Audi Player Index Indicates Fabián Espíndola Hit Numberwang

The Audi Player Index, a collection of statistical information that illuminates nothing but the methodology that statisticians can utilize to keep themselves employed, showed that Fabián Espíndola hit Numberwang during week 6 of Major League Soccer

THAT'S NUMBERWANG!

"Fabian hit a goal from outside the box, calculated a logarithmic function, ran 40 yards and ate a nutritional bar, that means he achieved Numberwang which allows a random DC United fan from Arlington, Virginia to achieve complete victory over his neighbor and have one night of sexual congress with his neighbor's wife or husband," stated Major League Soccer manager of statistics, pie charts and other bullshit, Harold Valens. "What we have achieved with Numberwang and Fabián shows that he is statistically better than Lionel Messi. World look out!"

While the collection of random statistical items that is aggregated for some kind of meaningful yet meaningless item on the screen seems like complete garbage, others say not so.

"THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT," stated Bradley Raderson. "Unless you know that Fabián scored 2000, by some method that we really aren't going to release at an in-depth level, and obtained Numberwang, and had a Q score of 45%over 6X90 then you won't know how he played. My GOD, people, take a look at this tableau and let me know when you get with the program!"

The Nutmeg News will have more on the Audi Player Index as it is used to illuminate something else as we ROTATE THE BOARD!

Sacramento Republic Randomly Ban Fans To Show They Are Ready For MLS

Sacramento, CA - The Sacramento Republic announced Wednesday that they would randomly be banning fans for previous out of stadium and in-stadium infractions in order to prove that they are #ReadyForMLS.

"However, the guy outside in the parking lot, is not."

"We want to show to Mr Whitworth and Major League Soccer that we are ready to enforce abject rules against our fans and that we don't really value their contribution to our existence in any major way," stated director of Human Affairs for Republic, Jennifer Warren. "It is important to Major League Soccer to show that we can treat our fans with an iron fist, and the first step towards Major League Soccer is obsequious boot licking of Ray Whitworth, so we will be announcing the banning of roughly 10 to 20 fans for different infractions."

Reportedly, the infractions consist of not valuing the brand high enough in their personal life, sharing supportive messages of the District Ultras, bringing in a diaper bag, complaining about security, not removing their hat for the introduction of the players music, lighting smoke at any time in their life including home fireworks, and watching any video including Liam Gallagher.

"We take this franchise opportunity seriously," stated Ms Warren. "It's important to show that we are all in this together as we move to a new league that will slowly figure out a way to turn our more passionate elements against our front office and the league."

The Nutmeg News will have more on this in year 3 of the Sacramento Republic in Major League Soccer experience.

Manchester City Victory Gives Bragging Rights To Lonely Man In Tucson

Tucson, AZ - Manchester City's victory and advancement in the UEFA Champions League gave bragging rights to a lonely fan in Tucson as David Smith celebrated City's win by fist pumping in his cubicle before returning to his un-ending life of drudgery.

"My club may be 4000 miles away, but we are so dominant."

"I've got no-one to rub this monumental victory into but I'm planning on talking trash on Facebook when I get home as my work doesn't allow social media through their webfilter," stated a quiet Mr Smith as he didn't want to speak too loud to avoid breaking the social decorum of utter tomb like silence that has enveloped 9 hours of his life every day except for Saturday and Sunday.

"This is my LIFE. I mean, I've never been to Manchester, nor have I ever left Arizona and City probably couldn't give two fucks about me, but honestly this is.... UM, YES CHARLENE... I'LL GET THOSE REPORTS TO YOU MOMENTARILY... look I gotta go," stated Mr Smith to our reporters.

The Nutmeg News will have more on this as Mr Smith's pride swells with unmitigated expansion as he unlocks his Toyota Tercel for his 45 minute commute home in traffic.

Fans Of Opposing Teams Somehow Still Disagree With Each Other

Fans of the New England Revolution and Toronto Football Club somehow still disagreed with each other about the plays during the game and the result of the 1-1 draw on Saturday, despite three days having passed.

