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MCFC To Become Citizens Of America

According to latest reports City are attempting to succeed where the likes United and Chelsea have failed in conquering America.

Both Chelsea and United have tried to conquer the hearts of the American soccer public with off-season tours against the likes of the Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy.

Old Taggart has surrendered United's US campaign for fear of losing ground in the Far East an easier and traditionally more profitable market for the Reds.

City however it seems have found a use for CEO Garry Cook's 'skill set' and plan to conquer the US Soccer market one step at a time.

Instead of touring in far off places like Los Angeles where the population is predominately Hispanic and therefore favours South American or Mediterranean club sides through descent, Cook has no doubt sought to concentrate on the areas where Americans of Northern European decent are based.

Plans are under way to invest in a Major League Soccer franchise with Vancouver, Philadelphia and Portland, where Cook has major contacts, being touted as possible targets.

The acquisition would be the perfect platform to launch a US City Academy and allow Jim Cassell and his team to develop and send over the Friedels, Dempseys and Donovans of this world earlier to hone their skills to become better players.

It would also make the difficult task touring in places like New York and New England easier and Cook has held preliminary talks with MLS commissioner Don Garber this week in Manchester.

Garber apparently wants to improve the quality and profile of the MLS by getting European clubs involved and has already held talks with Barcelona and Real Madrid about investing in one of their franchises.

According to City sources, Cook has strong links with Portland, where he worked with Nike, and is said to be keen on a summer tour there as well as in Philadelphia and New York.

Garber on the talks said,

'Part of the relaunch of that team is for them to think strategically about their business and where international expansion fits into that, and where the US might fit into that.

'We've had very preliminary discussions about that.'

Would it be a good idea for City to buy a MLS franchise? Are there better and easier markets out there like Asia or Australia who produce better quality players?

With all of the economic problems in the Argentinian League at the moment what about a team out there? In the shot term finding the new Messi, Tevez or Maradona would certainly seem more likely than in the MLS.

To improve the clubs brand on a global level it does seem like a sound and smarter strategy than the ones previously applied by Baconface and Co.




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Writer: GloucBlade Mail feedback, articles or suggestions

Date:Friday March 5 2010

Time: 11:49AM

Your Comments

this bugs me man,what happened to all the pre-season friendlies that used to happen in ireland?bring games back to where people actually give a feck about.
mcfcirish
I like the Argentina idea - a couple more Tevez's and a few Messi's would do me fine
Thaibluefan
I say nuke Ireland.
MCFC_Goatboy
ah now thats not on at all goat ;)
mcfcirish
Ok.. mild biological attack.
MCFC_Goatboy
If there's a Newell's Old Boys then surely we can make a Goater's Lunchbox or Kinky's Allstars.
lando78
Goater's Lunchbox FC playing out of Portland in the Jamie Pollock arena. Sounds good.
MCFC_Goatboy
Interesting concept but there are not many brilliant players from USA to take, even if we did become Americas choice team. Conquering Asia is a bit harder but new fans are fickle and we should at least have a presence there (a city store in each major city).
Eighthsin
Yes. Yes. GET IN! I can travel to New York and Philly for a week. JUST DO IT, City. (heh heh heh...)
severedgein
It is only the USA, because new franchises will be being set up shortly and at only $25m, they are very cheap, plus it's the ol' story of an untapped market ripe for the picking - if you forget the fact that 'soccer' ranks lower than that ever popular sport 'catching catfish with your hands in the Louisiana swamps'.
BlueWolfie
You haven't lived til you've seen City beat The League of Ireland All Stars at Tolka Park then be chased to the airport by Celtic fans the next day!!
Johnny Baguette
Spot on Wolf, MLS/USL franchises ARE dirt cheap, and I expect to see a few more pop up with in the next 3 years as the economy rebounds, hopefully one owned directly by City in South Florida where 'soccer' is big with the latino crowd. *coughget'r'doneCookiecough*
severedgein
Sorry, Chelsea failed in cracking the US? Did you not see all the sold out matches we had there in pre-season this year? If City manage to attract half the crowds we got then you will be doing well, don't get me wrong i like City and think you very well will be in Europe next season in which i wish you well but i just think that Chelsea dig was a touch out of order. Well done for last week, referee had a shocker but you made the most of some calamitous goal keeping and refereeing and deserved the win. Good luck for the rest of the season and i'll see you's in Europe next year.
LamparDrogbAnelKalou
 

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