Will it be 2011 or 2012 for Montreal's MLS debut?
Interesting to note that the 2 following internet domain names were registered on August 11th by LES FROMAGES SAPUTO S.E.N.C./SAPUTO CHEESE G.P. :
www.montrealmls2011.com
www.montrealmls2012.com
Those domain names match the format currently being used by Portland(portlandmls2011.com) and Vancouver (vancouvermls2011.com).
The plans are already in place for a revamp and expansion of Stade Saputo to be completed for spring 2011, and the meeting between MLS officials, Joey Saputo and the Quebec Government is still set to happen before the end of the month.
I bet a beer on 2011....
Saturday, August 22, 2009
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7 comments:
It getting better and better for Montreal and Canadian soccer fans each day. Of course I'm thinking 2012 they'll debut, considering Don Garber's recent comments about Montreal not ready for 2011.
I have this funny feeling that the Quakes will be out and Montreal will be in.
I guess it will be '12 - rumour has Garber in Montreal this week. I bet he is still on 2012, but Saputo is hoping for 11 and registered both. I imagine this will be announced this week regardless.
One of the main reasons as Don Garber put it is that in 2011 the Whitecaps and the Timbers will the be coming into the league. They are going to of course hold 2 expansion drafts for each of the clubs and if they should hold a third one in that year Don things talent will be too far spread out. And he may be right. But then Saputo has said that he doesn't need an expansion draft and that he has a good number of players already who can be effective in MLS. I think personally only a very few could. So it depends what Montreal decides to do and what MLS agree's with them. But 2012 would be more of intrest to the Impact considering they will get both the 1st Draft Pick and an expansion draft. But i think Saputo is thinking that the sooner the better for this club and he has already said that in the MLS his team will hold but in the USL-1 he can't guarentee the future of the Montreal Impact. But it is of intrest to see what happen's and as a Canadian soccer fan i will be watching and waiting a hoping that this works out.
I wouldn't be surprised at 2011. As far as avoiding the expansion draft goes... I think the impact could scrape by without the draft. The problem in montreal isn't the players, it's the coach, "technical director," and (lack of) physical trainers. It's barely able to cope with USL1. If they want to thrive in MLS, Joey's going to have to demote a few of his lifelong soccer buddies down to assistant positions, and bring in some coaching professionals who have proven themselves at a high level
I'd also point out that the expansion draft isn't exactly a gold mine of talent. If you think about it you're getting access to the bottom half of every roster in the league. Some will have a few players worth taking a chance on as starters, otherwise you're getting a bunch of griders.
USL teams have plenty of guys capible of taking on that kind of role.
I do agree that MLS needs to watch for watering down the product though ... raising the salary cap a touch would be a step in the right direction.
MLS has a near infinite number of players of its quality available.
When Brandon Prideaux quits the league to be an asst coach of U of WA college soccer, there is space for more teams.
If three teams were in the 2011 expansion draft they could just make the rule that each of the 16 teams in the league could lose two players. With the team that didn't get the 33rd best player available getting the first slot in the draft.
That wouldn't hurt the league's depth at all. With each of the three 2011 teams bringing up 5+ from their USL squads, no harm whatsoever.
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