MLS restrictions kill teams in CONCACAF
by GeoJock on Sep 18, 2009 4:04 PM EDT
7 comments
Another CONCACAF loss for the Houston Dynamo playing against all odds. Do we really expect the Dynamo to win considering they are:
- -playing at perhaps the toughest atmosphere they will see all season
- -playing perhaps the most talented lineup they will see all season
- -handicapped by MLS’ roster restrictions
You cannot change the fact that the Dynamo are playing Mexican heavyweights, Pachuca in Mexico, but what about the roster restrictions?
On Wednesday, the Dynamo were not even able to fill an 18 man roster. They traveled with 17 players and it gets worse. Dom Kinnear even brought three keepers including his #3 man, Tyler Deric. If you are counting at home, that’s 14 field players. Also consider that the Dynamo’s only unused sub was Eddie Robinson who’s been on the DL the entire season. So now that’s 13, but that’s enough to play AND have three subs, right? That’s well and good for you city league, but not for a professional team playing in its continent’s championship.
Let look at who played. The Dynamo were able to start five regular starters in Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron, Brad Davis, Wade Barrett, and Brian Ching as well as sub in two others, Brian Mullan and Cam Weaver. The real drop off comes with the two other players who started, John Michael Hayden and Erik Ustruck. Both are development players. Ustruck has logged a whopping 40 min. in MLS this season and Hayden has yet to see the field. Nothing against these guys, but it’s tough to get your feet wet against Pachuca in Mexico. These factors plus playing with 10 men after Dominic Oduro was sent off in the first half, had the Dynamo literally walking all over the field late in the game. With less than 10 min. remaining, they were actually holding the ball (down 2-0), wasting time in their on end. They just wanted the game to end as quickly as possible.
The bottom line is that the MLS roster restrictions are ridiculous. To put a team in this situation in a continental championship is absurd. It makes the team look bad, but more importantly it makes the league look bad. I understand the salary cap and think it’s necessary but it could be raised a bit. My problem is with the roster restrictions. Why be so restrictive on the number of players when you already have a salary cap? Two additional players could have made a big difference this game and this season for the Dynamo.
Cheers to Columbus who managed to get a CONCACAF victory in always tough Saprissa.
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Hey, DC traveled with 16 and won against San Juan Jabloteh, but I expect that to change in the next couple of weeks.
"Why the [frak] would I live to 100? I'm 73 and [stuff's] starting to get boring. By the way, there's no money left when I go, just FYI."
How many matches did the 25th man for ManU play?
They played more games than any other team last year.
And you know what? Their 25th guy didn’t really play. It isn’t about the size of the roster, but the quality. It is about having 15 players that can start any given day and probalby 5 that play regularly but aren’t regular starters.
That’s it.
And some MLS teams do it. That Kinnear did not have that for the Pachuca match doesn’t prove anything. He actually complained that Seattle played too much MLS quality talent in the Open Cup, so that he chose to not play MLS caliber players for the CCL isn’t a surprise.
Disagree
When it comes to rosters, I think it’s silly to compare one of the world’s top teams, who play on a FIFA calendar, and who play 90% of their games within 200 miles, but you’re right, quality depth is critical.
However, you can’t have quality depth if you don’t have depth period. You can’t have 25 good players when you only have 24 players. Plus, depth influences quality. ManU has 15 guys to choose from to be their ‘25th man’.
Your comments about Kinnear are incorrect. He simply stated that Seattle had better players on the field. The Dynamo were in a similar situation then as they were against Pachuca; barely able to field 18. Just like against Pachuca, Kinnear didn’t CHOOSE to bring just 17, that’s all he had.
Bottom line, with MLS rosters all it takes is a few international call-ups, injuries, or suspensions (MLS refereeing is entirely other topic), to devastate a team. Especially those playing in other competitions (see DC United in ‘08).
My point is that even the 21st guy isn't meaningful
Nothing forbids an MLS side from fielding a team that is built around having 15 good but not great players and 5 decent ones. While that side wouldn’t win the MLS Cup it would have a decent shot at the Supporters Shield and be more likely to be competitive in multiple tournaments.
All it takes is avoiding the great players and signing 15 that are starters but not stars. No rule requires a team to have 2,3,4, players making near the max.
I left something out
What good would it do if a team signed another 30 players of Sanna Nyassi’s quality?
The size of the roster is completely irrelevant. It it was relevant, than the Colombia league (where rosters average 39 players on a senior squad) would be the best in the world.
15 good but not great players and 5 decent ones
This actually is a good approach and simliar to what the Houston Dynamo have employed. It enabled them to win 2 MLS Cups. The problem is the Open Cup, Superliga and CCL along with injuries and call-ups.
I do agree that large rosters do not help a team, but I still believe small rosters can hurt a team.
If the sounders continue their success i am sure you will see the “benefits” of CONCACAF like playing 4 games in 13 days in 4 countries as Houston did in ’08.
Thanks for the discussion.
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