A growing number of people are pretty upset about the MLS All-Star selections, specifically on two different points. First, Don Garber chose two guys who haven’t set foot on a pitch for an official MLS match. Second, Sebastian Giovinco was left off the team completely. Just as a bonus, Ethan Finlay and Kei Kamara were also left off which has left many passionate MLS enthusiasts’ panties in a bunch.
Pump the breaks kids. Take a chill pill. Let professor Quintana drop some school yard knowledge on you. If you take nothing else from reading this just know this: this game does not matter.
And while most of you know this deep down inside, you’re still upset at the thought. If your blood is about to start boiling, go ahead and pop another chill pill.
This game is an MLS showcase. It has absolutely nothing to do with who is most deserving of a roster spot. It’s an opportunity to show the world (really just Europe) how much better MLS is gradually becoming, and they're doing that by selecting their big names. That’s why there is a good mix of non-American, former EPL/La Liga/Serie A players and American players. If you’re truly a fan of MLS and want to see its’ status elevate past that of the younger brother who loves accepting all the hand-me-downs, then you’ll want to see the two best ex-EPL players, now in MLS, play in this match. It’s a great opportunity to show off the new toys. You’d like to see them do well. Ideally, you’d love to see them create some ingenious passage of plays to show how well MLS and an ex-EPL players can transition to the new style of play.
More importantly, please don’t think the players actually care about playing the game. Sure, some players have incentives that include more money for being named to the All-Star roster, but ultimately it can’t be viewed more than a fun and friendly match. Michael Bradley, Matt Besler, Graham Zusi and other USMNT players aren’t focused on a match like this, and had they been left off, it’s just one less game they have to play.
When’s the last time the La Liga All-Star match was played or televised? What about the EPL or Serie A? That’s right, it hasn’t really happened. And Giovinco is expected to care about being left off? The idea of an All-Star game is strictly an American one. To top it off, MLS holds the All-Star match in the middle of the season, much like the American pastime. Like baseball (and football for that matter), the league will usually pick name over statistics, which is perfectly fine, because MLS is showcasing how much better their league is becoming by trotting out the big international names to play with the domestic ones.