US Soccer fan? Nope. I enjoy watching football

AFP - Manchester United - Chelsea. 10 March 2013

And depending on where you live, this is your first thought:

 (American): Of course, football is so much better than soccer.

(European): Of course, football is so much better than soccer.

I am talking about The Beautiful Game, not American Football, so all of the people who enjoy watching the American version of football will probably not enjoy reading this posting.

On to the subject:   ESPN ran a story the other day on their website, an opinion / conversation piece about Americans who support US Soccer (the US men's national team) but do not support or watch MLS (Major League Soccer).  The discussion is whether you can do this... support a national team, but not support the national league.  The sub title of this article was, "Can you call yourself a US soccer fan if your don't support MLS?"  I read the title incorrectly the first time and immediately thought, 'Yes, I am a US soccer fan, and I think the MLS is rubbish!'  However, the author is saying US as in the national team.  So with that.. no, I am not a US national team supporter (I am the worst American in the nation), and I do not support the MLS (even with one of the better teams in my area (KC), and growing up in Chicago).

How am I an American who does not support the national team, or the MLS?  Because I love football, and Americans play soccer.  You don't think there is a difference?  In my mind there are some very important facts to which anyone could debate, but consider the quality and setup of the MLS in comparison to the European leagues, and the quality and setup of the national team in comparison to the European teams.

From a league point of view, there are several European leagues which all play the same schedule, with the same off season.  They have the same transfer windows, which allow for the free movement of players between leagues.  The clubs play in huge competitions like Europa and Champions league, or for cups like the FA, which are huge interconnections between the best quality leagues and clubs.  England has several tiers of leagues, which adds a whole new element that would be deemed unconstitutional in America, with several lawsuits filed: teams can be relegated!  The worst teams in each league are sent down to a lower level, and the best teams below are brought up.  Residents of cities live and die with their relegation  which promotes a fan base that does not waver.  MLS does not have the huge cross-league tournaments like Europe does.  MLS does not have multiple tiers of leagues like Europe does.  Every club in Europe has a youth program, a U-21 team that plays against the same U-21 clubs that their senior team has.  There is no system like this in America.  Instead, MLS relies on college programs, random youth programs, and the cast-off aging stars from Europe and South America to fill their seats and make their money.  Look at the MLS list of European players: many were at one point fixtures on their national teams, but not since they came to the MLS.  Thus, the quality of play in the MLS is poor: no youth programs for Americans, no star power (you think Ronaldo or Messi would ever consider coming to the MLS in their prime?), no chance that bad teams are sent down, no big tournaments to decide 'Greatest Club on Earth.' It's soccer... but it is not beautiful.

And it carries over to the national team.  Once again I follow the European teams, and many of the same arguments hold true.  The majority of the US national team play in the MLS, which in turn makes the US national team simply the MLS all-star team, which plays at the MLS level.  Even when you add the stars who have gone to Europe and succeeded, when they are placed into a system of MLS players, and into MLS formations of play, they simply must revert to that style and tempo.  However, just like the major club tournaments of Europe, every four years there is a huge tournament which every nation there competes in.  Euro 2012 was as large a tournament as the World Cup.  The US plays for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Not quite the same levels of quality in the two tournaments... and the US still does not play well in that.

Now that I have stated that MLS cannot compare to the European leagues, and the US national team cannot compare to the European national teams... how do you answer the question posted: can you be a US soccer fan and not support the MLS?  Americans will say 'yes,' because Americans are patriotic and love all things that are American.  When the World Cup starts (and the US somehow qualifies), people will turn on the games and root their loudest for the American team.  And the moment the Cup is over, they will turn away from soccer completely.  The MLS might pick up a few supporters due to the popularity of the Cup, but that's about it.  The hardcore football supporters and followers meet up on weekends, and watch the European games in full kit.

Some call us 'Euro Snobs.'  Some call us 'un-American.'  But in the same way I do not watch reality TV, because most of it is crap, I don't watch the MLS.  I am a football fan.  I appreciate the beautiful game played by those who make it beautiful.

I don't watch soccer.  I am a football fan.