Arlington MLS Next

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I'm being told that Arlington is getting MLS Next for next year. Anyone know which ages? If they do, will their ECNL team be their "B" team? How will this work? If they do have MLS Next and ECNL, do you think they would allow the kids to choose which team they want? For example, maybe someone gets an MLS Next offer but would rather play the ECNL schedule...assuming that MLS Next is the higher team.

Unfortunately, MLS next would be the second tier team because it doesn’t have enough stability yet. ECNL will be the top team for most of the established clubs for the foreseeable future

Yeah. DP

I'm not sure MlsNext is going to be around that long.

It will do well for a few years and then they will roll it into something else. I’m more interested to learn more about the new USL academy

This is the rumor I heard — that MLS next may merge with the usl academy league. But ECNL is king for both boys and girls for now. Once they figure out promotion/relegation the scene is set for at least a decade

Well ECNL is not king on the boys side yet. MLS Next still offers a higher level of play, but I agree that ECNL has done very well out of last year's events and is a lot closer to MLSNext than it was to DA, and that MLSNext still has work to do to convince clubs that it is the future. The fact that so many clubs had to play in two leagues last year to get enough games is telling. I have also heard a rumor that Bethesda is thinking about jumping ship to ECNL - that would definitely tip the balance to ECNL's side in this area if it happened. Then again, if Arlington moved to MLSNext that would tip things in the other direction.

I just want the highest level and the least amount of travel. If one is only slightly better---I don't care. Give me the league between the 2 with less hours in the car to games.

Not clear that there is less travel for one vs the other. ECNL has a few more local games, but it's a long way to the Carolinas.

I don't think the boys are doing Carolina anymore. It is MD now

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I'm being told that Arlington is getting MLS Next for next year. Anyone know which ages? If they do, will their ECNL team be their "B" team? How will this work? If they do have MLS Next and ECNL, do you think they would allow the kids to choose which team they want? For example, maybe someone gets an MLS Next offer but would rather play the ECNL schedule...assuming that MLS Next is the higher team.

Unfortunately, MLS next would be the second tier team because it doesn’t have enough stability yet. ECNL will be the top team for most of the established clubs for the foreseeable future

Yeah. DP

I'm not sure MlsNext is going to be around that long.

It will do well for a few years and then they will roll it into something else. I’m more interested to learn more about the new USL academy

This is the rumor I heard — that MLS next may merge with the usl academy league. But ECNL is king for both boys and girls for now. Once they figure out promotion/relegation the scene is set for at least a decade

Well ECNL is not king on the boys side yet. MLS Next still offers a higher level of play, but I agree that ECNL has done very well out of last year's events and is a lot closer to MLSNext than it was to DA, and that MLSNext still has work to do to convince clubs that it is the future. The fact that so many clubs had to play in two leagues last year to get enough games is telling. I have also heard a rumor that Bethesda is thinking about jumping ship to ECNL - that would definitely tip the balance to ECNL's side in this area if it happened. Then again, if Arlington moved to MLSNext that would tip things in the other direction.

I just want the highest level and the least amount of travel. If one is only slightly better---I don't care. Give me the league between the 2 with less hours in the car to games.

Not clear that there is less travel for one vs the other. ECNL has a few more local games, but it's a long way to the Carolinas.

I don't think the boys are doing Carolina anymore. It is MD now

I saw a post suggesting that here a while back, but have not seen any type of official confirmation so assumed it was nonsense. Do you have a source?

[Anonymous]

SC is being replaced with MD. NC is still in the conference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm being told that Arlington is getting MLS Next for next year. Anyone know which ages? If they do, will their ECNL team be their "B" team? How will this work? If they do have MLS Next and ECNL, do you think they would allow the kids to choose which team they want? For example, maybe someone gets an MLS Next offer but would rather play the ECNL schedule...assuming that MLS Next is the higher team.

Unfortunately, MLS next would be the second tier team because it doesn’t have enough stability yet. ECNL will be the top team for most of the established clubs for the foreseeable future

Yeah. DP

I'm not sure MlsNext is going to be around that long.

Nope. ECNL is bad for boys teams. There is no competition for Arlington. It's CCL all over again. MLS next would be their top team.

