A good example is Paul Scholes who I personally saw as the best player in United for many years.
He never got as much media attention as he maybe deserved, but as a footballer he was and still is fantastic.
MLS maybe should go for players like Paul as it will help to have several experienced international players per team.
If you come alone it is much harder to make a change fast. If you instead are two or three players then you really can accomplish something together with the rest of the Team.
I might get back to this issue later on….
//Freddie
Comments (38)
Small talk
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Thank You Fans http://bit.ly/bOHdNw
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New game against Los Angeles Galaxy http://bit.ly/c5PT62
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Let the players decide who will win... http://bit.ly/99lvQM
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Extremely disappointing to draw against the defending champions http://bit.ly/cToOtf
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Big game tonite. Replay of the champions league final http://bit.ly/boPEvg
To Twitter
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Thank You Fans http://bit.ly/bOHdNw
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Preseason training camp in Arizona
Been in training camp in Arizona for a week now. We have been running our asses off and we are all a bit tired, but no pain no gain.
Preseason training camp in Arizona
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"Top 5" stadiums in the world
Started thinking about the five best football stadiums I ever played at and came up with my personal “top 5″ list that I wanted to share with you.
"Top 5" stadiums in the world
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Absolutely agree with you Freddie, the trouble is attracting that talent given the salaries that players can get riding the bench in Europe.
What needs to occur is that there need to be a class of players that value the starting roles the MLS can offer vs the bench-time and added $$ that Europe can offer. With VanBC and Portland joining the league, this will only help!
I agree – and I’m happy to see you bring this up.
I’d go with 3.
I see beautiful plays fall apart.
This is the best way to bring the quality and excitement of MLS up to next level quickly, while at the same time, providing opportunities for integration and learning for the US player base.
US fans want both: high quality, and local, loyal players they can relate to and support with passion over time.
Great to see you so loyal to Seattle and that you care about long-term improvment in MLS!
absolutely.. I wished we had more European players like yourself here. But what ever you do please dont leave.. Seattle needs and Loves you…
I agree wholeheartedly that more international players would elevate the quality of MLS soccer. I think the MLS would agree, too. Unfortunately, between the salary cap and the markets that some teams play in (Kansas City, for instance) signing even one int’l player of yours or Scholes’ caliber is out of the question.
I’d be curious to know what you think of the business side of the MLS, Freddie. Compared to Europe, it seems much more controlled, however, I don’t know if that’s helping or hurting development of the league.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Brendan Vaughn, Dave Clark. Dave Clark said: Need to convince @thesoccerdon and 25+ players RT @TheRealFreddie MLS needs 2 or 3 top int. players per team http://bit.ly/2myadL [...]
Hey Freddie,
if you get the chance, kick the ball out of bounds in the 9th minute so we can show our respect
http://www.prostamerika.com/soundersfc/2009/10/21/drew-carey-on-board-for-charlie-davies-tribute/
What’s the arguement against doubling the current Designated Player allocation? With another DP counting $415k towards the cap, only minor modifications to the cap would be necessary. Anyone have any news regarding official MLS debate over this topic?
Ljungberg to Henry, back to Ljungberg… Goal Sounders?
This is a great issue freddie, but the problem is cost. People nowadays go for money. I bearly see people play with their heart. Really, the only times heart is shown on the pitch is when the player is young and trying to establish themselves. If MLS wants Europeans to come across the pond and play, we have to be able to fork out the money.
However, i could be wrong. I myself am not a professional soccer player. I am only stating this because of how American Football has developed over time.
Do not get me wrong. I would love to see more influence from talented players. Maybe some European footballers will come across and try and play for pride instead of a fat paycheck.
On a side note;
Freddie, thank you so much for coming over to Seattle and playing for us. It truely means a lot to all of us Scandinavian people out here (and of course all sounder fans alike). You are truely a key part of this club, and forever will be known as best European in MLS history
Which two players would you have liked to bring with you when you started playing for Seattle in MLS?
Hell Yeah! Scholes in the attacking midfield With Fredy and Freddie up top, Zak out wide, and Alonso to lay a hard tackle on anyone who tries to counter. No one could stop us.
Plus you can always heckle him for missing his PK when you made yours =)
If anyone is curious what I’m talking about, watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3aley1×1lo
He is right sometimes international figures have all the weight of the equipment on them …. nor have journalists and sometimes that makes a lot of pressure on you ……. No?
Scholes is a fantastic player and I think we should have more media attention …. I congratulate you for not having taken the decision to retire from football because you still has much potential ….. saludos desde Venezuela
I agree Freddie. The overall level of play is better than 1996, but could still rise up much more. It would be nice if teams had the option of signing a 2nd or 3rd designated player. Also, I think it is crazy that the team flies commercial airline flights, especially for Seattle travelling so far. If teams want to charter, they should be able to, the Sounders would pay to do that. Go get ‘em Saturday.
I think it needs to go to 2 before 3. The problem is that some players are going to come to MLS teams purely as their last payday without putting in the effort that players such as yourself have.
OT I was at the Arsenal Shareholders Meeting today and it was your old boss’ birthday so they made a presentation of a birthday book and some video footage of his 13 years as manager. You were featured prominently as one of the legendary 49ers.
Liking the sounds of this… take it for what it’s worth.
http://www.mls-rumors.net/3739/2009/09/report-4million-salary-cap-exempt-designated-players-higher-minimum-salary-discussed-for-2010/
Love it that you have started this as it makes it easier to keep track of you. The newspapers in Sweden don´t write so much about you and the MLS.
