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Riverhounds Notebook: Robbie Mertz admits ‘it’s been tough sledding’ as expired CBA looms over start of season

It’s been the busiest week of the preseason, as the Riverhounds have jammed three matches — all on home turf — , when they defeated Loudoun United FC on Friday, then Chase Brooks’ Duquesne Dukes on Wednesday — by a pair of 2-1 scores.

The final match in this stretch for the Riverhounds will come on Saturday when Lexington SC makes its first-ever appearance in Pittsburgh.

The Hounds have been in solid form through the preseason, bagging four wins in four contest, though Head Coach Rob Vincent felt last Friday’s 2-1 win vs visiting Loudoun United FC was the team’s ‘least complete performance’ thus far. 

The Friday afternoon contest at AHN Montour Soccer Complex was attended by a scattered crowd, which included some members of Steel Army, plus owner Tuffy Shallenberger, Sporting Director Dan Visser watching from the second level.  After the match, when catching up with Vincent, midfielder Charles Ahl and newly signed goalkeeper, Nico Campuzano, would give the indication that the Riverhounds are proceeding with a very workmanlike approach in the preseason.

That was certainly true, as the defending USL Championship title holders are clearly getting in proper fitness and the team is rounding into shape.

For the Hounds, 15 of the 16 rostered players saw action on Friday and/or Wednesday’s matches, with Robbie Mertz the lone player not seeing action.

As initially shared first on Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, Mertz is out of action, with an injury sustained during preseason’s first week of training.

While the Hounds appear to be clicking and everything looks positive in the team’s first preseason under Rob Vincent, there is a dark cloud hanging over proceedings — as the rift between USL Players Association (USLPA and United Soccer League remains.

On December 31, the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement between the two sides expired.

For over a year, USLPA has pushing for improved standards and working to negotiate an updated CBA, while it’s been pretty quiet on the USL headquarters.

In fact, if anything, the league continues to push its narrative that they’re moving forward (without a clear-cut timeline) toward having a Division I entity and promotion/relegation.

There are still a lot of questions lingering and concerns about this situation.

  • Could it come to a point where there’s a work-stoppage and the players walk out?
  • Will the parties move forward as long as they continue to negotiate in good faith?

If you want to dive even deeper into this topic, I was also a guest recently on Feuerstein’s Fire Podcast, which included a pretty well-represented and well-informed/researched members of USL media ecosystem. Here’s another take from Jonathan Sterling of Beyond the 90, who’s had enough from everyone.

Last week, PSN turned to the one player on the Riverhounds who is probably most tuned-in and on top this topic, Mertz, to get his thoughts.

Robbie Mertz on Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations: ‘It’s been tough sledding’

The USLPA, led by its Executive Director, Connor Tobin, who spoke with PSN in November, have been agressively campaigning on its social media platforms for improved standards and providing updates.

According to the USLPA, they have made some concessions in negotiations, including agreeing to a two-tier minimum salary (cutting proposal costs in half), accepted a decentralized health model (for two years) and reduced group licensing ask by 50 percent.

Mertz, who has served on the USLPA Executive Board in recent years and said while things are in flux with who the team’s Player Representative would be this year, was on Sounding Off On Soccer Podcast last week, added his disappointment.
“It’s been going on, I think, 16 months, something like that now. Hundreds of hours for everyone involved. So it hasn’t been easy, and certainly progress has been… has been slow, at the bargaining table,” Mertz said.  
Mertz reitered how he felt about the League, which robbed the Hounds players of the opportunity for a full-fledged post-match celebration after clinching the franchise’s first-ever USL Championship title win in Tulsa in November.
Players from the Hounds and Tulsa, along with fans in attendance, made a statement in the pregame walk-in ceremony, with the players wearing T-shirts (and fans holding signs) which read:  USL HQ: Pro-Rel? Try Pro Standards First. 
“I think what happened there that day, was very disappointing from the league end of things,” Mertz added.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize it or don’t know it, but kind of the moment that we had lost because of the message that we decided to send with the t-shirts was the trophy ceremony afterward, that they were, I think, afraid of what the message that we were sending, so they didn’t give us that moment, and that was a moment that we had worked our entire careers, to get to. Was that kind of that moment where you left the trophy with your team on the stage and the confetti? And it sounds a little bit, sounds a little bit weak, I think, but then you step back a minute, and you’re like, wait, no, that’s something I’ve worked my entire life for, we’ve worked our entire lives for, and to have that stripped from us because of a message that we were trying to send with regard to bargaining was disappointing.”
Turn the page to the New Year,  very little progress has been made, though it could be argued that USL has conceded a fair amount including 100 percent of players need to be offered insurance via club.  Where the rift appears in this part of the negotiation is they disagree on league-wide
“As far as, like, where the negotiations are going, the players and the Players Association feel really strongly that we’re making reasonable asks, that we are trying to continue this league down a path towards sustainability, that we are partners with the league and clubs in, in finding that sustainability, and that we’re… we are products and assets, to the league and the clubs, not just expenses on their… on their balance sheet. And, I think each of the proposals, like you mentioned, minimum compensation, each of the proposals that we’ve put across them, we feel reflect that, that they’re reasonable asks,” Mertz explained.

“Obviously, the other side does not see it the same way, so it’s been… it’s been tough sledding because of that.”

More Hounds Content Coming!

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out our feature on Hounds’ second year midfielder, Charles Ahl.

In second year with Riverhounds, Charles Ahl aims to take next step as playmaker

The Winter Park, FL, native came on strong last season.  With Mertz potentially missing some time early in the season, having Ahl and some of the younger players and new signees on the attacking line competing for playing time, plus a very solid rotation of versatile central midfielders with Danny Griffin, Jackson Walti and Bradley Sample in place, the Vincent will have plenty of solid options.

The feature on Ahl is just the tip of the iceberg.

Look for more to come, including a profile of former Pitt keeper Nico Campuzano, who appears to be in position to become the Hounds’ primary starter in goal, as he reflects on his time at Pitt, his pro journey including last year’s intense season carrying the load for Monterey Bay FC and much more.

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John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

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