Thoughts on MLS?

[ali alipour]

Lol all the American players who do well in good European leagues are born and raised abroad mostly in Germany. Very few players come from the American system and do well in Europe. Except for Joey altidore who was a gem in the premier league.

[persian-eagle-13]

A bunch of mid 30's past stars won't make the league better in the long run. Maybe mls has better foreign players over all but a league isn't all about foreign players majority of the players are from that country. I don't think ipl is ahead of mls in most things but domestic player whise and on the pitch I think ipl is ahead. I think a team like Naft would completely destroy a team like Toronto fc. All Toronto does is rely on giovinco and don't fix their terrible defense. Whereas mansourian and naft rely on tactic and possession and overall good players.

compare apples to apples, your logic is OFF. if you are taking Naft you need to compare it to a team at the level of Naft in MLS like the Sounders or Revolution.
Naft vs Sounders
Naft vs Revolution

because that is the place these teams finished last year!!

You talk about Mansourian, he is a great coach no doubt, but compare him to some of the coaches that are at his level in MLS.

You talk about reliance on foreign players again:

look at the reliance IPL teams have on foreign player, last season 2 of the top scores in the league were foreign players, Edinoho and Perrera

Look at what Padovanid did for Naft or how Nielson saved PP when he was playing for them, the list goes on and on.

when your one of the top scores in the league is Enayate at the very young age of 37 you know there is something wrong with the league!!

[persian-eagle-13]

Lol all the American players who do well in good European leagues are born and raised abroad mostly in Germany. Very few players come from the American system and do well in Europe. Except for Joey altidore who was a gem in the premier league.

[ali alipour]

compare apples to apples, your logic is OFF. if you are taking Naft you need to compare it to a team at the level of Naft in MLS like the Sounders or Revolution.
Naft vs Sounders
Naft vs Revolution

because that is the place these teams finished last year!!

You talk about Mansourian, he is a great coach no doubt, but compare him to some of the coaches that are at his level in MLS.

You talk about reliance on foreign players again:

look at the reliance IPL teams have on foreign player, last season 2 of the top scores in the league were foreign players, Edinoho and Perrera

Look at what Padovanid did for Naft or how Nielson saved PP when he was playing for them, the list goes on and on.

when your one of the top scores in the league is Enayate at the very young age of 37 you know there is something wrong with the league!!

Okay I'll compare naft to Saunders or revolution and they still probably win. All leagues rely on foreign players that the point of bringing them but mls relies on foreign players much more than ipl. Most of the good players in past years of mls are enayati's age.

[irani8perspolis]

having players like villa, dragba, Frank Lampard, etc is an illusion?!?!?

you have to agree with me to have these players in their prime in MLS or MLS level league is not practical, but having these players in the league just puts the league in a different level. is it retirement league? sure you could say that, is it for the money? possibility for the money you could say that. You can't go around and say IPL is better then MLS when you have at best washed out Brazilian division 2 or 3 players and maybe 1 or 2 Easter European players who played in their national team can call your league a better league with the inflated prices they get paid to play!! And call MLS not exciting, its laughable and outrages.

Ok since you decided to falsify facts to prove your view I did some research on foreign players in our league.

Esteghlal:
Karrar Jassim (28 years) - 63 caps, 6 goals for Iraq, 10x a better player than Justin Meram in the MLS
Hrayr Mkoyan (28 years) - 33 caps, 2 goals for Armenia
Rivaldo (29 years) - Player for Brasil Serie A clubs, Figueirense, Santos and Bahia and also Swiss Super League club Vaduz

Esteghlal Ahvaz:
Luiz Fernando (33 years) - Played 6 years for Aluminium Hormozgan and America in Brasil Serie B

Esteghlal Khuzestan:
Moussa Coulibaly (22 years) - Signed just at the age of 20 from Malian club Djolibla
Fernando (31 years) - Previously played for Serie B clubs Macae and Duque de Caxais
Eduardo Ferrerira (31 years) - 3 caps for Equatorial Guinea, played for Ajax Cape Town, Mamelodi Sundowns,Black Aces in South African PL. Ratchaburi in Thai PL. America de Cali in Colombian Primera Division

