With J Hutcherson -- Instead of playing 'watch Columbus wreck their squad,' yesterday's news that Guillermo Barros Schelotto will be with them in 2009 told us two things. They'll get a deal done and they'll spend to do it. Remember, most rumors had the Crew grinding Schelotto to take a deal that kept him at the League maximum with the substantial risk he ended up elsewhere.
Now it's the Sigi Schmid part of the off-season, where the Crew play through the same scenario with their coach. For Schmid, it's the lure of Seattle, introducing several comparisons. New vs old, established vs expansion, champions vs less expectation, and Pacific Northwest vs Midwest. There's also that respect vs willingness to pay issue that got the Crew an MLS Cup and an out of contract coach a few weeks later.
With Major League Soccer dynasty averse and Sigi Schmid's long-term reputation tied to the one he already created at UCLA, what exactly is there to prove in Columbus that he couldn't do with Seattle?
For a cost averse club like Columbus, they've ended up with two situations where it's tough to argue against paying the people involved. They've gotten it right with Schelotto, who even at his reported designated player salary (around $600k) is still a bargain. Schmid will be tougher.
They'll need both of them and help to have a chance at contending in 2010. They'll be facing the addition of the CONCACAF Champions League along with the unlikeliness that we get a replay of the basic bad luck that hit so many teams in 2009.
Regardless of who coaches, Seattle will be stronger than your average expansion team. Toronto is talking designated player, San Jose gets a full season with Darren Huckerby, and the playoffs are now open to four wildcards. That's just the push from the bottom clubs.
So far, MLS has only had the small market/major market distinction in theory. Lack of free agency will do that. At the same time, MLS has pushed the idea of major markets for television and stadiums. They're still looking for that true New York team, regardless of what it would do to the one they've already got across the river in North Jersey. They've followed the National Basketball Association model of small/major in the same building in Carson.
There's also Fort Lauderdale and San Jose. The Fusion exited the League as Supporters' Shield holders and the Earthquakes mark II left with a Shield and a couple MLS Cups.
Columbus, by any standard in any league small market, is now in a position to exploit the single-entity by putting together another winner. They'll also be showing the knock-on effect a championship has on attendance in their city. To prove the most valuable points, they're going to need everything in place.
On TV
UEFA Cup on Fox Soccer Channel: Manchester City - PSG at 2:30pm. Carling Cup on Setanta: Watford - Spurs at 2:45pm. Coppa Italia on GolTV: Milan - Lazio at 2:45pm. Copa Sudamericana on Fox Sports en Espanol: Inter - Estudiantes at 6:30pm. MFL Playoffs: Cruz Azul - Atlante at 10pm on Azteca. All Times Eastern
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Europe
We want to create a united European football family -- from The Herald's Hugh MacDonald: Platini, broadly, wants to ensure "financial fair play" in football, halt the "trafficking" of young players, and a ban on transfers of players under 18.
Premier League agrees to debt investigation -- from The Times Kevin Eason: How the APFL will satisfy the demands of Uefa remains to be seen.
Scots and Welsh eye Euro 2016 bid -- from BBC Sport: If the project gets beyond the initial stage, a feasibility study would be commissioned to examine the infrastructure regarding accommodation, transport and improved stadiums.
Salary cap back on agenda for Championship -- from The Guardian's David Conn: A salary cap for the Championship has been discussed theoretically ever since the 2002 collapse of ITV Digital, which plunged many Football League clubs into financial difficulties.
Mega names key to City's £70m transfer plan -- from The Independent's Jason Burt: "They are going for a big player," a source, who has been involved in the discussions, said yesterday.
Manchester City ready to smash transfer record with £129m Real Madrid raid for keeper Casillas -- from The Daily Mail's David Kent and Christopher Davies: It would also double Casillas's wages and almost triple the current transfer record of £47m paid by Real to Juventus for France star Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Americas
Schelotto will stay -- at a stiff price -- from The Columbus Dispatch's Shawn Mitchell: "It goes without saying that he was one of the keys to our championship season," general manager Mark McCullers said.
Ownership group for Major League Soccer in Vancouver reconsiders franchise fee -- from The Vancouver Sun's Bruce Constantineau: "All our financial modelling has been done around the $40 million."
Sharks buy share of Earthquakes -- from The San Jose Mercury News' John Ryan: Jamison said SVS&E would handle all non-soccer events at a new stadium.
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.