DANGEROUS FOUL! -

LEGITIMATE TACKLE! -

"That no-call penalty in the box and then the resulting goal by TFC was bullshit," stated Norma Thurbot, member of the Midnight Riders  "We all know that game should have finished 1-0 or 2-0 or even 2-1 or even 3-1, but the referees made a huge mistake and Toronto are filled with classless assholes, so they couldn't accept that they made a mistake. Even that second goal, never should have been disallowed. TFC were in the wrong the whole game. We won that game, the referees cost us 3 points."

The Nutmeg News spoke with Toronto FC fan Paul Dubois about the game result and he had the following to say, "That was never a penalty, and Giovinco is god. I don't know what they are complaining about but they are completely insane. They tried to rough up our players with that stupid turf and their centerbacks. Let's not forget... LETS NOT FORGET, they were diving and asking for calls all OVER the field. Honestly, we shouldn't have even let that first goal in. They are such a scrub team on a shit field."

The Nutmeg News attempted to force a detente with a Twitter round table, but that only increased the ire as insults flew back and forth resulting in half the group leaving while one remained posting pictures of goatse until the acrimonious round table was finished.

Nigel De Jong Announced As MLS All-Star Game Captain

NEW YORK - Major League Soccer (MLS) today announced that Nigel De Jong would be the captain for the MLS All Star Game held at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California.

"Nigel is a tough, hard working player and we can't imagine a better leader to take our team out onto the field," stated Commissioner of Major League Soccer Don Garber. "We know that he alongside Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Kaka, and Pepe, when we finally get that deal signed, will help our All-Star Team represent our league and show Arsenal that we are a league on the grow."

The Nutmeg News will have more as the build up to All-Star week begins.

International Consortium Agree To Continue Making Player Highlight Videos With Terrible Music

The International Consortium Of Tribute Video Aficionados, today, agreed to continue making player highlight videos with terrible music on them.

"We with ICOTVA agreed that we must continue broadcasting, making and ensuring that all player highlight videos that you go to watch have really terrible music and bad production value," stated director of ICOTVA public relations Soloman Grandall.

"While most of the rest of the world has moved their standards upwards in video resolution, quality and music choice, ICOTVA is here to ensure that the video you are going to watch of the transfer target for a player from Slovenia is mixed with just awful Euro disco music that is turned up incredibly loud with video breaks, fly in graphics and highlights that make zero sense what so ever."

With ICOTVA admitting that they will continue their high quality attempt at low quality videos, fans worldwide admitted their relief at the consortiums attempt at continuing the huge attempts at low quality put forward.

"I don't know what I would do with myself if I didn't have another 5 minute highlight video with European disco music of a player making runs to nowhere and not scoring goals to watch. It would be a very sad day indeed," stated fan Douglas Therimn.

"It's not officially a transfer window until I find out about a new folk-rock band from Serbia whose music is attached to a player my team is looking at who may or may not play a few minutes for Grasshopper FC this season," stated Stephanie Oaks.

The Nutmeg News will have more on this as the trend thankfully continues.

Okugo Contract Details Remind Man Of Uncomfortable MLS Facts

Philadelphia, PA - "Oh right..... players are owned the by the league," stated Mr Jesse Noddard of Philadelphia. "I actually forgot about all of that for a second."

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

"Hey, did you remember, today, that the league controls the contracts of every player in the league and the way in which teams can sell players"

Reportedly, Mr Noddard was going to get another cup of coffee when he heard about former Union player Amobi Okugo's loan to Red Bull New York 2 from the league itself. The confusion set in for a few minutes until he remembered the insane way in which the league he watches conducts itself.

"I had, for a moment, enjoyed the Union's play and the way in which we are picking up points early while simultaneously forgetting that this is largely a league of bullshit player contracts that somehow manages to hold the rights of every player and dole them out like condoms at a swingers party." stated Mr Noddard. 

When Mr Noddard remembered the contract details, he also remembered that his club was really just a financial subsidiary of the league itself and the owners of his club just general investors into something that more resembles a pyramid scheme than a sporting league.

