Major League Soccer has officially announced that the 2008 MLS All-Star game will feature a match-up between MLS All-Stars and English club West Ham United. The match will take place on July 24 at BMO Field in Toronto.
As reported by SBI on March 16, West Ham United will follow in the footsteps of Celtic, Chelsea, Fulham and Chivas de Guadalajara as international opponents to face the MLS All-Star Team.
What do I think of the choice? I’m opposed to the MLS All-Stars facing anything less than top clubs like Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan, Roma or Bayern Munich. Anything else seems sort of pointless. I know that West Ham has great tradition and a big fan-base, but let’s face it, BMO Field was selling out for the All-Star Game regardless of the opponent.
Where exactly is the story line here? Jonathan Spector returns home to North America to face his countrymen? Will Green Street Hooligans star Elijah Wood do the First Kick? I know there are plenty of English ex-pats in Toronto but I still don’t see why West Ham. I mean I know why (because they could be booked) but I don’t see the hook for selling this game.
What would I have done? I think a match-up of CONCACAF All-Stars against the World would have been great and would have definitely created a memorable environment at BMO Field.
What do you think of West Ham being the opponent? Share your thoughts below.
Bob,
Man U did. Went to South Africa in January or December I believe.
West Ham is a very average team.
MLS needs to get to a point where they can have a quality CONCACAF v. World match-up or a traditional East v. West. If they can lure more quality players over the next decade, no reason this could not happen. I am just not a fan of using MLS players to help European clubs “warm up” for their season. Can you imagine Man U or Real Madrid playing an exhibition game in the middle of THEIR season?
Does this have anything to do with USL’s relationship with West Ham? This may divide the leagues a bit. I could see the U-23s of the MLS clubs not being able to compete in the USL. OR Is the USL not strong enough to stand up to MLS. Then again, I may be reading too much into a bad decision by the league.
Does MLS think tevez is still on West Ham, even if he was this is still a mediocre all star game
With Champion’s league, Super Liga, US Open and MLS league games what is the point of this structure of game anymore? Why don’t they just have an Allstar weekend with a flury of double headers over a weekend, with the top teams in MLS playing exhibitions?
HAHAHA, Sorry Tony, its tough having your team get bashed twice in the last two weeks when they’ve done nothing to deserve it.
Saw the headline and immediately thought, “Poor danny…his blood pressure just went up 80 points….”
Why do people think that Chelsea’s reserves with a couple regulars thrown in is some wonderful proof of the MLS’s dominance?
West Ham fans – get a grip! There would be equal bashing if the choice was Portsmouth or ‘Villa, and I’d feel the same way if it was Getafe or Empoli.
The soccer is ok… but it is just not compelling, there is no good story around the game. I’d rather see a big club from Mexico or South America, or the champs or All Stars from A or J Leagues than Euro Mid Tables. Set the game up against either the world’s best, or against the best from leagues more like MLS.
MLS should take the attitude of trying to prove something with the All Star games. Does it REALLY prove anything? Of course not, but how else do you get to see MLS players in game action against these leagues? And that’s what a lot of us want to see – how does MLS stack up against the world.
West Ham? Was Derby booked that day?
Ives, nice work breaking the comments into more than one page. That means more pageviews which means more dollars to run the site. Well played.
But seriously, the all-star game in soccer is, at least in my mind, one of the more interesting showcases of league talent. Love the format againt a real team from another league.
But I have to agree with the majority of those posting on the “why West Ham” sentiment. They’re a very good squad, but from a TV ratings perspective which is really the number that counts here since as many have pointed out the game will be a sell-out without question, why not get a bigger profile club to sign on as that would generate much more interest both here and around the globe. Clearly there is a higher pricetag to get Chelsea as opposed to Fulham or West Ham, but MLS needs to spend the money to get a big name team to boost those ratings.
My thought would be to tap into Adidas to see if they can help out with this. Maybe they can help deliver the German national team or Argentina.
First of all, I’m not a huge fan of All-Star games (or home-run-derby-like skills competitions). BUT, I also realize this event isn’t going anywhere.
