With the news that SKC has formed their own USL team for next season and the Aztex not playing, who do we think will be FC Dallas's affiliate? Being from OKC, I'm REALLY hoping that the team partners with the Energy! Looks like Drew Epperley at Big D Soccer has a feeling that that's what will happen. http://www.energyfc.com/press-release/sporting-kc-to-field-usl-team-end-affiliation-with-energy-fc/ http://www.bigdsoccer.com/2015/10/23/9602456/big-d-daily-news-for-friday-october-23-2015 The Energy press release says that "Energy FC is currently in negotiations with other MLS clubs to fill the role as affiliate for the 2016 season and beyond."
How a team with the pedigree we have for youth development doesn't have their own affiliate team is just beyond words.
I agree. This stumps me. Has anyone gotten any inkling of why this isn't happening? Even money wouldn't seem to be a good reason as they would likely get it back by having so many prospects to fill the roster and/or sell for a profit.
Funny you mention this... Dan Hunt had a chat session on our blog (I didn't set it up) yesterday and he did answer a question I asked about USL. His answer is so confusing and actually didn't answer anything, but did create two new questions! Read it for yourself, and know that i did in fact send a follow up to the PR person. #1 was, so there's a 2016 plan, what it is? and #2 was what does any of that international strategy and other stuff have to do with starting a local USL team? I'll keep you posted.
OK, I read Hunt's quote again and I think it must be in reference to bringing in a few super young foreign (read Colombian) players and signing them to the USL roster and how would they move up to the MLS roster from there since they wouldn't be HG's.
Could he be referencing another partnership with a foreign club? Realizing all of ours went by the wayside or have withered, loans like Moises (before he got a big head) in CA seemed to be a good option.
While I still don't feel we have a 100% clear answer to the question of "why hasn't FCD started its own USL team" we do now have some interesting new insight as to what the club considers hurdles down that path. http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mo...t-clarifies-answer-of-fc-dallas-usl-plans.ece
Well, we have our answer: http://www.fcdallas.com/post/2016/01/11/fc-dallas-announces-usl-affiliation-oklahoma-city-energy-fc
I'm pretty excited about the affiliation with OKC. I live about an hour and a half from OKC and about 2 hours and 45 minutes from Frisco, so hopefully I'll be able to check out a little action from both teams this season. On a side note, where is all the FC Dallas discussion these days? Is there another MLS forum people are posting at because I've been looking recently?
BigDsoccer.com seems to be the most active these days but overall it just not as busy as it once was/ or compared to a few other teams. Blame it on twitter/fb /little success/hunt fatigue etc.
http://soccer46.com/ A newer fan blog with great intro articles for fans who are new to The Oklahoma Energy.
Haven't seen any confirmation of this, but this may be what a lot of people have been waiting for: Hearing FC Dallas is currently making preliminary plans to put a team in the USL for the 2018 season.— Will Parchman (@WillParchman) July 19, 2016
The interesting part of this suggestion is the year: 2018 - just also happens to be when the current U16 batch generally will be 18. Dan Hunt has expressed a few reasons (but we know there are also financial issues they're worried about) as to why they haven't done this to date.. The biggest is his concern of being able to fill a roster, part of that was because of LigaMX and other non-MLS clubs buying away players. So I have to wonder their willingness to finally do this in 2018 is because the front office thinks they'll actually have the numbers at age to justify the expense.
If he was worried about Liga MX buying players, FIFA just made it harder for them to buy players under 18 who live in the US. I can't remember where I saw that. If I can find the link, I'll post it.
I'll believe it only when I'm actually witnessing a game. but there has been more talk about it lately than previously and with the signings of HG's it would seem to be a no brainer. but remember, for HSG, this has to be a business decision - aka: revenue stream, not a cost center - for them to commit to it.
A question I have is does it help the senior roster to have a USL team where some of the younger players are stashed so that it frees up roster spots for more players on the senior roster that are more ready. Do the younger players count against the roster no matter which team they are with? If so I think they should institute some of baseballs procedures and allow players to be on the 40 man roster and have a separate 28 man senior roster. Players can move up temporarily if someone is hurt etc.
Do we know if FCD is continuing their affiliate relationship with the Energy for this season? According to this article from Ives, Clavijo is quoted as saying FCD will have a USL team in 2019.
Yeah, I thought I started a thread on this yesterday but I guess not. This year would be better but at least they've set a date. I think it's imperative that they practice with or near the 1st team so they fit right in if needed and Oscar can watch them. They could play anywhere in the metroplex perhaps even at a couple of places for more eyeballs. Now the fun part is for us to come up with a name for them as FCD II doesn't do it for me.