2017 USL Schedule Week 15 results : Tuesday, June 27 Tulsa Roughnecks 1-2 Swope Park Rangers Friday, June 30 LA Galaxy II 0-1 Swope Park Rangers Reno 1868 0-0 Phoenix Rising Saturday, July 1 NY Red Bulls II 1-0 Saint Louis FC Bethlehem Steel 1-1 Richmond Kickers Toronto FC II 3-4 Harrisburg City Islanders Vancouver Whitecaps2 0-2 Seattle Sounders 2 Charleston Battery 2-0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Charlotte Independence 2-1 Rochester Rhinos Louisville City 2-1 Ottawa Fury Orange County SC 3-3 Portland Timbers 2 Orlando City B 1-1 FC Cincinnati Tulsa Roughnecks 2-0 Real Monarchs SLC Co. Springs Switchbacks 0-1 Rio Grande Valley Sacramento Republic 1-1 San Antonio FC Monday, July 3 Reno 1868 9-0 LA Galaxy II STANDINGS EAST 1. Charleston Battery 16 g.p. 34 pts +18 g.d. 2. Louisville City 14 g.p. 28 pts +10 g.d. 3. Charlotte Independence 14 g.p. 25 pts +7 g.d. 4. Tampa Bay Rowdies 17 g.p. 24 pts +4 5. Bethlehem Steel 15 g.p. 23 pts +3 g.d. 6. NY Red Bulls II 16 g.p. 21 pts -5 g.d. 7. FC Cincinnati 16 g.p. 21 pts +2 g.d. 8. Ottawa Fury 15 g.p. 20 pts +1 g.d. -------------------------- 9. Rochester Rhinos 13 g.p. 20 pts +1 g.d. 10. Orlando City B 16 g.p. 20 pts -1 g.d. 11. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 16 g.p. 19 pts -4 g.d. 12. Harrisburg City Islanders 15 g.p. 16 pts -6 g.d. 13. Saint Louis FC 13 g.p. 15 pts -5 g.d. 14. Richmond Kickers 16 g.p. 12 pts -8 g.d. 15. Toronto FC II 16 g.p. 11 pts -17 g.d. WEST 1. Real Monarchs SLC 15 g.p. 37 pts +18 g.d. 2. San Antonio FC 16 g.p. 35 pts +18 g.d. 3. Swope Park Rangers 14 g.p. 26 pts +7 g.d. 4. Reno 1868 15 g.p. 25 pts +19 g.d. 5. Sacramento Republic 17 g.p. 25 pts +4 g.d. 6. Seattle Sounders 2 16 g.p. 23 pts -5 g.d. 7. Co. Springs Switchbacks 17 g.p. 23 pts +0 g.d. 8. Rio Grande Valley 14 g.p. 20 pts +1 g.d. ---------------------------------- 9. Tulsa Roughnecks 14 g.p. 18 pts -5 g.d. 10. OKC Energy 14 g.p. 18 pts -3 g.d. 11. Phoenix Rising 13 g.p. 18 pts -4 g.d. 12. Vancouver Whitecaps 2 15 g.p. 15 pts -5 g.d. 13. Orange County 10 g.p. 14 pts -2 g.d. 14. LA Galaxy II 16 g.p. 11 pts -24 g.d. 15. Portland Timbers 2 16 g.p. 5 pts -19 g.d.
