La Liga 2018/19

DonAK said:

The American System when it comes to Sports trying to professionalize it through their college system or the NCAA means that football will never become a major sport there. It's way too expensive with less chances of succeeding and earning big money. Most of the NFL and NBA players come from poor homes and for many of them these sports are not only an escape from the poor conditions and areas they live in, but also a chance of getting their parents and families out of those areas and get rich and live the life they dreamed of.

Football will never get there in the US unless they revamp their system.

Just to play the sport at a youth level in academies there's a too big cost attached to it that most of these people either cannot afford or don't find attractive enough. No reward into it.

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I have heard people saying that in America football/soccer is a rich kid's sport too. I have always wondered why and how different their system is from Europe's. Any ideas?

Luftstalag14 said:

Cricket is only popular in South Asia, not in East Asia. In East Asia basketball is indeed very popular, especially in CJK. South Korea and Japan do love baseball though.

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Yes, yes, I'm aware. Soz for being inaccurate, sometimes it's just a habit of referring to anything east of Iran as East Asia. Stupid British-type habit for whom everything east of Germany is Eastern Europe.

Luftstalag14 said:

Really? I know the talk of concussion in American football is pervasive, but has there really been a shift from American football to football/soccer in the US? I don't really see any evidence of that. American football remains hugely popular and football/soccer remains more or less a fringe/women's/pre-teen sport. It is not where the money is. Plus, even if the interest in American football wanes, there are still other more popular sports such as basketball, baseball and hockey for American kids to play, ahead of football/soccer.

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I mean just because you don't see a coral reef get bleached overnight doesn't mean it's not happening. Rates of change are difficult things to discuss. Sometimes all you see is a part of an upward trend.



As [MENTION=15376]DonAK[/MENTION] said, one thing they'll need to address is their development structure. Otherwise MLS will keep on being a market, rather than a self-sufficient league.

Wolfe said:

Given it's Tebas, probably it is. He seems like a guy driven by profit to his federation. Hence why he makes hostile comments towards PSG.

But as we were talking, there are loads of benefits that could potentially come out of that. For both sides. No need to get emotional over shit and bringing whataboutery to it.

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Other than swearing I'm not emotional over it in any way, I stated why I think it's a bad idea.

Wolfe said:

Kids running in Messi shirts in Atlanta also would love a chance to see him play.

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That's a VERY weak argument to change a hundred years of tradition, change a whole league format based on mostly financial gain.

Wolfe said:

Do you think NBA/NFL playing games in London does nothing to popularity of these sports in the UK? Americans want the same with football. They've been yearning to make MLS grow out of retirement league status. And they cannot do that without having investment boost. Would take them a century.

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NBA/NFL are EXTREMELY different to Football in this case. Firstly NFL and NBA are exclusive to USA... there isn't anything world wide anywhere comparable to it (European Basketball even has different rules). Their MLS is FAR more advanced and structured than anything the UK has for Basketball or American Football.. so the need to push American Football and Basketball in other countries as a sport is waaaaaaaaaay bigger than Football. I'm sure you've heard about the viewing figures of Superbowl vs World Cup... not even comparable.. and large percentage of the Superbowl viewers will be in the USA vs World Cup viewers all over the world.


They've been yearning to make MLS grow out of retirement league status....... so the solution to that is play odd games from other leagues scattered over random states in the US? The truth is they will not likely ever reach the heights of European football over there.

How do you decide which teams? Who's home game do you not include? Do you flip a coin? How many games a season abroad? Does Madrid get annoyed if Barca play Sociedad in the US after being notoriously bad at the Anoeta for years? (An example)

These American Sports are much more of a exhibition/show than football too, they have acts on at halftime, constant adverts.. they are much more suited to stadiums abroad. Honestly it doesn't make sense at all other than financially.

Vilarrubi said:

Other than swearing I'm not emotional over it in any way, I stated why I think it's a bad idea.

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Bringing kids wanting to see their team at home is an emotional argument. Hence why I responded with one of my own. Nothing more nothing less. I just don't see the point of getting annoyed at a home game being taken away. Most massive teams don't actually care about it that much if there is measurable benefit to the club, hence it makes sense for Madrid, Barca or Atleti being the guinea pig for this project rather than a small team like we've discussed earlier.

Villarubi said:

They've been yearning to make MLS grow out of retirement league status....... so the solution to that is play odd games from other leagues scattered over random states in the US?

How do you decide which teams? Whose home game do you not include? Do you flip a coin? How many games a season abroad? Does Madrid get annoyed if Barca play Sociedad in the US after being notoriously bad at the Anoeta for years? (An example)

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You're asking too many questions at any one time and all are subjects of debate. Doesn't mean there is no solution to it and that therefore the whole concept is shit. Concept by definition is just that - it needs developing. More complex systems have been developed already in this day and age. Look at League of Nations. Very nicely laid out prototype. I don't suggest doing it with league games from Europe, but why not entertain an idea? I stated already the best solution to address these without ditching the entire thing is to give them a cup final that doesn't have the level of a friendly and sides actually care about it.

Villarubi said:

These American Sports are much more of a exhibition/show than football too, they have acts on at halftime, constant adverts.. they are much more suited to stadiums abroad. Honestly it doesn't make sense at all other than financially.

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You're just pointing problems without presenting solutions. Clearly you don't even like to entertain the possibility. Quite close-minded if you ask me. That's no way to approach revolutionising concepts in football.

MLS won't get bigger without visible movements to increase exposure of football. One of the ways is to play as many games on American soil as you can possibly arrange on with European teams. Much better if they're not friendlies. Simple.

