Just curious, what's the word on the player situation for CPB? Are they bringing in a full team of youth players from the big club? Are they holding tryouts? Anyone know anything?

There will be a small group of Palace players involved, however due to the international rules you'll see a large group of US based players.

“With the highest payroll in the league, we expect to not only compete immediately for the league championship, but show well against MLS teams and go far in the US Open Cup.” says Pete Medd, VP / General Manager.

web page

I expect to see quite a few Baltimore Blast standouts to join the squad. Defender PJ Wakefield, midfielder Giuliano Celenza, goalkeeper Brian Rowland, defender Mike Lookingland, striker Jonathon Steele, and midfielder Denison Cabral should all be considered.

oh yeah... one more quote from the soon to be USLSD Champions...

"With a player payroll approaching one million dollars, the Eagles certainly look to create a high profile impact at an accessible level for fans of all ages. "

Good intel TSF but just a few couple thoughts:

Steele can't play for BCP because he was one of the guys that Chris Economides brought with him from Rochester and was one of the first players signed to play for the Carolina Railhawks.

I was at the Blast games on Fri & Sat night and got hooked with a ticket to sit in the section with all of the players families. I was taliking to Robbie Aristodemo's wife and she said that he really wants to play for BCP but that because the Blast owns his rights, they have to do a "loan" deal; He's waiting to see what happens.

This brings up the usual MISL/USL scheduling conflict. Just like all of the other players who play in both leagues, if a guy's team makes it far into the playoffs then the guy will miss the first several USL games. If he isn't injured, then the guy should be in excellent shape if he isn't too worn down from the MISL season and not really having a break after going form the U to the MISL and back to the U again.

The U clubs then have to reintegrate the guys back into their lineups. Some U clubs like Rochester do this very well. Others like the Islanders don't want to deal with it.

In the case of BCP, if they have 5 or 6 guys from the Blast that will be a big plus when the guys are released and physically ready.

How many players that the Blast will agree to loan remains to be seen. They might not allow all of the players who want to play with BCP to do so.

Oh Snap! With those kind of chips we really should be competitive--at least talent wise--this first season.

I never even allowed myself to imagine that we would have that kind of cash for player signings. We will be like this year's Richmond Kickers.

Yanki,
Good points. Good call on Steele, I missed that. I did happen to forget that the Blast and Wave are good about signing their players up so they have to go to loan. Sometimes it slips my memory that the MISL joined US Soccer and became an affiliated league.

This brings a good point up... from Crystal Palace's view; if you could grab 3 Blast players, who would they be? You have to consider age, cost, outdoor talent, and future.

My three picks would be PJ Wakefield, Mike Lookingland, and Denison Cabral. Denison gives a solid playmaker and a name. PJ and ML give the team solid youth with the possibility and being called up the CP in the future.

The problem for Crystal Palace is they CAN'T call up players from this "affiliate" USL D2 team UNLESS that player qualifies for a UK Work Permit!

This means that either -

(1) they can get a European passport through their lineage (usually 1st or maybe 2nd generation, depending upon the European country of origin) OR

(2) they have played in at least 75% of their country's National Team games over the past 2 years!

I don't mean this as demeaning, but I don't realistically see the second option as generally viable for players in the USL 2nd Division.

For Crystal Palace, I see the relationship benefits working more in the opposite direction in that they can send some of their younger players to play in the USL 2nd Division...provided, of course, they are able to get them the proper and necessary visa to play here!

Another possibility would be if they identify players from other areas (South America, Africa, Asia) to play in the US for 1 or 2 years before selling their contracts on for a profit to other overseas clubs (This is how alot of clubs overseas survive).

Keep in mind, however, that ANY player movements are also subject to the FIFA-mandated "transfer window", which does vary from country to country...just to add to the confusion!

Sorry, TSF; Stone Cold beat me to it. Josh Wolfe couldn't get a UK work permit after playing in the World Cup a few months before because of the 75% rule. That's how dude ended up going to play in Germany for Munich 1860. I think that the Championship club lost the appeal after they filed one (sorry, i can't remember the club right now).

If you were talking about 3 Blast guys that I would like to see with BCP then I would say Robbie Aristodemo (former Canuck international WCQ experience). Denison and the other guys that you mentioned are excellent choices for the reasons that you gave. I would also think that the other hometown guys like Billy Nelson and Giuilano Celenza would also be good because of the hometown pride that they display. They always play hard and have an edge about them.

I guess the "poor" little Charlotte Eagles should even show up this season !!

WRONG !!!