North American Pro Soccer 2018

[tBBP]

Ehhh...I think that transplant thing might actually serve as an advantage, having seen firsthand the effect a successful team can have in winning over and uniting transplant fans (in addition to whatever natives are still there). I'm speaking, of course, about the scene up here in Nashville, another transplant-heavy city (and becoming more and more transplant-heavy by the minute), during the Predators' last few seasons, in particular last season during their Cup run. That against the backdrop of the Titans' Snatit's dysfunctions up until recently made this place solidly a Predators town--and is the ENTIRE reason Nashville SC co-opted the Predators' color scheme in the first place.

 

Anyway, that's just a long way of saying don't discount the power of transplants when fielding a new--and successful--team in a fast-growing sport.

 

Congrats to ATLUTD...at least one ATL squad doesn't have to wear the "Chokelanta" badge.

[Digby]

@Buc, I think that’s exactly what we’re saying — it behooves MLS to go after transplants and the cities that are more transplant-heavy, like Atlanta, as a new sport that lacks both the advantages and disadvantages of more entrenched historic Big Four teams.

[Gothamite]

I don’t know if we can make the case that transplant-heavy cities are better than cities with more stable populations.  Only that soccer isn’t at the same disadvantage that the NFL and MLB are in them. 

[Sport]

Heard a lot of stories about people in Atlanta that drive by with a Steelers, Red Sox, Warriors sticker on their car, and also Atlanta United stickers on their cars. It's the one local team that everyone can cheer for because most people didn't grow up with an MLS team. 

 

 

 

In other news, FC Cincinnati appears to be taking about 10 of their USL players to MLS. That feels like a lot and feels on the surface to a guy who isn't that clued into how these things work like it could set the club up for a tough first season. How did the other teams who got promoted handle this? 

 

[Dilbert]

The expansion draft is tomorrow and FC Cincinnati can pick up to five players. So far 11 players and Coach Alan Koch are returning from last season:

 

Alan Koch- USL Coach of the Year 2018 (His entire coaching staff is also returning)

Fanendo Adi- 3 goals, joined mid season from Portland last year

Fatai Alashe-1 goal,  joined mid season from San Jose last year

Nazmi Albadawi- 11 goals last season

Corben Bone-  12 goals last season, one of the two remaining players from inaugural season.

Justin Hoyte-1 goal, international spot

Forrest Lasso-3 goals, 2018 USL Defender of the Year

Emmanuel Ledesma-16 goals, 2018 USL MVP, international spot

Jimmy McLaughlin- 2 goals, one of the two remaining players from inaugural season, fan favorite

Blake Smith-1 goal

Emery Welshman-4 goals, international spot

Spencer Richey- 11-1-2 in 14 regular season appearances with 1.29 goals against average, played last season on loan from Vancouver

[FiddySicks]

Weird they’re bringing up so many USL players, but I would’ve quit soccer completely if they would’ve brought up Evan Newton. 

[PrimalCookie]

3 hours ago, McCarthy said:

Heard a lot of stories about people in Atlanta that drive by with a Steelers, Red Sox, Warriors sticker on their car, and also Atlanta United stickers on their cars. It's the one local team that everyone can cheer for because most people didn't grow up with an MLS team. 

 

 

 

In other news, FC Cincinnati appears to be taking about 10 of their USL players to MLS. That feels like a lot and feels on the surface to a guy who isn't that clued into how these things work like it could set the club up for a tough first season. How did the other teams who got promoted handle this? 

 

Well, everyone in Atlanta is behind them, but only for now. Give them a few years to stop being title contenders and suddenly all those people don't really care about MLS anymore.

 

Orlando City brought up quite a few USL players into MLS, and none really worked out. The best one was Carlos Rivas, and even a year after he left we refer to shots that are sent way above and away from the goal (basically, sent into the corner of the second deck) as "he just hit it into Rivas-land". So, all in all we would've been better leaving them by the wayside (even though Luke Boden, one of the players we brought up, is still my favorite City player all-time).

[Dilbert]

1 hour ago, Bucfan56 said:

Weird they’re bringing up so many USL players, but I would’ve quit soccer completely if they would’ve brought up Evan Newton. 

 

I know Jimmy McLaughlin had MLS experience with Philadelphia and Justin Hoyte has Premier League experience. Newton had a great start to the season but when Richey took over after being injured they both played lights out. I think Spencer was maybe a smidge better. What I think may be interesting is if we pick up Mitch Hildebrant from Atlanta in the expansion draft. That would be fun to watch him come back.

[FiddySicks]

I worked with Evan pretty closely over the previous two seasons, and I’ll just say there aren’t many people I’ve ever met that I dislike more as a person than him. For MANY reasons. 

[Dilbert]

1 hour ago, Bucfan56 said:

I worked with Evan pretty closely over the previous two seasons, and I’ll just say there aren’t many people I’ve ever met that I dislike more as a person than him. For MANY reasons. 

[DG_ThenNowForever]

EDIT: nevermind. You can find ATL UTD strip club pics on your own.