Report: St. Louis MLS Stadium and Expansion Franchise Are Still Possibilities

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https://www.101sports.com/2018/09/26/report-st-louis-mls-stadium-and-expansion-franchise-are-still-possibilities/

Report: St. Louis MLS Stadium and Expansion Franchise Are Still Possibilities

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https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2018/09/26/soccer-reboot-taylor-family-is-said-to-consider.html

Soccer reboot? Taylor family is said to consider private stadium for MLS team

Such a plan could re-start discussions to bring a franchise to St. Louis. A previous plan for the city to contribute about $60 million to a $140 million stadium just west of Union Station was rejected by voters in April 2017.

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https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/soccer-stadium-talks-back-on-again-in-st-louis/article_d66a9e8e-1439-57be-be85-b697715d6b79.html

Soccer stadium talks back on in St. Louis

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https://deadspin.com/restructured-united-soccer-league-apes-everything-briti-1829308957

Restructured United Soccer League Apes Everything British, Except For What Matters

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https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180925/sports/309259944

United Soccer League rebrands to match England

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https://sports.yahoo.com/usl-rebrands-divisions-championship-league-020902265.html

USL rebrands divisions as Championship, League One, League Two

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http://m.thedailynewnation.com/news/190116/us-soccer-revamped-on-english-lines

US Soccer revamped on English lines

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https://patch.com/new-jersey/oceancity/ocean-city-noreasters-part-major-american-soccer-rebranding

Ocean City Nor'easters Part Of Major American Soccer Rebranding

The Nor'easters are now in USL League Two after a restructuring that puts the United Soccer League more inline with English soccer.

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https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/09/25/usl-rebrands-divisions-as-championship-league-one-league-two/

USL rebrands divisions as Championship, League One, League Two

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https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/mls-usmnt/2018/9/26/17901784/community-corner-mls-major-league-soccer-reserve-league-reinstatement-usl-united-soccer-league

Community Corner: Should MLS reinstate the Reserve League?

With changes coming to USL, should MLS make a move of its own?

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https://en.onefootball.com/owners-hoping-to-reduced-the-amount-of-designated-players-in-mls/

Owners hoping to reduced the amount of Designated Players in MLS

Major League Soccer are reportedly considering a proposal to reduce the amount of Designated Players per team from three to two.

Since 2007, and David Beckham’s arrival in the league, each club have been allowed three squad members whose wages fall outside the salary cap.

That Designated Player Rule has been used to bring in over 100 players to America, including the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimović, Steven Gerrard and Sebastian Giovinco.

But NBC have revealed that owners are actually hoping to reduce their DPs by one, with the hope that money saved can be distributed amongst the rest of the squads.

The story claims that owners of all MLS teams will meet at the end of the season to discuss the matter.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEPagC1tJAE&t=16s

#INDvTBR

Indy Eleven vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies - Game Highlights

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Published on Sep 26, 2018

HIGHLIGHTS pres. by Tampa International Airport

The Rowdies drop a tough one, losing 2-0 to Indy Eleven Professional Soccer.

#INDvTBR

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9j7rfc/official_thread_11rowdies/

Official Thread 11/Rowdies

https://imgur.com/HI4hSTV

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9j8rxr/rowdies_report_week_31_ind_v_tbr/

Rowdies Report Week 31- IND v TBR

Do or Die Game- Barring a lot of results going the Rowdies way in the coming weeks, the Rowdies playoff hopes were mostly dashed tonight at the hands of the Indy Eleven. The Rowdies squad tonight provided the heart and the effort, but alas, they couldn't contribute with execution.

