Impact of MLS and News from the League
If anyone has thought that MLS has not had any kind of real impact merely needs to look at what is happening in international soccer. The US has just played Jamaica to a 0-0 tie and will face Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday in a match that the US is actually expected to win.
Less than two years ago, no one would have expected the US to win much of anything. The US was always considered an underdog, even when playing at home. We would look good one day and then look anything but at the next match.
If we lost a key player, like we have just lost Clint Mathis for several months, we would have been lost. Instead we now have so much depth that there is a concern that we may not get enough playing time in for those that may be called upon to fill in if someone gets hurt.
Now we have depth, style, consistency, and victories. I cannot say that all of this comes from MLS, but even the man leading the team has come through MLS. Bruce Arena was already a winner in the college ranks before joining MLS, but MLS definitely helped him earn the national team coaching spot. As he led DC United to championship after championship, the national soccer consciousness took notice.
MLS has given the national team their coach and is filling in holes in the team. In the past we had a team of top players from all over the world, but it was less than a complete roster. We were missing depth and trying to bring players from all over the world and making them into a cohesive team can be difficult. MLS has ushered in an environment in which players can be developed, nutured, and challenged. When Clint Mathis was at LA he was a role player who contributed, but he was not the star he is now. He was encouraged and developed. He was grown into the player he is now. Without MLS this would have probably never happened. That's my two cents worth.
In action and news this week the 13th was a busy day. Time will tell, but Colorado may have made some key moves on this day. First, the Rapids traded a draft pick to DC in exchange for Raul Diaz Arce. The move freed up a foreign allocation slot for the United. With the move DC then signed the 13th overall pick from the 2001 superdraft, midfielder Stephen Armstrong. Colorado then traded Junior Agogo to San Jose in exchange for Chris Carrieri, who was the number one draft pick in the 2001 superdraft. The great thing for Colorado is that Carrieri is listed as a Project-40 player so he does not count against their salary cap. Agogo was subbed in for the Quakes in their match on Saturday. Carrieri and Diaz Arce both played for Colorado on Saturday.
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