USL General News thread

Discussion in 'United Soccer Leagues' started by thefishy, Sep 28, 2014.

  1. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    That's the system the USL has now. Schedules run almost entirely within the conferences. I think there were only a couple of inter-conference regular season matchups for the entire league in 2018. The playoffs are entirely within the conferences until the Final. The USL was running like two separate leagues except for the Final.
     
  2. Blando13

    Blando13 Member+

    Dec 4, 2013
    Lee's Summit, MO
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I like this, and with a country our size I don't see an issue. That being said, I think that the "League Cup" which they have announced will start in 2020 I believe should be completely open to random draw. You could be drawn against a local rival, or against a team from the opposite side of the country. I know they want those competitions (Like the Open Cup) to be regional, but if you play your regular season "regional" you can play a couple of "one off's" that aren't. Just my 2 cents.
     
  3. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Who.
    Cares.
    How.
    Many.
    Times.
    You.
    Play.
    Anybody.
    Ever?

    This cottage industry of figuring out the algebra for x number of teams playing y number of games against z opponents accomplishes ab.so.lute.ly. nothing.

    Teams play a certain number of games. You go to the games. You watch the games. Or you don't. At the end of the season, a certain number of teams go to the playoffs. One emerges as the champion. Recognize them or don't, your choice. Rinse and repeat.
     
  4. VBCity72

    VBCity72 Member+

    Aug 17, 2014
    Sunny San Diego
    Club:
    Plymouth Argyle FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Quite possibly my favorite post on this site.
     
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  5. Expansion Franchise

    Chattanooga FC
    United States
    Apr 7, 2018
    I was really hoping that this was going to be an acrostic that secretly laid out your proposed divisional alignment
     
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  6. canammj

    canammj Member+

    Aug 25, 2004
    CHINO, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ----------------------------
    Budgets- travel costs- and building of rivals necessitate some thoughts on the season schedule.
    As for Cups and playoffs, that can and should allow for more travel- its good to see teams from other areas, not the same local teams over and over.
     
  7. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
  8. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
     
  9. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    That's assuming they go quietly.
     
  10. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    They won't have a choice.

    They can sell, relegate to League 1 Ontario, join CPL (if the league will have them) or fold.

    If they sit this year out, this would void their soccer operations exclusivity clause at TD Place. This would allow CPL to grant a club to another group and have them play from the stadium, which is city owned.

    Ottawa Fury aren't helping themselves by fighting this.
     
  11. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    They do have several choices. Which you point out.

    Actually, there is no harm in fighting it. 1) They might very well win and 2) it's not like the CPL, which is on life support from the start with only 7 teams instead of the promised 10, is going to turn them away or shun them if the lawsuit (or threat thereof) fails and the team doesn't fold.
     
  12. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    The Fury did this to themselves.

    Actually, the timing of the decision effectively prevents them from playing in USL in 2019.

    Also, CPL have other investors interested in Ottawa. The Fury do have a soccer operation exclusivity clause on TD stadium. However, if they can't play in USL and CPL won't take them for 2019, they will have to sit the entire season out. This would void their clause on the stadium which is city-owned.

    Meaning that, CPL could pick and chose it's owner, award them a club and play out of TD Place. The Fury wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

    I know that you don't follow CPL news but it's far from life support, even NBC sports writes about the league. CPL is in a position of strength here, if they allow Fury into the league, it will be because they chose to do it, not forced too.

    Their chances at any legal procedures are slim at best...most likely none. They shouldn't have announced joining USL in 2019 before getting their sanction renewed. That was a dick move towards both CPL and CSA. CONCACAF put an end to it. Good
     
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  13. ThePonchat

    ThePonchat Member+

    #ProRelForUSA
    United States
    Jan 10, 2013
    I've Been Everywhere Man
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's not necessarily a late ruling. Not sure when anyone expected Concacaf to do an earlier ruling. The CanPL wasn't always playing until 2019 anyway. It's looking good for CanPL though, that is exciting.

    The Ontario Soccer Association made a ruling the week before the USL meetings in 2017, which forced K-W United out of the 2018 PDL season, the PDL/teams were notified the night before the USL meetings were starting. The CanFed, understandably, is trying to unite the Canadian teams and leagues. There is no rhyme or reason why L1O exists and a K-W United wouldn't play in it. I understood that OSA was originally allowing K-W to play in PDL until their contract was set for renewal, but reneged on that. Unfortunately for K-W, it is the right decision.

    Teams like Thunder Bay Chill and WSA Winnipeg are outliers because there's no reasonable league for them to play in. Heck, even USL2 is a haul for anyone to play those two. And, as amateur teams, they won't be forced into CanPL. I am not as familiar with Vancouver/Calgary, but Calgary Foothills would fall into the same category as Thunder Bay and Winnipeg.

