04/23/24
November 08, 2007
Pele has choice words for MLS.: On Beckham: "They announced him as a scorer of goals ... He isn't a goal scorer. That was a mistake." On MLS player salaries and trade restrictions: "This was one of the mistakes. They have to give freedom to the owners of the teams to buy the players and (chose) which players they want to put (out) ... The big mistake in the league now is to control the level of the teams. If they opened this up, it would be much better."
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 04:54 PM - 9 comments
I was going to make the exact same point Hugh brings up. Also, where was Beckham "announced" as a scorer of goals? And Pele says the MLS is too tough for Beckham, which suggests the Brazilian has never seen an English game - of the big European leagues it's the one with the highest emphasis on physicality over skill. When you've lined up a few times against Wimbledon's "Crazy Gang", I don't think MLS is too worrisome.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 06:27 PM on November 08, 2007
Speaking of Beckham, goals and the crazy gang... clicky.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 06:30 PM on November 08, 2007
Also, where was Beckham "announced" as a scorer of goals? I'm thinking of the ESPN promos where he was ordained as Pele for our generation. Maybe they never came out and said he was the ultimate goal scorer, but they sure as hell implied it.
posted by jmd82 at 09:39 PM on November 08, 2007
Pele's description of the MLS makes it sound like he thinks MLS is still operating like it did in 1996, with the league controlling player selection and allocating all players to the clubs without much regard for what the clubs/coaches want. MLS is still single entity and pays all players salaries, but the individual clubs/coaches now have the power to recruit as they please, within the restrictions of the salary cap. The DP or "Beckham rule" is in fact the first step away from the salary cap, so Pele sounds like he's a bit behind the curve about where the MLS is heading. Ideally we'll end up with something that is in the happy medium between the extremes of the NASL circa 1984 and MLS circa 1996.
posted by dave2007 at 10:40 PM on November 08, 2007
Pele is an odd bird. Been reading a lot about him lately and he's really NOT the guy I always thought he was. As for Beckham... The man has one talent. Free kicks. The rest of his game is a bit blah most of the time. And even if the NASL didn't go down directly due to Pele's salary, you can be damn sure ridiculous salaries like that significantly sped it's demise.
posted by Drood at 10:56 PM on November 08, 2007
The man has one talent. Free kicks. I'd add that he was, and perhaps still is, the most dangerous crosser of a ball from the right flank in football. Him and the Galaxy are playing Sydney FC in a couple of weeks. The game's a sell out at the Olympic Stadium. While I won't be there, he obviously can still draw a crowd to a meaningless and pointless money grubbing exercise.
posted by owlhouse at 11:32 PM on November 08, 2007
Then what's he doing in Hollywood? Oh, right.
posted by yerfatma at 06:40 AM on November 09, 2007
The rest of his game is a bit blah most of the time While not spectacular, except for the aforementioned free kicks, Beckham plays a very skillful and cerebral game of football. His passing and influence are very real factors in many of the teams he plays on. He doesn't do 360's around defenders like Ronaldinho but is still the kind of player any coach would want on his squad. Plus he's a marketing juggernaut which in the long run will make any team better due to the increased revenue.
posted by Ricardo at 07:12 AM on November 09, 2007
Looks like Pele thinks MLS should model itself after the old NASL. Small wonder; I'm sure he remembers his $7 million salary fondly. But didn't the NASL bankrupt itself keeping guys like him around?