You have to remember two things - had the NASL not had a quota system (which varied from year to year, but was gradually increasing, in general) mandating a certain number of North Americans on the field at all times, the numbers would probably be lower. We didn’t have a lot of guys who could actually play. And MLS has gone the other way - limiting the number of foreign players (without green cards) who can be on a roster, which tends to boost the numbers.
Are there more quality American players now than in 1982? No question (there’d better be, after nearly 30 years of development). Is MLS too Americanized? That’s for you to decide, I guess.
Too Americanized? I'd love to hear the arguments for that.
-FS
2 comments:
Simple: too many average American college soccer players. Who are virtually indistinguishable from one another. And who (for the most part) play the "American way," with more guile than grace.
I understood that the original concept for limiting foreign players was to promote the development of the American player (which should - and appears to - have a positive impact on the national team). And I understand that the sheer numbers of available slots for foreign players are greater now than before.
But it may very well be that this league AS AN ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCT is going to have to become slightly less American in order to appeal to Americans in greater numbers.
I'm not saying that's my argument, though I could be persuaded that way.
You just said you'd love to here the argument for that. So there's one. If there are others, bring them on.
Thanks, I appreciate it. You can't know your Lenharts from your Estradas without a program. Or a Sigi.
Although I suppose one could also argue that reducing the foreign element in the game to the point where it's the stereotypical comic relief or really good final pass has made the game more approachable to the typical 500lb American fan.
-FS
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