"None of this is going to temper my excitement for the Union, but man.... this league sucks sometimes."

The Nutmeg News will have more on this when Mr Noddard remembers that Major League Soccer actually pays for player acquisitions and utilizes expansion money to acquire players for rival clubs.

USSF Offer New Street Program To Improve Credibility And Skill Of Its Youth Players

CHICAGO - The US Soccer Federation announced, on Monday, a broad new measure to improve the credibility and skill of its youth players after watching the disappointing performances of Jordan Morris in 2016.

"We need more Luis Suarez and less Jordan Morris." - Walter Fredrick - USSF

The Nutmeg News spoke with public relations officer Walter Fredrick about the new program and he had the following to say.

"The US Soccer Federation watched the development of Jordan Morris and other United States Youth. We realized that we are not offering the right options for them to succeed in the international game. Thus, we are announcing that we changed our options at Bradenton to a street course instead of the formerly pristine training environment. 

First we brought in a state-of-the-art dirt lot to toughen up our new crop of youth players, straight from the backyards of some of our donors in the Hamptons. We also offer an alternate street course with realistic street environment including driving cars, a goal made out of empty detergent bottles, broken glass littering the street, improperly disposed hypodermic needles, condoms, and ripped pages of pornography. 

We have to get these youth players adjusted to the real world. At least one of them will be kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to work in a drug facility packaging methamphetamine as a warning to our other youth team players of what can happen. While others will be separated based on weakness and put into street gangs."

Reportedly, the US Soccer Federation has set up an elaborate sound system that encircles the new training facility allowing them to pipe in gunfire, Samba music, ambient ambulance and police sirens, Ranchera music, Rap music, older players talking shit, Cumbia music, and the wails of the players mothers screaming for their children to make something of their life.

"We already have had some failures," stated Mr Fredrick. "On a trial run, Johnny McEntire looked for the orange slices and the Capri Sun flavored Advocare only to find a used condom. He fell to his knees and cried. Bradley Knox was left cramping as he refused to drink the non-potable water. Zaden Heatherton left training at the lack of our gluten-free, organic, non-gmo options. Let's be honest, if these kids haven't suffered malnutrition and dysentery at least 4 times in a single month they are being shipped back to Beverly Hills. It's all well and good to send our kids to University, but beyond the meaning of Plato's Republic, they're not learning a thing about the important things in life...like how to perform a Cruyff turn on broken glass while a pimp is beating a john in the alleyway for not paying for services rendered."

The Nutmeg News will have more on this as the lawsuits begin.

Miami FC Announce Kits And Tits Promotion

Miami, FL - Miami FC have announced a new Kits and Tits promotion for their upcoming home game.

"The best thing about the NASL is that I get older and the girls stay the same age. HUBBA HUBBA"

The Nutmeg News spoke with Miami FC president Riccardo Silva about the new promotion.

"There is nothing more erotic than soccer and a half naked woman. That's why Miami FC are implementing our Kits and Tits giveaway for our upcoming home game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. We are inviting all the fraternities from Florida International University down to the field to hose down some ample bosom women that we recruited from Wonderland Miami and whoever has the Miami FC (TM) Best Chest 2016 wins their team a free kit."

Reportedly, fraternities from FIU will be required to only use Miami FC branded super soakers as a way to hose down the co-ed of their choice.

Mr Silva stated, "We hired Dan Cortez and Daisy Fuentes to host the event and we will have an UGG-O-METER to determine if the women are pretty enough or should be dumped into a vat of Miami FC Astroglide Lube Of Shame (TM). Honestly, we are thinking of just cancelling the game and hosting a rave and spring break in the middle of the pitch. It's going to be great. We also picked up 200 gallons of edible body paint for our upcoming Miami FC RUB AND TUG event where our Strippers will be painted up and forced to pass the paint by rubbing themselves against a Miami FC fan."

The Nutmeg News will have more on this as Miami FC obtain a full-time sexual harassment lawyer on staff.

