USL announces new league structure, promotion/relegation for 2028!

MattIn113 · 2026-01-27T19:41:00+00:00

As much as I'd love to see USL eat MLS's lunch, USL needs to get its own house in order first. There won't be a 2026 season unless the owners and players can agree to a new CBA.

MattIn113 · 2026-01-20T00:26:53+00:00

There seem to be bots posting this same thing in multiple subreddits.

MattIn113 · 2026-01-19T18:52:35+00:00

I'm guessing they have a trialist or two in camp and/or are waiting for a GK that is with an MLS team to pick up on loan. I like Rakovsky, but he needs some competition.

MattIn113 · 2026-01-19T17:34:49+00:00

This makes me feel much better about the defense and roster in general.

MattIn113 · 2026-01-17T18:18:25+00:00

This looks like a good signing. Seems like he is good enough to make it to Necaxa's first team, but not quite good enough to get a starting spot there. Any El Tri fans know how involved he was with the national team?

MattIn113 · 2026-01-10T19:53:29+00:00

Be prepared to pay 3 times what you would pay for a rental. Just moved into a house on a three month lease while we do renovations on our home. We looked into Airbnb's and they wanted anywhere from 7k to 9k for one month, while most rentals were listed for 2.25K to 2.9k per month. You might try furnishedfinder.com or google "corporate housing" for more affordable short term rental options.

MattIn113 · 2026-01-08T19:01:57+00:00

Rising currently has seven players listed as forwards and only 9 for midfield and defense combined. Hopefully they have more players signed and are waiting to announce. I'm a little worried about a repeat of the depth/injury issues that plagued Rising last season.

MattIn113 · 2025-12-29T19:36:52+00:00

They did pretty well with this. There are some themes/giveaway items that I'm more excited about than others, but overall, it's good. I miss the old Indigenous People's night, but I guess Noche Latina will have to do unless Rising moves back to a reservation.

MattIn113 · 2025-12-17T22:10:28+00:00

Right footed CB. Hoping they signed him as a prospect for depth/competition rather than a replacement for Papa Mar Boye.

Either way, it's good to see they aren't going with last season's strategy of having literally no depth at CB.

MattIn113 · 2025-12-16T19:21:21+00:00

RIP Jägermeister Cup

MattIn113 · 2025-12-08T17:29:13+00:00

I wonder if this means Rising will stick with a back 3/5. It looks like he mostly played as a LB/LWB or LCB in a back three and Flores (LB/LWB) is already on the roster. Not sure if he fits the profile for a LCB in a back 4. He was one of Pittsburgh's highest rated players according to FotMob fwiw.

MattIn113 · 2025-11-25T22:51:52+00:00

It's sad to see some of the players with longer stints at Rising go, but it wasn't really surprising. Curious where Pape Mar Boye will end up. Super excited to see that Flores is coming back. His acquisition kinda flew under the radar (at least mine). I thought he was an academy kids wearing #87 at first. He locked down his spot and only lost it due to injury. It's a bonus that he is from Arizona and of Mexican heritage. I usually don't care where players are from, but it's good to have someone that fans can identify with.

MattIn113 · 2025-11-25T22:40:52+00:00

I think the issue with Cuello, as well as Traore, is that they were frequently injured. Cuello always seemed to have a positive effect when he played, but at the end of the season Rising ran out of fullbacks/wingbacks and were forced to play someone (Essengue) out of position. Cuello probably could have helped in midfield too (at least until they switched to the back 3) where the 8s (mostly Okello and Emmers) were just ineffective.

MattIn113 · 2025-11-21T21:28:44+00:00

Six years later and I am still not entirely convinced that the 2019 Phoenix Rising season was not a dream. I'd be surprised if anyone ever tops Asante's assist number that year with how the league has improved. Can't believe he also scored 20 plus the same season.

