Comments on: USL PDL in the Spotlight: A Vital Part of American Soccer

By: Joe in Indianapolis

Joe in Indianapolis — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:06:42 +0000

Makes me wish there was a PDL team in Indianapolis.

By: soccer goals

soccer goals — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:30:19 +0000

Very informative post.

By: Lars

Lars — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:36:58 +0000

Let’s talk about the resounding success story called the Ottawa Fury. A Canadian Soccer miracle and this should be discussed here.

By: Nate

Nate — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:22:53 +0000

The PDL is a godsend for many kids who are missed by the scouts and also US Soccer’s development institution. I’ve noticed quite strangely that US Soccer omits PDL teams from the biographies of a lot of players on the website and in press materials. Why is this? Does it make MLS look bad?

By: Silverbacks Fan

Silverbacks Fan — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:09:23 +0000

Thank You Kartik!

So many writers and bloggers ignore USL totally and the USL angle to players careers and developments.

Now if we can get USL’s management at the toip straightened out, we can get the Silverbacks back playing in USL-1 and the PDL.

By: Larry O

Larry O — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:54:05 +0000

Good piece. You should keep an eye on the PDL playoffs this weekend. Another advantage of the PDL is the season ends just in time for the Euro season to start.

Ives, McCarthy and others wouldn’t know that because even though they have teams in their backyards they don’t have the inclination to cover it and then ask “where did this guy come from.”

By: Fire Bob Bradley

Fire Bob Bradley — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:29:16 +0000

Good piece, kartik. This has needed to be said for a long time., Expect to see yourself on a “no talk list” from Gulati and Garber.

Truthfully, anyone who has spent time around European clubs like I have and then compares MLS and College Soccer to set up there laughs. The PDL is a mixed bag- but the good PDL clubs like Ventura County and like Carolina Dynamo give a more professional experience comparable to European football for youngsters than anything they get here. Some PDL is crap and I’ll freely admit that, but I’d prefer guys follow the PDL to Europe ala Tracy, Peterlin route than get bogged down in MLS and become tools in the process of allocation, trades, and improper training that is a trademark of that NFL-ized soccer league.

By: adam

adam — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:56:26 +0000

Also, Kartik don’t forget Jay DeMerit- PDL to Premier League, without a stop in MLS!

By: adam

adam — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:55:06 +0000

kartik, i don’t know why you even get in the mud with fan, who is clearly a tool of all things MLS. Any critical word about the league isn’t acceptable to fan.

Why do you even question why Goff, Ives, etc don’t cover the PDL angle to these signings? Because it makes MLS lok bad. Goff is better, but Ives is basically a propagandist of MLS. He doesn’t even acknowledge USL exists and I won’t go near his site. The other tool is Nick Green. How many PDL and USL clubs are their in the LA area? Yet his LA Soccer blog is just the two MLS teams and the Sol. I wonder if he even knew who Peterlin was when he went to Everton.

By: pate

pate — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:30:28 +0000

The PDL isn’t just impacting foreign leagues. Look at how many players in recent MLS drafts played in the PDL …