Whether he was calling for the front seat during the road trip, fighting for that final slices of pizza, or wanted to sign World Cup Winner and Bayern Munich Legend Thomas Muller Step for a blockbuster summer Of mlsCalling DIBS is important. It is so important that it has its own rules in the league.
Muller recently made headlines After joining Vancouver wheatcaps The single-unit structure of the MLS is called a discovery list through an etipical but important mechanism.
The “Discovery” part of the rule often raises qualitative eyebrows. How can you find, for example, a 35 -year -old German International? The regulation allows teams to “search” and selects five non-MLS players (with some exceptions), and those teams may be in the first line to interact on MLS Steps. If two or more clubs have the same player in their list, the priority is then given to the first claim or, if filed on the same day, the team with the worst point-game record.
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Clubs can also exchange priority rights – “Dibs,” if you do – and in the example of Vancouver, whitakaps paid $ 400,000 FC Cincinnati For Muller’s search rights.
For those who take note, why does MLS connect these misleading additional steps? Unusual in the rest of the global game, it will have lots of heads Premier League Or Laliga If the clubs are queued in line or transferred the rights of a leading player.
MLS has defended its use and told ESPN that it helps in the league. An agent believes that it can help the teams, yet considers it a “necessary evil”, while others are left with questions. In a conversation with ESPN, an anonymous team executive said that the process was “shameful.”
Keeping this in mind, why is the discovery list MLS a mechanism, and should it change or go away?
Divers dive weed in discovery list
“The world of football transactions is actually – I think it as a rugby scram, where many stakeholders are fighting for the position, and consequently cost high cost,” said Christina Labrie, Senior Vice President of MLS players, ESPN. “Discovery list is more like an orderly line in which clubs get an opportunity to interact in turn, which takes some of the noise out of the system. I think it is beneficial for the league.”
One of the primary goals of the Discovery list is to help keep the cost low for clubs looking to connect non-MLS players, a mechanism that can help the land marki stars for small and market teams who do not have the finance of the largest spenders. The MLS is looking around instead of a player interested in MLS and bidding wars, it may be angry through the process.
Samata is also a profit for small-market teams, while other can be clever with scouting for specific players worldwide.
“There are owners in this league who have said a lot that I will spend whatever I need to do, and of course, we do not have that type of owner. I think our owners also understand the business side of the game and want to ensure that we are keeping in mind the line below,” San Diego FC Sporting Director Tyler Heips told ESPN.
“There is a supporter in the search process that you are not bidding against everyone in this league. Because if it is, then I think some of these teams have a clearly endless amount [of money] And by spending unlimited quantity, they are going to be able to get whatever player they want because it will just purchase around the league very quickly. ,
Agent Patrick McKebe, who has facilitated the arrival of more than 150 players for MLS.
“I think this is an essential evil where MLS is and where it keeps growing. We cannot have a full wild waste, free market economy for players who join abroad, should be a process, there should be rules, there should be rules, there should be rules,” Mckebe said.
“You are going to know that the clubs who plan the best roster and future plan and scouting – you know, they can actually use this search process for their advantage, [but] The clubs that are reacting in the market do not have a good scouting setup, they are going to suffer. ,
It is understandable that the MLS is trying to complete with the rule – especially in many cases a player is included only in one list – but things can be complicated. If more than one club has a player in a search list, a general allocation for a non-gourd-team can send $ 50,000 of funds-in-League funds that can be used for a variety of purposes-in the Curvance Club, which will be five days, or three days in the current secondary transfer window, to accept money or to make a proposal for the player.
In the case of Vancouver with Müller, search rights can also be exchanged, without any waiting period or preference club offer, through GAM deals that are usually more than $ 50,000.
ESPN reports in April That Muller rejected Cincinnati’s proposal, and until July, whitcaps Was finalizing his $ 400,000 deal For the rights of German player.
