Will MU make it past this spring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The club is better than last year in every way. Even the scores for those who know nothing more shows big improvement. Very doubtful US Soccer will allow this part of NoVA to go without a USSDA team.

By “this part of NOVA” you mean the beltway part between Arlington and FCV? The part where the ECNL teams of Mclean and BRYC sit? I actually think the DA would be better off without MU. Then Arlington and FCV could absorb any high-level players — half go west to FCV and half go east to Arlington, if they don’t want to stay closer to home and go to BRYC or Mclean — and the mid-Atlantic could be more competitive with other regions.

The teams you list would benefit from the MU players no question. I just don’t see US Soccer eliminating an improving program.

[Anonymous]

Metro United needs a plan for how they are going to field an 07 team for next year and they need to share this plan soon with everyone. If they do not, they will continue to have trouble recruiting/retaining talent particularly at the younger ages. The other clubs have already announced dates for ID sessions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Metro United needs a plan for how they are going to field an 07 team for next year and they need to share this plan soon with everyone. If they do not, they will continue to have trouble recruiting/retaining talent particularly at the younger ages. The other clubs have already announced dates for ID sessions.

which clubs have already announced dates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The club is better than last year in every way. Even the scores for those who know nothing more shows big improvement. Very doubtful US Soccer will allow this part of NoVA to go without a USSDA team.

By “this part of NOVA” you mean the beltway part between Arlington and FCV? The part where the ECNL teams of Mclean and BRYC sit? I actually think the DA would be better off without MU. Then Arlington and FCV could absorb any high-level players — half go west to FCV and half go east to Arlington, if they don’t want to stay closer to home and go to BRYC or Mclean — and the mid-Atlantic could be more competitive with other regions.

but Loudoun and VDA are no issue. It's funny because BRYC didn't even have an ECNL until FCV decided it was leaving for the DA. And Loudoun would never have gotten an ECNL except it didn't like the "partnership" it had with FCV and the ECNL was looking to take back some fo the market. You can't blame MU for all the dilution. And as much as the ECNL fights it, the DA across the nation is slowly gaining traction. So if anyone should withdraw to fight dilution, it should be an ECNL team. And let's see where FCV is next year. Their move to the STJ location is just a matter of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The club is better than last year in every way. Even the scores for those who know nothing more shows big improvement. Very doubtful US Soccer will allow this part of NoVA to go without a USSDA team.

By “this part of NOVA” you mean the beltway part between Arlington and FCV? The part where the ECNL teams of Mclean and BRYC sit? I actually think the DA would be better off without MU. Then Arlington and FCV could absorb any high-level players — half go west to FCV and half go east to Arlington, if they don’t want to stay closer to home and go to BRYC or Mclean — and the mid-Atlantic could be more competitive with other regions.

but Loudoun and VDA are no issue. It's funny because BRYC didn't even have an ECNL until FCV decided it was leaving for the DA. And Loudoun would never have gotten an ECNL except it didn't like the "partnership" it had with FCV and the ECNL was looking to take back some fo the market. You can't blame MU for all the dilution. And as much as the ECNL fights it, the DA across the nation is slowly gaining traction. So if anyone should withdraw to fight dilution, it should be an ECNL team.

And let's see where FCV is next year. Their move to the STJ location is just a matter of time.

You sound in the know-is FCV DA training really moving for next Fall? How do you know?

[Anonymous]

FCV already started playing some games in the fall at St James this year. Offseason training and futsal at St James. It’s a matter of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Metro United needs a plan for how they are going to field an 07 team for next year and they need to share this plan soon with everyone. If they do not, they will continue to have trouble recruiting/retaining talent particularly at the younger ages. The other clubs have already announced dates for ID sessions.

which clubs have already announced dates?

The other two local DA clubs.

I would suggest a publicly announced January 08/07 ID session attended by every 08/07 player currently on a partner team or an MU team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Metro United needs a plan for how they are going to field an 07 team for next year and they need to share this plan soon with everyone. If they do not, they will continue to have trouble recruiting/retaining talent particularly at the younger ages. The other clubs have already announced dates for ID sessions.

which clubs have already announced dates?

The other two local DA clubs.

I would suggest a publicly announced January 08/07 ID session attended by every 08/07 player currently on a partner team or an MU team.

