Our Very Own Premiership (FM2010)

Young Drachma · 01-25-2010, 08:38 PM

Summer 2008

With the news that Fenway Sports Group purchased a franchise in the Triple-A Soccer League, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and his son Hank, decided that there was truly no better for the Yankees brand than the soccer pitch and began seeking a club to purchase.

The Mississippi Delta club of the Triple-A league, had always struggled to be successful and its owners were ecstatic when asked if they would consider selling to the interests from New York.

The team was sold for about $900,000 and the promise of four lifetime season tickets to all Yankee Stadium events (not transferable, but that could be passed down to heirs.)

With that, the New York Yankees were officially in the soccer business.

Young Drachma · 01-25-2010, 09:06 PM

The next order of business, was finding a way to get out of the 7th division of American soccer. Fenway United, the Red Sox club, was also looking to do this and believed together the two could throw around enough money to mount a series challenge for promotion to a higher level. After all, the baseball world was benefiting from a Red Sox v. Yankees rivalry, why not transport that excitement to the world's game?

Or at least, that was the thought.

Most teams at the higher levels were resistant to this and there was no real obvious way to make the move happen, either. After all, the teams were fixed in their spots. Or were they?

The idea was the exert pressure on the leagues above to demote teams through the rarely used rule that forced certain clubs to maintain a certain amount of cash on hand to be eligible for the higher leagues. Given the disparate states of American soccer -- there were quite a few haves and even more have nots -- this would not be as challenging a task.

Luckily, money talks. The two teams had already managed to secure spots in the Aquarius Spring Division, with Jersey Athletic, Des Moines and El Paso y Juarez all agreed (for a fee) to accept voluntary relegation.

But the 6th level of American soccer wasn't quite good enough for these two teams. Knowing that they'd not be able to invade the Premier League without having perceived to earn their way in, the two wanted into the 2nd division, the American Major League.

Now this was just...a big problem. The AML did not want to kick any teams out, so, instead, it agreed to accept Fenway United and New York Yankees FC as expansion teams for the 2009 season. Given the league was only ten teams to begin with, this gave the league a bit more bite, but also seemed to help the league's perception with fans around the country.

Young Drachma · 01-25-2010, 10:48 PM

Now that both teams had managed to find a way to get on the doorstep of the top division in American pro soccer, they actually had to play the games.

The Yankees and Fenway United both took the unorthodox step of creating working agreements with two lower division clubs to make them their official feeders. This, of course, meant these clubs could not be promoted (according to league rules) if they managed to be successful, but it'd give both clubs a domestic option to house their players locally.

New York took Harlem United of the Triple-A League and Upper West Side of the Continental League. Fenway made deals with South Boston (CL) and Vermont Republic (AAA). This in addition to their usual reserve and U21 squads, give them an advantage no other teams in American soccer share at the moment.

Speaking of advantages, here are the top finances of American clubs:

Let's revisit the rules of the Major League of America. The top team gets promoted to the PLA, the 2nd place team plays a playoff against the 13th place team in the PLA, with the winner earning a spot in the PLA. Teams earn 5 points for a win in every league except the GAP League (Great American Pro League divisions, 6th division) where they just earn 3.

So Fenway Utd and the Yankees have a lot at stake this year, other than just bragging rights. I won't play the first season out, just report from around the league this first year and see how it goes.

Young Drachma · 01-25-2010, 11:29 PM

Here's the mid-semester review of things, if you will around the American leagues. I figure this might also help get you immersed into how things are working out for teams that you might root for outside of the MLA.

Here are the standings of the Premier League of America on January 4, 2010

Here's the MLA standings.

The reason I went with 5 points for a win over 2, is that it makes wins super important and creates distance in the standings. I tend to like that, when you're not playing that many matches.

Surprisingly, perhaps, the Yankees are firmly planted in a tie for 3rd, which gets you nothing. Still half the season left, of course, but interesting nonetheless.

We'll take a look at the rosters of both Fenway and Yankees next.

Young Drachma · 01-25-2010, 11:38 PM

FENWAY UNITED as of Jan. 4th, 2010 (mid-season)
Stats are MLA only.