2017 USL Schedule Week 16 : Tuesday, July 4 Pittsburgh 1-3 Charlotte Wednesday, July 5 Saint Louis FC v. Rochester Rhinos 7:00 pm Real Monarchs SLC v. OKC Energy 8:00 pm Thursday, July 6 Tampa Bay Rowdies v. FC Cincinnati 7:00 pm Saturday, July 8 Rochester Rhinos v. Harrisburg City Islanders 5:00 pm Charleston Battery v. Louisville City 6:00 pm Charlotte Independence v. Saint Louis FC 6:00 pm Orlando City B v. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 6:30 pm Toronto FC II v. Ottawa Fury 6:30 pm Co. Springs Switchbacks v. Vancouver Whitecaps 2 7:00 pm Orange County SC v. Phoenix Rising 7:00 pm OKC Energy v. Tulsa Roughnecks 7:30 pm Swope Park Rangers v. Rio Grande Valley 7:30 pm Real Monarchs SLC v. Seattle Sounders 2 8:00 pm Sunday, July 9 Bethlehem Steel v. NY Red Bulls II 4:00 pm Portland Timbers 2 v. LA Galaxy II 4:00 pm FC Cincinnati v. Richmond Kickers 5:00 pm BYES: Reno, Sacramento Play twice: Charlotte, Cincinnati, Rochester, Pittsburgh, Saint Louis, SLC, OKC
2017 USL Schedule Week 16 results : Tuesday, July 4 Pittsburgh 1-3 Charlotte Wednesday, July 5 Saint Louis FC 0-0 Rochester Rhinos Real Monarchs SLC 3-1 OKC Energy Thursday, July 6 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-6 FC Cincinnati Saturday, July 8 Rochester Rhinos 1-0 Harrisburg City Islanders Charleston Battery 1-1 Louisville City Charlotte Independence 5-0 Saint Louis FC Orlando City B 0-0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds Toronto FC II 1-0 Ottawa Fury Co. Springs Switchbacks 2-2 Vancouver Whitecaps 2 Orange County SC 1-1 Phoenix Rising OKC Energy 1-2 Tulsa Roughnecks Swope Park Rangers 4-0 Rio Grande Valley Real Monarchs SLC 4-1 Seattle Sounders 2 Sunday, July 9 Bethlehem Steel 2-0 NY Red Bulls II Portland Timbers2 3-4 LA Galaxy II FC Cincinnati 2-0 Richmond Kickers STANDINGS EAST 1. Charleston Battery 17 g.p. 35 pts +18 g.d. 2. Louisville City 15 g.p. 29 pts +10 g.d. 3. Charlotte Independence 15 g.p. 28 pts +11 g.d. 4. Tampa Bay Rowdies 18 g.p. 27 pts +6 g.d. 5. Bethlehem Steel 16 g.p. 26 pts +5 g.d. 6. FC Cincinnati 18 g.p. 24 pts +2 g.d. 7. Rochester Rhinos 15 g.p. 24 pts +2 g.d. 8. NY Red Bulls II 17 g.p. 21 pts -7 g.d. -------------------------- 9. Orlando City B 17 g.p. 21 pts -1 g.d. 10. Ottawa Fury 16 g.p. 20 pts +0 g.d. 11. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 17 g.p. 20 pts -4 g.d. 12. Harrisburg City Islanders 16 g.p. 16 pts -7 g.d. 13. Saint Louis FC 15 g.p. 16 pts -9 g.d. 14. Toronto FC II 17 g.p. 14 pts -16 g.d. 15. Richmond Kickers 17 g.p. 12 pts -10 g.d. WEST 1. Real Monarchs SLC 17 g.p. 43 pts +23 g.d. 2. San Antonio FC 16 g.p. 35 pts +18 g.d. 3. Swope Park Rangers 15 g.p. 29 pts +11 g.d. 4. Reno 1868 15 g.p. 25 pts +19 g.d. 5. Sacramento Republic 17 g.p. 25 pts +4 g.d. 6. Co. Springs Switchbacks 18 g.p. 24 pts +0 g.d. 7. Seattle Sounders 2 17 g.p. 23 pts -8 g.d. 8. Tulsa Roughnecks 15 g.p. 21 pts -4 g.d. ---------------------------------- 9. Rio Grande Valley 15 g.p. 20 pts -3 g.d. 10. Phoenix Rising 14 g.p. 19 pts -4 g.d. 11. OKC Energy 16 g.p. 18 pts -6 g.d. 12. Vancouver Whitecaps 2 16 g.p. 16 pts -5 g.d. 13. Orange County 11 g.p. 15 pts -2 g.d. 14. LA Galaxy II 17 g.p. 14 pts -23 g.d. 15. Portland Timbers 2 17 g.p. 5 pts -20 g.d.
