More proof I know nothing:
Luke Varney scores in his first run out with Blackpool.
Perhaps another of the EPL favorites for relegation ought to spare a thought for the rest of the Charlton striker cast-offs: Izale McLeod's available.
Chris Dickson, alas, now plies his trade in the lower divisions in Cyprus.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
The Premier League Paradigm
The British tabloids are afire with the vultures circling Aston Villa. Aston Villa is the only American-owned club in the EPL that doesn't seem to be disgracing Americans and Martin O'Neill's squad was fun to watch. Now with O'Neill gone and Randy Lerner trying to make the club more fiscally sound, Villa's hopes for a Champions League run seem to have evaporated.
'Arry has now come to sniff around the brilliantly talented Ashley Young. Should Young leave, Villa will go from battling for continental football to fighting to stave off relegation. And if expectations are lowered from success to survival, well, Bob Bradley's the guy to deliver for you (perhaps explaining how BB has now become the bookies' favorite for the job).
If Ashley Young leaves, Spurs are apparently not able to offer a more lucrative pay packet... just an increase from 65,000 pounds a week to 70 grand a week.
Unbelievably, a mere 5,000 pound a week increase in Mr. Young's wages would constitute half of the highest total salary paid for any player on the EPL's new entrants from Blackpool. A 10,000 pound a week salary ceiling in the EPL seems insane, but if the club is focused on investing in the team for the purposes of long-term success (an important objective as any Pompey supporter can currently attest to) then there is little to criticize. Still, the austerity leads to bizarre results.
Like, for example, Charlton needs an additional striker. Nigel Clough doesn't rate former Charlton flameout Luke Varney. Enough so that he is willing to let Varney go with only one fully fit attacking player on the squad -- the American teenager Conor Doyle. Charlton is reported to be one of the few teams interested in giving Varney another shot, because, who knows, maybe he'd be effective on the wing or up front in League 1.
So, there it is, a deal that makes sense. Charlton have a need, Derby County want to rid themselves of an underpeforming squad player on the books, it is a match made in lower league football. Except, the Tangerines are also on the lookout for someone who can put the ball in the back of the net. And what better candidate then . . . Luke Varney? That can't be right.
With Charlton reported to be close to wrapping up the signature of Dagenham's Paul Benson, most Addicks would appear to be happy with an outcome of Varney going elsewhere and a proven goalscorer (even if only in League 2) on his way in. It is, as they say, a result.
'Arry has now come to sniff around the brilliantly talented Ashley Young. Should Young leave, Villa will go from battling for continental football to fighting to stave off relegation. And if expectations are lowered from success to survival, well, Bob Bradley's the guy to deliver for you (perhaps explaining how BB has now become the bookies' favorite for the job).
If Ashley Young leaves, Spurs are apparently not able to offer a more lucrative pay packet... just an increase from 65,000 pounds a week to 70 grand a week.
Unbelievably, a mere 5,000 pound a week increase in Mr. Young's wages would constitute half of the highest total salary paid for any player on the EPL's new entrants from Blackpool. A 10,000 pound a week salary ceiling in the EPL seems insane, but if the club is focused on investing in the team for the purposes of long-term success (an important objective as any Pompey supporter can currently attest to) then there is little to criticize. Still, the austerity leads to bizarre results.
Like, for example, Charlton needs an additional striker. Nigel Clough doesn't rate former Charlton flameout Luke Varney. Enough so that he is willing to let Varney go with only one fully fit attacking player on the squad -- the American teenager Conor Doyle. Charlton is reported to be one of the few teams interested in giving Varney another shot, because, who knows, maybe he'd be effective on the wing or up front in League 1.
So, there it is, a deal that makes sense. Charlton have a need, Derby County want to rid themselves of an underpeforming squad player on the books, it is a match made in lower league football. Except, the Tangerines are also on the lookout for someone who can put the ball in the back of the net. And what better candidate then . . . Luke Varney? That can't be right.
With Charlton reported to be close to wrapping up the signature of Dagenham's Paul Benson, most Addicks would appear to be happy with an outcome of Varney going elsewhere and a proven goalscorer (even if only in League 2) on his way in. It is, as they say, a result.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Cups
Cup competitions elicit conflicting emotions in me. For Charlton, I am nonplussed about quick exits from the Carling Cup, the FA Cup and something called the Johnstone Paint Trophy. Getting back to England's second division is all that matters and insofar as any of these competitions distract from that essential goal, better they be gone and forgotten. But the actual losing to lower league and non-league teams is fairly embarrassing and not terribly heartening.
