Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What credentials does this Karl dude, who joined VRSC as another staffer 18 months ago, to be a ‘President’?

All these players and coaches’ departures making a lot of sense right about now.

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?

Anonymous wrote:What credentials does this Karl dude, who joined VRSC as another staffer 18 months ago, to be a ‘President’?

All these players and coaches’ departures making a lot of sense right about now.

Anonymous wrote:What credentials does this Karl dude, who joined VRSC as another staffer 18 months ago, to be a ‘President’?

All these players and coaches’ departures making a lot of sense right about now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re talking about minor league soccer here. It’s a stretch to even call them professional players. Minor league soccer in the US sits somewhere between professional cornhole and pickleball. There is zero prospect for a profitable business. These teams are fun for people with some money to play sports team owner for a little while. Stop talking about player conditions. Even in a more popular sport like minor league baseball conditions are pretty bad and USL has nowhere near the popularity of baseball. USL is a better organized adult soccer league.

Stretch to call them professionals? Between pro-cornhole and pickleball? Come on. Those comments are pretty ignorant. Why is it a stretch to call them professional - is it because the salary is low? is it because the level of play is less than other leagues? The players that are busting their ass at training, working to win matches, etc, probably don't think so.

Zero prospect for a profitable business? Play sports owner? Why would anyone want to own a team if all it does is hemorrhage money and operate in the red? While there are teams that fit that bill, there are many others out there that have a long history and a solid ownership group that is investing in their team, the infrastructure and the community as well. It's not just a toy for rich folks to think that they own something.

Why stop talking about player conditions? Why is it unreasonable for the players to expect to have working showers with hot water, a field that is not falling apart, etc. In regards to MiLB, MLB stepped in and has created new standards that teams must adhere to in order to keep their affiliations. That was one of the huge drivers for a new facility to be constructed in Richmond for their AA team. The old stadium, while it worked as a venue, didn't meet the new standards that MLB had imposed.

To call USL a better organized adult soccer league is pretty shortsighted. Knowing folks that are current players and coaches, past players and coaches, it's really a nonsensical comment.

Yeah, I saw some of the business after the latest USL-C victory in terms of the locker room celebration or lack there of, but I think USL as a whole is moving in the right direction. LU has a much longer way to go since it seems that whatever they were doing wasn't working and really need to reboot. But to sell the entire USL short is really not fair or warranted.

I think the model they are pushing is exciting if they can get traction.

A lot of nothing burger while you regurgitate questions without rebuttals. Even a middle schooler in debate team can do a better job. How invested are you to exhibit your feelings got hurt? The entire squad plus its coach the last 7 years have been playing like a HS team.

Just because they “work their butts off” means absolutely nothing.

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?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re talking about minor league soccer here. It’s a stretch to even call them professional players. Minor league soccer in the US sits somewhere between professional cornhole and pickleball. There is zero prospect for a profitable business. These teams are fun for people with some money to play sports team owner for a little while. Stop talking about player conditions. Even in a more popular sport like minor league baseball conditions are pretty bad and USL has nowhere near the popularity of baseball. USL is a better organized adult soccer league.

Stretch to call them professionals? Between pro-cornhole and pickleball? Come on. Those comments are pretty ignorant. Why is it a stretch to call them professional - is it because the salary is low? is it because the level of play is less than other leagues? The players that are busting their ass at training, working to win matches, etc, probably don't think so.

Zero prospect for a profitable business? Play sports owner? Why would anyone want to own a team if all it does is hemorrhage money and operate in the red? While there are teams that fit that bill, there are many others out there that have a long history and a solid ownership group that is investing in their team, the infrastructure and the community as well. It's not just a toy for rich folks to think that they own something.

Why stop talking about player conditions? Why is it unreasonable for the players to expect to have working showers with hot water, a field that is not falling apart, etc. In regards to MiLB, MLB stepped in and has created new standards that teams must adhere to in order to keep their affiliations. That was one of the huge drivers for a new facility to be constructed in Richmond for their AA team. The old stadium, while it worked as a venue, didn't meet the new standards that MLB had imposed.

