There are many barriers standing in the path of Major League Soccer as the league’s decision-makers seek to make inroads into a domestic sports landscape dominated by America’s Big Three of football, basketball and baseball. But for MLS to gain increased recognition in Western Europe an insurmountable opponent requires befriending – time.
In this age of globalisation where modern technology allows instant communication across continents, British football connoisseurs can keep abreast of action from Scotland, England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Holland before the sun sets. Even the most xenophobic of followers are now capable of holding informed conversations about happenings in La Liga or Serie A.
However, there is only so much that ardent football junkies can consume to satisfy their cravings. Sadly for MLS that fix has been devoured well before the day’s results filter across the Atlantic Ocean. It is an inherent hurdle that the league is saddled with, even should the quality of play continue to improve over the coming years.
Perceptions were not helped this week by the tepid performance of Team America at Wembley Stadium in a friendly match shown live across the United Kingdom by the BBC. Confronted with the biggest of stages, at least in terms of venue if not significance, the USA disappointed. Negative reaction toward MLS formed on this game is grossly unfair given that Ricardo Clark of Houston Dynamo was the only home-based player to start the match.
Clark, a combative holding midfielder for the two-time defending MLS champions, is highly rated by Houston’s coaching staff of Dominic Kinnear and John Spencer, but his performance did little to enthuse the British press – 4 out of 10 was the mark attributed by The Times newspaper.
Brad Guzan fared better after his second half introduction. He produced some decent saves which will maintain his high-standing with scouts of Celtic, Arsenal and Aston Villa – all of whom have expressed an interest in signing the Chivas USA goalkeeper. Work permit issues have prevented any move from being completed.
I finally enjoyed some success in tracking down MLS action on Day Nine of my current jaunt to Scotland. In scanning the television guide I noticed that Five, the UK’s fifth and final national terrestrial analogue channel, were screening a 40-minute show called “Major League Soccer” albeit at 4.30am. It was time for my father to look out the long-lost video recorder instructions and set the timer.
Since Five’s 1997 launch, the channel has specialised in showing live late night sporting action from the US (as well as energetic late night action of another kind). Their coverage of Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League has been admirable if largely inconvenient for the majority of the working population.
David Beckham’s arrival in Los Angeles last season heralded the dawning of a new Wednesday evening show on Five – David Beckham’s Soccer USA – featuring highlights of the previous weekend’s matches. The programme could have been more appealingly titled and structured for a British audience tiring of the central character’s fading charades. It lasted less than three months before being pulled.
Nonetheless, credit goes to Five for their continuing efforts. At least I was able to digest highlights of the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 victory over Houston Dynamo even if it was fully one week after the final whistle had sounded. In fairness, the trimmed-down version taken from ESPN’s full live coverage in the US did make for an enjoyable watch and would be worthy of contemplation for American broadcasters looking to attract more viewers to the sport. On many occasions, live televised matches can become too tedious for the impartial spectator no matter which league is involved.
And so to this week’s league action. Despite missing Ricardo Clark on Wednesday night, Houston battled to a 2-2 draw at FC Dallas before dispatching New York Red Bulls by a single Brian Ching goal on Saturday evening. The latter result was achieved without Pat Onstad and Dwayne De Rosario, both of whom were called up to the Canada squad that narrowly lost 3-2 to Brazil in Seattle.
Such conflicts between the domestic league and international fixtures will continue while MLS adopts a summer schedule. Harsh winters in the north and competition from the NFL and basketball seasons at this time of year suggests that a calendar switch will be unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Colorado Rapids reclaimed top spot in the Western Conference thanks to a late Tam McManus winner in a 2-1 win over Dallas. Only four points separate six teams after L.A. Galaxy lost out 2-0 at Toronto while Real Salt Lake battled back into contention with a 3-1 win over San Jose Earthquakes.
New England edged to the top of the Eastern Conference despite being held to a 2-2 draw at home against D.C. United. Chicago Fire were inactive and Columbus Crew were defeated 2-0 at Chivas USA. Steve Nicol will be pleased with a point having witnessed his side falling two goals adrift shortly after half-time.
Normal service for Hawksport resumes next weekend.
Week Ten Results
Dallas 2 Houston 2
New England 2 D.C. United 2
Toronto 2 L.A. Galaxy 0
Houston 1 New York 0
Salt Lake 3 San Jose 1
Chivas 2 Columbus 0
Colorado 2 Dallas 1
Standings
Eastern Conference
1) New England 20 points (played 11)
2) Chicago 19 (9)
3) Columbus 19 (10)
4) Toronto 17 (10)
5) New York 12 (9)
6) Kansas City 11 (9)
7) D.C. United 10 (11)
Western Conference
1) Colorado 15 (10)
2) L.A. Galaxy 14 (10)
3) Chivas 14 (10)
4) Houston 14 (11)
5) Dallas 13 (11)
6) Salt Lake 11 (10)
7) San Jose 7 (9)
In this age of globalisation where modern technology allows instant communication across continents, British football connoisseurs can keep abreast of action from Scotland, England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Holland before the sun sets. Even the most xenophobic of followers are now capable of holding informed conversations about happenings in La Liga or Serie A.