Questionable lineup and roles- I've been no stranger to questioning Collins' lineup choices each week in conjunction with the formation he's been running. I know I'm not a soccer expert, I speak as an avid fan that wants to see the Rowdies win games. Which is why as I see the starting XI roll out to the field, Portillos and Rozeboom are playing midfield roles where they have to contribute in the attacking third. There's enough tape and evidence to build Mt. Kilminjaro that can tell you that Portillos does not have the skill to be a wide attacking midfielder. He's an average left wing back on his best days. More concerns with Portillos later. But even more egregious is that Rozeboom is starting. Yet another defensive midfielder who only knows how to play the ball backward. Cole doesn't come into the game until the 78th minute and by then you're giving the best player on the team 15 minutes to save your season already down 2 goals!?! Flemmings and Guenzatti have to start because there are no forwards left on the team (is Taylor injured?) and Morrell can't be given a start because his crosses don't float in the air for 10 minutes before landing in the next zip code...

breath

Ranting aside. This lineup put way too much pressure on Poku and Flemmings to be the primary offensive targets because there are no other finishers on the squad. Not against a quality team like Indy. Guenzatti doesn't score against playoff teams. He can't create the separation. With a high press on, Flemmings' legs are lost by minute 60. Same for Poku which is why he was subbed. And despite having the best shot of the night, Taku doesn't deliver the goods. The remedy for this mess? I mean the Rowdies don't have a lot of options, but at the very least I have no idea how you don't start Joe Cole in this game. Cole is the one guy who can beat the press, and he spent most of the match on the bench.

Better Team Won- Indy was just flat out the more talented team on their home turf. If the Rowdies want to be a dominant team next year, they should invest in a practice facility has artificial grass. Is there a place in Tampa or St. Pete they could rent out to get some touches on artificial turf? Why practice hard for an entire week preparing for a game where the entire style of the game is going to be affected by the surface. The passes, the touches, the bounces. The Rowdies have struggled with different types of fields for years now. But as for this game, once Indy got settled in, they played so much more confidently and competently. They pressed every Rowdies ball possessor and forced the Rowdies to commit turnover after turnover after turnover. Indy dominated the middle of the field. The only place Indy allowed the Rowdies to get any play was through the wide channels and as we've seen the Rowdies crosses this season have been very uninspiring, especially on the road. Indy asserted themselves better physically and skillfully throughout the crucial points of the game and that's how they came away with two goals and an easy win. The Rowdies only moment of hope was taken away by the keeper Williams when he saved Taku's volley.

Where the Rowdies go from here- To finish out the season I expect nothing less than the Rowdies to play their final three games with the same ferocity to win as they did tonight. For me, if the Rowdies were a playoff caliber team this season, they would have won this game. Putting some perspective on it though, this late run for the Rowdies is a credit to Collins and the players and the organization as a whole throughout all the turmoil and turnover to continue to persevere. The Rowdies are a club that wears pride on their sleeve. As much as I am a tough uneducated critic, I root for the Rowdies every matchday as we all do. My main focus continues to be on 2019, and what the Rowdies approach would be as to who they keep and who they don't. What this late playoff push really does a great job of is showing which players step up in the moment and which falter. The last 3 games will continue to be an indicator of who should stay and who should pack their bags. The Rowdies roster still has a lot of holes and roles to fill. With Cole's retirement looming, the Rowdies are transitioning into a new era of team building.

Pump fake- This play drove me nuts. Indy player has the ball. Fakes a shot, gets Portillos to JUMP. Indy player goes right by him and now has an angle at goal. I said a few expletives at the TV while watching that.

Frustration and Impatience- There was a play from Poku that really concerned me. Indy was getting a lot of possession and Tampa's high press was easily getting beaten. The Rowdies got a run of play where they finally had a ball cleared back to them near the box and Poku and Flemmings were both going for it. Flemmings was square to the goal and had the angle to volley or take another touch. Poku wasn't square, didn't have an angle, but could've taken a touch and possibly a key pass. Instead, Poku just wildly blasted the ball nowhere near the net for a goal kick. That play to me signaled a lack of composure and discipline. Also a lack of communication. When the playoffs are on the line, you need all those qualities to grind out games.