A Guide On How To Build The Perfect MLS Team

Hey there, New York City FC and Orlando City FC. Welcome to the league LA #2. Your teams are the newest members of an exclusive club called MLS, a soccer league that is unique in the world. It is unique because the way to dominate the league is very different than the leagues you’re used to, especially you, NYCFC owners. In almost every European league, if you want to be a serious title contender, you go out and acquire the best talent you can. Some of it you develop and some of it you acquire, but the restrictions you put on your acquisitions (especially in a top league) are set by your ownership.

Not so in MLS. First, the league has a salary cap; granted, that salary cap seemingly has more holes than some cheese but no one has figured out a way to entirely circumvent it. Second, MLS is at best a mid-tier league and as soon as its top talent is good enough, it leaves for a European league. Third, the league is larger geographically than most and the season is played during the summer, so the wear on a team is increased. This is a long way of saying simply buying a ton of high-profile players will not win you an MLS Cup; just ask Toronto and past New York Red Bull teams.

So how can you build the “perfect” MLS team? First we need to define “perfect”. It is probably impossible to go unbeaten in MLS. Thus let’s define “perfect” as a team with the best chance to win the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup; CONCACAF Champions League is its own animal and likely involves a team make-up different than one needed to win MLS. Here are some key elements to creating a dominant MLS Team, and for the new clubs these are very attainable goals:

1. Hire a coach that gets MLS: Increasingly this is a coach that has played in MLS, maybe even in “MLS 2.0”. This is important because as any MLS fan knows tactics are important but this league rewards smarts over tactics. That means knowing how to rotate players, how to prepare your team for playing on turf or 100 degree temperatures, and how to balance the needs of players making DP money and $40k per year. It’s a tough and underrated skill to be able to balance these MLS factors, and few can do it successfully.

2. Have your alpha-dog DP player: Your team can have more than one DP but you need to have one player that is an international star. You need a Robbie Keane, a Thierry Henry to be the focus of your team and elevate its play to a level of international excellence. However, you can only have one at this level because more than one means a fight for attention and fame; imagine Henry and Keane on the same team.

3. Sign an international midfield veteran that has played at a variety of levels: This player is different from your DP star because they are the kinds of player your fans go “who?” but recognize the teams on their resume. They’ve played for UEFA Champions League clubs but have also bounced around enough to have experienced a variety of playing conditions. This is key for adjusting to MLS. Peguy Luyindula is a good example of this kind of player; he’s played with Henry-level stars and has a good enough skill-set to support that player.

4. Build a dominant defense: Teams like Portland may steal your heart with their free-flowing offense but history has shown that your team needs to win a 1-0 ugly match by denying the opposing team chances and scoring on a quick counter. This is especially true on the playoffs when playing conservative clubs. Outside of your international talent, spend your money on rock-solid defenders especially MLS veterans. This includes your keeper, defenders and defensive midfielder.

5. Have an American international: So that way you can get all of the close calls. Just kidding. But as the U.S. continues to improve internationally, having a U.S. national is a sign that your team is talented.

6. Spend front office money on identifying low-price talent for your second team: Your first-team players will get injured. You’ll need to rotate first-teamers between that Open Cup match in Atlanta followed by the trip to Vancouver and the heat in Dallas. At some point a referee will miss the elbow thrown at your star but won’t miss the push back, meaning he’ll get suspended. In MLS your second teamers will never be internationals so you need to make sure you sign bench players who can contribute in specific ways and fill needs you identify over the course of the season.