MLS All-Stars to Play West Ham, Who Cares?

MLS recently announced that West Ham United will be heading to BMO field in Toronto this summer to take on the league All-Star team. I can't help but let out an indifferent yawn when I think about this match up.

Two years ago, the All-Stars beat Chelsea 1-0. They followed that up with a 2-0 win over Glasgow Celtic. While Celtic was a slight step down in competition from the previous year, West Ham provides a giant step down in the level of competition. I predict this game going down much the same way as the one four years ago, when the MLS All-Stars thumped Fulham.

In an age when everyone is raving about the influx of international talent into the league, perhaps MLS has reached a point where it no longer needs to bring in a “big name” European club to get people excited about the All-Star game. I mean really, how many soccer fans are going to run out to their local Ticketmaster for the chance to see West Ham and their complete lack of international stars get whooped?

There is enough talent in MLS to have an old fashioned East vs. West All-Star game. It’s time for the league to either abandon the gimmick all together, or not settle for a side like West Ham or Fulham.

So right out of the gate, I’ll give you my All-Stars for both conferences after one week, and you can all debate about who got snubbed and who didn’t. The fact that there is even an argument that two All-Star teams, let alone one, has snubbed players is reason enough to change the format back to the old way.

The could even make an entire weekend out of the All-Star game by featuring a “Young Guns” game. Players under the age of 24 could be featured. There would be plenty to fill out these two teams as well.

So debate away. The fact that there is any argument at all about people who might have been left off of this list is proof enough that the league needs to reevaluate if bringing in a mid-table EPL team is a better showcase of the leagues talent, then really shining a spotlight on the league by trotting out two All-Star teams. When you're reading over this list, imagine this. Less than half of these players will even make the All-Star team this year, let alone anyone I may have snubbed.

WEST

GK - Brad Guzan (Chivas USA)

D - Wade Barrett (Houston Dynamo)

D - Claudio Suarez (Chivas USA)

D - Jose Burciaga Jr. (Colorado Rapids)

M - Francisco Mendoza (Chivas USA)

M - Cristian Gomez (Colorado Rapids)

M - Dwayne de Rosario (Houston Dynamo)

M - Juan Toja (FC Dallas)

M - David Beckham (LA Galaxy)

F - Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)

F - Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)

EAST

GK - Matt Reis (New England Revolution)

D - Chris Albright (New England Revolution)

D - Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution)

D - Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards)

M - Fred (DC United)

M - Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)

M - Marcello Gallardo (DC United)

M - Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution)

M - Dane Richards (Red Bull New York)

F - Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire)

F - Juan Pablo Angel (Red Bull New York)