I hope the two Tampa pro soccer teams will get to play against each other in the 2013 US Open Cup... The Tampa Darby will be a fun and well publicized game for the D2 NASL team!

The USL teams operate on a much lower budget, that is the basis of their whole "new" business plan. When they get a good star player the fans all like then FC Tampa will easily take them up to the higher league because the player will not have to even move to a new location.

I could put together a pretty good marketing champaign on why a team that plays in an international North American D2 league against teams from all over North America, and with players from all over the world is a better team to watch then a over glorified "pro" team for D3 level players now too old for the PDL...

*Another dumb move motivated only by the need for revenge by the USL owners. A league with a long history that starts teams in stupid areas (that then fail quickly) just to collect their start up fees. They have a history of engaging in and battling little wars they create all by themselves.

The USL are the soccer brother-in laws nobody really likes but are forced to eat christmas dinner with every year.

Bring it on USL.

Your top two teams this year were in the D2 league last year, the other USL Pro teams were all a step below (their records prove that) and will fall further behind as the best D3 players leave D3 to move up to D2. As time goes on it will become clear to all aspiring players that the NASL is the league that players can move directly up and into the top MLS league. USL Pro D3 league does not have that type of influence and never will again. The best players (not in MLS) will pick NASL first and not a lower paid and smaller budgeted USL Pro regional team.

The publicity of this little Tampa soccer war may benefit all soccer teams in Florida (especially the ones that survive the battle which will historically not be the poorly funded, poorly paid, and youth oriented USL league team).

Time will show what the USL Pro league really is - The limited use D3 league in North America for part time/low paid "pro" soccer players hoping to move up into another league as quickly as possible where they can get national exposure and move on with their pro soccer career.

Not a brillant long term move for the USL, but then again that is what they do best: Plan for the short term, motivated by revenge! This will just prove why the NASL teams left to go on their own in the first place because the USL has a history of starting stupid teams in markets that can't support the team with under funded/inexperienced managed teams that fail quickly.

I hope the USL Pro team in Tampa enjoys having a 1000 seat stadium. I've been to high school matches with more spectators. #OccupyUSLPRO

USF 2013

"In fall 2010, USF announced and began construction on a new soccer stadium. It is expected to be completed by the fall of 2011 in time for the 2011 soccer season. The current stadium will remain in use as a track and field facility and for other events".

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bulls/content/usf-soccer-stadium-be-named-rowdies-corbett

http://www.vispro.co/

Neil Caisley a founder and Chairman of VSI
Simon Crane who recently joined VSI as its new CEO

VSI established its first youth soccer academy earlier this year in La Manga, Spain, and is partnering with the respected Brandon FC Flames youth club

“The combination of our partnership with the Brandon FC Flames and our USL franchise teams lays the perfect platform for vertical progression, giving talented youngsters the opportunity to progress from junior soccer all the way through to the professional game,” VSI CEO Simon Crane said. “VSI is dedicated to elite performance and...

All the way to the NASL... Bypasing the USL Pro team...

we are confident that our USL franchises will be strong, successful and, importantly, profitable.”

The USL just has a way of landing a new fish or two every year.

Set the hook and pull hard...


VSI established its first youth soccer academy earlier this year in La Manga, Spain...

Welcome to America boys...

Meet the Team
http://www.provision.uk.com/cgi-bin/PFC/advisers.html


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footbal...-high-life.html

"There has been this boom but it's slowly weaning down. Look at what's happened to the Nationwide League. I think belts will be tightened. I haven't had to at Tottenham at the moment, but there are echoes of that having to happen. It depends on the future. I can't tell you. I think we're going into a sensible, calmer mode. That's why players need advice, good planning, most of all, they need trust."

This last was the PR statement but as he was not being paid to deliver it, according to ProVision's director, Neil Caisley, it seemed churlish to ignore it. At any event, Hoddle speaks from the heartfelt perspective of one who saw a good deal of money disappear into unscrupulous pockets during his early competitive years. "I got turned over, no other word for it," he said.

"Football is a strange thing. Even if you're successful it passes quickly. It's there in the history books, but the next season starts, the next day starts, the next trophy starts and you have to rise to the challenge again." There Hoddle has summed up the human condition. We all know that feeling. One day you compose an article in the supposed manner of Shakespeare, the next day it's under the hamster.


http://www.justgiving.com/Willow-Trek#

OPM = Other People's Money Shocked!
A perfect new partner for the USL...


http://www.vispro.co/


The VSI football team is made up of 21 boys aged between 16 and 18.

During their time together Bobby Davison VSI’s Head Coach has been very pleased with the way the boys have bonded as a team both on and off the pitch. For most of the boys this is their first time living away from home, but they have thrived in their new environment and are relishing the experience and facilities VSI’s Elite Development Academy at La Manga has to offer.

VSI is an independent owner and operator of elite development football academies for 16 to 18 year olds.

VSI identifies young football talent aged 16+ and provides elite development coaching in a residential environment. VSI’s objective is to secure professional playing contracts for its football students.

When club coaches have to make those big decisions about who to release and who to keep, we give them another option. By putting forward talent like yours to our scholarship programme, they also have first option to re-sign that player at the end of it. It’s a win-win situation.

http://www.vispro.co/our-academy/guidelines

-Aged 15-18 (16 is our entry age) – proof of age and nationality will be required
-Free from a contract with a club or agent
..........................................................................................................................

Yep, sounds like a perfect place for a future USL Pro Division 3 "PRO" player...

Great analysis JW7. I think if the USL is serious about growing their league, they should start teams in markets not currently served by the NASL. I guess it is their money, so why should I complain.

We will wait and see how the invisible hand sorts this one out...