Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the MLS teams are at the bottom of the standings in USL Championship. If USL implements pro/rel between Championship and League One a lot of these MLS 2nd teams would be relegated. Loudoun and NYRB2 are dead last in the standings. This seems like it is just for marketing purposes to avoid relegation.

Well, this is kind of the whole point. MLS 2nd teams have a different mission than pure-play USL teams. They exist to serve the first team's long term interest, not (primarily) to win games now. And the USL table bears this out -- MLS 2nd teams are generally at the bottom, as you say. But that's bad for USL to have teams that aren't *really* trying to win. So this solution will make things better for both -- USL becomes a more legit second tier league, with all "real" teams trying to win; and the MLS reserve teams will have their own league where winning is nice, but secondary. Not "just...marketing," actual good reasons!

You could see this thinking with the Loudon United team and DC united. People going up to DC United to play and the Loudon team having to pivot without some of their players. This does not happen with other USL teams that do not have a MLS club. The age difference on the teams that have a MLS team and teams that do not is also interesting as some of these MLS kids are playing others that are years older. Of course, you could say when they get to DC united, they will be playing those age groups weekly, but the focus on MLS teams is development to get them to DC united, where the other USL teams that do not have a corresponding MLS team is focused on only winning. I am not all of it is marketing, I think most of it is that the current league status is disjointed and they are trying to create a flow to the pro's where there wasn't before. A lot like European soccer with a Major League Baseball twist.

It looks like this new league will be in the 3rd division of soccer, not 2nd. So I don't see how this is any different than playing in USL League One which is also 3rd division. USL is not talking about pro/rel between League One and League Two (4th division), so MLS teams could suck it up in League One and not worry about getting relegated and further. Either way I am glad to see USL and MLS expanding because that can only mean good things for soccer in this country.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the MLS teams are at the bottom of the standings in USL Championship. If USL implements pro/rel between Championship and League One a lot of these MLS 2nd teams would be relegated. Loudoun and NYRB2 are dead last in the standings. This seems like it is just for marketing purposes to avoid relegation.

Well, this is kind of the whole point. MLS 2nd teams have a different mission than pure-play USL teams. They exist to serve the first team's long term interest, not (primarily) to win games now. And the USL table bears this out -- MLS 2nd teams are generally at the bottom, as you say. But that's bad for USL to have teams that aren't *really* trying to win. So this solution will make things better for both -- USL becomes a more legit second tier league, with all "real" teams trying to win; and the MLS reserve teams will have their own league where winning is nice, but secondary. Not "just...marketing," actual good reasons!

You could see this thinking with the Loudon United team and DC united. People going up to DC United to play and the Loudon team having to pivot without some of their players. This does not happen with other USL teams that do not have a MLS club. The age difference on the teams that have a MLS team and teams that do not is also interesting as some of these MLS kids are playing others that are years older. Of course, you could say when they get to DC united, they will be playing those age groups weekly, but the focus on MLS teams is development to get them to DC united, where the other USL teams that do not have a corresponding MLS team is focused on only winning. I am not all of it is marketing, I think most of it is that the current league status is disjointed and they are trying to create a flow to the pro's where there wasn't before. A lot like European soccer with a Major League Baseball twist.

Anonymous wrote:Most of the MLS teams are at the bottom of the standings in USL Championship. If USL implements pro/rel between Championship and League One a lot of these MLS 2nd teams would be relegated. Loudoun and NYRB2 are dead last in the standings. This seems like it is just for marketing purposes to avoid relegation.

Well, this is kind of the whole point. MLS 2nd teams have a different mission than pure-play USL teams. They exist to serve the first team's long term interest, not (primarily) to win games now. And the USL table bears this out -- MLS 2nd teams are generally at the bottom, as you say. But that's bad for USL to have teams that aren't *really* trying to win. So this solution will make things better for both -- USL becomes a more legit second tier league, with all "real" teams trying to win; and the MLS reserve teams will have their own league where winning is nice, but secondary. Not "just...marketing," actual good reasons!

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. Can someone please explain to me briefly the difference between MLS next and MLS pro? Is it a pathway? Do players move from MLS next to MLS pro? I have a u15 player in MLS next. What does this mean for him? Thank you.

If he's not at DCU or ehading there soon, then it likely means nothing for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. Can someone please explain to me briefly the difference between MLS next and MLS pro? Is it a pathway? Do players move from MLS next to MLS pro? I have a u15 player in MLS next. What does this mean for him? Thank you.

MLS Next is a youth league run by MLS. It more or less replaced the DA, previously run by US Soccer. That youth league includes the ~28 MLS Academies (like DC United Academy locally) and 100+ other, non-MLS clubs (like Bethesda or Armour locally). Most MLS teams just play U15 and U17; but the league has U13-U19. For the most part, the MLS academies play each other a lot; and the non-MLS clubs play each other a lot. But there are a few crossover games for each club (e.g. Bethesda U17 plays three games against U17 MLS academies this year). There is a playoffs and championship at the end of the season for each age.

