Comments on: MLS, USL announce Reserve League, USL PRO integration

By: wesbadia

wesbadia — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:04:00 +0000

One thing you have to consider about the NASL and its goal of overtaking MLS: what is one thing that most new NASL teams have said during their inauguration into the league? “We’d like to eventually play in the top flight of MLS one day. That’s our goal”.

It seems to me that the ownership groups that NASL are bringing in don’t have the same vision for the league that the league administrators have. And that’s worrisome for the NASL in the long-term. Three teams were already taken from out of their league (Vancouver, Portland, Montreal) and no less than five of the 12 existing franchises have expressed interest in moving to MLS one day (San An, NY Cosmos, Atlanta, Indianapolis, NoVa). Whether they’re good places to expand into for MLS is another story, but it’s apparent to me that the club owner’s don’t see NASL being a D1 league in the future.

Also, USL announced expansion into Sacramento for 2014. MLS coming to a third tier town would probably wreck a 3rd division franchise. Plenty of other good markets to expand into.

By: wesbadia

wesbadia — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:56:41 +0000

My impression is it won’t change the number of games played by much because it’s basically only a go-ahead to have an official MLS-sanctioned affiliate club that you play a home-and-home series against each reserve season. Those two games will then be counted in both teams’ standings. So add 2 to 10…

I think the crux of the current agreement is the long-term loaning of 3 or 4 MLS reserve players to their affiliate, which gives those select players almost triple the games they’d normally see in the RL.

It’s underwhelming, for sure, because some teams (like Philly/Harrisburg) already have affiliates with lower division teams. Others have U-23 teams in the USL-PDL. The agreement doesn’t create much movement immediately, but I consider this a baby step in the right direction. From here, it’s very plausible to see MLSRL sides being fully-integrated into the USL-Pro schedule within five years or so.

By: mvktr2

mvktr2 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 07:07:52 +0000

I hope this is truly the beginning, a seed planted, and not the destination.

I want to know the number of games reserve league teams will play now? Does this take it from 10 to 20, or 30, or 40, or do we know?

I’ve been anticipating this news as it could truly be something special, however this sounds slightly underwhelming. MLS needs it’s academy/reserve teams playing games and studying the game, period. That’s how the talent in the league and ultimately US Soccer are going to take the next step.

By: pensfan603

pensfan603 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:18:16 +0000

Nasl has said before there goal is to overtake the MLS.
What the mls should be worrying about foremost is trying to accept teams like the Tampa one that has their own stadium plans and has a fan base, and have them as expansion teams, instead of going overkill on this New York 20th team that isnt going to work and opening the opertunity for good markets like sacremento, tampa and the cosmos to play in the nasl division and 3rd division.

Also ive decided the mls should get rid of chivas and try to get a team in Sacramento

By: drewvt6

drewvt6 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:14:16 +0000

This is an important step for soccer in the United States. It dramatically increases the footprint of mls and lends credibility to lower tier teams. I have hoped for something similar for 10+ years.

By: jmillmac

jmillmac — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:51:35 +0000

SKC announced an affiliation with Orlando City – should we assume that ends any chance they had at bring named as the 20th MLS expansion team?

By: dfstell

dfstell — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:09:29 +0000

I think this is very cool news. I also enjoy – from a chaos standpoint – how MLS isn’t doing any of this in partnership with NASL. It seems like NASL sees themselves very differently. I wonder if that goes all the way back to their split from USL a few years ago.

But, this will be great if it allows young players more opportunities to get on the field.