2024 January transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[Toronto Villa]

We get it on TV here once in a while. It’s a lot like early MLS. Mostly absolutely dreadful football with players many will never hear of. MLS has improved but you still get many games that the quality is brutal to watch and sit through. I can’t imagine what A league is like if you are committing to it. That’s some serious patience.

[Brazilian Villain]

I suppose Emery said nobody would be coming in after Morgan Rogers, who hasn't actually arrived yet, so he wasn't lying.

That's the kind of logic that destroys marriages.

Not necessarily, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman".

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

We get it on TV here once in a while. It’s a lot like early MLS. Mostly absolutely dreadful football with players many will never hear of. MLS has improved but you still get many games that the quality is brutal to watch and sit through. I can’t imagine what A league is like if you are committing to it. That’s some serious patience.

You say MLS has improved since its inception but have you noticed a recent upturn since they’ve appeared to buy more high profile up and coming South American players, notably from Argentina? From afar players like Barco and Almada haven’t set the world alight despite moving for big money. Barco is back in Argentina now.

[Toronto Villa]

We get it on TV here once in a while. It’s a lot like early MLS. Mostly absolutely dreadful football with players many will never hear of. MLS has improved but you still get many games that the quality is brutal to watch and sit through. I can’t imagine what A league is like if you are committing to it. That’s some serious patience.

You say MLS has improved since its inception but have you noticed a recent upturn since they’ve appeared to buy more high profile up and coming South American players, notably from Argentina? From afar players like Barco and Almada haven’t set the world alight despite moving for big money. Barco is back in Argentina now.

Unlike past iterations of football in the US, they have done a decent job building a more solid base. They obviously added in ways to bring in better talent over the years but the foundations are a lot more sustainable long term. There is a bit of disparity in markets that can attract certain players, but every team gets to use the designated player rule. Case in point Sporting Kansas City made a serious approach to Ronaldo last year before he headed to Saudi Arabia. But the grass roots of the game and the access to central and South America has helped progress the league. The players coming in are really quite good now especially from countries in that part of the world.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

We get it on TV here once in a while. It’s a lot like early MLS. Mostly absolutely dreadful football with players many will never hear of. MLS has improved but you still get many games that the quality is brutal to watch and sit through. I can’t imagine what A league is like if you are committing to it. That’s some serious patience.

You say MLS has improved since its inception but have you noticed a recent upturn since they’ve appeared to buy more high profile up and coming South American players, notably from Argentina? From afar players like Barco and Almada haven’t set the world alight despite moving for big money. Barco is back in Argentina now.

Unlike past iterations of football in the US, they have done a decent job building a more solid base. They obviously added in ways to bring in better talent over the years but the foundations are a lot more sustainable long term. There is a bit of disparity in markets that can attract certain players, but every team gets to use the designated player rule. Case in point Sporting Kansas City made a serious approach to Ronaldo last year before he headed to Saudi Arabia. But the grass roots of the game and the access to central and South America has helped progress the league. The players coming in are really quite good now especially from countries in that part of the world.

I didn’t realise Ronaldo had been approached. I think the plan of connecting or concentrating more on players from South America is a good one. Technical, exciting players who appeal to the large Hispanic population, the majority are good value and it’s a stepping stone to Europe for the better ones and the clubs can make money to reinvest. I’m not sure it’s quite worked like that yet but it’s quite early in the process.

[tomd2103]

We get it on TV here once in a while. It’s a lot like early MLS. Mostly absolutely dreadful football with players many will never hear of. MLS has improved but you still get many games that the quality is brutal to watch and sit through. I can’t imagine what A league is like if you are committing to it. That’s some serious patience.

You say MLS has improved since its inception but have you noticed a recent upturn since they’ve appeared to buy more high profile up and coming South American players, notably from Argentina? From afar players like Barco and Almada haven’t set the world alight despite moving for big money. Barco is back in Argentina now.