US Soccer Blasts USMNT, "Play Better, So We Don't Have To Pay The USWNT More Money"

CHICAGO - The US Soccer Federation sent a strongly worded email to Jurgen Klinsmann and the players on the United States Men's Team blasting them for their lackadaisical play that has lead to the Federations inability to claim that the Men's Team is higher earning and better than their female counterparts.

Photo Courtesy of AP/Jessica Hill/@nutmegnews

"You are directly responsible for all of this Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint business," stated the email from Sunil Gulati directed towards the United State Men's National Team.

"If you played better, then perhaps these uppity women wouldn't be looking for an increase in pay. As it stands, the fact that you have routinely looked like reheated dog turds brings into question whether you are better or worse at your game than a team that just won the World Cup and is odds on favorites to win the Olympics."

Additionally, the US Soccer Federation is apparently worried that having to pay women an equal amount of money to their efforts and results will make the US Soccer Federation seem emasculated to the other federations around the world.

"If we start paying our women equally, then what is the English FA going to say about us?" stated Mr. Gulati. "We can't be having Chile and Argentina seeing us like this. I mean, if we start paying women equally, the next thing you know they are going to have the right to vote. If the US Men would just.... you know... be better... we would be able to brush off the women's claim much easier. It's really all the Men's team fault. Let's be honest here, the USSF are heavily interested in bidding for the 2026 World Cup. Do you know how much the bribes are going to cost to get that? EXACTLY the amount the USWNT are asking us to pay them. So you get one item. Equal Pay for Equal Play or the 2026 World Cup."

While the US Soccer Federation bashed the players, they also reached out to fans that had signs in support of the USWNT quest for equal pay as the USSF stated, "The US Soccer Federation would like to thank you for your opinion, signs, banners and messages, but remind you that young women should be seen but not heard. Based on current financial rules, your opinion is worth about 1/10th the value of Sunil Gulati and we would like to keep it that way. Thanks and keep buying tickets!"

TNN Style And Brand Watch: Trending UP For April!! Cutting Media Credentials

HI FRIENDS, The Nutmeg News style editor, man about town and resident brand expert Stephen Harrow here to tell you about the trends in Men's soccer in the United States for 2016.

Well, kick this thing right off with the #1 trend of April!

Read the article Here ---> http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20160407/PC20/160409527#.VwbiCXBPOCs.twitter 

CUTTING MEDIA CREDENTIALS:

First DC United took the bold step of cutting the media credentials of a fan podcast after it was revealed *SHOCKER* that the podcast host's wife had season tickets.

THEN

The Charleston Battery revoked the press credentials of the Post And Courier newspaper in Charleston for having the daring to have a business reporter question the team on a lawsuit filed against team owner Eric Bowman

This upward trend towards absolute control of media is a vital one according to brand expert Leopold Digrasse, a resident brand expert for the University of Southern Toledo in Miami's adjunct campus on Puerto Rico.

"What we see here are teams and organizations incapable of being able to handle criticism, as well as wanting to have total control over the narrative that is spun about them. It's a fantastic way to simultaneously piss of whatever fans are actually paying attention to you while simultaneously eliminating the only coverage you were getting, positive or negative, anyway,."

The Nutmeg News will have more on this as the Charleston Battery un-follow our twitter account.

Major League Soccer Introduces New League Loyalty Oath And Home Surveillance Program

NEW YORK - In a stunning move, Major League Soccer today announced a new league loyalty oath and home surveillance program called "MLS Cares".

The Nutmeg News spoke to Major League Soccer Security boss Ray Whitworth about the new program and he had the following to say.

"We here with Major League Soccer want our fans to be safe. More importantly than that we want the hordes of fans that attend our games to FEEL safe. We have already implemented a sharp increase in the number of external and internal stadium video recording system, but our new program MLS CARES, will allow us to take that surveillance even further. 

