Here we are, considering the words of a man who has a vested interest in an agreement getting done and the season going on as planned. Don Garber, in Manchester of all places, talking about the MLS labor strife, and telling everyone that he expects the MLS season to go on as planned.

"We will not lock them out, and we are confident they will not go on strike," Garber told The Associated Press at the SoccerEx convention. "We will not make any decisions just to avoid a work stoppage. We've got to make decisions that will ensure the long-term financial success of the MLS, and I'm sure we will not make any decisions to prove a point.

"I don't think any of our players want to go on strike, and we are taking their issues very seriously. The expectations are that the season will start on time, and the expectation is that will be reach agreement with our players."

First, there is absolutely nothing new here. Garber is repeating the management party line, reiterating the league's desire to keep things the way they are. Perhaps the most notable statement is that he doesn't believe the players will strike; does that mean he doesn't think they have the needed support to do so, or that there are enough good feelings floating around to prevent them from doing so?


I'm guessing it's the former rather than the latter, though we can probably just assume Garber was reinforcing what we already know; with MLS claiming they initiated a lock out, the ball is firmly in the MLSPU's court.


This is entirely too many words wasted on a statement with little to no new substance. Garber hasn't been vocal about the CBA negotiations, at least not since they really ramped up in January, so it is somewhat notable that he spoke on it now. If you care about such things, maybe it's a nice break from all of the rhetoric only coming from MLS President Mark Abbott.


We're still waiting to hear that negotiations have resumed, and the threat of a strike is still very real. Things to remember at this point are that MLSPU may find it necessary to strike as a show of force, if they have the rank and file support, and that any concessions on the part of the League in the are of free agency will be minimal.


It all appears to be a choreographed show now, with both sides executing pre-planned moves. Garber is no exception.

"It's conceivable, but my expectation is not to be negotiating an agreement an hour before kickoff," Garber said. "I would describe these as big-league problems. Years ago we had nothing to fight about, so we didn't have labor issues.

"Now that the league is growing and there is a bit more at stake, the players want to see improvement in their salaries and their working conditions. And we need to understand, we need to listen and take their issues into consideration."

That last sentence is just a bit softer than what Abbott has been saying, which isn't really notable; Abbott has been the League's pit bull on this all the way through, giving Garber license to be the more "understanding" executive. Until proven otherwise, though, Garber's statement is only so much window dressing.