Union and the MLS Reserve League [R]

So do we think he'll be loaned to Reading or Harrisburg, or will he be playing with our Reserve side. Also, I guess this isn't the place for it, but can anyone explain the Reserve system to me? I can make a new thread for it if that's better (defer to your opinion, Dills)

Union and the MLS Reserve League

Are any of the details of the reserve league known yet? If so, can someone explain to me how it works? I don't really have much familiarity with it. I know last year that we seemed to loan out some of our guys to Harrisburg and Reading, but with the MLS Reserve League starting back up again, will that likely not be the case? What would this mean for a player such as our draft pick, MacMath; will he be our Reserve League starter? Will the Reserve team be playing at PPL?

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The reserves will play 9 reserve games I think. It'll basically be the players that don't feature in real MLS games often or play the weekend a reserve game is scheduled. It won't be two separate teams. I believe teams will also schedule supplemental matches against other sides in USL and the like primarily for players who don't get much regular time.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

From what I've read it's 10 games, and the 18 franchises have been broken up into three groups of 6. I believe our group is:

Philly
DCU
NYRB
Columbus
NE
Toronto

but someone can correct me on that if I'm wrong. They'd play each of the 5 teams in their group home and away, probably very soon after the similar league match occurs to cut down on travel costs.

Reserve teams can also schedule friendlys with other reserve sides, USL sides, college teams

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

That's correct from everything I've heard. In general, reserve league games are expected to be the Sunday after a Saturday game. Expectations are:

1) Only pro players will be allowed to play in Reserve League games--no more front office guys suiting up.

2) Players won't be allowed to play more than a set number of combined minutes between first team and reserve matches, so for example, you really will need three goalkeepers on your roster next year (because your starter for the weekend will be ineligible to back up the reserve squad).

3) Games will start later in the season after teams have a chance to shake things out--few or none of the games announced so far for the first few weeks of the season are between teams in the same reserve division.

Before the old reserve league went bust, some teams played them open to the public and some behind closed doors; some were in their usual stadium and some moved to alternate locations as they do for Open Cup games.

Personally, I'd love to see at least a few games played as doubleheaders with Reading, or at least at the Rage stadium, to help build the Union fan base out that way. Or maybe in Wilmington, or South Jersey, or Lancaster County, for the same reason. Don't know if that's allowed by the rules, though.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

And players from the academy as well.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

And trialists, if I remember correctly.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

This summary is good in terms of who can play in the reserve games, start of reserve games in the overall MLS schedule, need for teams to carry 3 goalies, etc.. A few notes in regard to it - some of which are based on my experience attending DCU reserve games when the reserve league last in session:

* The 3 Groups are:
East - Philly, DC, NY, NE, Toronto, Columbus
Central - Chicago, KC, Dallas, Houston, RSL, Colorado
West - LA, Chivas, SJ, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver

* Home/away game against teams in your group (10 total games)

* Playoffs involve top 8 teams based on points

* Games are almost always played at 10:00 am on the morning following the 1st team game to optimize travel logistics which is why they are played very close to the 1st team stadium. For DCU, they used their Auxiliary Field which is across the parking lot at RFK. Games had free admission but were never really advertised or promoted by the club to get fans to attend- typically got 200 or so fans - the small set of bleachers was 5 feet from the sideline. I recall correctly - NY played some games at Giants Stadium (closed door games) and others at nearby college (do not remember if they were closed door). Both teams were playing 1st team games in rented stadiums so I would tend to think that Philly will want to use PPL Park for these games and hopefully they will allow the public to attend even if they had to charge a nominal admission fee. I do not recall teams playing reserve games throughout their region - I know that DCU sometimes plays USOC games at the Germantown MD Soccerplex but it is more because the crowds for those games do not warrant the rent costs of playing the games in RFK. With all of the $ sunk into building PPL Park, I just do not see the Union playing any of its various home games in the near-term timeframe somewhere else in the region (unless it is the Linc).

* frequently both sets of starters from the 1st team game there at the reserve game for stretching/light jogging purposes.

* the close-to-the-action setting and small crowds allowed even a single heckler or two to be clearly heard throughout the field - I remember Aston's (and then New York's) own Jon Conway kicking a goal kick or two out of bounds and then getting unmercifully heckled when he took each subsequent goal kick. Most of the opponents took the heckling all in good stride.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

These games sound like they could be alot of fun. Plenty of chances to interact with players. I could definately seeing the Union Reserves facing off with their affliates Reading United and Harrisburg at some point in time. A little birdie at the draft told me that the Union will again be playing Reading United at some point in the schedule that works for both clubs. That was a great night, I'd definately encourage everyone to make the trip up to Reading for that match.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

I might be mistaken but I'm pretty sure annual friendlies between the affiliates and the Union are part of the contract. Thus, we can expect to see matches at Reading and Harrisburg at some point during the season.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

If the games are indeed held at 10 am at PPL on Sundays, and they're open to the public, I will definitely try to get to some.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

Same. It will definitely satiate that post-match feeling on Saturday night where the only thing in the world that you want to do is go to another match immediately.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

a hair of the dog type affect?

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

Correct. Trialists have to be players you are legitimately considering signing, you can't have your office intern on "trial".

I would imagine that the Red Bulls will play their reserve games at RBA, but I don't know if they have officially announced that (they were still at Giants Stadium when the reserve league last existed).

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

Do you think they'd let us tailgate all night? Get some tents, organize a watch so the campsite stays safe, spend the whole night drinking and eating. We could turn this into a weekly soccer Woodstock!

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

True, but my thinking is a little different. I'll probably only be able to get to half the home games, two-thirds if I'm lucky. But my Sunday mornings are free.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

This would be the reason why they won't let people come to the games.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

So does that mean I have to get my flag into the stadium by 7am?

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

Sundays at 10 am? Goodbye Church, hello PPL. Might as well make it official that this is my religion. "Please turn to Hymn #175 in your hymnal, C'mon the U!!!"

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

There will only be 5 home reserve games so I wouldn't get too excited.

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

God already knows that, but not my wife!!!

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

Well in that case enjoy your Sundays and all eternity!

Re: Union and the MLS Reserve League

Any thoughts on who might fill out the Union's Reserve roster. Knighton, MacMath, Union Jack, Okugo, Nakazawa, Farfan, Houapeu?????