Vs Statement on Canadians in MLS?

[youllneverwalkalone]

The funny thing about zealots like James is that sometimes it's a lot easier to join them instead of trying to beat them.

I think all the followers of the 3 MLS clubs have a pretty good grasp of the counter arguments to the general Vs sentiments that the current Canadian quota system is not good enough. As much as I sympathize and have become an apologist myself, I think we need to focus on some facts and assumptions:

1. By my count, ignoring Gyori, there are 20 Canadian MNT eligible players signed to MLS contracts. This represents roughly 3.5% of the player pool.

2. Assuming MTL does ok at the gate, the three Canadian clubs must contribute to in excess 15% of MLS revenue.

3. Although many of the those who contribute to this revenue couldn't be arsed to support the CMNT, fortunately, they have no collective voice. But the Vs do...

I'd like to start this thread to discuss what we could realistically do as a group to try to push MLS and the Canadian member clubs to address our concerns that 3.5% is not enough. And establish the end game:

1. Raise the quota? To what, 6? 8? 10?
2. Raise the number of international spots? To what, 10? 12? 14?
3. Eliminate/Limit US players as domestics on Canadian MLS clubs?

Based on previous discussion about US labour law here and elsewhere, I think these are the only "viable" solutions. The Canadian clubs are never going to go for #3, so I'm thinking a combination of #1 & #2 is the best we could hope for.

Whether our concerns matter to the league or not, it might be nice to agree on a realistic goal to help Canadians get a chance and then make a statement to that effect. We could probably run another thread to quantify our economic interest: season tickets bought, tops purchased, etc.

Thoughts?

Here's what I think would be realistic for 2013:

1. A Canadian quota of 5 players eligible to represent the CMNT
2. An increase to 10 international spots for all clubs
3. A limit of 5 US citizens per Canadian club*

*Not sure about the practicality/legality of this. Just thought that this would ensure Ben Fisk gets signed before Floyd Franks. If we admit the need for US domestics, I'd rather they be green card holders like Le Toux. Pretty sure TFC would function fine with this under their current squad. L'impact might suffer.

[Soccerpro]

The only change I'm interested in is having Canadians count as domestic players on every team in the league just like Americans do. This will be important in the coming years. I don't see any other change being practical right now.

[youllneverwalkalone]

The only change I'm interested in is having Canadians count as domestic players on every team in the league just like Americans do. This will be important in the coming years. I don't see any other change being practical right now.

This has been dismissed repeatedly as some sort of violation of US labour law. They did it in the USL, so I'm not sure why it won't work in MLS. Single-entity perhaps?

[jpg75]

For 2013 i would like to see a min. of 3 CDN's on the On-Budget roster and a min. of 3 on the Off-Budget roster. I think that's a realistic and do-able request. Going forward i would like to eventually see that raised to 5 and 5.

[Kurosawa]

This has been dismissed repeatedly as some sort of violation of US labour law. They did it in the USL, so I'm not sure why it won't work in MLS. Single-entity perhaps?

It is just a stupid excuse they like to give, if the nashville preds had 20 canadians on their roster they would'nt say anything...

[smartlikefox]

The counter argument is what good does increasing the # of CDN's required do for the team and general fan base? I'd love to see more Canadians but realistically, where would they come from right now?

We already see it with TFC that they are bringing them up well through their academy and Vancouver is on their way as well with Alderson etc.. I'm sure Montreal will do fine as well.

I don't want to see Canadians on the teams for the sake of it, I want to see good ones that contribute and get playing time. Realistically, are there a lot of Canadian options out there for the Whitecaps to pick up right now? No. I don't know if it's in the best interests to potentially make the MLS CDN teams worse in the short term for a long term MNT gain.

What would be better for soccer in say BC this year? Having more token Canadians that aren't good enough to contribute or fielding the best team possible and winning a championship?

[Redcoatsforever]

The championship, I'd say. We need strong teams in Canada so that children actually have something to not only aspire to, but so that they gain a feeling of prestige being in the academy program. That's what will keep kids developing, keep players at home rather than abroad, and ultimately improve the national teams most.

[Macksam]

This has been dismissed repeatedly as some sort of violation of US labour law.

This was more myth than anything else. Don Garber even said in an interview that if there does come a time when a lot of Canadian players can enter the league, the league would consider changing the rules to accomodate Canadian players as domestics on US-based clubs.

[Unnamed Trialist]

The only change I'm interested in is having Canadians count as domestic players on every team in the league just like Americans do. This will be important in the coming years. I don't see any other change being practical right now.

Exactly, we ask for reciprocity, total equality. The instability of contracts in MLS is so great, and the idea of the single entity so powerful, that is it the best way to go. Canadians can play for any MLS team and so can Americans, the simplest and clearest solution.

[ThiKu]

I want to see Canadians in the league on merit. It'd be great if Canadians were domestic if on American rosters. Be really great. Other than MLS being an American league meant for American players I can't see an argument against the notion.

Let's keep in mind a lot of Canadians are playing overseas and not in MLS or on MLS Canadian teams b/c (1) they are earning more money (2) have potential to earn more money if currently only on equal salaries to what MLS might offer (3) were already in Europe when the MLS teams came around and are enjoying themselves there (4) MLS won't pay transfer fees, especially it would seem, for Canadian players so getting a guy like Iain Hume, for example, is currently too expensive.

As much as I want Canadians on MLS teams I want them there on merit. What would be great is if MLS followed a similar path to EPL. Have a roster max (which MLS has), something of a domestic rule (which MLS has), but have unlimited roster spots for players age 21 and under and ideally have all players age 21 and under OFF the budget (which MLS pretty much has right now anyway). In this way the reserve league could also be expanded. Why hasn't this happened? Probably b/c the smaller MLS clubs can't afford it.