Soccer

Mixing it up with NYCFC

Chris McGlynn MLS, Soccer, USMNT

New York City FC announced the signing of Mikkel Morgenstar Pålssønn Diskerud better known as Mix. The Norwegian-American midfielder will join with David Villa, Ned Grabavoy and eventually Frank Lampard in what is shaping up to be a pretty strong attack on paper. Diskerud has grabbed national attention recently with his run of appearances in the US National team lineup under Jürgen Klinsmann. The 24-year old is showing great potential and should be a fun player to watch in the upcoming MLS season.

First, I want to take a look at how Mix got here then breakdown what his signing means for NYCFC.
Diskerud started out playing in his home country of Norway for a couple junior and second division squads. He was a member of the Norwegian U-18 and U-19 squad while playing Stabæk’s B team in the Norwegian Second Division. In 2008, at the ripe age of 17 in a 14-0 romp of Vestfossen IF. He then was named a starter for the 2009 La Manga Cup and scored in the opening minutes. Around the same time, Diskerud made his first appearance in a red, white and blue uniform as well, playing for the U-19 United States squad in a few matches. Mix ended up making 81 appearances for Stabæk scoring 10 goals in his time there. He joined Gent in Belgium on loan for the end of the 2011 season before making the jump to Rosenborg BK for the start of the 2012 campaign. It did not seem like Mix would stay long though as he almost depart the team for the MLS at the end of 2012 but there was an issue with transfer policies and Diskerud stayed in Norway. The move to MLS made some since as he was ending his three-year hiatus from playing with US National team at this time, finding some significant playing time in the starting 11. Diskerud has now totaled 25 appearances in a US kit and already has five goals to his name. However, the move to the MLS has happened now and after making 59 appearances and scoring 5 goals for Rosenborg, Mix is now headed stateside.

Diskerud’s time in Norway was valuable experience but now he will begin playing alongside some excellent, albeit aging, players at the club level. Villa and Lampard are way above the level of just about any player in Norway, even if they are slowing down a bit. Signing Diskerud adds a talented, young player more than capable of generating offense and it greatly appeals to the fans, who will be thrilled to come and watch one of the American international players. This also gives NYCFC another young player to build around. They have already snagged the 22-year old forward Tony Mullins from New England. New York also has one last Designated Player spot left open for them to make a big signing. I would not be surprised for City to bring in a proven defender to really bolster this squad. This team might not be the best in the MLS this year, but once Lampard gets to New York, this team should be ready to compete.

This signing is a big one for both NYCFC and MLS. New York brings in a widely sought after player that will give them a spark in the midfield and MLS now has yet another US international playing on home soil at the club level. With the news that Jozy Altidore is on his way to the states as well (be on the lookout for more about this), MLS is bringing in some popular players which will hopefully give the leagues overall popularity a boost. NYCFC also get to feel good about keeping Mix away from their in-state rival, showing that very quickly City is becoming the club of choice in New York. There are still a couple of months until the 2015 MLS season kicks off so I would not be surprised if NYCFC made a another move or two to really make a splash heading into their inaugural season.

Should MLS institute relegation?

Chris McGlynn EPL, MLS, Soccer

Just about every soccer league in the world has a tier system built into the league. What this means is that at the end of every season, the bottom few teams are knocked down a flight to the lower division for the following season. Meanwhile, the top few teams from the league below them move up a flight, taking the spot of the teams who are leaving the top flight. This process is referred to as promotion and relegation. It is commonplace for this process to take place in European and South American soccer leagues, yet it is not a component of Major League Soccer in the United States. It is not something that can be simply added overnight but it is something that MLS should begin to think about in the near future to really grow soccer in the US.

I mentioned that it is more complicated than it seems, and that’s for a long list of reasons. At the moment, the biggest obstacle is the continual shifting of the MLS playing field. This past season the league had 19 teams. With Chivas USA now defunct and NYCFC and Orlando City SC set to join at the beginning of 2015, MLS will have 20 teams. There are also a handful of other expansion teams in the works. The cities that could end up with expansion teams include Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and San Antonio at the moment. Atlanta and Los Angeles are set to kickoff for the first time in 2017 and MLS Commissioner Don Graber has made it clear he wants to have 24 teams up and running by 2020. The MLS wants to have a top flight of 24 teams, which would be the largest worldwide.

With the league filling up so quickly, it is obvious that some of these expansion projects will fall outside of the 24 team cut off. This would be a perfect reason to begin a promotion and relegation system. Yet, MLS seems like it does not intend to implement the system any time soon. The format for the system is in place though. The US has three division of soccer already, though the lower two are largely unknown. The second division is the North American Soccer League (NASL), which actually mirrors the original North American soccer league that existed during the 70s and 80s with revival franchises. This division only has eleven teams the moment but is looking to add two more, which could be where these extra MLS teams come into play. The third division is known as USL Professional Division (USL PRO). This league is substantially larger with 23 teams but a very short history spanning back to only 2011. At the moment, USL PRO is being used as a training ground for many MLS reserves and in many ways as a feeder system for MLS.