LOL, no competition for Arlington boys. Only u14 Arlington team is in the first place in its ECNL division. In three age groups, Arlington boys teams are placed in 7th place or lower. Arlington's U13th are in 11th place, but the level of competition is not high enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm being told that Arlington is getting MLS Next for next year. Anyone know which ages? If they do, will their ECNL team be their "B" team? How will this work? If they do have MLS Next and ECNL, do you think they would allow the kids to choose which team they want? For example, maybe someone gets an MLS Next offer but would rather play the ECNL schedule...assuming that MLS Next is the higher team.

Unfortunately, MLS next would be the second tier team because it doesn’t have enough stability yet. ECNL will be the top team for most of the established clubs for the foreseeable future

Yeah. DP

I'm not sure MlsNext is going to be around that long.

It will do well for a few years and then they will roll it into something else. I’m more interested to learn more about the new USL academy

This is the rumor I heard — that MLS next may merge with the usl academy league. But ECNL is king for both boys and girls for now. Once they figure out promotion/relegation the scene is set for at least a decade

Sure. Why would our boys want to play Philly Union or Red Bulls when we can play bryc and McLean. Stop this nonsense. Just be honest. People will respect you more. Try it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm being told that Arlington is getting MLS Next for next year. Anyone know which ages? If they do, will their ECNL team be their "B" team? How will this work? If they do have MLS Next and ECNL, do you think they would allow the kids to choose which team they want? For example, maybe someone gets an MLS Next offer but would rather play the ECNL schedule...assuming that MLS Next is the higher team.

Unfortunately, MLS next would be the second tier team because it doesn’t have enough stability yet. ECNL will be the top team for most of the established clubs for the foreseeable future

Yeah. DP

I'm not sure MlsNext is going to be around that long.

It will do well for a few years and then they will roll it into something else. I’m more interested to learn more about the new USL academy

This is the rumor I heard — that MLS next may merge with the usl academy league. But ECNL is king for both boys and girls for now. Once they figure out promotion/relegation the scene is set for at least a decade

Well ECNL is not king on the boys side yet. MLS Next still offers a higher level of play, but I agree that ECNL has done very well out of last year's events and is a lot closer to MLSNext than it was to DA, and that MLSNext still has work to do to convince clubs that it is the future. The fact that so many clubs had to play in two leagues last year to get enough games is telling. I have also heard a rumor that Bethesda is thinking about jumping ship to ECNL - that would definitely tip the balance to ECNL's side in this area if it happened. Then again, if Arlington moved to MLSNext that would tip things in the other direction.

I don’t think you quite understand who else the area teams play in MLSNext. Bethesda would not tip any balance. Plenty of other better competition in mid-Atlantic.

[Anonymous]

The new Arlington Slogan "Tipping the balance for over 50 years!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm being told that Arlington is getting MLS Next for next year. Anyone know which ages? If they do, will their ECNL team be their "B" team? How will this work? If they do have MLS Next and ECNL, do you think they would allow the kids to choose which team they want? For example, maybe someone gets an MLS Next offer but would rather play the ECNL schedule...assuming that MLS Next is the higher team.

Unfortunately, MLS next would be the second tier team because it doesn’t have enough stability yet. ECNL will be the top team for most of the established clubs for the foreseeable future

Yeah. DP

I'm not sure MlsNext is going to be around that long.

It will do well for a few years and then they will roll it into something else. I’m more interested to learn more about the new USL academy

This is the rumor I heard — that MLS next may merge with the usl academy league. But ECNL is king for both boys and girls for now. Once they figure out promotion/relegation the scene is set for at least a decade

Well ECNL is not king on the boys side yet. MLS Next still offers a higher level of play, but I agree that ECNL has done very well out of last year's events and is a lot closer to MLSNext than it was to DA, and that MLSNext still has work to do to convince clubs that it is the future. The fact that so many clubs had to play in two leagues last year to get enough games is telling. I have also heard a rumor that Bethesda is thinking about jumping ship to ECNL - that would definitely tip the balance to ECNL's side in this area if it happened. Then again, if Arlington moved to MLSNext that would tip things in the other direction.

I don’t think you quite understand who else the area teams play in MLSNext. Bethesda would not tip any balance. Plenty of other better competition in mid-Atlantic.

