http://www.kickthis.com/media/audio/20100109.mp3 looks like they are considering 8 team playoffs like MLS?
Yeah. It was lame when MLS did it. They should max it out at 4. If they insist on another round, make it 6 and give the teams that win each conference a bye into the conference final.
Yes, 8 seems a bit overboard, but consider this: 1) 8 teams have an opportunity to make some (needed) additional $$$$ and recognition to help keep the league/teams viable; and 2) teams will NOT be playing for pro/rel, so an 8 team playoff helps to keep things interesting for the bottom tier teams. Hopefully when there is a single league (NASL), the top 6 will playoff with top seeds drawing a bye as you and others suggest. The question is will it be a home-home series? Or knock out. Probably home-home as the league matures and seeks to emulate Euro and other leagues.
The NASL organizational meeting was just held and the next 2 weekends include 2 important national meetings and I beleive the MLS draft - as soon as they conclude, we should see a flurry of player trials and signings! College draftees don't last long in MLS camp unless they can show that they will be instant contributors or have enormous promise for the future especially as the old reserve team concept has dissipated and there are few slots open. Hope Pete and Jim have their sights on some quality players (and still plan to bring in an assistant coach/executive!). Is Matthew Mbuta available? Maybe one/two of the younger UK players could come over on loan for the spring-summer (could give us a striker/defender and we could help pay the salary). Also, what's the word on the street about Biscotti buying CP UK? Will there be a decision soon - before the team sells off any more key players as they edge up the ladder for promotion to Premiership. Would it not be cool to have a Baltimorean own the team - think of the cash infusion, publicity and stadium connections he would bring to CP Baltimore!
To quote Neil Warnock on Saturday he said "There's a real possibility of new investment coming into the club in the form of a new owner. Watch this space". Palace UK want a new owner by before the end of the January transfer window so that they don't have to sell Victor Moses to raise much needed funds. They've already had to sell their best defender, Jose Fonte, for £1.2M in order to keep the club from administration.
Yeah guys HOW SHITTY! If your club makes the playoffs (which is much more likely with 8 clubs), you have to have a shitty time watching your fave club in one or more extra matches. Dammit, WHY DOES THE LEAGUE HAVE TO SCREW US SO BAD!
Thank God! A real, hands on soccer guy! With knowledge of and contacts with players/coaches at the D-2 level. Baltimore MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore is pleased to announce the appointment of Todd Wawrousek as Assistant Coach. The former Vancouver Whitecaps FC Assistant Coach began his tenure at the club last week, in time to join the organization’s owners and coaches for the inaugural NASL Annual General Meeting and the MLS combine. Check out the CP web site.
Stop right there. MLS playoff matches, because of attendance drops, have actually been a drain on most teams budgets. If all the NASL & USL teams can control the revenue stream at their facilities, then you may have a good argument, but I doubt that's the case.
Yeah I read this release today. Vancouver is a great Div2 team and stealing some of their staff is the best way to go. IMHO better than going after non-North Americans who know nothing about the soccer scene here (St Louis...)
I don't disagree, but the NASL/USL teams operate on a different (current)model (e.g., smaller stadiums (some self owned and operated) - small or no bonuses to players - smaller managable crowds) whereas every additional paying fan in a seat can be a short-term positive dollarwise and long-term gain publicity wise. Some fans may not come to see Baltimore play a regular season match against Austin or Carolina on a Friday nite when baseball is in town, but bring the kids to see a Saturday afternoon playoff game against Portland or Montreal.
Who cares, really? He's from FL. Hope he makes it. I'd rather see Shintara come back if he doesn't make it in Phila. He could make for an interesting midfield that is developing! The schedule should be out any day - then the list of signings will start. Hopefully, Jim & Pete can find a few young bodies in trials, if they ever hold trials! They need some new blood to provide depth, especially on the long road trips. Maybe they're waiting for all the MLS draftees to sign or flunk out. Once that occurs, there will (should) be a lot of movement.
Roster may include holdovers: Robson, Marshall, Teixeira, Healey, Gnatiko, Lader, Vranis (?), Flores, Harada, Basso. New signees: GK Chase Harrison (Harrisburg), Korey Veeder (U-19), Tsyyoshi Yoshitake (Charleston), Randi Patterson (Charleston), Aduato Neto (Blast), Lucio Gonzaga (Blast). 7 international players (?): Robson, Harada, Yoshitake, Neto, and Gonzaga. Flores, Teixeira and Patterson may get passes despite FIFA international desigantions (green cards/US citizens). Schedule out this week?
Saw this on Potomac Soccer wire and one statement really jumped out at me, " The experience that people have gotten in the past with Crystal Palace, it’s going to be completely different and completely upgraded by moving into our new venue, even though we’re just going 100 meters away,” explained Medd. “We’re putting considerable investment into UMBC for this interim period.” So they are going to play this year, and conceivably next season, at the UMBC soccer facility, not the UMBC Stadium, which according to UMBC's site has a score board, concessions stand, 120 x 70 bermuda grass field and 1500 permanent bleacher seats. Elsewhere on the site it says funds were approved for lights and 2500 permanent seats. I'm guessing that bleachers will have to be added to the current set-up to get to 5000 as that is the team's stated goal for 2010. I had hoped to go and see if anything was transpiring, but then it snowed. Maybe next week.
Shintaro has "apparently" been removed as a trialist by the Philadelphia Union. Hopefully this means we can have him back! With his time training in London with Crystal Palace UK he would make a great leader for our growing former J-League contingent.
The signing list continues to grow quickly with some experienced players at the D-2 level. The list of 7 internationals is also quickly filling out and the last couple of spots may be keys to the season. Regrettably, Shintara may not be in the team's plan if the international slots are already in negotiation. If there's any to way keep him on board, it would be a great help. I would hate to see him suit up at Harrisburg or Real MD. Jim and Pete seem to be signing a flurry of midfielders - maybe we'll play a 4-5-1. It's also time to announce the returning players and sign up a few Yanks. Another GK, a speeder winger, a big body for up top and an enforcer for the back line would be nice additions.
We know they'll be at least one more international player as in the Palace Post Pete and Jim said one of the new signings played in the recent African Cup of Nations. And another one played recently in World Cup Qualifying. this might sound a bit of a naive question but does the 7 foreign player rule mean only 7 are allowed on the whole roster or only 7 are allowed in the matchday squad?