When D.C. United General Manager and Vice President of Soccer Operations Dave Kasper spoke about having a new USL franchise and the availability to build organizationally, he suggested that the New York Red Bulls were what he was aiming for when it came to Loudoun United FC’s planning.
And at a high level it’s easy to see why: since the Red Bulls II’s founding before the 2015 season, they have appeared in the last three Eastern Conference Finals, winning the 2016 USL Cup. They’ve managed to integrate first team loanees and develop players simultaneously and to great effect (current United States national team players Aaron Long and Tyler Adams have each seen their skills honed at the Baby Bulls), and while it’s early in the season, Red Bulls II are unbeaten, winning four of their first five games, including a midweek 4-0 win over expansion side Hartford that took them to the top of the East.