could somebody tell me if MLS has a minor league "farm" system, a la baseball? I see that the Norhtern Virginia Royals have signed an agreement with DCU to be an "affiliate." What other affiliates do we have? I remember Bryan Namoff shuttling between Richmond and DC to help out when we were shorthanded, and Hershey seemed almost a farm team in years past, but I thought that A league teams were separate entities now and their players were no longer tied to MLS clubs. What's the story, please?
I think you're right, the MLS and A-League partnership has expired. D3 teams might be the only outlet MLS has for people to get playing time. I understand that the A-League wants more money for the use of their players, but I think MLS and the A-League need to extend their affiliations for a few years for the good of the American player. With only 10 MLS teams, there's going to be a lot of talented young players who rot on the bench. Maybe it's time for some reserve teams. Look at United for example, I can't imagine that folks like Quintanilla or Barclay are going to be happy riding the pine, plus their development will be stunted. I think MLS needs to consider some form of reserve team or create a USL partnership that works for both sides. But that's just my two cents.
United has it's own agreements with a couple of USL teams on both levels. The Royals, Mariners, and I think I remember Pittsburgh are the 'affiliates'. But this term does not apply to player shuttling, as it does in baseball/hockey. In those sports, the 'big' team owns and pays the players and moves them up and down as they see fit. In regards to MLS, the 18 regular and 6 developmental roster spots are all that are truly DC United players. Though DC may decide to turn around and 'loan' a player to the Royals or one of the two A-League teams. This is fine if United is looking to getting players that aren't seeing too much MLS game time, some minutes in an actual game. The questions arise if/when DC United gets to the points where it needs a new player. They can not call up a Pittsburgh player that they do not already own/pay for....and I think all loan deals to MLS must go through the league in some way.
Its my understanding that even though the MLS/a-league affiliation has expired, clubs are free to negotiate "usage" fees between players. I know of one A-league player that was given $50 for every day with the club (usually only a day or two) and only slightly more if they saw playing time and he played for two different MLS teams last year. I think you will still see A-leaguers playing in MLS, especially in the summer with increase of USMNT activity and injuries. The clubs just won't be "affiliated" with one another by the MLS its now up to clubs to do ther own bargaining and affilliating Mikey
It's kind of boggling to think that we could negotiate a short-term deal with an A-League player and later find ourselve facing him on another MLS squad! David Hayes, call your agent.
Following up, I suppose this means that if Hayden Woodworth does sign with the A-League, then DCU has relinquished all rights to his services. Apparently he was told to come back for DCU Spring Training next year, but I suppose he could try out for any MLS team as long as he no longer is tied to us. What if he had signed an MLS contract before he was released? Then would he be tied to DCU if he wanted to make another run at an MLS roster spot next year?
The DCU website lists five "Affiliates;" three A-League teams (Richmond, Virginia Beach and Charlotte); and two D3 teams (No.Va. Royals; Carolina Dynamo). Yet I thought the A-league no longer had formal affiliations with specific teams. What's the story? Incidentally, the Dynamo roster contains some truly provocative names: Cujoe (remember the Stephen King story "Cujo"?); Ambush, Command, Foward (sic) (he's probably a defender), and Bundy (Ted's brother? He'll kill you!).
If you read the spring training guide on the MLS website, it makes it sound like teams have the rights to college seniors that they draft for 2 years. However, I think at some point (like with Kante last year) we either have to sign them or relenquish their rights. Well, unless MLS changed the rules again, which happends regularly.
This is correct. We released Kante and let him pursue his options - just in time to be signed by the revs.
MLS and USL (the parent organization to which the A-League belongs) no longer have an affiliation agreement. That does not mean that DCU can go to Richmond (or others) and figure out their own deal. United has always been good to the Kickers, in how they've handled shuttling players, and there is usually a pre-season game in Richmond.