Technically, all three leagues are independent but the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) sanctions them all. This makes linking the three leagues significantly easier because they have the same format and rules. Sure, at first these teams that are getting promoted will have a large gap in talent but over time they will even themselves out and eventually be able to compete. Some of these teams can already salvage a couple of wins over MLS sides. The MLS Open Cup offers the only opportunity NASL and USL PRO teams get to play MLS clubs and in a few instances we have seen upsets by NASL sides. There might be a gap but it will shrink over the course of the first few years the system is in place.

I am not going to pretend that I understand the financial issues that could arise from the situation but if the MLS officials are truly serious about raising US interest in soccer and promoting player development, this would very easily be the way to do it. It would expand soccer all over the country. It would be a perfect way to develop talent in the US. US soccer would much better resemble how the rest of the world plays the game. It would add a new excitement to American soccer that would make almost every game meaningful as teams not only seek to win the championship but also struggle to remain in the league. It would likely lead to an increase in attendance and would increase MLS popularity. The more teams that exist that have a chance to play for something meaningful will draw more fans and spread the influence of soccer much further in the US.

The argument stands that no other American sport uses relegation but soccer is not like any other US sport. In the Big Four sports of hockey, baseball, basketball and football, North America gets to set the rules on how these games are played because they were all invented and popularized here. With soccer though, this sport was developed overseas and has always been something that the US has been trying to catch up to the rest of the world at. Europe set precedent with the idea of promotion and relegation. I do not see why the US should be any different from how the rest of the world plays the sport. America did not invent the sport; it should not be up to them to determine how the format proceeds. Yet, MLS continues to resist the change. I do not think this should happen immediately and certainly, the league will need some time to settle after annexing the next round of teams in 2020. It is something that MLS should start planning to integrate into the US system once the league is set though. I understand that I am speculating in some ways as to how this could benefit American soccer but I feel that this is the best way for MLS to be taken more seriously on the world stage. It could only up the level of play pushing players to improve and contend with the youth who are developing in the lower leagues. It also promotes staying in the system rather than fleeing to a different country if riding a team to promotion is possible. I think it is the next logical step for the MLS. Let me know what you think though.

LA does it again

Chris McGlynn EPL, MLS, Soccer ,

There were all sorts of questions floating around the Galaxy at the end of this season. Landon Donovan was retiring, Robbie Keane was rumored to be leaving and Los Angeles expected to lose players in the expansion draft. This team might have just won the MLS Cup, but as soon as last year ends, a new one begins. For the front office, there is no offseason. Earlier today, the front office for LA got to work as it was announced Liverpool captain Steven Gerard announced his intentions to join the Galaxy following the end of the Premier League season. Just when it seemed like the Galaxy would be running out of star power, LA managed to land another great towards the end of his career who can still contribute. Let’s take a look at what Gerrard brings to this Galaxy squad.

Gerrard was a member of Liverpool for each of the last 16 years. The Premier League squad brought him through its youth academy eventually signing him in 1998. Gerrard has made 695 appearances for the Reds and scored 180 goals in all competitions. Gerrard brings a fierce competitor and leader to an LA team that will be missing that with Donovan’s absence. His 180 goals rank number one in Liverpool’s 122-year history. His goals per appearance ratio is not anything spectacular at 0.23 but he is truly a once in a generation player. He ranks as the second best scoring midfielder in EPL history only behind Frank Lampard.

Gerrard will mostly emulate Donovan though in how he orchestrates the offensive attack. Gerrard ranks second in Premier League history for assists with 100. He is crafty and while his legs have begun to lose some of that spring he had as a younger man, he will find ways to mentally beat his opponents. Gerrard is not the same player as Donovan but without a doubt, he fills a similar role that allows LA to maintain close to the same attack style it employed this season. Gerrard will most assuredly find himself setting up Keane and Gyasi Zardes on multiple occasions.

This move will mark yet another former international superstar to come to MLS following the prime of his career in a European league. While it is certainly exciting, it still underlines the continual problem the MLS has with landing big stars before the decline in their career begins. The movement started with Beckham back in the early 2000s and has rapidly accelerated this year with Kaka, Frank Lampard and David Villa all set to join MLS this season. Now Gerrard will be added to the mix.

It should continue to drum up interest in the MLS though stateside though. That has been one of the league’s greatest weaknesses. It has been unable to really turn itself into a major North American sport due to how enamored the U.S. is with football, hockey, basketball and baseball. However, if these players can boost the popularity enough (after all, sports fans love to watch big name athletes compete) to where the league finds themselves capable of generating more money, we could finally start to see some of these players come over to the US before their career seems all but over. It could only be a matter of time. Gerrard is just another piece in this jumbled up puzzle for the MLS. He should be fun to watch in Los Angeles though once he arrives in June. If he resembles anything close to the Steven Gerrard Liverpool fans have watched play for so long, then LA might be in line to make another run at the cup.

Fitting end for a LeganD

Chris McGlynn MLS, Soccer ,

The confetti had all rained down. They had accepted their prize. They broke out bottles of champagne and began setting them off in celebration. They crowded around one man clutching the massive trophy. His icon number 10 shirt wet with champagne as he hoisted the cup in triumph while his teammates cheered, “One more year! One more year!”

