One thing I do think a Championship club does have the advantage over an MLS club in is that they’re in a hierarcy – probably in the best structured league system in the world. A player in a Championship team has the Premier League to aim for. There is promotion, relegation, mass support and lots of history and this may be the deciding factor when players chose to sign.

After only 15 years though and the MLS is starting to turn a few heads – I think 10 years down the line we’ll be talking about MLS teams possibly being able to cut it in the English Premiership (albeit maybe nearer the bottom of the table).

But yes, over time the SSS will be with every team. To be honest, if you compare the league to just a couple of years ago with all the football stadiums, where we are today is ALOT BETTER then maybe just 3 years ago. We’re moving up really fast.

btw, take a look at the great progress at both Red Bull Arena and the Unions stadiums opening up next year.

http://redbullarena.us/

http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/Content3.aspx?cid=4.3

*Editor’s note – SSS = Soccer Specific Stadiums*

The issue is with player development, you learn most about technique as a footballer between 9 and 12 according to Ajax, or 12 and 16 for tactics and awareness. How do you incorporate that into a schools program? Do you make it extra-curricular? How is it paid for? Where will you get good coaches from?

I wouldn’t be surprised if Henry leaves Barcelona in the summer, he’s already hinted at doing so and as Ben says he has made no secret of his admiration for NYC and MLS. To see him playing in Harrison next season would be entirely plausible to me.

The salary cap is an issue though, do you think it should just be set at a higher level? I do think that the better MLS teams could survive in the Championship, it’s the cutting edge that’s missing I think. If some of the young US players leave for better leagues but return in their late twenties, can’t be a bad thing in the long term.

Steve, I think it’s a reasonable assumption that Henry won’t arrive here when the MLS season begins, because of the World Cup. But I don’t know that he’ll wait a “few years” – if he’s serious about coming here, then 2010-11 would seem to make sense in terms of where his career is, particularly if he has a good World Cup and decides after that to retire from international footie.

For me the three things that have to change is the salary cap, the draft and the scheduling of the MLS season.

I read somewhere that it’s unlikley Henry will make the move to MLS in the summer, but he’s made sure he’s opened the doors for a move in a few years – have you seen anything about that Ben or are the links stronger than I think?

“Indeed, watching the play-off contest between Chicago Fire and New England Revolution, I recalled the snipe of one UK commentator to the effect that an MLS game was little better than an average Saturday in League Two, the bottom tier of English football. Assertions like that are based on the lazy, conceited assumption that Americans can’t play “our” football. As anyone who followed the MLS post-season would attest, a side like Salt Lake or Houston could absolutely make the grade in the English Championship.” One of my favorite parts. Thank you for stating that and respecting the league. Glad to have you aboard.

Thanks again.Hopefully the CBA is solved soon and a higher cap with it so we can retain guys like Rolfe and Movsisyan.