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The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > The Ray Parlour > USA/Canada lower leagues 2016: You've tried the best, now try the rest!
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King of False Promises
Jul 31, 2000



 So Joe Cole scored a pretty good goal tonight:

http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2016/07/16/video-tampa-bay-rowdies-joe-cole-bags-a-bicycle-kick-beauty/

* # ? Jul 17, 2016 03:35
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# ? Apr 25, 2024 02:44
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

King of False Promises posted:

So Joe Cole scored a pretty good goal tonight:

http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2016/07/16/video-tampa-bay-rowdies-joe-cole-bags-a-bicycle-kick-beauty/

Great goal; it was all over the Internet and TV; people who I never expect to talk soccer with mentioned it to me. Game was live on CBS too; good advertisement for the Rowdies and NASL.

Rowdies signed Danish midfielder Martin Vingaard.

http://saintpetersblog.com/rowdies-strengthen-midfield-signing-danish-player-martin-vanguard/

Edit to add:

Rowdies reinforce attack with signing of Colombian forward Carlos Preciado:

http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/2016/07/19/rowdies-reinforce-attack-with-signing-of-colombian-forward-carlos-preciado

Do over Ham fucked around with this message at 20:24 on Jul 19, 2016

* # ? Jul 18, 2016 20:18
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

Do over Ham posted:

Yes but now I'm getting greedy and I want more, better talent to support Joe Cole and to lift the Rowdies playing level to new heights. Cosmos ain't gonna beat themselves y'know. :colbert:

Do over Ham posted:

Great goal; it was all over the Internet and TV; people who I never expect to talk soccer with mentioned it to me. Game was live on CBS too; good advertisement for the Rowdies and NASL.

Rowdies signed Danish midfielder Martin Vingaard.

http://saintpetersblog.com/rowdies-strengthen-midfield-signing-danish-player-martin-vanguard/

Edit to add:

Rowdies reinforce attack with signing of Colombian forward Carlos Preciado:

http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/2016/07/19/rowdies-reinforce-attack-with-signing-of-colombian-forward-carlos-preciado

So sounds like the Rowdies also wanted more help for Joe Cole; not sure if the new signings will play for the Rowdies tonight against the Cosmos or if they will work out; but good to see the club making some real effort to improve. The Cosmos and Indy and the rest have set a high standard.

Do over Ham posted:

Ft. Lauderdale Strikers are leaving Lockhart Stadium for the cricket stadium:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/soccer/fort-lauderdale-strikers/fl-fort-lauderdale-strikers-to-leave-lockhart-0715-20160714-story.html

Another echo from the original Rowdies in the news:

quote:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/07/21/how-sam-allardyce-had-a-life-changing-experience-at-the-tampa-ba/

Mike Connell, Allardyce's centre-back partner at the Rowdies, says the facilities the players had access to in the early Eighties were a "different world" compared to those in the English game at the time.

He adds that Allardyce - who was described by another former team-mate as having "no touch whatsover but was a monster in the air" - showed impressive leadership and educational qualities and was in the perfect environment to nurture any nascent coaching ambitions.

"We were having a rough year and Sam came mid-season. At that point the club had gone through a transformation from being a mostly British team to a German/South American-style team, so he was one of few Englishmen who came in that period. In fact, he may have been the only English player in that year at the Rowdies," Connell told The Telegraph.

"He was a central defender, as I was. We were going through a horrible time as far as trying to stay in games and when Sam came, I was glad to see a British player next to me but he gave us some character, as he was big and tough and strong. He took no c--p.

quote:

Strikers Ditch Lockhart Stadium Because City Is Too Cheap to Fix It

http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/strikers-ditch-lockhart-stadium-because-city-is-too-cheap-to-fix-it-7934986

quote:

As Beckham fights for soccer in Miami, original Strikers and Lockhart remain template

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/greg-cote/article90929342.html

What the British soccer icon David Beckham imagines and dreams for South Florida, we have seen before. It’s been done here. There is a template. Fewer and fewer of us remember it, though. Those who do have lived down here a long time and are middle-aged or older.

The original Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Lockhart Stadium.

