Relegation vs Tradition: MLS Socccer Will Eventually Seek International Standard

If you're a fan of the traditional American style of competition of leagues and rivalries, you may want to avert your eyes for this one. Until it happens, and it will, relegation will be a word that gets tossed around all the time, every year. However, there's just no chance of if happening right now. But evolution comes along with being a successful business, and Major League Soccer has certainly shown it is a dynamic league at connecting with fans and improving business strategies. So relegation has a place at some point, but the question is when. Fans of American sports simply aren't used to the concept, and in today's fair-weather environments where a team's financial state could be heavily damaged by the loss of interest from not playing top teams and regional rivals, it's a hard sell to convince many to entertain the idea at all, let alone that it's a better move. But what everyone can agree on is that top sports and top quality teams certainly help viewership. That in the end is what will make the transition so attractive. So how long until we have enough quality teams? Right now, the list of MLS cities reads something like a list of ...

Toronto FC’s Potential Signing of Jozy Altidore Is a Sign of Positives to Come

Almost one year to the day since Toronto FC's acquisition of Jermain Defoe, the club have made another transfer splash. A deal to send the English striker to Sunderland in exchange for U.S. international Jozy Altidore and cash could soon be completed, per Gareth Wheeler of TSN. Altidore is subject to the allocation process, but it will be a fantastic move for TFC if the deal is confirmed. When head coach Ryan Nelsen was sacked last August, Toronto ended up missing the playoffs with the newly appointed Greg Vanney. President and CEO Tim Leiweke added to the controversy by announcing that he'd resign by June 30, 2015. Toronto FC fans were experiencing deja-vu. Their team hasn't made the playoffs since the club's inception in 2007. The failures of the 2014 season were especially disappointing due to the $100 million TFC spent to sign Defoe and Michael Bradley. Now, it appears that the club is starting to improve. TSN's Luke Wileman claimed that the squad appears to be happier than ever: This attitude was apparent before Defoe's expected departure and the Altidore rumours surfaced. Assuming the American international is signed, this will alleviate some of the pressure on general manager Tim Bezbatchenko. A few noted journalists questioned the Altidore signing, including ex-Canada international Jason deVos. However, the 25-year-old ...

MLS SuperDraft 2015: Mock Draft, Date, Time and Live Stream Info

When Major League Soccer is generating major headlines, one can almost guarantee it's due to the arrival of some aging European star with a global fanbase and a desire to keep playing even when the top leagues are no longer interested. This leads to charges of the MLS as being a "retirement home" for fading legends, but that idea undermines all the work the league has done to give homegrown players a chance to succeed and improve the quality of competition. Stars alone don't make a team in which 11 players need to think and move as one to succeed. For those looking to see how the future of the league is shaping up stateside, look no further than the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, in which the top collegiate players find new homes in the professional ranks.  Two new franchises—Orlando City SC and New York City FC—join what could be a banner year in the league's history. Orlando and New York go one and two in this year's draft, and the players drafted on Friday will be key to shaping the debut franchise's respective legacies.  It's an exciting time for United States soccer, and there is always a little extra buzz following a World Cup ...

MLS’s New York Clubs Aren’t Performing Like a Major Market

The New York Red Bulls, just six weeks removed from their appearance in the Eastern Conference final, have contributed to the recent drama in the Empire State. Their latest transactions, coupled with the Frank Lampard confusion—which is now resolved, per ESPN FC—are the reasons the city still isn't a top market in MLS. League commissioner Don Garber has aspirations of New York being one of the major markets in MLS, as suggested by Brian Sciaretta of American Soccer Now. However, their inconsistency has left Garber’s wish unfulfilled.  The Red Bulls' sacking of head coach Mike Petke was an odd decision. Petke guided New York to the 2013 Supporters' Shield, which is their only trophy under the new ownership. Sporting director Ali Curtis, who was hired just before the holidays, took full responsibility for the move, per MLSSoccer.com. When Curtis unveiled Jesse Marsch as Petke's replacement, the ex-forward claimed that he has "a vision" for the Red Bulls. The problem is that New York haven't had a lot of continuity, and that starts with the coach. Marsch is the 15th hire in team history and the eighth since Red Bull became the owners in 2006. It's ludicrous for New York to have nearly twice as many head coaches as the other original franchises. ...

Mix Diskerud to NYCFC: Latest Transfer Details, Comments and Reaction

New York City FC added another high-profile star to their squad on Tuesday, as the MLS franchise announced the arrival of USMNT star Mix Diskerud on a free transfer from Rosenborg. The club broke the news in a video, as shared by the Gothamist's Dan Dickinson: NYCFC Sporting director Claudio Reina commented on the club's latest capture in a statement on their official website: We couldn’t be happier to have Mix coming to play in New York. He’s one of the brightest young talents in US soccer and will be a fantastic addition to our Club and to MLS.  Mix is a dynamic midfielder who will easily fit into the style we want to play here in New York City. He keeps possession well and gets everyone involved with his passing range.  Diskerud tweeted his reaction to a billboard welcoming him to the club on Wednesday: The club didn't announce any contract details, leaving fans and pundits to speculate regarding the length and value of his new deal. However, as Grant Wahl of SI.com reported, "Diskerud has not been classified as a Designated Player, leaving one DP spot open on the club's roster​."   Wahl also provided a comment from Diskerud. "For me, it’s huge to come back to the ...

