The format continues with the MLS All Star team playing against international teams of note.
It will be no different this summer when the Toffees of Everton under manager David Moyes head to Salt Lake City in July.
Lets not forget by the time they get here they could be F.A. Cup Winners if they oust Chelsea at the end of the month.
Everton of course is led by goalkeeper Tim Howard who is the number one for the U.S. National team but have other noteworthy players like Australian international Tim Cahill, Belgian Marouane Fellaini in midfield and former Manchester United defender Phil Neville.
Everton came to Houston a few years back and played Club America at Reliant Stadium.
Do you like the MLS format against international competition? Should it be dropped altogether?
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Drop it. Drop the whole all-star game crap. It is a waste!
I love the format. It’s much more interesting than East vs. West. I really don’t care to watch all-star games in most other sports, but the MLS format adds a lot of intrigue in my opinion.
I agree with Mike… I like it much better than an east vs west game. However, the main problem i have with this format is that MLS is trying to claim itself as one of the top leagues and yet can only compete with big teams by putting together an all-star team.
If anything, i would like to see two all star games. West all stars vs an European team and the East all stars vs an European team. Give MLS the chance to show that we are getting deeper. Our MLS team has won many times before… now lets show that they can divide and conquer!
I like the format as is. I watch every year and think it is unique in our sporting landscape. NFL Probowl – not even NFL players watch that. MLB All-Star Game – blink and you’ll miss your favorite player’s one at-bat, one jog to pick up a single to center field or 3 pitches at half speed. NBA All-Star game – lost in the hype of the slam dunk contest and when is it again? NHL – nah. East-West Shrine game – seriously?
Being a soccer fan, I enjoy seeing our guys play 100% and try to beat their more established opponents. You take the ‘big clubs’ out of the picture and replace with the East v West and you’ll get a scrimmage or walk-through and I won’t watch. Also, the MLS players are cognizant that a whole host of eyes are upon them and it is a mini trial to more lucrative pastures, so to speak.
What happened to Valencia?
Agreed that MLS All Star games are a waste. Now it’s more of a obsolete novelty than an exhibition.
“Ooooh, look a team from Europe! They must be good!”
Well if an MLS team of All-Stars can beat a Chelsea, than they can certainly earn some respect right?
But they don’t, so I don’t mind it, if anything it gives European fans a chance at watching their teams! I agree it would be nice to play Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barca, Valencia, Sevilla or Villareal, AC Milan, Juventus, Inter, PSV Lyon etc, but we haven’t earned enough respect yet, it will come, I think they should of tried to get Chelsea, AC or Inter to play or Barcelona, but let’s embrace it, if you support the US and our soccer, support the All-Star game! It’s fun and entertaining, I would like to see them play Boca, Corinthias, and other good South American teams myself! Maybe Mexico’s national team? Or how about a national team from Chile, or Paraguay, they are in need of friendlies in this year of qualifying in the summmer! In any case, it’s good to have great opponents, but we’re not always going to have them, eventually we’ll have the east vs west game! And it will be worth it!