Just read the article in Aftonbladet. Hope you make it to the final and that you come back to Arsenal. You are truly missed at the Emirates:-). I go to several Arsenal games per season so it would be fun.
Why don´t you try and get Henry to Seattle, he´s had a bad season so far and I´d hate to see him in Man City. You would do wonders together again and maybe try to have a “mini Arsenal” in Seattle haha.
Good luck with the playoffs! B rgds Susanne, Stockholm
Hej Freddie!
Läste nyss på Sportbladet att denna sidan fanns!
Blev mycket glad! Har alltid varit ett stort fan!
Är du öppen för en Landslags comeback? vi behöver kantspelare.. men du kanske vill fortsätta i mitten! inte helt fel heller Du och Kim i mitten!
Väl Mött. André
Why not spend the winter and spring in London? I’ve heard that the northern parts around Hampstead are nice;-)
And red and white (like Halmia) are nice colours…
Ha det så bra i Seattle!
/ML
That’s a lot to ask for. How many of the players in EPL would you say would make an real impact in MLS? Wouldn’t most players, except those from the 4-5 top clubs, just be one in the crowd?
I will follow your blog from Sweden. You never feel like coming back to the national team?
Lycka till!
tjo fidde.. fan va kul att du har börjat blogga, kör hårt
och kör över dom där borta..ses
peace out Alberto
I’m from Chicago, and after watching the Sounders play on tv this summer against Barcelona, I think I became a Sounders fan. The energy of the fans was incredible, and I loved to hear the singing and chanting. It felt like I was watching the EPL. I’m glad you are becoming such an advocate of the league. Thanks for taking the chance to come over, and help revolutionize the MLS.
Henry to the MLS rumor in the news again. http://soundersboard.blogspot.com/
Like the column in ESPN Soccernet. You’re doing more than your part to build the game here in the states… you da man!
Excellent point. We may see that yet. For more on the Thierry Henry to NY Red Bulls rumor (and a great picture of Freddie), visit http://soundersboard.blogspot.com/.
Agreed Freddie, and I think just the mere fact that with another designated player, there would be less pressure on each one to “save the day” all of the time… I know I feel really lucky to be a Sounders FC fan where we get to see you and Keller play… BTW, awesome work getting past those defenders on that goal at KC for the pass to Jaqua–that was awesome!!!!!
Agree with you Freddie, but remember one thing you will always be seen as a here at the emirates. Please come back to Arsenal in januari.
Not sure what changes will come out of the latest round of CBA talks with Garber and the owners/players. The most common rumors are a 2nd DP and 25-50% increase in cap space and 2-4 more spots on the roster.
That said, only a handful of MLS teams could afford 2-3 top tier international talents, let alone attract them to the U.S. while in their prime. Do you think we could have enticed you Freddie 3-4 years ago? Do you think we could have got you to come to Seattle had you not had the injuries and the disappointing season at West Ham?(assume for argument’s sake that everything in the league would be the same as they are today)
Frankly I feel very lucky that we got you to come over this season.
Perhaps we should go after players in 2.Bundesliga, the Championship, etc. more than we do…but we’re truly competing for that tier of player with the Scandavian leagues that can pay a little more than MLS can.
The only thing that can change that is raising the MLS salary cap.
I agree Freddie. The more international the MLS becomes, it only makes the quality of play better. I love watching the EPL, and can immediately see the drop off in quality of play when I watch an MLS game. However, I love the MLS and want it to continue to improve. I also think that there is a lot of talent in the Mexican and South American (especially Brazil and Argentina – G.B. Schelotto)and I think that some more players from there would also help the style of play. Thank you for being an advocate for our league.
great point, freddie!
i thank you for being such a vocal leader and hopefully the MLS listens to what people like you have to say. The players themselves i think would have a better insight than executives that haven’t played in other leagues.
thank you for your contributions here in seattle. we love you here! please do consider staying
Tjena Fred! Håper livet leker i Seattle! Sender en hilsen fra Ggb.
P & S & F
Couldn’t agree more. It started to look promising after the Beckham signing and there was news about Edgar Davids coming over as well. Surely there must be a whole host of players who could come over to the USA and experience the superior quality of life despite not getting the salary. After all, many of them have to drop the salary they were on unless they go into the stressfull and riskly life of Football Management. Scholes is a good example, but also others like Figo, Zidane, Sol Campbell, Vierra.
I agree on your point that Mr. Scholes does not get the media attention he deserves and while I would love to watch his tidy 60 yard passes live I can’t see him moving to the MLS. But if you can get him to Seattle please do.
I disagree. The MLS needs to develop domestic players and pay comparable salaries, case in point Kenny Cooper transfer. I dont want to see guys at the end of there careers. If the European player at the end of his career is better than 80% of the MLS, that a sad staement for the MLS and not far to the domestic players.
thats right freddie…its very helpfull if all MLS team have atleast two or more very experienced players
me as a fun off Sounders and Man.United….i like to see paul scholes or some other player from united to play for Sounders.
I agree!
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by bmvaughn: Freddie Ljungberg from the Sounders blogs that the MLS needs 2 or 3 top int’l players per team http://tr.im/CAXB…
Congratulations on your MLS PLAYER OF THE MONTH (October)award Freddie!
You have been playing very well – well deserved!
Your Canadian Cousin
It would be cool to up the ante of the MLS with higher quality players, especially since it is outrageously hard to find channels that play Premier League over here. The problem I think, is with commercial time. Since soccer doesn’t stop the clock like American football it’s too hard to fit any sort of commercial time into the games and therefore hard to generate any revenue so that owners can feel comfortable taking greater risks on costly international players.
This is the time for soccer though, its bigger than its ever been.