Well, since my DS has been played DA for several years, I think I understand very well which teams play MLSNext and their overall level. There are no decent MLSNext teams between DC United and Atlanta, and DCU can't be bothered to run more than two teams. In this general area the strongest clubs are (in alphabetical order) Arlington, Baltimore, Bethesda and Richmond. Then there is a big gap to the next clubs which include two of the new MLSNext clubs (Alexandria and SYC) and other ECNL teams like VDA and Loudoun. Pipeline probably exists somewhere between the two groups.

If you played matches at every age group between the top 4 ECNL clubs and the top 4 MLSNext clubs including DCU I suspect you would end up with very close results and Arlington, Richmond and Baltimore would be the top clubs with Bethesda a little behind and DCU similar to the top 3 in the age groups where they field teams. In other words - in this area (DMV) the balance is very close, and Bethesda moving would definitely tip the balance. If you want to include the whole MLSNext / ECNL area things don't change all that much. ECNL includes some very strong clubs in the Carolinas like NCFC, CESA, Wilmington, and Charlotte. Equally MLSNext has PDA and obviously NYRB and PU are very strong. The remainder of the MLSNext clubs in the mid-Atlantic league were and remain not especially strong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm being told that Arlington is getting MLS Next for next year. Anyone know which ages? If they do, will their ECNL team be their "B" team? How will this work? If they do have MLS Next and ECNL, do you think they would allow the kids to choose which team they want? For example, maybe someone gets an MLS Next offer but would rather play the ECNL schedule...assuming that MLS Next is the higher team.

Unfortunately, MLS next would be the second tier team because it doesn’t have enough stability yet. ECNL will be the top team for most of the established clubs for the foreseeable future

Yeah. DP

I'm not sure MlsNext is going to be around that long.

It will do well for a few years and then they will roll it into something else. I’m more interested to learn more about the new USL academy

This is the rumor I heard — that MLS next may merge with the usl academy league. But ECNL is king for both boys and girls for now. Once they figure out promotion/relegation the scene is set for at least a decade

Well ECNL is not king on the boys side yet. MLS Next still offers a higher level of play, but I agree that ECNL has done very well out of last year's events and is a lot closer to MLSNext than it was to DA, and that MLSNext still has work to do to convince clubs that it is the future. The fact that so many clubs had to play in two leagues last year to get enough games is telling. I have also heard a rumor that Bethesda is thinking about jumping ship to ECNL - that would definitely tip the balance to ECNL's side in this area if it happened. Then again, if Arlington moved to MLSNext that would tip things in the other direction.

I don’t think you quite understand who else the area teams play in MLSNext. Bethesda would not tip any balance. Plenty of other better competition in mid-Atlantic.

Well, since my DS has been played DA for several years, I think I understand very well which teams play MLSNext and their overall level. There are no decent MLSNext teams between DC United and Atlanta, and DCU can't be bothered to run more than two teams. In this general area the strongest clubs are (in alphabetical order) Arlington, Baltimore, Bethesda and Richmond. Then there is a big gap to the next clubs which include two of the new MLSNext clubs (Alexandria and SYC) and other ECNL teams like VDA and Loudoun. Pipeline probably exists somewhere between the two groups.

If you played matches at every age group between the top 4 ECNL clubs and the top 4 MLSNext clubs including DCU I suspect you would end up with very close results and Arlington, Richmond and Baltimore would be the top clubs with Bethesda a little behind and DCU similar to the top 3 in the age groups where they field teams. In other words - in this area (DMV) the balance is very close, and Bethesda moving would definitely tip the balance. If you want to include the whole MLSNext / ECNL area things don't change all that much. ECNL includes some very strong clubs in the Carolinas like NCFC, CESA, Wilmington, and Charlotte. Equally MLSNext has PDA and obviously NYRB and PU are very strong. The remainder of the MLSNext clubs in the mid-Atlantic league were and remain not especially strong.

I would say your information is old and therefore less relevant and your views reflect it. If you are happy and smug in Arlington, I won’t try to talk you out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm being told that Arlington is getting MLS Next for next year. Anyone know which ages? If they do, will their ECNL team be their "B" team? How will this work? If they do have MLS Next and ECNL, do you think they would allow the kids to choose which team they want? For example, maybe someone gets an MLS Next offer but would rather play the ECNL schedule...assuming that MLS Next is the higher team.

Unfortunately, MLS next would be the second tier team because it doesn’t have enough stability yet. ECNL will be the top team for most of the established clubs for the foreseeable future

Yeah. DP

I'm not sure MlsNext is going to be around that long.

