I am wondering if you are as tired as I am seeing Mexican clubs continue to win the hardware. Whether it is Concacaf Champions League or the Superliga, Mexican clubs are dominating. Sure we can go over the reasons why: more dollars spent on players , a true support system under their first team players, roster size and it’s quality among other things.
So tonight it was no different at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough for the Superliga final. A small crowd (and for a Championship nonetheless, ok let me run down the reasons why no one was there: It’s Wednesday night? Aerosmith is playing in Boston? The NFL is starting up? It is summer?) saw this one live. What they saw was Miguel Sabah smash a volley in from outside the eighteen that flashed past Matt Reis like a blurry orb. They also saw Sabah score off a penalty kick.
The Revs would get a well worked goal from Kevin Alston whom after playing a ball back peeled off and received a perfect pass that he blasted by Federico Villar (whose distribution is excellent and unique) to make it a wild final 12 minutes.
The Revs would push, have a chance to equalize but in the end could not produce a second goal. So Morelia takes the treasure trove of cash, reportedly $300,000 for the players back to Mexico and MLS is denied again.
On another note, Superliga attendance has to be drastically down based on what we saw in Houston and NE? Personally, I like the Superliga and MLS against the MFL but now I am wondering if this is a tournament that should even be kept around?
Did you see the game? What are your thoughts?
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Im working long hours so I couldnt watch the game but the Mexican is showing that its still a level higher than the US. One day we’ll pass them.
Glenn, I think a reserve league coming back combined with a revamped emphasis on youth and player development as a product of Adidas new deal will help tons with the ability of teams to compete in US Open Cup, Super Liga and CCL as well as summer exhibitions vs European sides.
Also don’t underestimate how important the recent surge of homegrown players that are being signed, right now the teams can sign 2 that don’t count towards the roster from what I remember and these guys are CHEAP, like someone said LA with Bowen and Stephens who spent time with LA’s academy system despite going to UCLA would maybe have 2 players if the reserve league hadn’t gone away.
As more and more teams sign young talent like New York who has an amazing Young talent in Juan Agudelo who will most likely be nurtured by the other Juan who is a Colombian legend, and then you have DC the saddest team in DC but with what 3 signed players and a star in Andy Najar?
This will help, I do wish they increased the roster size to 28-30 but this will take time.
It’s coming Glenn, it’s coming but it takes some change of mentality which is why I think resigning Bob is a mistake but it will come. We need to stop saying “these kids can’t compete with grown MEN” well they can practice with the pro team? The can scrimmage with USL and Division 2 sides why can’t the teams get them ready?
It will take time but Real Salt Lake pretty much gave away a win in Mexico City, and Columbus had Santos to an extent with a weaken team that didn’t have their stars!
Patience my friend, patience.
I think they need to re-think SuperLiga, they might want to look into switching the cities they play in? Despite the teams wanting to play at home, maybe other locations would help?
they need to really market it better with Season ticket holder, maybe great deals for them and also grass roots remember the 1st and 2nd generation Americans will have parents and grandparents with storng Mexican ties!
Superliga does not have a place on the MLS landscape anymore. Remember that when this tournament was introduced, there was no CONCACAF Champions League. There was the Champions Cup but that started with only a couple of teams and would be over by mid-May while Superliga would start in late July. Also, when it was first introduced, Superliga featured the best MLS teams from the previous season and the best Mexican teams. Now? The best teams play in the CONCACAF Champions league (a tournament that takes up much more time but yet, has lousy attendance numbers in most places…but I digress).
Superliga sees different/ less formidable teams from each league. And that brings us to why Mexican teams succeed more. Sure, part of it may be that Mexican teams may get some joy of beating American opposition, but I think most of it lays with the talent disparity. The best MLS teams can probably give the best Mexican teams good quality opposition. Think of those great Dynamo/Pachuca matches a few years ago when both teams were on top of their respective leagues. The 2nd leg of their first Champions Cup match-up, the Dynamo’s first match down at the Estadio Hidalgo, was probably one of the greatest matches the Dynamo have ever played. Giving up a 2 goal lead (in aggregate) in 15 minutes, fighting back 3-3. Going ahead on a Ching header in the 80th minute, giving it up to Caballero in the 85th, losing in extra time in front of a packed house at the Hidalgo.