For DC United, on the other hand, the U.S. Open Cup offers the club's only real shot at glory. United has, of late, shined in the competition and the Cup has provided the most entertainment on offer to supporters over the last three seasons.
For the lower division teams in Scotland and England that we are connected to through player and kit sponsorships, the Cup competitions provide the only possible opportunities we have to see a match televised. Last season, Accrington Stanley's improbable FA Cup run gave us the chance to see them on the FSC; a pleasant surprise even if the result was disappointing. Stanley's upset of the Championship side Doncaster netted the club a second round Carling Cup match with the Toon at home today and, although Stanley bowed out of the competition, they did so after putting up a good fight. A late Sean Hessey strike gave Stanley the opportunity to equalize but Chris Turner's shot went awry and Newcastle moved on.
In the league cup in Scotland, two lower division teams took the scalps of SLP squads in the second round of the CIS Insurance Cup. Avoiding the Drop's Fuse's Ross County knocked out St. Mirren on penalty kicks and our own Raith Rovers forced Hamilton Academical -- which lost to Ross County in the second round of the Cup last year -- out on Tuesday.
Accounts from Stark's Park indicate that The Living Legend Gregory Tade may have missed a sitter and later failed to convert a penalty, but in a knockout Cup competition it does not matter how many goals you win by, only that you advance.
Ross County and Raith join three other second division sides (Falkirk, Dunfermline Athletic, and Queen of the South) and one third division side (Brechin City) in the final 16 of the competition.
Raith has got off to a roaring start in their league campaign, taking all nine points from the first three fixtures with a combined scoreline of 9 to 1 (with new recruit John Baird accounting for four of those league goals). Promotion back to the SPL for the second time in the club's history is undoubtedly more important than progress in the CIS Insurance Cup, but I am certain that all the club's supporters don't care to differentiate. Good times are good times. Let them roll on.
For DC United, on the other hand, the U.S. Open Cup offers the club's only real shot at glory. United has, of late, shined in the competition and the Cup has provided the most entertainment on offer to supporters over the last three seasons.
For the lower division teams in Scotland and England that we are connected to through player and kit sponsorships, the Cup competitions provide the only possible opportunities we have to see a match televised. Last season, Accrington Stanley's improbable FA Cup run gave us the chance to see them on the FSC; a pleasant surprise even if the result was disappointing. Stanley's upset of the Championship side Doncaster netted the club a second round Carling Cup match with the Toon at home today and, although Stanley bowed out of the competition, they did so after putting up a good fight. A late Sean Hessey strike gave Stanley the opportunity to equalize but Chris Turner's shot went awry and Newcastle moved on.
In the league cup in Scotland, two lower division teams took the scalps of SLP squads in the second round of the CIS Insurance Cup. Avoiding the Drop's Fuse's Ross County knocked out St. Mirren on penalty kicks and our own Raith Rovers forced Hamilton Academical -- which lost to Ross County in the second round of the Cup last year -- out on Tuesday.
Accounts from Stark's Park indicate that The Living Legend Gregory Tade may have missed a sitter and later failed to convert a penalty, but in a knockout Cup competition it does not matter how many goals you win by, only that you advance.
Ross County and Raith join three other second division sides (Falkirk, Dunfermline Athletic, and Queen of the South) and one third division side (Brechin City) in the final 16 of the competition.
Raith has got off to a roaring start in their league campaign, taking all nine points from the first three fixtures with a combined scoreline of 9 to 1 (with new recruit John Baird accounting for four of those league goals). Promotion back to the SPL for the second time in the club's history is undoubtedly more important than progress in the CIS Insurance Cup, but I am certain that all the club's supporters don't care to differentiate. Good times are good times. Let them roll on.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Let it rain
Fatherhood continues to offer unexpected surprises. We are just back from Nationals Park after watching Carlos Zambrano put in a serviceable performance. Tyler Colvin and Starlin Castro also showed why hope will spring yet again in 2011. Watching the Cubs actually play decently was not the surprise -- the fact that our two-year old enjoyed herself at the game and danced around every time it drizzled down was awesome. We were able to enjoy eight innings of baseball before I headed off mom's complaints of keeping the little one out too late by leaving (before our little girl asked to leave; her parting words: "Bye Bye Chicago Cubs, See You Later!"). We were also spared Carlos Marmol's nervy ninth inning.