We were so different then. Can it really have been almost 40 years ago? Beckham will try to find a niche in a densely congested sports landscape for his would-be Miami expansion team in Major League Soccer. Then, it was a wide open field.

For the Strikers it was a perfect nexus of team, time and place.

We didn’t have much beyond the Dolphins and Hurricanes football when Elizabeth Robbie (Joe’s wife) bought the failing Miami Toros of the old North American Soccer League and moved them to Fort Lauderdale in 1977. And the Dolphins were in a post-Super Bowls/pre-Dan Marino lull then, while the Canes hadn’t played in a bowl game since 1967 and still were struggling for relevance.

The Miami Heat weren’t born yet. No Marlins baseball or Panthers hockey. No MLS, either. The original NASL was the biggest thing in American soccer.

. . .

To most, the announcement hardly was newsworthy. But to those of us to whom “Strikers at Lockhart” once meant something, it strikes an emotional chord. It casts the memory back to halcyon days.

When you chronicle sports for as long as I have for the Miami Herald, you become a de facto historian, and it sometimes bears reminding that stuff happened before ESPN, the Internet and social media came along and changed everything about the way we consume sports.

I covered the Strikers as my first major beat at the Miami Herald and it felt like a big deal. I was a college kid suddenly being dispatched to exotic locales such as Vancouver to follow a soccer team. Before that I attended Strikers games as a fan. There was a camaraderie at Lockhart, a palpable connection between players and fans. In those crowded bleachers, you felt as though you were surrounded by neighbors and friends.

Edit to add:

(No idea how reliable this is or what is really going on in Ft. Lauderdale but it does not sound good.)

quote:

http://fiftyfive.one/2016/07/breaking-fort-lauderdale-strikers-pc-sold-tampa-bay-rowdies/

Fort Lauderdale Strikers’ most dangerous attacking threat, Brazilian midfielder PC, is off to cross-state rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies. PC did not make the bench for Fort Lauderdale’s match against Minnesota and FiftyFive.One has learned that his transfer to Tampa has been finalized.

Strikers fans will certainly be bemoaning the loss of one of the breakout players in the NASL in 2015. PC scored the go-ahead goal in the Strikers’ recent Open Cup victory over Orlando City SC.

PC’s transfer (it is unclear right now if it was a sale or not) will only add to increased questions about finances in Fort Lauderdale. It comes on the heels of FiftyFive.One’s reporting that players were being asked to hold checks and at times having paychecks bounce.

Edit to add: it is now official:

quote:

http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/2016/08/05/rowdies-acquire-nasl-standout-pc-from-fort-lauderdale-strikers

Rowdies Acquire NASL Standout PC From Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Do over Ham fucked around with this message at 04:41 on Aug 6, 2016

* # ? Jul 23, 2016 14:44
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

 I'll just leave this here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C58pgQ7iw6Y

* # ? Jul 23, 2016 21:12
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Edward Mass
Sep 14, 2011

𝅘𝅥𝅮 I wanna go home with the armadillo
Good country music from Amarillo and Abilene
Friendliest people and the prettiest women you've ever seen𝅘𝅥𝅮
Austin update: 20178 likely return.

* # ? Jul 29, 2016 22:31
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

CaptainYesterday posted:

Austin update: 20178 likely return.

Hang in there Austin Aztex Team To Be Named At A Later Date.

So in addition to poaching a player from a possibly cash strapped Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, Rowdies owner Bill Edwards complained about the lousy quality of officiating at NASL matches and was fined by the league for it; if I heard right Bill Edwards paid the fine with some extra included for future infractions he hasn't committed yet (or that might have just been Ralph's Mob Facebook bantz). I watched the Rowdies vs. Cosmos match in question, it was possibly the worst officiating I have ever seen by soccer refs, but you never win by going public with these sorts of complaints. You are always accused of sour grapes and accused of undermining the integrity of the game, yada yada yada.

Edit to add: okay not bantz:

quote:

http://www.empireofsoccer.com/bill-edwards-issues-comment-on-record-fine-from-nasl-51739/

I received the memo from the NASL early Friday morning regarding my fine for my comments about refereeing in the NASL.

I understand Commissioner Peterson had to fine me. I think we all know these problems exist and they never seem to get better.

