Yep. Big test is next game. If they can get one over on Phoenix they're setting themselves up for a good run through the rest of the summer. Unrelated, what does everyone think of USL's proposal to go to a fall/spring schedule and to possible institute pro/rel between USL-C and USL-1? I know what my own thoughts are but was wondering what everyone else thought before I chimed in?
Well it was bound to happen, Loyal take their first loss at home this season. But in all honesty the better team won last night. Phoenix came out hard and controlled the tempo most of the game.
I am a fan of pro/rel and have been hoping to see it adopted in the US for 25 years so broadly I'm in favor of it. But for the Championship sides it seems like it's got all the problems of pro/rel without the really big advantage of being able to promote up to MLS. I'll be really interested to see if the owners vote for it, if they do shows that there is some actual desire for it beyond people posting online.
yep Loyal second best most of the night. Even when we finally got some possession Phoenix always looked more likely to score on the break than we did with the ball. Hopefully we'll learn and use this to drive us.
Yeah they were just bigger and faster quite frankly. Our guys kept getting beat to the ball on set pieces.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.co...-quinn-phoenix-rising-usd-homecoming-sd-loyal Aodhan Quinn, son of San Diego soccer legend, set to make unique homecoming against SD Loyal
Gameday! Tonight at 7:30 the Loyal take on the Real Monarch's at Torero Stadium. The Loyal are coming off a mixed bag road trip where they fell 2-1 to the Tacoma Defiance but dominated the LA Galaxy II 2-0 up in Carson behind closed doors in a game they controlled from start to finish. The Loyal, who currently sit 3rd in the USL Championship Western Conference Pacific will look to get their home win streak restarted against the last place team in the Western Conference Mountain who are coming in on a 2 game losing streak after falling to a pair of Texas teams in El Paso and Rio Grande Valley.
Not a great performance. Look to be trying a new system, more three at the back vs. the hybrid we were playing before with some faces in different places. Looked really poor for the first 20 especially in giving up the goal. Started to play a little better at the end of the first and the start of the second but the game lost it's way with the subs and we never could sustain any pressure on their goal. On defense we looked slow, and on offense we weren't on the same page, had to be 4-5 easy passes that completely missed the target and went straight out of bounds. Overall a little off the boil, seem impacted by the Metcalf loss and Berry going to MLS. Oh well, been through bad patches before and I have confidence that we'll turn it around.
As for pro/rel, I love watching it play out in other league systems more than anything, but having it just between the USLC and L1 just seems kind of forced, like a desperate act to appease Eurosnobs. I might feel better about it if MLS goes MLS1/MLS2. Frankly, both MLS and the USLC are getting mighty big in the number of teams, so I can sort of see the USL adding an extra division (making League 2 become League 3, etc), and MLS splitting into two. If those two things were to happen, i'd prefer them happen at the same time. But also, unless MLS were ever to take over the USL, MLS2 would need to be closed at the bottom because of the difference in how they operate (if I understand things right). I'd love to see it done some day, but only if it's done right. A loyal local I will always be.
Where it won't work, for either, is the cost of entry. Particularly in MLS. No one is going to pay $300 million for an MLS club, only to have it's valuation halved overnight by being relegated (or in the initial "split" sent down to an MLS2). Frankly the only reason it works overseas is that they've always done it that way. And even then some leagues like Liga MX are moving away from it because it doesn't work particularly well in the modern world with modern media, stadium, etc... realities. The Gulf between a typcial D1 and D2 team is big, between D1 and D3, it's insurmountable. The idea behind pro/rel was good when that gulf wasn't as big and teams even at the top relied mostly on local gate revenues and contracts were all in the same ballpark between adjacent levels. Now... not so much.
Yeah they looked completely flat on Saturday. And that goal was the biggest WTF of the season. It was like no one knew they were supposed to be the one blocking the guy from getting to goal. He practically walked that shot in.
I think Pro/rel could work in some type of MLS1, 2 scenario. It's not an open pyramid and you have entry requirements and an expansion fee to enter the lower division. You could also share the revenue and marketing and teams in the lower division would still get to claim "MLS". I agree with you this isn't England in the 1880's so just opening everything up doesn't make much sense and would probably hurt grassroots clubs more than it would help them. But I think we could bring it in with some guardrails in place. In terms of specifically USL-C vs USL-1 I'm glad they are trying it but obviously apprehensive. I mean the great reward is a USL-1 club playing in the Championship, something they could already do if they wanted to under the current system. Doesn't offer much. Would honestly be a little surprised if the owners vote for it, if they do that would be a clue that there is data about what pro/rel could potentially offer. We'll see.