It will do well for a few years and then they will roll it into something else. I’m more interested to learn more about the new USL academy

This is the rumor I heard — that MLS next may merge with the usl academy league. But ECNL is king for both boys and girls for now. Once they figure out promotion/relegation the scene is set for at least a decade

Well ECNL is not king on the boys side yet. MLS Next still offers a higher level of play, but I agree that ECNL has done very well out of last year's events and is a lot closer to MLSNext than it was to DA, and that MLSNext still has work to do to convince clubs that it is the future. The fact that so many clubs had to play in two leagues last year to get enough games is telling. I have also heard a rumor that Bethesda is thinking about jumping ship to ECNL - that would definitely tip the balance to ECNL's side in this area if it happened. Then again, if Arlington moved to MLSNext that would tip things in the other direction.

I don’t think you quite understand who else the area teams play in MLSNext. Bethesda would not tip any balance. Plenty of other better competition in mid-Atlantic.

Well, since my DS has been played DA for several years, I think I understand very well which teams play MLSNext and their overall level. There are no decent MLSNext teams between DC United and Atlanta, and DCU can't be bothered to run more than two teams. In this general area the strongest clubs are (in alphabetical order) Arlington, Baltimore, Bethesda and Richmond. Then there is a big gap to the next clubs which include two of the new MLSNext clubs (Alexandria and SYC) and other ECNL teams like VDA and Loudoun. Pipeline probably exists somewhere between the two groups.

If you played matches at every age group between the top 4 ECNL clubs and the top 4 MLSNext clubs including DCU I suspect you would end up with very close results and Arlington, Richmond and Baltimore would be the top clubs with Bethesda a little behind and DCU similar to the top 3 in the age groups where they field teams. In other words - in this area (DMV) the balance is very close, and Bethesda moving would definitely tip the balance. If you want to include the whole MLSNext / ECNL area things don't change all that much. ECNL includes some very strong clubs in the Carolinas like NCFC, CESA, Wilmington, and Charlotte. Equally MLSNext has PDA and obviously NYRB and PU are very strong. The remainder of the MLSNext clubs in the mid-Atlantic league were and remain not especially strong.

I would say your information is old and therefore less relevant and your views reflect it. If you are happy and smug in Arlington, I won’t try to talk you out of it.

I am neither happy, nor smug, nor even still in Arlington. Happy to be corrected if you think I am wrong - but I suspect that you may be a new MLSNext parent whose view is colored by one or two younger age groups rather than evaluating clubs across all age groups up to U19.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm being told that Arlington is getting MLS Next for next year. Anyone know which ages? If they do, will their ECNL team be their "B" team? How will this work? If they do have MLS Next and ECNL, do you think they would allow the kids to choose which team they want? For example, maybe someone gets an MLS Next offer but would rather play the ECNL schedule...assuming that MLS Next is the higher team.

Unfortunately, MLS next would be the second tier team because it doesn’t have enough stability yet. ECNL will be the top team for most of the established clubs for the foreseeable future

Yeah. DP

I'm not sure MlsNext is going to be around that long.

It will do well for a few years and then they will roll it into something else. I’m more interested to learn more about the new USL academy

This is the rumor I heard — that MLS next may merge with the usl academy league. But ECNL is king for both boys and girls for now. Once they figure out promotion/relegation the scene is set for at least a decade

Well ECNL is not king on the boys side yet. MLS Next still offers a higher level of play, but I agree that ECNL has done very well out of last year's events and is a lot closer to MLSNext than it was to DA, and that MLSNext still has work to do to convince clubs that it is the future. The fact that so many clubs had to play in two leagues last year to get enough games is telling. I have also heard a rumor that Bethesda is thinking about jumping ship to ECNL - that would definitely tip the balance to ECNL's side in this area if it happened. Then again, if Arlington moved to MLSNext that would tip things in the other direction.

I don’t think you quite understand who else the area teams play in MLSNext. Bethesda would not tip any balance. Plenty of other better competition in mid-Atlantic.

Well, since my DS has been played DA for several years, I think I understand very well which teams play MLSNext and their overall level. There are no decent MLSNext teams between DC United and Atlanta, and DCU can't be bothered to run more than two teams. In this general area the strongest clubs are (in alphabetical order) Arlington, Baltimore, Bethesda and Richmond. Then there is a big gap to the next clubs which include two of the new MLSNext clubs (Alexandria and SYC) and other ECNL teams like VDA and Loudoun. Pipeline probably exists somewhere between the two groups.

