In the wake of the match in Pachuca on Tuesday night that left most FC Dallas (and some MLS) fans in some state of mild disappointment, the autopsies and smoldering takes came fast and furious with slightly more contemplation than Donald Trump’s twitter feed. Once again, MLS wasn’t up to the task. Once again, MLS was ‘naive’.
If you’re describing a soccer match as a fan or a writer, I can think of few more over-used and hackish descriptors for a team lacking in experience and savvy than naive, and while there is a kernel of truth regarding the utility of clichés and buzzwords in lieu of actual expertise, you have to use them in the proper context.