.jpg)
Rumors By Club
C.D. Chivas USA
Chicago Fire
Colorado Rapids
Columbus Crew
D.C. United
FC Dallas
Houston Dynamo
Kansas City Wizards
Los Angeles Galaxy
New England Revolution
Philadelphia Union
Portland Timbers FC
Real Salt Lake
Red Bull New York
San Jose Earthquakes
Seattle Sounders FC
Toronto FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Schedules
CITY GUIDES
PAPERS
PARTNERS
CONCACAF
PUBS
Matchcenter Scores
MLSNet.com
Rating: 3 (Possible)
People watching the 2008 edition of the CONCACAF Champions Cup may want to keep an eye on several players who may be on the pitches of MLS by this autumn.
According to this report in the Honduran newspaper, Tiempo, as many as five players, playing in La Liga Nacional, the Honduran 1st division for the two dominant, Tegucigalpa sides, CD Motagua (currently playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup) and Club Olimpia (Luciano Emilio's old club and historical Honduran powerhouse), may be headed to our shores.
The players in question are Emilio Izaguirre, Jorge Claros, Luis Rodas and Victor Bernardez from CD Motagua and Boniek García who plays for their rival Club Olimpia. All five players are represented by Alexis Solis, Luciano Emilio's agent who brokered the deal with DC United. It should also be noted that Samuel Caballero who went to Chicago Fire and Carlos Pavon who went to LA Galaxy also are represented by this agent.
The report states that several MLS clubs are interested in signing the above mentioned players.
Another Motagua player, Brazilian Jocimar (not mentioned in the report), is possibly headed to Columbus Crew.
Looking back to January, the New England Revolution was rumored to be interested in Victor Bernardez and Emilio Izaguirre.
Here are some highlights from them:
Luis Rodas
Victor Bernardez
Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua)
REPORT: Tegucigalpa Invasion - 5 Players from CD Motagua and Club Olimpia to Come to MLS? (w/Video)
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Is the pay that much better in MLS because the quality of play is in all honesty only marginally better in MLS. In fact the world rating has MLS rated BELOW the Honduran league, however I believe MLS does pass the eye test and is slightly better, but not substantially better enough for these guys to all ditch their clubs, both of whom would likely win MLS.
Which world rating would that be Kartik?
Most "world ratings" don't rate MLS well because they don't really know anything about MLS and make assumptions based on how old a league is, etc.
The real measure of the two leagues should be the results in the Champions Cup head to head:
All-time Competitive Record vs. Honduras
1999 DC United vs. Olimpia 1:0
2000 LA Galaxy vs. Real Espana 0:0 (5:3 Pen)
2000 LA Galaxy vs. Olimpia 3:2
2002 Olimpia vs. San Jose 0:1
2002 San Jose vs. Olimpia 3:1
2003 Motagua vs. LA Galaxy 2:2
2003 LA Galaxy vs. Motagua 1:0
2007 DC United vs Olimpia 4:1
2007 Olimpia vs DC United 2:3
Game-by-Game: 7 Wins, 2 Ties, 0 Losses
K.O. Meetings: 7 / MLS 7, HON 0
Summary: History clearly favors MLS. Not a single win for the fully match fit, in-season Hondurans against MLS sides which are still in pre-season form.
Moral of the story: Don't believe what you read about CONCACAF leagues written by Europeans who have not looked at them or results closely.
Point well taken, but wouldn't you agree that if any Central American team was in MLS and MLS teams had to travel there for more than a one off, they'd lose more often then they win or draw?
The rating system I saw I cannot find online but it ranked MLS 67th in the world behind obviously Mexico (where it belongs) but also behind Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala. These rankings were based on international competitions over the past few years so it doesn't give MLS a spike for winning the 1998 and 2000 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
I happen to think Central American football is under rated in Europe which is why they trash CONCACAF so much. Try sending England or Spain to a qualifier in Guatemala and let them discuss the "experience" afterwards!
I agree the central american teams have some good talent. Just watching the concacaf games this year was a good example of that.
In the future, I think you'll see more of the standouts in those leagues migrate to MLS however.