[infamousbacardi]

I'm a big soccer tipster...I tip very frequently on leagues across the world...thankfully, the U.S. has started showing some of the games from EPL and La Liga...I've been to Europe on numerous occassions, and spent many nights in pubs in Iceland and England watching games I've tipped on...best time ever...HOWEVER...I really feel like the MLS...while entertaining at times...is a total joke compared to any of other league in the world almost...I'd love to see a challenge were like the MLS plays against the Swiss teams or something....
I just watched the 1st half of the Dynamo v. Sounders game...and really, while there was some scoring chances, the touches on the ball as a whole were pathetic...crosses were nearly always too strong, and holding positions isn't necessarily their strong suit in this league of the MLS...at any rate...I just wanted to vent about the quality I just watched in the 1st half of this MLS playoff game...I'm completely unimpressed...while I appreciate the effort of the MLS to establish soccer here in the U.S...they have a long, long, long way to go before they are even on par with the lesser leagues of Europe...in my opinion...what do you guys think!??! Maybe I'm totally off base, but it sure seems not great for the MLS...your thoughts!?

[TWEETS]

I think this is part of the reason soccer isnt as popular here. Watching MLS compared to any other league is like watching a completely different league. I've seen a few exciting games, but they are usually fairly boring and slow.

[Ace_of_Spades]

The J-League is better than the MLS. But they do get good crowds at the MLS games, well from viewing this Sounders game they sure look like they do.

[infamousbacardi]

I think this game is an exception Ace...I mean, they are at a real football field....it's a big venue...no way they fill it every game. A playoff game surely brings out all the fair weathers for sure. No different than a baseball team or anything...just saying...but really...look at the quality right now on the pitch here...crosses are garbage...possession is awful...etc...I mean, just looks like bad football. JMHO

[Ace_of_Spades]

I totally agree.

[Immortality]

I love soccer and watch games from England, Spain, Italy, and Germany. But the MLS sucks and I cannot watch it.

[Karayilan9]

The game is between two of the best sides in the Mls in the first leg of a playoff cup tie, this is to be expected, first rounds of important 2 leg cup ties have a high Under 2.5% hit rate. I've hit 8 team parlays in Uefa 1st leg ties a few times just following this simple rule.

These teams are just testing each other out, neither side is brave enough to go all out on their attack because they respect the other side, they know they can get punished on the counter attack. One goal for the away side is like scoring twice, so the home side wants to make sure the road team doesn't score. If the home team scores, the road team will still play defensive and try to sneak a goal from a set piece or counter attack because they know they will be able to prepare to beat the team back at home.

2nd legs are usually more exciting as both teams have to go for it.

Mls in general isn't the worst of leagues, its improving every year, teams like Seattle, Houston, La Galaxy, Columbus Crew are not bad and could hold their own against Switzerland or Austrian teams.

If you had the Under you'd be loving this

[infamousbacardi]

I think you're only half right on that one...I mean, in MLS playoffs...there are no away goal rules...so that's not necessarily an excuse...Seattle should come out here and try and dominate and attack and win 2-0...or at least 1-0...I mean, they know they aren't a great away team...and they have a great home advantage here...they completely biffed on using it to their advantage, and this will cost them down in Houston. Besides...the quality has been evidenced on all these awful crosses and pathetic through ball attempts...note even close...even Ljunberg just gave away an awful ball deep in the zone. They just aren't playing well in general.

[Karayilan9]

I wasn't sure about the Mls playoff rules or how they approach playoff games, this is the first time I've seen a playoff game, they played like I expected, due to the match-up, both teams respecting each other resulted in a cautious game. Houston defend well, put pressure on Seattle when they had the ball, didn't give them room to play and got what they wanted, Seattle needed to up the tempo in the last 20-30 minutes but couldn't do it. Alot of teams in the Mls find it hard to change a games tempo.

Salt Lake vs Columbus on Sat, could be another nice Under 2.5.

[mantorras77]

Originally Posted by infamousbacardi

I think you're only half right on that one...I mean, in MLS playoffs...there are no away goal rules...so that's not necessarily an excuse...Seattle should come out here and try and dominate and attack and win 2-0...or at least 1-0...I mean, they know they aren't a great away team...and they have a great home advantage here...they completely biffed on using it to their advantage, and this will cost them down in Houston. Besides...the quality has been evidenced on all these awful crosses and pathetic through ball attempts...note even close...even Ljunberg just gave away an awful ball deep in the zone. They just aren't playing well in general.

where have you been? ...MLS soccer has been like this for a long time....this was actually one of the most exciting mls games i've seen...the Seattle fans made it for a great atmosphere. In fact, this is Seattle's first year in MLS and they've been averaging around 31,000 fans per home game this season...that's FANTASTIC for an MLS team!! Attendance in general around the MLS is down from last season...if anything Seattle fans deserve a title for their dedication.

[infamousbacardi]

Originally Posted by mantorras77

where have you been? ...MLS soccer has been like this for a long time....this was actually one of the most exciting mls games i've seen...the Seattle fans made it for a great atmosphere. In fact, this is Seattle's first year in MLS and they've been averaging around 31,000 fans per home game this season...that's FANTASTIC for an MLS team!! Attendance in general around the MLS is down from last season...if anything Seattle fans deserve a title for their dedication.

You are right for the most part...I've watched MLS for a while now though...and really, yes, it has been not great quality for a while...but Seattle is an anomaly this year...they are a new franchise...lets see how their attendance is in 2 years...I hope it's the same, and I HOPE this sport grows into something relevant eventually...I just don't see much progress in the last 8 years here is all. Unfortunately.

[InThisMoment]

Certainly was not a masterpiece there, but then as others stated it was the first leg of a two-leg playoff.

As for the quality of the MLS, there is no question that it is not on par with the elite leagues and is in the range of an English Championship to English League 1 to Austrian or Swiss. Generally the MLS teams have 2-5 top quality players and the rest are filler from the American colleges.

However, the MLS business structure is very sound and one, that while may not produce a high level of play, will certainly be sustainable long-term. Some of the salaries of these players are amazingly low (Stuart Holden of Houston, one of the best players on the pitch tonight, makes around $35,000/yr.) and the MLS has decided to be fiscally sound and slowly grow. Certainly they learned their lessons from previous leagues like the NASL.

The MLS is not going to compete with the EPL or La Liga in the near-term, likely never. However, as the quality of American youth increases and as the league continues to fill their coffers they will be able to slowly build up the level of play year after year. Sprinkle in the occasional Beckham or Ljungberg to keep the international interest around and keep the same sound business model (the MLS is league-centric and won't have those billionaire owners coming in spending teams into administration) and the league will improve over time.