2017 USL Schedule Week 17 : Wednesday, July 12 Vancouver Whitecaps 2 v. Swope Park Rangers 2:00 pm Harrisburg City Islanders v. NY Red Bulls II 6:00 pm Thursday, July 13 Orlando City B v. Tampa Bay Rowdies 6:30 pm LA Galaxy II v. Tulsa Roughnecks 9:30 pm Friday, July 14 San Antonio FC v. OKC Energy 8:00 pm Saturday, July 15 Ottawa Fury v. Rochester Rhinos 1:00 pm NY Red Bulls II v. Charlotte Independence 3:00 pm Bethlehem Steel v. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 4:00 pm Vancouver Whitecaps 2 v. Reno 1868 5:00 pm Harrisburg City Islanders v. Richmond Kickers 6:00 pm Louisville City v. FC Cincinnati 6:30 pm Saint Louis FC v. Charleston Battery 7:30 pm Phoenix Rising v. Co. Springs Switchbacks 10:00 pm Sunday, July 16 Portland Timbers 2 v. Swope Park Rangers 4:00 pm Seattle Sounders 2 v. Orange County 4:00 pm Byes: Toronto, Real Monarchs, Sacramento, RGV Play twice: NYRBII, Harrisburg, Swope Park, Vancouver
What type of player is Bird? Honestly what made me ask was pure numbers. I went down their team stats and asked about the productive ones I didn't already have an idea on.
I'm not sure he's enough of a difference maker in terms of tangible stats like Memo with goals/assists. He has really good technical ability, which generally means you can count on him to play the ball into good places and not turn it over much. I don't see him as particularly gritty though, so I wonder if there is a true position on our team as a consistent starter at this level. It depends what kind of team you want to run? I like teams that can pass and move the ball well. He's better at that than some of our first team players.
I don't care if he'd immediately produce here per se. I care if he's producing at RGV more as a proxy for being decent. Can't do a thing there sure as heck won't be stepping up to do it here. I think we could use a little more variety in the qualities offered off the bench at midfield. Right now it leans lunchpail. Boniek is about the only creative type and he's getting older. I feel like what we need midfield is speed -- absent from bench -- and pure technique that we could use when we needed to create chances, say, down a goal. I then feel we could use a tall forward to get on the end of their efforts, wouldn't even have to be awesome, just basically effective worth a goal once in a while. So I am curious about technical players who could create off the bench. You might need more than Boniek some night with elimination at stake. Holland I feel offers some of that. Memo could finish a ball. Curious what else there is. Sanchez to me suffers from the sort of limits that hurt this team on the road. More I think about it a big issue is he struggles to create separation, and when he does, he is content to stop in space and whack a cross. This team is not a cross-heading team. They are more effective when the wing cuts across and passes/squares it into the box on the ground. Or takes his own shot. That's a more athletic, young man's play. You want Sanchez to work you need the big lunk striker he's designed to serve.
