Frank Lampard Staying With Manchester City is an MLS Embarrassment
By Douglas Smith
@DFresh39
Getty Images
The rumors of Frank Lampard staying with Manchester City in the Premier League were substantiated this week. While it may not be a surprise, the news is a black eye to the face of MLS and their new franchise, NYCFC. The ownership group made it clear that the value of the team in England is much higher than the one in New York. However, MLS and its marketing partners made Lampard’s signing one of the biggest reasons to be interested in the new club and they did it without an apparent contract. This is just part of the reason that MLS should be embarrassed.
NYCFC Director of Football Claudio Reyna has toed the company line by saying that they are still working on the timeline for Lampard’s arrival and that the club has shown it can attract elite talent. Meanwhile, MLS commissioner Don Garber has remained silent. He stated at the beginning of December that they would not interfere in the loan proceedings, but they are often involved in transfers through single entity. Deputy commissioner Mark Abbott just said they are still happy to have Lampard at some point.
This comes after Lampard, along with David Villa, was used as the face of the franchise. Billboards and flags had Lampard on them. When the signing was announced Lampard played with some neighborhood kids wearing his new NYCFC jersey. That jersey, which is nearly identical to Manchester City, has been on sale since the summer. The Third Rail, the official supporters group, issued a statement that said many had bought tickets in hopes of seeing Lampard.
It would behoove Garber and the leadership at NYCFC to come forward soon and make a statement that reveals they have talked to the ownership group of the team and also re-evaluated their marketing strategies. They will never change their place in the pecking order behind Manchester City, but they went too far with the unveiling of Lampard. There is not much that MLS can do about what transpired with the Manchester City loan, but what got them here is an embarrassment.
Douglas Smith is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DFresh39, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
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