Thanks for all of your comments. I think ultimately is that I’d like to see CPL teams in international competition. The whole Leagues Cup thing has cut out a lot of leagues in Concacaf. And the Concacaf Champions cup just ends up between MLS and Liga MX. I think we need a second tier club competition in Concacaf that excludes MLS and Liga MX but includes USL. This is what the UEFA European Championship is. I’d just like to see Caribbean, Central American and Canadian teams (and also USL) have an actual chance for an international trophy. There’s so much quality there but it gets erased by the leagues that have way more money than these leagues do.
That would be fascinating to see. It would be a nice gut check , and development opp for CPL if anyone is willing to pay for it. I'd go see it, but not sure how many share that view.
Expecting MLS teams to play with their first squad is not right, as they have been winning against CPL teams even without their first team! However, when they lose their first match to a CPL team, they will understand the need to take CPL teams more seriously automatically. Lastly, I'm still waiting for the Thunder Bay Chill's appearance, and even FC Manitoba's if they come back next season.
I think it’s a bit optimistic to think a CPL team could beat an MLS first team unless the MLS team is just going through chaos (like Toronto FC under Bradley). The US Open is a much longer tournament so I think it makes sense that MLS teams would play their second team early on - after all, the strength of a team also includes depth and substitutes getting a chance to start is always great. But you need a more substantial semi-pro or even just a pro second tier to expand your tournament.
I’m a big fan of CPL (I’m in the US) and I love Forge (my team), but it would be a bad look for Canadian soccer if one of the three Canadian MLS teams lost to a CPL team - it’s a classic catch-22! What I want to see is for CPL to do well against other Concacaf leagues first - more reasonable, and against nations with longer soccer traditions.
Why would it be a bad look? Whitecaps lost to Cavalry in 2019 and then lost to Pacific in 2021. It raises the stakes in the tournament if you can't just assume MLS teams will always beat CPL teams. That can bring more fans out both to Voyageurs Cup games and potentially to regular season CPL games as well if fans know the level isn't as far off from MLS quality as you might otherwise expect.
I really should have written “regularly.” I remember that Whitecaps game; the team got a lot of flack for losing to Pacific. I love upsets - Sacramento FC beat I think three MLS teams in the US Open two years ago and it was great.
@@brianstefans9108 I can sort of get on board with that. Depends on why it is happening regularly though. If an MLS team is losing regularly to a CPL team because the MLS teams aren't taking it seriously and are using it as a way for their bench or academy players to get some exercise, then yes that's a bad thing assuming they don't learn their lesson and change their ways. However, if it starts happening regularly because the CPL teams raise their level in line with MLS teams, that is absolutely amazing for Canadian soccer. And no, I don't expect the latter to happen. At most I could see CPL teams getting good young talent rather than MLS teams because it is easier for them to get playing time in the CPL. But ultimately MLS teams will almost certainly always have bigger budgets and be able to afford better teams.
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I would argue that having the men’s national team games be free over the air for all to see would have a bigger impact. Why are the games not on cbc?
Thanks for all of your comments. I think ultimately is that I’d like to see CPL teams in international competition. The whole Leagues Cup thing has cut out a lot of leagues in Concacaf. And the Concacaf Champions cup just ends up between MLS and Liga MX. I think we need a second tier club competition in Concacaf that excludes MLS and Liga MX but includes USL. This is what the UEFA European Championship is. I’d just like to see Caribbean, Central American and Canadian teams (and also USL) have an actual chance for an international trophy. There’s so much quality there but it gets erased by the leagues that have way more money than these leagues do.
That would be fascinating to see. It would be a nice gut check , and development opp for CPL if anyone is willing to pay for it. I'd go see it, but not sure how many share that view.
Whitecaps are the best team !
Andi’s fiery here!
Expecting MLS teams to play with their first squad is not right, as they have been winning against CPL teams even without their first team! However, when they lose their first match to a CPL team, they will understand the need to take CPL teams more seriously automatically.
Lastly, I'm still waiting for the Thunder Bay Chill's appearance, and even FC Manitoba's if they come back next season.
I think it’s a bit optimistic to think a CPL team could beat an MLS first team unless the MLS team is just going through chaos (like Toronto FC under Bradley). The US Open is a much longer tournament so I think it makes sense that MLS teams would play their second team early on - after all, the strength of a team also includes depth and substitutes getting a chance to start is always great. But you need a more substantial semi-pro or even just a pro second tier to expand your tournament.
Whitecaps should win it
I’m a big fan of CPL (I’m in the US) and I love Forge (my team), but it would be a bad look for Canadian soccer if one of the three Canadian MLS teams lost to a CPL team - it’s a classic catch-22! What I want to see is for CPL to do well against other Concacaf leagues first - more reasonable, and against nations with longer soccer traditions.
Uhhhh that actually has happened before.... The Whitecaps lost to Pacific in 2021 I think.
And I'm saying this as a 'Caps fan.
Why would it be a bad look? Whitecaps lost to Cavalry in 2019 and then lost to Pacific in 2021. It raises the stakes in the tournament if you can't just assume MLS teams will always beat CPL teams. That can bring more fans out both to Voyageurs Cup games and potentially to regular season CPL games as well if fans know the level isn't as far off from MLS quality as you might otherwise expect.
I really should have written “regularly.” I remember that Whitecaps game; the team got a lot of flack for losing to Pacific. I love upsets - Sacramento FC beat I think three MLS teams in the US Open two years ago and it was great.
@@brianstefans9108 I can sort of get on board with that. Depends on why it is happening regularly though. If an MLS team is losing regularly to a CPL team because the MLS teams aren't taking it seriously and are using it as a way for their bench or academy players to get some exercise, then yes that's a bad thing assuming they don't learn their lesson and change their ways. However, if it starts happening regularly because the CPL teams raise their level in line with MLS teams, that is absolutely amazing for Canadian soccer. And no, I don't expect the latter to happen. At most I could see CPL teams getting good young talent rather than MLS teams because it is easier for them to get playing time in the CPL. But ultimately MLS teams will almost certainly always have bigger budgets and be able to afford better teams.