If you agree to let the league video tape you at all times, you will receive a 10% coupon for concessions in the stadium of your choice. You will be required to take a league loyalty oath that states, 'Praise Security. Praise TSA. Praise the League. All hail the mighty invasive pat down that lifts our underwire and tries to find our flask. I will never raise arms against the league. I will never raise flares against the league. I will never raise smoke against the league. No banner shall criticize, no two-stick shall profane. In all matters, the judgment of the league is best, final and appropriate.' It's important for our new middle class fans to feel safe, even if they are surrounded by hoards of fans just waiting to do a Green Street and smash their faces with pint glasses. I've seen it all before, y'know. Elijah Wood. West Ham. I was there. It was awful. The United States and that other country are just a festering suckhole of rebellious thought that must be tamed."

Reportedly, the MLS Cares program will allow full time 24x7 monitoring from your house to your stadium via CCTV in your bedroom, living room and bathroom, and drone coverage from the sky when you leave. This will allow the league to finally feel safe about supporters and increase the adaptation of everyone to new security measures that will reportedly eventually include taking off all your clothes, spreading your cheeks and showing whether or not you have any hidden contraband up there.

The Nutmeg News will have more on the Whitworth campaign towards a secure and non-violent Major League Soccer.

Sporting Kansas City, The 1992 Dream Team, And A Block Of Cheddar Cheese - More Similar Than You Think!

Sporting Kansas City enter as favorites to win against Red Bull New York in New York on Saturday. The 1992 Dream Team entered as favorites to win against Lithuania . A block of Cheddar Cheese enters as a favorite to be grated on your Tacos.

• As this format was so  expertly explored by Sports Illustrated, the Nutmeg News will now show you all the ways in which Sporting Kansas City, the 1992 Dream Team and a block of Cheddar Cheese are more similar than you think!

HISTORIC STREAKS

2012 saw Sporting Kansas City start the season with seven straight victories, setting the club's all-time record for longest regular season winning streak in regulation at nine games

The 1992 Dream Team never lost a game on the way to the 1992 gold medal.

The block of yellow Cheddar Cheese that you found in your trunk that you accidentally left when you went to your friend Mark's party night was so melted that it left marks all over your corduroy pants.  QUELLE DAMAGE, JIMBO

STAR POWER

Sporting Kansas City glitter with Beny Feilhaber, Dom Dwyer, Roger Espinoza, Graham Zusi, and Matt Besler

The 1992 Dream Team sparkled (see what we did there) with Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson,  Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Larry Bird, and Christian Laettner

Trader Joe's X-tra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Great Lakes Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Cracker Barrel Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Tillamook Vintage White Cheddar Cheese, Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, need we say more?

STYLE OF PLAY

Sporting Kansas City relentlessly press and play an up tempo game designed to make their opponents feel uncomfortable.

The 1992 Dream Team relentlessly press and play an up tempo game designed to make their opponents feel uncomfortable other than the simple fact that they were all professionals and better than literally everyone else on the court

The 2004 Vintage Kraft Cheddar Cheese slice that has been sitting in your buddies fridge for 12 years will relentlessly press and play an up temp game with your colon when you feel adventurous enough to try it on a pimento loaf sandwich that you whipped up because you were hungry.

D.C. United Fan Podcast Has Credentials Revoked For Being Fans

WASINGTON - The men that run D.C United Podcast YEWnited reportedly had their credentials to access the team, training and press box pulled after the front office complained that hosts of the low rated podcast were actually fans of the team with season tickets.

From BlackandRedUnited.com

We don't know what it is, but it seems important.

"They have season tickets? Fuck that! We don't need fans, here." stated DC United director of Communication Dave Reynolds. "What we need are ignorant laypeople who just want to ask inane questions and not rock the boat."

The front office for D.C. United stated that they were in the process of reviewing their policy for giving out media credentials when they realized that they had actually given too many fans access to the team.

"It's just a matter of time before a fan stumbles on something we don't want them to know. I don't know, maybe a secret training regiment or some kind of problem with an injury. We don't need educated fans, we don't need people learning things here, and we don't need podcasts that cater to 20's of people every day breaking news to the 5 interested listeners they have that aren't their mom and dad or their significant other," stated Mr Reynolds.