Unlike past iterations of football in the US, they have done a decent job building a more solid base. They obviously added in ways to bring in better talent over the years but the foundations are a lot more sustainable long term. There is a bit of disparity in markets that can attract certain players, but every team gets to use the designated player rule. Case in point Sporting Kansas City made a serious approach to Ronaldo last year before he headed to Saudi Arabia. But the grass roots of the game and the access to central and South America has helped progress the league. The players coming in are really quite good now especially from countries in that part of the world.

I spent some time in the US a few years ago now and always felt that they got it somewhat wrong in trying to expand the number of MLS teams.  I still think they should have built a bigger professional league structure below the MLS and kept the MLS as a smaller league based in the most desirable locations in order to attract top players.  That way they wouldn't dilute the quality of the league that much.

Add a window in to play the Premier League and other top European teams in their pre-season and potentially look at a tournament with top Mexican teams..

[ChicagoLion]

The problem in the US is that there is nothing between college football/ soccer and the MLS.
Most countries have amateur clubs and leagues, not so in the US.
The best you can hope for is a pick up game where groups meet in parks and organise a game.

[Sexual Ealing]

We get it on TV here once in a while. It’s a lot like early MLS. Mostly absolutely dreadful football with players many will never hear of. MLS has improved but you still get many games that the quality is brutal to watch and sit through. I can’t imagine what A league is like if you are committing to it. That’s some serious patience.

You say MLS has improved since its inception but have you noticed a recent upturn since they’ve appeared to buy more high profile up and coming South American players, notably from Argentina? From afar players like Barco and Almada haven’t set the world alight despite moving for big money. Barco is back in Argentina now.

Unlike past iterations of football in the US, they have done a decent job building a more solid base. They obviously added in ways to bring in better talent over the years but the foundations are a lot more sustainable long term. There is a bit of disparity in markets that can attract certain players, but every team gets to use the designated player rule. Case in point Sporting Kansas City made a serious approach to Ronaldo last year before he headed to Saudi Arabia. But the grass roots of the game and the access to central and South America has helped progress the league. The players coming in are really quite good now especially from countries in that part of the world.

I spent some time in the US a few years ago now and always felt that they got it somewhat wrong in trying to expand the number of MLS teams.  I still think they should have built a bigger professional league structure below the MLS and kept the MLS as a smaller league based in the most desirable locations in order to attract top players.  That way they wouldn't dilute the quality of the league that much.

Add a window in to play the Premier League and other top European teams in their pre-season and potentially look at a tournament with top Mexican teams..

The top Mexican teams are doing fine as they are.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Mexican and US teams play each other anyway, dont they, in some competition?

[AV82EC]

Mexican and US teams play each other anyway, dont they, in some competition?

Yep Concacaf have their own version of the Champs League don’t they?

[Sexual Ealing]

Mexican and US teams play each other anyway, dont they, in some competition?

Yep Concacaf have their own version of the Champs League don’t they?

I believe so, which means there's no reason for Mexican teams to prop up the MLS.

[taylorsworkrate]

The problem in the US is that there is nothing between college football/ soccer and the MLS.
Most countries have amateur clubs and leagues, not so in the US.
The best you can hope for is a pick up game where groups meet in parks and organise a game.

Friend of mine from Texas (by his account) was a good High School American Football tight end. Didn't get picked up by a college and has not played a competitive game of American Football since 2004 when he finished school

[Gareth]

From the Athletic (how dare they be all over it)

Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign highly-rated West Bromwich Albion midfielder Keilan Quinn for a fee worth around £1m.

The 16-year-old will join Villa's under-16 side with the plan being for him to become a scholar next season.

Quinn has scored one goal and provided one assist in ten appearances for West Brom's under-18 side this season.

[PeterWithe]

I don't know why kids bother signing for West Brom, just save the time and come here and if they are no good they can go there afterward.

[Gareth]

I don't know why kids bother signing for West Brom, just save the time and come here and if they are no good they can go there afterward.

That’s what should have been happening for the last 15 years, our academy recruitment was not as good as theirs, which is why we poached most of their academy team like Harrison to bridge the gap