How many NASL teams do we need to develop young Canadian talent?

[Red and White]

It is rather odd that this uncertainty exists between MLS and NASL in terms of transfers. As NASL continues to develop, it should end up presenting problems for US based teams, which is when they'll probably take some sort of action.

For now, I think the best thing Canadian NASL clubs can do is seek slightly larger partner clubs (who will mostly be South American and European based) to deal players with. It would be mutually beneficial because our clubs would get transfer fees while the foreign club gets a lead to promising talent. Additionally, our NASL clubs may even get first dibs on talent that relatively larger partner clubs may not want. Toronto FC just had a similar relationship with LDU Quito from Ecuador that landed them Joao Plata and access to Geovanny Caicedo. FC Edmonton can seek that sort of thing. Its obviously not as ideal as a more flexible MLS, but it is a short-term solution at the very least.

[madmonte]

It is rather odd that this uncertainty exists between MLS and NASL in terms of transfers. As NASL continues to develop, it should end up presenting problems for US based teams, which is when they'll probably take some sort of action.

For now, I think the best thing Canadian NASL clubs can do is seek slightly larger partner clubs (who will mostly be South American and European based) to deal players with. It would be mutually beneficial because our clubs would get transfer fees while the foreign club gets a lead to promising talent. Additionally, our NASL clubs may even get first dibs on talent that relatively larger partner clubs may not want. Toronto FC just had a similar relationship with LDU Quito from Ecuador that landed them Joao Plata and access to Geovanny Caicedo. FC Edmonton can seek that sort of thing. Its obviously not as ideal as a more flexible MLS, but it is a short-term solution at the very least.

One inherent problem is that under that system the good players funnel out, and the weaker players funnel in. Financially this can be seen as great, because as players develop and grow, certain markets can't afford the better talent. Edmonton could be seen as one of those markets, perhaps? But then...financially this can also be seen as horrible, because you lose your marketing tools...players that are performing well.

It's a system that, in a Canadian city that doesn't understand the footie market, will cause you to lose more fans than you gain, as fans become frustrated with players they grew to love leaving, to go places they never heard of, to be replaced by players they've never heard of.

|Michael Cox is going where? WTF? How am I supposed to watch him in Sheffield, wherever the hell that is?"

That's not to say they won't grow to love the new players coming in...but they WOULD get frustrated with the revolving door. Not all soccer fans that pick up tickets are internet followers of players like we are.

[Soccerpro]

Have you seen FC Edmonton? What you meant was they are developing players that were overlooked. FC Edmonton is very young. Guys that have bright futures. Saiko, Hamilton, Lam, Rago, Cox, and Vorbe are just some examples of players that will move to bigger and better things.

The problem is that there's nothing that points to these guys having careers past North American D2 at the moment in oder to justify your phrase. In year 3 of FC Edmonton, how many players have moved on to bigger and better? How many NASL players in general have moved on to bigger and better? I'm not trying to put you down, you just seem a bit overly optimistic.

[Alex D]

The problem is that there's nothing that points to these guys having careers past North American D2 at the moment in oder to justify your phrase. In year 3 of FC Edmonton, how many players have moved on to bigger and better? How many NASL players in general have moved on to bigger and better? I'm not trying to put you down, you just seem a bit overly optimistic.

This is sort of what I was getting at. Saiko clearly should be in MLS, but who else? Edmonton seems to be leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the league and I understand that they now have some sort of academy, but they didn't develop Saiko, Hamilton, or any of the other names that have been pointed out. They have merely given them a place to play.

This is no slight to FC Edmonton, what they are doing is great and I hope the academy expands and truly builds some world class stars, 'cause development starts at 10 not 20.

[Red and White]

One inherent problem is that under that system the good players funnel out, and the weaker players funnel in. Financially this can be seen as great, because as players develop and grow, certain markets can't afford the better talent. Edmonton could be seen as one of those markets, perhaps? But then...financially this can also be seen as horrible, because you lose your marketing tools...players that are performing well.

