The quality of play isn't as high as the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 or the Bundesliga, but there are some fun to watch sides and it's certainly entertaining if you know the sport. With a team in your backyard you should go check it out. I caught a few matches last year and was happy with my decision to do so. I'll certainly be watching more this season.
It's not quality because it can't afford good players. It can't afford good players because people don't support the teams. People don't support the teams because the league isn't quality.
Overall, I don't mind the MLS, but I'm not going to seek out a match on tv to watch it. If it's on, and there's nothing else on, so be it. If I flip by the channel in a search to watch something, and it catches my eye, I will probably watch some of it.
But I don't set out to watch it or spend my evenings checking up on the MLS.
MLS is a pretty solid league, the crowds look great on tv. The quality is decent, the main problem in places like America/Australia for example is people who just look at the league and say, oh it's not as good as the EPL therefore it sucks.
depends on the team, some of the clubs in the MLS are very direct and don't play an attractive style (Philadelphia Union comes to mind). Its not the level of a top European league but its alright to watch.
But if I was a hardcore USA fan (I consider myself a casual US fan, Croatia is my #1 team), I'd be concerned with all the foreigners in the league, Red Bulls for example only has one American in their starting 11, not really ideal for young players who may not get ample opportunities.
I would say the quality would be comparable to the 2nd or 2/3 Tier of a top Euro system...in the UK it would be comparable to Championship/League 1. Not too bad, I'd go, if I had a team within a 1000 miles anyway!
Fan interaction is a huge deal in MLS. Vacouver is lucky that its rivals have amazing fans in Portland and Seattle. These types of games are fun to watch and be a part of, if for no other reason than the fan interaction.
Unfortunately, with the sheer size of the continent, its difficult to get up for alot of games. Its tough to get up for vancouver playing against philadelphia, for example. The cities are so far apart and you wont have much of that bantering in the crowd, if at all.
Support your team. Quality will get better, and you won't feel as plastic as cheering for a team across an ocean that you arbitrarily picked based on how good they were at the time.
Ill watch TFC matches on TV, and attend many of them throughout the course of the season. I feel like I can always watch TFC, because they are my team, and I know them and their players.
However, if there are random MLS teams playing, I simply don't watch.
If you're a soccer fan, you should support your local side period. Front running and cheering for European clubs you have no connection to is whatever, but you don't get to look down on the league that's actually in your back yard.
I love watching Timbers and Sounders games. The league has made huge strides over the past few years.
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“The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile, but that it is indifferent. If we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death, our existence as a species can have genuine meaning and fulfillment. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light.” - Stanley Kubrick
If you're gonna compare it to European leagues, forget about it. Right now, supporting MLS is all about your love for the game and your local city (if your city has a team). I support Chelsea and Villarreal but the LA Galaxy will always be my number 1 team.
I think of it like watching movies. Not every movie you watch is a best picture nominee. But you can still get loads of entrainment out of the other movies (maybe more).
Sure MLS isn't Champions league quality...(most Euro leagues aren't either) but there is still value in it, and can still get moments of brilliance and good team play.
Notice how often Toronto is on the receiving end And a few cameo's from greats...Henry/Becks/Frings (though Frings not in a good way). I personally think #1 is one of the best goals I've ever seen...not to mention rivalry game, and they just went down 2-1 in like the 85th min. Also fond of Agudelo's....think a Chumineto goal (vs NY)got shafted from the list though...
It's more fun to go watch an MLS game in person (at least at a stadium with good support, like Montreal) than it is to watch a team from across the ocean on TV.
That said, whether you agree or not, you can still do both!
I don't watch more than match or two a year. I think it's great we have a professional league, but there is something to be said about the quality. Also for me, with everything else out there in life, watching every Barça match is enough for me every year.
I guess after reading your post it would depend on how much you like the sport. Growing up in Wisconsin is pretty great for sports considering the size of our state. Take the Packers for example. Great history and an institution in the state. As a kid I was fortunate enough to make every Milwaukee County Stadium game because my grandfather got us tickets. I even got to see them at Lambeau and I loved football. And the Packers were pretty **** back then. I still remember the Majik man beating the Bears and it was like they'd won the Super Bowl. Anyway, I still love football, but it's a different kind of football nowadays. So despite the Packers recent success, I don't watch more than 15 minutes a season because the game bores me. I love to play it, but since switching footballs so to speak years ago, I only follow soccer. And I'm thrilled for the Packers, but I don't watch them Super Bowl or not. So for me I would say if you're interested in the sport then you should definitely go.
On the flip side, if you're simply not into football then maybe give it a try, but I don't know that the Impact will change that for you. In fact no club would likely change that for you if the people I know are any example. Still give it a try since you're fortunate enough to have a local side, but if you're not into football and have already tried it then you just might not be into it.
Personally I was able to see the Fire live a couple of times. They showed up well enough each time and the supporters were good considering it was the early days of the club, but the best sides I've seen live have all been European sides and the matches I've seen in Europe had a better atmosphere. Soldier Field isn't the same as say Jeldwen Field though.
There are a couple of laughable posts in this thread about being a supporter, but you'll see that a lot from certain folks. Still having a local side with a pro league like MLS, if you're going to follow the game they likely should be your MLS side.
Yes it's entertaining, plus you can have an actual connection with the team since it's local. But reading some people here, there's only two entertaining leagues in the world(EPL, La Liga) and the rest, except top teams, are boring
Learn to enjoy the game and there's also more than what's on the field. It's awesome to see the game growing, all the new stadiums, the fans showing up, singing and stuff.
Football is about a thousand times better when seen live in person than it is on TV, so yes, if you have an MLS team near by you should try to go and watch them as often as possible.
And a few cameo's from greats...Henry/Becks/Frings (though Frings not in a good way). I personally think #1 is one of the best goals I've ever seen...not to mention rivalry game, and they just went down 2-1 in like the 85th min. Also fond of Agudelo's....think a Chumineto goal (vs NY)got shafted from the list though...
