MLS – Major Retirement League? Answer the poll!

By: Dave Martinez | March 8th, 2008

With our recent signings, and our prospective targets of acquisition, the tired old echo of past haters everywhere is starting to be heard all over again . . .

“Major League Soccer?! Thats a RETIREMENT league!”

With the likes of Blanco, Beckham, Denilson, Reyna, and, more recently, the additions of Claudio “El Piojo” Lopez, Wicky and Marcelo “El Muneco” Gallarado, you get a clear picture of where these suppositions are coming from.

But how true is it?

If you look at the flipside, MLS has had a resounding DEVELOPMENTAL year, with plenty of our stars heading overseas for greener pastures:

Pat Noonan
Troy Perkins
Andy Dorman
Clint Mathis
Clarence Goodsen
Gbandi
Eddie Johnson
Matt Pickens
Marcos Gonzalez
Bryan Arguez
Kenny Stamatopolous
J. Ngwenya
N. Jaqua
Will John

People like Clint Mathis, Eddie Johnson, Ngwenya, even Troy Perkins (after a slow start) took advantage of a bounce back 2007 in order to “get dat paper” overseas. It shows that people are starting to pay attention.

And the recognition has been able to trigger interest in other people, like a Nate Jaqua, who can develop into a force – a big bodied forward target man – with the right training of course.

MY TAKE

The beautiful thing about our league is that we are neither of the above. Lets face facts – a retirement league, in its purest definition, would be a place for one last pay day, one last shot at achieving greatness, one last shot under the spotlight, all under a stress less atmosphere. Do you equate MLS as a cash cow money league that would be able to offer a player all of this? Doubtful.

At the same time, we arent quite a developmental league either. The Argentine League is the quintessential developmental league, making millions off of the talent they create, and selling these commodities at a young age (most recently, Messi, Gago, Higuain et al).

Finding a home for the Clint Mathis’s of the world isnt exactly “developing” talent (though you know i love you Cleetus!). But a Nate Jaqua, a Ngwenya, a Clarence Goodson – these are small achievements that we can be proud of.

WHATS YOUR TAKE?

That leads us to todays poll question . . . . Is the MLS a retirement league?

You all know my answer, but I am really curious to see what you think

Fire away! Spark up the debate!