Walking from the metro station to the stadium, our daughter was skipping to the game. She must genuinely enjoy the prospect of getting into ballparks, because she was similarly pumped when going to RFK. After pulling off the East Capitol exit onto the straightaway to the stadium, she started clapping and singing to herself "we're going to a soccer game, a soccer game."
Most DC United supporters who post their thoughts on the internets have pulled no punches opining how awful the team has played, how poorly the front office has performed, and how dire the team's stadium situation is. There is no question that it has been a bad season. The reputation of a number of the players formerly held in high esteem by the club's supporters has taken a hit and management is openly mocked, but, truth be told, I have enjoyed going to games this year much more than last season. It is not just the revelatory play of Andy Najar and the quick development of Bill Hamid. Just as importantly, it is all the things the club has done to make the experience more enjoyable for fans.
There is simply no question that I will renew our season tickets for next year. The only real question is how many more tickets I will have to budget for. We use every ticket we can. In response to a undeniable problem, the food has improved at the stadium (Ledo Pizza is a particular favorite for the little one, as are all the ice cream choices). ATM service is better. We are extremely grateful for the continued focus by the team on insuring that we can take our daughter to the stadium to a safe and friendly environment. When a drunk fan got too aggressive during the Milan exhibition match, security quickly defused the situation while reasonably providing the fan an opportunity to compose himself and enjoy the rest of the game.
The club has also done quite a bit to make sure that the players and staff are seen in the community. The opening welcome for Coach Onalfo at Black Finn's was great. As was this year's Meet the Team Day. The team publicizes well public appearances by the players and, for their part, the players seem to meet this responsibility with some enthusiasm. Team officials also make sure that at least some players make themselves available after every game for autographs; something that is immensely important to every family of casual fans who have sat around us during this season (it was a bit surprising to see Bill Hamid initially decline to take a sharpie from a DC United staffperson on Sunday after his clean sheet, but I was heartened to see the young man think better of it, grab the marker, and wade in towards all the kids awaiting signatures on Family Day).
As season ticket holders, Sunday's game represented our allocation of Field Passes and this was also a nice and wholly unnecessary touch. The team has not asked us to pay for the Milan or Pompey friendlies, nor have they asked us to pitch in more for U.S. Open Cup matches at RFK and they went even further by giving season ticket holders the field pass opportunity without additional charge. Being on the field to watch practice is a neat, albeit fairly boring experience. Just getting to see the players up close running through drills -- watching, for example, Hamid come out for crosses hit by Troy Perkins -- was fascinating (to me). For our daughter, she got to meet Freedom, Screech, Slapshot and other DC area mascots up close.
The mascots alone were enough to get her through the game. When it began to pour down, she simply curled up under a poncho and went to sleep until the second half.
For the adults, we were treated to a solid DC United performance. Allsopp slotted home his opportunities -- something that United strikers haven't done very much this season. Boskovic and Hernandez directed the game well through the center of the field and were complemented nicely by Najar's forays forward. The team looked committed. The introduction of Stephen King for Boskovic with over half an hour to go in the game made the match closer than it needed to be, but the game was still comfortable for United with Hamid having little to do.
Perhaps I am just wired differently, but Sunday afternoon at RFK provided a nice outing for my family. We enjoyed the game, we enjoyed cheering for United, we enjoyed the result, and we enjoyed the atmosphere. Not much more could be asked of the club.
Walking from the metro station to the stadium, our daughter was skipping to the game. She must genuinely enjoy the prospect of getting into ballparks, because she was similarly pumped when going to RFK. After pulling off the East Capitol exit onto the straightaway to the stadium, she started clapping and singing to herself "we're going to a soccer game, a soccer game."
Most DC United supporters who post their thoughts on the internets have pulled no punches opining how awful the team has played, how poorly the front office has performed, and how dire the team's stadium situation is. There is no question that it has been a bad season. The reputation of a number of the players formerly held in high esteem by the club's supporters has taken a hit and management is openly mocked, but, truth be told, I have enjoyed going to games this year much more than last season. It is not just the revelatory play of Andy Najar and the quick development of Bill Hamid. Just as importantly, it is all the things the club has done to make the experience more enjoyable for fans.