“He [$50,000] Just triggers the process to ensure that the club is not just sitting on these search rights. You can also do business and make a proposal that is more than this, “Larry said.” This discovery is a priority business. ,
Start a little confusion about Muller’s way for Vancouver? You are not alone. Discovery list MLS is one of several mechanisms that makes it a highly regulated league, a tool that has additional details Very long to cover in an article,
Despite additional steps, Muller has found a way to join MLS, but is this the right way?
“It’s embarrassing to talk about that stuff”
Unexpectedly, there are mixed feelings about the mechanism.
“I look at both its sides,” Hips said. “This is a league that is trying to wear equality. I will probably go ahead with them [Discovery List] Because again, it becomes more about the project and dialogue as it is about its rights about that time, and I think the League probably lost some good players. ,
An executive felt more strongly in an anonymous conversation with ESPN.
“A part of it is the issue of single unit, okay? I believe in competition, but the single unit forces them [MLS] Not to allow that competition. But I think it is shameful to talk to agents around the world, like the rule and all that items, like the Discovery Rules, from the point of view of a validity, “said the team’s executive.
“It likes, wait, so we can’t talk because [MLS club]Who never talked to me, put it [me] In a search list? It has no meaning. “
These rules and “Discovery” phrases are not only for new fans of MLS, but also for some incoming players, and agents, which are unaware of the league.
“Just imagine explaining – I had to explain it [a former MLS Designated Player]Correct? When I was with him, we did not keep him in the search list [MLS club]And we had to go for this and do business, “said the executive of the Anam Club.
,[I said]’Now we are searching for you [List]We have agreed to the discovery, ‘And he likes,’ okay, but you guys didn’t find me. ,
After knowing about the rule and not being able to interact with other MLS teams, the executive had to inform the high-profile player that he could only discuss the contract details with a club that was more in priority, unless there was an exchange deal between those teams.
“Legally, according to [our rules] … you cannot talk to them and us at the same time. You can only talk to the team that is more on priority, or if the conversation between the teams has been held, “the executive said to the player, who signed with a separate club.
When Larry was asked whether the players may not be committed to MLS by the discovery list process or if it is concerned for the front office, the League official said such situations are exceptions.
“We signed hundreds of players every year through the search process, and it actually works well. These deals are skilled, they get quickly,” Labrie said.
“There are some cases, every year there are a handful of cases, where many clubs are interested in the same player. Therefore, the other is a process to ensure that we are following all stages.”
Should MLS change or keep the search list?
For McKebe, an agent who assumes that the discovery list can work for clubs that take time to scout and prepare, they would still want to see changes. Ideas such as rethinking the number of players in the Discovery list and limiting the number of players can be discovered for clubs that have no salary cap space.
McKebe said, “How long you can catch the search, a time limit should be applied to the list, reset at the end of each window, as as far as I know, there is no time limit,” Mckebe said.
“Secondly I would say that if a player is discovered, he should be made public. The agent should be approached … MLS should contact the player or agent, to say that you have been added to the MLS Discovery list by a certain team.”
Sports Director of San Diego has imposed capital on his scouting and identified to keep complicated options in his search list, but what would happen if that process disappears?
“This is something that is there, so how do you try to take advantage of it and use it for your benefit, and this is the way I see it, [but] If it goes, will I go crazy? No, I think it will be completely fine, “Hips said.
“This will probably take a little bit of an adjustment period, and perhaps there would be some negotiations that we did not finish, because perhaps an agent or a player chose to go to the shop who deal all around and probably receive a high number elsewhere.”
For now, the discovery list is living. When used correctly, it can be argued that it can benefit teams like Vancouver that were ready to make a proposal for someone like Muller, which can elevate the club 2025 and beyond.
But the place for improvement is, and as the league considers extensive changes through its widespread growth in its third decade, changes and a more simplified approach should be considered for the search list, which symbolizes how complicated it can be in one of the most regulated leagues of football. Or, if MLS feels that it is fitting and beneficial, perhaps one day it will be away with “debts”.