ID sessions are a good thought. They probably should. I do know MU has been talking to its partners and some of the coaches go to the training sessions of those clubs for talent identification as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Metro United needs a plan for how they are going to field an 07 team for next year and they need to share this plan soon with everyone. If they do not, they will continue to have trouble recruiting/retaining talent particularly at the younger ages. The other clubs have already announced dates for ID sessions.

which clubs have already announced dates?

The other two local DA clubs.

I would suggest a publicly announced January 08/07 ID session attended by every 08/07 player currently on a partner team or an MU team.

07 and 08 numbers should be fine. The club already has these age groups playing U-14 DA games as a core. With the 3 partner clubs there is no shortage of players that coaches can pull in to any game. That was not the case a year ago.

There is no point in gathering over 3 teams of players together that are already available to the club for tryouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Metro United needs a plan for how they are going to field an 07 team for next year and they need to share this plan soon with everyone. If they do not, they will continue to have trouble recruiting/retaining talent particularly at the younger ages. The other clubs have already announced dates for ID sessions.

which clubs have already announced dates?

The other two local DA clubs.

I would suggest a publicly announced January 08/07 ID session attended by every 08/07 player currently on a partner team or an MU team.

07 and 08 numbers should be fine. The club already has these age groups playing U-14 DA games as a core. With the 3 partner clubs there is no shortage of players that coaches can pull in to any game. That was not the case a year ago.

There is no point in gathering over 3 teams of players together that are already available to the club for tryouts.

I agree. I do think the 06 and 04 age groups need some focus. The 06 the most, but the 04s lost some good players over the constant big rosters which hurt the quality of the training environment. A couple of good pick ups would turn that team around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCV already started playing some games in the fall at St James this year. Offseason training and futsal at St James. It’s a matter of time.

I also find the way registration is set up on the Saint James website interesting. They list registration for Fairfax and Loudon county. Then they say U9 to U12 will form teams in both areas and "for existing The St. James FC Virginia teams that compete in multiple travel leagues and will train at various locations in Fairfax and Loudoun counties."

They are phasing it in to keep people calm, which is how any business handles any acquisition. This year, everyone was told they would keep training at Loudoun. And they kept it mostly at Loudoun with winter programming and some games at STJ. Next year, teams will train at both. And it is the smart business move for them. Why by a club to not have it be based in their facility?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCV already started playing some games in the fall at St James this year. Offseason training and futsal at St James. It’s a matter of time.

I also find the way registration is set up on the Saint James website interesting. They list registration for Fairfax and Loudon county. Then they say U9 to U12 will form teams in both areas and "for existing The St. James FC Virginia teams that compete in multiple travel leagues and will train at various locations in Fairfax and Loudoun counties."

They are phasing it in to keep people calm, which is how any business handles any acquisition. This year, everyone was told they would keep training at Loudoun. And they kept it mostly at Loudoun with winter programming and some games at STJ. Next year, teams will train at both. And it is the smart business move for them. Why by a club to not have it be based in their facility?

terrible move if you ask me just have training and games in one location if you want to be in Loudoun then be Loudoun this will be our last year at FCV next year DD will be trying out at Loudoun

[Anonymous]

I disagree. MU needs to hold ID sessions. They need to start holding them soon and they need to have potential players attend their ID sessions.

If their plan for next year is to have 07 and 08 teams next year they need to let people know that soon.

If they plan not to exist next year then maybe silence is the best strategy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. MU needs to hold ID sessions. They need to start holding them soon and they need to have potential players attend their ID sessions.

If their plan for next year is to have 07 and 08 teams next year they need to let people know that soon.

If they plan not to exist next year then maybe silence is the best strategy.

I agree, and they probably will. Even if they have identified a potential group of 07s and 08s, that doesn't mean they shouldn't open it up and make sure they have seen everyone who might be interested. Besides, they should see about who might be interested for the existing teams as well. I don't think they don't plan to hold them. It's just December. Waiting until January - after the holiday season - is perfectly normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. MU needs to hold ID sessions. They need to start holding them soon and they need to have potential players attend their ID sessions.

If their plan for next year is to have 07 and 08 teams next year they need to let people know that soon.

If they plan not to exist next year then maybe silence is the best strategy.

Parents and players have been told they will have 07 and 08 teams next year. Not sure if you will see open ID sessions or not. If you are interested, there is a form on their website to email coaches. As a PP mentioned, outside players have and will attend training sessions for ID purposes. You will learn more about the club from these training sessions vs a cattle call tryout.