Looks like Loyal is officially relaunching their bid to build a stadium in the Midway District as part of the Sports Arena re-do this weekend: 1448691961779527687 is not a valid tweet id
Yeah the new plan actually looks promising with a stadium for both the Loyal and arena for the Gulls.
Yea it looks very promising. From what I gather there are at least four different groups looking to bid on this redevelopment opportunity. The city's notice mandates that each bid include "renovation or replacement of the City’s existing and operational current sports arena on the Property as a regional entertainment venue and operation of that venue for concerts, sports, and other events, consistent with similar arenas in large cities in the United States (“Development Condition”)." but only the MV+ group has committed to both a new arena and a modular soccer stadium for SD Loyal. I'm curious to see how the other bids stack up because I think the overall process is still centered on who delivers the most amount of affordable housing on the site. Full notice is here: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/midway-sports-arena-noa.pdf
Honestly I think the one thing that will ding the idea of a new stadium at Sports Arena is the fact that there's a comparable, if not slightly better stadium going up in Mission Valley now. One makes the other seem somewhat redundant to those that would be reviewing the plans.
While I understand that sentiment, if the stadium in Sports Arena is around 10K and not expandable then I could see it being viable. The issue though is that if MLS ever comes to SD it better be in that stadium or Loyal better have great fans who don't jumpship. I can see Aztec Stadium being used for Aztec games and the NWSL though. If however, NWSL come out in support of this stadium I think its dead in the water. Tricky politics for sure.
Yea I can't claim to understand all of the politics, but there are a few things that are clear to me: 1. This Sports Arena redevelopment is being driven/carried by the state's mandate for affordable housing, so whatever bid is selected will have to see to that part first. 2. The modular 10-12k capacity SSS Loyal are talking about here is only meant to be in use for a 7-10 year window - after which they'd either build a permanent stadium of their own also in the Midway neighborhood or just slide over to Mission Valley. 3. Having control of their own venue/facilities will give Loyal a much better financial foundation to compete for players/coaches etc. and will give the team a chance at potentially securing the kind of investor that would actually enable them to make the jump to MLS if that opportunity ever manifests, as opposed to being squeezed out of a market they've already established themselves in Austin Bold style. There's definitely a lot still to be determined, but it feels like Loyal are trying to give themselves the best chance they can of writing their own future.
I've always liked their Xolos shirts and cool that Loyal are doing something different. Loyals first two editions were good Adidas so expect them to keep it up. Their blowout sale is this weekend BTW
San Diego reveal their new jerseys for 2022 Love the "Tequila Sunrise" stripes on the front, dig the much more accurate/vibrant colors on the home jersey. Interesting remark on the away regarding the (street) pattern, too light and you can't see it unless up close, too dark and it looks dirty from afar. their logo and frankly name still sucks tough. Their SD monogram - which is already on their logo (could also double for the sun and a ball) is so much better than the loyal word mark. There is such an easy fix, if they just would remove the loyal word mark from the logo. added bonus: it also would be much more usable as a logo application from very large to very small
Albion San Diego (NISA) 1, vs. San Diego Loyal SC (USL Championship) 2 https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...o-of-2022-lamar-hunt-us-open-cup-second-round The first San Diego derby had a Crull finish. Taylor Crull scored on his club debut in the 89th minute as San Diego Loyal edged their crosstown rival at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, CA. Evan Conway scored Loyal’s opening goal in the 45th minute for head coach Landon Donovan’s side, making its first appearance in the U.S. Open Cup. Harold Hanson’s cross from the right side fed Mayele Malango as Albion drew even in the 65th minute, and goalkeeper Ben Roach kept the NISA club in the match with a number of tough saves. Crull, an MLS Generation Adidas player and recent graduate of Xavier University, got his head on a corner kick from Alejandro Guido to score the game-winner at the death.
I went up to Canyon Crest Academy for the match, was feisty for sure. Loyal pretty dominant in the first half but Albion came on in the second and looked dangerous on the counter down their right hand side, which is where their goal came from. Loyal finally took control with the late subs of Elijah, Moshobane, and Guido and deserved the late winner. Good atmosphere as well, always tough to tell how many people are actually there when it comes to bleachers but the stadium felt "full". Finally reminded me how much I hate watching soccer on fake turf. Just makes the game so much more random and reduces the importance of skill.
Loyal played a mixed lineup, some straight up academy players, a few fringe players, and a few of regular first teamers. Have no clue about about Albion, assuming they were playing their strongest side