2017 USL Schedule Week 17 results : Wednesday, July 12 Vancouver Whitecaps2 0-1 Swope Park Rangers Harrisburg City Islanders 2-0 NY Red Bulls II Thursday, July 13 Orlando City B 1-1 Tampa Bay Rowdies LA Galaxy II 2-2 Tulsa Roughnecks Friday, July 14 San Antonio FC 1-1 OKC Energy Saturday, July 15 Ottawa Fury 1-1 Rochester Rhinos NY Red Bulls II 2-3 Charlotte Independence Bethlehem Steel 1-1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds Vancouver Whitecaps2 1-1 Reno 1868 Harrisburg City Islanders 1-0 Richmond Kickers Louisville City 2-3 FC Cincinnati Saint Louis FC 1-0 Charleston Battery Phoenix Rising 2-1 Co. Springs Switchbacks Sunday, July 16 Portland Timbers2 0-1 Swope Park Rangers Seattle Sounders2 1-2 Orange County STANDINGS EAST 1. Charleston Battery 18 g.p. 35 pts +17 g.d. 2. Charlotte Independence 16 g.p. 31 pts +12 g.d. 3. Louisville City 16 g.p. 29 pts +9 g.d. 4. Tampa Bay Rowdies 19 g.p. 28 pts +6 g.d. 5. Bethlehem Steel 17 g.p. 27 pts +5 g.d. 6. FC Cincinnati 19 g.p. 27 pts +3 g.d. 7. Rochester Rhinos 16 g.p. 25 pts +2 g.d. 8. Harrisburg City Islanders 18 g.p. 22 pts -4 g.d. -------------------------- 9. Orlando City B 18 g.p. 22 pts -1 g.d. 10. NY Red Bulls II 19 g.p. 21 pts -10 g.d. 11. Ottawa Fury 17 g.p. 21 pts +0 g.d. 12. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 18 g.p. 21 pts -4 g.d. 13. Saint Louis FC 16 g.p. 16 pts -8 g.d. 14. Toronto FC II 17 g.p. 14 pts -16 g.d. 15. Richmond Kickers 18 g.p. 12 pts -11 g.d. WEST 1. Real Monarchs SLC 17 g.p. 43 pts +23 g.d. 2. San Antonio FC 17 g.p. 36 pts +18 g.d. 3. Swope Park Rangers 17 g.p. 35 pts +13 g.d. 4. Reno 1868 16 g.p. 26 pts +19 g.d. 5. Sacramento Republic 17 g.p. 25 pts +4 g.d. 6. Co. Springs Switchbacks 19 g.p. 24 pts -1 g.d. 7. Seattle Sounders 2 18 g.p. 23 pts -9 g.d. 8. Tulsa Roughnecks 16 g.p. 22 pts -4 g.d. ---------------------------------- 9. Phoenix Rising 15 g.p. 22 pts -3 g.d. 10. Rio Grande Valley 15 g.p. 20 pts -3 g.d. 11. OKC Energy 17 g.p. 19 pts -6 g.d. 12. Orange County 12 g.p. 18 pts -1 g.d. 13. Vancouver Whitecaps 2 18 g.p. 17 pts -6 g.d. 14. LA Galaxy II 18 g.p. 15 pts -23 g.d. 15. Portland Timbers 2 18 g.p. 5 pts -21 g.d.
2017 USL Schedule Week 18: Tuesday, July 18 Harrisburg City Islanders v. Charlotte Independence 3:00 pm Wednesday, July 19 Rio Grande Valley v. Orange County 7:00 pm Thursday, July 20 Seattle Sounders 2 v. Swope Park Rangers 9:30 pm Friday, July 21 NY Red Bulls II v. Toronto II 6:00 pm Saturday, July 22 Rochester Rhinos v. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 5:00 pm Richmond Kickers v. Bethlehem Steel 6:00 pm FC Cincinnati v. Harrisburg City Islanders 6:00 pm Tampa Bay Rowdies v. Charleston 6:30 pm Orange County SC v. Rio Grande Valley 7:00 pm OKC Energy v. Co. Springs Switchbacks 7:30 pm Saint Louis FC v. Louisville City 7:30 pm San Antonio FC v. Real Monarchs SLC 7:30 pm Tulsa Roughnecks v. Phoenix Rising 7:30 pm Reno 1868 v. Portland 2 9:30 pm Sunday, July 23 Sacramento Republic v. Seattle Sounders 2 10:00 pm BYES: Orlando, Ottawa, Vancouver, LAGII Play twice: Harrisburg, Seattle, RGV, Orange County
2017 USL Schedule Week 18 results: Tuesday, July 18 Harrisburg City Islanders 1-1 Charlotte Independence Wednesday, July 19 Rio Grande Valley 1-1 Orange County Thursday, July 20 Seattle Sounders2 0-2 Swope Park Rangers 9:30 pm Friday, July 21 NY Red Bulls II 1-0 Toronto II Saturday, July 22 Rochester Rhinos 0-0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds Richmond Kickers 3-2 Bethlehem Steel FC Cincinnati 3-0 Harrisburg City Islanders Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-0 Charleston Orange County SC 4-0 Rio Grande Valley OKC Energy 4-3 