COACHING STABILITY

"BARRIOS HAS LED HIS TEAM INTO THE AREA MORE THAN ANY OTHER PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE"

SHINING BRIGHT BY: MARCO D'ONOFRIO THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

THE GOOD

Eyes will always be attracted to the brightest stars and the biggest names, but fans of Major League Soccer have been able to enjoy the hidden gems playing in the league. They may not be internationally known, but their play on the pitch has been a joy to a watch for those really paying attention. Michael Barrios of the Colorado Rapids is the perfect example of a player that many supporters may never have even heard of, but the winger has been sensational for his club. He has led his team into the area more than any other player in the league and still doesn't receive the recognition he deserves. Vancouver Whitecaps stud Cristian Dájome is another example of a player that is flying criminally under the radar. The 27-year-old has put his team on his back, having 42% of his team's goals midway through the campaign. Barrios and Dájome are just two examples of MLS talent that fail to garner the global attention or acknowledgement that they deserve. There is a plethora of others as well that help elevate the league to a standard that it has never seen previously in its history. While there is still a long way to go before it can be considered one of the elite domestic leagues in the world, it has made significant strides in recent years and it is because of the quality of talent that the biggest stars are surrounded by. While global superstars like Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez and Gonzalo Higuain will draw people to the product, it’s the ability to uphold

THE BAD

While most fans love watching rivals in North America's two top soccer leagues go head-tohead for supremacy, the Leagues Cup seems much more of a burden than a blessing for teams and fans alike. The Leagues Cup was created in 2019 to help foster more excitement for fans and strengthen the rivalry between Liga Mx and MLS, but it has barely generated any attention. The competition is made up of four teams from each league playing in a knock-out format with all games taking place in the United States. While the concept may seem like a fun idea, the games feel more glorified exhibition matches. With a tight salary cap, MLS clubs often have di culties navigating through the busy summer months during a normal year but this season it has been even more di cult. With the European Championship, Copa America, Gold Cup and Olympics all taking place this summer, teams have often found themselves short-handed for critical games and coaches are constantly doing their best to keep their players healthy and rested. With such a congested fixture list, teams nor players are interested in being forced to play in yet another tournament. In the opening game of the 2021 Leagues Cup, Sporting Kansas City played just three starters from their game on the previous weekend as head coach Peter Vermes tried to protect his players. While his side were embarrassed 6-1 on home field against Mexican club Leon, it was a decision he had to make in order to try and salvage the regular season. “We'd like to win everything that we play in,” Vermes acknowledged. “But unfortunately when you're playing seven games in 22 days; we played four games in the last 11 days – altitude, travel, away from home – the reality is that I'm not going to risk guys that have high [physical] loads. I'm not going to risk them. I'm just not going to." It has become apparently obvious that the Leagues Cup seems to be more about making money than it does about doing what's best for the teams or the two leagues involved.

THE UGLY

Goals have become harder and harder to come by during MLS games and it has become a worrying trend for fans of the league over the past couple of years. The issue has only been exasperated this season. After 20 rounds of fixtures, MLS games were averaging just 2.67 goals per game, a decrease from 2.86 goals per game in 2020 and 3.04 goals per game in 2019. The league saw its highest goals per game average in 2018, with 3.19 goals per game scored but has seen a decline ever since. While the number of goals certainly doesn't mean anything when it comes to the quality of play of the league, it sure does help build excitement and generate a buzz for the league. Unlike many top leagues in Europe, MLS is forced to compete in a competitive sports landscape with numerous other professional sports leagues including the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball and the National Football League. To compare, Germany's Bundesliga saw 3.03 goals scored per game while Italy's Serie A averaged 3.06 goals per game last year. The current MLS average is also lower than England's Premier League which saw 2.69 goals scored per game last year. While it may not seem like the biggest problem the league is facing, MLS needs to ensure they put an exciting product on the pitch to entice fans to watch. They may not always have global superstars or household names playing, but if they are able to deliver games that keep fans invested then the league will attract more eyeballs.

ABOVE (OPPOSITE PAGE): Michael Barrios went from FC Dallas to Colorado Rapids

BOTTOM (OPPOSITE PAGE): Cristian Dájome recently signed for Vancouver Whitecaps. He will be a positive impact for the club

ABOVE: Peter Vermes, coach of Kansas City.

RIGHT: Kansas City couldn't hold their own against Leon

BELOW: TFC celebrating a goal

TOP RIGHT: Luiz Araujo came from Lille to Atlanta

BOTTOM RIGHT: Lucas Cavallini The 2018 MLS Cup champions made the most significant signing during the MLS secondary transfer window by signing Brazilian winger Luiz Araujo for a reported $12m. Araujo arrives as a Designated Player from Ligue 1 champions Lille and will make an immediate impact with the ambitious club.

It has been a season to forget for Toronto FC, who have struggled at the basement of the Eastern Conference. A coaching change mid-way through the season and more injury problems for striker Jozy Altidore has made this season one to forget for the Reds.