Photo credit: DeKalb County United

As DeKalb, Ill.-based DeKalb County United prepares for 2020, their third season in competition, we caught up with club president John Hall to find out what’s new with the “Green & Black.”

Kevin Johnston: How did 2019 turn out for DeKalb County United on the pitch and what was the highlight of the season?

John Hall: This past season was good for us. We moved from a fifth-place finish in our division in 2018 to second place in 2019 (although the teams changed from one year to the next). It seemed that we found our feet a bit with our roster and brought a lot of guys back. So with a year of experience together and at this level there was good progress. We not only identified a few key players through our open tryouts, but we saw some local guys make huge strides and get some solid minutes in our second season. There wasn’t really a big highlight moment on the field but a lot of small victories throughout the season. From the “front office” perspective we were very happy with the progress we made in year two.

KJ: How would you describe your club’s overall experience in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)?

JH: When we were looking to start the club in 2017, our ambition was to join the Premier League of America (PLA) and be in a regional situation. Shortly after we launched publicly, the clubs of the PLA voted to all join the UPSL as the new Midwest Conference. We didn’t really have an option, but the UPSL seemed to be a reasonable situation and it worked out fine. I think there’s a lot of great things happening with the UPSL and certainly the strength in numbers alone gives them a lot of influence with sponsors and business partners. But for us, some of the decisions the league made didn’t make sense and had direct impacts on our club’s business. The reality is we didn’t know what to expect two years ago. We didn’t know the questions to ask and we didn’t know what our own priorities were. (We don’t know today what we will know in a few years either… we’re always learning!) But now that we’ve got a better feel for things we understand that the biggest challenge to any club at this level is long-term sustainability. Our focus within the club top to bottom is finding solutions to ensure our own existence as a club. That means every decision we make is evaluated on its ability to drive us to that eventual goal, including league affiliation.

KJ: What factors led to DeKalb County choosing to join the Midwest Premier League (MWPL)?

JH: I was a part of discussions before last season with other clubs that were unhappy with their/our current situation. But through some conversations we all decided to give the UPSL an opportunity to get a foothold in the Midwest and see how things played out because it wasn’t fair to judge the league after just one season. As it turned out, the appeal of a more regional league makes more sense and after the conclusion of this past season, the talks got more serious. As mentioned, we wanted a regional league to begin with. For me, and our club, the priority is long-term sustainability, community impact and involvement, and providing our players with strong opponents in a semi-professional environment. As one of the first clubs into the MWPL, we’re literally creating the rule book from scratch. We’re taking ideas that work in other local and regional leagues throughout the country and putting a Midwest twist on them. The basic fact is that we have control, as a group, to make our own minimum standards and hold each other accountable. Equally important from a league perspective is the fact that we will have an open-book policy on costs, fees, playoff structure, expansion and all with a goal I refer to as “no club left behind” so that everyone has their best chance for success long term. If a club can no longer exist for financial or other reasons, then that’s a loss for us all. Our interaction throughout the year will help us all learn from each other, share best practices and grow the game in our region. Those are the reasons why we decided to join the MWPL.

KJ: What is the geographical footprint of the MWPL and how is the league structured?

JH: The MWPL is currently made up of just four teams in Iowa and Illinois. We’ve had interest from clubs in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and a few others I believe so we’re planning to grow a bit more before 2020. The geography will be limited only as new clubs need to have a reasonable travel schedule through participation. If travel (and costs) get extreme then we’ve put that one club at risk for failure out of the gate. We’d rather keep it small and manageable to increase the chance of success. We aren’t concerned with how many teams, but the quality of those that join us. Currently, we have voted Cliff Conrad as the league’s president and I expect we’ll fill a few more positions on a board or leadership group of some kind in the coming months. Right now the four of us clubs are talking almost every day which has been very productive.

KJ: As far as franchise fees and operating costs, what are some of the
differences between the UPSL and MWPL?

JH: The UPSL offers one of the lowest fees in the country, especially for a national league. That’s what makes it so appealing to so many new clubs and they really are providing a great platform for teams to start up and I think for some the UPSL is perfect.