Co. Springs Switchbacks Saint Louis FC 1-4 Louisville City San Antonio FC 2-2 Real Monarchs SLC Tulsa Roughnecks 3-0 Phoenix Rising Reno 1868 1-1 Portland 2 Sunday, July 23 Sacramento Republic 2-0 Seattle Sounders 2 STANDINGS EAST 1. Charleston Battery 19 g.p. 35 pts +15 g.d. 2. Charlotte Independence 17 g.p. 32 pts +12 g.d. 3. Louisville City 17 g.p. 32 pts +12 g.d. 4. Tampa Bay Rowdies 20 g.p. 31 pts +8 g.d. 5. FC Cincinnati 20 g.p. 30 pts +6 g.d. 6. Bethlehem Steel 18 g.p. 27 pts +4 g.d. 7. Rochester Rhinos 17 g.p. 26 pts +2 g.d. 8. NY Red Bulls II 20 g.p. 24 pts -9 g.d. -------------------------- 9. Harrisburg City Islanders 20 g.p. 23 pts -7 g.d. 10. Orlando City B 18 g.p. 22 pts -1 g.d. 11. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 19 g.p. 22 pts -4 g.d. 12. Ottawa Fury 17 g.p. 21 pts +0 g.d. 13. Saint Louis FC 17 g.p. 19 pts -11 g.d. 14. Richmond Kickers 19 g.p. 15 pts -10 g.d. 15. Toronto FC II 18 g.p. 14 pts -17 g.d. WEST 1. Real Monarchs SLC 18 g.p. 44 pts +23 g.d. 2. Swope Park Rangers 18 g.p. 38 pts +15 g.d. 3. San Antonio FC 18 g.p. 37 pts +18 g.d. 4. Sacramento Republic 18 g.p. 28 pts +6 g.d. 5. Reno 1868 17 g.p. 27 pts +19 g.d. 6. Tulsa Roughnecks 17 g.p. 25 pts -1 g.d. 7. Co. Springs Switchbacks 20 g.p. 24 pts -2 g.d. 8. Seattle Sounders 2 20 g.p. 23 pts -13 g.d. ---------------------------------- 9. Orange County 14 g.p. 22 pts +3 g.d. 10. OKC Energy 18 g.p. 22 pts -5 g.d. 11. Phoenix Rising 16 g.p. 22 pts -6 g.d. 12. Rio Grande Valley 17 g.p. 21 pts -7 g.d. 13. Vancouver Whitecaps 2 18 g.p. 17 pts -6 g.d. 14. LA Galaxy II 18 g.p. 15 pts -23 g.d. 15. Portland Timbers 2 19 g.p. 6 pts -21 g.d.
2017 USL Schedule Week 19: Wednesday, July 26 Charlotte Independence v. Richmond Kickers 6:00 pm Pittsburgh Riverhounds v. Charleston Battery 6:00 pm Rochester Rhinos v. Toronto II 6:00 pm Rio Grande Valley v. Real Monarchs SLC 7:00 pm Saturday, July 29 Bethlehem Steel v. Charlotte Independence 4:00 pm Charleston Battery v. Orlando City B 6:00 pm FC Cincinnati v. Rochester Rhinos 6:00 pm Ottawa Fury v. Toronto II 6:00 pm Richmond Kickers v. Saint Louis FC 6:00 pm Louisville City v. NY Red Bulls II 6:30 pm Tampa Bay Rowdies v. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 6:30 pm Co. Springs Switchbacks v. Seattle Sounders 2 Orange County SC v. Vancouver Whitecaps 2 Phoenix Rising v. San Antonio FC 10:00 pm Portland Timbers 2 v. Rio Grande Valley 10:00 pm Sunday, July 30 Swope Park Rangers v. Reno 1868 4:00 pm LA Galaxy II v. OKC Energy 8:30 pm Monday, July 31 Real Monarchs SLC v. Tulsa Roughnecks 8:00 pm BYES: Harrisburg, Sacramento Play twice: Charleston, Charlotte, Rochester, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Toronto, Real Monarchs, RGV
2017 USL Schedule Week 19 results: Wednesday, July 26 Charlotte Independence 0-0 Richmond Kickers Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2-2 Charleston Battery Rochester Rhinos 2-0 Toronto II Rio Grande Valley 1-2 Real Monarchs SLC Saturday, July 29 Bethlehem Steel 0-4 Charlotte Independence Charleston Battery 0-0 Orlando City B FC Cincinnati 2-3 Rochester Rhinos Ottawa Fury 2-0 Toronto II Richmond Kickers 0-1 Saint Louis FC Louisville City 2-1 NY Red Bulls II Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds Co. Springs Switchbacks 2-1 Seattle Sounders 2 Orange County SC 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps 2 