Low Soccer Enthusiasm Lies in MLS’s Lack of Talent

Confusion seems to be the name of the game in the MLS. John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

I’m by far the biggest soccer fan I know of. Every Saturday morning, I sit on my computer and watch all of the Barclay’s Premier League games. From powerhouses like Chelsea and Manchester City, to bottom-dwellers in Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers, I eat it up. It’s a beautiful sport when played well, but when it’s just not quality soccer, it gets bad. Recently, I turned on my television and began watching the Chicago Fire play the Montreal Impact.

As a fan of the sport, I was offended by the play of the two teams. From missed opportunities to obviously bad decisions, the game’s 0-0 result should have been closer to 10-10 due to the lack of skill on defense by both sides, but the inability to finish for any players on the pitch led to the end result. It was the 18th draw on the season for the Fire, tying an MLS record. They tied the record with three games left to play. That’s three more chances at mediocrity.

The problem isn’t the Fire’s lack of top-level skill, it’s the MLS’s as a whole. Without a few big signings recently, such as expansion-side New York FC getting Chelsea legend Frank Lampard and former Barcelona striker David Villa, the lack of talent is undeniable. Yes, we’ve seen a few stars play in the MLS, such as David Beckham and Thierry Henry, but they’re just exceptions to the rule that MLS players have to be mediocre.

Luckily, that is changing. While the MLS has a talent problem now, they are getting players like Lampard, Villa and Beckham to make the move, meaning when the 2018 World Cup comes around and US soccer is the biggest thing going, people turning on MLS games there will be an actual brand of soccer on the pitch.

Jul 30, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York City FC player David Villa on the sideline before the start of a game between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

I was telling people during the World Cup, it’s tough to be a soccer fan in America. The style of play is very different from what you see from elite countries in the World Cup. You have to be willing to give up your Saturday mornings to enjoy elite soccer from around the world, much like Americans do with NFL every Sunday. If the league continues to get top-notch athletes, though, you’ll be able to see good soccer during weekdays, when a large majority of MLS games are shown on national television.

If the MLS had players considered as good as those in Liga BBVA in Spain or the Barclay’s Premier League in England, soccer fever would have taken off after the success of the World Cup. Instead, the lack of talent and solid play drove people away from the sport, at least for four years.