I have had several conversations with Commissioner Peterson and others in the NASL about this very problem over the years. I felt compelled to speak up at this time as the owner of the Rowdies.

As for the fine this is probably money well spent. It has both fans, teams and others talking about the problem. Talk is good as it is the only way to resolve an issue.

I intend to continue to support this great game of soccer the best way I can.

I am proud of my players, coaches, staff and our amazing fans for their support and I certainly understand everyones frustration.

I’m going to send Commissioner Peterson some extra money for the fine he will probably give me for making this statement.

Come On You Rowdies

Bill Edwards is selling the Sundial shopping mall in St. Pete, which may or may not mean something or nothing in relation to the Rowdies. Edwards also has extended his deal with St. Pete to run the Mahaffey Theater, which is also tied in to his control of Al Lang:

quote:

http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/stage/with-a-five-year-extension-bill-edwards-company-looks-to-expand-mahaffey/2287394

With a five-year extension, Bill Edwards' company looks to expand Mahaffey programming

NASL's war with USSF may have scared off their potential SoCal investor:

quote:

Report: Potential SoCal NASL investor scared away by USSF lawsuit

http://www.thegoatparade.com/2016/7/27/12303200/nasl-southern-california-ownership-ussf-lawsuit-joe-sumner

Do over Ham fucked around with this message at 07:37 on Jul 30, 2016

* # ? Jul 30, 2016 05:41
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

 Hmmm....

quote:

https://www.facebook.com/TampaBayRowdies/photos/a.442996013834.230638.109366663834/10155051089273835/?type=3&theater

Everyone's invited to the Mahaffey Theater for Tuesday's press conference!

See you Tuesday, August 2 at 1 p.m. for a special announcement regarding international soccer in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Edit to add:

quote:

The Florida Cup and the Tampa Bay Rowdies announced today that the legendary NASL club will make its tournament debut alongside other notable international teams. It was also revealed that Al Lang Stadium will be a host venue for the Florida Cup in 2017. The Florida Cup is the largest international sporting event held each year in the Sunshine State. The field currently includes the Rowdies, Club Atlético River Plate, VfL Wolfsburg, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, SC Corinthians Paulista and BARCELONA SPORTING CLUB - Página oficial with more to be added soon.

Read More: http://nasl.io/a1c7FaQe

Do over Ham fucked around with this message at 06:31 on Aug 3, 2016

* # ? Aug 1, 2016 05:13
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

 Tony Meola is done as Jacksonville coach:

quote:

NASL's Jacksonville Armada fire Tony Meola as coach after nine months

http://www.espnfc.com/north-american-soccer-league/story/2925102/nasls-jacksonville-armada-fire-tony-meola-as-coach-after-nine-months

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Armada have fired coach Tony Meola after nine months on the job.

Team owner and CEO Mark Frisch made the announcement Sunday, parting ways with Meola and assistant Jim Rooney.

Assistant Mark Lowry was named interim coach for the remainder of the fall season. The Armada ranks 11th in the 12-team North American Soccer League's fall season table. Jacksonville is winless in six consecutive games.
* # ? Aug 9, 2016 07:24
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King of False Promises
Jul 31, 2000

Do over Ham posted:

Tony Meola is done as Jacksonville coach:

He was really, really bad. Good move.

* # ? Aug 12, 2016 19:53
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camoseven
Dec 30, 2005

RODOLPHONE RINGIN'
Whoaaa I just found out that PC went to the Rowdies. What the gently caress is going on in Ft. Lauderdale? At this point I'd honestly be surprised if they were around next season.

* # ? Aug 18, 2016 01:14
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

camoseven posted:

Whoaaa I just found out that PC went to the Rowdies. What the gently caress is going on in Ft. Lauderdale? At this point I'd honestly be surprised if they were around next season.

Rumor is that checks were bouncing and they needed cash fast so sold PC; no idea if that is true or not. The Strikers have also moved their home field to the cricket stadium in Lauderhill, which will save them on rent next year; not sure about this year as I assume they still have a lease at Lockhart through the end of the year(?), but next year, if they are still around, they will save on rent at the cricket stadium; and at 5,000 seats it is more size appropriate than Lockhart. I would not be surprised if they are looking for new owners but at this point who knows what is going on.