Phoenix Rising 0-1 San Antonio FC Portland Timbers2 2-1 Rio Grande Valley Sunday, July 30 Swope Park Rangers 1-4 Reno 1868 LA Galaxy II 1-1 OKC Energy Monday, July 31 Real Monarchs SLC 0-0 Tulsa Roughnecks STANDINGS EAST 1. Charleston Battery 21 g.p. 37 pts +15 g.d. 2. Charlotte Independence 19 g.p. 36 pts +16 g.d. 3. Louisville City 18 g.p. 35 pts +13 g.d. 4. Tampa Bay Rowdies 21 g.p. 34 pts +10 g.d. 5. Rochester Rhinos 19 g.p. 32 pts +5 g.d. 6. FC Cincinnati 21 g.p. 30 pts +5 g.d. 7. Bethlehem Steel 19 g.p. 27 pts +0 g.d. 8. NY Red Bulls II 21 g.p. 24 pts -10 g.d. -------------------------- 9. Ottawa Fury 18 g.p. 24 pts +2 g.d. 10. Harrisburg City Islanders 20 g.p. 23 pts -7 g.d. 11. Orlando City B 19 g.p. 23 pts -1 g.d. 12. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 21 g.p. 23 pts -6 g.d. 13. Saint Louis FC 18 g.p. 22 pts -10 g.d. 14. Richmond Kickers 21 g.p. 16 pts -11 g.d. 15. Toronto FC II 20 g.p. 14 pts -21 g.d. WEST 1. Real Monarchs SLC 20 g.p. 48 pts +24 g.d. 2. San Antonio FC 19 g.p. 40 pts +19 g.d. 3. Swope Park Rangers 19 g.p. 38 pts +12 g.d. 4. Reno 1868 18 g.p. 30 pts +22 g.d. 5. Sacramento Republic 18 g.p. 28 pts +6 g.d. 6. Co. Springs Switchbacks 21 g.p. 27 pts -1 g.d. 7. Tulsa Roughnecks 18 g.p. 26 pts -1 g.d. 8. Orange County 15 g.p. 25 pts +4 g.d. ---------------------------------- 9. Seattle Sounders 2 21 g.p. 23 pts -14 g.d. 10. OKC Energy 19 g.p. 23 pts -5 g.d. 11. Phoenix Rising 17 g.p. 22 pts -7 g.d. 12. Rio Grande Valley 19 g.p. 21 pts -9 g.d. 13. Vancouver Whitecaps 2 19 g.p. 17 pts -7 g.d. 14. LA Galaxy II 19 g.p. 16 pts -23 g.d. 15. Portland Timbers 2 20 g.p. 9 pts -20 g.d.
2017 USL Schedule Week 20: Wednesday, August 2 Vancouver Whitecaps 2 v. Rio Grande Valley 2:00 pm Orlando City B v. Harrisburg City Islanders 6:30 pm OKC Energy v. Reno 1868 7:30 pm LA Galaxy II v. Orange County SC 9:30 pm Saturday, August 5 NY Red Bulls II v. Rochester Rhinos 3:00 pm Toronto FC II v. Charleston Battery 3:30 pm Charlotte Independence v. Louisville City 6:00 pm FC Cincinnati v. Orlando City B 6:00 pm Ottawa Fury v. Bethlehem Steel 6:00 pm Pittsburgh Riverhounds v. Richmond Kickers 6:00 pm Tampa Bay Rowdies v. Harrisburg City Islanders 6:30 pm Co. Springs Switchbacks v. Portland Timbers 2 7:00 pm OKC Energy v. Real Monarchs SLC 7:30 pm Saint Louis FC v. Swope Park Rangers 7:30 pm San Antonio FC v. Orange County SC 7:30 pm Tulsa Roughnecks v. Reno 1868 7:30 pm LA Galaxy II v. Phoenix Rising 9:30 pm Sacramento Republic v. Vancouver Whitecaps 2 10:00 pm Sunday, August 6 Seattle Sounders 2 v. Rio Grande Valley 8:30 pm BYES: None Play twice: Harrisburg, Orlando, Reno, Orange County, OKC, RGV, Vancouver, LAGII
The USL seems pretty successful right now but, as usual, with success comes friction. http://m.newsok.com/article/5558393 The article also says that the USSF "will give special consider to the needs of the MLS2 clubs when assessing USL's permanent Division II sanctioning" so meeting the stadium requirements might not be a lever to push the MLS2 teams out. It will be interesting to see what direction the USL goes. The new USL3 doesn't start until 2019 so they have a little time to figure this out. Three of the most recent MLS/USL ventures (RGV, Reno, and now Seattle/Tacoma) are to go with hybrid situations. That would seem to answer the independent owners complaints and might be the direction forward.
