MLS Rule Changes for '08

Yesterday MLS announced some changes that have been made for the upcoming season. Among them, potentially the most influential is that the number of foreign players permitted on each roster has increased.

Some teams with a fat bank roll started spending and bringing in higher paid, big name talent last year with the Designated Player rule. I believe most of these players were in fact foreigners (was Reyna one of the DP's?). This means that we could see a league with more marquee players such as those that arrived in '07 like David Beckham, Juan Pablo Angel and Cuauhtemoc Blanco as well as some lower profile but still higher skilled players than MLS fans have been used to. The talent level is sure to rise with this new tweak to the rule.

In 2007, MLS teams were allowed to have a total of 7 foreign players, categorized by senior and junior status. In 2008, they will be allowed to have up to 8 foreign players on their rosters with no junior/senior restrictions. This combined with the fact that one club can trade for other teams' foreign player slots will be sure to spice things up around the league. This may become very interesting as teams begin to weigh their want/needs for the upcoming season. Needless to say, being a GM or decision maker for a club's roster has just gotten more exciting and complex.

While some might look down on these changes to MLS' roster policy, I personally think it is a great move. It is going to bring a higher level of talent to the league, which the U.S. obviously can't provided on its own at the moment. Especially with the addition of Toronto last year, San Jose in 2008, Seattle in 2009 and possibly more teams to come, the MLS is going to need new sources of talent. These foreign players will serve as a great source to keep the level of play improving at the same rate that the league is growing, in terms of size and popularity. And if some are saying that the MLS might end up having a comparable ratio of foreign to domestic players like the EPL has, then I say bring it on. In my eyes, having similarities with the most exciting and popular league in the world is a positive thing.