Foolad:
Leonard Mesaric (31 years) - Former Croatia U19 international formerly Dinamo Zagreb and Lokomotiva
Mathias Chago (32 years) - 1 cap for Cameroon, formerly Dinamo Zagreb, Lokomotiva and Metalac Osijek

Gostaresh Foolad:
Magno Batista (29 years) - Formerly Sante Andre Brasil Serie B

Malavan:
Serghei Pascenco (32 years) - 16 caps for Moldova former player of Moldova's biggest club Sheriff Tiraspol
Martin Kayongo-Mutumba (30 years) - 7 caps for Uganda, former player of AIK (Swedish champions) and Caykur Rizespor in Turkish Super Lig

Naft Tehran:
Aloys Nong (31 years) - Former player of Mechelen, Standard Leige, RAEC Mons in Belgium. Levante in La Liga and Recreativo in Segunda Division
Carlos Santos (30 years) - Former player of Sao Paulo in Brasil Serie A and Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia

Padideh:
Igor Prahic (28 years) - Former Croatia U21, U19, U17 and U15 international. Former player of Zardar and Istra in Croatia. Vaslui in Romanian Liga I.

Persepolis:
Michael Umana (33 years) - 96 caps for Costa Rica, scored penalty that got them to QF of WC2014. Former player of Chivas USA, LA Galaxy and Saprissa.
Luka Maric (28 years) - Former player of Ritjka and Istra in Croatia. Zawisza Bydgoszcz in Polish Ekstraklasa.

Rah Ahan:
Igor Nenezic (31 years) - Former player of Koper in Slovenian PL

Saba Qom:
Filipe Machado (31 years) - Former player of Macae in Brasil Serie B. Internacional and Fluminense in Brasil Serie A. Ponteverda Spanish Segunda B Division. Salernitana Italian Serie B. CSKA Sofia in Bulgurian PL. Inter Baku in Azerbaijan PL.

Saipa:
Ratko Dujković (32 years) - Backup GK to Begovic in Bosnian NT. Former player of Zrinjski of Croatia.

Sepahan:
Fozil Musaev (26 years) - 23 caps for Uzbekistan former player of Nasaf Qarshi, Bunyodkor and Lokomotiv Tashkent of Uzbek PL.
Leandro Padovani (31 years) - Former Sociedade Esportiva do Gama in Brasil Serie C. Guaratininga in Brasil Serie B. Bahia in Brasil Serie A.
Luciano Pereira (31 years) - Former player of America and Brasiliense in Brasil Serie B

Siah Jamegan:
Milan Jovanovic (32 years) - 36 caps for Montenegro. Former player of Rapid Wein in Austria. Cluj and Vaslui in Romanian Liga I.
Renan Silva (26 years) - Former player of Vitoria in Brasil Serie A. Macae in Brasil Serie B. Rapid București in Romanian Liga I. Songkhla United in Thai PL.

Tractor Sazi:


Zob Ahan:
Walid Ismaeil (30 years) - 41 caps and 1 goal for Lebanon.
Ali Hamam (28 years) - 21 caps and 2 goals for Lebanon.

So in conclusion the majority of foreign players in our league are not washed out and are still in their prime. Also the quality for a large part is good. There is no question MLS foreign players are better, but you cannot compare US domestic players with Iranian ones.

One last point. How is MLS exciting??? How?? Is kicking the ball and chasing it exciting? It becomes like a game of ping pong, one team clears, then the other clears it. Very little passing and technical skill. How you can find that exciting is beyond me.........

[ali alipour]

johanssen was brought up in the Icelandic system can't sneak those ones past me bro. Brad guzan is good but the other two you mentioned haven't seen much from them. And the championship and French leagues arent amazing leagues. Yes the recent gold cup U.S. team that came 4th was mainly mls players not sure where you're getting at.