The Nutmeg News spoke with Caspar Hanover and Grant Kawaii, hosts of YEWnited, about the loss of their credentials and they had the following to say.

"We both think the whole thing is pretty hilarious, but as far as we know, no one else is having their credentials pulled. It's pretty crazy to think the team actually cares about shutting down our access, but hey maybe they didn't want our dozens of fans to listen to us talk about the relatively uninteresting things that happened at training."

The Nutmeg News will have more on this as D.C. United pulls the credentials that The Nutmeg News doesn't have in the first place.

POLL: Five Games Into The MLS Season - PANIC?

Major League Soccer Set To Retroactively Ban Supporters For Indecent Acts

A press release handed down today from Ray Whitworth, director of Major League Soccer security, has indicated that Major League Soccer is retroactively banning a number of supporters in Major League Soccer for acts that have happened out of the stadium including rowdiness, lewd behavior, drunkenness, listening to illicit music, eating cured meats, flares, smoke, smoking, and not calling their mother on Mothers Day.

The Nutmeg News spoke to Mr Whitworth and he had the following to say, "In an effort at curtailing future problems in the stadium, we have decided to police the activities that happen outside the stadium. We have a right to know if the supporters that attend our games are watching Partizan games, or Hajduk Split youtube videos, or the Sound Of Music but not the Julie Andrews version, or if they are making banners that we don't like, or setting off smoke a few blocks from the stadium. All of these may seem like petty crimes that a league shouldn't concern itself with, but it is important for us as an entity to make certain that we stop all of this before it even enters our stadium."

The press release from Mr Whitworth and Major League Soccer contains names that we have redacted for privacy, however the impact is absolute. They will be banned for activities that occurred outside the stadium, re-banned for activities that happened inside the stadium that they weren't contrite enough about the first time, or banned for activities that they might do in the future. 

According to sources with the league, Major League Soccer wants to ensure that it controls the gameday experience from the time a supporter wakes up in the morning to the time that they step through the bag search line to the pat down line, into the line for the metal detector, and then are randomly selected for the invasive search and then enter the stadium to buy their $11 Budweiser.

Aston Villa's Spectacle Of Desperation Energizes Promotion And Relegation Supporter

Tallahassee, FL - Promotion and Relegation supporter and sometime soccer fan David Carliso stated that Aston Villa's spectacle of desperation was an re-energizing moment in his quixotic quest to bring Promotion and Relegation to the United States.

This could be US!

"We can do this!" stated Mr. Carliso to his 46 friends on Twitter. "Just imagine, it could be the Chicago Fire that are not only playing horrifyingly bad soccer, but also having their fans having a nauseatingly painful, slow, permeating realization that they not only have terrible ownership but that they are also watching their team implode while free falling into the Championship and beyond. Think of the possibilities. Portland would likely be back in the USL because of their 2012 season, never would have attracted Caleb Porter to the team, and wouldn't have won the 2015 Championship. Toronto would likely still be in the USL because of 2012, Giovinco would probably be with Racing Santander or somewhere exotic. Chicago would likely be in the NPSL at this rate. Columbus is in the position of freefall, Miami could be next! Think about how great it would be to have all the Cascadia teams back in the USL or even the NPSL." 

While some would consider the delight of Mr. Carliso as ghoulish, he sees exactly the opposite. "Promotion and Relegation would allow horrifyingly bad teams, such as Aston Villa or Chicago or Columbus this season to suffer the far reaching consequences of playing bad. You can see it with Aston Villa who have not picked up their game at all and have essentially conceded the rest of their season since about November. That's the magic of relegation, the slow plunging dagger into the hearts of others who have to watch their team slowly be picked apart like rooting for Vultures to devour carrion. It's just utterly entrancing."

The Nutmeg News will have more on this as Mr. Carliso utilizes Villa fans agony as fuel for his advocacy. 

