Well, USL will not do well with promotion relegation unless they both become cross country leagues. Let's say Portland got relegated last year, the closest club to them would be... wait for it... Pittsburgh. the travel costs to get to Portland for many of these USL clubs would be impossible on a USL-2 budget. Not to mention Bermuda travel from the west coast. BUT, single table is quite grand.
How in the world would it have a pro/rel (how you got reg out of relegation I don't know) if the promoted teams from usl-2 can't afford to be in usl-1?
Not liking MLS is one thing. Stating that usl is a better league is quite another. Having teams fold every single year does not make the usl a better league than MLS. Having won one us open cup during the history of MLS does make the usl league a better league than MLS. Having your very best run teams and cities want to leave your league for MLS does not make usl a better league than MLS. The fact that bench players that MLS offers reserve contracts can make substantially more money in usl does not make usl a better league than MLS. MLS replaces these guys with other cannon fodder that will accept a developmental contract. So, why is usl a BETTER LEAGUE than MLS? (Full disclosure: I like usl and MLS)
Fair, but MLS teams are not really allowed to fold...i.e. because of the fact that all the money made from every team goes into a pot, and split up between the different franchises. I like the idea of the strongest surviving in USL. If your not making money, and not drawing enough fans, then maybe you shouldn't be around. It's Capitalism, and strangely.. MLS is a rather Socialist model.
Yes, but the contention by the thread starter and the anti-MLS crowd is that the usl is a better league. The MLS league does not allow teams to fold because the structure of the league is better than that of the the usl league. The 'strongest surviving in USL' are fleeing to MLS because, you know, MLS is a better league that doesn't allow teams to fold. MLS doesn't allow teams to fold because the investors in MLS are orders of magnitude wealthier than most of the small fish in usl. So, if 'the strongest surviving USL teams' all want to be a part of MLS, what does that say about the usl?
they want to be part of MLS because it's a higher league. The problem lies in that USL and MLS compete to be a top league, where as other countries the leagues are connected and you have official 1st and 2nd divisions. I agree MLS is better quality.. I do not agree however, that the best way to run a league is the MLS's way, and not USL's.s
There is little to no competition between the leagues, at least from where MLS is looking. MLS is the official 1st division in the United States and Canada. MLS is the only way to run a league in the U.S. at this point in our history. The way the usl is run is called treading water while an individual drowns every year. Every 5 years you have 10 dead swimmers and 10 brand new dog paddlers trying to stay afloat.
So far the only casualty was Atlanta, but because they wanted to go to MLS. We will see this year how MLS clubs will do in the US Open Cup...
You don't understand what "Socialism" is. If anything MLS is "ultra-capitalist" or possibly "mercantilist" or "oligarchical". The one thing it is not, is "socialist". I see that claim around BigSoccer and it just doesn't hold up. Restraint of trade and monopolism are end goals of unrestrained capitalism.
The group operating the USL-1 team was unrelated to Arthur Blank's MLS bid. You really need to do some fact-checking. Go RailHawks!
I've watched my fair share of MLS matches and aside from clubs like Colombus last year and maybe a few others they bore me to death. A lot of them seem to prefer the midtable EPL team style of play which is boring as shit. I was watching the Galaxy-Chivas USA match the other day, which is suppose to be a super clásico, and I barely made it through the first half. I've been to plenty of USL matches and I just enjoy them more. Maybe it's bias but whatever. What I hate about both leagues is the ridiculous playoff system. Get rid of that crap and make it like most other fútbol leagues in the world.
I would say attending matches would be more enjoyable than watching teams on tv who you have no routing interest in.
I know, but still. USL just seems to be more open, some of the teams are more attack minded than a lot of clubs I've seen in the MLS.
