A constant complaint among many a soccer (or football, if you will) fan concerns the current unattractive state of the game. Almost uniformly it leads to discussions concerning the level of play and the quality, or lack thereof, in the play around the fan's certain league. In the A-League there's always been a bit of grousing concerning the almost D3 style of play that is exhibited throughout the league. Now, not to even begin to think that an influx of new players can cause the entire league to raise its play to levels unheard of before in its history, the time for a league wide improvement in personnel may indeed be nigh.
Obviously by now you're all likely wondering just what in the name of the beautiful game I'm talking about but I imagine most of you, being the bright, high minded A-League fans we all know and love, have some idea of what comes next. Yes, the influx of post MLS personnel into the league should help to bring a higher profile, a better skill level, and hopefully a more positive mindset around the league itself.
The recent rumors of interest from one Alexi Lalas in playing for the Minnesota Thunder this year and many more soon to be rumored and signed refugees from MLS heading to the A-League show that the league itself is poised to make possibly its biggest impact since the merger that created the USL. This is largely due to the fact that many new and recognizable faces will be knocking on A-League doors come March and April. It's also probable that a few of the former members of Project 40 will be making their way back along the old A-League trails once again.
For instance, players like Mario Longo, currently fighting for a place with the Crew, and Jamar Beasley, late of the Fire, may be making their way back to an A-League field near you. Names like these could, and should, increase the level of local interest, which can eventually lead to a newer level of national interest. This has been a theme I've been harping on for quite awhile in hopes that some of you out there will start to believe that this league can achieve a national footprint.
Just because we are bound and obligated to complain about our teams' performance on the field we are just as obligated to believe in what the league as a whole is attempting to achieve. As misguided as some attempts have seemed it very well may come down to the product on the field to get the league and its clubs a higher level of exposure and with the introduction of several of these castoffs it could happen. While it may seem overtly optimistic to think that a handful of guys who were fair to middling MLS players could raise the level of play around the league it is fair to assume that the quality youngsters and veteran players can and will help the teams to be more competitive.
In the upcoming draft it is fairly reasonable to assume that even more players that are certain to fall through the MLS cracks will find themselves helping a league increase it's credibility by, hopefully, making other clubs more competitive. This competition is what is needed especially when it comes to league championships. The harangue that went up after another Rochester championship indicated that a number of fans around the league are sick and tired of seeing the Rhinos running off with championship after championship.
Hopefully some of the players who have been voted off of the MLS island are able to help make the league a bit better and more competitive for the teams that don't reside in Western upstate New York. If that in turn makes the league more attractive to "outsiders" and gets a few more butts in the seats for games that will hopefully air on a certain cable channel that rhymes with the words stocks court hurl then so be it. In the coming weeks and months rosters will begin to take shape and more solid news should come out about a possible national television schedule. Let's hope everything falls into place in a year that could prove to be monumental if the pieces come together. Some of the new names that will pop up on league rosters will raise the media coverage but will everything else manage to keep pace? Stay tuned to find out.
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