MLS Next Pro (a super-confusing name, given the youth league above) is a new "pro" league created by MLS mostly to hold their "reserve" or "2nd" teams. Within two years, every MLS team (bar Montreal) will have a team in this new league. The ones that currently play in USL (like DCU's "2nd team" Loudoun United) will move out of USL. These teams will have a mix of: a) top players from the MLS team's academy; b) younger first team players who need more game time; c) older first team players who need minutes, maybe when coming back from injury; d) other players signed to a low-$ reserve team contract.

What does this mean if your son plays in the MLS Next youth league, but not for an MLS academy? Unfortunately, not much, despite the super-similar names. It's not like players from Bethesda or Armour will have some inside track (relative to, say, Arlington or VDA players) to DC United's reserve team because they play in "MLS Next". The route is still through the DC United academy -- THEN to the DC United reserve team, if you're good enough. So positioning it as a middle ground between the MLS Next *league* and the MLS first teams is a bit disingenuous by MLS, and brings up very obvious and good questions like yours.

Most of the MLS teams are at the bottom of the standings in USL Championship. If USL implements pro/rel between Championship and League One a lot of these MLS 2nd teams would be relegated. Loudoun and NYRB2 are dead last in the standings. This seems like it is just for marketing purposes to avoid relegation.

Anonymous wrote:I am the poster who asked the question and I greatly appreciate your response! Thanks so much. The names are super confusing and it led me to believe it was some kind of pathway, but that doesn’t seem like the case. I am going to assume that the MLS pro league is going to be mostly for older kids and not the U15s and 16s or 17s, unless you’re a standout player. Is that a good assumption to make?

It is. If DC United (or another pro academy) is not inviting you to the academy team at those ages, then you aren't going to make the their reserve team (i.e. the one in "MLS Next Pro"). There is some remote possibility you could try out for that team post-high school (or post-college) as a low-paid pro -- like signing for a single-A baseball team. But you should probably focus on college soccer as the next step.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. Can someone please explain to me briefly the difference between MLS next and MLS pro? Is it a pathway? Do players move from MLS next to MLS pro? I have a u15 player in MLS next. What does this mean for him? Thank you.

MLS Next is a youth league run by MLS. It more or less replaced the DA, previously run by US Soccer. That youth league includes the ~28 MLS Academies (like DC United Academy locally) and 100+ other, non-MLS clubs (like Bethesda or Armour locally). Most MLS teams just play U15 and U17; but the league has U13-U19. For the most part, the MLS academies play each other a lot; and the non-MLS clubs play each other a lot. But there are a few crossover games for each club (e.g. Bethesda U17 plays three games against U17 MLS academies this year). There is a playoffs and championship at the end of the season for each age.

MLS Next Pro (a super-confusing name, given the youth league above) is a new "pro" league created by MLS mostly to hold their "reserve" or "2nd" teams. Within two years, every MLS team (bar Montreal) will have a team in this new league. The ones that currently play in USL (like DCU's "2nd team" Loudoun United) will move out of USL. These teams will have a mix of: a) top players from the MLS team's academy; b) younger first team players who need more game time; c) older first team players who need minutes, maybe when coming back from injury; d) other players signed to a low-$ reserve team contract.

What does this mean if your son plays in the MLS Next youth league, but not for an MLS academy? Unfortunately, not much, despite the super-similar names. It's not like players from Bethesda or Armour will have some inside track (relative to, say, Arlington or VDA players) to DC United's reserve team because they play in "MLS Next". The route is still through the DC United academy -- THEN to the DC United reserve team, if you're good enough. So positioning it as a middle ground between the MLS Next *league* and the MLS first teams is a bit disingenuous by MLS, and brings up very obvious and good questions like yours.

I am the poster who asked the question and I greatly appreciate your response! Thanks so much. The names are super confusing and it led me to believe it was some kind of pathway, but that doesn’t seem like the case. I am going to assume that the MLS pro league is going to be mostly for older kids and not the U15s and 16s or 17s, unless you’re a standout player. Is that a good assumption to make?

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. Can someone please explain to me briefly the difference between MLS next and MLS pro? Is it a pathway? Do players move from MLS next to MLS pro? I have a u15 player in MLS next. What does this mean for him? Thank you.

MLS Next is a youth league run by MLS. It more or less replaced the DA, previously run by US Soccer. That youth league includes the ~28 MLS Academies (like DC United Academy locally) and 100+ other, non-MLS clubs (like Bethesda or Armour locally). Most MLS teams just play U15 and U17; but the league has U13-U19. For the most part, the MLS academies play each other a lot; and the non-MLS clubs play each other a lot. But there are a few crossover games for each club (e.g. Bethesda U17 plays three games against U17 MLS academies this year). There is a playoffs and championship at the end of the season for each age.

