The "Thoughts That Don't Require Their Own Thread" Thread VI

They're a charter member of the new ASL, the founder is Matt Driver ex Revs assistant coach.
Read here.
http://massunitedfc.com/mass-united-to-join-asl/
There was a rumor going around that W.Mass pioneers also might join.

 

Personally, I've had 4 ticket reps in 4 years, so from my POV there does seem to be some type of internal issue that creates heavy turnover (maybe it is the complaints). However, everyone I've interacted with from Revs management - all four of my reps, Danielle the new Marketing Coordinator, and even Lizz Summers (who I slag on all the time here for other reasons) - has been great on a person-to-person basis.

The issue has always been their communications to a wider, more sports-centric audience. You have a GM with the personality of a soggy napkin (compared to more outgoing Boston sports GMs like Ainge and Chiarelli), and a Communications Director who never actually talks about soccer, along with promotional snafus like Nachogate and the botched boxing setup. Add in ownership that never acknowledges the team, and a COO who jerks people around about a stadium eternally (to be fair, that's probably all he can do). That's the stuff the "soccer moms" never see and it's the ONLY thing the diehards see.

 

I dunno about the #nerevs tag. Seems like a mixed bag of lovers and haters to me. I don't get a overriding sense of positive. (But maybe that's my own filters causing me to seeing it that way.)

I think almost every employee there knows that they are playing a little kids version of pro sports management. They all need to look in the mirror and take a deep breath every morning, and then put on the happy face -- that it is a real team playing by the same competitive rules as other squads; but they know full well that that isn't really the case.

They likely all know that they are being asked to operate on pocket change and lint, yet at the same time need to pretend that they are "really trying" in the sense that they talk as if they are prepared to engage like other MLS teams in the global player marketplace. But they all know that they are really only "really trying" to manage to a cost target, other objectives be damned.

And they all are smart enough to not say any of that out loud. Crappy club or not, they have a job in pro sports. Which I would guess some, possibly many here overtly or at least secretly envy.

 

Because basically if you say anything slightly positive on BigSoccer, you're automatically considered "not a real fan."

[Joke. Everyone is a real fan in their own way. If you are invested enough to care enough to read and post here and/or on twitter, then you are certainly a Real Fan.]

But really, if you say too much that is rose-colored-glasses positive, you are wrong.

 

Only if what you say is wrong.
Kidding but to be fair, many here are actually more balanced than many give them credit for. People are quick to compliment when the club deserves it and -yes- criticize when they deserve it as well. The gray area or "battle ground" if you will, is when people think they deserve praise or deserve criticism sometimes in the absence of facts (mea culpa!).

The reality is, the positives are few and far between and as fans who follow this club closely, we don't live in a vacuum. Generally anyone who posts here watches what is going on elsewhere in MLS. Granted, this is a small sliver of the rev fan base but outside the SG boards, probably one of the most informed places to post / talk about this club.

No disrespect intended of course to anyone specifically but I truly think the people who are happiest with this club's management are simply unaware or have an outdated or myopic view of this club in context of the rest of MLS.

 

It's a new league that's hoping to launch with 12 teams in August of this year. They claim that they have commitments from investors representing six markets in six states: Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Their plan is to adopt a split-season schedule, with each team playing between 10 and 12 games from August to November, followed by a four-month break, then concluding with between 10 and 12 games played from April to June.

 

Does ASL have a website?

 

http://www.apssoccer.net/

Here's a couple looks into the league:
http://dohertysoccer.com/2014/02/10...another-addition-to-the-sports-alphabet-soup/
http://www.sportsmyriad.com/2013/07/american-professional-soccer-new-league-new-goals/

 

The fact that I can't google to find it speaks volumes.

Don't see the point of adding another league into the mix. Just splintering off into further and further oblivion mires those players competing at the lower levels in more and more bureaucratic in-fighting that is sure to occur between the ego-maniacs who get involved in things like this.

The current model isn't working but I don't see how adding more barely-funded leagues into the mix would possibly make the landscape better.

Also, any league that would deal with Mass United and their "staff" is bonkers.

 

The lower leagues should be more like this: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...e-fc-supporter-owned-soccer-club-music-city-w

 

I think the main benefit of this league could be from a business perspective, at least for this calender year for some teams. The WM Pioneers only have 7 home matches this season, adding several more games after the PDL season could be a great opportunity to bring in a little extra revenue. I know I will love it, as I believe the Pioneers have the best atmosphere is New England.
Obviously there are tons of reasons why playing two seasons in two different leagues will be crazy, but I am hoping the Pioneers play the fall segment of the ASL this season so I can get a few extra games in at Lusitano!

 

Good luck competing for D-3 status against USL-Pro, who is now subsidized by MLS as well as their own pyramid scheme.

 

Pioneers are a very unique situation and you're right, playing two leagues would work for them. My negative take is directed more towards the league itself.

I am finally planning to take in a Pioneers game this summer.

 

Has anyone seen an MLS 2014 preview - team overviews, strengths, weaknesses, etc.?

 

The better ones, done by the major outlets and writers, tend to come out in the days leading up to the openers. You may see some team specific previews done by various local outlets by their own beat writers, but if your looking for an overview of the entire league it will probably be another week or two.

 

If I recall correctly, that's the same person who said moving into the city would bad for attendance, because "if they can't afford a car they can't afford tickets."

Sheesh.

 

I was looking over the current Revs roster, and Andy Dorman now is the only age 30+ member of the team. Next-oldest are Knighton (29), Tierney (28) and Goncalves (28). Everyone else is age 27 or younger. I wonder where this stacks up with the rest of the league.

 

Chart: age of MLS Players as of today. Note: there'll be a lot of roster movement between now & start of season. pic.twitter.com/7phKB78yW0

— Mike McGrew (@Zavcurrent) February 18, 2014

 

We have the youngest team and have the fewest old guys. But, the really amazing thing is how little range there is in average age - less than 1 full year across the league!

 

Anyone else notice that the Revs have the least total players?

2014 Revs: The few, the young, the poorly paid, New England Revolution!

 

"Note: there'll be a lot of roster movement between now & start of season."

 

So with our service team working hard to send out STH packages, would the @MidnightRiders or @NErebellion like to see a peek at their card?

— Brian Bilello (@RevsPrez) February 19, 2014

New STH cards for the fort (white section will have info) #supporters pic.twitter.com/JY4d9uR24r

— Brian Bilello (@RevsPrez) February 19, 2014

For those of you living it up at midfield... pic.twitter.com/Wa6DpkyDyU

— Brian Bilello (@RevsPrez) February 19, 2014