10 Bold Predictions for 2015 MLS SuperDraft

While the MLS SuperDraft may not receive as much publicity as other drafts in American sports, it has the potential to produce the same amount of craziness on draft day.  The 2014 edition of the draft saw Philadelphia trade up a single spot to select Andre Blake with the No. 1 pick. FC Dallas also took an unknown prospect with the sixth-overall pick.  We can expect a few trades to go down Thursday in Philadelphia, but who goes where is still up in the air. With that in mind, we made 10 bold predictions about what will go down inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center Thursday afternoon. Begin Slideshow

5 Names to Look out for in 2015 MLS SuperDraft

On Thursday, Major League Soccer will welcome its latest crop of young talent to the league during the MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia.  While the 2015 draft class may not be as prolific as recent ones, it still has the potential to produce some quality players.  Only five players inked Generation Adidas deals, which are handed out to college underclassmen by the league. But the five prospects do carry a ton of potential with them.  Outside of the Generation Adidas players, who don't count against an MLS team's budget and receive grants to further their education, there are some talented college seniors in the draft pool as well who have the potential to make a big impact in 2015 for their respective clubs.  Here is a look five names you should know heading into Thursday's MLS SuperDraft.  Begin Slideshow

Remembering David Beckham’s Arrival at LA Galaxy

Eight years ago, Major League Soccer sent shock waves across the world when it announced the landmark signing of David Beckham from Real Madrid.  In the years following the deal, it remains one of, if not the, most influential moments in league history.  At the time of the acquisition, no one involved in the deal could've imagined the immense impact the Beckham deal and consequential Designated Player rule would have on the young American league.  Although Beckham has not played in MLS since 2012, his impact on the league will be felt for decades, as MLS owes many things to the Manchester United legend.   When Beckham joined up with the LA Galaxy in the summer of 2007, the club had already established itself among the league's elite thanks to two MLS Cup victories in 2002 and 2005.  Despite those successes, the Galaxy needed something to reinvigorate the fanbase after finishing in fifth place in the Western Conference in 2006. New signings were expected to during the offseason, but no one expected Beckham to be the primary acquisition prior to the 2007 season.  Beckham's Galaxy debut came against Chelsea in a friendly at the Home Depot Center on July 21, 2007. He made his first league appearance against D.C. ...

Sporting Park Listed as Best MLS Stadium Experience of 2014

Sporting Park, home of Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer, was listed as the best stadium experience in MLS in 2014, according to a study by Paul Swaney of Stadium Journey. The study graded the top 100 North American stadiums. The criteria included concessions, overall atmosphere, the neighborhood and accessibility. Sporting Park was No. 17 overall on the list. Over 2000 venues were critiqued in the report. SKC averaged just over 20,000 fans per game during the 2014 season, up two percent from a year ago, via Paul Kennedy of Soccer America Daily. The Portland Timbers' Providence Park was the next stadium at No. 18 overall and second among MLS venues. It was also the host of the 2014 MLS All-Star Game.  Seattle Sounders' CenturyLink Field is ranked third in MLS and No. 34 on the top 100 list. The Sounders have the highest average attendance in the league at just under 43,000. BC Place, the Vancouver Whitecaps' home venue, was the fourth and final MLS stadium in the study. It was 90th overall.  MLS may not have the highest quality of soccer in the world, but the league set a record for average attendance this year, via World Soccer Talk. The figure has increased ...

2015 MLS Mock Draft: First-Round Predictions and Full Selection Order

The 2015 installment of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft comes as the MLS welcomes in two new franchises, both of whom have intriguing decisions to make for Round 1. Orlando City SC and New York City FC have both already made waves in the public eye, as each secured a household name signing in their first few weeks as a club. But Kaka and David Villa won't be able to do it alone for their new squads, as it will take some cunning work from front-office personnel to field a contending team off the bat. The MLS SuperDraft is an interesting proposition, only allowing football players hailing from the NCAA ranks to be eligible although there are clubs from Canada in the league. With that said, a number of top talents being courted by the European scene can sign Generation Adidas deals—geared toward keeping America's top talent in-house.  The 2015 draft is right around the corner, set to begin on Jan. 15 at 12 p.m. ET in Philadelphia. Although it will span four whole rounds, let's take a look at who each club should target in Round 1.   1. Orlando City SC: Cyle Larin, F, Connecticut With top Canadian forward Cyle Larin signing a GA ...