siff
Scott "Rufio" Feather
Hmmm, what's the connection?Looks like Andy Lubahn is on trial with the Portland T2 squad http://www.stumptownfooty.com/2015/...entify-the-portland-timbers-2-players#4671060
Hmmm, what's the connection?Looks like Andy Lubahn is on trial with the Portland T2 squad http://www.stumptownfooty.com/2015/...entify-the-portland-timbers-2-players#4671060
MLS 1) claims it can't have free agency because reasons 2) just announced a UK TV rights deal with Sky Sports.
Players are so clearly in the right on this dispute.
YepMLS 1) claims it can't have free agency because reasons 2) just announced a UK TV rights deal with Sky Sports.
Players are so clearly in the right on this dispute.
1. There's already a salary cap, so it's hard to see how free agency, especially if it's set up like other leagues with a certain amount of time in the league needed for UFA status, would create league-wide artificially high salaries. That certainly hasn't been the experience in other leagues with salary caps. The salary cap and not restriction on workers' rights (and obviously I love me some workers' rights) is what creates the cost structure.
2. Free agents don't have transfer fees.
3. To the extent that it raises the cost of established players relative to draftees and young talent, that provides the clubs a valuable incentive to have real academies and is a long-term positive for soccer in the USA.
1) It's not a hard cap, so DP contracts would be artificially raised if teams were competing for guys like Jones, Bradley, Altidore, etc.
2) Perhaps free agency isn't the category this falls under, but there is a push to have teams signing international players rather than the league, allowing international players to choose their destination. Less known/desireable cities will have to pay more to get the same known player that LA or NY could bring in.
3) What I meant was that there willing be bidding wars for more top level MLS talent, which, with a zero sum theory, means the bottom players (who aren't as sought after) are going to have less of the cap to go around. Obviously the way around this is a much higher minimum salary, which I think should be first and foremost for the league. I'm all for finding ways to make the academies more valuable to the teams, and I think the homegrown designation should be tweaked to provide more incentive.
Again, I'm in favor increased free agency, but I realize MLS has grown the way it has by limiting the chances of teams folding due to lack of balance. The main way of controlling that in the past has been through player movement. Setting years of service guidelines and other restrictions seems the best way of achieving a free agency. Full on free agency, which is argued by many, just isn't there yet, IMO.
Top-level DP players only affect the cap to the DP threshold though. There'd be just as much salary cap (though not cash flow but again that's an issue that depends ultimately on the construction of the cap and minimums and not whether or not there's free agency) for the lowest paid players.
Assuming TT is hearing from player reps, this sounds eminently reasonable: "Twellman admitted MLS isn’t ready for arbitration, but said a workable compromise could be restricted free agency after an initial contract of, say, three years, and could be followed by unrestricted free agency for long-tenured players going into a third contract."
MLS is off the rocks. It is not in danger. Investors are climbing over each other to get in. Sky Sports (Sky Sports!!!) is buying overseas TV rights (overseas TV rights!!!). Free agency. The time is now.
Just looked it up and it appears that MY Austin Aztecs won't play the Charlotte USL team unless we win the Western Conference and meet in the fianls. We do play Vidovich and Timbers II home-and-home though. Looks like a can get season tickets for $99 with my student ID. Not a bad deal for 15 games.
Wakephan you want to do it with me?
DC United game televised tonight?