MWPL fees have not been set yet, as I said we’re literally walking through every detail of rules, fees, as we speak. But with an open book, we can identify our own costs of managing the league and break it down between member clubs. Everyone will know where their fees are going, how the money is spent, and how reserve funds may be allocated. There won’t be hidden travel fund costs, registration costs or any extras. We’ll build all of that into one fee, or at least that’s our intent. We don’t have a projection yet as to what the fees will be, but none of us chose a new adventure planning to pay more for league fees. Plus, with a schedule that makes sense to the climate of the Midwest and playoff structure that will maximize meaningful games for our clubs, there is reduced “dead time” at the end of the year due to a long playoff structure. We also won’t have significant costs associated with winning… what I mean is if you do well, you may have to travel for one game for a final. But you won’t be at risk for a cross-country trip that most clubs can’t afford anyway. We don’t have all the answers yet but we’re working together and that keeps things moving in a positive direction.

It should also be noted that our separation from the UPSL was as professional as it could be. We notified the league in writing of our decision not to return. Our decision had to do with our own internal priorities and nothing more. We wish the UPSL and all of the Midwest clubs the best in 2020. We will probably still play some friendlies with them from time to time.

KJ: How did the club do financially in 2019 and what is the budget looking like for 2020?

JH: DKCU is a nonprofit club and we’re managed by volunteers. Everyone at the club understands that we represent a community and we owe them our best. One reason for that is because our club exists because of the community. All of our operational expenses come from ticket sales, merchandise sales, sponsorships from businesses and youth camps/tournaments we host throughout the year. So while I’d like to tell you that we’re doing great, there’s still much work to do to raise the funds necessary to continue. We are in a great spot, don’t get me wrong, and I think many clubs would be thrilled to be where we are on the financial side of it. But we don’t take things for granted and we don’t get excessive with our planning. We don’t have the luxury of an owner with deep pockets willing to throw money in if we run short… there’s no safety net.

But 2020 looks good so far as a number of our sponsors are committing already. We’re looking at some new ideas for ticket packages and gameday events to make that experience even better for our supporters. We can’t wait to get the lads back on the field!

KJ: What do you think the future holds, both short and long term, for DeKalb County United?

JH: Obviously we’re looking forward to our third season, and first with the Midwest Premier League. We are hoping to have a good portion of our roster back to keep building on the field and hopefully with a high-profile friendly or two we can get the guys some exposure to bigger clubs as well. Short term, we are focused on meeting the challenges in front of us. We launched a men’s U23 squad this past summer and we’re adding a women’s U23 in 2020 so we’re thrilled about that opportunity. With it comes some more coordination and work on the back end, but we’ve got awesome people in place to handle those tasks. We are continuing to connect with new people because as big time as we think we are, there are many in our backyard who’ve never heard of us much less understand who/what we are. Long term, our goals are much more ambitious. We’d love to develop our own facility with lighted turf fields, club house, locker rooms, storage, offices, meeting rooms, indoor training space, etc. But that’d take a bit more investment than where we are currently. My personal goal is to have this club in a position where it can go on without relying on one or two individuals, and fortunately we’re on our way to that. So many organizations fizzle out when key personnel depart, so developing a stronger structure that can carry through eventual change in leadership is important.

And DeKalb County United will continue to offer advice to potential club starters across the country. So many great people answered the phone/emails for me when we were starting out and I’m happy to pay it forward and share what I can with others as well. “United Through Soccer.”

Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KJboxing.

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CHICAGO — The U.S. women’s national team wrapped up its 2019 Victory Tour with a Sept. 6 draw against Korea Republic at Soldier Field. The 1-1 result marked the final time that decorated manager Jill Ellis roamed the touchline as the USWNT boss. Ji So-Yun put the visitors on top in the first half, but the Americans equalized moments later on a Megan Rapinoe corner kick that connected with the head of Carli Lloyd at the back post.

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Follow Jamie on Twitter: @JamieSmed.