Code:

| Pkd  | Inf  | Name                   | Apps   | Gls  | Ast  | MoM  | Pas R| Tck  | Drb  | Sh T | Yel  | Red  | Av Rat | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| ST   | Sus  | Kenny Cooper           | 10 (1) | 7    | 2    | 2    | 70%  | 0.27 | 1.74 | -    | 2    | -    | 7.38   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| ST   | Yel  | Peri Marosevic         | 9      | 4    | 1    | -    | 65%  | 0.11 | 1.44 | -    | 1    | -    | 7.01   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Yel  | Bernardo Sainz         | 9      | 4    | -    | -    | 60%  | -    | 2.11 | -    | -    | -    | 7.30   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Inj  | Michael Bradley        | 10 (1) | 3    | 1    | 1    | 83%  | 2.20 | 0.35 | -    | 2    | -    | 7.11   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| S9   | Yel  | Eyssy Valdez           | 12     | 2    | 4    | 1    | 65%  | 1.45 | 1.45 | -    | 1    | -    | 7.17   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| DMC  | Yel  | Joseph Enakarhire      | 12     | 1    | 1    | 1    | 74%  | 3.60 | -    | -    | 1    | -    | 6.96   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Yel  | Clint Dempsey          | 13     | 1    | 4    | -    | 56%  | 0.98 | 1.72 | -    | 1    | -    | 6.84   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| ML   | Yel  | Jose Burciaga Jr.      | 9 (1)  | 1    | 2    | -    | 72%  | 1.33 | 0.24 | -    | 2    | -    | 6.64   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| S5   | Inj  | Alejandro Bedoya       | 2 (8)  | -    | 2    | -    | 69%  | 2.83 | 1.18 | -    | 1    | -    | 6.72   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Wnt  | Josiah Snelgrove       | -      | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -      | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    |      | Luis Robles            | 1      | -    | -    | -    | 33%  | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | 7.60   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Inj  | Charlie Davies         | -      | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -      | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Wnt  | Fernando Julien Freire | -      | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -      | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| DC   | Wnt  | Alfonso Loera          | 6 (2)  | -    | -    | -    | 77%  | 3.68 | -    | -    | -    | -    | 6.56   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Inj  | Celestine Babayaro     | 9      | -    | 2    | -    | 76%  | 4.88 | 1.42 | -    | 1    | 1    | 7.33   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| GK   | Yel  | Brad Friedel           | 12     | -    | -    | -    | 42%  | -    | -    | -    | 3    | -    | 7.18   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| S1   | Yel  | Troy Perkins           | 1      | -    | -    | -    | 33%  | -    | -    | -    | 1    | -    | 6.60   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| DR   | Sus  | Frank Simek            | 12     | -    | 3    | 3    | 75%  | 6.19 | 1.31 | -    | 4    | -    | 7.42   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| DC   | Yel  | Oguchi Onyewu          | 12     | -    | 1    | 3    | 74%  | 4.76 | -    | -    | 2    | -    | 7.57   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| DL   | Yel  | Carlos Bocanegra       | 7 (1)  | -    | -    | -    | 74%  | 3.63 | 0.15 | -    | 1    | -    | 6.61   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Yel  | Jermaine Jones         | 4 (1)  | -    | -    | -    | 67%  | 3.17 | 0.87 | -    | 1    | 1    | 6.10   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Unh  | Delvin Countess        | -      | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -      | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|      |      |                        |        |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |        | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Young Drachma · 01-25-2010, 11:39 PM

NEW YORK YANKEES

Roster and stats so far.