* # ? Aug 18, 2016 06:50
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

 Lower league soccer says goodbye to Minnesota United (miserable bastards! :argh:). We hardly knew ye.

They went with my idea of Minnesota Loons, which is nice, but I have no idea why they thought it necessary to stick the FC on the front of that (if this is accurate).

And still no one in MLS has a clue about what AFC means. They're all a bunch of ex-NFL guys, it seems, so those initials would probably only confuse them.

Sorry, King of False Promises, no Minnesota Hotloons. :unsmith:

quote:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/sports/2016-08-19/soccer-watch/

Major League Soccer will announce on Friday that the FC Minnesota Loons will become the newest MLS franchise, joining the league next season along with Atlanta.

Do over Ham fucked around with this message at 09:32 on Aug 18, 2016

* # ? Aug 18, 2016 09:28
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

quote:

Detroit MLS bid comes amid minor league soccer boom in area

http://wcfcourier.com/news/national/detroit-mls-bid-comes-amid-minor-league-soccer-boom-in/article_84a360c3-8e8b-53cc-846b-fc0cd420b393.html

HAMTRAMCK, Mich. (AP) — Immediately after the opening kickoff, colorful smoke was already floating through the air and fans were in full voice, singing and chanting in a display reminiscent of matches in Europe and South America.

This wasn't Milan or Liverpool, though, or even Portland or Seattle. This was a fourth-tier soccer match at a renovated old stadium in Hamtramck, an enclave of Detroit.

The team is called Detroit City FC. It competes in the National Premier Soccer League and its players aren't paid, but this season the club drew about 5,000 fans a game at its new home field, turning a night at Keyworth Stadium into one of the area's most unique sports experiences. DCFC's growth is a testament to soccer's grassroots appeal in the United States, and it comes as a group led by NBA owners Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores is trying to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Detroit.

The question now is: What will happen to DCFC if MLS shows up? And would an MLS team be able to capitalize on the soccer culture that's already here?

The answer may not be that simple.
* # ? Aug 18, 2016 09:36
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wicka
Jun 28, 2007

Do over Ham posted:

Lower league soccer says goodbye to Minnesota United (miserable bastards! :argh:). We hardly knew ye.

They went with my idea of Minnesota Loons, which is nice, but I have no idea why they thought it necessary to stick the FC on the front of that (if this is accurate).

And still no one in MLS has a clue about what AFC means. They're all a bunch of ex-NFL guys, it seems, so those initials would probably only confuse them.

Sorry, King of False Promises, no Minnesota Hotloons. :unsmith:

i heard it was just going to be Minnesota FC and they'd use Loons as a nickname

* # ? Aug 18, 2016 11:59
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King of False Promises
Jul 31, 2000

Do over Ham posted:

Sorry, King of False Promises, no Minnesota Hotloons. :unsmith:

drat, they missed out on an excellent opportunity there.

* # ? Aug 18, 2016 14:14
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Crazy Ted
Jul 29, 2003

wicka posted:

i heard it was just going to be Minnesota FC and they'd use Loons as a nickname
Then they could just go by "Minnesota Loons" but of course that would be too American-y.

* # ? Aug 19, 2016 04:07
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King of False Promises
Jul 31, 2000

Crazy Ted posted:

Then they could just go by "Minnesota Loons" but of course that would be too American-y.

The fact that they couldn't keep Minnesota United shows how much fun MLS is.

* # ? Aug 19, 2016 04:31
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

King of False Promises posted:

The fact that they couldn't keep Minnesota United shows how much fun MLS is.

So, MLS let Minnesota United FC keep their name and logo after all:

http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/2932734/major-league-soccer-announces-minnesota-fc-as-new-franchise-for-2017-season

Hurrah, I guess.

Now i hope they've got this United thing out of their system. If you wanna go Europoser, try one of the names not used in MLS yet: Wanderers, Rovers, Rangers, etc. Or, you know, something actually unique and clever for a change.