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In an annual tradition that has spanned many podcasts, Ian presents the gang with his preseason MLS tiers while John and R.P. critique them. In this first part, they go through the bottom two tiers.

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Image credit: FC Cincinnati Communications

FC Cincinnati‘s inaugural season in MLS has all but hit the skids. Sitting on a measly 17 points through 24 matches, good for dead last in the Supporters’ Shield standings, it’s time for the club to turn its focus toward the future.

That’s precisely what the club has done after announcing multiple significant moves recently to acquire left back Andrew Gutman, one of the best young fullback prospects in the American player pool, and 22-year-old midfielder Derrick Etienne Jr.

First, FC Cincy obtained the MLS rights to Gutman from the Chicago Fire via trade. The winner of the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy was acquired along with a 2020 SuperDraft third-round pick. In exchange, the Fire received $50,000 in GAM this year, with the potential to get up to $150,000 more in GAM from FC Cincy in the future if Gutman ends up on the roster and reaches certain performance-based metrics. Chicago will also get a cut of any future loan or transfer fee if Cincinnati ships Gutman outside of MLS.

Of course, actual rights trump theoretical rights, the former of which were still held by Celtic at the time. Gutman trialed with Rangers FC after graduating from Indiana University, but ultimately got offered a contract from its biggest rival instead and decided to sign with the Scottish club.

Due to work visa roadblocks, Celtic’s plan from the jump was to loan Gutman to the Charlotte Independence to play in the USL Championship. Well, actually the original plan was to loan him to Nashville SC, but the watchful eye of MLS nixed that idea due to Nashville’s imminent move to MLS in 2020, which would’ve presented a conflict of interest with the Fire holding his Homegrown Player rights.

Alas, Gutman headed to Charlotte and ended up starting 14 games, delivering three goals and an assist before briefly returning to Celtic. Shortly after acquiring his rights, FC Cincy worked out a loan deal with Celtic to bring Gutman to the Queen City.

The move signals a commitment by FC Cincinnati to turn its eyes toward 2020 and beyond. It also provides insurance at left back for veteran Greg Garza, who’s been hurt most of the year and certainly isn’t getting any younger.

Moreover, the addition of Etienne Jr. on loan from the New York Red Bulls further cements the club’s future-focused approach and bolsters a very weak FC Cincy attack. Etienne Jr., who’s the same age as Gutman but already has significantly more professional experience, joins after contributing one goal and one assist in 11 appearances this season for RBNY. Only five of those cameos, however, were starts. He tallied five times in 2018 despite playing less than 1,000 regular-season minutes.

Gutman’s loan runs through the end of the 2020 season, while Etienne Jr.’s contains an option to buy at the end of 2019.

FC Cincinnati also recently brought in attacker Joe Gyau, who has U.S. men’s national team experience and has spent the last several years at various levels of the German pyramid. At 26, he doesn’t have the prospect label that Gutman and Etienne Jr. do, but still has plenty of good football ahead of him and possibly hasn’t even settled into his prime yet.

If the past couple weeks are any indication, look for new head coach Ron Jans and FC Cincy’s front office to continue making decisions for the rest of 2019 with the clear-cut goal of developing a roster that’s much more competitive in the coming years. It’s unequivocally the correct approach after a more-than-forgettable inaugural MLS campaign.

Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KJboxing.

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Photo credit: Creators Network via MLS Communications

The most exciting factor of any playoffs is that often the best team of the regular season doesn’t win the championship. And the full domination of Los Angeles FC by the Seattle Sounders was not the exception to the standard rule.

LAFC broke or reached every MLS record, became the best team in the history of the league and had the MVP of the 2019 season. However, Los Angeles FC is now a statistic.

The elimination at the hands of Seattle turned a fantastic campaign into a book of numbers. The weight of LAFC’s failure will remain longer in the memory of the fan than the functionality of the team during the regular season, because in the end, the functionality failed.

Bob Bradley’s squad exhibited punctual deficiencies in defense during El Trafico. Nevertheless, LAFC surpassed LA Galaxy, which represented more a mental rival than a quality football team.

