2012 PDL NW Division News & Links

Talk about 2012 starts early after North Sound SeaWolves owner Alex Silva reveals the division's owners are close to changing their competition format for the new season!

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2011/11...sidering-competition-format-changes-for-2012/

• 14 matches instead of 16?
• A balanced home/away schedule?
• Four playoff spots / inter-division playoff series?

Tacoma Tide FC are asking for unput via their Facebook page. Home stadium for 2012?:

http://www.facebook.com/questions/299508083404368/

Of help: Tacoma-area stadium info:

http://www.tacomasports.org/Venues/Search/sport.view?activity=Soccer

A look at some of the Tide's options.

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/tacoma-tide-fc-contemplating-home-venue-for-season-seven/

Kitsap Pumas announce James Ritchie as new Head Coach

Watch out PDL clubs, the PCSL HAMMERS arrive at #2 in 'the WA' without having yet played a match...

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2011/12/03/bellingham-united-poised-to-be-states-second-most-popular-club/

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2011/12/05/sounders-remain-on-sidelines-when-it-comes-to-pdl/

We continue to discuss the pros and cons to running a PDL team,” Hanauer says, ”and whether it makes most sense to run an amateur version or a professional version. The reason for not running one, has simply been that we haven’t calculated the benefits to be worthy of the expense. But we are always assessing our position.” ---Adrian Hanauer

Seven current Sounders once played in the PDL...

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2011/12/25/quick-glance-seven-current-sounders-once-played-in-pdl/

A little promo for the 2012 PDL season!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqT1m6VxopA"]It's GOAL Time! 2012 PDL NW Promo - YouTube[/ame]

All 8 clubs:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI5WC_l2GKw"]PDL NW 2012 Promo: It's GOAL time! - YouTube[/ame]


Look for at least two name changes in 2012, one a major one...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4T2cSQ17HY"]PDL Northwest: More goals than MLS! - YouTube[/ame]

PDL represented in Final Poll Results! Soccer in WA, 2011

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/readers-pick-top-2011-soccer-stories-in-washington/

Brent Richards looks like the first Portland Timbers Homegrown Player.

This is causing a bit of an uproar amongst those who follow MLS rules closely. Previously PDL experience did not count towards making a player available for homegrown status.

Brent spent three years with the Timbers U-23's.

The link above has interesting sublinks to talk about this amongst fans of both clubs. There is also a discussion on BigSoccer. Just search "homegrown."

Irony? Of course. The first Portland HGP played college soccer in Seattle for four years, and is a Washington native...

I visited with new Kitsap Pumas head coach James Ritchie...

“We are just looking forward to getting back on the practice field and putting boots to asses. Being part of a team environment is great. Practice sessions, games, team building it’s all fantastic and I love being part of it. Football is the best game in the world. It transcends race, religion and politics. Once you are on the field all other issues just disappear. So I am going to enjoy every moment of our season and more importantly I am sure the players and fans will also.”

2012 Open Tryouts for North Sound SeaWolves:

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/seawolves-fc-to-hold-open-tryout-feb-18-in-edmonds-wa/

February 18, 2012

He also played club ball for Eastside United in Gresham, Oregon, just across the river from his hometown in Washington State. And was an Oregon ODP member in addition to Washington. And spent three years in Portland's PDL system.

He grew up far closer to Portland than to Seattle. Borders are funny that way.

Kitsap Pumas, Portland Timbers U-23's qualify for US Open Cup based on newly announced format:

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/ussf-announces-big-changes-to-2012-us-open-cup-format/

A new competition for 2012 in the Puget Sound region...

What is the Ruffneck Cup?

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/what-is-the-ruffneck-cup/

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moeaZsJmRwE"]What is the Ruffneck Cup? - YouTube[/ame]

Welcome to USOC the show officially, Pumas & Timbers U23's:

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/official-kitsap-pumas-timbers-u23s-are-in-2012-us-open-cup/

OK, finally the news is breaking...

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2012/01/16/tacoma-tide-could-become-sounders-u23/

The Tacoma Tide is discussing a working agreement that could bring the Premier Development League team under the Seattle Sounders FC umbrella.

“We’re having some conversations about that,” Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer said today. “… We’ve had discussions about ways in which we might be able to partner together on our academy kids that go off to school.”

Tide to become Sounders U-23's?

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/tacoma-tide-sounders-in-talks-to-affiliate-in-pdl/

Times with a blurb:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soundersfcblog/2017260056_sounders_exploring_pdl_involve.html

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/north-sound-seawolves-wish-aman-well-after-sounders-draft/

North Sound SeaWolves striker Abdul Aman was selected by the Seattle Sounders in Major League Soccer’s Supplemental Draft Tuesday.

Aman was taken in the third round, No. 53 overall.

“We’re very excited for Abdul,” SeaWolves owner/coach Alex Silva said. “He worked very hard to get to this point and we’re very proud of him. He’s a perfect example of what we are trying to do with the SeaWolves.”

Rave Green has me seeing Yellow.

http://goalwa.wordpress.com/2012/01...23s-should-honor-their-yellow-tacoma-history/

Tacoma PDL soccer will be given a new lease on life thanks to the efforts of Mike Jennings to negotiate with new owners Cliff McElroy and Lane Smith. The triad then prompted discussions with Seattle Sounders FC that have reached the point where final details are being hashed out. An official agreement awaits; one that will see Tacoma’s club broaden its appeal and turn from bright yellow to rave green. The Sounders will officially have a PDL affiliate.

So here I am, typing away in my old yellow Tide t-shirt, understanding the best thing to ever happen to soccer in Tacoma is near. So why then the hesitant feelings? Why do I look to the next few weeks with a bit of sadness?