Anyway best of luck Minnesota.

quote:

http://www.grbj.com/articles/85965-soccer-club-ready-to-get-down-to-business

Fresh off a disappointing end to an excellent first season in a new league, Grand Rapids Football Club President Matt Roberts said the team is taking a little bit of down time before gearing up for a fall exhibition match at Fifth Third Ballpark.

quote:

Where do the lower leagues belong in US Soccer?

http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/8/19/12547668/do-the-lower-leagues-belong-yes-we-will-be-talking-about-pro-rel-do-not-have-an-aneurysm
* # ? Aug 20, 2016 20:37
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wicka
Jun 28, 2007


 don't tell MLS clubs to be unique and clever, that's how you get real salt lake

* # ? Aug 20, 2016 21:00
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

wicka posted:

don't tell MLS clubs to be unique and clever, that's how you get real salt lake

I don't think RSL name is either unique or clever, unless you think "weird cross-cultural mishmash attempt at Europoser name" is unique or clever.

Edit: But you are right, best not to encourage 'em.

Do over Ham fucked around with this message at 00:51 on Aug 22, 2016

* # ? Aug 21, 2016 07:17
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Edward Mass
Sep 14, 2011

𝅘𝅥𝅮 I wanna go home with the armadillo
Good country music from Amarillo and Abilene
Friendliest people and the prettiest women you've ever seen𝅘𝅥𝅮
I'm not quite sure what's going on in Tulsa, but it doesn't look good.

* # ? Aug 24, 2016 04:11
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

 This is pure internet rumor so don't take this a gospel, but a little bird has told me that Bill Edwards is planning to move the Tampa Bay Rowdies to USL next year, with the ultimate goal of moving to MLS. Allegedly the source is from people who actually know Bill Edwards.

I've no idea what to make of that rumor, but, stranger things have happened. Who knows. The USL people are on the other side of the bridge in Tampa, easy for Bill Edwards to talk to. The Rowdies currently employ ex-USL people; USL employs ex-Rowdies people. The lines of communication are potentially open. Bill Edwards was not involved in soccer or the Rowdies when the whole TOA/USL mess was going on, so he's got no dog in the NASL vs. USL fight. And I gather he might have problems with the current NASL/NY Cosmos take on running things (probably; although his only public complaint so far has been about the refs, who are not controlled by NASL in any case). And if Edwards does intend to get the Tampa Bay Rowdies into MLS, joining USL might help pave the way, possibly helping to overcome Orlando's ludicrous territorial claims.

quote:

http://www.empireofsoccer.com/nasl-week-9-preview-crunch-time-for-bottom-half-52810/

NASL Week 9 Preview: Crunch Time for Bottom Half

By Jake Nutting on 08/26/2016

FC Edmonton (22 pts Fall, 39 pts Combined) and the New York Cosmos (20 pts, 38 pts) will seek to take advantage of home fixtures as they look to solidify their positions at the top of the Fall Season and Combined standings. Meanwhile, Indy Eleven (19 pts, 37 pts) will look to get back in the mix for the top spot against a vulnerable Ottawa Fury FC after stumbling last week.

As the top three jostle positions, the time is fast approaching for the majority of the teams in the NASL to make their move if they hope to clinch a playoff spot. If the season were to end as it stands now, the Cosmos and Minnesota United FC (15 pts, 31 pts) would occupy the third and fourth seeds in The Championship, the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament. The next few weeks will be crucial to see if any of the teams chasing four the fourth spot — the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (11 pts, 26 pts), Carolina RailHawks (12 pts, 26 pts), Rayo OKC (13 pts, 25 pts), or Tampa Bay Rowdies (8 pts, 24 pts) — can gain any ground and stay in the hunt.