The Sounders took advantage of LAFC’s declining backline. Also, they disarmed its potent offense with the most basic principles of football: order and coordination. Brian Schmetzer lined two blocks of four men to defend the last 35 yards of the Seattle’s field, and put special effort in disconnecting Carlos Vela from the game by leaving him in a two-v-one disadvantage. The same two lines of four deployed Jordan Morris, Raul Ruidiaz, Joevin Jones and Nicolas Lodeiro in counterattacks.

Between the experience of Lodeiro, ability of Ruidiaz and physical form of the squad, the Sounders surpassed the mythical LAFC side with authority. Scoring three goals at Banc of California Stadium was not even the best part of their match; the Sounders unplugged Vela’s creativity. LAFC barely generated offensive opportunities and looked like a rookie team instead of a record squad.

Schmetzer outplayed Bradley in the most crucial match in LAFC franchise history. Seattle executed a perfect match, conceding one goal on a free kick and scoring three goals in five shots on target. For the third time in four years, the Sounders will play for the MLS Cup.

What LAFC did during the 2019 season was valuable. However, they failed during the playoffs. And while records matter, championships are more prestigious.

Follow Luis on Twitter: @LFulloa.

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WESTFIELD, Ind. — Co-hosts Nipun Chopra and Kevin Johnston ramble on about everything from FC Cincinnati and Indy’s Eleven Park development to the ISC Sports Network‘s sorely lacking hair and makeup budget. It’s the latest edition of Soc Takes TV presented by Sogility.

WATCH HERE

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Photo credit: Agencia de Noticias Andes (Creative Commons license)

The relationship of Marcelo Gallardo and the Copa Libertadores feels like the union of two different poles in a magnet: they’ll attract to each other, no matter the circumstances.

After walking through the empty halls of relegation, River Plate found a talisman in Marcelo Gallardo. And it made sense, a player who conquered continental trophies, who used to be an idol, returned in 2014 as a very young coach with fresh ideas.

In one year, Gallardo evolved the identity of River Plate. It woke up a South American giant that saw, during a decade, the success of Boca Juniors, the eternal rival. However, not only did Gallardo transform River’s football, it challenged the era of Boca Juniors.

In the last five editions of the Copa Libertadores, Gallardo reached the final three times. And his team eliminated Boca Juniors in 2015 (round of 16) and 2019 (semifinals). In 2018, River Plate defeated Boca Juniors in the last Libertadores final played in Madrid playing like the symphony of an orchestra: flowing with candor and complexity.

Although, the third final was the unlucky charm to River, losing in the last two minutes against Flamengo. However, the Brazilian team from Rio de Janeiro invested $56.8 million in the last year.

Fla added Rafinha (Bayern Munich) and Filipe Luis (Atletico de Madrid) as free agents, and Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, a multi-awarded coach with experience in Champions League and Europa League. Jesus currently earns $4 million and Flamengo wants to raise his wages to $5.5 million. Jesus earned the same amount of money in Benfica when he appeared in Forbes’ top 10 coaches salaries.

Flamengo succumbed to money football, something that River Plate can’t do at all. Gallardo’s team spent $14 million from August 2018 to December 2019. Even when multiple Argentinean clubs have worldwide popularity, the Superliga Argentina doesn’t have the money flow that the Brazilian Serie A and the Liga MX have.

The factor that River Plate can’t compete economically with Brazilian squads adds significant value to Gallardo’s work and the momentum that the community of River Plate is living. The stats show that in the last 10 editions of the Copa Libertadores, six different Brazilian teams won the tournament, although none of them played two or more finals in the same amount of time.

The phenomenon of “El Muñeco” Gallardo grew massively, earning praise from coaches like Pep Guardiola.

“What Gallardo has done in River Plate is incredible,” Guardiola told TNT Sports. “It seems that Europe is the only place in the world. I can’t believe how Gallardo isn’t nominated as one of the best coaches in the world.”

