Has MLS changed their roster limits for this season? I seem to remember hearing this, but cannot find any info on the change. My question is how many non P-40 players can a team have once the season has started? Also, do transitional internationals count against this number?
Here's what I know, or at least what I think I know. Maximum of 24 on roster, including up max of 6 developmental (P-40) players. Only 3 foreign players. Don't know about the whole TI or SI thing.
18 players on the Primary roster, 3 of which can be SI. Trans-internationls (I understand there to be a league wide limit of 20, but not 2 per team) come out of the regular roster. 6 players on the Developmental Roter. All P-40's and any players (under 23, I think) who sign on as Developmental Players. Dev Players can play for MLS team and other teams well... A-league say. To give an example Matt Behncke, with the Burn, played for Milwaukee in the A-L final. Here is the page where we keep track of all the Burn roster slots... http://www.3rddegree.net/season/dance.htm
when does a player no longer fall into the P-40 category? Does it have to do with age or years in the league or how much they play?
The league makes the decison on weither or not a player is P-40 or not. They make that decision based on age, performance, minutes, and games played.
The league controls every little detail, unfortunately... That's part of it's downfall... The teams should individually have their say like in other countries! And would be nice to have relegation!
MLS - USL agrrement? This is close to what I've read also. The big question here is regarding the loaning of players because the MLS/USL agreement has expired. Will we see more of an international system where players are loaned or sold for a fee?
For me, the big question is how much longer can MLS use this type of a system until it bursts? Every year, we see another 55-65 players drafted into the league. Most won't stick, in part because they're not good enough. In part because, there are no roster spots aavailable for them. But, the point is, every year, some players do stick. And, interestingly, the better players often seem to be the youngest ones (my unscientific belief). We're not far from a situation in which MLS has signed as many promising 16, 17, 18 year old players as it has room for. MLS needs full reserve sides. Garber talked about that publically last year and said the league was committed to making it happen. I wonder, though, if lack or prgress on stadium issues is really hampering this plan. I may be off target, here, but it seems logical to me that managing a true reserve side would be far easier for, say, the Crew and (soon) the Galaxy because they have ful control of their stadiums and practice/training facilities.