With J Hutcherson
Where would we put the likelihood that Major League Soccer parts with a transfer fee that would be reasonable by English Championship standards as the transfer window opens next week?
As it stands, playing the free transfer market is going to get the League about what it should expect. High salaries for elite players and the opportunity to sign well past their prime talent offloaded by clubs that already know better.
It's not like the rest of the world is ignorant of the concept of not actually paying a transfer fee. Quality costs, and usually that includes paying the club.
MLS has no problem taking that money for players, with Brad Guzan on the likely to leave list after being heavily linked with Aston Villa. The League is already at double figure millions on transfer revenue this season, without significantly paying back into that system.
Right now, they're the sporting equivalent of mooching, more than willing to cash the check but extremely hesitant on writing one of their own. If the intent is to push quality, that will have to change.
The League is losing too much talent, replacing it with short-term fixes that usually have an age and/or injury issue, and expecting the developmental and draft system to fill roles. Regardless of what the League might prefer its customers to think, that hasn't worked at a high enough level to treat it as an answer, much less the answer.
On TV
USL-1 on Fox Soccer Channel: Rochester - Seattle at 8pm. All Times Eastern
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Europe
Zenit St Petersburg may keep Andrei Arshavin -- from The Telegraph's Richard Bright: On Monday, after Barcelona backed out of a deal, Arshavin begged Zenit St Petersburg manager Dick Advocaat to allow him back in the team.
Beckham was on Diavolo doorstep -- from Football Italia: “I was very close to signing for Milan,” Beckham told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Luton 'need miracle to survive' -- from BBC Sport: Perry said: "It will be a miracle if they do not get relegated."
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Americas
He's cool dude on turf, surf -- from The Columbus Dispatch's Shawn Mitchell: "One of my classes for three years was Surf P.E."
Seitz set on Beijing soccer start -- from The Salt Lake Tribune's Michael C. Lewis:
Hucks signs for San Jose -- from the Norwich Evening News' Matthew Chambers: According to a source Stateside, Huckerby did not like the idea of playing on the artificial turf at Toronto and they began shopping him around.
Fire looking to regain that finishing kick -- from The Southtown Star's Nick Firchau: His personal trajectory is far more obvious.
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