I hate cross-sporting analogies, and I’ll probably muck it up, but it seems a bit similar the situations in basketball or hockey, where there are leagues in many countries, but many (if not all) of the best talents from other countries consistently want to come here to ply their trade–whereas we have a similar situation in soccer. Many American players are not on par with the foreign leagues (for various reasons), but the best of the best can still play abroad. I’m certain there are English fans that are interested in the happenings (in general) of Beckham, and there are many Spaniards interested in Pau Gasol. How do those clubs/leagues market to their target populations to increase their profiles? It seems much the same quandry.

I also feel that there isn’t really a dig, per se, at MLS fans, it seems that what the author is trying to reconcile is the difference, or gap, between the potential fans understanding of the sport, the finer nuances of the deals involved, and how that should increase one’s interest in the domestic product rather than decrease it. Even if said fan didn’t choose an MLS side, just conciousness raising (of the league and national side) and minimizing a perceived negative view of the league (based on player departure), in general, are almost the win-win outcome they hope to acheive.

I would consider myself soccer educated, i’m familiar and understand with what goes on in the MLS, other leagues and internationally. One thing that use to frustrate me like crazy was all the people i would meet that claimed to like soccer, but outside the rules of the game, the world cup and maybe a couple club teams didn’t know anything else about it.

i think previous posters touched on it well. we are the ones who make it a ritual to constantly update ourselves about the soccer world. We do this by immersing ourselves with articles, blogs, review and analysis shows, bigsoccer etc. however, the number of us that actually do these things compared to all those who ‘like’ soccer, is probably very miniscule.

i think that article was trying to reflect those MLS fans who follow their team and only their team for the entire season and don’t have a clue as to whats going on elsewhere in the soccer world. good luck trying to explain these people how MLS doesn’t adjust to to the FIFA International calendar and why stars like beckham and donovan are missing during important league games due to international duty.

I mean think about it, when you watch a sounders game and see the 30,000 sea of green its impressive right? like damn that many ppl like soccer… but do u actually think all 30,000 or even most of them will be able to tell you how howard, dempsey, altidore, bradley etc. did abroad that weekend?

This is the reason getting a big time DP is important. Recognition and winning through exciting attacking play will increase the fan base.
America is full of bandwagon fans. The point is every time they hop off, some stick around. Build build build.

I feel like that didn’t make as much as sense as it did in my head, but whatever.. you guys gotta remember that people reading soccer blogs on the Internet are probably 1% of the actual soccer watching population (or something extreme like that). Most people watch Sportscenter (where they DONT talk about soccer), read the newspaper (where they DON’T talk about soccer), and attend a match once in awhile because it is a fun thing to do. Season ticket holders, supporters groups, foreign football fans with a soft spot for the domestic game… we are the very small minority.

Although…theres is that old saying, “no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people”

You have a very small percentage of each MLS club’s fans that completely understand what happens in the game, on a national level, and also on an international level (i.e other leagues abroad).

But you also have a very large gap between those fans and casual fans who follow their local MLS team, but truly do not have a grasp on why things happen outside of the US.

The soccer fan that reads blogs on the internet, they know what’s up. Why? Because they read blogs on the internet. They know the latest stories, they know the latest scoops, the who, where, why, how.

But there are a lot of people who still don’t read blogs on the internet. With that group the mystery about transfer fees and player rights is just a blur because it is not explained well enough in their mainstream media.

I work in soccer for a living. I talk to loads of people who understand the game completely, but there are also loads who say they ‘love’ soccer, and they truly do, but they don’t know the first thing about the game.