Code:

| Pkd  | Inf  | Name               | Apps | Gls  | Ast  | MoM  | Pas R| Tck  | Drb  | Sh T | Yel  | Red  | Av Rat | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| ST   | Yel  | Salvador Cabañas   | 13   | 11   | 3    | 4    | 64%  | -    | 1.46 | -    | 2    | -    | 7.64   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| MR   | Yel  | Ismael Íñiguez     | 8 (1)| 4    | 1    | 1    | 52%  | 0.49 | 1.35 | -    | 1    | -    | 7.01   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| S5   | Yel  | Pony Ruiz          | 11   | 4    | 1    | 1    | 50%  | -    | 2.86 | -    | 1    | -    | 7.16   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| ML   | Yel  | Yury Zhirkov       | 10   | 3    | 4    | -    | 57%  | 0.60 | 3.40 | -    | 2    | -    | 7.68   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| AMC  |      | Humberto Suazo     | 5    | 2    | 1    | -    | 56%  | -    | 3.18 | -    | -    | -    | 6.96   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| ST   | Yel  | Güiza              | 8 (1)| 1    | -    | -    | 71%  | 0.23 | 1.51 | -    | 1    | -    | 6.68   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Wnt  | Thomas Harris      | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -      | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| S8   |      | John Johnson       | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -      | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Wnt  | David Manning      | 3 (2)| -    | -    | -    | 63%  | 2.07 | 0.59 | -    | -    | -    | 6.05   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Ine  | Kieron Bernard     | 1    | -    | -    | -    | 70%  | 3.38 | -    | -    | -    | -    | 6.20   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Tut  | John Borrajo       | 0 (2)| -    | -    | -    | 72%  | 4.39 | 1.10 | -    | -    | -    | 6.25   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| S4   | Yel  | Jordan Seabrook    | 0 (1)| -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -      | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Unh  | Anthony Hamilton   | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -    | -      | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| DC   | Sus  | Maurice Edu        | 4 (3)| -    | 1    | -    | 59%  | 2.70 | 0.45 | -    | 3    | -    | 6.78   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| MC   | Yel  | Nemanja Matic      | 4    | -    | 4    | -    | 61%  | 1.23 | 0.92 | -    | 1    | -    | 7.28   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Inj  | Eder Robles        | 3 (1)| -    | -    | -    | 80%  | 5.43 | -    | -    | -    | -    | 6.15   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| DC   | Yel  | Nicolás Otamendi   | 12   | -    | 1    | -    | 81%  | 4.83 | -    | -    | 3    | -    | 7.34   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| S9   | Yel  | DaMarcus Beasley   | 4 (2)| -    | -    | -    | 70%  | 1.48 | 0.74 | -    | -    | -    | 6.30   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Inj  | Osmar Mares        | 10   | -    | -    | 1    | 78%  | 3.71 | -    | -    | 1    | -    | 7.24   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| S2   | Yel  | Édgar Castillo     | 12   | -    | 3    | 2    | 64%  | 2.89 | 1.10 | -    | 1    | -    | 7.49   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Inj  | Mario Rodríguez    | 2 (1)| -    | -    | -    | 34%  | 0.41 | -    | -    | -    | -    | 7.20   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -    | Inj  | Daniel Sturridge   | 2 (1)| -    | -    | -    | 54%  | 0.53 | 2.65 | -    | -    | -    | 6.50   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| GK   | Yel  | Tim Howard         | 12   | -    | -    | -    | 42%  | 0.43 | -    | -    | 2    | 1    | 6.98   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| S6   | Yel  | Raul               | 11   | -    | 3    | 2    | 65%  | 1.97 | 1.78 | -    | 4    | 1    | 7.32   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| S11  | Yel  | Craig Demmin       | 0 (1)| -    | -    | -    | 66%  | 6.59 | -    | -    | -    | -    | 5.80   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| MC   | Yel  | Eric Djemba-Djemba | 14   | -    | 2    | -    | 78%  | 2.45 | 0.74 | -    | 1    | -    | 7.03   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|      |      |                    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |        | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Young Drachma · 01-25-2010, 11:47 PM

The Virgin Super League is in the semi-finals. Here's the earlier round results:

The Semis take place on February 2nd.