If you played matches at every age group between the top 4 ECNL clubs and the top 4 MLSNext clubs including DCU I suspect you would end up with very close results and Arlington, Richmond and Baltimore would be the top clubs with Bethesda a little behind and DCU similar to the top 3 in the age groups where they field teams. In other words - in this area (DMV) the balance is very close, and Bethesda moving would definitely tip the balance. If you want to include the whole MLSNext / ECNL area things don't change all that much. ECNL includes some very strong clubs in the Carolinas like NCFC, CESA, Wilmington, and Charlotte. Equally MLSNext has PDA and obviously NYRB and PU are very strong. The remainder of the MLSNext clubs in the mid-Atlantic league were and remain not especially strong.

I would say your information is old and therefore less relevant and your views reflect it. If you are happy and smug in Arlington, I won’t try to talk you out of it.

I am neither happy, nor smug, nor even still in Arlington. Happy to be corrected if you think I am wrong - but I suspect that you may be a new MLSNext parent whose view is colored by one or two younger age groups rather than evaluating clubs across all age groups up to U19.

I think you’ve already done more than enough to demonstrate why your views are not relevant. Along with the McLean parents who keep talking about their undefeated team from a few years ago. What any of that has to do with what is happening in the earlier age groups is beyond the people whose decisions will affect how these things shake out in this area over the next 1-2 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm being told that Arlington is getting MLS Next for next year. Anyone know which ages? If they do, will their ECNL team be their "B" team? How will this work? If they do have MLS Next and ECNL, do you think they would allow the kids to choose which team they want? For example, maybe someone gets an MLS Next offer but would rather play the ECNL schedule...assuming that MLS Next is the higher team.

Unfortunately, MLS next would be the second tier team because it doesn’t have enough stability yet. ECNL will be the top team for most of the established clubs for the foreseeable future

Yeah. DP

I'm not sure MlsNext is going to be around that long.

It will do well for a few years and then they will roll it into something else. I’m more interested to learn more about the new USL academy

This is the rumor I heard — that MLS next may merge with the usl academy league. But ECNL is king for both boys and girls for now. Once they figure out promotion/relegation the scene is set for at least a decade

Well ECNL is not king on the boys side yet. MLS Next still offers a higher level of play, but I agree that ECNL has done very well out of last year's events and is a lot closer to MLSNext than it was to DA, and that MLSNext still has work to do to convince clubs that it is the future. The fact that so many clubs had to play in two leagues last year to get enough games is telling. I have also heard a rumor that Bethesda is thinking about jumping ship to ECNL - that would definitely tip the balance to ECNL's side in this area if it happened. Then again, if Arlington moved to MLSNext that would tip things in the other direction.

I don’t think you quite understand who else the area teams play in MLSNext. Bethesda would not tip any balance. Plenty of other better competition in mid-Atlantic.

Well, since my DS has been played DA for several years, I think I understand very well which teams play MLSNext and their overall level. There are no decent MLSNext teams between DC United and Atlanta, and DCU can't be bothered to run more than two teams. In this general area the strongest clubs are (in alphabetical order) Arlington, Baltimore, Bethesda and Richmond. Then there is a big gap to the next clubs which include two of the new MLSNext clubs (Alexandria and SYC) and other ECNL teams like VDA and Loudoun. Pipeline probably exists somewhere between the two groups.

If you played matches at every age group between the top 4 ECNL clubs and the top 4 MLSNext clubs including DCU I suspect you would end up with very close results and Arlington, Richmond and Baltimore would be the top clubs with Bethesda a little behind and DCU similar to the top 3 in the age groups where they field teams. In other words - in this area (DMV) the balance is very close, and Bethesda moving would definitely tip the balance. If you want to include the whole MLSNext / ECNL area things don't change all that much. ECNL includes some very strong clubs in the Carolinas like NCFC, CESA, Wilmington, and Charlotte. Equally MLSNext has PDA and obviously NYRB and PU are very strong. The remainder of the MLSNext clubs in the mid-Atlantic league were and remain not especially strong.

I would say your information is old and therefore less relevant and your views reflect it. If you are happy and smug in Arlington, I won’t try to talk you out of it.