To call USL a better organized adult soccer league is pretty shortsighted. Knowing folks that are current players and coaches, past players and coaches, it's really a nonsensical comment.

Yeah, I saw some of the business after the latest USL-C victory in terms of the locker room celebration or lack there of, but I think USL as a whole is moving in the right direction. LU has a much longer way to go since it seems that whatever they were doing wasn't working and really need to reboot. But to sell the entire USL short is really not fair or warranted.

I think the model they are pushing is exciting if they can get traction.

A lot of nothing burger while you regurgitate questions without rebuttals. Even a middle schooler in debate team can do a better job. How invested are you to exhibit your feelings got hurt? The entire squad plus its coach the last 7 years have been playing like a HS team.

Just because they “work their butts off” means absolutely nothing.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re talking about minor league soccer here. It’s a stretch to even call them professional players. Minor league soccer in the US sits somewhere between professional cornhole and pickleball. There is zero prospect for a profitable business. These teams are fun for people with some money to play sports team owner for a little while. Stop talking about player conditions. Even in a more popular sport like minor league baseball conditions are pretty bad and USL has nowhere near the popularity of baseball. USL is a better organized adult soccer league.

Stretch to call them professionals? Between pro-cornhole and pickleball? Come on. Those comments are pretty ignorant. Why is it a stretch to call them professional - is it because the salary is low? is it because the level of play is less than other leagues? The players that are busting their ass at training, working to win matches, etc, probably don't think so.

Zero prospect for a profitable business? Play sports owner? Why would anyone want to own a team if all it does is hemorrhage money and operate in the red? While there are teams that fit that bill, there are many others out there that have a long history and a solid ownership group that is investing in their team, the infrastructure and the community as well. It's not just a toy for rich folks to think that they own something.

Why stop talking about player conditions? Why is it unreasonable for the players to expect to have working showers with hot water, a field that is not falling apart, etc. In regards to MiLB, MLB stepped in and has created new standards that teams must adhere to in order to keep their affiliations. That was one of the huge drivers for a new facility to be constructed in Richmond for their AA team. The old stadium, while it worked as a venue, didn't meet the new standards that MLB had imposed.

To call USL a better organized adult soccer league is pretty shortsighted. Knowing folks that are current players and coaches, past players and coaches, it's really a nonsensical comment.

Yeah, I saw some of the business after the latest USL-C victory in terms of the locker room celebration or lack there of, but I think USL as a whole is moving in the right direction. LU has a much longer way to go since it seems that whatever they were doing wasn't working and really need to reboot. But to sell the entire USL short is really not fair or warranted.

I think the model they are pushing is exciting if they can get traction.

A lot of nothing burger while you regurgitate questions without rebuttals. Even a middle schooler in debate team can do a better job. How invested are you to exhibit your feelings got hurt? The entire squad plus its coach the last 7 years have been playing like a HS team.

Just because they “work their butts off” means absolutely nothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow another announcement of a staff coach member leaving. It really is a dumpster fire 🗑️🔥

Every single one of the coaches had interviewed elsewhere long before the season ended. Some may follow RM west - but those who can leave, are!

Ok so what’s truly pushing them away? Association with a youth club whose former president was of moral turpitude? “That’s it”?

Underpaid - by orders of magnitude in USL
Horrible club leadership
Lack of definitive future plans (USL2?)
Lack of communication
Horrible stadium
Lack of a training facility
Lack of working showers
Lack of rehab facilities
Leadership who wants them to coach their youth teams on the side
Lack of fan support
Players forced to do their own laundry
Players forced to pay for extra uniforms
I can go on…

Go back and read the article on the Athletic and you will see how bad it is.

Can’t find the article! Mind sharing it again? Also, since you sound like an insider, is it true the rumor of Revolution asking $5k to families next year to offset the LU financial current holes?