Got to have an Academy in order for that to be a possibility. Which is a great idea if we had an Academy ... However, I don't like the idea of my clubs 1st team HC being the same guy that heads the Academy and development. I think he should be savvy in that regard but not the head of the snake. He has no top level experience in the professional ranks at any division. As I said I'd rather have a Heath type hiring with Powell brought in on staff to do exactly what you're talking about .... so that way Powell is focusing the development and gets 2-6 years head start so that when the jump happens we should already be seeing some players in the first five years of being an MLS side. If he's the HC he's not focused on that as it isn't his primary job.
If your aim is MLS ... you're going to have an Academy. The last group disbanded their Academy, I wouldn't put it high on the priority list for 2016, but I'd be disappointed if there wasn't at least U18/U16 in place by 2017 if MLS is the goal.
I think its a smart play if the idea is to develop players for a few years. There will not be an expansion draft so have home grown players would be great for a new comer to the league. I do see the worry that he might have too many hats and not be able to do it all well enough though...
That's completely fair ... not arguing against it. Don't know the options out there. Don't know how wide of a net they cast and what their experience requirements were for year 1 HC.
It's going to be an interesting development. Everybody got burned here with the Scorpions Academy and it'll likely take some convincing (even if it is SSE running the team) to get people to cooperate without the MLS pull (as that would be the government guaranteed check). I know they've talked about the possibility of eliminating the expansion draft .... but I'm not aware of it actually being done away with. And that's part of my "issue" or rather "curiosity" with this hire. He's fantastic with development ... so why hire him as the HC, especially when this is his first appointment in a professional capacity in this regard? IF the expansion draft is going away AND you're going to spend a few years developing your squad to hopefully produce players for you in the first couple of years in the MLS .... why the shit are you giving the perfect guy to do that MORE than that to do?
Both! USL's new team is owned by a new ownership group (SSE ... the Spurs of the NBA). The Scorpions left NASL. The Spurs have got the lease to use the stadium the Scorpions sold to the city/county.
Ok. I wasn't sure why the USL team would be playing ing NASL team's stadium. Is this the end of NASL?
We don't know if the Scorpions have left the NASL. That franchise may still be moved somewhere. Las Vegas has been rumored to be its new home.
Doubt it. It is a blow nonetheless. Rayo needs to fail/fold + Minn leaving + Cdn teams leaving & scorps+ATL not moving to better markets could spell trouble. The Silverbacks in ATL next season should be interesting.
When a current NBA owner is adding a new sports team to his portfolio then good on them for keeping the colors and Spurs theme across the two teams. Like how Boca Jrs. or Barca have basketball teams with the same attachment to the football club's identity, crest and of course colors. Good on you folks in the Alamo City for backing the sudden change. San Antonio will surely be in MLS sooner rather than later.
It seems that might be happening by coincidence for Herb Simon (Pacers). Reno is most likely going blue and yellow/gold (possibly with slight accents of green) for the state flag. And AUFC is almost there but with a large splattering of gold.
I think the USSF should mandate that all teams adopt FC, City or United or something nonAmerican as their moniker. MLS should rebrand all american style team nicknames to LA City, Seattle FC, Portland FC, Chicago City, Dynamo Houston, Boston City, San Jose United, Crewe Columbus FC, RedBull NY, Vancouver City, Olympique Montreal, Union Philadelphia and Rapid Colorado. Also MLS should become the APL/USPL or League One or League Nil.
1. Um...no. Team nicknames and mascots are necessary here in non-Europe. They make teams more identifiable to casual fans and/or the general public (and like it or not, teams NEED those folks to be successful, especially at minor league levels). They also help sell merchandise, especially to kids. Besides, I think the USSF has a few more important things to worry about than team name policing. Maybe the Cosmos should drop the NY part again like they did years ago . 2. If that was supposed to be funny, swing and a miss!