Ronaldinho to LA Galaxy??

[bandl]

Yeah, I know that Ronaldinho is going to turn down the offer (if he hasn't already), and he's only 28 so he can still play for a Champions League club. The bigwigs at Barca have said that he, along with Deco and Eto'o are out. But how in the hell could LA even pull this offer off, with Beckham already in the mix?? xconfusedx

I haven't done much research on this, having only skimmed an article or two, so I'd appreciate if someone in the know out there could fill me in. xreadx

[andy7171]

Friggin Communists. xpissedx

[Blue Hen Nation]

PR stunt?

[Blue Hen Nation]

Nope, apparently they offered him $50m-per-year, with half coming from salary and the other half from image rights. They also offered Barca $40m as a transfer fee.

Anyway, I'm fairly certain he'll be wearing Chelsea blue come August. More reason to dislike the scum from the West London.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I give MLS... oh, 3 more years of life.

It's amazing how the lessons of the NASL have yet to be absorbed by MLS.

[Dane96]

LFN? What are you talking about. Only one team, the Galaxy, are pulling these stunts.

The issue was financial with the NASL. Yes, the Beckham (and the proposed new deal here) are over the top, however the KEY is IMAGE RIGHTS.

Bottom line...soccer is not big enough here to support 40+ image rights deals like this. It was the 20-30 contracts back in the NASL day going to X number teams-- small amount-- that killed the NASL.

Plus, from what I read, it was not 50 million per...and it was LIKELY LA was never going to have this approved by the MLS leadership!

Of course, I could be wrong about this....but the MLS is going nowhere but up.

[mcveyrl]

I thought clubs were only allowed one "Beckham rule" player??xconfusedx

[Dane96]

Exactly my point! Thanks my friend!

[bandl]

Sounds to me as if they were going to worry about that oh-so-small detail after Ronaldinho had agreed to the offer...

[Dane96]

I was reading about it on Goal...and Lalas (probably the all-time DUMBEST exec on the planet) said something to the affect of "there would still be issues to work out", if he agreed to come over.

He--Lalas--thinks HE IS the MLS. Ego of epic levels.

[Dane96]

From Goal.com:

There have been reports circulating that the two time MLS Cup winners could splash $50 million to secure the services of the Barcelona man.

“I can’t comment on specific players, but I think we’ve shown that anything is possible at the Galaxy,” Lalas told Goal.com.

Los Angeles already brought in one megastar international from a Spanish side when they signed David Beckham from Real Madrid in January of 2007.

“Although this particular report is pure speculation, this is certainly the quality of player the Galaxy is hoping to attract in the future,” Lalas explained.

Whether the Gals need Ronaldinho is another matter. Los Angeles currently sit atop the Western Conference and have the league’s highest scoring offense at 2.33 goals per game. The salary cap would also be another issue as international forwards Landon Donovan and Carlos Ruiz have high priced contracts.

-- Goal.com USA

[blur2005]

I give MLS... oh, 3 more years of life.

It's amazing how the lessons of the NASL have yet to be absorbed by MLS.
Glad to see LFN knows nothing about the MLS and how it's organized in such a manner as to NOT emulate the NASL.

As for this deal, it's technically impossible because LA doesn't have an available Designated Player slot.

[Dane96]

Concur Blur-- deal was never happening unless they lost the two players mentioned.

Now...if Landon leaves to go back to Europe...all bets are off.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Glad to see LFN knows nothing about the MLS and how it's organized in such a manner as to NOT emulate the NASL.

As for this deal, it's technically impossible because LA doesn't have an available Designated Player slot.

I beg to differ. The NASL eventually went bankrupt b/c they signed a truckload of aging star players - and eventually, folks stopped going to games and the finances of the league dried up.

The NASL became less about developing young stars as becoming a bunch of teams with superstars and minor leaguers. And that's what IMO is happening to MLS today. And the NASL proved that that sort of pay structure cannot sustain itself.

The fact that MLS is (now finally) under 50% owned by Mr. Anschultz doesn't shield the league from economic reality.

MLS may *think* that the one-megastar-per-team restriction will hold up, but how can it? Ronaldinho wants to play in MLS on the Galaxy, but the Galaxy has Beckham, so what will they do? Force Kansas City to take him?

