Lots of news out already. Post interesting stuff here about big league news, player moves, and new info.

 

First up: a day after the season ended, the league formally announced that teams would start USL play in Memphis and Atlanta in 2019.

 

Atlanta's team will actually play in Gwinett and be the reserve side for MLS' Atlanta United.

 

Memphis is an independent team with independent ownership. Don't know much else yet.

North Carolina FC (terrible name) has made it official. The Raliegh-based squad has left NASL and will start play in USL next year.

FC Cincinnati wasting no time in the offseason player market. They've signed two defenders already (a sore need for FCC outside of Delbridge) one from Ireland and one from Israel -- the latter of whom is really highly regarded from what I've read.

 

FCC and Koch trying not to get caught watching on defense like they did so many times this past season.

Louisville City just announced that 15 players from this year's USL-Cup-winning squad will return for the 2018 season:

 

Goalkeepers Greg Ranjitsingh, Tim Dobrolowski;

Defenders Sean Totsch, Kyle Smith, Paco Craig;

Midfielders Mark-Anthony Kaye, Richard Ballard, George Davis IV, Paolo DelPiccolo, Devon “Speedy” Williams, Oscar Jimenez, Niall McCabe;

Forwards Luke Spencer, Ilija Ilic, Cameron Lancaster.

 

Midfielder Guy Abend and defender Tarek Morad are out of contract and we don't know either way.

 

Club has decided not to exercise options of third goalkeeper Micah Bledsoe and defender Sean Reynolds, who has been with the club since 2015 but did not play in the final stretch of the season.

 

Of course, some other team could come in ahead of next season and buy out their contracts, but that's a problem for another day.

Welp, one more for Lou City. Apparently Midfielder Brian Ownby is signed through next season as well. Wasn't inked until the press release was already going out.

 

So that's 16 of the 20 players from this season already contracted to return. That's pretty solid work from the front office at LCFC in a league known for an insane amount of annual turnover.

Caleb Porter quits the Timbers of MLS. So...rumors have him going to Cincy? Only one reason that he would ever do that and it wouldn't be to be associated w/ an USL thread.

Caleb Porter quits the Timbers of MLS. So...rumors have him going to Cincy? Only one reason that he would ever do that and it wouldn't be to be associated w/ an USL thread.

 

Not that it may mean much because it is pro sports but FCC just extended Alan Koch's contract.

Caleb Porter quits the Timbers of MLS. So...rumors have him going to Cincy? Only one reason that he would ever do that and it wouldn't be to be associated w/ an USL thread.

 

I've heard rumors (none are likely reliable) that he's going to be offered the USA job.

Not that it may mean much because it is pro sports but FCC just extended Alan Koch's contract.

 

Koch made some strange decisions this year, but the guy took Vancouver Whitecaps 2 to the USL Cup Final two years ago so he must know how to do something.

HOLY. COW.

 

In what -- on the surface -- appears to be the biggest news of the offseason so far, USL has greenlit a new independent franchise on the North side of Chicago. It would be USL's first direct attempt to put a team in a market that already has MLS.

 

http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/859201?referrer_id=2333971

 

I've got to say, if an urban Division 2 team goes head to head with a suburban Division 1 team, I'm honestly not sure who's going to win that attention battle.

Tons of news with the 2018 schedule due to be released any day now.

 

FC Cincinnati releases a new player signing at least once a week. It feels like they must have about 30 players now.

 

Louisville City announced the signing of former Rochester Rhinos and FC Cincinnati defender Pat McMahon. Was a starter on the record-setting defense of the 2015 league champions Rhinos.

 

Louisville is also welcoming back Magnus Rasmussen, who is returning after being a pretty solid No. 10 for us in the 2016 season. Played last season in his home country of Denmark.

 

League expansion looks about done but there are rumors that the schedule release is being delayed because Indy XI and Jacksonville Armada don’t want to sit out the 2018 season and it looks like that may happen if NASL has to merge with the new NISA project to save itself. May join USL to prevent a lost season. Wait and see on that.

Twitter awash in rumor tonight that Indy XI will join USL effective this season. Big move and a tough break for NASL solidarity moving forward.

 

Exciting to have another team from the area join the league. Will definitely be at the Cincinnati and Nashville road games. Now planning to see Lou City in St. Louis and Indianapolis too.

First couple weeks of the schedule are essentially out as of yesterday. League released all the home openers.

 

Louisville City opens at home against new squad Nashville SC on March 17.

 

FC Cincinnati opens at Charleston that same day. First game in Nippert will feature a visit from Louisville and the first match of the 2018 Dirty River Derby on April 7.

 

FCC also features as Indy XI’s league home opener on March 31. First USL game in Indianapolis.

The full schedule isn’t out yet and the rumor is that they’re still looking to possibly bring one more team in before this season starts. Some rumors it’s Miami FC of NASL. Super-rich owner who doesn’t really love MLS. Would be an interesting partnership.

USL is starting a third-tier league that will begin play in 2019.

 

They announced that the first team will be located in... Statesboro, GA. Yeah, I’m as confused as you.

 

Before the announcement there was big talk about cities like Lexington, Ashville, Dayton... I hope they’re gearing up for something a little more interesting than Statesboro.