But, that quality of play isn’t there with the secondary teams that play in Superliga now. The next echelon of Mexican teams play a high quality of futbol that is comparable to that of the best clubs in Mexico. The disparity between the top MLS teams and secondary MLS teams is much deeper and more obvious to see. Think of the differences in play between the Galaxy and the Dynamo or New England
The talent disparity is the difference. That’s why the Mexican teams are doing better. Part of that is money but part of it is that secondary MLS teams are playing teams that they should not be playing in a tournament that does not serve MLS anymore.
Get rid of Superliga. Its lost its original reason of existence and this new qualification format does not work for teams, fans, or either league.
Jon, the Concacaf Champions League was just what they called it and they might of changed it a bit on the format with group play then knock out rounds and even playoffs to qualify for the group play, but the Concacaf federation has always had a tournament to decide the continental champion, is just that the CCL got more buzz since it was new and was being marketed heavily to MLS sides.
SuperLiga might be dead but I think it can still work, with bigger rosters they should be able to participate in more than 1 or 2 tournaments, I am really tired of hearing how they get “too many games”, please in Europe most teams play 34-38 games, plus cups and if you are a good team plus European competition
I don’t think SuperLiga is worthwhile. It strains MLS teams with extra games, and really is only a smaller duplication of the Champions League. Let it fade away.
True Edwin, the CONCACAF Federation has always had some sort of tournament for a regional championship. But, the old Champions Cup did not take a whole lot of time on the calendar. The team that won the tournament would usually only play 6 matches over 2 months in addition to their regular leagues. But now, its more of a time commitment (12 matches minimum for the eventual winner) and with MLS roster limits being what they are, they can take a significant toll on the players. But I’m somewhat okay with the tournament as a concept (I liked the old way better, but hey…the current format works well).
But with Superliga in practice, the CONCACAF Champions League now sees the 4 of the top MLS teams usually get into the tournament. That means that the next 4 teams, who may not be nearly as good as the top 4, are lining up to play Superliga. The Dynamo are an interesting example because this year’s team was so different from last year’s. But, take New England. Most of us who saw them last year would have trouble saying:
“Yes, we want this team to represent MLS in international tournaments”.
I don’t think their fans got all that excited about it. I don’t think the fans of the Dynamo or the other 2 teams (can anyone name them???? I’ll mention them at the bottom but I had to look them up to be sure) got excited about it. And the attendance numbers suggest that there’s very limited fan interest in watching 2nd tier MLS teams take on Mexican counterparts. With the recent expansion of the CONCACAF Champions League, I don’t see the reasons to keep playing Superliga.
Is the talent at the top MLS clubs competitive with the best Mexican clubs? Yes. Will an MLS club win a match in Mexico in the next few years. I think so. My bet is Seattle but it may take a few years. But, the teams that usually play in Superliga aren’t close to those to their Mexican opponents in terms of talent and most fans are not excited to see those matches played. So, why play them? And why have that tournament (Superliga??)
By the way, the US teams that played in Superliga this year: The Dynamo, New England, Chicago, and Chivas USA.
Caught the Superliga final on tube. Small crowd certainly no surprise, Rev’s draw weak during MLS games, no excuses, always”something” else going on in town.
Thought second half was one of better games I’ve seen this season. Both teams really opened up.
The first Morelia goal was a shame. Only foul in the box was committed by Rey, not New England.He pushed down defender, then takes swan dive and draws a penalty. Rey same player who in first half gave a “nut cracker” from behind on Osei, didn;t even draw a yellow, when it should have been a red.
Then ref gives Rey yellow at end of match for taking too long to exit. Big deal, damage done.
Couldn’t help but notice Morelia kits, would have made NASCAR proud. Multiple sponsors.
Yet a team like Rev’s owned by Kraft family who I’m sure travel in a world of friends and associates who are captains of industry, CEO’s and business leaders can’t come up with a single shirt sponsor??
Rev’s just one of many poor MLS front office, marketing, and promotion, sides.
William,
President of the Revolution is U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati.
I really don’t want to harp on this but it is so hypocritical and blatantly obvious to U.S. fans that they are content, mediocre in their desires up NE way.
I feel bad for the players, fans and Steve Nicol.