MLS Next Pro (a super-confusing name, given the youth league above) is a new "pro" league created by MLS mostly to hold their "reserve" or "2nd" teams. Within two years, every MLS team (bar Montreal) will have a team in this new league. The ones that currently play in USL (like DCU's "2nd team" Loudoun United) will move out of USL. These teams will have a mix of: a) top players from the MLS team's academy; b) younger first team players who need more game time; c) older first team players who need minutes, maybe when coming back from injury; d) other players signed to a low-$ reserve team contract.

What does this mean if your son plays in the MLS Next youth league, but not for an MLS academy? Unfortunately, not much, despite the super-similar names. It's not like players from Bethesda or Armour will have some inside track (relative to, say, Arlington or VDA players) to DC United's reserve team because they play in "MLS Next". The route is still through the DC United academy -- THEN to the DC United reserve team, if you're good enough. So positioning it as a middle ground between the MLS Next *league* and the MLS first teams is a bit disingenuous by MLS, and brings up very obvious and good questions like yours.

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. Can someone please explain to me briefly the difference between MLS next and MLS pro? Is it a pathway? Do players move from MLS next to MLS pro? I have a u15 player in MLS next. What does this mean for him? Thank you.

MLS Next is a league for kids, MLS Next Pro is a new professional league below MLS but in theory feeding into it and in turn being fed by MLS Next.

Anonymous wrote:PP - thank you. Once in awhile on this board there are thoughtful and well-reasoned posts. I think you are spot-on.

This mls next pro league makes it even more attractive for a u15 player to strive for dcu’s academy. Once in the door, they should be able to more clearly see a full time professional environment a few years out. For a family with a boy without a euro passport, it looks like a great stepping stone and about a good as it gets.

Is it that different from now, where the top players in DCU’s Academy get a chance to roster with a USL team (Loudoun United)? If USL and MLSNext-Pro co-exist, there will be more opportunities for kids, but it probably waters down the level somewhat.

I’m confused. Can someone please explain to me briefly the difference between MLS next and MLS pro? Is it a pathway? Do players move from MLS next to MLS pro? I have a u15 player in MLS next. What does this mean for him? Thank you.

PP - thank you. Once in awhile on this board there are thoughtful and well-reasoned posts. I think you are spot-on.

This mls next pro league makes it even more attractive for a u15 player to strive for dcu’s academy. Once in the door, they should be able to more clearly see a full time professional environment a few years out. For a family with a boy without a euro passport, it looks like a great stepping stone and about a good as it gets.

To bring this thread back to the topic, which is actually kind of interesting... This new MLS "reserve" league (they don't want to call it that, but it's basically accurate) solves a problem for both MLS teams and the USL. MLS teams, like top division pro teams in the rest of the world, need a "second team". They need a mezzanine between their youth academy and their first team; they need a place to play younger players with first team contracts who can't get gametime; and they occasionally need a place for older first team players to get time after injury. The USL (including the majority of teams, which are independently-owned, and trying to actually win for its own sake) doesn't want the USL to be the place for all that. So they limit how many academy players can play, for example.

This new league decouples these two missions -- a second division that is a legit competition in its own right; and a reserve team league for the first division clubs.

This is actually pretty interesting if you are a legit pro prospect from an MLS academy. But that's only a handful of players per year in a market like DC. They will also probably hold actual tryouts and sign some players to "3rd division" contracts (i.e. not first team contracts), but these will be low-$ and one-year. So it's maybe a new way for players to become a "pro" -- maybe some non-college and some post-college.

But much of this thread has been taken up debating MLS Next vs ECNL and what this new league means in that context. The short answer is: not very much. As much as MLS has pitched this as a stepping stone between MLS Next and MLS first teams, it's really a stepping stone between MLS ACADEMIES and MLS first teams -- not the non-MLS clubs that are in the MLS Next league and occasionally play against MLS academy teams. If you are a youth player who wants to be a pro, the best route in the US is through MLS academies. And you can be recruited to an MLS academy from an MLS Next team or an ECNL team. But you need to be one of the best dozen players in your age group in the metro area, more or less. If you are, by U14 or so, people know who you are. Now, some MLS academies do a better job than others identifying the right dozen players and recruiting them. But the ones they miss aren't because they played ECNL instead of MLS Next.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for ruining a post about MLS Next PRO with your stupid and childish running dispute about SYC and where over compensating parents should have their 13 year old play.

+1. Mind-numbing pissing contest.

Oh, and I agree, the top three to four players on every team are relatively equivalent to top three or four on every other top team, but I thought you said we could not identify those top players . . . . . So much for that.

No. I said, based on your statements to date, that I strongly suspected you could not identify them.

I think the difference now is what you call top teams.

I'm referring to at least half a dozen teams here from both ECNL and MLS Next.

I am pretty sure entire teams dropped from that category, so we simply have fewer of those.

No - the talent will still, as it always is, be spread around at this age.

There are a few top teams from top clubs that would not have a single starter on any of these other, more talented teams.

This sort of statement is why I know you don't know what you are talking about. You will learn though.