Comments on: How an MLS Expansion Draft Could Work in Europe http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html League Football, Soccer News and Views from Around the World Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:45:33 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Rob http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136817 Rob Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:06:47 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136817 Toby - And a goal against Scotland! They were so embarresed they didn't play us again for about 10 years. Toby – And a goal against Scotland! They were so embarresed they didn’t play us again for about 10 years.

]]> By: ursus arctos http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136695 ursus arctos Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:02:42 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136695 It's an interesting idea, and one of the more clever ones that I've seen recently. A few challenges: 1) It would need to be combined with the equivalent of "roster limits", otherwise top clubs would simply warehouse players they had no intention of protecting (the question of how many players they would be allowed to protect is also an interesting one (11, 16, more? no more than one keeper?, etc.); 2) Rather than the involving the top ten, I would suggest it be linked to anyone qualifying for European competition; there needs to be a positive to balance the negative of the forced loans. Without that you would run the risk of midtable teams tanking games late in the season to avoid losing players. 3) It would likely need to be Europe-wide. Otherwise clubs operating under the system would be at a significant disadvantage when trying to attract young players with the "you may not start, but you'll get to work with Arsene/Sir Alex/Rafa/etc and train with a first XI of internationals" gambit. That just won't be credible if the kid knows that there is a real risk of him being loaned to the likes of Hull. Still a very interesting idea, especially if you required the loans to include an option for the borrowing team to buy the player at a fixed fee (say some multiple of his salary). It’s an interesting idea, and one of the more clever ones that I’ve seen recently.

A few challenges:

1) It would need to be combined with the equivalent of “roster limits”, otherwise top clubs would simply warehouse players they had no intention of protecting (the question of how many players they would be allowed to protect is also an interesting one (11, 16, more? no more than one keeper?, etc.);

2) Rather than the involving the top ten, I would suggest it be linked to anyone qualifying for European competition; there needs to be a positive to balance the negative of the forced loans. Without that you would run the risk of midtable teams tanking games late in the season to avoid losing players.

3) It would likely need to be Europe-wide. Otherwise clubs operating under the system would be at a significant disadvantage when trying to attract young players with the “you may not start, but you’ll get to work with Arsene/Sir Alex/Rafa/etc and train with a first XI of internationals” gambit. That just won’t be credible if the kid knows that there is a real risk of him being loaned to the likes of Hull.

Still a very interesting idea, especially if you required the loans to include an option for the borrowing team to buy the player at a fixed fee (say some multiple of his salary).

]]> By: Toby http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136691 Toby Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:31:40 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136691 HAH, Rob, Hmmm a young West Brom player coming to Wolves? It worked with Steve Bull quite well I seem to remember...over 300 goals in all competitions? HAH, Rob,

Hmmm a young West Brom player coming to Wolves?

It worked with Steve Bull quite well I seem to remember…over 300 goals in all competitions?

]]> By: Rob http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136689 Rob Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:08:08 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136689 The problem, I guess is the history the Prem has. For example, say Wolves come up next season as looks likely. Then they took a player who's just come through the West Brom youth ranks. He's supported Albion all his life, but he's not in the ones they kept, so Wolves snap him up and he has no choice but to go play for a club he loathes, upsetting all the WBA fans, and Wolves fans might not want him when they realise. Christ knows what it'd do to Arsenal... The problem, I guess is the history the Prem has. For example, say Wolves come up next season as looks likely. Then they took a player who’s just come through the West Brom youth ranks. He’s supported Albion all his life, but he’s not in the ones they kept, so Wolves snap him up and he has no choice but to go play for a club he loathes, upsetting all the WBA fans, and Wolves fans might not want him when they realise.

Christ knows what it’d do to Arsenal…

]]> By: Shane http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136687 Shane Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:50:47 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136687 And also a list of must loan players who will go to the 3 relegated clubs. And also a list of must loan players who will go to the 3 relegated clubs.

]]> By: Laurie http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136682 Laurie Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:05:08 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/leagues/mls/how-an-mls-expansion-draft-could-work-in-europe.html#comment-136682 Interesting thought. Not a bad way to subvert the "Dog in the Manger" impulse of the richest teams, where they buy up the best players simply to keep them from going elsewhere, and then keep them warming the bench rather than developing their talents. Interesting thought. Not a bad way to subvert the “Dog in the Manger” impulse of the richest teams, where they buy up the best players simply to keep them from going elsewhere, and then keep them warming the bench rather than developing their talents.

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