    Teams should participate in their domestic leagues, if there's an equivalent for them. As we see with the Welsh teams in the Premier League, there's no true Welsh first division that would provide an adequate home for them.
     
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  14. Blando13

    Blando13 Member+

    Dec 4, 2013
    Lee's Summit, MO
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Kinda trashy of CSA to have CONCACAF do their dirty work. It could have ended months ago if CSA would have not cleared Ottawa to play in the USL in 2019. Only reason for CONCACAF to do this (vs give them a 1 year period to transition to CPL) is because CSA asked them to, CPL did or the new CONCACAF president is doing it for spite. Absolutely NO reason CONCACAF couldn't have given them a 1 year waiver this late in the game to transition to CPL if it was done with good intentions.
     
  15. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Well the CPL is the baby of the current CONCACAF President. The fact that, despite all the hype, only 7 teams have actually signed up for it is a warning sign. Having Ottawa play a wait and see game doesn't help.

    But, yeah, it looks like the CSA/CPL is having CONCACAF play the bad cop.

    I'm guessing Ottawa will play in the USL this year as the threat of litigation will force everyone to the table. As the CSA had already cleared Ottawa to play in the USL in 2019, I think that leverage will make that happen, but I could see an announcement of the deal including a pledge to switch in 2020.
     
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  16. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Since you don't know the facts, I'll let you know what happened
    1. CSA-CPL and Fury were talking since the start of the CPL project up until this September. The league had allowed the Fury to retain their roster for 2 years so a deal was imminent
    2. The Fury goes to the media and announced that they are staying in USL for 2019, not informing CPL in advance and not informing the CSA in advance.
    3. The CSA had not sanction them for 2019.
    4. So effectively, CONCACAF has effectively 3 months after what the Fury did. There was no way to act sooner than now
    The reason is simple. FIFA as a whole does not support cross-border leagues unless there are exceptional circumstances.

    The Fury had no grounds to stay in USL anymore, so CONCACAF acted. The CSA would have done so themselves in 2020 as there's precedents to such a move.
     
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  17. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    You're misinformed about the league. 7 teams are ready for 2019 but a total of approximately 20-22 markets wants in.

    Or actually enforcing existing rules that the Fury are trying to break, like declaring participation to another country's competition without being granted permission by the CSA.

    CONCACAF ruling isn't surprising at all.

    You're misinformed about Canadian soccer. If Ottawa is allowed to stay in USL for 2019, it will be because the CSA allows it and CONCACAF backs off but will demand a firm date to quit the league.

    Ottawa lost all leverage here. If they are wise, they should crawl back to CPL because there's a real possibility that CPL awards a club to another ownership group in Ottawa and reject OSEG application. The Fury being forced to go on hiatus for a year also void their exclusivity clause on the stadium for soccer operations... meaning that CPL can put a club in there under new ownership.

    Ironic that after what the Fury pulled in September, CPL and CSA now holds all the cards
     
  18. Blando13

    Blando13 Member+

    Dec 4, 2013
    Lee's Summit, MO
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I must be confused, I was under the impression the CSA had in fact sanctioned them. I don't really care if the Fury announced USL 2019 before that sanction, I was still under the impression CSA had approved them for USL in 2019. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

    This is from The Athletic article ...

    Reed’s letter reaffirmed the CSA’s decision to allow Ottawa to “operate in a cross-border league for 2019.” It also said that the CSA had “sought the approval of US Soccer who are the sanctioning body of the USL.” The letter further states that the CSA is seeking “further clarity on how this correspondence came to us in advance of us seeking (CONCACAF’s) authorization.”



    Let me know if this isn't accurate since you know the facts and I don't.

    As to your last point ... I understand FIFA's position on the matter. I didn't know FIFA wanted to kill off any clubs that their own federation had sanctioned. I get that CSA may not have sanctioned Ottawa in 2020 as well. I actually think Ottawa should have a transition schedule in place to move to the CPL. I just don't understand the benefit of CONCACAF doing something right now that is opposite of what the CSA has done ... who benefits? Who benefits from forcing this to happen in 2019 vs 2020? Does CONCACAF benefit in some way I don't understand? The Fury obviously don't feel like they would benefit. You've stated the CPL may not let them in so they can't benefit from Ottawa not playing in 2019. Maybe I'm missing something.
     
  19. Blando13

    Blando13 Member+

    Dec 4, 2013
    Lee's Summit, MO
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ugh, I thought they did ... so confusing.
     
  20. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    I'm not misinformed. The league only has 7 teams. That's exactly what I stated. You have said the exact same thing.

    That's a recipe for failure. Everybody is interested - until they have to spend money on an unknown, risky, venture. Those "20-22" markets don't want in. They want to see if the CPL survives. Interest is easy. Writing checks (cheques?) is hard. You should put down the Kool-aide.