Wolfe said:

Bringing kids wanting to see their team at home is an emotional argument. Hence why I responded with one of my own. Nothing more nothing less. I just don't see the point of getting annoyed at a home game being taken away. Most massive teams don't actually care about it that much if there is measurable benefit to the club, hence it makes sense for Madrid, Barca or Atleti being the guinea pig for this project rather than a small team like we've discussed earlier.

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The basics of a league format, being consistent, fair, so everyone is a on a level playing field well outweighs your argument for having this experiment. With the current format there are no complaints.

If anything your views are more emotional than mine.... "massive teams don't actually care about it that much" "makes sense for Madrid, Barca or Atleti being the guinea pig for this project" Imagine creating a league format which is meant to be equal for every team having those views.

Wolfe said:

You're asking too many questions at any one time and all are subjects of debate. Doesn't mean there is no solution to it and that therefore the whole concept is shit. Concept by definition is just that - it needs developing. More complex systems have been developed already in this day and age. Look at League of Nations. Very nicely laid out prototype. I don't suggest doing it with league games from Europe, but why not entertain an idea? I stated already the best solution to address these without ditching the entire thing is to give them a cup final that doesn't have the level of a friendly and sides actually care about it.

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They were rhetorical questions if you missed the sarcasm..... and there's probably another 100+ questions you could add to that list.

You mean UEFA Nations League? Missing your point with that one. That's a great idea and not comparable to what we are talking about. That's instead of having pointless friendlies but the main point is that it's FAIR for every team they play HOME and AWAY like every standard football competition.

Wolfe said:

You're just pointing problems without presenting solutions. Clearly you don't even like to entertain the possibility. Quite close-minded if you ask me. That's no way to approach revolutionising concepts in football.

MLS won't get bigger without visible movements to increase exposure of football. One of the ways is to play as many games on American soil as you can possibly arrange on with European teams. Much better if they're not friendlies. Simple.

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There's not solutions to everything... and you thinking playing odd La Liga games a "revolutionary concept" is laughable. The US guys organising it won't have anything like that on their mind.. it's literally 90% financial and 10% expanding "soccer" in America.

Also the NBA/NFL example you used in the UK is good.. makes much more sense than what we are talking about, so no... not close-minded at all

Villarubi said:

If anything your views are more emotional than mine.... "massive teams don't actually care about it that much" "makes sense for Madrid, Barca or Atleti being the guinea pig for this project" Imagine creating a league format which is meant to be equal for every team having those views.

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Imagine if every leading team and arguably the best teams in the world with huge resources had the mentality "oh it's not fair on us, make it the same for everyone in the league" when they're literally the mantle-bearers for La Liga. Big teams, and perennial champions most of all, have the duty of helping the league grow. It's actually why this socialist idea of fair distribution of abroad league games is flawed. And guarantee you, Madrid wouldn't bitch and moan playing one game less at Bernabeu, not nearly as much as the people who constantly want to find reasons why the world is unfair to them.

Villarubi said:

There's not solutions to everything... and you thinking playing odd La Liga games a "revolutionary concept" is laughable.

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For the third time - playing a meaningful game abroad in the US is the revolutionary idea that is at the root of this project. Not the league game. The Americans won't give a shit if it's the league game or the cup game. So long as best players play and the game means something, they'd be satisfied. So give them SuperCopa.

I've got nothing else to add really. Made my points in the earlier posts.

Marca's front page today LOOOOOL

[tw]1030947588927881222[/tw]

Luftstalag14 said:

I have heard people saying that in America football/soccer is a rich kid's sport too. I have always wondered why and how different their system is from Europe's. Any ideas?

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Pay to play. They view sending your kid to football training the same as hiring him or her a piano tutor. If you can't pay your kid won't get trained.

Jenks said:

Pay to play. They view sending your kid to football training the same as hiring him or her a piano tutor. If you can't pay your kid won't get trained.

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Stupid system.

Jenks said:

Pay to play. They view sending your kid to football training the same as hiring him or her a piano tutor. If you can't pay your kid won't get trained.

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Hence why they need Europeans to help popularize it among teens in schools. Or have teams setup peñas and academies more extensively. If La Liga want in on the market, which they do, they need to make an effort to make Americans care more than their system does. Then the dominos will start falling.

Jenks said:

Pay to play. They view sending your kid to football training the same as hiring him or her a piano tutor. If you can't pay your kid won't get trained.

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Sorry for my ignorance. In Europe they don’t? Kids just join their local teams or academies and train and play for free?

I am asking because apparently those Barca schools we established around the world are on pay to play model too.

Stoichkov1 said:

Marca's front page today LOOOOOL

[tw]1030947588927881222[/tw]

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What does that mean?

Aryagorn said:

What does that mean?

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Year one after CR7

It's ridiculous that a Spanish newspaper put Ronaldo and the Chievo-Juventus match in their front page just after la liga began

Luftstalag14 said:

Sorry for my ignorance. In Europe they don’t? Kids just join their local teams or academies and train and play for free?

I am asking because apparently those Barca schools we established around the world are on pay to play model too.

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I can't speak for all of Europe, but generally if it's a local Sunday League or 5-a-side team the parents or kids would only be paying a minimal amount necessary to keep the team running, the coach would volunteer their time etc, and I'm not sure that kids pay to join club academies at all.

Top form so far on the ball, doing ever so well keeping it. Ceballos stellar. Doing great with near-constant position switches upfront. Nobody holding one position. Good dink by Carvajal to get the first goal.