NEW YORK - After two of the four Major League Soccer (MLS) teams were knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions league on Tuesday night, the league pundits decided to blame the schedule instead of looking inward at the multitude of insane player acquisition rules that stifle the growth, depth and development of their teams.
It's Happening Again, GUYS! -- / AFP / VICTOR STRAFFONVICTOR STRAFFON/AFP/Getty Images
"We gotta change the schedule" stated MLS pundit Josh Leclair. "Nevermind the fact that nearly position by position, Santos are a better club in terms of players on the field, we need to drastically change the schedule! It's the schedule that is the problem."
While many people were clearly able to see that the real problem was an issue in total talent on the field combined with Major League Soccer clubs having an inability to keep good players on their team year after year combined with the staggered start to both leagues, most league pundits decided that criticizing the single entity and draconian player acquisition rules was probably hazardous to their employment.
"We still gotta work on that damn schedule," stated Isaac Browning. "LA came in while still in pre-season. I'm pretty sure they still count this game as pre-season. This had less to do with Santos being able to construct a better team than Los Angeles and more due to the fact that the league has already been playing there for the better part of" ** Mr. Browning turned and asked someone else how long Liga MX had already been playing this season ** "three months! IF Major League Soccer had three months of playing time we wouldn't lose by four goals on the road. It might be three goals, but it sure as hell wouldn't be four."
With an average squad age of 25.5 and the wealth of their team spread throughout their squad Santos Laguna ably defeated the older and more top-heavy LA Galaxy while advancing in the competition showing that while Robbie Keane can run his mouth, his team can't back up the talk.
Who ever runs this twitter account was a complete asshole to their fans as their team lost 4-0 after capitulating like a wet tissue.
The Nutmeg News will have more on this as nothing ever really changes with regards to player acquisition in Major League Soccer except an expansion on the rules that make it even more clandestine and bizarre how players are acquired.