¿Quién fue el Latino de la Jornada 5 de Futbol MLS? VOTA AHORA

Red Card Wins Major League Soccer Player Of The Week

NEW YORK - Major League Soccer announced that the player of the week for the fifth week of the season would be Red Card, stating their obvious contribution to the games this week and their overall play.

Player of the GAME, Player of the WEEK!

With Red Card featuring as the star in several matches over the weekend, their contributions were unparalleled as observers and league officials state that Red Card was everywhere.

"Red Card was amazing. It didn't matter what position that you started them in, or where they were given, they did the job and really dominated the players they were against," stated MLS Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle.

The Nutmeg News spoke to Red Card and they had the following to say, "It was a tough game, but I give all glory to God and Jair Marrufo. They had the guts to put me in the game and I just had to execute. I know that when I came on that I changed the game and I'm just one card trying to make a difference. I want to also thank Ismail Elfath and Silviu Petrescu for believing in me. We did it! We really did it. We climbed that mountain top!"

The Nutmeg News will have more on this as Red Card has a season to remember.

NASL kicks off 2016 season showing signs of slow growth

This Article Was Part Of The April 1st Collection on The Nutmeg News

The North American Soccer League formally kicks off their 7th year on Saturday with the Carolina Railhawks taking on Minnesota United at 3:00 pm EDT as the league shows signs of slow growth. With a restructuring of the league in terms of teams and the upcoming loss of Minnesota United to Major League Soccer, the NASL worked on creating new markets while expanding the reach of their product.

A new television deal that broadcasts games on Be-IN Sports and CBS Sports (starting in the fall for this network) as well as the continuation of the league broadcasts on ESPN3 and One World Sport allow fans and casual observers more opportunity than before to catch games, while a very slow expansion has, potentially, opened up additional markets around North America.

While there are some concerns about whether or not the markets that have started are going to be long term liabilities or viable, the NASL's ability to market and spend for players with groups like Rayo OKC give an interesting complexion to the upcoming spring season. Certainly, the ability for clubs to control the players they have coming into the team allows more autonomy and better chance of seeing individual styles flourish in the NASL. However, the league must still fight preconceptions about the level and style of play.

Two of the the NASL's major continued issues are the broadcasting of their games (something that they very clearly worked upon for 2016), and their facilities with most teams utilizing non-soccer specific stadiums. Their stadium problem is likely going to remain a major concern going forward for some time. Until the league can bring in and retain deep pocketed and well connected ownership groups, the look of high school football fields and substandard facilities will continue to detract from the overall presentation of the league. 

The divestment of ownership by Traffic of any controlling interests in the teams in the NASL is a major victory for both the NASL and soccer fans in North America. With the organization now out of Carolina, the league can move away from any kind of collaboration with the ethically aloof company. 

The NASL has the potential to grow, but that remains the same issue that they have had since the league started in 2009. The potential for the league to grow and be something as an alternative to Major League Soccer is a major attractant to many, but the infrastructure, play, facilities, and ability to watch the game continue to provide obstacles to adoption.  A strong competitor to Major League Soccer would offer the possibility of both leagues striving to better their product, better how they relate to fans, and challenge how they position themselves in the market. The issue still remains of what the roadmap is for the NASL going forward, the leadership of the league and how well structured they are to grow beyond having teams play at high school football stadiums. 

When:Who:How

SAT 04/02/2016

3:00 pm EDT - CAROLINA RAILHAWKS V MINNESOTA UNITED FC - WAKEMED SOCCER PARK - ESPN3

7:00 PM EDT - FORT LAUDERDALE STRIKERS V MIAMI - FC LOCKHART STADIUM - beIN Sports Connect

7:30 PM EDT - TAMPA BAY ROWDIES V INDY ELEVEN - AL LANG STADIUM - ONEworldsports.com

8:00 PM EDT - RAYO OKC V FC EDMONTON - MILLER STADIUM - ESPN3

SUN 04/03/2016

6:00 PM EDT NEW YORK COSMOS V OTTAWA FURY FC - JAMES M. SHUART STADIUM - ONEworldsports.com