by Jonathan Greengrass

Created on: August 26, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

When you compare the MLS and the English Premiership, the one significant difference is the draft system. By ensuring that the best clubs don't usually acquire the most talented prospects there is an even playing field going into the start of a season. It also garauntees that money has no influence in the final standings (unlike in England where financial powerhouses like Manchester United and Chelsea dominate). On the basis of it there is a good case for introducing a draft system into English football. However, in reality it will never happen nor would it be beneficial if it did.

There are a number of reasons for this. The first is infrastructure. In north america, most of the development of young players is done by high-schools and universities. There are plenty of well structured and well funded tournaments and institutions that allow for talented youngsters to get a high quality of training. In England such a system doesn't exist. The majority of development is done by professional teams. Here the players recieve absolutely excellent training. Introducing the draft would remove all incentives to produce talented young players, as the team would have no garauntee of signing that player to their first teams.

The second reason is the standard of the English league. It is the best in the world and English fans are proud of it. Introducing a draft system would only serve to weaken such a league, where most of the best players would leave to join foreign clubs if the money left the league. Also, in the absence of a draft/exchange system in other european leagues, clubs would only be able to sign the best of foreign talent when those players were out of contract. European clubs very rarely do straight swaps, and so english clubs would have no way to trade with the rest of the world.

Finally, a draft system in England would have to be very complex. If draft picks were decided solely on final league position, teams that competed in europe and that progressed far in the FA cup would be disadvantaged. Therefore, a draft system would have to incorperate these performances or risk negating the value of cup competitions. These are held in great esteem in England, and serve as the only realistic chance for small clubs to win silverware

In conclusion, although this system works well in the slightly money-starved MLS, it would never work in England, and because of this the league would be no more or less competitive than it was before.

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