Actually I would like you to provide a list of players from the U.S. System that have gone to be good in Europe. I'll give you a little list of players brought up in the Iranian system that have:
Nekounam
Shojaei
Teyrmourian
Daei
Bather I
Azizi
Mahdavikia
Hashemian
Rezaei
And hopefully azmoun, Jahanbakhsh, ezatolahi

[irani8perspolis]

you could not be more wrong, I am staring to question your level of knowledge now, US has not produce any homegrown talent and IPL is producing homegrown talent that top teams are lined up to take them one by one LOOL. You should think before you write.

it is not about your view or my view, your view is very skewed and your knowledge of US football system is piss poor. same with your IPL knowledge

If you were familiar with US system, which you are not, that is why you are just say stuff, you would know that the "farm league" system or youth system is much much better than what is in iran,

just the level of filters players have to go through to get to just MLS: just so you know because you do not know, (this is the exact system that is used by NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL)--- the list of top athletes goes on and on with this system in place.

Elementary league/summer leagues ---> Junior High school team -----> High school team -----> NCAA -------> if they are lucky they get into Draft -----> if they are luckier they get drafted

btw having one hit wonders in IPL every season that pop up every now and than at the age of 22 or 23 is not about how go the league is or how the scouting is, it is JUST a ONE HIT WONDER, take a look at the list of one hit wonders in IPL and you will see What we thought and how they turn out!

Almost All if not All US players have gone thru this system have gone into the MLS or after College have bounced to Europe!!

you are trying to compare this system that have produce top athlete in the world from different sports to iranian league system?!?!?


so US NT does not have top players, LOOL, having players in Astin Villa, Hearth, Bolton, AZ, and many more is not good enough?


Yes you are right IPL is better, cause we have azmun Estalollazhi in Rostov and that is all!! yes we have so much talent that is "POOOOOCH"

Actually I am VERY familiair with US football pyramid, even in leagues like NASL and USL, players don't develop because of the style they play. Everytime they are in trouble, they simply clear the ball and kick it away. Look at Spain, Germany, Brazil, Argentina. Do they do that? Why shouldn't they try to emulate the best teams in the world? So you are telling me the High School and NCAA are good filters? What about players in Iran? They have to out compete millions of other kids who want to be in their place, in Iran it is 10x more difficult I can assure you that. LOL Bolton??? World class players? Give me a break. I said the MLS has failed to produce ANY WORLD CLASS TALENT (DEMPSEY AND DONAVAN ARE NOT WORLD CLASS TALENT). While the PGPL and its predecessor the Azadegan League have produced Ali Daei (All time record International goalscorer, former Bayern Munich, Hertha and Arminia Bielefeld player). Ali Karimi (FC Shalcke and Bayern Munich). Mehdi Mahdavikia (Bundesliga's BEST RIGHT BACK in 2002-03 season and also Hamburger SV's BEST EVER RIGHT BACK). Ok lets compare that to Landon Donavan (7 games with Leverkusen, loaned to Bayern failed and only played 6 games. In which Bayern had an option to extend his loan in which they declined) And Clint Dempsey (Did well at Fulham, went to a relatively big club, did not perform well, went straight to MLS. Returned on loan to Fulham for some reason unknown today started over Ashe, and absolutely stank it up. Remember as soon as Dempsey left that was when Ashkan hit full form).

Again continue with your ignorant statements. I am waiting to respond.

[persian-eagle-13]

^^LOOL so you went and pulled all the names of IPL foreign players to show they are not washed out players!!

1) from that list you have pulled how many of them are effective?

2) If these players are still in their primes why are only few of them are effective in IPL?

3) You are right MLS is not exciting because IPL games are so exciting that it is hard to find tickets to games, all the stadiums are so packed that you cant possibly find a sit.

I mean really, this is the best you can do!!

you are insulting the football knowledge of millions and million of iranian fans that know football right now by your comments!!

under harsh conditions iranian football lovers go and watch games and support their team, it has nothing to do with facilities or stadiums or tickets etc, they still support, the level of football has been so dismal that they do not even go to watch the games anymore!! and you call this football exciting!! you call a league that is riddle with corruption exciting to watch??

