Well with the draft coming soon and off season on going which new Canadian youngsters will come through the draft or be signed by academy system. Any player your excited to see make it to the pros? Cyle Larin is a player I'm hoping to see next season from UCONN.
Would be a perfect example of a player who could use a USL Pro affiliate team. Good enough to be on the pro ranks and out of the academy but needs field time. Also a set up with Ottawa like Vancouver has with EDM for player loans.
With Ottawa in the NASL now without having restrictions of the MLS teams and be a second divison pro team in Ontario now could this be a good landing spot for some of these players who are over seas to come home and sign a pro contract. Also the Lynx are taking a step up from the semi pro Ontari D3 to the USL pro affiliate with TFC. Whether they are signed by TFC and loaned to the Lynx of sign a contract with the Lynx where he will be playing against MLS loaned players. Vancouver and Montreal should soon have a USL Pro affiliate. before this the only option was EDM. aside from MLS academy for U20 players not able to make the senior roster.
Although both are part of a bigger whole with their US city counter parts I do not see any reason why these USL PRO and NASL could be part of a Canadians sub divison champions league each year. Like many team who play in their regular league and their federation champions league. he most likley soon to be 3 USL Pro Canadian teams and 2 and possibliy 3 NASL teams have an organized Canadian schedule with an evenutalu champion say a home and home as not part of there regular season crossing over into each league. after the series of games are played throughout the season seed them according to records and hold a one game knockout round with the final two left standing in a Canadian sub divison pro championship. Imagine the cross league rivals Ottawa NASL vs Montreal USL Pro affiliate. EDM FC vs Vancouver USL Pro affiliate, and hopefully soon Lynx TFC USL pro Affiliate vs Hamilton NASL.
That would be nice and let's not forget the mayor of Quebec city is interested to have a soccer club in his city but looking for investors might the problem maybe. Would love to see two French speaking team in Canada. CFLSTEVE any Canadian youngsters your looking forward to see join MLS?
I would loce to see an NASL side in Quebec City but as you mentioned looking for investors is a big problem with the NHL on everyones mind. A soccer venue also would be an issue. At this point a best case for QC is Joey Saputo and the Montreal Impact. A perfect city for the Impacts USL Pro affiliate, although I would rather see QC with an NASL side. Saputo could and may very well move its reserve team to Quebec City enter them in the MLS' USL Pro affilated plan. Saputo could very well also build a 5K seat soccer specific venue on his own dollar. Have the reserve team morph into part USL Pro player contracts and loaned players who would be on the reserve squad for field time. The reason would be to have that USL Pro team also have its own acedemy system in QC. I would like to see the top 3 players on your list of course. The youngest of the bunch is 18 year old Luca Gasparotto Could be there for the taking. Playing for Rangers FC and out on loan to get playing time while the Rangers financial problems forced them to reincorporate and start ot the Scottish3rd division team. Even in the premier league when the Rangers were there it has been a two team race for a century. Get back to North America and particular a Canadian club. An 18 year old Centre Back could be the future rock of the CMT senior team and having him in North America. The Impact could be the best place for him
SPL is now a one team race... I would like to see Piette come play for Montreal and most of low division players also come play in MLS, USL, or NASL.
Samuel Piette spent his academy years in Germany and now is playing for a club that is bouncing from Pro/rel. Non the less playing in Germany is as good as it gets so at just 19 and coming through the system there it will be hard pressed to see him in the MLS anytime soon. But having a chance to come home and play in Montreal may have a great appeal
When some of the Young Guns who are now over in EURO came up when there was nothing really in place in Canada that would be considerd secure or above the CSL with the exception of TFC. Now Montreal Vancouver Both firmly entrenched in the MLS with a lot of perks new stadiums, practice facilities rounding into place in Vancouver Vancouver part of the Northwest Cascadia Cup with Portland and Seattle with all three having venues adapted for great soccer atmosphere. Montreal pulled in 40K plus for rivalry day in the MLS vs Toronto at Olympic. If Olympic hopefully getting its moder reno's I could see Saputo putting on some great events. Pre season MLS tourney in JAN/FEB. Even a game with PSG, where they will take a whooping but would draw a great crowd at a reno's Olympic. NASL Sides will be very important as well. Right now one team in the West and one in the East just is not enough of above level 3 semi U 23 leagues. Ottawa will and should be in a good position to attract players with the stadium and the ownership Group being all of first class. Hamilton and Calgary would be two nicely placed NASL sides bringing two to the east and two in the West.