That said, I think the best possible format for this type of event is an intra-league friendly (like Ives’ CONCACAF vs. World idea). I really dislike MLS All-Stars vs. [insert foreign club here]. It’s no win. Here are the two possible outcomes:
1. We beat an off-season, half-hearted European club and celebrate like crazy, looking like fools for taking a pre-season exercise too seriously (I’m sorry, but do you think any of those clubs (like Chelsea) really cared that they lost a pre-season match?). Even if you assume the opponent is fully fit and motivated to win, it doesn’t prove that MLS is on par with these big-name clubs, as the league advertises (“we’ve never lost!!”). It sends the message that we need our Best 11 to take down a mediocre English team.
2. If we lose, we look like fools because even our Best 11 can’t handle the off-season, half-hearted, mediocre English team.
And let’s face it, the Best 11 isn’t really the best team–how long do they train with each other? I’m honestly more interested in watching DC or KC or Houston or NE…even LA scrimmage with big-name clubs. It still doesn’t prove we’re on par with Europe, but I think it says a little more.
Come on, MLS! If we must do an All Star game, let’s do it right! Let’s do a game where we showcase the best talent in the MLS and leave the unfit European stars out of it! And West Ham? Let me just ask this…who here will be excited if we win this game?
Ives, I know you are doing alot so I don’t mean to complain of course, I check your site religiously and appreciate what you do, but your recent red bulls post mentioned you would post another red bulls update later and so far it hasn’t been posted, just keep us up to date, I live off of news about the teams I root for since I am doomed to never liking a good team, I at least like news to give me hope haha
Anyone see that the BBC rumor website is reporting this: Barcelona and France striker Thierry Henry is being lined up by newly-formed MLS side Seattle, and will pay him £150,000 per week. (The Sun)
Perhaps it’s a grand conspiracy to get Barack Obama, West Ham supporter, out of the country during a crucial Presidential campaign period.
Yes, that’s a joke. Lighten up, people.
Completely off-topic, but is anyone going to the Red Bulls event at Mulligan’s in Hoboken tonight?
Dominghosa,
I am not upset with people being disappointed in the game being vs West Ham.
I’m tired of the West Ham bashing. They finished 9th in 2005/2006 season and in 2006/2007 they had a bad run because of a lot of crap surrounding the club.
Their talent level is equal to that of all the teams above them except for maybe the top 4, Everton & Portsmouth I’d say. They have had tons of injuries (though I can’t stand when Curbishely whines about it), and can people stop acting like the MLS (all stars or not) should be insulted by a mid table team from one of the best leagues in the world?
Disappointed, fine–that is your right. But to act like MLS is lowering themselves in some way is frustrating to watch, because of the ignorance.
WEAK
The ASG is becoming a joke. Nothing more than a marketing ploy.
What? The Washington Generals were booked that day?
Just kidding Danny. I know West Ham is nowhere near that level.
Anyway, I think much of the disappointment stems from the initial reports of the All-Star game involved Liverpool, a top 4 EPL team and a CL participant.
Then, learning that the actual team is West Ham, a mid-table EPL team that needed an incredible run to stave off relegation last season, is a let-down.
West Ham may have quality. But it’s not Liverpool. Heck, it’s not even Everton.
I do agree about the “next” feature in the comments section. It blows. And hope our man gets rid of it.
*yawn*
West Ham?
I actually like WHU i just had to see if i could get a rise out of danny saying they were gonna be relegated
Gotta say, not a fan of the “next” feature to see additional comments on these posts!
I think anyone that measures the quality of the MLS does in these All-Star games is misguided.
And by ‘misguided’ I mean ‘a clueless moron’.
BABABABABABABABABoring!
BABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABABORING!
how is it gonna look after next year when west ham get relegated that in 2008 we played a team a championship team, what would that say about our league
If the Allstars win, so what it’s just WestHam.If WestHam wins it will just prove to the world how much MLS sucks! This is a no win game for MLS period.
I think the All-Star game is lame all together, I’d just scrap it. I know it’s a normal thing in other American sports. But we don’t need to export every American sporting event over to MLS.
Once KUMB hear of this, expect a flood of Hammers bigging up their side and slurring America.
You’ll never get me to pay for this game. I’d consider hocking free tickets if I got ’em. I’m with Ives, elite, top flight opponent should be the minimum entry criteria for playing the All-Stars.
DOn’t get me wrong. I will still go to the game, but this to me is a lost opportunity. With due respect to a mid table Premiership side, they are no Chelsea or barcelona or Arsenal.