"The MLS teams have built great stadiums, invested heavily in player development and built fan bases...They've done all of that. Their objective with their second team are not to do that all again." QED. We may not have new physical infrastructure but we also are not crap financial bets like many minor league owners. FWIW a lot of the II teams play in separate stadia. So the argument does not follow. Tiny handful of II teams play in the first team cavern. Many play in adjoining facilities or college stadia. We are not the template. Literally offloading it reflects our poverty. Healthier teams are going to want it in-house. I think it's a power play to get them in d2 and us in d3 if the USL split plays out. Someone looked at sanctioning rules and they probably mention capitalization and stadia and other reasonable metrics for separating out divisions. But to try to make that argument work, you have to sell how your 5 year old decent car is better than daddy's Porsche he lets me borrow, or that you living paycheck to paycheck are more financially responsible than me living off daddy. Might even be true in some limited, how well do I actually do business, sense. Thing is, though, if we're being real, if this is about owners and assets, my daddy is richer than you are and my car is nicer than yours. You may have to earn it, and I am sure that's what gets these entrepeneurs' panties in a wad, but I'm the one capitalized with as nice or nicer stadia at my fingers, and with owners whose chance of going broke is small.
I'm not sure what you are saying here. As the article points out, only 3 of the 10 MLS2 teams play in the first team stadium: Orlando, Portland, and RSL. Portland is talking about moving their team to Boise. RSL is trying to build a separate stadium. I don't get that part of the argument from the article either. They can definitely point out that some of the MLS2 teams play in stadiums too small for the D2 standards or that they don't draw much. Those things are true for most of the MLS2 teams. Houston/RGV is, in fact, the recent trend. San Jose has the same deal with their new affiliate, Reno. Seattle is moving their team to Spokane where the minor league baseball team will do the same thing as in RGV. Portland is apparently working on a deal with Boise to do the same thing. They have already had some games in Boise. We'll see what happens going forward but it is going on and not just by "poor" teams. Who is "them" and "us" in this sentence? The push from the independent USL owners is to get the owned-and-operated MLS2 teams out of the D2 USL. Not RGV or Reno. As the article says, the independent USL owners like the hybrid model since those teams have good attendance. And there is no USL split coming. The USL has been saying that the current teams would stay in D2 USL and the USL3 would be made up of new teams. The USL has been talking about how they will organize their top league once they get to 36 teams. That is not sign of a split.
I'm saying (a) we often already have stadia built and (b) our ownership groups probably put theirs to shame. So they can beef about us not building a SSS just for the II team but that's silly, and they should be thankful they have us and not some fly by night minor league owner who folds in a year. A team that is designed more as a reserve squad loss leader doesn't care if it is attended. The standalone teams obviously do care if people show up. They aren't working by the same business plan. And if you lose the road gate you get Seattle's finances and ownership. I think people beefing about how MLS IIs don't invest are trying to lay groundwork for the freestanding teams to be in d2 and the MLS II teams in d3. I get what you're saying about RGV but sometimes when someone is stereotyping they are setting up a blanket solution that doesn't make the distinctions either. The official line may be that it will be new teams, and that would endrun the expectations issue of dropping teams to d3. But if someone's beefing to reporters in a way that could be construed as departing from the party line then maybe the party line is being contested. The paper MLS party line is we want teams with SSSs/stadium plans in existence, etc. And yet Seattle is in the league and Miami MLS still has a pulse that was barely beating when it was awarded without a stadium deal. I'll be certain they are following the plan.....when the plan is actually implemented. Until then, to me, it's a politician's promise. Mind you, some politicians do what they say. But I'm gonna be "show me" on this because it sounds like at least some existing teams aren't entirely comfortable in a league with II teams.
