How would a 2016 MLS All-Star team fare in the Premier League?
The folks over at ESPN FC conducted an anonymous poll of 123 current players in Major League Soccer, which included one especially intriguing question: Where would the best MLS team finish in the Premier League this season?
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The answers varied, with no one predicting a top four finish, 50 percent zeroing in on a 10th- to 14th-place spot, 33 percent predicting a relegation battle, and 17 percent believing an MLS team would fight for a spot in Europe.
One polled player believes the MLS ambassador could finish with a Europa League spot in sixth place, explaining that "guys would play in that league and figure it out," while another anonymous footballer disagreed entirely, saying: "The best MLS team would get relegated every year in the Premier League. An MLS All-Star team would fight to (survive) in the bottom half."
The cold, hard truth is that it's highly unlikely - even more unlikely than Leicester City's incredible 2015-16 dream run - that an MLS team, whether the championship-winning Portland Timbers or the league dynasty LA Galaxy, could survive the Premier League drop.
However, the second polled player brings up an intriguing prospect: How would a properly balanced MLS All-Star team fare in England's top flight?
And what might that team even look like? Here's a take:
Tim Howard: Battle-hardened in the Premier League already, Howard is certainly dependable enough for a mid-table outfit.
Andoni Iraola: The best right full-back in MLS on pedigree, Iraola has dealt with La Liga's fiercest wingers for long enough to put in a good shift.
Jelle Van Damme: Paired alongside his fellow Belgian, Van Damme has European experience and played with Wolves and Southampton, too.
Laurent Ciman: The best defender in MLS, Ciman has five years of top-flight European experience with Standard Liege to draw on here.
Ashley Cole: We'd still rather trust Cole in the Premier League, since there are few full-backs as experienced as he in this competition.
Nigel De Jong: Played with Manchester City and knows full-well the rigors and demands of the English top flight. At 31, he's not past his prime, either.
Michael Bradley: The U.S. captain could likely slot in at center midfield for several Premier League outfits today, should he choose to.
Kaka: The Brazilian maestro has the magic touch needed to create and score. His injury woes in Europe seem to have cleared up.
Giovani Dos Santos: Has the talent and energy to cause trouble up top and, at 26 years old, the Mexican attacker is entering the prime of his career.
David Villa: A proven goal-scorer through and through, Villa pips a number of older strikers available due to his energy and versatility.
Sebastian Giovinco: He's the sort of player who could very well cause trouble but there are concerns regarding his size. Still, it's tough defending against the Atomic Ant, regardless of pedigree.
Head Coach - Bruce Arena
And here's the second string:
Under the right circumstances, and with a touch of good fortune, this team might just be able to survive and perhaps even finish mid-table in what is perhaps the toughest domestic competition in the world.
There are a number of absent faces in the starting XI, chief among them Premier League icons like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Robbie Keane. Their age and energy levels are the primary concern, but coming off the bench, those four players, plus MLS talents like Fabian Castillo and Ignacio Piatti, could very well be difference-makers on the day.
Unfortunately, there's no helping the MLS back four in either case.