Your common sense and logic is very questionable!

[Messy]

MLS helped boost the national team by showcasing homegrown talent who were then picked up by European teams...

Now they are hurting the national team by KEEPING the homegrown talent away from Europe. They also bring back homegrown talent from Europe in their prime (Dempsey, Bradley for example). They even took away Mix Diskerund, who was doing well in Denmark at 25 years old.

The scheduling is even worse. The season goes on DURING major tournaments over the summer, so many players miss games with their club team in MLS.

Klinsmann has been bashing MLS since he got hired, and he is right. Yet.... he hardly listens to himself when he picks a squad for a tournament apparently...

[persian-eagle-13]

Actually I am VERY familiair with US football pyramid, even in leagues like NASL and USL, players don't develop because of the style they play. Everytime they are in trouble, they simply clear the ball and kick it away. Look at Spain, Germany, Brazil, Argentina. Do they do that? Why shouldn't they try to emulate the best teams in the world? So you are telling me the High School and NCAA are good filters? What about players in Iran? They have to out compete millions of other kids who want to be in their place, in Iran it is 10x more difficult I can assure you that. LOL Bolton??? World class players? Give me a break. I said the MLS has failed to produce ANY WORLD CLASS TALENT (DEMPSEY AND DONAVAN ARE NOT WORLD CLASS TALENT). While the PGPL and its predecessor the Azadegan League have produced Ali Daei (All time record International goalscorer, former Bayern Munich, Hertha and Arminia Bielefeld player). Ali Karimi (FC Shalcke and Bayern Munich). Mehdi Mahdavikia (Bundesliga's BEST RIGHT BACK in 2002-03 season and also Hamburger SV's BEST EVER RIGHT BACK). Ok lets compare that to Landon Donavan (7 games with Leverkusen, loaned to Bayern failed and only played 6 games. In which Bayern had an option to extend his loan in which they declined) And Clint Dempsey (Did well at Fulham, went to a relatively big club, did not perform well, went straight to MLS. Returned on loan to Fulham for some reason unknown today started over Ashe, and absolutely stank it up. Remember as soon as Dempsey left that was when Ashkan hit full form).

Again continue with your ignorant statements. I am waiting to respond.

your level of knowledge unbelievably weak, you could at least mention Brian McBride, Tim Howard etc

[irani8perspolis]

^^LOOL so you went and pulled all the names of IPL foreign players to show they are not washed out players!!

1) from that list you have pulled how many of them are effective?

2) If these players are still in their primes why are only few of them are effective in IPL?

3) You are right MLS is not exciting because IPL games are so exciting that it is hard to find tickets to games, all the stadiums are so packed that you cant possibly find a sit.

I mean really, this is the best you can do!!

you are insulting the football knowledge of millions and million of iranian fans that know football right now by your comments!!

under harsh conditions iranian football lovers go and watch games and support their team, it has nothing to do with facilities or stadiums or tickets etc, they still support, the level of football has been so dismal that they do not even go to watch the games anymore!! and you call this football exciting!! you call a league that is riddle with corruption exciting to watch??

Your common sense and logic is very questionable!

Continue with your ignorant statements, please its entertaining. For the last time I will say this to all you MLS lovers who compare attendance, the reason why in Iran the attendances simply aren't as high:

1)MLS the games are advertised on TV from days before, do you think Malavan or Naft gets the same treatment?

2)Season tickets are non existent in PGPL.

3)There is NO MARKETING in PGPL, NONE. No ads on the streets. NOTHING.

4)Prices, many lower class people who enjoy football simply cannot afford football anymore (tickets at Azadi are 30 000 tomans now).

5)Facilities. PGPL has no new world class facilities, where people can sit comfortably and enjoy. Although 2 will open midway through the season..

6)Ban on women. Women in Iran love football and I can gurantee we would see a 10-25% increase in attendance if the ban was lifted.

7)Crowd trouble. Games in Iran are NOT a family atmosphere, it is quite dangerous.