They've opened up Pandora's box big-time with the Beckham signing. Now the rest of the US players - chronically underpaid now, by the way - will want some piece of the pie, or (more likely) move to Europe.

By denying what they really are and should be - a developmental league for young US Players on their way to the "big leagues" in Europe - they IMO are destroying the league. You can't in effect have a salary cap on all the young new talent, and then open up the wallet for a "star".

Ronaldinho is just a great example of the next few steps. For every one Ronaldinho that comes over, five young Americans skip over MLS and go directly to the English league and a Jozy Altidore escapes.

I loved the league when Landon Donovan, a your DaMarcus Beasley and other US team members were getting it started. I enjoy watching young US players develop. But the MLS isn't that anymore. It's a retirement home.

[Dane96]

nm

[Dane96]

I beg to differ. The NASL eventually went bankrupt b/c they signed a truckload of aging star players - and eventually, folks stopped going to games and the finances of the league dried up.

The NASL became less about developing young stars as becoming a bunch of teams with superstars and minor leaguers. And that's what IMO is happening to MLS today. And the NASL proved that that sort of pay structure cannot sustain itself.

The fact that MLS is (now finally) under 50% owned by Mr. Anschultz doesn't shield the league from economic reality.

MLS may *think* that the one-megastar-per-team restriction will hold up, but how can it? Ronaldinho wants to play in MLS on the Galaxy, but the Galaxy has Beckham, so what will they do? Force Kansas City to take him?

They've opened up Pandora's box big-time with the Beckham signing. Now the rest of the US players - chronically underpaid now, by the way - will want some piece of the pie, or (more likely) move to Europe.

By denying what they really are and should be - a developmental league for young US Players on their way to the "big leagues" in Europe - they IMO are destroying the league. You can't in effect have a salary cap on all the young new talent, and then open up the wallet for a "star".

Ronaldinho is just a great example of the next few steps. For every one Ronaldinho that comes over, five young Americans skip over MLS and go directly to the English league and a Jozy Altidore escapes.

I loved the league when Landon Donovan, a your DaMarcus Beasley and other US team members were getting it started. I enjoy watching young US players develop. But the MLS isn't that anymore. It's a retirement home.


I beg to differ. The NASL eventually went bankrupt b/c they signed a truckload of aging star players - and eventually, folks stopped going to games and the finances of the league dried up.

The NASL became less about developing young stars as becoming a bunch of teams with superstars and minor leaguers. And that's what IMO is happening to MLS today. And the NASL proved that that sort of pay structure cannot sustain itself.

The fact that MLS is (now finally) under 50% owned by Mr. Anschultz doesn't shield the league from economic reality.

MLS may *think* that the one-megastar-per-team restriction will hold up, but how can it? Ronaldinho wants to play in MLS on the Galaxy, but the Galaxy has Beckham, so what will they do? Force Kansas City to take him?

They've opened up Pandora's box big-time with the Beckham signing. Now the rest of the US players - chronically underpaid now, by the way - will want some piece of the pie, or (more likely) move to Europe.

By denying what they really are and should be - a developmental league for young US Players on their way to the "big leagues" in Europe - they IMO are destroying the league. You can't in effect have a salary cap on all the young new talent, and then open up the wallet for a "star".

Ronaldinho is just a great example of the next few steps. For every one Ronaldinho that comes over, five young Americans skip over MLS and go directly to the English league and a Jozy Altidore escapes.

I loved the league when Landon Donovan, a your DaMarcus Beasley and other US team members were getting it started. I enjoy watching young US players develop. But the MLS isn't that anymore. It's a retirement home.

I agree with a lot of what you say, however you are missing two MAJOR points here:

1- Doesnt matter that the league is 50% owned by non-AEG entities-- BOTTOM LINE is that the league $$$ for signings are pooled and this is the biggest difference to the NASL.

2- We have more $$$ from advertising and TV rights than the NASL did.

The NASL was just poorly run. IN fact, I am in favor of RAISING the salary cap in the MLS. You have to remember...there are good cities with only one, maybe two major sports franchises. They would kill for MLS teams.

I sat down and had lunch with Bob Kraft four-years ago (law school) and he basically laid out the groundwork for the league. Everything he said has come to fruition.

