MLS: Premier League “competition” has nothing on America’s brand
By Josh Sippie
Alexis Lalas says some crazy things, but his assessment of MLS is dead right, and the rest of the world should probably come to terms with it.
As someone who covers European soccer, I can tell you that America is still made fun of any time they think they know anything about “their” game. As if some gene that Americans lack offers an understanding of it that we will just never have, and, as such, MLS will always be the ugly stepchild of the soccer world.
Only it isn’t. And Alexi Lalas has brought to light a clear and undeniable truth about America’s “brand” that There is essentially no counterargument to. While Lalas reigns as a traditional rabble-rouser, he does come up with the occasional gem, and this was one.
Lalas claimed that MLS is the most competitive soccer league in the world. Plain and simple. America has built a brand of soccer that is so top-to-bottom competitive that no one can match it. Not England, not anyone.
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Traditionally, the saying has gone that the Premier League is the most competitive league in the world because in the Premier League, any team can beat any other team in any given week.
Yippee.
But in MLS, any team can win the MLS Cup in any given season and winning it one year guarantees you nothing the following year.
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Look at the LA Galaxy. They had been perennial powerhouses throughout their time in MLS, but last year they finished dead last in the Western Conference. That would be like if Chelsea, who won the title last year, were now in the relegation zone.
That doesn’t happen and, as such, it is not as competitive. There is no debating this. Manchester City won’t get relegated next year. Trust me.
But if you were to say that Toronto FC could end up in last place next year or even this year? Well, maybe there would be a steady stream of doubts, but can you say conclusively that they won’t? Absolutely not. Because such is the level of competition in Major League Soccer.
This is the way that most American sports are built. Teams come and go, stay a couple of years and fall. The occasional dynasty will last a decade in special situations, but for the most part, time in the spotlight is limited.
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That is what MLS has going for it that no other league in the world can offer – a continuous drama each and every year regarding where any given team will finish. And that’s something special.