    And for the record. I want the CPL to make it. But sugar-coating where they currently are doesn't help anyone. And before you ruin another thread, just remember that this is the USL thread. No need to reply to each and every post that contains "CPL" or "CSA" with the same old tired propaganda that you've been posting on non-Canada threads for the last two years.
     
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  21. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Again. Very misinformed. There 7 teams but the rest aren't in a "wait and see mode". Stadiums is what delays their inclusion in the league. Most of them needs to build stadiums or upgrade to meet the league's standards.

    That's what's being said by the league and journalists reporting on the league.

    Don't really care if you don't buy it
     
  22. Blando13

    Blando13 Member+

    Dec 4, 2013
    Lee's Summit, MO
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So am I misinformed of the CSA sanctioning Ottawa for 2019 based on that Athletic article?
     
  23. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    I asked clarifications to Neil Davidson from the Associated Press.

    I can confirm that in September that the CSA had not yet granted the Fury with their sanction when they declared that they would play in USL in 2019.

    There's was little doubt the CSA would go along with it one last time, hence this move from CONCACAF being a shock.

    I asked him to clarify as of when the Fury got their sanction or if the CSA was still in the process of granting it or not. No announcement from the CSA on the Fury has been mad thus far and the CSA was lukewarm at best about it in September.

    Reading the article in Times Colonist, it really looks like the CSA was doing it's due diligence to advance the process while knowing full well that CONCACAF would deny it. Looks like they found a way to dodge blame here.
     
  24. Blando13

    Blando13 Member+

    Dec 4, 2013
    Lee's Summit, MO
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Dodge the blame is a way to look at it. I still don't know who benefits by CONCACAF saying CSA can't handle their own sanctioning and figure out a way to transition Ottawa into a Canadian league. It just makes CSA look incompetent or CONCACAF being overbearing. Ottawa is by no means blameless, but both CSA and CONCACAF could have handled it better as well if CSA did in fact sanction them (which the article I believe quoted CSA's president as saying such). The fact that CONCACAF is now run by a former CSA president who was very active in the CPL development just makes it feel less "we're just doing it because of rules" and more like spite. Maybe thats how CSA wants to handle it or CPL. To me, if it's done "in the spirit of the rule" you have CONCACAF inform CSA that they work with Ottawa to transition the Fury into a Canadian league for 2020 or CONCACAF will not sanction them going forward ... that allows everyone to co-exist and work towards moving forward. It tells the USL it has 1 more season with Ottawa and it allows the CPL/CSA to save face a bit as well. But I guess Montagliani had his panties in a bunch about it. Cooler heads hopefully prevail so the lawyers won't get money that could be used to help Canadian Soccer.
     
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  25. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    #1275 Robert Borden, Dec 13, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2018
    The article you provided shows that the CSA, although reluctantly, was doing its job to advance the process of sanctioning. The Fury forced their hand when they went public with their intention to go to USL and signing their GM for 3 more years with the task of winning the USL Cup.

    CSA does what's best for Canada soccer and letting them play in USL in 2019 was the best and predictable course of action, however, all signed pointed out to be the last time.

    As for the show "transition to CPL" talk, that's on CPL and Fury to make it happen. CPL gave them 2 years to operate as is. The Fury adopt a position to play in USL until they judge CPL it bigg enough for them while blocking any attempt for a CPL team on their city. That's clearly unreasonable.

    As per this article below, the CSA actually did it's due diligence, they approved it, US Soccer approved it then CONCACAF turned it down, very fast. So there was no way this could have been done earlier.

    https://www.timescolonist.com/real-...king-to-bar-it-from-playing-in-usl-1.23533293

    As I understand it, and we didn't see the letter from CONCACAF, CONCACAF was pointing to the new Canadian Premier League as a viable alternative for the Fury to play professional soccer in Ottawa," Goudie said in an interview.


    While the CSA would no doubt like to have the CPL as the sole league, it had already approved the Fury's participation in the USL in 2019. But other governing bodies are involved.

    CSA president Steven Reed said his organization is going through its normal procedure, awaiting approval from the U.S. Soccer Federation — which oversees the USL — for its OK for the Fury and other Canadian teams, like PDL clubs, to play in the U.S.

    While Goudie said the U.S. Soccer approval on the Fury came Wednesday, Reed said the CSA has yet to get official word of the U.S. green light.

    Once that comes, the normal Canada Soccer process would be to go to CONCACAF for its approval. But CONCACAF, seemingly willing to play the heavy, has pre-empted that step.

    "We're surprised because we followed the process," Reed said in an interview, acknowledging the CONCACAF letter was "premature" given the consultation is ongoing.

    Reed said once Canada Soccer hears the U.S. counterpart has sanctioned the Fury's participation, it would consult with CONCACAF.
     

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