World Football Exploitation

This went completely under my radar: Major League Soccer has announced the dissolving of the Superliga tournament. Though a good idea at the time to cash in on the USA v. Mexico rivalry the tournament seemed to fizzle over the past few years in attendance, especially with the non-Hispanic fan in the USA. You can check my old blogs to see how I truly feel about the tournament.

However, MLS has decided to go a different way to make money off of the casual and hardcore soccer fan in America. They will revive the World Football Challenge. The first WFC took place in 2009 with Chelsea, AC Milan, Internazionale and Club America competing in a pre-season tournament. For one, I am completely against MLS teams playing mid-season friendlies; but it's another cancer of the game in the US when teams from abroad come to America to cash in on the American sports fan. Yes, it's great for the game in America. But as an American soccer fan it is also a slap in the face that people won't/don't come out to watch MLS matches when they have the opportunity at a fraction of the price.

In my opinion MLS is hurting itself by playing this types of mid-season friendlies. It basically tells the casual fan that our league is inferior so don't come out to a league game, but do come out and watch when we play a team from Europe. At the end of the day money talks, and despite what happens to the state of the league, MLS and it's "richest" clubs will continue to follow the practice of cashing in on the soccer fans of America.

Here is an updated version of this summer's friendlies:

May 2011
May 22: D.C. United v Ajax
May 25: Portland Timbers v Ajax


July 2011
July 13: New England Revolution v Manchester United
July 16: LA Galaxy v Real Madrid
July 18: Vancouver Whitecaps v Manchester City
July 20: Houston Dynamo v Bolton Wanderers
July 20: Philadelphia Union v Everton
July 20: Seattle Sounders v Man United
July 20: Sporting Kansas City v Newcastle United
July 23: D.C. United v Everton
July 23: Chicago Fire v Manchester United
July 26: Columbus Crew v Newcastle United
July 27: MLS All-Stars v Manchester United at Red Bull Arena NJ
July 30: Barcelona v Manchester United in Washington D.C.


August 2011
August 3: Barcelona v Chivas Guadalajara in Miami, FL
August 6: Barcelona v Club America in Dallas TX.

Big moves of deadline day?

Today is deadline day in Europe, and being a Liverpool supporter, I hope to see Fernando Torres off to Chelsea for the reported £50 million. With Torres leaving, and at 10 AM GMT all Torres promo material was pulled from Liverpool's website, what will the team look like. There is the possibility of Nicolas Anelka coming the opposite way along with cash. Though, Chelsea would prefer to send Daniel Sturridge instead. Regardless of who is sent the other way or just cash, this can only help Liverpool. If you've watched any LFC game this season you've witnessed Torres as an uninterested spectator in most matches. It has only been since the transfer window opened that he has seemed like playing football. The squad needs some vital freshening up, and though I'm not the biggest fan of Luis Suarez I think this will help the club turn their fortunes around. The problem with Suarez is, though he had a good World Cup, he is untested at club football level. He has scored a ton of goals in Holland, but so did Dirk Kuyt;  and hopefully, he won't become the next Dirk Kuyt.

With all the possible moves that Liverpool may make today I wonder whether Kenny Dalglish's reign as manager will continue into next season. It's not wise to buy a load of players if a new manager is coming in next season who may want a host of other players for his system. We've already seen a casualty of Roy Hodgson's reign in Paul Konchesky, who was loaned to Nottingham Forest today. I'm interested in seeing what the club does today who the rumours of Charlie Adam and Ashley Young coming to the club. I'm not sure where Adam would fit as the club have Steven Gerrard that plays a similar style to Adam, though Gerrard has massively under performed this season. Raul Meirelas has been LFC's best player this season and won't be moving out of the midfield/second striker role. Christan Poulsen is definitely expendable and the much under rated/hated Lucas continues to be steady and be the scapegoat of the club. I've never been a big fan of Jay Spearing, but being a local boy he probably won't be moving unless it's a loan deal. I'd actually be surprised if Aston Villa sell Young as they have a great 1-2 punch with Darren Bent and Ashley Young.

A lot may or may not happen today, but it still shows that Liverpool were left in a bad way at the end of Rafa Benitez's time in the hot seat.