This sounds like a parent who has a child who has been trying to make MLS next for sometime....it ain’t happening bud.

[Anonymous]

The NEW new Arlington Slogan "Tipping the balance with smugness for over 50 years!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you’ve already done more than enough to demonstrate why your views are not relevant

How exactly have I demonstrated my views are not relevant? Specifically which of my points, or club assessments, do you disagree with?

. Along with the McLean parents who keep talking about their undefeated team from a few years ago.

I'm not talking about teams which no longer exist. I'm talking about clubs' current teams.

What any of that has to do with what is happening in the earlier age groups is beyond the people whose decisions will affect how these things shake out in this area over the next 1-2 years.

I'm not quite sure what you're saying here.

In my view what happens over the next few years depends on two things:
- the ability of the coaching staffs at various clubs
- which league emerges as the more attractive destination for the best kids.

Right now I would put my money on MLS Next emerging as the more attractive league, but if a couple more strong clubs were to defect I wouldn't be nearly so sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm being told that Arlington is getting MLS Next for next year. Anyone know which ages? If they do, will their ECNL team be their "B" team? How will this work? If they do have MLS Next and ECNL, do you think they would allow the kids to choose which team they want? For example, maybe someone gets an MLS Next offer but would rather play the ECNL schedule...assuming that MLS Next is the higher team.

Unfortunately, MLS next would be the second tier team because it doesn’t have enough stability yet. ECNL will be the top team for most of the established clubs for the foreseeable future

Yeah. DP

I'm not sure MlsNext is going to be around that long.

It will do well for a few years and then they will roll it into something else. I’m more interested to learn more about the new USL academy

This is the rumor I heard — that MLS next may merge with the usl academy league. But ECNL is king for both boys and girls for now. Once they figure out promotion/relegation the scene is set for at least a decade

Well ECNL is not king on the boys side yet. MLS Next still offers a higher level of play, but I agree that ECNL has done very well out of last year's events and is a lot closer to MLSNext than it was to DA, and that MLSNext still has work to do to convince clubs that it is the future. The fact that so many clubs had to play in two leagues last year to get enough games is telling. I have also heard a rumor that Bethesda is thinking about jumping ship to ECNL - that would definitely tip the balance to ECNL's side in this area if it happened. Then again, if Arlington moved to MLSNext that would tip things in the other direction.

I don’t think you quite understand who else the area teams play in MLSNext. Bethesda would not tip any balance. Plenty of other better competition in mid-Atlantic.

Well, since my DS has been played DA for several years, I think I understand very well which teams play MLSNext and their overall level. There are no decent MLSNext teams between DC United and Atlanta, and DCU can't be bothered to run more than two teams. In this general area the strongest clubs are (in alphabetical order) Arlington, Baltimore, Bethesda and Richmond. Then there is a big gap to the next clubs which include two of the new MLSNext clubs (Alexandria and SYC) and other ECNL teams like VDA and Loudoun. Pipeline probably exists somewhere between the two groups.

If you played matches at every age group between the top 4 ECNL clubs and the top 4 MLSNext clubs including DCU I suspect you would end up with very close results and Arlington, Richmond and Baltimore would be the top clubs with Bethesda a little behind and DCU similar to the top 3 in the age groups where they field teams. In other words - in this area (DMV) the balance is very close, and Bethesda moving would definitely tip the balance. If you want to include the whole MLSNext / ECNL area things don't change all that much. ECNL includes some very strong clubs in the Carolinas like NCFC, CESA, Wilmington, and Charlotte. Equally MLSNext has PDA and obviously NYRB and PU are very strong. The remainder of the MLSNext clubs in the mid-Atlantic league were and remain not especially strong.

I would say your information is old and therefore less relevant and your views reflect it. If you are happy and smug in Arlington, I won’t try to talk you out of it.

I am neither happy, nor smug, nor even still in Arlington. Happy to be corrected if you think I am wrong - but I suspect that you may be a new MLSNext parent whose view is colored by one or two younger age groups rather than evaluating clubs across all age groups up to U19.

I think you’ve already done more than enough to demonstrate why your views are not relevant. Along with the McLean parents who keep talking about their undefeated team from a few years ago. What any of that has to do with what is happening in the earlier age groups is beyond the people whose decisions will affect how these things shake out in this area over the next 1-2 years.

I think you've done nothing at all to demonstrate why your view is at all relevant.