Helps, how? Wouldn't count on it. Because, God knows, they haven't changed a thing in 14 years. One of the dumbest things I've ever read here. Really. Ever. 2008 head-to-head: 3rd Round New England (MLS) 3, Richmond (USL2) 0 Kansas City (MLS) 4, Carolina (USL1) 2 OT Chicago (MLS) 4, Cleveland (USL2) 1 DC United (MLS) 2, Rochester (USL1) 1 FC Dallas (MLS) 2, Miami (USL1) 1 Charleston (USL1) 1, Houston (MLS) 1 (Charleston advanced on PKs 4-3) Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL2) 2, New York (MLS) 1 Seattle (USL1) 2, Chivas USA (MLS) 0 Quarterfinals New England (MLS) 1, Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL2) 1 (New England advanced on PKs 5-3) Seattle (USL1) 0, Kansas City (MLS) 0 (Seattle advanced on PKs 6-5) Charleston (USL1) 3, FC Dallas (MLS) 1 Final DC United (MLS) 2, Charleston (USL1) 1 MLS went 6-3-3 in the 12 head-to-head matchups (with 2 USL teams and 1 MLS team advancing on PKs). So tell me again who "dominated?" No, it was because they lost too much money. As Andy pointed out, the Silverbacks and Arthur Blank's MLS bid (or half-hearted bid) were completely unrelated. Except that's not actually a "fact." That shows a shocking lack of understanding of the very thing you're railing against.
Islanders, Vancouver, Montreal, Minnesota, Seattle(back when they were in the league), Atlanta(last year)... all pretty attack based teams.
Montreal? 9th in an 11-team league in goals per game and they're "attack-based?" Puerto Rico's 1.43 goals per game would have been tied for 7th had they done it in MLS. 11 of the 14 MLS teams scored at least as many goals per game as the top 2 USL teams. But the USL teams are more "attack based" and "open." Okay, got it now. Look, I dig USL as well. There's absolutely no reason one can't support both organizations. None. But some of y'all have this huge complex about it.
Seems like the only person with a complex about it is you. If you have a problem with what I said about your precious MLS too bad, just don't throw a fit if someone doesn't like your overrated league. About Montreal, yes because apparently last year was the only season they've been in the league. And even then they did better and scored more than any MLS team in the CCL. Either way, do you actually watch the USL? Do you follow the teams? Stats don't say everything. Arsenal (who are universally considered to be a very attacking team) are averaging 1.68 goals per game this season. Only a bit better than the Islanders average last season. I guess by your standard they aren't an attacking team. I'm telling you as I see it. I've seen games from both leagues and that's my personal opinion. Either way I don't understand why you're so defensive since under your name it says West Ham Utd, not "Real Salt Lake" or some other retarded MLS name.
That's funny, I don't recall throwing a fit. I'm calling you on something you said because it doesn't match with the facts. And then you go with the "precious MLS" and "overrated league" things, which is something the insecure USL fan always goes to. Well, considering only two teams in their league have scored more goals, I think that's a pretty good indicator that they're an attacking team in their league. And, forgive me, is 1.68 more than 1.43 or not? Just checking. But you said that all those USL teams are much more attack-minded than a lot of clubs you've seen in MLS. Charleston Battery. Brilliant name. Minnesota Thunder. Inspired. Who's defensive? Not me. I'm attack-minded. You know...and I've said this before, but just because you ask someone to explain an opinion about USL...just because you point out something about USL...and just because you think their opinion doesn't really match up to the facts....doesn't mean you think MLS is perfect. But USL fanboys always go there. Always, always, always. It's a huge chip you have on your shoulders.
Kenn, you don't get it. What makes you an expert anyway? It's simple. The USL has announced a team that plans on playing someday maybe in NYC. That makes it superior to MLS and quite possibly the most exciting league ever.
Jesus.....you have some issues. Look...this thread started completely unrelated to FCNY, and it needs to be moved in my opinion. Don't start " The Borough Boys are Douchebags "... routine again...we get it...you hate us... *yawn*
Just saying... I think Charleston Battery is one of the coolest names in ALL of sports. I think it actually is inspired. It has strong and significant local historical ties and is pretty original at that. Plus they remind me of the 80's buttrock band Stryper, but that's beside the point.