What does the MLS/USL affiliation mean for the NASL?

Discussion in 'NASL' started by Jossed, Jan 23, 2013.

  1. Jossed

    Jossed Member+

    Apr 23, 2011
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls

    I think this is a legitimate thread since it will mean something. We just don't know what yet.​

    The most obvious thing it will mean is MLS and the NASL are likely not now going to have any working agreement. It still could be possible, but unlikely since MLS found its partner. There is also less likely to be loans between MLS and NASL clubs since MLS now has a place to send players. Of course there will still be loans, but again, it is less likely. So this will mean the NASL is cut out of the loop so to speak with MLS and the USL working together.​

    The NASL might become like independent league baseball.​

    Long term it will be very interesting to see what happens with MLS making the decision to get in bed with the USL. The ultimate goal seems to be 20+ MLS reserve squads in the USL-Pro. Which could be MLS2 by then.​
     
  2. ceezmad

    ceezmad Member+

    Mar 4, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Red Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Less likely from MLS to NASL in the short run at least, but there can still be loans from NASL to MLS.
     
  3. Jossed

    Jossed Member+

    Apr 23, 2011
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    There will be since some MLS clubs might want a player in a different location. MLS teams are not bound to always send players to their affiliated USL-Pro club.

    But we started to see more MLS and NASL loans the past year and that will probably dry up.
     
  4. ceezmad

    ceezmad Member+

    Mar 4, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Red Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes, especially if they increase the Roster size for MLS clubs.

    2 other issues.

    Maybe some USL players will be pushed out of the teams to make room for MLS players and they will end up in NASL

    And/Or some NASL players (others) may prefer to sign with USLPRO for the opportunity to play against MLS reserves and be seen by those coaches.
     
  5. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The release says a minimum of 4 MLS players will be sent to USLpro affiliate teams. Is there a cap on the number of players sent down? Do the affiliate teams have the power to put a limit on the number of players sent down to them? How much control over the development of those players is being given to the affiliate clubs?

    The NASL should stand to benefit from this deal talent wise. This will improve the overall player pool and talent level of U.S. pros which the NASL can take advantage of the same as MLS, as long as the league's owners are willing to pay.

    The USSF has sanctioned the NASL as the country's 2nd division for two seasons and has no reason to stop doing so. This deal will stabilize the USLpro and it helps solve a problem MLS was having regarding reserve players and player development, but it won't put the USLpro in position to apply for division 2 sanctioning unless the USSF changes the standards or for some unforeseen reason has a falling out with the NASL.

    I don't see how this deal cuts the NASL out of anything other than being a part of a farm system for MLS. The league is still a major part of the U.S. soccer pyramid and honestly has enough other problems without worrying over what negative impact this might or might not have on the future of division 2.
     
  6. CHHSfan

    CHHSfan Member

    Oct 30, 2010
    Chapel Hill
    Club:
    Carolina Railhawks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    As long as NASL grows off the field, they will be fine. As for on the field, I keep hearing from interviews with former and current players that they see the NASL as a better platform to reach Europe than MLS, so there is a niche to be carved.
     
  7. ceezmad

    ceezmad Member+

    Mar 4, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Red Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well by "Europe" they probably mean Scandinavian/Eastern European/D2 leagues, but yes I am sure NASL teams will be more willing to sell players abroad.

    Shit Tampa Bay sold a player to a league in Hong Kong. :D (who is now back BTW)
     
  8. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    wait, what?
     
  9. ceezmad

    ceezmad Member+

    Mar 4, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Red Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think I am confusing Yamada with someone else (Yoshitake), my bad.
     
  10. Jossed

    Jossed Member+

    Apr 23, 2011
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    The facts don't support that. So far only one NASL player has been sold to Europe. Current Whitecap player Brad Rusin to Denmark. But Rusin was a known commodity in Scandinavia as he trialed there before.

    FC Edmonton was suppose to develop young Canadians with the intention of selling them to Europe since MLS won't pay transfer fees. So far they have sold a total of zero players.

    MLS can be difficult to deal with since it is an entity rather than a single club. But it is scouted by Europe and has placed players in the EPL, Championship, Liga MX, and the Bundesliga. As well as many other leagues around the world. Europe might deem the NASL as too low a level to bother with.

    If you are an American player who dreams of Europe, you are either good enough to sign there immediately, or sign with MLS with hopes of being the next Dempsey, Cameron, Howard, Jozy, etc. Otherwise you have almost no shot. Consider that Barbara and Campos dominated the NASL the past couple of years, but are still in the same league. The NASL is not a platform abroad. It might not even be a great platform into MLS now.
     
  11. Prosoccercdn

    Prosoccercdn Member+

    Aug 6, 2011
    Club:
    FC Edmonton
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    With the NASL having on average higher salaries than USL Pro I don't see many players wanting to join D3 USL Pro as opposed to the NASL.

    I am happy the NASL did'nt make this kind of deal with MLS, its good for D3 USL Pro, but I think now NASL can continue to forge ahead with they're goal of being in the top markets that MLS is not in with the highest quality of soccer after MLS. With teams like San Antonio, Minnesota, and the New York Cosmos(expected with the Cosmos anyway) raising the bar on better front office staff, player salaries and a higher level of play on their teams and quality expansion teams coming in 2014 things are looking good for the NASL future I think.

    I think MLS teams will also still loan maybe some of their better players to NASL so they can play at a higher level of play than D3 USL Pro, and NASL loans to MLS teams for cash will still continue as things go along.
     
    GoDawgsGo repped this.
  12. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    he didn't say anything about players being sold to Europe, he said the NASL is a better platform for reaching Europe.

    The Rowdies alone now have seen Millien, Attinella and Wheeler "move up" and as the league strengthens both financially and talent wise, I'd imagine we'll see more of the caliber player more likely to get shots both in MLS and abroad.
     