Young Drachma · 01-26-2010, 09:32 PM

Here's how the 2010 World Cup shook out

2ND ROUND

France def. Italy 2-1
England def. Paraguay 3-0
Holland def. Germany 1-0 (extra time)
Ukraine def. Denmark 2-0
Spain def. Serbia 3-1 (extra time)
Portgual def. Argentina 2-0
Ivory Coast def. Ecuador 3-1
Brazil def. Russia 1-0

QUARTER FINAL
France def. Ukraine 2-0
England def. Holland 3-1
Brazil def. Spain 0-0 (4-3 on penalties)
Portgual def. Ivory Coast 3-1

SEMI FINAL

France def. Portgual 0-0 (5-4 on penalties)
England def. Brazil 2-0

3RD PLACE

Portgual def. Brazil 2-1 (in extra time)

FINAL

England def. France 3-3 (5-3 on penalties)

Young Drachma · 01-27-2010, 05:52 PM

So, I'm preparing myself for a club job. Not sure how to chronicle this for you, but maybe we'll do it at a match at a time or whatever, with insights into the other divisions.

I wanted to take the Fenway or Yankees job, but when you start unemployed and try to get a job, it's a lot harder to land gigs like that and sure enough, I can't get either to hire me. So I need to probably look outside of the top two divisions and work my way up from there.

I have two offers:

PORTLAND ROSE CITY AC (2nd division)
(Relegated from the Premier League last season)
The 5th richest club in the Major League and 19th overall in the U.S. and having played at the top level, gives them an advantage that they know how to compete. Could be an interesting opportunity.

They have a transfer budget of $31.5 million and a payroll budget of $6.25 million

HOLLYWOOD UNITED (6th Division)
Another team that's playing in a new division this year. They're far better endowed than any of their peers in the GAP League (Great American Pro) and so, they're looking for a quick exit from the Aquarius Zero Division towards what they hope is an ascent to the majors.

They have a transfer budget of $2.5 million and a payroll budget of $4.2 million

When you look at the two offers, I think you might be able to do a lot more with $4.2 million in the 6th division, than $6.25 million in the 2nd division where you have well heeded teams like the Yankees and Manchester American spending a lot more than that.

So I dunno if either of these jobs will work or if I ought to hold out for something else, but I'm tempted to take the Hollywood United job and work my way up the ranks, plus you'd get a good sense of the various divisions that way.

North Star Green Bay has now made an offer, too. The allure of coaching at Lambeau Field could be pretty neat.

They're also in the Major League of America, have a transfer budget of $34.5 million and a payroll budget of $5.75 million. They came in 9th place in the MLA last year.

Another option might end up on the table with a Triple-A team called Quebecois, who are the most endowed of the clubs in the lowest division. Another alluring possibility, since at least two of the teams in the Triple-A league cannot be promoted since they're affiliated clubs of Fenway Utd and Yankees respectively.

Another chance to move a team up though, but I haven't officially received the offer yet. That's kind of where I'm leaning, even though it's the lowest division.

QUEBECOIS 7th division

Their offer came through today. It's 975k payroll budget and a $3.7 million transfer budget to take over a team at the lowest rung.

I think I'm going to take the Green Bay job. They've agreed to wait a week for me to decide, but the Portland job didn't seem as alluring and I think it might be better to start at a higher level, rather than waiting.

But we'll see.

bbgunn · 01-27-2010, 07:35 PM

Portland Rose City.... Portland Rose City...

But yeah, soccer at Lambeau Field would be cool... literally and figuratively.

Young Drachma · 01-27-2010, 09:37 PM

NORTH STAR GREEN BAY

I've signed with North Star Green Bay. Something about soccer players and the Lambeau Leap did it for me.

I'm working to assemble my own staff, but in the meantime, we're already springing into action, as the 1st Round of the US Cup is underway.

We'll be taking on Steel City Pittsburgh, a League Two team.

Here are the other first round matchups including ours:

Young Drachma · 01-27-2010, 09:53 PM

Young Drachma · 01-27-2010, 09:54 PM

If you want to know about a team in a lower division (or higher one, or whatever) let me know and I'll integrate them.

Young Drachma · 01-27-2010, 11:42 PM

Green Bay dropped our season opener to Portland Rose City, which should make bbgun happy.

Our 2nd round draw for the US Cup is also out:

ntndeacon · 01-28-2010, 05:28 PM

How about Birmingham?

bbgunn · 01-28-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntndeacon

How about Birmingham?

Being my birth city, it would be nice to see Birmingham. A team in Hawaii would be nice, too.