I don't agree with comparing RGV to Reno. We have a complex interrelationship with RGV that would be difficult to unravel. We don't own it but it's kind of a partnership with split duties. Reno has their own team and a two year deal with SJ. We can talk like that's the same thing but our former affiliate the Battery has been through 3 affiliate relationships in as many years. They can easily be the one left out in musical chairs and be back on their own. Reno to me is other side of the divide and just has a deal to let a few players on their team. We pick everyone on RGV. Dial that up a step more and you have LA2 who owns and runs the whole thing. Over time it's gonna head to ownership or partnership because there is little value in having 5 players on a team that doesn't even have to play your style. You want to be implementing system from the academy up, and to pick every player on that roster. The 5 man affiliate deals are just bridging until everyone has the finances and plans to be either RGV or LA2. Which means at some point there will be 2_ MLS teams matched with 2_ II teams and while I think playing mixed opposition is good**, I'd bet they end up in their own league together. **I think it is useful to see teams of different leagues and types playing. The PR Islander and Montreal Impact runs in CCL of last decade prompted MLS to get off its ass on reserve salaries, roster rules, etc., and restore the competitive balance. I think the current USOC rules deny us that canary in the coalmine. While I don't take the W&L entirely seriously for RGV as development is our priority, I do want to see how good we are relative to unaffiliated teams, other II teams.
The announced two-year affiliation deal between San Jose and Reno is a bit odd but otherwise it is the same as Houston and RGV. San Jose hired all the coaches and is picking all the players for Reno. http://www.reno1868fc.com/news_article/show/729746?referrer_id=2943788
Just gonna paste this well written blurb from RGVFC in ESL form: Important notable events: Escalante missed a crucial PK. Taylor Hunter stripped of the ball in the box which leads to initial Timber goal. Holland scores a goal The RGVFC coach still sucks Toros miss 2 PK's, Lose to Timbers 2 By Toros Communications , 07/30/17, 9:30AM CDT The Rio Grande Valley FC Toros did not have a desired start to their three-game Northwestern trip. The Toros were defeated 2-1 by Portland Timbers 2 in a game where they missed two penalty shots. Marco Carducci was needed early in the game. Carducci saved Kyle Bjornethun’s left footed shot from inside the box in the 12th minute of the game. Portland Timbers 2 capitalized off an RGV mistake. Omar Mohamed stole the box from Taylor Hunter inside the penalty box and scored to put Timbers 2 ahead in the 26th minute. Joseph Holland would tie things up in the 30th minute. Escalante pushed the game wide to Kai Greene who sent a marvelous cross to Holland. Holland headed the ball into the lower right corner to even things out between the two teams. Rio Grande Valley had a chance to get ahead early in the second half. Jose Escalante drew a foul inside the penalty box in the 52nd. Escalante stepped up to take the penalty, but Kendall McIntosh saved the shot. In the 69th minute, Russell Cicerone beat the backs of the RGV FC Toros but sent his shot over the crossbar. Portland Timbers 2 scored the game-winning goal in the 81st minute. Omar Mohamed served the ball to Villyan Bijev. Bijev did not forgive and volleyed his shot into the net. Kyle Murphy was fouled inside the box in the 86th minute resulting in another penalty for the Toros. Todd Wharton took it and Rio Grande Valley was once again denied by McIntosh. Rio Grande Valley next game is on August 2 in Vancouver. The Toros play against Whitecaps FC 2 at 12pm. on Wednesday.
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/820024?referrer_id=2333971 The USL will have a 34 game regular season next year running 31 weeks. This year was 32 games. There will also be 3 expansion teams next year. This articles doesn't list them but they are Nashville, Fresno, and Las Vegas. That would be a total of 33 teams but we'll see what happens. There could be some defections like Ottawa going off to the new Canadian Premier League or teams leaving like Wilmington last year. The NASL situation is also always fluid. They do say that there will still be two conferences and the playoffs will stay the same. There was a tweet earlier this week saying that Birmingham and Memphis have already signed up to join in 2019.