5k lmao for no placement is a fever dream. Parents should put that $$ in a 529 |
So, you can't answer the questions that were asked? No response? So, what I asked you just summarily dismiss as a nothing burger? Or are you just going to say again that USL soccer is the equivalent of Corn Hole? Even lowly LU averages about 2k fans at their matches. How many folks are showing up to watch live cornhole? It very well may be more popular as a watch since it's getting airing on ESPN2 at midnight or on a dead weekend. It may even be a more lucrative career on the cornhole circuit, but I doubt that there are many folks earning the AI stated $100k for an elite player. Still doesn't mean that the USL is running an organization that is the equivalent of Cornhole or a glorifying men's league. I stated that the expectation or a working shower and a field in acceptable condition is not a big ask for a professional organization. From the Athletic article, it appeared that LU was failing in that regard. You stated that minor league baseball conditions are poor even though baseball has a much wider audience, but you have no response to MLB now running MiLB and pushing for improvements to facilities? That seems like a rebuttal to me, but I guess I might need to ask a MS debater for help. Here's a link to an article about said changes. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/36079361/how-mlb-mlbpa-came-together-life-changing-minor-league-cba Working hard doesn't mean much, I give you that. The results are what matter and it's fair to say that LU hasn't delivered. But, dumping the whole USL into the same bucket as LU is just stupid. I have zero vested interest in the failure or success of LU as an organization. Never been to a LU match and probably never will be there. I'll continue to attend and support my local USL1 club along with their USLW team as well. It's an enjoyable evening out at a reasonable cost and while the quality of play isn't top level, to say that it's the same as a HS squad is just not true. |
The problem in your argument with the other person is that he's talking about the product on the field (the game) and you're talking about the experience of attending the game. If you don't care for what the product is on the field, it's nice to go to a game for $5 and be at a "pro" sporting event but if you're there to enjoy a "pro level game" you might as well go watch a High School game in Fairfax County. This is the main reason for the push back from MLS owners for promotion/relegation and you don't need to look far, look at DC United. They've been shit on the field for 10+ years but they get a new stadium and make the game an "event" for people to come. If they were getting relegated and losing all the MLS top tear money, they would actually put a team out on the field that can perform, or God forbit give a chance to a home grown player instead of paying millions for Benteke just to sell tickets and have a name. LU sucks on the field, I can't care if the showers are cold, hot or mild. Until the product on the field isn't fixed, no one will come watch, no one will care if they have hot water. You think lower league teams in European countries have all these amenities? |
No, I'm not only talking about the experience of attending. I'm also talking about the on field product as well. I get it. LU sucks for USL-C. They are horrible for that level, but to say that it's the equivalent of watching a high school game is just silly. In reality, it's a chicken and egg thing isn't it? Hard to attract players to your squad if your facility and fan base sucks. Unless you can overpay, right? Let's say the player is looking at two USL-C contract options. Hmm...the Pittsburgh Riverhounds are offering me a contract and so is Loudoun United. Same pay. I can play at Highmark Field located right on the river in Pittsburgh. It's a relatively new facility with great options for me as a player. Good fan base, just announced expansion project. Or, I can go to Loudoun, where they don't have working showers, the turf is failing. Play in a porto-stadium with no recent updates. IDK. I'd go to Pittsburgh. I'm sure 100/100 would do the same. I agree with you 100% on the pushback from MLS owners on the promotion/relegation model. It would be a huge financial blow if they got knocked down. That's the problem - there is no incentive if you suck. You still print money. Same issue exists in other US sports leagues, especially MLB. Teams like the Pirates, A's, etc can stink year after year with no reprecussions. Just continue to print money in profits for their owners. As far as your last comment, how low of a lower league? I'm just guessing, but I am assuming that teams in EFL Championship have working showers and fields that aren't falling apart. Yeah, maybe when you get down Level 7 and the Northern Premier League, you may have players washing uniforms and having to shower at home. Oh well. I think that we have established that LU isn't cutting it both on the field and off. What happens next, who knows. Build it up or fold it up. Time will tell. |
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Ok. So, since LU gets no love here, and it's probably well deserved, but...
Thoughts on the announcement of them forming a USL2 squad? Guess they will be in the Chesapeake Division that has quite a few local teams - NVA has a squad. Annapolis Blues, IMO, are the class of the group solely because they seem to be a marketing machine. Drawing over 10k fans to a summer semi-pro match is pretty impressive. Saw in another thread here that this move was made to stave off moving to USL1. IDK. I think they may need to drop regardless. It's also tough when you have overlapping clubs playing in the same market. Why would I want to go to a USL2 match in the same place that a USLC match is playing? Good luck. Maybe it will work out, but it seems like there are some fundamental things that need to get addressed and fixed before adding teams to their overall structure. |
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What credentials does this Karl dude, who joined VRSC as another staffer 18 months ago, to be a âPresidentâ?
All these players and coachesâ departures making a lot of sense right about now. |
hmmmm might be onto something |
| The other guy is still running things behind the scene. Karl dude is a puppet so they can say the other dude isn't running anything anymore. They are on speed dial with each other. |
I was going to post that question. How does a dude who: was a coach in Europe, has some other full time job here in the states, then coaches local youth soccer, to then get a job as president of both VRSC and LUFC? -His scattered background -The jump from local coach to president of two clubs -The odd fit with a full-time job (unless he quit that?) - The friendship link with Niko - And my own skeptics How did he get that job? |
Proper digging reveals he was fired from his European gig, howâs he legal in US? |
If they are eligible to compete for promotion to league one when the new system starts, it's a good thing for the players. I'll be attending more LU2 games. Its a better atmosphere at Raventek than at Segra. The kids are more interested in the games because they know so many of the players because they are also coaches. |
This explains a lot why they suck ballz |
So, this is an interesting comment. So, I have heard that players from the USL squad are pushed to coach the in the youth program, etc, etc. There was a similar situation a few years back with Richmond Kickers. Much like the situation that is now occurring with LU, the Richmond Kickers Youth club was the "owner" of the pro team. There were many players on the Kickers that were also pulling coaching duty with the youth program. Every youth player got a family pass to the USL team's games. Overall, it wasn't a bad deal for families. The Kickers Youth Program sold the pro club to a group of investors (led by a former player and scion of a well known Richmond family) and the close relationship between the programs was split. No more player/coaches - the only ones that I aware of were two that were in License programs and needed the hours. And, they were assistants. At this time as well the club also dropped, by their choice, from USLC to USL1. Then the pro club began to focus more on internal player development. Began to sign more local players to contracts, added a U20 team, etc. I think it's tough to have it both ways - players committed as coaches on the youth side and then also responsible to play on the pro side as well. Oh well. Just some random thoughts. |
Right now the problem with USL2 is it's a short season summer league, mainly for college kids. It's the men's equivalent of USLW on the women's side. I don't know how they would roll promotion as a USL2 squad into USL1 snice most of the USL2 players are rostered to college programs, unless of course, as it's being discussed the college programs start joining the USL type leagues. Hmm...need to re-read to state of soccer report that was published. |
Lest we forget how a player who was fired from DCU made it to LU & was given a coaching gig at VRSC at the expense of a real and qualified youth coach because the player had âto make ends meetâ Canât make this garbage up, (one) fam! |