The players would welcome a salary capped system. Right now a player negotiates and signs their contract with the league instead of with individual teams (FCD, Houston, etc…). This is one of the major points that the players will not budge on, and Lee’s situation is a very good reason why. I think we all agree that Lee is worth more than 30K/year. The only person he could negotiate his contract with was Don Garber who is bitter that he passed on an offer 4 years ago to go to PSV.

You can limit how much the teams are allowed to spend (IE a Salary Cap) without controlling player negotiations with their teams. Let the teams negotiate the player contracts and make the commisioner a policeman who makes sure the teams stay within the cap. Its a simple system that works in the NFL (Garber’s former employer) and the NBA.

American soccer fans missed out on a great opportunity to see a special player because of the way the league is set up and because of the vindictive nature of the people who are in currently in charge. It really is a shame.

I bet he’ll be back next year if the league moves away from a single entity structure.

Ever heard of small athletic leagues in the U.S. called the NFL, NBA, or MLB? And a much more crowded entertainment market chasing all the $$s.

MLS is paying what they can based on their revenues, players are asking for more of an already small pie when 1/2 the owners are still losing $$ and having to put more $$ in to keep the team in business.

Players need to suck it up and play and hopefully the economic climate will be better, and revenues and the total pie larger next time the CBA comes up.

Lack of a salary cap killed the NASL. MLS is doing well and growing and doing things the right way slow but steady. If you think they can just roll the ball out on the field to play the game and sign lots of world class players to huge salaries and people will show up and support the league, you are wrong.

Everything Nguyen says is reasonable and the offer by MLS is pathetic and indefensible. Nguyen says he’ll accept a pay-cut and a performance based contract = 100% reasonable. MLS want to tie him in at minimum wage for FIVE years?!?!

I am more than worried about what will happen with the CBA, because it seems more and more than MLS is insane with some of their issues.

In trying to look at both sides of this deal, I think the critical factors are:
* Timing of discussion (prior to CBA)
* CYA Mentality of MLS (I get this part)
* Amount offered (sounds very low)
* Contract Length (5 years – way too long)

I think both sides need to give a little. I get offering a base salary similar to what was initially offered. That does make business sense when you consider the short number of years since the initial GA offer was made. HOWEVER, MLS is being – well, abusive in offering a salary this low with a FIVE year contract (or 2 yrs plus 3 one-yr options for the league to choose to re-up that contract – not a fair deal). A one or two year deal with a WRITTEN agreement to write a new contract OR offer incentives for achieving specific performance goals.

Personally, I think Lee is initially worth 50 -90. But my opinion is not worth much. YMMV

Being a star in the V-League is like being the best penguin breeder in Mongolia.

What i cant understand is the punk move that MLS makes that offers them the same salary that they offered when the player was first attempting to sign a pro contract, as if that player was an unproven rookie just starting his career. this player may be an unproven guy still, but he’s a full-blown professional and should be treated as such. offer incentives or something that’ll make the player more money.

bringing back US Nationals to this league is only a good thing, especially when MLS players are looking to get away so quickly (ie Rolfe, Movsisyan, Gbandi, etc). Even if its a Cory Gibbs deal where you know they’re just coming back for a season or 2 before they try Europe again, so what. bringing back attacking talent is even more valuable in this league.