I would have rather had Aston Villa or Benfica (two teams that TFC played friendlies against last season) as the competition in the all star game. It may me many years before this game comes back to Toronto and this feels like an opportunity missed.
Apoligies in advance if your name is in fact
Scandal, White
Whitescandal,
I don’t take people that don’t use something not close to their real name seriously, but thanks for the offer!
Hey Danny, I got a tissue for you.
Danny…
Good to see the PR man for the Hammers on the board!!
Go get ’em Tiger!!
Lee
please let this be the last all star game. They should just use the break to honor international summer fixture dates.
Up You Irons!!!
Ives,
I don’t disagree with the game being disappionting, but people act like West Ham should be honored to be playing in this game.
Its marketing for them. They started a USL team and I’m sure want exposure, I don’t think they are chomping at the bit to play the MLS All-stars.
And those saying MLS All-Stars will blow the Hammers out are so clueless, that its the only thing keeping me sane (cause I’m laughing so hard).
It gets so tiring to watch West Ham get bashed. If you hate the game, bash the MLS, no reason to bash West Ham along with it (when none of you people watch them regularly anyway–you have no clue about their quality or lack thereof).
Like Chivas was a more amazing opponent? Laughable.
And we (Hammers fans) had to read this once already. Not sure why we have to be subjected to our team being bashed again, by the same people.
Whatever.
LOWEST RATED MLS ALL-STAR GAME IN HISTORY.
Come on Danny, I had to announce the news and you had to expect the bashing. I personally don’t have anything against West Ham, they are certainly a better club than some folks on here are giving them credit for being, but it is still a disappointing choice for non-Hammer fans.
I agree with Danny here. West Ham are no whipping boy of the Prem, they are a solid squad right now and a worthy opponent. Probably fairly evenly matched to an All-Star team (if you can compare such).
These larger teams (Chel, Man U, etc.) tend to play there reserves and protect there stars anyway, in my experience. Why pay to see Chelsea reserves when you could watch an actual squad?
No offense to the Hammers at all, as I really do enjoy watching them play… But c’mon!
What I personally would prefer (other than not having the dumb game to begin with) is seeing the Americans abroad play the MLS all-stars.
After that, maybe an MFL all-star team vs the MLS all-stars, that seems to make the most sense, tie it to SuperLiga (which I adore).
Lee
Why West Ham? I think you answered your own question Ives
“BMO Field was selling out for the All-Star Game regardless of the opponent.”
The Hammers come a lot cheaper than Inter Milan and their ilk, and there was gonna be 20,000+ drunken Canadians there no matter what.
Awesome, West Ham bashing again from f*cking clueless morons that don’t know anything about the Hammers.
Thanks for subjecting West Ham fans to this again Ives!
Well, mostly I have to agree. I have enjoyed the format of All-stars facing foreign club competition and, while I probably wouldn’t be quite as exclusive in the list as you are Ives, I have to agree that West Ham joins Fulham as a thorougly uninspired choice. At least Fulham could be understood because of the former MLSers on the team and also as that game was only the 2nd time MLS had done this. Once Chelsea became the opponent MLS did set a higher standard.
Perhaps MLS should set a standard of only playing a top 4 team from England, Spain, or Italy; a top 3 from Germany; a top 2 from France, Holland, or Portugal; a champion from Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, Greece, or Scotland; a UCL semi-finalist; a UEFA cup or Copa Libertadores champion; or a champion from Africa or Asia.
Before anyone jumps on me about my choices note that I’m not only thinking about quality but marketability and bragging rights as well.
I just don’t know how you market a West Ham-All Star game as compelling without making anyone who knows anything about soccer around the world guffaw.
Who cares, Get a very good/great team and put the game on a saturday or sunday. Make that weekend special. We see it with MLB & NBA where the all star game is an event. You get a monster team coming in for the weekend and it will have a huge splash.
I know the schedule is congested, but time should be taken out of the schedule to promote the league internationally
Actually can anyone explain why this won’t turn out like the MLS All-Stars v. Fulham game? It isn’t as if West Ham has all that much more talent now than Fulham did then…
Not loving it.
MLS gets West Ham…Red Bulls Energy Drink Friendly gets Barca! eesh.
Ives – Do you think the plastic pitch had anything to do with the selection process?
MLS 7-0 West Ham
Great job MLS, what I really want to see is our team pull apart another inadequate opponent rather than prove themselves against a real challenge.