Do over Ham fucked around with this message at 08:24 on Aug 27, 2016

* # ? Aug 27, 2016 08:09
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

 The Strikers new home at the cricket stadium looks very nice. Ordinarily I would object that a cricket field is too large for soccer, but as there is only seating on one side, the field has been moved closer to the seating so problem solved. Note traditional cricket club house at midfield.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwn5GD3yJL4

Do over Ham fucked around with this message at 08:25 on Aug 27, 2016

* # ? Aug 27, 2016 08:19
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trem_two
Oct 22, 2002

it is better if you keep saying I'm fat, as I will continue to score goals
Fun Shoe
More like Lmao OKC

https://twitter.com/DannyPage/status/770443995650650112

* # ? Aug 30, 2016 03:41
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

trem_two posted:

More like Lmao OKC

https://twitter.com/DannyPage/status/770443995650650112

Suddenly Bill Edwards does not look so bad as an owner. I have no idea what is going on here but the idea of one owner taking his turf and going home is pretty amazing and not the kind of publicity that NASL needs right now.

* # ? Aug 31, 2016 02:11
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King of False Promises
Jul 31, 2000



 Hearing rumors that Restrepo is on his way back to the Rowdies.

* # ? Sep 6, 2016 20:57
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

King of False Promises posted:

Hearing rumors that Restrepo is on his way back to the Rowdies.

And it is now official:

http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/2016/09/07/rowdies-acquire-goalkeeper-diego-restrepo-from-fort-lauderdale-strikers

So, Rowdies buy another player from the Strikers. Allegedly because the Strikers owners are short on cash.

Rumors are also circulating that the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers owners are looking for someone to buy the club.

* # ? Sep 8, 2016 06:05
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King of False Promises
Jul 31, 2000

Do over Ham posted:

And it is now official:

http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/2016/09/07/rowdies-acquire-goalkeeper-diego-restrepo-from-fort-lauderdale-strikers

So, Rowdies buy another player from the Strikers. Allegedly because the Strikers owners are short on cash.

Rumors are also circulating that the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers owners are looking for someone to buy the club.

Bill should just finish the job and buy them.

* # ? Sep 8, 2016 14:19
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trem_two
Oct 22, 2002

it is better if you keep saying I'm fat, as I will continue to score goals
Fun Shoe
It's not looking good for NASL

https://twitter.com/DougRobersonAJC/status/778719001908158464

* # ? Sep 22, 2016 00:26
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Welcome to GBS
Feb 26, 2011

 Thoughts on ideal Tier 2 + 3 situation going forward? Should USL become tier 2?

I am worried that we are headed towards worse than just a single entity tier 1, and may be headed towards our whole pyramid being a single entity.

* # ? Sep 22, 2016 01:33
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wicka
Jun 28, 2007

Welcome to GBS posted:

Thoughts on ideal Tier 2 + 3 situation going forward? Should USL become tier 2?

I am worried that we are headed towards worse than just a single entity tier 1, and may be headed towards our whole pyramid being a single entity.

it's inevitable without promotion/relegation. i mean, even if you think the idea itself is awful, that's fine, but it's not debatable that minor leagues are pretty much always a backwater poo poo show. that's not going to change while MLS funnels all the money and eyeballs into itself and takes every successful enterprise from the lower divisions.

* # ? Sep 22, 2016 01:39
  • Quote
Edward Mass
Sep 14, 2011

𝅘𝅥𝅮 I wanna go home with the armadillo
Good country music from Amarillo and Abilene
Friendliest people and the prettiest women you've ever seen𝅘𝅥𝅮
It's probable that, should the NASL go away, the USL goes back to the pre-NASL format of having two tiers by 2018.

* # ? Sep 22, 2016 02:48
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

CaptainYesterday posted:

It's probable that, should the NASL go away, the USL goes back to the pre-NASL format of having two tiers by 2018.

If we were in a rational universe, NASL and USL would merge, NASL would become the 2nd division within the USL umbrella with all suitably capable NASL and USL teams forming the NASL 2nd division, and those USL teams not up to 2nd division standards would form the 3rd division within USL. But the Cosmos would rather be top team in a one team league, it would seem. Again.

King of False Promises posted:

Bill should just finish the job and buy them.

He did try to!

http://midfieldpress.com/2016/09/22/the-domino-effect-how-lower-division-soccer-is-falling-down/

So the rumor I heard a month ago is true, Bill Edwards is taking the Rowdies to USL, with an eye towards MLS later. I also heard a rumor about Ottawa, but had no source other than someone on Facebook so didn't bother to mention it here. Bill Edwards has been very busy propping up the Strikers but their owners wanted too much money and the NASL didn't want Bill Edwards owning multiple teams, apparently. It does appear that Bill Edwards is done dealing with NASL bullshit.

