MLS teams quit another league, create their own.

[Guest]

https://www.soundersfc.com/news/taco...arting-in-2022

Tired of getting killed in the USL, MLS creates it's own league of cheap labor to further dilute the Pro soccer scene in the US.
First ruined the DA, created a dumb MLS next league, adding 80 teams with no business playing at that level and now killing U-19 all together for the MLS squads. No mention of how much these "Pro's" will be paid or the age limitations on the teams.

[Guest]

Completely ridiculous. USL made a bad choice by even putting forth any sort of effort to work with MLS. There has been some effort to put an MLS “farm team” in Spokane in the last few months after USL announced that they were placing a men’s and women’s team there. The tactics of MLS/SUM/USSF to seemingly and proactively kill the growth of the sport in this country is actually stomach turning at this point.

[Guest]

Agreed, how the USSF has been bullied by the MLS over and over again is unreal. MLS does literally nothing for the growth of US soccer. It's shocking how dumb this one is. If you are a 14 year old "Sounder" you will have to fly to virtually every game you play, decide if you are a Pro by U-17 and forgo your college eligibility to make less than Chipoltle wages.

[Guest]

Agreed, how the USSF has been bullied by the MLS over and over again is unreal. MLS does literally nothing for the growth of US soccer. It's shocking how dumb this one is. If you are a 14 year old "Sounder" you will have to fly to virtually every game you play, decide if you are a Pro by U-17 and forgo your college eligibility to make less than Chipoltle wages.

You've got it figured out. You should have your son pass on Sounders.

[Guest]

Agreed, how the USSF has been bullied by the MLS over and over again is unreal. MLS does literally nothing for the growth of US soccer. It's shocking how dumb this one is. If you are a 14 year old "Sounder" you will have to fly to virtually every game you play, decide if you are a Pro by U-17 and forgo your college eligibility to make less than Chipoltle wages.

Your kid could be the next Jamie Vardy!

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/roche...ries-like-mine

[Guest]

You've got it figured out. You should have your son pass on Sounders.

Already did, thanks.

[Guest]

https://www.soundersfc.com/news/taco...arting-in-2022

Tired of getting killed in the USL, MLS creates it's own league of cheap labor to further dilute the Pro soccer scene in the US.
First ruined the DA, created a dumb MLS next league, adding 80 teams with no business playing at that level and now killing U-19 all together for the MLS squads. No mention of how much these "Pro's" will be paid or the age limitations on the teams.

Not sure that's quite accurate. For a few years the MLS has been looking for a way to place a "reserve" team so that they have competition, a place for returning injured players to get matches and a place to develop players who don't get game time consistently. A league against other USL teams (who are focused more on winning), doesn't work.

[Guest]

Not sure that's quite accurate. For a few years the MLS has been looking for a way to place a "reserve" team so that they have competition, a place for returning injured players to get matches and a place to develop players who don't get game time consistently. A league against other USL teams (who are focused more on winning), doesn't work.

So how do you expect people to spend $$ to watch a reserve league where they don't care about winning?

[Guest]

So how do you expect people to spend $$ to watch a reserve league where they don't care about winning?

No one will. Go look up the USL attendance stats for “Independent” teams vs. MLS reserve teams. It’s not even close. Multiple MLS reserve teams average under 1200 fans per match. I’m not familiar enough with the MLS reserve naming conventions, but Tacoma Defiance might be the top in attendance for that group with 1100 per match?

[Guest]

So how do you expect people to spend $$ to watch a reserve league where they don't care about winning?

They won't. If you look at the Euro model, clubs don't really care about winning at the youth/reserve team level as much as they do in the first team. All the levels below the first team exist to serve the first team success. MLS used to have reserve games, usually played the next day after the two first teams met; this way bench players, recovering players or promoted players, could get significant minutes.

If you're trying to make money from a reserve team/2nd team, you've got a losing investment. Independent USL teams are trying to make some money and thus need to win or develop players and sell; it's a different need and a different type league makes sense.

[Guest]

Yes, but in the Euro model there is relegation and promotion of 2nd tier leagues which allows younger players to play in actual competitive games. There is a huge problem now for 2nd tier players, where do you play? In the better, more competitive USL or for a MLS 2 team?

[Guest]

Yes, but in the Euro model there is relegation and promotion of 2nd tier leagues which allows younger players to play in actual competitive games. There is a huge problem now for 2nd tier players, where do you play? In the better, more competitive USL or for a MLS 2 team?

That's not quite the purpose. For the MLS team the need for a reserve team is:
1. 1st Team Players that aren't getting on the match day roster,
2. 1st Team Players that are getting on the match day roster, but didn't play
3. 1st Team Players recovering from injury
4. Players new to the team that are getting acclimated prior to joining the 1st team in a match
5. Academy players getting the opportunity to play with 1st Team Players in a match

If you have a fully professional player that you don't want on the first team roster, or one you want to own, but need more time; you sell or loan. You don't keep them around on the reserve team.

Doesn't have anything to do with promotion and relegation as most of the reserve teams wouldn't participate in a league where that would be an option. However, I do believe we should find a way to have promo/relegation here in the US, I just don't think it can work with the current single-entity ownership structure of MLS.

[Guest]

What you are describing is not at all what they are selling. It is not a 1st team reserve league.

[Guest]

That's not quite the purpose. For the MLS team the need for a reserve team is:
1. 1st Team Players that aren't getting on the match day roster,
2. 1st Team Players that are getting on the match day roster, but didn't play
3. 1st Team Players recovering from injury
4. Players new to the team that are getting acclimated prior to joining the 1st team in a match
5. Academy players getting the opportunity to play with 1st Team Players in a match

If you have a fully professional player that you don't want on the first team roster, or one you want to own, but need more time; you sell or loan. You don't keep them around on the reserve team.

Doesn't have anything to do with promotion and relegation as most of the reserve teams wouldn't participate in a league where that would be an option. However, I do believe we should find a way to have promo/relegation here in the US, I just don't think it can work with the current single-entity ownership structure of MLS.

Some European reserve teams do play in lower division club leagues, but reserve teams generally cannot be promoted above a certain level in the pyramid.

[Guest]

Completely ridiculous. USL made a bad choice by even putting forth any sort of effort to work with MLS. There has been some effort to put an MLS “farm team” in Spokane in the last few months after USL announced that they were placing a men’s and women’s team there. The tactics of MLS/SUM/USSF to seemingly and proactively kill the growth of the sport in this country is actually stomach turning at this point.

SUM is no longer. You'll need to find another conspiracy theory.

Why this rant is in a thread about YOUTH soccer (this is a level above MLS Next; most of the players in MLS Next Pro will be adults), I've no idea--other than perhaps some local club grifter who is tired of losing top players to the Sounders, and is engaging in the usual tiresom "MLS is eevul" gripes.