It would probably make sense for Quebec to first establish a PSQL or PDL club, and with a supportive mayor, the city could fund the cost of a 2-4K seat stadium. Less private money at risk in that case. If a base of support can be established at that level, then the money required to make the step up to D2 would likely be easier to get. Of course, PEPS stadium at Universite Laval would make for a decent place to start.
With the NHL coming it is about that time that QC and its mayor begins to set their sites a little higher than the Amatuer CIS football and Remperts Junior hockey. The Impact and Joey Saputo will be looking for a place to have a USL Pro Affiliate So that would seem to be a natural fit. All of the MLS teams are shooting for that goal and the Impact having its affilate in the second biggest city in the province would make sense. If the city were to provide some land I am sure Saputo would partner for a soccer specific stadium. Playing at Peps with football lines would not be ideal. Quebecor also would make a nice partner
As said above though, the major issue is finding an investor. If Saputo is ready, willing and able, then by all means charge ahead. But if there's nobody out there willing to risk the cash going straight into pro-level, then a baby steps approach may be the only way.
oh I can agree with that but Saputo will need to find a place for a USL affiliate to play. He may just keep the same model and use his reserve team for entry into the USL Pro and play out of Saputo Stadium but I am not sure that is what the MLS has in mind or they would just keep the reserve team model and schedule
What are your thoughts of a possibilty/chances of a Piette or Gasparotto being on a loan to Ottawa for the second part of the NASL schedule. This would be the off season for their Euro Club teams and would place them in Canada for any National Team activities during August and september?
Piette seems to get regular minutes for the second team which is more competitive than NASL I doubt he would loan over. Gasparotto has a better chance, although I think you're more likely to see Kyle Bekker, Emery Welshman or even Bryce Alderson and one of the Impact HGP defenders. I think their best possible loan addition might be Caleb Clarke. I could also see Jordan Hamilton jumpstarting his pro career early, I think he's sort of outgrown what Academy games can offer his development.
Seems like Prindham and Larin might be first round picks. Although prindham will be a dual citizen for Canada and USA. Any other Canadians potentially being part of the draft this year? Would like to see Impact create a USL team and set it up in Quebec. If the club does really well and has the potential to be MLS caliber team sell it.
It seems like every MLS team will have a USL Pro affilate a new one or an already existing one. Havinf Saputo place his in QC would make a lot of sense. He would probably have to fund the whole thing though like he did with the Impact. There seems to be nothing of interest of any kind for anything else but a NHL team in QC or anywhere else in the province. QC also makes for a nice spot for a CFL team but no owner and no stadium.
Two other young gunz and have been invited too combine Tesho Akindele and Tomislav Zadro. Tesho is a dual holder USA and Canada.
An article on mlssoccer.com mentions how some of the Canadian youngsters feel about the coaching ways and style of Floro. Seems he's getting his message through to the young gunz. They either have or will soon play a scrimmage against Strikers in Florida.
Looking at many articles seems like USA u-17/20 and other youth teams are quite busy. What are the Canadian youth team up to? Would like to see them do more of these small tourneys also.
The only way they are going to get better is to get these U17/u20 sides on the pitch and get them playing. With a new cocahing staff building for the future these are the players that will be on the CNNT and finding out if they are buying in or have what it takes starts now. If they are not going to College getting them into the pros at a young age would benefit them. Edmonton and Ottawa playing in the NASL would be a good place to get some of these young gunz on a pro side within Canada closere to home and not spread all over the world. For those who are attending college their are sevaral PDL sides in Canada that are not affiliated with any of the MLS U23 sides that are independent if the players are not affiliated with an Adememy Already. As for a young mix of National team players Canada not being in the world cup could spend the month in Floriday anf sotuern US playing NASL sides while they are on their early break due to the WC. With NASL clubs only playing 9 games before the break they may want to keep sharp for the longer second half of the season. Also playing home in Canada at BMO or Saputo for the northern sides cosmos, Indy 11, Minn. Cosmas vs Canadian Mens National team at Saputo could draw some attentioneven during the WC.
Yes seems the young team beat their opponent 2-0 but which players scored the goals. Also yes I want to see more activity to the youth program more games and tournaments.