Join or Die is the story of Chattanooga’s own personal soccer war, how greed led to USL’s greatest sin, and how Chattanooga fought back and defeated a hostile takeover to secure CFC’s future in American soccer.
To be fair and ensure good journalism and equal coverage, you should get the opposing view. If not an interview, then at least a quote from the Red Wolves? I mean, CFC running to the even greedier clutches of the MLS is hardly a saintly move. Like "cutting off your ear to spite your face" ??
In this upcoming Chattanooga Derby, if the Red Wolves lose, it's a bit embarrassing but the USL will still thrive. If CFC lose, that will accelerate the downward spiral to irrelevancy of the MLSNP. As the shining, singular example of an independent club in the barely seen MLSNP, CFC absolutely NEEDS to win to uphold the myth for a little while longer that independent clubs have a future in the MLSNP. Now that more and more Diego Lunas and six-seven figure transfers are emerging from the USL, quality players will increasingly defect from the MLSNP to USL....
Good luck getting CRW or USL to talk about this. The club isn't even promoting the match so far.
But this match, while exciting and dramatic, is not as big a deal as you imply - it won't signal the downfall of either side with a loss. Both sides will carry on. CRW is committed to USL and is all in on pro/rel. I expect investments to increase as we get close to that. And CFC is committed to MLSNP and its local fan base, which is stronger than CRW's at the moment.
You are spot on about the importance of this game for the future of soccer in Chattanooga. Is it going to be cool for whichever side gets to take bragging rights? Sure! But the result isn't going to be doom & gloom for either team. As someone who - while not directly inside the FO - has a connection to the club, it has kind of made me laugh a little to see all the recent speculation that CRW are in danger of folding. Are they going through a bit of a reset in the FO right now? Yep. And, yes, capital projects have been moving at a snail's pace which has frustrated a lot of supporters and given the haters a bone to chew on. But IMO this has been understandable to a degree considering the uncertain economic conditions that have lingered in some form or fashion since the pandemic really, and the fact that lower league soccer is not printing money to invest in these projects. (Not to mention some foot-dragging by the local city government to complete some necessary infrastructure work to the stadium site). Nevertheless, I'm really looking forward to this first installment of the Scenic City Derby!
Think I’m busy the day of, we don’t have trains from where I live, and no as I am the founder and manager of this site. Kartik works for me here covering Tampa Bay and Miami.
To be fair and ensure good journalism and equal coverage, you should get the opposing view. If not an interview, then at least a quote from the Red Wolves? I mean, CFC running to the even greedier clutches of the MLS is hardly a saintly move. Like "cutting off your ear to spite your face" ??
In this upcoming Chattanooga Derby, if the Red Wolves lose, it's a bit embarrassing but the USL will still thrive. If CFC lose, that will accelerate the downward spiral to irrelevancy of the MLSNP. As the shining, singular example of an independent club in the barely seen MLSNP, CFC absolutely NEEDS to win to uphold the myth for a little while longer that independent clubs have a future in the MLSNP. Now that more and more Diego Lunas and six-seven figure transfers are emerging from the USL, quality players will increasingly defect from the MLSNP to USL....
Good luck getting CRW or USL to talk about this. The club isn't even promoting the match so far.
But this match, while exciting and dramatic, is not as big a deal as you imply - it won't signal the downfall of either side with a loss. Both sides will carry on. CRW is committed to USL and is all in on pro/rel. I expect investments to increase as we get close to that. And CFC is committed to MLSNP and its local fan base, which is stronger than CRW's at the moment.
You are spot on about the importance of this game for the future of soccer in Chattanooga. Is it going to be cool for whichever side gets to take bragging rights? Sure! But the result isn't going to be doom & gloom for either team. As someone who - while not directly inside the FO - has a connection to the club, it has kind of made me laugh a little to see all the recent speculation that CRW are in danger of folding. Are they going through a bit of a reset in the FO right now? Yep. And, yes, capital projects have been moving at a snail's pace which has frustrated a lot of supporters and given the haters a bone to chew on. But IMO this has been understandable to a degree considering the uncertain economic conditions that have lingered in some form or fashion since the pandemic really, and the fact that lower league soccer is not printing money to invest in these projects. (Not to mention some foot-dragging by the local city government to complete some necessary infrastructure work to the stadium site). Nevertheless, I'm really looking forward to this first installment of the Scenic City Derby!
We plan to interview Red Wolves coaches, players, and whoever else we can.
Will Kartik buy you a train ticket to attend the Tennessee derby in person??
Think I’m busy the day of, we don’t have trains from where I live, and no as I am the founder and manager of this site. Kartik works for me here covering Tampa Bay and Miami.
The Apprentice has become the Master! The student has become the teacher! : ))