Photo by ISIphotos.com
It’s okay to admit it. You aren’t happy with this year’s MLS All-Star Game. You were hoping for a Champions League title contender like Manchester United or Real Madrid instead of West Ham United (no offense, Hammers fans). You would almost have preferred to see an All-MLS game rather than this meaningless friendly.
You’re not alone.
I said back when West Ham was announced that I wasn’t a fan of the decision and if there was ever a year to go back to an All-MLS format, this was it. But no, I’m not advocating the old East vs. West format, though such a game would have provided some good storylines and still would have sold out BMO Field. I have a few new twists on the All-MLS All-Star Game.
Let’s start with a USA vs. the World All-Star Game format. Who wouldn’t want to see that, particularly now that there are more foreign players in the league than ever before. Here is what the two teams might look like in such a format:
MLS USA ALL-STAR TEAM
———-Landon Donovan——-Kenny Cooper————
————————–Sacha Kljestan———————-
Robbie Rogers———————————-Steve Ralston
—————————-Maurice Edu————————
-Wade Barrett———————————Frankie Hejduk
————-Michael Parkhurst—–Jimmy Conrad————–
——————————Matt Reis—————————-
MLS WORLD ALL-STAR TEAM
————-Luciano Emilio———–Jaime Moreno————-
————————–Cuauhtemoc Blanco———————-
Dwayne DeRosario——————————–David Beckham
—————————–Shalrie Joseph————————-
Gonzalo Segares————————————–Jim Brennan
—————-Bakary Soumare——Facundo Erpen————-
—————————–Pat Onstad—————————–
Now, the only problem with this set-up is the fact that this year’s game is in Toronto, meaning that the fans at BMO Field would surely be rooting for the World Team, which would create an odd scene at an MLS All-Star game (nothing U.S. national team veterans haven’t dealt with before).
With this in mind, here is my next variation, a CONCACAF against the World match. Yes, it would tilt toward CONCACAF, but wouldn’t be a complete mismatch:
ALL-CONCACAF TEAM
———-Landon Donovan—————Kenny Cooper——
————————–Cuauhtemoc Blanco——————
Robbie Rogers———————————-Steve Ralston
—————————-Shalrie Joseph———————–
Gonzalo Segares——————————–Frankie Hejduk
————-Michael Parkhurst—–Jimmy Conrad————
——————————Matt Reis—————————-
ALL-REST OF THE WORLD TEAM
————-Luciano Emilio———–Jaime Moreno————-
————————–Marcelo Gallardo————————-
Guillermo Barros Schelotto———————-David Beckham
—————————-Carl Robinson—————————
Gonzalo Martinez———————————–Jamison Olave
—————-Bakary Soumare——Facundo Erpen————-
—————————–Bouna Coundoul———————-
What do you think of these alternatives? Would you have preferred them to the West Ham friendly? Share your thoughts and what format you would like to have seen the All-Star Game take in the comments section below.
Why do we even have an all-star game. Its just retarded.
a USA all-stars vs. mexico all-stars would be a game that both sides would take seriously, something that past MLS all-star games have lacked (it’s preseason for all those euro teams…why risk getting your best players hurt? plus, they aren’t in peak condition yet). the rivalry between the national teams is only just the beginning of a USA-mexico soccer rivalry, i feel. why can’t it extend to the club level, or in this case, to the all-stars of these club teams?
i also like thomas’ idea about each team finding an int’l opponent. this would be a great time for RSL to play real madrid, maybe colorado could play arsenal since these clubs seem to be loosely linked, chivas USA versus the chivas in mexico? the possibilities are endless here, and it would raise awareness of MLS soccer MUCH more so than an all-star game against a mediocre EPL team would.
I cannot wait to see what the BMO crazziees do for this game…that will be the highlight of the night! I would love to see them cheer for the Hammeers and whats with the MLS and their cover up with the black kits (which are ugly)?
I would prefer the league dumps this game completely. It’s a glorified exhibition that is at once aimed at extracting $$ and is also a misguided attempt to get PR from a victory over a “European” team (the fact they are all in an offseason form does not often get mentioned).
AS of now, i’m not watching the All-Star game because of the RSL snubs.
The fact that you don’t even mention an RSL player is disgusting.
Javier Morales has the 2nd most assists in MLS. Nick Rimando is having his best year ever. Nat Borchers has been rock solid.
Yet nothing…
The MLS v Mexico Primera all-stars is a great idea.
I’m going because I already bought the tickets along with my TFC season tickets but frankly, between having West Ham as the opponent and having no TFC players on the roster (neither of which I could have known when I bought my tickets in November), my interest has diminished considerably.
I like the idea of US vs. The World. I think the MLS should do a three day things like the other sports. Have mini games with the players one day. Have a celebrity game (who wouldnt want to see celelbrities suck it up on tv). Then cap it off with the actual game. I would love that.
lee, you might be on to something. i like that idea a lot.
There already has, and will be more, bigger cliubs than WHU playing MLS sides this season…why then is this supposed to be an All Star game? Stars on the Hammers are few and far between….like Fulham all over again, minus the Americans.
@Chg-Yeah, the funny thing about Canadians is that they think they are from a whole other country. 🙂
Until MLS starts recognizing int’l dates this All-Star thing is ridiculous. We can get everyone to jump through hoops for the sake of conforming to an American Sports mentality, but we cannot assist our own players in achieving international success.
USA v World
Who gives a _____ if Toronto would be cheering for the World side
If I am way off on this
then
North America v World
If you want to preserve HFA, US/Canada vs. the world would be a more even matchup. As much as it bothers Canadians, the main difference between the two (apart from Quebec) is our northern neighbors tendency to remind everyone that they’re not American at every opportunity.
wow…disregard what I said about the TFC protest. (That’s what I get for not researching before posting…sorry boys.)
It sounds like if the ground share happens they will have to renovate the stadium and add the dreaded football lines to the turf.
——————————————-
Does anyone care? No
wow…disregard what I said about the TFC protest. (That’s what I get for not researching before posting…sorry boys.)
It sounds like if the ground share happens they will have to renovate the stadium and add the dreaded football lines to the turf.
American vs. World Referees match, refereed by MLS players and coaches
I love that idea. Play up the Mexican American Rivalry. Love it.
i had never thought of an MLS All-CONCACAF team, but i think it’s brilliant.
Lee, the idea of MLS All-Stars vs Mexican League All-Stars is also a good one, but I don’t think it would generate enough publicity (a key component of these games), or at least not as much as some of the other ones we’ve seen.
I’m with Thomas as well. I don’t see any reason that all MLS teams couldn’t organize some team from Europe/England to come play a warm up match over here.
Other than that scrap All-star games for all sports. (Baseball can keep theirs because they stand around or sit in the dugout 75% of the time anyway.)
Am intrigued about the protest by the TFC supporters. I guess I’m curious what the opposition is to the field share? BMO field gets used for concerts too, right? And it’s not like the field is grass so the CFL isn’t going to tear the shreds out of it.
Besides, stadiums are all about money and the owners are going to get as much money as they can out of it. It’s not like you aren’t going to show up to watch TFC every week because there is a field share happening.