  13. WhiteStar Warriors

    Mar 25, 2007
    St.Pete/Krakow
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  14. drSoFlaFan

    drSoFlaFan DEFEND THE FORT!

    Feb 25, 2008
    Plantation, FL
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't think this will have much of an impact at all on NASL. Are fans in D2/D3 markets really clamoring to see MLS reserve sides and players? Will they care if their team is an affiliate to an MLS team? Probably not that much.

    And I don't think player moves between NASL and MLS will be any less frequent. Remember you've got coaches like Hankinson and Shore in NASL who have been in MLS, have relationships there, and guys like Rennie in MLS who have coached or played in NASL/D2, and two teams in Montréal and Vancouver who were a part of the NASL breakaway.

    The younger guys, recent draftees etc., will probably end up playing in USL. More seasoned players such as Paulo Jr. would more likely see time with NASL teams.
     
  15. teucer

    teucer Member

    Dec 17, 2009
    Raleigh, NC, USA
    Club:
    Carolina Railhawks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  16. Alamo City Ultra

    May 15, 2012
    san antonio, tx
    Club:
    San Antonio Scorpions FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was going to link that story from Indyweek as well. My issue with this, and Morris mentions this possibility in his article, is that there is the potential down the line to squeeze out the D2 league. This sucks and is the fault of MLS and USSF. This deal could eventually kill lower level soccer in the US and that would be a shame. MLS doesn't care about player development, they only care about money. And the USSF has no balls to due anything remotely helpful in helping the lower divisions.
     
  17. MLSinSTL

    MLSinSTL Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Mar 20, 2009
    Ohio - near a city
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  18. CShine

    CShine Member

    Dec 13, 2009
    Huntsville, AL
    Club:
    Rocket City United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It occurs to me that we might see relatively few affiliations develop from this deal. I find it rather striking that the arrangement was announced with so few MLS clubs publicly committing to an affiliation with a USL club. It doesn't sound like affiliations are in high demand. It may be that most MLS clubs view the deal primarily as an opportunity for improving their reserve team's competitive schedule. They would retain more hands-on control of their prospects in the day-to-day sense by keeping them in house. The affiliate, if the club has one, would be the place to send a kid who can't get minutes with the reserves. A lot of MLS clubs may not be to the point where that's a concern. Are MLS clubs so overflowing with young prospects that they can't find space for them on their reserve teams? It could be that the primary motivation for MLS was just to get more games.

    It seems to me that in the long term NASL would be best served by developing their own reserve teams and getting them into third division competition, as well. That's presuming NASL and USL can stop hating each other long enough to consider it.
     
  19. Jossed

    Jossed Member+

    Apr 23, 2011
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Huge little nugget not in the first press release.

    And this seems the ultimate goal. To have a set up like in Germany.

    And there is zero evidence of that either. I haven't seen any player say that he plans on honing his skills in NASL for a few years before venturing off for Europe. Those players either go try their luck in Europe immediately or end up in MLS.

    What is MLS being blamed for now? How silly. It is not going to destroy minor league soccer, Chicken Little. If anything; it will be a great boon to it. For years, fans have been calling for MLS to get directly involved with the lower divisions. Well here they are.

    If MLS didn't care about player development, they wouldn't be doing this. Nor would they be nudging teams to set up academies.
     
  20. drSoFlaFan

    drSoFlaFan DEFEND THE FORT!

    Feb 25, 2008
    Plantation, FL
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    More likely to see NASL reserve teams playing in NPSL. Atlanta already has one playing there.
     
  21. CShine

    CShine Member

    Dec 13, 2009
    Huntsville, AL
    Club:
    Rocket City United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    NPSL isn't built for it. The league rules prevent teams from playing a season anywhere near as long as USL Pro. The Atlanta team you mention has been in my home side's division for the past few years (they're realigning to a different division this year). The schedule last year was a total of 10 games and the season could not go past the end of July by rule. Some other divisions played a few more regular season games than that but the overall limitations were similar. This is what the MLS reserve teams are trying to avoid, too few games.

    NPSL is a league structure built to serve the college game, not the pros. A few pro teams are involved besides Atlanta because they see value in it but it's not a replacement for a professional reserve league. I'd love to see NPSL become something more but I doubt you'd find many organizations in the league with the money to do it. There will continue to be demand for a semi-pro spring season regardless of what pro reserve leagues do in the future. I would expect NPSL to stick to what it does for the time being and focus on growth of spring season competition.
     
  22. mng146

    mng146 Member

    Jul 19, 2011
    Rochester, NY
    The early word was there would only be 4 or 5 affiliations this year due to the late arrangement and short time frame involved. It isn't scheduled to go full scale until 2014. MLS intends to dissolve their reserve league due to it being cost prohibitive, hence the reason for this agreement. Whether or not each team will choose to field a full reserve team or not going forward is their choice obviously.

    Teams are losing money now, why would they take on the additional cost of a reserve league?
     
  23. CShine

    CShine Member

    Dec 13, 2009
    Huntsville, AL
    Club:
    Rocket City United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I didn't say do it right now. I said "long term" and I also envisioned getting them into third division, not creating their own separate league. NASL is aspiring to produce clubs capable of moving up to the top flight. Having a reserve team is going to be standard operating procedure in MLS. If you intend to build organizations that can approach the standards of MLS then you must eventually develop similar capabilities in player development, even if it costs real money.
     
  24. CShine

    CShine Member

    Dec 13, 2009
    Huntsville, AL
    Club:
    Rocket City United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson has a take.


    http://the11.ca/2013/01/24/commissioner-nasl-does-not-want-to-be-an-affiliated-developmental-league/
     
    WhiteStar Warriors repped this.

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