About a year ago on this site,<a href="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/why-i-may-skip-the-all-star-game-tonight-13420" target="_blank"> I wrote an article</a> about why I would not be watching the MLS All Stars face off against Manchester United at Red Bull Arena. &nbsp;In essence, I felt that another meaningless friendly, but this time with a collection of MLS talent instead of just one team, didn’t peak my interest:
<blockquote>For the record, I tend not to watch all star games of sports I enjoy. &nbsp;No matter what the schtick (players pick teams, domestic v. foreign, winner gets homefield), if the game doesn’t count for something meaningful then I tend to enjoy it less. &nbsp;And that I think is the root cause of my lack of interest in tonight’s game.
Except for a major injury, no matter what happens on the pitch tonight it won’t matter.&nbsp;No trophies will be awarded, no points towards a final goal will be given, and there is nothing for MLS to gain from this match. &nbsp;If anything, there’s more to lose: witness the press surrounding last year’s game. &nbsp;I may be in the minority, but when there is so little at stake in a game I have little impetus to watch it on television.
In the past I have stated that I enjoy international friendlies; does this make me a hypocrite? &nbsp;Not at all, because I think the key difference is that I am watching this game&nbsp;on television.&nbsp;I can watch Manchester United on ESPN2 plenty of times in the coming months, in games that matter. &nbsp;If I were at Red Bull Arena and feeling the atmosphere of the game, I would be more excited and interested. &nbsp;But I am relegated to my couch, so I lose the atmosphere of the game and what appeals to me most about friendlies: seeing a team I can’t normally see play in-person.</blockquote>
A year later, it’s another Premier League team visiting our shores to face our collection of the best of the best (or, the best available). &nbsp;While Chelsea has a bit more prestige, having just won the UEFA Champions League, the scenario is basically the same. &nbsp;The only two differences that will maybe convince me to watch tonight are the arena and the head coach. &nbsp;Philadelphia’s soccer stadium has one of the best views in the league, and I enjoy watching games in HD played there simply because the view is unparalleled. &nbsp;The second reason is Ben Olsen. &nbsp;The DC united head coach is an up-and-coming manager with an oversized personality. &nbsp;How he manages his roster of all stars and enjoys the moment could be fun to see.
Does all this mean I will be tuning in tonight? &nbsp;Probably not. &nbsp;Because at the end of the day, the game doesn’t mean anything. &nbsp;An MLS win will be portrayed as them beating a traveling team tuning up for the season, while another loss to an EPL side will further cast doubt on MLS as product (rightly or wrongly). &nbsp;I’ll take a pass on this one and wait for a match that actually determines something in the standings.

Why I Am Still Avoiding the MLS All Star Game

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Why I Am Still Avoiding the MLS All Star Game