In England, the Football League ladder has been in place for decades. The system of securing promotion throughout the various tiers of the Football League works well – with the opportunity for smaller clubs to progress all the way up to the Premier League.
You only need to look at the work Eddie Howe has done with AFC Bournemouth to see just how successful this system can be for certain clubs. It works in the same way with relegation.
Some of England’s biggest and most successful teams, such as Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, have all slipped out of the top flight despite their European success in the past.
However, other major leagues around the world follow a ‘closed shop’ franchise system. In essence, that means there is no relegation or promotion but organisations are invited to join based on various factors.
First and foremost, the logistics of playing in a league such as the A-League and Major League Soccer are not simple. Teams need to have access to a suitable stadium, have the required funds to pay staff and players and there must be a platform for future development.
If a club isn’t going to enhance that particular league in any way, shape or form, the league may decline entry.
In some nations, particularly those where football isn’t quite as prominent, this system works well. Football fans in the United States and Australia seem to enjoy their domestic experience on the whole, so why change a working formula?
Major League Soccer viewers saw a record goal-scoring spree earlier this season; franchises were averaging 3.22 goals per game – the highest recorded tally since the formation of the league on the other side of the Atlantic.
In addition, the A-League is still one of the most entertaining and exciting divisions to watch, with a lack of defensive competency mixed in with an improving attacking philosophy.
Quality Of Play Is Important
Attacking football is usually the order of the day in these two divisions. Major League Soccer has always been like that; emphasis has been placed on making the sport fun and attractive to watch in the United States.
The Designated Player rule, otherwise known as the Beckham rule after David Beckham made the switch to LA Galaxy, is useful these days in helping clubs offer lucrative contracts to big-name players whilst still adhering to salary cup rules for the rest of the squad.
As long as this system is in place, the MLS will continue to grow and it is now on the cusp of breaking into the second tier of elite domestic divisions.
Meanwhile, the A-League is also getting bigger. Australian organisations haven’t been able to attract that same brand of footballer but a few former Premier League stars are plying their trade in Australia’s top flight these days.
Adam Le Fondre, now playing for Sydney FC, set a new Premier League record for top-flight goals in a single season as a substitute.
At the time of writing, he has bagged six goals in six A-League games so far this season and punters can back Sydney FC at 3/1 to go on and lift the title for the second time in three years.
Playoffs Format Works Well In Both Leagues
With no relegation or promotion, there is a particular onus on the playoff format in both of these divisions. Major League Soccer has followed a certain format since its inaugural year and it has been a roaring success with fans across the globe.
Certain clubs tend to turn on the style in the postseason and that can affect betting markets – punters should keep an eye on any noticeable shifts.
In addition, home advantage, as is the case in most American sports competitions, is huge in the playoffs. Take that into account when considering a wager on the upcoming MLS Cup clash between Atlanta United and Portland Timbers.
In Australia, the route to the final is simpler than it is in the United States. The top six clubs advance to the postseason but those teams finishing in the top two spots receive a bye into the semi-finals.
Whilst this allows organisations to stay fresh, some teams prefer to play in order to stay sharp and match fit – finding that balance can be tough.
Sydney have been the dominant force in the regular season but they fell short in the playoffs last year as the Melbourne Victory went on to lift the crown. 888sport are going 7/2 in their A-League odds for the defending champions to repeat this campaign.
Betting On These Leagues - How Does It Work?
Punters must be wary of the differences between these divisions and the Premier League over in English football.
With no betting markets available for relegation, bettors on the A-League and MLS can find odds on a specific team to finish bottom instead. Major League Soccer is trickier to predict, mainly because the league is split into two conferences.
At the beginning of the campaign, many bookmakers offer prices on clubs to reach the playoffs; this is popular with NFL and NHL punters as predicting American sports can be difficult.
Over in the A-League, it is the same old story. With a plethora of A-League betting odds on offer to 888sport customers, Australia’s top flight is growing and it is only going to get bigger as interest grows overseas.
Punters can bet on various markets, including but not limited to: top club from a specific city, team to finish in bottom place, head-to-head matchup betting against rival clubs and more.
More betting markets will become available on the A-League and Major League Soccer in due course, as these leagues are now more prominent than ever with television coverage increasing on a seasonal basis.
Predicting A Winner
Again, predicting a winner is harder in the MLS. As a league, Major League Soccer have been proactive with encouraging teams to join.
Soccer is quickly developing into one of America’s biggest sports and the addition of the new Los Angeles team, along with David Beckham’s organisation in the future, will only help to gauge interest.
Betting on the MLS Cup winner is something of a lottery, though, as 15 of the 23 teams to compete in America’s top flight have featured in the MLS Cup – which is testament to the strength of the league and its competing clubs.
Atlanta are the 2/9 favourites to become the 13th team to lift the trophy when they take on the Portland Timbers in the 2018 showpiece.
The A-League has been slightly more predictable; the same clubs tend to reach the playoffs on a yearly basis. There have been some anomalies, though, and that isn’t to suggest in any way that Australia’s top flight is boring and easy to call.
Far from it, in fact. Six organisations have been fortunate enough to claim the A-League premier title, with Melbourne Victory coming out on top with four triumphs.
However, fans should remember Adelaide United’s shock success in 2016 and that should serve as a reminder to A-League viewers that anything can happen in Australia’s elite soccer division.
Future Growth - Any Changes?
Bettors enjoy placing a wager on Major League Soccer and the A-League due to its exciting nature.
Changing things up too much in these divisions would be detrimental; they are two of the most exciting leagues to watch and punters will opt for the over goals line more often than not.
Major League Soccer is maturing into one of the biggest divisions on the planet and the A-League can follow their blueprint for success.
It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see these divisions take centre stage as two of the greatest and most entertaining soccer leagues in the coming years.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