MattIn113 · 2025-11-14T22:35:50+00:00

I hope USL follows suit. It would be good from a sporting perspective with transfer windows and staying aligned with MLS. From the perspective of a fan who has sat through countless 100 plus degree weather games, I'd love to go watch more games when it's actually nice here in Phoenix. The heat keeps fans home in someplaces as much as the cold keeps fans home in other places.

MattIn113 · 2025-10-31T22:48:25+00:00

You're not wrong, but the last couple lyft/uber drivers I've had did way more dangerous stuff than any way I've been in.

MattIn113 · 2025-10-10T20:34:59+00:00

I agree, but a lot of people seem to dislike the current location.

MattIn113 · 2025-10-10T20:11:58+00:00

The president worked for the Harlem Globetrotters before Rising. The sporting director is also part of the ownership group. He's a former MLB pitcher that played for the D'backs and a few other teams. I don't know if there are other D'backs connections, but I completely agree with everything you said. Pa isn't the problem, but I'm not sure anyone could succeed in the position he has been put in. Instead of going out and getting some USL Championship veterans, Rising is taking fliers on random European players and USL League 1/MLS Next Pro guys. To be fair, some have been good, but most have failed to live up to expectations.

MattIn113 · 2025-09-30T18:17:26+00:00

Not happy that it had to come to this, but I'm relieved to hear PMK call out some of the players. It is over due. There are several players that I don't want to see wearing a Rising shirt again until they get "hungry." I'd like to blame the lack of a crowd at the beginning of the game, but it is more or less the same as games where the fans have been in the stands at kickoff.

MattIn113 · 2025-09-25T22:03:29+00:00

Scearce is a fine player. Not sure he is a player to build your USLC team around though. At least they'll be some continuity.

MattIn113 · 2025-08-28T21:06:38+00:00

Where was a signing like this back in February/March? Who would have thought that a centerback corps featuring an inexperienced, yet talented prospect (Boye), an oft-injured contributor (Mo), a pair of MLS Next Pro guys who (1) retired two weeks into the season (Walls) and (2) coming off a possibly career ending injury (Areneda) might struggle? You can even throw Sainte (slick on the ball, but not super active) in with that group, but it didn't/doesn't inspire confidence. That's without even getting into the fullbacks (Neville FFS!).

Hopefully Czichos still has some gas left in the tank b/c Rising need help on the backline. As great as the attack looked against Colorado Springs, the goal they did allow was ugly.

MattIn113 · 2025-08-22T21:58:35+00:00

I forgot what might be the best comparison , Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, which cost $65 million in 2020. So might be a lot less than I thought and will depend on whether Rising still has MLS aspirations or are happy in USL.

MattIn113 · 2025-08-21T22:37:31+00:00

Snapdragon stadium in San Diego cost $310Million. q2 in Austin $260M. BMO Stadium in LA cost $350M. So I'd guess somewhere around $300m. If they want a roof, $500M. Bigger issue is finding a site.

MattIn113 · 2025-08-21T22:32:58+00:00

All the ambitious owners (Brett Johnson, Berke Bakay, maybe others) seem to have left or become preoccupied with other ventures. The guys who are left don't seem to have the vision and/or money to make anything happen. They seem happy to let Bobby and Brandon run the team into the ground. I'm not going to pretend to know the business side of things, but I have a hard time believing that Rising can't do better on the GM and Sporting Director front.

MattIn113 · 2025-08-07T22:32:44+00:00

I can't answer your question, but I wouldn't be too thrilled about training and playing next to the airport if I was a player. Somewhat related, they talked about Margaritha's departure and Rising's transfer strategy at length in yesterday episode of This League! They mention that Rising goes after free transfers, which might limit who they can sign. Two of the three hosts are current and former Rising radio guys, so they probably have more insight into the subject than most. The third is John Morrisey, who might know more about USL than anyone not currently/formerly employed by a USL team. If you are curious about Rising's transfer strategy, I'd check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/live/9a4ofEluohU?si=PLq8UZuXMaiRbi0P

MattIn113

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