* # ? Sep 23, 2016 11:00
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

Do over Ham posted:

He did try to!

http://midfieldpress.com/2016/09/22/the-domino-effect-how-lower-division-soccer-is-falling-down/

So the rumor I heard a month ago is true, Bill Edwards is taking the Rowdies to USL, with an eye towards MLS later. I also heard a rumor about Ottawa, but had no source other than someone on Facebook so didn't bother to mention it here. Bill Edwards has been very busy propping up the Strikers but their owners wanted too much money and the NASL didn't want Bill Edwards owning multiple teams, apparently. It does appear that Bill Edwards is done dealing with NASL bullshit.

The article at midfield press linked above is really good. Mandatory reading.

In other news, Wilmington Hammerheads are dropping from USL down to PDL.

* # ? Sep 24, 2016 02:36
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Edward Mass
Sep 14, 2011

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Do over Ham posted:

The article at midfield press linked above is really good. Mandatory reading.

In other news, Wilmington Hammerheads are dropping from USL down to PDL.

Expected, as they weren't in the USL 2017 schedule.

* # ? Sep 24, 2016 03:00
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Crazy Ted
Jul 29, 2003

CaptainYesterday posted:

Expected, as they weren't in the USL 2017 schedule.
Which is sad as they're actually in the upper half of the USL in attendance.

* # ? Sep 24, 2016 04:15
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

Crazy Ted posted:

Which is sad as they're actually in the upper half of the USL in attendance.

20 years in Wilmington, apparently; unusual stability for a lower league team.

http://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/more_news/2016/09/23/usl_hammerheads_swimming_north/15288

On further reading, it's probably dropping to PDL, taking 2017 off, and moving to Baltimore.

* # ? Sep 24, 2016 04:36
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Crazy Ted
Jul 29, 2003

Do over Ham posted:

20 years in Wilmington, apparently; unusual stability for a lower league team.

http://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/more_news/2016/09/23/usl_hammerheads_swimming_north/15288

On further reading, it's probably dropping to PDL, taking 2017 off, and moving to Baltimore.
Which is still bullshit. Wilmington is basically a perfect D3 market.

* # ? Sep 24, 2016 04:42
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

Crazy Ted posted:

Which is still bullshit. Wilmington is basically a perfect D3 market.

Balimore area already has a PDL team, as I recall? No idea why suddenly moving to Baltimore is reason to kill off Wilmington, just to have another team in Baltimore. :shrug:

* # ? Sep 24, 2016 06:07
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# ? Apr 25, 2024 02:44
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Do over Ham
Mar 20, 2009

Do over Ham posted:

Balimore area already has a PDL team, as I recall? No idea why suddenly moving to Baltimore is reason to kill off Wilmington, just to have another team in Baltimore. :shrug:

Right, Baltimore Bohemians:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_Bohemians

Not sure what other clubs are still in the Baltimore area. Real Maryland is no more according to the wiki.

In other news, it looks like the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers may have a rescuer:

quote:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/09/23/fort-lauderdale-strikers-handed-qatari-lifeline/

On the day that the Fort Lauderdale Strikers signed two players for $1 each, it emerged that Qatari billionaires could buy the ailing NASL club.

A difficult week for both the Strikers and the league has ended on something of an uplifting note when PSG Academy Florida, who are ultimately funded by the Qatar Investment Fund which owns parent club Paris St-Germain, expressed an interest in purchasing the team.

This is interesting, as the PSG group was in talks with Miami Beckham United early this year, and turned MBU down. They obviously are still interested in pro soccer in south Florida if they want to buy the Strikers; they just aren't interested in Beckham's Miami plans.

Come to St. Pete, Beckham! Prime waterfront urban downtown location! Billionaire owner that you need to pay for MLS! Established fanbase and team, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, with a 41+ year legacy! No need to start from scratch in hostile or indifferent Miami territory! Miami glitz and glitter aren't worth it.

Looks like I will be writing some more letters. :unsmith:

* # ? Sep 26, 2016 02:37
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