It's a system that, in a Canadian city that doesn't understand the footie market, will cause you to lose more fans than you gain, as fans become frustrated with players they grew to love leaving, to go places they never heard of, to be replaced by players they've never heard of.

|Michael Cox is going where? WTF? How am I supposed to watch him in Sheffield, wherever the hell that is?"

That's not to say they won't grow to love the new players coming in...but they WOULD get frustrated with the revolving door. Not all soccer fans that pick up tickets are internet followers of players like we are.

All good points. One thing I will add is, in your example, Micheal Cox going to Sheffield may win as many fans as it frustrates. FC Edmonton being directly associated with a well-known club like Sheffield can help connect dots for European soccer followers. It can lead to basic research on where FC Edmonton is in international football, which can lead to following, interest, and hopefully supporting. I'd wager a deal with Sheffield would put FCE on the radars of many Canadians with English heritage.

[madmonte]

This is sort of what I was getting at. Saiko clearly should be in MLS, but who else? Edmonton seems to be leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the league and I understand that they now have some sort of academy, but they didn't develop Saiko, Hamilton, or any of the other names that have been pointed out. They have merely given them a place to play.

This is no slight to FC Edmonton, what they are doing is great and I hope the academy expands and truly builds some world class stars, 'cause development starts at 10 not 20.

They aren't exactly leaps and bounds ahead of the league in the way you seem to be insinuating. In fact, they are near the bottom of the table. But I'll assume you are referring to the youth system they are setting up, and in that I agree with you. I would hope to see some really strong development there as well. I think the youth systems all 4 canadian NASL/MLS clubs have set up in only the last 1-3 years are extraordinary and bode really promising things.

All good points. One thing I will add is, in your example, Micheal Cox going to Sheffield may win as many fans as it frustrates. FC Edmonton being directly associated with a well-known club like Sheffield can help connect dots for European soccer followers. It can lead to basic research on where FC Edmonton is in international football, which can lead to following, interest, and hopefully supporting. I'd wager a deal with Sheffield would put FCE on the radars of many Canadians with English heritage.

I'm a little skeptical on that...most European soccer followers don't follow Sheffield...Canadian eurosnobs mostly focus on Premier League stud squads, and it's unlikely that FC Edmonton could enter a partnership with a club that high on the English pecking order. The English clubs wouldn't have the interest in that, necessarily. I specifically used Sheffield as an example as it's been a while since they've been that high in said pecking order.

However, the hardcore footie fans like the guys on these forums would LOVE partnerships like that. THIS I'm aware of. So the solution, then, is to create more hardcore footie fans in Edmonton! But not sure interclub politics is the way to do that...an exciting, marketable product, though, is. For me, national pride and regional pride is VERY marketable...this is the line that clubs like FC Edmonton need to take.

[alberta white]

^ so to some extent you'll be in the Calgary United to step up to the NASL camp then?

Nothing apparently gets the locals jumping more than a "BATTLE OF ALBERT!#

[ted]

It seems like we're on the same page here actually. You don't want a transfer fee system by what you describe. You want a compensation system, which would not be alien to North America at all. The NHL compensates CHL teams and European teams under the IIHF when the league drafts their players. This would be ideal.

I say "potato" you say "root vegetable".

[madmonte]

^ so to some extent you'll be in the Calgary United to step up to the NASL camp then?

Nothing apparently gets the locals jumping more than a "BATTLE OF ALBERT!#

**** yeah, man! I mean I don't live in Calgary (Medicine Hat, actually, so three hour drive) but I would SO get there as often as I could! Not sure there's a chance Calgary gets an NASL team for a while yet though

[alberta white]

I say "potato" you say "root vegetable".

And for your information its a Swede! not a rutabaga... or a turnip..

Transfere fee or compenstion; either way it helps funds flow downhill to finace development.