MLS Reserve Division

So it's not working based on a couple of games? That's a little rash.

 

No real surprise there. 5 games in 14 days will do that to a team. I don't know who could have played except for Nana Kaffour and Jason Thompson.

Sachin

 

And I don't even know if you can say that "its not working." You can't ignore the development of the roster players who did participate simply because non-roster players were used. In the Chivas-FCD match we used two non-roster players. Both of whom had been given time during pre-season but couldn't make the official roster. So what? The other 11 official players who participated got valuable game experience that they wouldn't have gotten without this league. And they will continue to do so throughout the season. They will be able to travel to away games with the Sr team....allowing them to experience that aspect of professional life. So they are better prepared when they are added to the roster. Give me a break....they are a million and one things to complain about in regards to MLS...this just might be the most insignificant of them all.

 

A broken clock is right twice a day. Not caring about a couple of non-roster players getting a few minutes in a reserve league game would be one of them.

Unless we're gonna complain about Clint Dempsey's getting reserve game minutes for PSV.

 

Isn't Arena healthy?

Presumably Kuykendall, Merritt, Van Sicklen, and Quintanilla and a goalkeeper could have played, plus probably Jamil Walker.

That's 7.5 players, and I may have overcounted, but with slightly larger rosters (a couple more developmental players) and a few guest players, I don't see why D.C. couldn't have fielded a competitive team.

 

I don't understand what you're complaining about. MLS reserve rosters are too small, definitely, and so they'll probably end up playing a few guys who aren't real prospects, just so they can field 11 players. However, the reserve league isn't for a team's benefit, but for the individual players, and they're going to still get games of the same approximate quality whether rosters were 28 or 32. So I don't see what negative MLS teams not having much depth has, except that more players aren't being developed by the new system than currently are. Please explain.

 

Actually, it's a work permit issue. If a player arrives for a trial without a work permit, then he can play in a reserve match as long as no admission is charged. The idea is that technically the player isn't working as such.

 

Never mind.

I give up.

You guys win.

Now we can get back to worrying about who the assistant coaches for San Antonio will be. Thank you.

 

This needs to be looked at with a future mind. How will the first year look when we're looking back on it in four years?

"Yea, it was a bit spotty for the first couple seasons, but look now at these young guys we've got coming up. And how about that double header last week?!"

That is how to acknowledge shortcomings and still work through them without getting stuck in trying to find out who did what wrong.

In other words, I'm (trying to be) both a realist and a supporter. I think there should be some MLS Superdraft bennies for the clubs with the top reserve sides. You know, encourage the teams that develop players well to have more opportunity to develop better and better players.

 

to me, it's simply too early to complain. i mean, heck, compare it to last year.

it's bound to have all sorts of problems...sort of like the league did in 1996. 10 years later it ain't doing too bad.

 

Hopefully one day MLS will develop the common sense to have just 3 foreign player per team.....Meawhile hand me the Pepto....

 

I caught the Fire v. Quakes reserve game on Sunday and it was very entertaining soccer. The Quakes had about 30 guys available and the Fire had more than enough guys on their bench-which they did not utilize. It was a perfect soccer day,the game was played with intensity, and there was a wholesome , innocent quality about it. Moreover, it was free. Parking was 6$ and the seating was spacious-I chose the grass. I hope it never becomes well attended and remains for the die-hard fans exclusively. For those fans who want to see the players close-up, it is a real treat. Congratulations MLS. And now you tell me its single table and no play-offs- ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!