Much more of a clue than you it would seem. LA Galaxy is in Carson, not in Vancouver where the game might enjoy better support. Moreover, LA is a strange beast when it comes to professional sports teams in general - teams have come & gone and interests are varied. In terms of MLS attendance, the majority of the clubs have seen their attendance actually decrease in what were already small stadiums - this includes Stubhub in Carson. So while coverage & infusion of money have indeed increased, that has not translated in any measurable - not in terms of USNT, not in terms of MLS-based American NT members, not in terms of CONCACAF Champions League performances, not in terms of market share compared to the other dominant sporting leagues and most importantly not on the proverbial pitch. Even the US' biggest talent, plies his trade far away in Germany and won't be coming to the MLS until he hits his own twilight years - provided the league is still around
Zlatan - closing in on joining LA Galaxy (MLS)
- Thread starter VancouverUtdFan
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
- Status
Isn’t he only on 150k now? He took a big paycut this season.
And yes I’d absolutely keep him until the summer.
@FCBarca yea, you don’t have a clue no offense as attendance was at an all time high this past season lol
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/mls-attendance-tv-ratings-lag-us-mulls-future/
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/mls-attendance-tv-ratings-lag-us-mulls-future/
As for your original post which I responded to, “taking into account how unpopular the sport remains in the US” - it’s the fastest growing sport there and also only behind baseball for most played sport averaging 1 person in every 3 households playing some level of football.
@VancouverUtdFan
i've yet to see any of the "legends" that have gone over there in the last decade really stand out. Its noticeable on the ball how better the likes of pirlo and Kaka are technically, but the MLS isn't about technique, you need at least 2 of speed/agility/power. Thats why giovinco has been so successful, because he was young enough and also had far superior technique. Zlatan will not do well in the MLS from a performance standpoint, and would be outshone by Jose Altidore, which would never happen in Europe.
And the sport is becoming more popular, but don't forget that this is probably one of the main reasons;
The cost of playing sports in North America
Lacrosse
Average: $7,956
Maximum: $17,500
Hockey
Average: $7,013
Maximum: $19,000
Baseball/Softball
Average: $4,044
Maximum: $9,900
Football
Average: $2,739
Maximum: $9,500
Soccer
Average: $1,472
Maximum: $5,500
Basketball
Average: $1,143
Maximum: $5,150
Basketball is the cheapest to play but when you look at the High level, theres a very clear set of characteristics associated with having a chance of being a pro player, so if you aren't at least 6 and a half feet plus, it's nigh on impossible to make it at any level. (Obviously some do)
i've yet to see any of the "legends" that have gone over there in the last decade really stand out. Its noticeable on the ball how better the likes of pirlo and Kaka are technically, but the MLS isn't about technique, you need at least 2 of speed/agility/power. Thats why giovinco has been so successful, because he was young enough and also had far superior technique. Zlatan will not do well in the MLS from a performance standpoint, and would be outshone by Jose Altidore, which would never happen in Europe.
And the sport is becoming more popular, but don't forget that this is probably one of the main reasons;
The cost of playing sports in North America
Lacrosse
Average: $7,956
Maximum: $17,500
Hockey
Average: $7,013
Maximum: $19,000
Baseball/Softball
Average: $4,044
Maximum: $9,900
Football
Average: $2,739
Maximum: $9,500
Soccer
Average: $1,472
Maximum: $5,500
Basketball
Average: $1,143
Maximum: $5,150
Basketball is the cheapest to play but when you look at the High level, theres a very clear set of characteristics associated with having a chance of being a pro player, so if you aren't at least 6 and a half feet plus, it's nigh on impossible to make it at any level. (Obviously some do)
Beauty of statistics, you can get it to show what you want. Here are some actual facts that make your stats look useless. Average attendance per club is indeed at its highest (22k) since the league began nearly 2 decades ago. Yet, only 5/22 clubs have stadiums that can even hold 22,000 and as I previously mentioned only 6/22 clubs saw an increase in their attendance from last year - the rest all saw decreases
Would be a shame while we’re still in the CL, even though our chances are super-slim. Seeing him lift the trophy would be a fitting end to his European career...
