he played at all (he was mostly injured or on the bench). Then all of a sudden he starts playing somewhat like the Beckham we knew from Man U. But that doesn't mean he'll be an elite player next season. It remains to be seen which Beckham LA Galaxy will get.

Good thing or bad thing?

Good, I think. Maybe the older, big-name guys will boost the interest in football a bit in the US? Who knows?

 

[sysyphus]

It won't. No offense intended to US posters, but MLS is of no consequence in the world of international football. It is merely a domestic league of low-to-mid-tier level. This rule will not make US football teams any more interesting for top level players.

Although MLS will never match the level of the Premiership or La Liga, I wouldn't go so far as to say that it will be of no consequence in the world of football.

The popularity of the league has been growing steadily and the league has received as massive boost from Toronto joining this year, we're pulling in over 20,000 per game. Very minute compared to the biggest teams sure, but it's comparable to many smaller European leagues.

We managed to lure Danny Dichio over here. He's a bit over the hill, but far from washed up. From the TFC message boards, his arrival has caught the attention of a number of people in the UK to take an interest in our team and our league.

As for Becks, he was signed by LA purely for promotional purposes, it's the same as the LA Kings signing Wayne Gretzky many years ago to promote hockey in the area, and it worked somewhat.

 

[h4ppy]

The popularity of the league has been growing steadily

I wouldn't quite say that, the league has became more stable and able to financially survive but attendence has remained at about about the same levels for the past ten or so years. For every up (Toronto) there's a down. (whats up with NYRB's attendance numbers)

 

[BCLG100]

No. Not really. Unless they are older players, looking for one last big payday. Kind of like Beckham. Becks looked washed-up until rumours came out about his possible transfer to LA Galaxy. He was playing bad, if he played at all (he was mostly injured or on the bench). Then all of a sudden he starts playing somewhat like the Beckham we knew from Man U. But that doesn't mean he'll be an elite player next season. It remains to be seen which Beckham LA Galaxy will get.

I disagree on this to some extent, becks has had a few amazing seasons whilst in Spain, often beating what he was like at Man U. I agree though on whether or not LA Galaxy will be able to bring out the best in him, simply for the reason, he will have no need for his best.

 

[sysyphus]

I wouldn't quite say that, the league has became more stable and able to financially survive but attendence has remained at about about the same levels for the past ten or so years. For every up (Toronto) there's a down. (whats up with NYRB's attendance numbers)

True, some teams are hanging by a thread, RBNY and RSL as an example, and there have been a considerable number of foldings over the life of the league, but I would still contend that most of the teams are on solid footings.

The popularity of the game on both sides of the border has been in constant growth since the inception of the league, maybe a little more so in Canada than the US, but it has momentum that shows no signs of slowing down.

In Canada, it is now played by more children than is hockey. I don't know the exact situation in the US, but I know that the level of participation has grown down there as well.

In the next 10 years I can easily see the league having 10 teams each steadily drawing 20K+ per game. That's a far cry from the big European leagues, but it's enough to keep the league viable with a decent pool of talent.

MLS will never be a serious force in the world of footy, but I don't think it will be reduced to irrelevance either.

 

[h4ppy]

Actually, the only team with any chance of relocating(folding won't happen anymore- people are actually interested in buying teams now) is KC if they don't get a stadium done. RSL is doing quite okay from a financial standpoint and their stadium is coming along nicely, they are in it for the long haul and the Red Bulls are holding off all of their advertising til their stadium is complete, too, so I doubt they are too unsurprised that they are doing great but drawing crap.

 

[DBear]

This is a HUGE mistake. This is what killed the NASL in the '70s.

 

[Darkness]

We managed to lure Danny Dichio over here. He's a bit over the hill, but far from washed up.

I didn't even know who he was... I had to google the guy. He's a football vagabond, who's played for 11 teams in his 14 year career. He's been sent out on loan 4 times. He's never played at a real powerhouse club, he's never made England national team. Far from star quality, if you ask me...

 

[h4ppy]

Yeah, but he's from Canada so the TFC fans fawn all over him.

 

[sysyphus]

Dichio is British, not Canadian.

He may not be Premiership material, nor a star, I never said he was, but he was a fan favourite wherever he played (which I get first hand from people in the UK who have now taken an interest in TFC since his arrival here).

He's a good player, a bit of a cement head, but many teams like that in a striker.

MLS will never get the real stars, at least not in their prime. As I said, it will never compete with the major European leagues. Not in the slightest. Nonetheless, it is a growing league that will produce some quality football worth watching. It has already come a very long way since its inception, and shows no signs of stopping.

 

[classical_hero]

Also in related news, LA Galaxy is going to be coming to Australia, which is good news for the game here. He will unfortunately only be going to Sydney. That means they will need to play at the Olympic Stadium, since they attract a huge crowd. I do hope that David Beckham does do a good job of promoting football in America. Well that is what he is there for and I hope that more Amreicans do come out and watch this great game.