There is simply no question that I will renew our season tickets for next year. The only real question is how many more tickets I will have to budget for. We use every ticket we can. In response to a undeniable problem, the food has improved at the stadium (Ledo Pizza is a particular favorite for the little one, as are all the ice cream choices). ATM service is better. We are extremely grateful for the continued focus by the team on insuring that we can take our daughter to the stadium to a safe and friendly environment. When a drunk fan got too aggressive during the Milan exhibition match, security quickly defused the situation while reasonably providing the fan an opportunity to compose himself and enjoy the rest of the game.
The club has also done quite a bit to make sure that the players and staff are seen in the community. The opening welcome for Coach Onalfo at Black Finn's was great. As was this year's Meet the Team Day. The team publicizes well public appearances by the players and, for their part, the players seem to meet this responsibility with some enthusiasm. Team officials also make sure that at least some players make themselves available after every game for autographs; something that is immensely important to every family of casual fans who have sat around us during this season (it was a bit surprising to see Bill Hamid initially decline to take a sharpie from a DC United staffperson on Sunday after his clean sheet, but I was heartened to see the young man think better of it, grab the marker, and wade in towards all the kids awaiting signatures on Family Day).
As season ticket holders, Sunday's game represented our allocation of Field Passes and this was also a nice and wholly unnecessary touch. The team has not asked us to pay for the Milan or Pompey friendlies, nor have they asked us to pitch in more for U.S. Open Cup matches at RFK and they went even further by giving season ticket holders the field pass opportunity without additional charge. Being on the field to watch practice is a neat, albeit fairly boring experience. Just getting to see the players up close running through drills -- watching, for example, Hamid come out for crosses hit by Troy Perkins -- was fascinating (to me). For our daughter, she got to meet Freedom, Screech, Slapshot and other DC area mascots up close.
The mascots alone were enough to get her through the game. When it began to pour down, she simply curled up under a poncho and went to sleep until the second half.
For the adults, we were treated to a solid DC United performance. Allsopp slotted home his opportunities -- something that United strikers haven't done very much this season. Boskovic and Hernandez directed the game well through the center of the field and were complemented nicely by Najar's forays forward. The team looked committed. The introduction of Stephen King for Boskovic with over half an hour to go in the game made the match closer than it needed to be, but the game was still comfortable for United with Hamid having little to do.
Perhaps I am just wired differently, but Sunday afternoon at RFK provided a nice outing for my family. We enjoyed the game, we enjoyed cheering for United, we enjoyed the result, and we enjoyed the atmosphere. Not much more could be asked of the club.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Back to School
Part 2 of the soccer weekend was the University of Maryland's exhibition opener against St. John's at Ludwig Field. A quick check with the two-year old (are you sure you want to watch more soccer?) and we were off.
Again, Towson is a long way from College Park, and we did not get to campus until the second of the three 35 minute periods played. The Red Storm begin the season with a number 17 preseason ranking; the Terps began at number 6. The game itself was not close.
At first blush, Maryland seems like it is going to be a very, very good team. We missed Greg Young's goal off of a London Woodberry cross and we missed the link up between Jason Herrick and Karou Forbess that resulted in a Casey Townsend goal.
But what we did see was Ethan White impose himself and dominate in the center of the backline. We watched a right side featuring an aggressive London Woodberry at fullback and Sunny Jane flying down the wing (at one point in the third period, Jane attacked the Red Storm defense with five or six stepovers into the goal box). We saw a very strong change of pace option up front with Jordan Cyrus and Matt Oduaran.
In short, we saw a lot of good things, all of which bode well for the upcoming season. The team appears to be even better than we would have anticipated.
Again, Towson is a long way from College Park, and we did not get to campus until the second of the three 35 minute periods played. The Red Storm begin the season with a number 17 preseason ranking; the Terps began at number 6. The game itself was not close.
At first blush, Maryland seems like it is going to be a very, very good team. We missed Greg Young's goal off of a London Woodberry cross and we missed the link up between Jason Herrick and Karou Forbess that resulted in a Casey Townsend goal.
But what we did see was Ethan White impose himself and dominate in the center of the backline. We watched a right side featuring an aggressive London Woodberry at fullback and Sunny Jane flying down the wing (at one point in the third period, Jane attacked the Red Storm defense with five or six stepovers into the goal box). We saw a very strong change of pace option up front with Jordan Cyrus and Matt Oduaran.