@Arbitrium true. As for the cost thing, it’s usually the case in general across the globe. But as it stands baseball (3rd highest average price on that list) is the most played sport in the US fwiw
Wonder how much it cost the club giving him a new contract this season? Would guess probably around £5m in wages.
He was great last season and know the injury wasn't his fault, but it's a ruthless world at the end of the day and can't carry passengers in football, so have to say the new contract was a bad decision by our medical team and the club itself if he does end up leaving this window.
He was great last season and know the injury wasn't his fault, but it's a ruthless world at the end of the day and can't carry passengers in football, so have to say the new contract was a bad decision by our medical team and the club itself if he does end up leaving this window.
Baseball/softball might be so high because of the amount of co-ed intramural stuff that goes in. Don't think i've been in any city where there isn't a hugely popular league. Which is strange considering how awful the sport is.
Well that is how averages work after all. You can say the same thing for Serie A or just about any league, doesn’t mean anything. And still doesn’t take away from you saying football is unpopular which is just completely false lol.
I was speaking about LA specifically and means on their own is useless when the majority of the clubs can’t even reach that figure
As a professional sports league, no it is not growing - even with the infusion of money, it remains an unprofitable sport
Football is indeed popular at the grassroots level and among minority communities but I guarantee you the majority are not watching/attending the MLS
Which is also why I see the Zlatan move unsuccessful for all involved
Even 150K would still put him in the top 20 highest earners in the league.In fairness I doubt United are too worried about the wage side of things but I can imagine they can see plus sides to him leaving. If both sides are happy to continue as is then of course he should stay but I don't think United should be worried about him leaving.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Seems like Jose's not too concerned with him leaving. Definetely think it's happening.
What’s his injury situation? Isn’t he due back next week, I thought JM said he would be back in February.
Last edited by a moderator:
Let's get him the Champions League as a leaving present.
Ahh yes, forgot about Lukaku. I'm sure Romero is though.
Hopefully he makes one more cameo for us at least so we can give him a good send off. Hopefully he stays till the summer. His experience may be key in Champs League as a late sub.
Exactly. What a terrible decision. Many said so at the time, and wondered why we weren't replacing him. That 5m we spent paying Ibra was the difference between us an Inter on Perisic. I truly hope we're moving towards a more football-oriented approach at the boardroom/transfer level and away from marketing and agent-driven decisions because we've been scammed many times in the past.
Last edited:
All that is wrong with football summed up in one sentence.
Great player, unfortunately we got him in his last throws of his career.
His departure (if it happens) will lower the wage bill.
Been a good player for us.
His departure (if it happens) will lower the wage bill.
Been a good player for us.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Oh yes, sure. Let's just carry a man to a Champions League trophy and pay him six figures a week for the privilege.
Sooner he goes, the better. He offers almost nothing to the team and is a drain on the resources.
All this talk of being a lion, it's a load of rubbish. Although one thing I will add: in the wild, a male lion in his prime will see off other males who try to muscle in on his territory. When he gets older though, younger, stronger males will challenge him and see him off, maybe kill him.
If Zlatan truly is a lion, that is the stage he's now, sadly, at. The stage where younger and stronger males need to see him off and put him out of his misery. He's no longer good enough for Manchester United and there isn't enough time left to turn it around.
Obviously Inter I meant, but still the point stands.
It was a joke, I couldn't care less who personally benefits from winning the Champions League apart from us as a club. But interesting to see some surpressed thoughts on Zlatan.
Might as well give up then. That's it, MLS is cancelled because FC Barca says so.
Ibra is bound for the MLS. Whether it's right now or after this season is a different story.
He'll play over there because of his aura and mentality - has the pull to increase the popularity of the sport. He also has different ideas for his post-football career, such as maybe acting something that'll be easier to achieve there.