However, there is only so much that ardent football junkies can consume to satisfy their cravings. Sadly for MLS that fix has been devoured well before the day’s results filter across the Atlantic Ocean. It is an inherent hurdle that the league is saddled with, even should the quality of play continue to improve over the coming years.
Perceptions were not helped this week by the tepid performance of Team America at Wembley Stadium in a friendly match shown live across the United Kingdom by the BBC. Confronted with the biggest of stages, at least in terms of venue if not significance, the USA disappointed. Negative reaction toward MLS formed on this game is grossly unfair given that Ricardo Clark of Houston Dynamo was the only home-based player to start the match.
Clark, a combative holding midfielder for the two-time defending MLS champions, is highly rated by Houston’s coaching staff of Dominic Kinnear and John Spencer, but his performance did little to enthuse the British press – 4 out of 10 was the mark attributed by The Times newspaper.
Brad Guzan fared better after his second half introduction. He produced some decent saves which will maintain his high-standing with scouts of Celtic, Arsenal and Aston Villa – all of whom have expressed an interest in signing the Chivas USA goalkeeper. Work permit issues have prevented any move from being completed.
I finally enjoyed some success in tracking down MLS action on Day Nine of my current jaunt to Scotland. In scanning the television guide I noticed that Five, the UK’s fifth and final national terrestrial analogue channel, were screening a 40-minute show called “Major League Soccer” albeit at 4.30am. It was time for my father to look out the long-lost video recorder instructions and set the timer.
Since Five’s 1997 launch, the channel has specialised in showing live late night sporting action from the US (as well as energetic late night action of another kind). Their coverage of Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League has been admirable if largely inconvenient for the majority of the working population.
David Beckham’s arrival in Los Angeles last season heralded the dawning of a new Wednesday evening show on Five – David Beckham’s Soccer USA – featuring highlights of the previous weekend’s matches. The programme could have been more appealingly titled and structured for a British audience tiring of the central character’s fading charades. It lasted less than three months before being pulled.
Nonetheless, credit goes to Five for their continuing efforts. At least I was able to digest highlights of the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 victory over Houston Dynamo even if it was fully one week after the final whistle had sounded. In fairness, the trimmed-down version taken from ESPN’s full live coverage in the US did make for an enjoyable watch and would be worthy of contemplation for American broadcasters looking to attract more viewers to the sport. On many occasions, live televised matches can become too tedious for the impartial spectator no matter which league is involved.
And so to this week’s league action. Despite missing Ricardo Clark on Wednesday night, Houston battled to a 2-2 draw at FC Dallas before dispatching New York Red Bulls by a single Brian Ching goal on Saturday evening. The latter result was achieved without Pat Onstad and Dwayne De Rosario, both of whom were called up to the Canada squad that narrowly lost 3-2 to Brazil in Seattle.
Such conflicts between the domestic league and international fixtures will continue while MLS adopts a summer schedule. Harsh winters in the north and competition from the NFL and basketball seasons at this time of year suggests that a calendar switch will be unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Colorado Rapids reclaimed top spot in the Western Conference thanks to a late Tam McManus winner in a 2-1 win over Dallas. Only four points separate six teams after L.A. Galaxy lost out 2-0 at Toronto while Real Salt Lake battled back into contention with a 3-1 win over San Jose Earthquakes.
New England edged to the top of the Eastern Conference despite being held to a 2-2 draw at home against D.C. United. Chicago Fire were inactive and Columbus Crew were defeated 2-0 at Chivas USA. Steve Nicol will be pleased with a point having witnessed his side falling two goals adrift shortly after half-time.
Normal service for Hawksport resumes next weekend.
Week Ten Results
Dallas 2 Houston 2
New England 2 D.C. United 2
Toronto 2 L.A. Galaxy 0
Houston 1 New York 0
Salt Lake 3 San Jose 1
Chivas 2 Columbus 0
Colorado 2 Dallas 1
Standings
Eastern Conference
1) New England 20 points (played 11)
2) Chicago 19 (9)
3) Columbus 19 (10)
4) Toronto 17 (10)
5) New York 12 (9)
6) Kansas City 11 (9)
7) D.C. United 10 (11)
Western Conference
1) Colorado 15 (10)
2) L.A. Galaxy 14 (10)
3) Chivas 14 (10)
4) Houston 14 (11)
5) Dallas 13 (11)
6) Salt Lake 11 (10)
7) San Jose 7 (9)
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