01-25-2010, 10:48 PM	#3
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	Now that both teams had managed to find a way to get on the doorstep of the top division in American pro soccer, they actually had to play the games. The Yankees and Fenway United both took the unorthodox step of creating working agreements with two lower division clubs to make them their official feeders. This, of course, meant these clubs could not be promoted (according to league rules) if they managed to be successful, but it'd give both clubs a domestic option to house their players locally. New York took Harlem United of the Triple-A League and Upper West Side of the Continental League. Fenway made deals with South Boston (CL) and Vermont Republic (AAA). This in addition to their usual reserve and U21 squads, give them an advantage no other teams in American soccer share at the moment. Speaking of advantages, here are the top finances of American clubs: Let's revisit the rules of the Major League of America. The top team gets promoted to the PLA, the 2nd place team plays a playoff against the 13th place team in the PLA, with the winner earning a spot in the PLA. Teams earn 5 points for a win in every league except the GAP League (Great American Pro League divisions, 6th division) where they just earn 3. So Fenway Utd and the Yankees have a lot at stake this year, other than just bragging rights. I won't play the first season out, just report from around the league this first year and see how it goes. Last edited by Young Drachma : 01-25-2010 at 10:56 PM.

01-26-2010, 09:32 PM	#8
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	Here's how the 2010 World Cup shook out 2ND ROUND France def. Italy 2-1 England def. Paraguay 3-0 Holland def. Germany 1-0 (extra time) Ukraine def. Denmark 2-0 Spain def. Serbia 3-1 (extra time) Portgual def. Argentina 2-0 Ivory Coast def. Ecuador 3-1 Brazil def. Russia 1-0 QUARTER FINAL France def. Ukraine 2-0 England def. Holland 3-1 Brazil def. Spain 0-0 (4-3 on penalties) Portgual def. Ivory Coast 3-1 SEMI FINAL France def. Portgual 0-0 (5-4 on penalties) England def. Brazil 2-0 3RD PLACE Portgual def. Brazil 2-1 (in extra time) FINAL England def. France 3-3 (5-3 on penalties) Last edited by Young Drachma : 01-26-2010 at 09:33 PM.

01-27-2010, 05:52 PM	#9
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	So, I'm preparing myself for a club job. Not sure how to chronicle this for you, but maybe we'll do it at a match at a time or whatever, with insights into the other divisions. I wanted to take the Fenway or Yankees job, but when you start unemployed and try to get a job, it's a lot harder to land gigs like that and sure enough, I can't get either to hire me. So I need to probably look outside of the top two divisions and work my way up from there. I have two offers: PORTLAND ROSE CITY AC (2nd division) (Relegated from the Premier League last season) The 5th richest club in the Major League and 19th overall in the U.S. and having played at the top level, gives them an advantage that they know how to compete. Could be an interesting opportunity. They have a transfer budget of $31.5 million and a payroll budget of $6.25 million HOLLYWOOD UNITED (6th Division) Another team that's playing in a new division this year. They're far better endowed than any of their peers in the GAP League (Great American Pro) and so, they're looking for a quick exit from the Aquarius Zero Division towards what they hope is an ascent to the majors. They have a transfer budget of $2.5 million and a payroll budget of $4.2 million When you look at the two offers, I think you might be able to do a lot more with $4.2 million in the 6th division, than $6.25 million in the 2nd division where you have well heeded teams like the Yankees and Manchester American spending a lot more than that. So I dunno if either of these jobs will work or if I ought to hold out for something else, but I'm tempted to take the Hollywood United job and work my way up the ranks, plus you'd get a good sense of the various divisions that way. North Star Green Bay has now made an offer, too. The allure of coaching at Lambeau Field could be pretty neat. They're also in the Major League of America, have a transfer budget of $34.5 million and a payroll budget of $5.75 million. They came in 9th place in the MLA last year. Another option might end up on the table with a Triple-A team called Quebecois, who are the most endowed of the clubs in the lowest division. Another alluring possibility, since at least two of the teams in the Triple-A league cannot be promoted since they're affiliated clubs of Fenway Utd and Yankees respectively. Another chance to move a team up though, but I haven't officially received the offer yet. That's kind of where I'm leaning, even though it's the lowest division. QUEBECOIS 7th division Their offer came through today. It's 975k payroll budget and a $3.7 million transfer budget to take over a team at the lowest rung. I think I'm going to take the Green Bay job. They've agreed to wait a week for me to decide, but the Portland job didn't seem as alluring and I think it might be better to start at a higher level, rather than waiting. But we'll see. Last edited by Young Drachma : 01-27-2010 at 06:05 PM.