Gallardo’s contract ends in 2021, but it seems that there might be soon a new adventure. And who can’t blame his aspirations? Ten titles in five years with River Plate, Gallardo triumphed in South America. He gave more than any other manager in River Plate’s history.

Follow Luis on Twitter: @LFulloa.

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A final farewell

Image credit: Logan Wiening/Old Bhoys SC

INDIANAPOLIS — November is already here. I had mentioned to KJ that I had another GM blog in me… but as I start to type it, each word is harder to get onto the screen. This is the final GM blog for the Old Bhoys — and for me. In addition to the GM and club president roles, I also served as the de facto owner of the club. So fun in theory; in practice, not as much. Don’t get me wrong, running Old Bhoys Soccer Club has been one of the most rewarding soccer experiences of my life. It was way better than playing, to me, but not quite as good as coaching youth soccer. More on that later.

Old Bhoys SC began as an idea almost five years ago. The mission was to connect the existing youth platform to a competitive, amateur side where you can fundamentally represent your club in legitimate leagues and cups. I stress legitimate. The initial goal was to start with the guys and roll in a girl’s side. Basically, what DeKalb County United are doing… so John Hall and his team are executing the original vision I had in late 2014/early 2015, but in northern Illinois. This is a model that can work. But it takes a community to pull together to be together and to love soccer together. If it’s just one or five people, forget it. It won’t work… see Old Bhoys. I have a great core group of people helping me — folks I can now truly call friends — but we couldn’t get over the hump with building a true Old Bhoys community and surviving the financial landscape. And that hurts to admit…

As Old Bhoys SC evolved, it became clear that operating a legitimate men’s side could not coexist in the initial club relationship the team began. Upon becoming independent in the offseason in mid to late 2018, I felt we were turning the corner. There was a ton of work left to do, but any affiliation we may have had previously was removed and I felt that the shackles were off. And in terms of on-field and off-field performance, 2019 was better — far better — than 2018. Unfortunately, the financial, time and energy commitments continued to increase. It’s not prohibitively expensive to do this… but be prepared for next to zero revenue. I was hopelessly optimistic. Resetting expectations in 2019 helped, but not enough to save the club. Copying and pasting the last two years moving forward is not a cure or a model of sustainability. There is a lot more pain and lessons learned during the 2018 season and offseason that propelled the club to independence. Definitely a discussion to be shared over a beer!

So here it is, Nov. 15, 2019. Old Bhoys SC will be shutting down this month. Ouch. Hurts to type.

For those who I’ve met as a result of this project — in person or via social media — and those who have contributed to the club through kit purchases, scarves, shirts, etc., thank you! I sincerely appreciate each of you, your support and you giving a damn about this little club. Talking to people with an Old Bhoys sticker on their car, or bumping into someone who has heard of this club made me realize what it could have been. And what it was.

Prioritizing what I need to do away from the Old Bhoys is what I’m focusing on now. I couldn’t coach and run Old Bhoys. Coaching is something I’ve missed greatly; I still love my players (yes, they are “my players” even though they haven’t played for me since May 2018) and want to reconnect and be a resource for them if I can. I want to return to coaching in some capacity. I’ll always love soccer, and hope to be involved for the next 30 years in some capacity. If anyone has an idea or desire to start a club, I may not be able to tell you how to do it, but I’m game to chat. Better yet, if you have a local club in your community, GO SUPPORT THEM! Buy tickets, merch and meet the coaches, players and administrative staff. Go volunteer! The connection you can build with a club at this level is amazing; one more supporter is felt, known, appreciated and recognized. The power of one person at this level is amazing. If you don’t know where to look, let me know and I can try to connect you!

Lastly, thanks to Soc Takes for letting me do this for two years. I love to share my thoughts on soccer (and more… but I try to keep it to soccer here) and have been welcomed by the group. So, while the Bhoys may fade away from social media and the pitch, they’ll always be something I was a part of — and to those who did it with me (players, coaches, volunteers), I loved it. Thanks.

COYOB forever!

Follow Andy on Twitter: @Andy_H_1980.

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