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 !!!

So then you're not showing? E-man, learn to type before jumping in on a conversation that wasn't aimed at you.

Yanki,
I'm not really a big fan of Celenza or Nelson for outdoors. They do well indoors but I don't think they would be able to dominate like they do in a small arena. PJ on the other hand (a Towson graduate and Baltimore native) I think has the skill and college history. Another Baltimore native to think about would be Daunte Washington. He may be older now, but at the right salary, he could be a great pick-up.

I have to take your word for it. I honestly haven't seen them play outdoors. I'm just going on what I heard. I differ to you, the Freestate Footy Guru.
Columbia in da house!!! Seriously, I don't think that he would come out of retirement. I think that I heard that he has a much more regular type gig now. I wonder if he has anything still left in the tank? Do you have any idea TSF?

It would be nice if Charlotte didn't bother to show up. That way, I won't have to restrain myself from getting on Coggins, YT and the other guys from the stands. At USLD1 games, I like trying to work the opposing players nerves sometimes, even when I'm at their home stadium. I feel funny doing that with your team because they're missionaries and where else are you gonna find some of my fellow Messiah College alum playing from time to time???

Yeah, please--if you can arrange for us to get the points via forfeit--I, personally would appreciate it.

PS-I had the chance to have a quick word with Josh Rife the other night after the Baltimore Blast-Detroit Ignition game. Looks like he will be headed back to Charlotte after the MISL season. Perfect example of what I was saying before--even when the guy is playing on another team in another league--I still can't bring myself to boo him during a game. I hate that!

How are they going to support a million dollar payroll playing in Aberdeen? Is this a money losing scheme for tax purposes by the parent club?

Maybe Cal will become a minor investor. Then more people will be willing drive to Aberdeen

The Aberdeen Ironbirds have sold out every game in their existance. Aberdeen isn't a small town and is within 25 minutes of the Delaware line.

Yes, they have. I really believe that it isn't just because it they have a beautiful mini Camden yards type stadium and that the tickets are so reasonably priced; I really believe that if Cal wasn't the man that they would be just another minor baseball team that had modest interest. Cal is what makes that team such a hot ticket.
Even with the Delawarians and the townsfolk and the proving grounds personnel and the people who make the trip from the greater Baltimore area--averaging 1500 people for instance--would be a lot easier with Cal in the mix somehow. With over 3k, Wilmington had the best reported attendance in the UD2 last year. I think that 1500 is not
unrealistic but with the team being based up North like that, they are going to need all of the help that they can get.

The biggest thing Crystal Palace could do would be to buy radio time. Remember, the scrimmage vs the parent club had about 3000 and that was with very minimal (or any) press.

TSF--not a fan of Celenza's for outdoor? Are you aware of his college records,and high school records playing outdoor? That's how the Blast saw him....I've followed him since reading about him in the Sunpaper-his high school and college records speak for themselves.Check them out.And by the way-he went to Arch Bishop Curley High School in Baltimore,and a recent player by the name of Quigley is now on my wish list for the Blast in a few years.
I doubt that the Blast is going to let many of our players out on loan--they usually don't like the team playing during off season

I know Quigs well and yes he is a very good player. My buddy also played against Celenza in youth club ball. I am very aware of Celenza and he got a ton better as he got older. The problem is that he is now 7+ years removed from outdoor ball.

Congrats on your ability on looking up information. I'm just going on gut feeling that he wouldn't be the best option for pro outdoor anymore. If CPB picks him up, I will by no means complain. If I had to pick, I would take PJ Wakefield anyday.

TSF--I don't just have an ability to look things up--I've been a Blast Fan for a very looooooooooong time,and follow the college and high school kids in the papers to see who the Blast might go after. And yes I agree whole heartedly with your pick of Wakefield,but you say that Celenza is 7 years away from outdoor---PJ is 5 or more years removed from outdoor but I would still pick him too////
I wish that we could see a number of Blast players play outdoor in the off season but I just don't think the Blast will let that happen--that's one of the reasons they sign their players to contracts that keep many of them here during the off season--and doing the summer camps. I plan on going to Baltimore Crystal Palace games this summer////

Old school.
Dedicated researcher. I can only speak for myself--I'm seriously impressed. That invloves more than just interest--takes a lot of time, too.
Excellent point. But they do sign USL guys lloking to make a buck during the USL offseason. So maybe they will allow 4-5 guys go. The question is a value one: Are the some guys that are too valuable to the summer camps--guys that draw more kids than others--that are more popular--guys that they won't let go because they don't want it to negatively impact that aspect of the franchise revenue?

I hope to meet up with you @ TSF and any other posters from this board there sometime.

I'd take a deep look into the local PDL club rosters.... with teams being based in V.A. , Del and even Penn. (also look @ Harrisburgh) and also considering the $$ they are spending...they just might be assembling the best talent around from last season's area clubs.

Alan O'Hara

http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/021307aab.html

Nice, we're finally seeing a few adds to the roster!

With all of this talk about picking guys whop are better than UD2 and UD1 players so that we can make a deep run into the USOC and give an hopefully ruin an MLS club's day--the hype machine is in full effect.

Management is raising the bar pretty high with some of the declarations. I hope that the elite product that they are going to place on the field backs up the hype.

Thanks for the info Garrett!

And even better--We got him from Richmond.
He should be able to give us the heads up on some of players on what is left of the Kickers.

he'll be joining his brother in Cary soon I'm sure. good defender at PDL level anyway.

Thanks for the info Mikey.

I'll be curious to see what signing lives up to the promise "exciting" like it says on the club's website.

A "million dollar payroll"?!? We should at least be able to cherrypick some USLD1 guys.