But I think it all depends on his injury. How much has it affected his ability? A lot? Then I don't think he'll play there since he mainly wants to 'dominate' like he prefers to say. And if he really is close to reaching normal Ibra-level, then why would ge leave the club in such a depressing way. He likely want to show his mafic one last time and if that would help to win two huge unlikely titles, CL and PL this season then it's a bonus. He'd probably love playing with suxh agood player like Sanchez also.
But it all depends on his fitness. Whatever happens, just hope it will be the best for both club and player.
Oh right, whatever happened to Beckham's MLS club plans? Was it Florida? Read stuff about him wanting to start his own club and even wanted Ibra.
He'll play over there because of his aura and mentality - has the pull to increase the popularity of the sport. He also has different ideas for his post-football career, such as maybe acting something that'll be easier to achieve there.
But I think it all depends on his injury. How much has it affected his ability? A lot? Then I don't think he'll play there since he mainly wants to 'dominate' like he prefers to say. And if he really is close to reaching normal Ibra-level, then why would ge leave the club in such a depressing way. He likely want to show his mafic one last time and if that would help to win two huge unlikely titles, CL and PL this season then it's a bonus. He'd probably love playing with suxh agood player like Sanchez also.
But it all depends on his fitness. Whatever happens, just hope it will be the best for both club and player.
Oh right, whatever happened to Beckham's MLS club plans? Was it Florida? Read stuff about him wanting to start his own club and even wanted Ibra.
Last edited by a moderator:
LA taking a big gamble here, obviously if he gets fit or close enough to it, it's a no brainer, but as of now he hasn't proven he has gotten over that terrible injury he had. I'd imagine they'll do their due diligence but he looked so far of the pace in the few games he did play, it's hard to see how he'll get back to where he needs to be. Factor in that some teams still play on artificial turf over there and the crazy travelling you have to do due to the size of the continent.
Yes Beckham was Florida, Miami to be exact, he actually has a presser today to possibly launch it
So no word on whether or not this is happening this week. Must mean he's staying til end of season.
Zero surprise. Both parties can move forward better this way I think. Grateful for the goals he gave us.
Their transfer window is different to ours so he can go any time, should we allow it. Their season starts in early March. Schweinsteiger left United in mid March last year.
I would imagine much will depend on what LA Galaxy want, and how much playing time Zlatan might reasonably expect to get if he stays at United until the end of the season. 20 mins as a sub most games might be enough to convince him to stay but he might not make the bench when everyone is fit.
This season has been bizarre to say the least. He came back looking miles off the pace. Now he disappears for a month in order to get fit.
Yeah forgot about that. Although I hope he stays until our season is over since he would come in handy if we go deep into the CL.
Only way the #10 shirt will be available is if he leaves. He'll relish the lifestyle and retire in LA.
Was fun while it lasted though.
Was fun while it lasted though.
I'll miss him but probably the best thing for him. Thanks Zlatan for purely coming to Manchester United...
It was revealed that he received an average of £418k per week last season including bonuses. Let's hope his current deal is significantly "pay as you play".
Pretty gutted that his return from a nasty injury has been such a damp squib. I guess those reports about the club not thinking he was in the same place as he was were true. Maybe there's still time for him to get a ridiculous bicycle kick or something in before he goes.
Absolute TRAVESTY that he didn't wear #7 last season as well.
Absolute TRAVESTY that he didn't wear #7 last season as well.
Both points are true, that is another way of looking at it.
I don't want Zlatan to leave before the end of the season. We are entering a crucial part of the season and 1 injury to Lukaku can change everything. He has been rehabilitating with the club since his injury so it makes absolutely no sense to let him go just as he becomes fully fit. Imagine he goes to the MLS and god forbid Lukaku breaks his leg. All of a sudden we are down to the bare bones again. We will need his experience and winning mentality even if he's not playing. Wasn't he supposed to take a coaching role with Jose after his contract ends? Zlatan won't leave unless he feels he can't contribute and isn't needed. His ego won't allow that to happen. If he feels he can't give anymore he'll be the first one to hang up his boots because I don't see him hanging around to make up the numbers.
- Status