The annual, perennially-engaging ESPN survey of MLS players was released Thursday, and this year's questions were decidedly on the lighter side.
The fifth annual compilation of questions and answers, which ESPN bills as "MLS Confidential," delved into getting to know the players a bit better. Though individual answers highlighted in the survey results aren't attributed to specific players, the results and the sampling of responses give a perspective on where MLS players stand on a variety of issues. This year, 128 players responded in total, with all current 24 MLS teams represented.
One of the questions bringing player and fan perspectives together was "Who has the best kit in MLS?" While 26 percent liked LAFC's black and gold art-deco inspired sleekness, 16 percent favored Atlanta United's bold black and red vertical stripes, 13 percent were partial to Sporting Kansas City's blue hues, and Seattle and FC Cincinnati, at 11 and 6 percent respectively, rounded out the top five.
The players were also asked about the new, streamlined playoff system allowing for 14 rather than 12 teams competing for the MLS Cup. Sixty-eight percent favored it, with 23 percent expressing ambivalence, and only nine percent expressing disapproval. Published answers highlighted merits of the old way vs. the new way; while one player missed the home-and-away nature of past playoffs, others pointed out the importance of each game is ramped up while travel for players is decreased. As one put it, "It speeds up the process and you need just four good games to win the championship. It gives opportunity to a team that wouldn't necessarily have a chance."
One of the questions dealt with social media — namely, on secret burner Twitter accounts. Only three percent admitted to such a set, compared to 92 percent who were their real selves on the platform, and even two percent who lacked presence on Twitter altogether. As one player put it bluntly: "I tweet what I want."
A number of the queries were either/or questions which painted a fuller picture of the players: FIFA vs. Fortnite, Drake vs. Kanye, burgers vs. tacos, and their favorite shows to binge watch. Be sure to head over to ESPN to see where players fell on all of these hotly-debate topics and plenty more.