With SSS's being built...ESPN finally jumping on the bandwagon...and more kids playing soccer than ANY OTHER SPORT...the MLS is going NOWHERE.

The other big key-- the teams will not be renting stadia for the most part. With all that new $$$ influx this baby league will be much different in 10 years. Honestly...who thought the league would have lasted this long already?

In 10 years, players (if the $$$ keep coming in) may be looking to come here instead of Germany, France, Holland. I dont know if that will come to fruition, but neither is your premonition a fact.

Quite frankly, outside of England, Spain, and Italy, the $$$ and allure of the US could one day allow for "young" mid-level stars to come here. I would be very happy if we were Holland or France.

[jessesd]

I agree with a lot of what you say, however you are missing two MAJOR points here:

1- Doesnt matter that the league is 50% owned by non-AEG entities-- BOTTOM LINE is that the league $$$ for signings are pooled and this is the biggest difference to the NASL.

2- We have more $$$ from advertising and TV rights than the NASL did.

The NASL was just poorly run. IN fact, I am in favor of RAISING the salary cap in the MLS. You have to remember...there are good cities with only one, maybe two major sports franchises. They would kill for MLS teams.

I sat down and had lunch with Bob Kraft four-years ago (law school) and he basically laid out the groundwork for the league. Everything he said has come to fruition.

With SSS's being built...ESPN finally jumping on the bandwagon...and more kids playing soccer than ANY OTHER SPORT...the MLS is going NOWHERE.

The other big key-- the teams will not be renting stadia for the most part. With all that new $$$ influx this baby league will be much different in 10 years. Honestly...who thought the league would have lasted this long already?

In 10 years, players (if the $$$ keep coming in) may be looking to come here instead of Germany, France, Holland. I dont know if that will come to fruition, but neither is your premonition a fact.

Quite frankly, outside of England, Spain, and Italy, the $$$ and allure of the US could one day allow for "young" mid-level stars to come here. I would be very happy if we were Holland or France.
It's already happening, lookt at Chivas USA ownership, other Mexican Clubs desire to own franchise in the States, add to that the recruitment of good talented foreign players, no longer dependent on a bunch of old "have beens" from abroad. I feel that Playing in the USA is a very attractive card in the recruitment process from less developed countries south of the USA. they survive the last 12 years, with few exceptions, they have a good thing going and the future is bright, look at places like Rochester, NY (great fan atmosphere or a the semi pro team BYU fields in the dev league.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

so much of the success is building up their own identity... a lot of that is having their own places to play... the building boom in MLS has been incredible... and once the rest of the league stops playing in NFL stadia... that will only improve.

MLS is past the critical junctures that sink young leagues. they are developing a solid fan base, and they've adjusted expectations to the 20k/game level (where the should be right now)

they overexpanded to launch the league, had to dial that back, but now smart, one or two at a time expansions in places like Philly... very sound.

I would watch for a team in another underserved market like Portland to take off.

[slycat]

with the way toronto is selling out games i would expect montreal to get a team next along with st. louis. portland has a shot though.

and now steve nash is hoping to expand a team to vancouver as well. my guess is the league will take two more teams guarantee and maybe two more on top of that.

as nice as vancouver would be i think canada will only get one more team and that will be montreal. the other three will be st louis, portland, and nyc 2.

[blur2005]

It's a retirement home.
Again, do you know anything about MLS? There really aren't many players using it as a retirement home. You may think Beckham is, but yet he's still getting playing time on the English national team and really isn't that old yet. Very few of the older players who are coming to the MLS are actually over the hill or done. Those who are treating it like a retirement home, like Denilson a year ago in Dallas, are very quickly out if they don't play up to the expected standards. As far as I can tell, very few of the older players who actually come to play here are treating it like that. In reality, most of the players coming from outside the United States are from South America and Central America, players that are either very young or in their primes. This is definitely improving the overall quality of the league. For every Beckham, there's a bunch of Luciano Emilio-types.

Major League Soccer's single entity structure prevents the ridiculous disparities of the NASL (the Cosmos and everyone else) and controls cost. The league is not going anywhere but up.