If you give Tractor a 50,000 seat world class stadium in the middle of Tabriz with good advertising and marketing, I can guarantee they will sell out every game.

Same with Persepolis and Esteghlal. Lack of attendance in Iran is not just an football issue.

And also, stop changing my words! I never said PGPL was exciting! I said MLS was extremely boring. Which it is! I would pick a Rah Ahan-Saba Qom game over Union-Earthquakes any day of the year.

Atleast in PGPL, the game is slower but they try to play actual football.

[persian-eagle-13]

MLS helped boost the national team by showcasing homegrown talent who were then picked up by European teams...

Now they are hurting the national team by KEEPING the homegrown talent away from Europe. They also bring back homegrown talent from Europe in their prime (Dempsey, Bradley for example). They even took away Mix Diskerund, who was doing well in Denmark at 25 years old.

The scheduling is even worse. The season goes on DURING major tournaments over the summer, so many players miss games with their club team in MLS.

Klinsmann has been bashing MLS since he got hired, and he is right. Yet.... he hardly listens to himself when he picks a squad for a tournament apparently...

breath of fresh air at least from someone who knows something. Thank you, there is a lot that needs to be done with MLS, no doubt, they are working on it but they will get there.

do not forget that it is not just mls that has this schedule, J league, K league and many other leagues have similar schedule. Same as Brazilian Seria A and Argentinian div 1 league, but these two leagues are exceptions to the rule.

for a new and young leagues like J league and K league and mls, they will have to switch to normal rest of the world schedule sooner or later. It will get there. I promise. just watch and follow and you will see.

what MLS has done in 20 years is amazing, and they are just getting started, just be patient and you will see it happen.

[persian-eagle-13]

Continue with your ignorant statements, please its entertaining. For the last time I will say this to all you MLS lovers who compare attendance, the reason why in Iran the attendances simply aren't as high:

1)MLS the games are advertised on TV from days before, do you think Malavan or Naft gets the same treatment?

2)Season tickets are non existent in PGPL.

3)There is NO MARKETING in PGPL, NONE. No ads on the streets. NOTHING.

4)Prices, many lower class people who enjoy football simply cannot afford football anymore (tickets at Azadi are 30 000 tomans now).

5)Facilities. PGPL has no new world class facilities, where people can sit comfortably and enjoy. Although 2 will open midway through the season..

6)Ban on women. Women in Iran love football and I can gurantee we would see a 10-25% increase in attendance if the ban was lifted.

7)Crowd trouble. Games in Iran are NOT a family atmosphere, it is quite dangerous.


If you give Tractor a 50,000 seat world class stadium in the middle of Tabriz with good advertising and marketing, I can guarantee they will sell out every game.

Same with Persepolis and Esteghlal. Lack of attendance in Iran is not just an football issue.

And also, stop changing my words! I never said PGPL was exciting! I said MLS was extremely boring. Which it is! I would pick a Rah Ahan-Saba Qom game over Union-Earthquakes any day of the year.

Atleast in PGPL, the game is slower but they try to play actual football.

boro baba, i thought you are just a little bit off, but i see you have a lot of work to do. Good Luck. Enjoy your exciting IPL.

[irani8perspolis]

your level of knowledge unbelievably weak, you could at least mention Brian McBride, Tim Howard etc

Oh yes thank you for giving me another example. Tim Howard, 45 games in 4 seasons for United and probably just as many blunders., ask United fans what they think of him now

Brian McBride........... yes he is a great world class player. Scored 33 times in 140 games with Fulham as a striker and 2 in 18 with Wolfsburg.

[irani8perspolis]

boro baba, i thought you are just a little bit off, but i see you have a lot of work to do. Good Luck. Enjoy your exciting IPL.

What? You again show your ignorance. Have you not watched Zob Ahan, Naft or Persepolis under Branko. Even Esteghlal under GN tried to play it through the middle. Skocic also did the same. See the thing is, you barely watch any PGPL games, so how can you judge. Me I watch both PGPL and MLS.