Tim Howard Criticises MLS Defending: “The Level Defensively Is So Poor”

Former USA international Tim Howard has criticised the defensive level in Major League Soccer, saying the way the league was built has created an imbalance in teams.

“The League Focused on Flashy Signings”

Howard explained that the Designated Player (DP) rule was created mainly to attract big attacking names and sell tickets, rather than improve the overall quality of teams.

According to him, clubs usually spend money on attacking players instead of strengthening defensive positions.

Comparison With Manchester City

The former goalkeeper also compared MLS spending to Manchester City, saying the Premier League club invests heavily in defenders and defensive midfielders, not only attackers.

He pointed out that players like Rodri are examples of how top clubs spend big money to improve defensive balance, something he believes MLS clubs don’t do enough.

Criticism of Defensive Quality

Howard said that because of this structure, the defensive level in the league has not improved as much as it should have, especially compared to top European leagues.

Debate Around the League’s Structure

His comments have added to the ongoing debate about whether MLS should change the way teams spend money, especially if the league wants to compete at a higher level in the future.