SOURCE: St Louis Situation Overblown
This morning, our friends at Inside Minnesota Soccer had a good piece concerning the background of Tony Glavin who has been reported to hold the key to reconciling USL and the TOA/NASL before the USSF imposed Wednesday deadline.
A well placed source indicates to us that Glavin’s license from USL for the St Louis region is not a sticking point moving forward. AC St Louis, owned by Jeff Cooper has already hired a coach, Claude Anelka and begun the process of identifying and signing players for the 2010 season.
Ultimately, the USSF has the power to force whatever second division league plays in 2010 to accept clubs wanting to play. Whether the USSF administers a compromise league or some other deal is worked out, Cooper’s AC St Louis looks to begin play in 2010, assuming we have a second division league operating this year.
The NASL AGM is being held later this week in Fort Lauderdale.
“Ultimately, the USSF has the power to force whatever second division league plays in 2010 to accept clubs wanting to play.”
If this is true, why does USL or MLS even exist? Why doesn’t the USSF just run the leagues like the FA does in England? This would make all the people who don’t like the single entity concept happy and would make it more likely for promotion and regulation. Is it because that the USSF doesn’t want to take all the risk or the heat for the hard decisions, like a salary cap?
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“…assuming we have a second division league operating this year.”
C’mon, now, you see the writing on the wall. There has never been any doubt we would ahve Division-2 soccer, it was just under what form once the TOA rebelled. This is just another example of this all coming together. If we don’t have Div-2 soccer for 2010, I will send you a video of me eating my shirt.
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This would be second division soccer according to how USSF sees it. But, it doesn’t mean that USL or NASL have to accept USSF standards to play. They are free to form their own league without the blessing of USSF. Later, it would be up to the critics, pundits, bloggers, (whomever) to deem what level of pro soccer it is,…correct?
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” Later, it would be up to the critics, pundits, bloggers, (whomever) to deem what level of pro soccer it is,…correct?”
And it’ll be pretty easy to deem the level of a non-sanctioned league: Piss poor. IMO, no one will want to play for it unless you offer them fantatstic salaries that none of these teams can afford at the moment. Without a gigantic infusion of outside cash, the level of play will decline.
The USSF is playing parent to the two fighting children, and will have this all staightened out and proper by the end of the week (again, IMO). They perhaps underestimated the egos of the folks at NuRock, Joey Saputo, and Jeff Cooper, etc., but they all seem to be coming around. All evidence at the moment points to at least a truce/cease fire for the 2010 season.
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what is IMO mean? sorry for the naivety.
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In my opinion. Somtimes you may also see IMHO (H=humble). Just trying to reinforce I have no omniscient perspective on all of this.
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CVO, did you see Andrea Canales article about the USSF situation? your last comment reminds me of her mentioning Lark Tuban, instead of Mark Cuban. I thought it was one of the best things written on the whole subject.
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The credibility of the St. Louis organization has to be put in the limelight by Cooper’s choice of Claude Anelka as coach. (Google claude anelka) The only thing soccer-legitimate about his soccer credentials is his last name. If this is a measure of Cooper’s soccer decision making then one would have to question his ability to own or run a high class soccer organization. MLS seems to continue to question it so why shouldn’t the rest of the TOA-NASL-USL controversy
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sounds to me like there may be potential for Minnesota and St. Louis to both have a team this year for USL and for NASL.
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“Speculation is that a completed compromise would have the NASL teams playing under the USL banner in 2010 and then operating as the NASL in 2011.”
Has anyone else heard this from any other sources outside of St. Louis?
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All of these stalling tactics play into USSF and Gulati’s stalling tactic to protect MLS for the strike. All of these issues could have been dealt with in September
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Yep, sure did. My response in the comments was regarding the tin-foil hat nature of the essay.
You do realize, of course, that you’d need about 8 “Lark Tubans” in order to have the money you’re looking for. Does anyone have a list of at least 8 people with this type of money willing to start up an entirely new, non-USSF/FIFA sanctioned league in the USA?
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We’re going to see what the next stalling tactic from Gulati et al. is by weeks end. I am guessing it will be drawn out until the MLSPU caves.
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if St. Louis is really such a great soccer market like Kartik keeps saying, why not just let AC and the Lions both field D-2 teams, see how a St. Louis derby plays out?
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I agree with those who are thinking that the USSF and MLS are stalling by not sactioning either league. This is a negotiation tactic plan and simple. Well maybe not simple, they are trying to kill 3 birds with one stone, the USL and their law suit that everyone knows FIFA does not like, the new boys on the block, the NASL, and the MLSPU. The USSF will not put an end to this until after the CBA deadline of 01.31.10. They will fall in line or else it will be bad for everyone. And yes, the USSF will take this nuclear option. If this was a poker game it would be their all in move. The want everyone in line and the World Cup in 2022. 2018 in going to England and everyone knows it.
