Comments on: Big MLS influence on big CONCACAF matches

By: charliej11

charliej11 — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:12:29 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. As the MLS teams approach the level of an Everton or other mid standings teams in the English top 20, you will see fans watch a much more exciting league….once that happens, it is over. As exciting as it is to follow a league where Liverpool is 26 points behind Man U, they will switch from it pretty easily, then the money comes, the players would probably be rather be here any way, I can’t imagine anyone would like to be 26 points back mid season……game over.

By: tackledummy1505

tackledummy1505 — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 06:24:53 +0000

The MLS is going to surpass the English Premier League in the next 15 to 20 years. I know that’s a stretch for some people but with the growing of the sport in this country, more and more kids are playing and learning the sport. A lot of the older leagues across the pond are less adaptable on how the game changes. They’re too stuck in their old traditional ways and our country is all about growing and adapting how the sport changes. I would say the only sport that’s really hurting for our country in that same time frame is baseball. Maybe it’s the region of Pennsylvania and maybe it’s not, but most people will see what I’m talking about in the next 5-10 years. Promise you all and would bet my entire life savings on that.

By: charliej11

charliej11 — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:10:37 +0000

Agree with mkbryant3,

Very fun to watch the players when you have watched all the way through MLS. I have to think that the rising tide of CONCACAF can only help the US overall…if we keep qualifying.

mkbryant, dont worry about the CONCACAF snobs. I have been around this soccer thing for a long time, one thing about the snobs…they are almost always idiots who don’t understand the first thing about soccer. Look at that, I gave a little crack for one of the idiots to think they are aren’t one !

By: jhalion

jhalion — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:53:20 +0000

As MLS goes as does our CONCACAF region; the influence our league has is amazing. I’m sure it has something to do with our inclusive culture but regardless the Mexican league has not shown the ability to improve the region as much as MLS has in such a short period of time. The hex games were all interesting and as the skill level improves and players flock to our league we can expect more influence over matches going forward. As for our neighbors to the north, oh Canada…

By: drewvt6

drewvt6 — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:47:15 +0000

Espinoza played with a level of toughness I would have liked to have seen from _any_ US player.

By: Steve Davis

Steve Davis — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:35:02 +0000

Yes … I think we all had that same thought about the six mins of injury time. As in, “Hmm, where did all that come from?”

By: mkbryant3

mkbryant3 — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:04:51 +0000

Oh, a couple more thoughts:

Awesome how the Reggae Boyz seemed to draw inspiration from it being Bob Marley’s birthday. I had to toast that one in true rastah style.

Also, respect to the Jamaican team for not falling to the ground, feigning injuries as the clock wound down…like some other teams we’ll not mention. And, six minutes of injury time? Crazy.

By: mkbryant3

mkbryant3 — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:02:18 +0000

Man, I love the Hex and even more so since I am familar now with many of these MLS internationals. I’m a Quakes fan and a big Bernardez fan, so I can be a little happy for him and his side winning. Hey, they deserved it. Knowing more players faces and personalities definitely adds to the character of the game and, thus, my enjoyment of it.

Man, what a turnaround in that Pan/Crc game. Panama really looked like they were running away with that one.

And the Mex/Jam game. I respect El Tri’s skill level, but wow were they terrible last night. Jamaica played a level-headed game, but I can not remember so many wayward balls from a Mexico team before. They were awful. Their next game in Honduras is going to be must see TV. Then again, Jamaica could have easily had two goals. That first half open goal sitter and the second half breakaway by Ryan Johnson, I think it was. Gotta love the Reggae Boyz though.

Snobs may look down on CONCACAF, but it’s our little CONCACAF family and we are growin up.