This was the scene in the LA Galaxy locker room following their MLS Cup victory over the New England Revolution. The Galaxy had just won their MLS record fifth title and the man holding the trophy was US soccer icon Landon Donovan. The 32 year old had just walked off the field for the final time in his professional career. Arguably the most decorated MLS player of the league’s 19 year history had just wrapped a campaign full of anguish and disappointment but ultimately marked by pure joy with this final development. Donovan’s final MLS season did not go exactly as he had always dreamed but in the end he walked off the field the way he desperately wanted: a champion.

The disappointment I refer to actually has nothing to do with MLS season and all to do with Jürgen Klinnsman’s decision to drop Donovan from the US World Cup roster headed to Brazil. That was all the US captain had been working towards, a chance to take center stage one last time on the world stage and show everyone that he was one of the best to ever do it. Instead, Donovan was left to sit at home and wonder what could have been. Particularly when US striker Jozy Altidore went down with an injury, Donovan must ponder his potential role on that team.

All of that aside, Donovan came back and played with a vengeance in the second half of the MLS season. Records fell around the famous attacker and when the dust settles from this championship run, Donovan can look back at his accolades knowing he truly was the best. He became the MLS all-time goal scorer and the league’s all-time assist leader. He scored his league record 41st game-winning goal and tied the MLS mark for game-winning assists. He demonstrated his longevity by finishing his career with the third most minutes logged. But above all, he showed his knack for getting it done when it mattered. This last title of Donovan’s career made him the player with the most cup wins ever.

Donovan’s leave is a saddening one for American soccer fans. It means we won’t see the iconic penalty kick run up or the unmatched passion we have been spoiled to see throughout Donovan’s illustrious domestic career. The MLS will be missing some of its most recognizable faces next year with the loss of Donovan and Thierry Henry. But the league will see the influx of international players like Kaka, Frank Lampard and David Villa. The league will always have its superstars, but there will truly only be one LeganD remembered as being the best to roam the US turf. So farewell LD, thanks for all of the great moments this nation has been so fortunate to share with you over this exhilarating ride. You will be missed.

Henry’s exit full of question marks as to what he does next, none about his legacy

Chris McGlynn MLS, Soccer ,

When the New York Red Bulls walked off the field last week, following a defeat to rival New England, there was disappointment surrounding the team for sure but there was something else as well. The team had come up short in their quest for the MLS cup but one player may have also reached the end of career. Red Bulls’ captain Thierry Henry announced days later that he would not be returning to New York the following season. The ensuing rumors have been that he could return to his original club, Arsenal, where Henry was once a star. In what capacity he would return is unclear though. He would definitely be welcomed back to the English Premier League club, but there is speculation it could be as the Gunners manager rather than as a player.

While no one is quite sure what will happen with Henry, there is no doubting that he is a legendary player who still has the capability of competing. He has shown his ability to be a great player in both the MLS and the EPL. Just this past year, the former French international tied the Red Bulls’ single season record for assists. On top of that, Henry performed well when it mattered this year as he set up or scored the game-winning goal in seven of New York’s thirteen wins this season. Then in the postseason set up five more goals in as many games, the best mark of any MLS player in the 2014 playoffs. Clearly, the man they call “Titi” still has some fight in him.

Deciding where he sits as far as all-time greats, Henry’s resume speaks for itself. He cracked the top-50 list for career goal scorers in MLS history. There are only two players on higher up on the list have played fewer games. Those record-tying 14 assists he chalked up this season vaulted him into the top-50 for assists as well. As for his time with the Gunners, Henry still ranks fourth (Wayne Rooney just recently passed him for third) in Premier League history with 175 goals. That number is the most goals scored all time by a player for one club and tops in Arsenal’s 128-year history. Henry also ranks sixth all-time for assists with eighty in his eight-year career at Emirates Field, also an Arsenal record.

Internationally, Henry was a menace scoring the most goals in French football history (51). He was also part of the 1998 World Cup champion team as their highest scorer. His run continued to his inclusion on the 2000 European Championship team. Then, in 2001 and 2003, he was a mainstay for France’s Confederation Cup victories. In 2003 especially, Henry dominated the competition, winning both the Golden Boot for best player and Golden Shoe for top goal scorer. He was a star in France’s run to the finals of the 2006 World Cup, where they eventually lost to Italy on penalties. Through and through, Henry has been a class act who gives goal keepers trouble either setting up goals or scoring them himself.

There is only one player who sits higher than Henry on both lists (Rooney) in EPL history, and the Manchester United man is often considered an all-time great so I think it is only fair to put Henry in the same category. I still think he can compete in the Premier League, not at the same level he once did, but as a solid option at forward. So whatever happens to the now former Red Bull, he will be able to contribute at a high level. He is certainly one of the top strikers to ever play in the Premier League and probably one of the best international attackers the world has ever seen. His soccer IQ will let him be a contributor, either as a player, manager or some combination of the two, for many years to come.