USL and MLS ending relationship

Discussion in 'United Soccer Leagues' started by houndguy, Sep 18, 2002.

  1. houndguy

    houndguy New Member

    Sep 5, 2001
    Pittsburgh, Pa
    Heard a rumor that the MLS and USL are ending their relationship as of today, but have seen no new articles on it.

    Basically the MLS paid a small fee to a USL team if they borrowed a player from a USL team, or let a MLS player play for a USL team while he recovered from an injury.

    Seems odd that they would not renew this sort of deal. Anybody have any hard facts on this?
     
  2. GMan Eric

    GMan Eric Member

    Aug 28, 2000
    The Brougham End
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wonder if we got anything from MLS for Zach Kingsley. We sure could have used him at the end of the season...
     
  3. panicfc

    panicfc Member+

    Dec 22, 2000
    In my chair, typing
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Small fee - doesn't help the USL team.

    Would be better if the MLS paid the fees as they came up and that would be more useful.

    Loans going from MLS to USL were good for MLS players, but they didn't always play with heart or purpose.
     
  4. Paul Schmidt

    Paul Schmidt Member

    Feb 3, 2001
    Portland, Oregon!
    There's a Richmond Times-Dispatch article that touched on it.

    It said that the current agreement is not being renewed. Doesn't necessarily mean an end to the relationship, though if MLS is implementing reserves and youth programs (signs point to yes, slowly), there will probably be less to talk about.

    Maybe, MLS buys A-League players at something slightly closer to market value now. [/DREAM]
     
  5. EnglishFan

    EnglishFan New Member

    Jul 5, 2001
    Richmond, VA
    The Kickers GM (Billy Hallock) said something along the lines of MLS teams having 5 or 6 "developmental spots" for extra players and therefore the USL/MLS agreement will disolve. My impression is that MLS teams were getting pretty peeved at how hard it was to call up so called minor-league players so see no benefit in keeping the agreement.
     
  6. houndguy

    houndguy New Member

    Sep 5, 2001
    Pittsburgh, Pa
    I thought that MLS was limiting the size of their rosters? If this happens will these guys be paid? Will they train with their MLS team? Would they be loaned out?

    To many questions, not enough answers.
     
  7. Cruyff14

    Cruyff14 New Member

    Aug 29, 2000
    Lets seriously look at this.
    This is a good thing for the USL.
    The USL is a talented league and the USL teams that got high priced players got soaked for the salaries.
    On a player by player basis the USL has more talent.
    The MLS team money managers have done a terrible job. By bringging in high priced players and going bare minimum for the rest of the team. Who is the MLS kidding, not me.
    I would be happy if I never went to a MLS game ever.
    cheers
     
  8. Dr. Wankler

    Dr. Wankler Member+

    May 2, 2001
    The Electric City
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Oh, God. Not this again.
     
  9. propes

    propes New Member

    Jun 22, 1999
    St. Paul, MN, USA
    MLS has only themselves to blame if it became too difficult to call up players. Prior to them dropping their rosters, it was pretty common for certain teams to call up bunches of A-League players, and put them into the Pro-40 program; a couple of time they ended up playing against the team they actually signed with.

    Now the MLS drops their roster size, and expect to just grab A-Leaguers higgeldy-piggeldy. I don't think so.
     
  10. ButlerBob

    ButlerBob Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 13, 2001
    Evanston, IL
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
     
  11. Timbers_Roberto

    Timbers_Roberto New Member

    Jul 27, 2002
    Portland, Oregon
    I'm a little confused. I'm not aware of bunches of players that have left the A-League to sign P-40 contracts with MLS. I can think of one or two. I think that Buddle with Columbus that left Long Island to sign with Project 40. And then you have Miguel Saavedra who signed with MLS, but has pretty much been loaned to the Rampage. [/B][/QUOTE]

    Ochoa and Tennyson both signed P-40 contracts with LA after a year in Portland.
     
  12. Swampgas United

    Dec 24, 1999
    Boros
    "Ochoa and Tennyson both signed P-40 contracts with LA after a year in Portland."

    These players in fact signed developement contracts. P-40 contracts are for players leaving school early to sign on with the MLS.
     
  13. Easybake15

    Easybake15 New Member

    Jul 11, 2001
    Buffalo, NY
    I think this is clearly a good thing, that will challenge both leagues to develop in a manner that is far more advantageous for both. MLS sides need reserve squads of their own (which conceivably could still play within the PDL or D3 as unrelated units, as the Chicago Fire Reserves do now), and USL clubs need to stop having their cream skimmed for peanuts. If MLS wants Onandi Lowe or Craig Demmin or Scott Vallow, they will actually have to pony up some cash and buy him, or work out a separate loan deal, as they do everywhere else in the world. This, in turn, gives incentive to the USL sides to develop young talent that they can then sell at a profit.....just like they do everywhere else in the world. I don't really see the downside for this, if it is in fact correct.
     
  14. panicfc

    panicfc Member+

    Dec 22, 2000
    In my chair, typing
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Exactly.

    The USL and MLS need to understand that the rich teams, MLS, Rochester, Charleston, etc need to pony up when they acquire players from other teams.

    So many of our teams, USL especially, think that transfer fees are not needed in the US. Well it would best for all involved even the fees are nominal.
     
  15. propes

    propes New Member

    Jun 22, 1999
    St. Paul, MN, USA
    ButlerBob and Timbers_Roberto

    This was back when P40 played an A-League schedule, a few years back. They didn't sign P40 contracts, but did play with the squad.
     
  16. EnglishFan

    EnglishFan New Member

    Jul 5, 2001
    Richmond, VA
    The only thing about this is that US based players tend to only sign one or two year contracts, so off-season trades will still be few and far between. Midseason signings could generate money but it's more likely that you will see players loaned similar to how it is now, I'm not sure what financial implications this will have.
     

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