Another issue about playing inferior players in the USOC: I think there’s likely a lot of pressure from the execs in MLS Central to treat all MLS games like they matter, even when they don’t (Geez, even the woeful Galaxy are still just a result or two away from a playoff spot). Thus the stupid practice of tiring out your best players for an MLS game right ahead of an elimination game where a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League (and therefore a berth to the FIFA World Club Championship Cup, or whatever it’s officially called) is up for grabs.

Cautious coaches probably say to themselves as they draw up their USOC lineups: Management won’t care much if we lose in the USOC, but if I lose a good player to injury, I’ll catch a lot of heat.

The thing that will make that change is when the fans put the pressure on the front office and the team by calling them out if they fail in the cup. Seattle, RSL, Portland, perhaps NYRB – the supporters of these teams have already gotten their teams on board to take the USOC seriously; other teams will get there with enough pressure.

I get that there’s schedule congestion, but that’s not a valid excuse for playing inferior sides for the do-or-die USOC. Half of MLS teams make the playoffs, so the results of regular season games in May/June matter very little. Teams should be resting guys they need for USOC instead of tiring them out in reg season games that are individually relatively meaningless.

Fans should hold teams accountable just as much if they half-a$$ it as if they try their hardest. My team (Galaxy) mailed it in and lost. That being said, some MLS teams were trying their hardest (Portland and RSL) and they still lost.