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Pretty good point!!
I think that in order to solve problems you have to go to its root.The problem with us soccer is the resistance from its authorities to implement systems that would let the essence of the game to show. The Sl. Louis situation is a very good example.
Can you imagine River Plate having the “rights” for the Buenos Aires Market?!?!
How about telling some Boca “hinchas” that they should support River because thats the “franchise” for the city market??
Imagine the soccer world without derbies like Fla-Flu;Sao Paulo-Corinthians;Chelsea-Arsenal;Real-Atletico;Roma-Lazio;Inter-Milan;Sevilla-Betis;Rangers-Celtics ,etc.
The franchise system takes away a lot of the soccer flavor that our leagues could have;like derbies and pro/rel dogfights.
This is clear indication of the lack of knowledge of our game by the US soccer authorities.We should have soccer people in those positions;people that have had some level of relevant involment in our game,as players,tecnical directors etc.
The US soccer leaders should be people that bring a level credibility and respect to our game. Instead,somehow we ended up with lawyers and bussinessmen.
Can somebody tell me please what is Garber and Gulati’s soccer history?
Wich important league they played?
What soccer merits and experience they had before getting where they are?
How did they get there?
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WOW! Someone is forgetting the Pro part of Pro Soccer. It comes first and it should because it is a business first. Without the businessmen and sorry to say the lawyers there would be no pro soccer. It would be great if St. Louis could have two teams one day, but that day is a long way off. If they try that now without enough fan (customer) support, both will fail and soccer will fail in St. Louis. This would be very bad for American Soccer.
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Big meeting tomorrow in NY
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Scott: Your argument is a good example of the manipulation we have been submited in the US.
Soccer is a profitable bussiness in the best leagues of the world,yet they all use an open model.Why would it fail here? Our economy is all about competition.Some bussiness suceed,some fail,but the economy itself allways finds a way to survive.
How long are we going to hide the truth? A system used by all the relevant soccer leagues in the planet,for so long, with such aceptance and sucess can not be wrong!
It is very unlikely that almost everybody else is wrong and we are right.It is usually the other way around.
Wheather a St louis club,or two would fail or not,is not the point.They deserve a chance to try and even to fail if it happens.By cities not having a chance to exist,we all fail.
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Roger, name the 3 highest revenue sports leagues in the world.
Then tell me which of those 3 leagues has the most in common with MLS.
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Can somebody tell me please what is Garber and Gulati’s soccer history?
Wich important league they played?
What soccer merits and experience they had before getting where they are?
How did they get there?
you go first!!
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Roger, sorry you didn’t like my little dose of reality, but here’s another one. You are comparing apples to oranges. Starting a league in a country that is a continent wide and starting over 100 years ago in places much smaller are not comparable. Another difference is the amount of other choices for sports fans. For example what did they have to choose from over 100 years ago in Europe, Soccer or Rugby those were pretty much the only ones. This is also why Baseball took off in the North and Eastern parts of the U.S. at the same time. Not many other choices. The rest of the world does things different because they are different and so are we. We must find what fits us best, not just copy what someone else has done. As far as having a chance, St. Louis will have a chance, but I hope they don’t blow it by trying too much at one time. The customer base is still small and there is a lot of competition for those customers.
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Puerto Rico sources say that the two sides are meeting in NYC today. Looks like this will all be settled before the weekend.
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There is no indication that playing a sport qualifies you to run one. See Isiah Thomas for proof of that. Businessmen run business.
As for the question you ignored
The highest three revenue leagues in the world are EPL, NFL and MLB. Two of those exist in America, have no pro/rel. The one in Europe is trying to eliminate pro/rel
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Your first point still does not answer ny questions. Just playing a sport of course dont qualify a person to run a league.But not been involve in a sport on any kind of significant way for the majority of your adult live,should certainly disqualify you for it! You should have a minimum level of understanding of that sport culture,its meanings ,history.
As of your second point.I have no knowledge of EPL trying to eliminate pro/rel. I didn’t know the new trend you are informing me about!!
Most probably Italy ,Spain,Germany,Mexico,France,Brazil,Argentina,Colombia,Uruguay,Peru,Russia,Belgium,Netherland,Venezuela,Costa Rica,Greece,Romania,Walles,Honduras,Guatemala,El Salvador,Paraguay,Ecuador,Sweden,Lithuania,Portugal,Ireland,Scotland,Check Republic,Armenia,Azerbaijan,Bulgaria,Japan,Nigeria,Cameroon,Marroco,Egipt,Israel,Bolivia,Turkey,Chile,Georgia,Ukraine,Slovakia,Hungary,Finland and many many more would follow EPL intention to abort pro/rel. Maybe finally all this countries realize the damage pro/rel is doing to our sport.