[jessesd]

with the way toronto is selling out games i would expect montreal to get a team next along with st. louis. portland has a shot though.

and now steve nash is hoping to expand a team to vancouver as well. my guess is the league will take two more teams guarantee and maybe two more on top of that.

as nice as vancouver would be i think canada will only get one more team and that will be montreal. the other three will be st louis, portland, and nyc 2.


Montreal is ready, they just finished the new Impact stadium outside the O-dome, and with the international mix of the city, the success there will be huge with very little effort (maybe greater than toronto).

I read somewhere while in grad school that the rights for Queens/Long Island are already drawn out... I can't think of where the article was from, it was somewhere along the lines of updating the oval in Queens, building a new stadium around Corona Park/CIT field vs Updating a Mitchell Field dilema that needed to be settled.
I'm aware that Mitchell Field has been updated since the article came up and the Rough Riders ownership woes stabilized (A League to PDL).... but for once I'll be in favor to have the team in Queens than in Long Island, better market, higher concentration, easier access, but with the current stadium buildup in the Queens/Bronx, it may take few more years before it happens....see link below for my timeline.
There was an article on CBS earlier this year that tells of Becks contract allowing him the option to buy an MLS team at the end of his contract on 2011 and the rumor is that he is going to NYC).
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/20/60minutes/main3955052_page4.shtml

P.S. If anyone finds the article about the NY market please post it, I'm kind of limited on playing time today!!!


Portland will be a good market and I can see Vancouver coming along shortly after Portland, after Seattle gets stablished, (Steve Nash/and his brother are involved in getting a franchise in BC).

St. Louis.... Makes me wonder if they are ready yet, I hope I'm wrong but it could be another so-so results such as KC....
Miami...not sure, but they seem to be lobying for another SSS next to the former Orange bowl and there is talk in Tampa for a SSS to be build and they seem to have the league offices nearby!!

[Lehigh Football Nation]

In reality, most of the players coming from outside the United States are from South America and Central America, players that are either very young or in their primes. This is definitely improving the overall quality of the league. For every Beckham, there's a bunch of Luciano Emilio-types.

Read: imported players that will play "on the cheap", yet are making a lot more money than they would in their home countries. That makes for entertaining soccer for the most part - until, of course, a Beckham comes in and ruins the delicate salary balance.

I have no problem with expanding into Mexican and Canadian talent and all that. It's pilfering overpaid European superstars where I have a problem. And I maintain it's a fantasy that the non-stars will sit on their hands forever.

[slycat]

Montreal is ready, they just finished the new Impact stadium outside the O-dome, and with the international mix of the city, the success there will be huge with very little effort (maybe greater than toronto).

I read somewhere while in grad school that the rights for Queens/Long Island are already drawn out... I can't think of where the article was from, it was somewhere along the lines of updating the oval in Queens, building a new stadium around Corona Park/CIT field vs Updating a Mitchell Field dilema that needed to be settled.
I'm aware that Mitchell Field has been updated since the article came up and the Rough Riders ownership woes stabilized (A League to PDL).... but for once I'll be in favor to have the team in Queens than in Long Island, better market, higher concentration, easier access, but with the current stadium buildup in the Queens/Bronx, it may take few more years before it happens....see link below for my timeline.
There was an article on CBS earlier this year that tells of Becks contract allowing him the option to buy an MLS team at the end of his contract on 2011 and the rumor is that he is going to NYC).
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/20/60minutes/main3955052_page4.shtml

P.S. If anyone finds the article about the NY market please post it, I'm kind of limited on playing time today!!!


Portland will be a good market and I can see Vancouver coming along shortly after Portland, after Seattle gets stablished, (Steve Nash/and his brother are involved in getting a franchise in BC).

St. Louis.... Makes me wonder if they are ready yet, I hope I'm wrong but it could be another so-so results such as KC....
Miami...not sure, but they seem to be lobying for another SSS next to the former Orange bowl and there is talk in Tampa for a SSS to be build and they seem to have the league offices nearby!!

seems miamis hopes are over
http://www.miamiherald.com/594/story/553813.html

and hope for st louis
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/E39AF47E51104D2886257451000F7FE1?OpenDocument

news for portland
http://www.oregonlive.com/soccer/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1209525940199200.xml&coll=7