In short, we saw a lot of good things, all of which bode well for the upcoming season. The team appears to be even better than we would have anticipated.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Home Sweet Home
I left the house yesterday morning and all was right with the world. Scott Wagstaff had put Charlton ahead of Oldham allowing (some of) my fellow Addicks to take note of Lloyd Sam's dream start with Leeds without regret.
While I would have enjoyed listening to the game and following the reaction on CharltonLife (and watching Arsenal demolish the Tangerines), I had to see a man about a pony. Our daughter had enthusiastically agreed to a soccer weekend with three games over two days, as well as watching a practice session before United's game against the Union. To show my immense gratitude, we hit the Montgomery County Fair to hang out with rescued horses (and donkeys) and pony rides. And, well, it took longer than expected.
Toddlers need naps. Parents who deny this reality pay in spades. By the time we got to Paul Angelo Russo Stadium in Towson, most of the first half was completed and we sat down in time to see Ali Gerba complete a first half hat trick for the Montreal Impact. Better late than never, because we were treated to the best performance by a team that we've seen in lower division soccer. Gerba was tremendous and the attacking play was precise and devastating. Through balls were played at perfect weight, with great timing, and relentless repetition. CP Baltimore's defense was scrambling to keep the score at less than five and heroically parried a number of goal scoring opportunities.
CP Baltimore got destroyed. It was an embarrassing performance. But the upshot for us was that Baltimore may have finally gotten it right. For the club, it may be too late. But if they are going to go down, they will at least do so in a comfortable setting.
There were more fans at the game than we have seen in quite some time. And they were families and kids. And happy. Paul Angelo Russo is a nice site -- it is over an hour away from our home (an additional thirty minutes from UMBC's stadium), so a major personal inconvenience -- and it is conducive to the type of support base that the club has right now. Which is the same as their support last season; the support of a third division football team with a decent youth program.
Players, like Val Teixeira, mingled easily with the fans in the stands. As did our daughter. She had chosen to wear a pink Montreal Impact shirt we picked up at the Stade Saputo in July, but no one seemed to care. At the end of the game, she joined the throng of kids seeking autographs from the players in uniform, who also mingled easily with the crowd. Andy Marshall gave her some stick for the shirt and made her smile, and, in turn, each of the players who stuck around seemed to enjoy interacting with the children.
Going to the game was fun. Never mind results. And that is a sea change for Crystal Palace Baltimore this season.
There are three home games left in the season. We probably won't make them. But I feel some regret and loss at that, because there is certainly something redeemable about the team and it will be a damn shame if they don't make it to another season.
While I would have enjoyed listening to the game and following the reaction on CharltonLife (and watching Arsenal demolish the Tangerines), I had to see a man about a pony. Our daughter had enthusiastically agreed to a soccer weekend with three games over two days, as well as watching a practice session before United's game against the Union. To show my immense gratitude, we hit the Montgomery County Fair to hang out with rescued horses (and donkeys) and pony rides. And, well, it took longer than expected.
Toddlers need naps. Parents who deny this reality pay in spades. By the time we got to Paul Angelo Russo Stadium in Towson, most of the first half was completed and we sat down in time to see Ali Gerba complete a first half hat trick for the Montreal Impact. Better late than never, because we were treated to the best performance by a team that we've seen in lower division soccer. Gerba was tremendous and the attacking play was precise and devastating. Through balls were played at perfect weight, with great timing, and relentless repetition. CP Baltimore's defense was scrambling to keep the score at less than five and heroically parried a number of goal scoring opportunities.
CP Baltimore got destroyed. It was an embarrassing performance. But the upshot for us was that Baltimore may have finally gotten it right. For the club, it may be too late. But if they are going to go down, they will at least do so in a comfortable setting.
There were more fans at the game than we have seen in quite some time. And they were families and kids. And happy. Paul Angelo Russo is a nice site -- it is over an hour away from our home (an additional thirty minutes from UMBC's stadium), so a major personal inconvenience -- and it is conducive to the type of support base that the club has right now. Which is the same as their support last season; the support of a third division football team with a decent youth program.
Players, like Val Teixeira, mingled easily with the fans in the stands. As did our daughter. She had chosen to wear a pink Montreal Impact shirt we picked up at the Stade Saputo in July, but no one seemed to care. At the end of the game, she joined the throng of kids seeking autographs from the players in uniform, who also mingled easily with the crowd. Andy Marshall gave her some stick for the shirt and made her smile, and, in turn, each of the players who stuck around seemed to enjoy interacting with the children.