Maybe is a sign of the time.Can you feel the air of change Dave Clark?
Can you feel it? I can! We finally agre on something you see.
I can defininitly feel an air of change!
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The EPL has had discussions of creating an EPL2 and they would only allow 1 team to move up/down between the EPL2 and Championship. EPL1 would only move 1 team as well. All it would take is reading some British press and you would already know this.
But please tell me why MLS has more in common with soccer leagues in foreign countries than it does with the NFL and MLB. Tell me why operating in the USA and Canada means that they should follow league models of foreign nations. Tell me why the economics make sense for the billionaire investors in the sport here. Tell me why you have yet to see an American investor in an English team get his team promoted?
Tell me how US law would apply. Tell us why Australia (also a new footballing nation) promised pro/rel and hasn’t delivered. Tell us why several of the nations you mentioned don’t have pure pro/rel but also have attendence and stadium requirements and then explain how a team in Bremerton WA could meet those standards. Tell me why the NASL with its Open Model folded.
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Amen! Nothing more to say.
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Dave,
IMHO MLS has a lot more in common with the NFL than other soccer leagues contrary to your assertion. MLS is considerably closer to the NFL and NBA models with salary cap, lack of legitimate feeder leagues due to college athletics, and a player draft. MLB is actually much more similar to EPL and other soccer leagues due to the existance of extensive player development systems outside of college athletics, difficulty of smaller markets to compete with larger markets and no salary cap. The only real difference is a lack of promotion/relegation in MLB. There is a reason the Yankees and Manchester United are in business together; They have the same business model. It seems to me that the NFL has been and probably should be the business model for MLS in at least the near future till the sport has more time to develop a multi-generational fan base which might support another business model.
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Rob, I agree that there is more in tune culturally between American sports and MLS than betweent MLS and non-American leagues. From revenue sharing, salary caps, travel concerns, culture, etc.
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That remains me a history of a Restaurant owner that had a bad chef,but used to say
“when the bisseness grow,I am going to bring a really good chef”
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Your best examples against promotin and relegation are:A new league that dont use it ,yet;and a rumor of something that:
1)has not happened
2)by your own words,even if it happened they would still use it,it would be only one club going either way.I had the idea from your previous posts,that the wanted to eliminate promotion and relegation in England.
That only touch the promotion and relegation issue.
Any rumors about any of the important leages aplying a salary cap??
Your second point about MLS having more in comon with other leagues than with NFL and MLB. The name of the league itself,All Stars Game,Salary Cap,Franchise system,Draft,playoff,interconference games. Sorry I cant find a better way for answering that but to ask you:
ARE YOU ON MEDICATION OR SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!
As of your third point.That one is my favorit! Thank you for the oportuniny! It is what I call the “dirty old trick”.
We have to thank the old NASL for their legacy.They did good things and bad things.
The good is that they had it clear that a US soccer league in order to have a chance of suceeding competing against the other american sports had to bring the best players in the world,their ratings and fan support proved them right.
The bad is that somehow they ended up with a “central office” with too much power throwing crazy money around to their friends.Had they had promotion and relegation; the mismanaged clubs would had been relegated,not the whole league collapsed. No one league that practice promotion and relegation has EVER
collapsed.
Using the old NASL example as an excuse for not thinking big again and go to the other extreme is pure manipulation.
You can fool some people sometime,not all the people ,all the time.
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MLS was design by people that come from an “american sports” background, with multiple links to american sports interests. That is the root of most ,if not all of our present situation.It was only logical that MLS follow this unsoccer-like path
If we dont manage to get soccer people on top of the US soccer structure,we are @#$%%$##%. Get the idea?
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We,the fans,are part of the problem too. We have to admit it!
We were so exited when MLS came that we finally had a league.We expected that soon we were going to be able to enjoy our game with the same pasion that is lived all around the world. And we forgive them the first years.Then we forgive them the shoot-outs(I have not). But all along the way we had signs of the direction they were going,yet we have been very unwilling to fight back.
We have been too silent for too long, and that has allow some parasite interest to get away with taking control of our game.
How many signatures could we get if we do a campaign,to show USSF that we really exist and what we really want.Since they have never bother to ask,like they should before imposing US their ridiculous “system”.
Imagine all the markets that have been afected by all this.How many signatures could we get? How about taking banner to games,speaking up our minds.Put a sing on your car rear windshield or something! Fight!
I love this game with all my hart,and I know my sentiment is shared by a huge numer of US soccer fans.
We have being completly ignored. Shame on them!
We have let allow them to get away with it. Shame on US!
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Soccer is a reflection of life.You get knocked down,you get up and fight back.
Life dont use a franchise system,life uses promotion and relegation.
Somehow we,the true US soccer fans have being relegated. Lets fight!
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