Major League Soccer

[Mystik]

I just noticed that we did not have a thread for MLS and with so many big names coming over over the last few years, I thought it would be appropriate to create one!

The main reason I created it though is to talk about the impact Giovinco has had on Toronto FC. He is the current goal scoring leader in the league and is in the top 5 for assists as well. Whenever I watch TFC play, the gulf in class between him and everyone else on the field is astounding. He dribbles past players for fun and scores and assists in all types of ways. There are even ads on TV all about the "atomic ant". I don't think they have ever qualified for the playoffs but Giovinco certainly has them in the conversation to do so this year.

Of course there are other big stars who have come over recently: Kaka, Villa, Drogba, Gerrard, Lampard, Pirlo, etc but I have not really watched them play too much so far.

I don't imagine that this thread will have too much activity but with so many former European stars around, who knows!

[Ace]

For being the youngest European superstar he was sure to set the MLS on fire, and he did exactly that.
reports also indicate that Conte has set his eyes on him for the next Italy squad.

Pirlo also has been attracting some attention over there... but that's no surprise.. there's only one Pirlo!

[ACMILAN1983]

I watch MLS every so often when I can. I've seen both of Pirlo's first two games in the league and he looks a level above other players, but also needs time to settle into the set up of the side. He is in a side that needs work though.

I also saw the odd game with Giovinco, but there was little to nothing to take from the game other than his pace and trickery seem to fit well.

[xudong]

I almost forgot that Giovinco plays in MLS. Why did he come here when he is still so young?

[Mystik]

I'm pretty sure that the TFC owners have plenty of money and probably offered him a mega contract. He was clearly not getting any playing time at Juventus and I guess he figured he could build a bigger brand for himself over in North America. If Conte still considers him for the NT (and he should) then I'd say it all worked out quite well for him.

[reza]

TFC owners are very rich and can afford top European players, if MLS rules ever allows it they will sign more. Some other MLS teams are also owned by people with deep pockets.

[ACMILAN1983]

For anyone who follows MLS carefully, doesn't the franchise model with restrictions on how much can be spent on players (both wage and transfer fee) reduce the chances of spending fortunes on guys like Giovinco?

I know there's something in place to make exceptions, but I thought there was only so much the deep pockets of the TFC owners could do.

[Mystik]

I think you can pay your designated players (up to 3) whatever you want to without significantly affecting your salary cap, no? According to wiki, "only" 436K of the player's salary will count towards the team's salary cap. This value is decreased for younger players. Also according to wiki, the salary cap is $3.49 Million per team.

So as long as you have the money, and the rest of the team is content earning SIGNIFICANTLY less than a few of their teammates, then there's no issue

[xudong]

On that same wiki page, there are some players getting paid lower than 100K. Carlos Rivas from Orlando City is getting paid $60K. So much for designated player.

[ACMILAN1983]

Thanks for the answer. I knew there was something like that following guys like Beckham and Henry heading there, but didn't fully know it. Truth is, I still get completely lost in stuff that's unique to American sports, like the draft systems. I vaguely have an idea of how it works, but my understanding is limited.