Going to the game was fun. Never mind results. And that is a sea change for Crystal Palace Baltimore this season.
There are three home games left in the season. We probably won't make them. But I feel some regret and loss at that, because there is certainly something redeemable about the team and it will be a damn shame if they don't make it to another season.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Draftsmen
Much of my continually expanding appreciation for soccer is attributable not only to direct experiences as a passive observer of the game but also to what has been written about the sport. There is not a lot of soccer reporting in the United States, but in some ways this ends up being a virtue, as people who write about the subject have a remarkable passion for the game.
Brent Latham's recent contribution to the great site This Is American Soccer underscores just how much commitment is required to play in the field. Latham's essay is beautiful and required reading for anyone interested in the game in this country.
Passion for the game continues to be evident in Brian Quarstad's work regarding the second division of soccer in the country. Few people interested in sports seem to be able to bother with the league, but Quarstad continues to bust his rear pulling together essential information for those of us who do care. A little over a week ago, Mr. Quarstad obtained and posted USSF's new standards for Division II soccer and, most recently, took the time to knock down some uninformed and reckless reports spread regarding the future of certain clubs.
The focus of Mr. Quarstad's work is incredibly important. Locally, a complete lack of information from Crystal Palace Baltimore regarding what the heck is going on with the club -- where now game locations and times are announced the day before they are scheduled to occur -- has managed to kill whatever marginal support the club had built up over the last few years. Provided Saturday's game remains in Towson and kicks off at 5 pm, we plan on going to the game, but I can't imagine who else would be bothering to go this year. Although they are certainly not the worst team in the league, the move up has been disastrous for a team that is in a good market; enough so where continued operation in a manner consistent with the characterizations revealed by Mr. Quarstad's work threatens to do grievous harm to the prospects for professional soccer in Baltimore for some time.
If CP Baltimore folds, I will be saddened, but not crushed (silver lining: I will be free to burn the Palace shirts I own). On the other hand, if the Puerto Rico Islanders are cut out of the second division, it will be a disaster. The Islanders are one of the most compelling story lines of second division football here. Puerto Rico plays at a level that makes sense for their market and the Islanders' front office has run the team well enough that they have become a force to reckon with in CONCACAF club play. Over the last few years, I have become a fan of the club, its players, and its supporters. The Islanders have earned a spot in the second division of U.S. soccer and any decision by USSF that would preclude them from keeping a place in the league should be met with heavy opposition from all fans of the game.
Brent Latham's recent contribution to the great site This Is American Soccer underscores just how much commitment is required to play in the field. Latham's essay is beautiful and required reading for anyone interested in the game in this country.
Passion for the game continues to be evident in Brian Quarstad's work regarding the second division of soccer in the country. Few people interested in sports seem to be able to bother with the league, but Quarstad continues to bust his rear pulling together essential information for those of us who do care. A little over a week ago, Mr. Quarstad obtained and posted USSF's new standards for Division II soccer and, most recently, took the time to knock down some uninformed and reckless reports spread regarding the future of certain clubs.
The focus of Mr. Quarstad's work is incredibly important. Locally, a complete lack of information from Crystal Palace Baltimore regarding what the heck is going on with the club -- where now game locations and times are announced the day before they are scheduled to occur -- has managed to kill whatever marginal support the club had built up over the last few years. Provided Saturday's game remains in Towson and kicks off at 5 pm, we plan on going to the game, but I can't imagine who else would be bothering to go this year. Although they are certainly not the worst team in the league, the move up has been disastrous for a team that is in a good market; enough so where continued operation in a manner consistent with the characterizations revealed by Mr. Quarstad's work threatens to do grievous harm to the prospects for professional soccer in Baltimore for some time.
If CP Baltimore folds, I will be saddened, but not crushed (silver lining: I will be free to burn the Palace shirts I own). On the other hand, if the Puerto Rico Islanders are cut out of the second division, it will be a disaster. The Islanders are one of the most compelling story lines of second division football here. Puerto Rico plays at a level that makes sense for their market and the Islanders' front office has run the team well enough that they have become a force to reckon with in CONCACAF club play. Over the last few years, I have become a fan of the club, its players, and its supporters. The Islanders have earned a spot in the second division of U.S. soccer and any decision by USSF that would preclude them from keeping a place in the league should be met with heavy opposition from all fans of the game.
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