Weekly NASL podcast: http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2011/04/05/north-american-soccer-league-podcast-episode-1/#comments
A blog entry examining why there are reasons for optimism that pro soccer might finally succeed in Edmonton this time in an NASL context and exploring what the wider implications would be for Canadian soccer if that were to happen. http://canadiansocceropinion.blogspot.com/2011/04/fc-edmonton-litmus-test-for-canadian.html
After losing 3 teams Tim Holt still said USL is the best league under MLS: http://www.soccersam.com/media/audio/20110514.mp3 16:20
Don't worry if the USL keeps going this route their will be a breakaway group of owners who will decide to start their own 3rd Division. Then USSF will be forced to create standards for 3rd Division. Then Once USL sees the Standards they will drop down to 4th division and say that they are the best league below MLS and that in hindsight they are even better then most MLS teams. Why does that sound familiar.
Hey guys - I'm part owner of Global Football Today and we are in the process of trying to focus more on American soccer. In the process we are looking to get dedicated writers for blogs on each USL and NASL team. I'm assuming most of you are passionate NASL fans on here. If you'd like to write about your team (we would probably be able to get you press credentials), send me an email to: mpietrangelo@globalfootballtoday.com. For an example of what we have on our blogs, check out our Montreal blog here: http://montreal.globalfootballtoday.com/
Check out the new site: Soccer with Swagger. It's a US-centric view on the World's game and we don't hold anything back. We cover everything but the main focus is growing the game here in America and supporting it in any way possible. Topics include NASL, MLS, USMNT, USWMNT, and much more. Here is the Week 14 Roundup of NASL soccer action.
Week 15 NASL action from Soccer with Swagger http://www.soccerwithswagger.com/nasl-soccer-league-week-15/ Report includes video highlights from all matches.
Interesting interview with Kartik and MLS connection: http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.co...st-kartik-krishnaiyer-of-nasl-interview-14639
Good interview about marketing "american soccer" http://www.blogtalkradio.com/soccersupportersradionetwork/2012/05/22/ultras-alive-49
http://www.soccerbyives.net/2012/11...roma-to-train-in-orlando-in-dec-and-more.html http://www.wthitv.com/dpp/sports/group-launches-effort-to-bring-pro-soccer-to-indy#.UKqcxOOe_cp
Why I Bought a New York Cosmos Season Ticketby Gershom Cox excellent article! The Own Goal Download the seating chart as a .pdf
Kind of off topic for a moment (whatever the topic was), should the NASL consider a draft? I'm watching teams get built over the off season and it got me thinking how much excitement there is in other sports surrounding the draft. There's the potential greatness of a first round pick and the excitement of finding a sleeper in the later rounds. I'm not clear how a draft would work exactly. I doubt you want to draft the same players the MSL is drafing as I doubt you'll win out on salary. But perhaps a draft after the MSL draft for the remainder of the players. I haven't thought through it completely, but just a thought.
I imagine it would be hard; many rookies would probably be on trial with MLS sides. If they had one it probably would be after the NASL combine. Maybe the players need to form (or join/merge with the MLS players Union) for this to happen, then again teams discovering talent with their own combine is cheaper and preferable for this level of soccer.
The A-League had a draft for several years. It was kind of anti-climactic (and I had to explain to a newspaper editor - unsuccessfully as it turned out - that those weren't the results of our draft they were putting in the paper, they were the results of the MLS Superdraft held the same weekend) and didn't get anywhere near the type of excitement you see in other sports, because: 1 - The players, by and large, are not particularly well-known. 2 - There's not a huge amount of excitement and buzz and anticipation and mock drafts going on for the MLS draft, much less a draft that would either be redundant to that or of players who are of lower perceived quality than that. 3 - You can either draft names and say "Hey, we got this guy....and if he ever doesn't play in MLS or go overseas, we'll have a chance to offer him a contract that he won't accept unless he's desperate," which doesn't generate much excitement, or you can draft players you can actually sign, which doesn't generate much excitement, either. 4 - You really run a big risk of a guy just saying, "I'm not coming. You can do what you want with the rights, but I'm not playing for you" and it's not like you hold a big hammer over his head like most other sports. 5 - Players at this level, by and large, are indistinguishable in their ability to actually move the needle. Nobody buys season tickets because you drafted this guy versus that guy, nobody could tell you who's a "sleeper" and there is no Mel Kiper, Jr. doing analysis of who the players in such a scenario should be or would be. What's the MSL?