01-27-2010, 07:35 PM	#10
bbgunn College Benchwarmer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Osaka, Japan via Honolulu, Hawaii via Birmingham, Alabama	Portland Rose City.... Portland Rose City... But yeah, soccer at Lambeau Field would be cool... literally and figuratively. __________________ U of Hawaii \| U of Alabama \| Montreal Impact \| Montreal Canadiens \| West Ham \| West Indies cricket \| Portland Trail Blazers Last edited by bbgunn : 01-27-2010 at 07:36 PM.

01-25-2010, 09:06 PM	#2
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	The next order of business, was finding a way to get out of the 7th division of American soccer. Fenway United, the Red Sox club, was also looking to do this and believed together the two could throw around enough money to mount a series challenge for promotion to a higher level. After all, the baseball world was benefiting from a Red Sox v. Yankees rivalry, why not transport that excitement to the world's game? Or at least, that was the thought. Most teams at the higher levels were resistant to this and there was no real obvious way to make the move happen, either. After all, the teams were fixed in their spots. Or were they? The idea was the exert pressure on the leagues above to demote teams through the rarely used rule that forced certain clubs to maintain a certain amount of cash on hand to be eligible for the higher leagues. Given the disparate states of American soccer -- there were quite a few haves and even more have nots -- this would not be as challenging a task. Luckily, money talks. The two teams had already managed to secure spots in the Aquarius Spring Division, with Jersey Athletic, Des Moines and El Paso y Juarez all agreed (for a fee) to accept voluntary relegation. But the 6th level of American soccer wasn't quite good enough for these two teams. Knowing that they'd not be able to invade the Premier League without having perceived to earn their way in, the two wanted into the 2nd division, the American Major League. Now this was just...a big problem. The AML did not want to kick any teams out, so, instead, it agreed to accept Fenway United and New York Yankees FC as expansion teams for the 2009 season. Given the league was only ten teams to begin with, this gave the league a bit more bite, but also seemed to help the league's perception with fans around the country.

01-25-2010, 11:29 PM	#4
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	Here's the mid-semester review of things, if you will around the American leagues. I figure this might also help get you immersed into how things are working out for teams that you might root for outside of the MLA. Here are the standings of the Premier League of America on January 4, 2010 Here's the MLA standings. The reason I went with 5 points for a win over 2, is that it makes wins super important and creates distance in the standings. I tend to like that, when you're not playing that many matches. Surprisingly, perhaps, the Yankees are firmly planted in a tie for 3rd, which gets you nothing. Still half the season left, of course, but interesting nonetheless. We'll take a look at the rosters of both Fenway and Yankees next.

01-25-2010, 11:47 PM	#7
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	The Virgin Super League is in the semi-finals. Here's the earlier round results: The Semis take place on February 2nd.

01-27-2010, 09:37 PM	#11
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	NORTH STAR GREEN BAY I've signed with North Star Green Bay. Something about soccer players and the Lambeau Leap did it for me. I'm working to assemble my own staff, but in the meantime, we're already springing into action, as the 1st Round of the US Cup is underway. We'll be taking on Steel City Pittsburgh, a League Two team. Here are the other first round matchups including ours:

01-27-2010, 09:53 PM	#12
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001

01-27-2010, 09:54 PM	#13
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	If you want to know about a team in a lower division (or higher one, or whatever) let me know and I'll integrate them.

01-27-2010, 11:42 PM	#14
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	Green Bay dropped our season opener to Portland Rose City, which should make bbgun happy. Our 2nd round draw for the US Cup is also out:

01-28-2010, 05:28 PM	#15
ntndeacon Pro Starter Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Alabama	How about Birmingham?

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