As the resident MLS nut and DC United supporter be happy to help clear up any details about the league for anyone.
Question 1: Is NYCFC any good?
Well, they have not kicked a ball yet, but they have a great manager in Kreis who can guide them if they are patient. My guess is it will be a rocky start as everyone integrates into the squad. Villa gives them attacking option, but depth is a concern. Personally I'm not sure Lampard coming in mid season will be the boost most hope for. If I had to predict now they will finish mid to lower table, but set up well for 2016.
Question 2: What age do players breakdown?
There is no right answer to this, but a general rule is at 30 players start to "lose a step" this means physically it starts to be harder to keep up speed wise. This can be balanced though if a player has tremendous skill. For example Tierry Henry was not running by anyone, but his service to forwards was still amazing as he aged. As a side not ethis is why goal keepers peak later as they don't run as much and more skill and experienced based.
Question 3: Does the salary cap need to go?
There is a reason MLS established a salary cap in 1996, the failed NASL of the past spent like crazy and went bankrupt. MLS is about slow steady growth via infrastructure with stadiums and academies being built nearly every year. The purse strings have loosened with the designated player rule allowing sides to spend big ona few players.
Why is this come up again in 2015? Because this year is the CBA negotiation where things like salary caps get adjusted. Until that is settle we really don't know how much money clubs have to work with in 2015 and beyond. Everything points to an increase, matter of how much.
Question 3: Will City group screw NYCFC?
I think based on simple economics easy to see why an English club right now get favoritism over US/Canada based one. It is a concern that being a club you could play second fiddle to another, as the Lampard debacle showed us. I think this is a time will tell case. I mean, our owner at DC United bought Inter Milan and did not change way club was run at all. Comes down to the owners.
