ECNL forcing Brave & Union Partnership

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brave is one of the lowest ranked teams in ECNL (boys and girls)- how does this help McLean improve their record/performance in ECNL? It is often stated that the Brave players are not caliber of other ECNL players so what is the benefit?

+1. Make it make sense. Neither club is dominant nationally but BRAVE is consistently and historically the WORST club in the division. They don't have younger teams lighting the world on fire. Average at best. Just look at the VPSL standings. Any players with promise immediately get picked off by MLS clubs. How can the purpose of the be a merger to improve the player pool when there is literally no evidence supporting it.

This is objectively a falsehood. I don’t know if you are the same poster who was repeating it earlier in the thread, but in just 18 months of playing, Brave is better than something like 4 mid-A ECNL clubs (off the top of my head, it’s Wilmington, NC Fusion, NCFC, and maybe Beach?).

Search the thread. McLean has shown they can’t go it alone (boys or girls). They’ve already been through one dance partner, and Brave is as good as they’re going to get anytime soon.

If comparing locally BRAVE is always at the bottom. I agree other clubs in the division are worse but they aren't being considered for removal by ECNL. I wonder why

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the solution:
Each ECNL team will be assigned 3 coaches—1 unanimously selected from each of the 3 club voting groups. The coaches rotate with each practice/game. Rock/paper/scissors decides who starts the rotation. Each player will have the benefit of 3 coaching styles, 3 evaluators, 3 styles of play, and 3 college references. The annual cost will have go up just a little to around $7,500 (uniforms, snacks, and travel not included), but well worth it! Problem solved.

The Judgment of Solomon. Why do you need the Union coaches to come to agreement? Let them out, this is a Deja Vu - old BRYC Boys TD didn’t want to sign off on BRAVE.

And replace them with the BRAVE boys coaches which have done a bang up job? That makes so much sense. You obviously don't know anything about the McLean Boys coaches. These are the coaches that have rebuilt McLean's reputation after they lost DA. They won the clubs only National Championship and have do so much to transform the boys program. And MYS leadership just wants to throw them out like nothing. It's a masterclass in weak leadership by Louise. From what I was told the the McLean Boys TD would have signed off on the merger if he could keep his best coaches. Which makes all the sense in the world. Why wouldn't the club want that? Instead McLean Girls leaders (Louise, Clyde, Nadir) are offering up the boys program in order to make the Girls stronger. The smoke screen is that it's the boys program's fault - which is patently false. Nobody has even confirmed what the clubs standing were in past years. It's just being assumed looking at their current rankings this year that the boys program has been bad. Except in 2022 they were National Finalist at U19. You don't see the club leadership pushing that narrative do you. This is all politics to cover up what's really happening. The real issue is that SYC is no longer a pipeline for Nadir and Clyde and they CAN'T develop young talent so they need fresh blood. Kevin James isn't an idiot. He knows he is on the hot seat for his sh*t deal with BRYC that has failed. The league was only going to kick out one club and the obvious choice is BRAVE. Plain and simple. Kevin and Nadir got together and made a deal to save their asses and in order to do so they have to fire the most important McLean Boys coaches.

I’ve always believed the McLean Boys coaches were very good, but at the moment their egos appear to be putting a lot of kids in a very bad spot. Their bosses made the decision without them. That’s uncool.
But their stonewalling isn’t doing anyone favors.

McLean Boys parent here. The club isn't listening to its members. It's not the coaches stonewalling. The parents have written countless letters to the leadership that they don't want this merger. They are trying to protect their coaches from being unjustly fired. Louise and company should be fired for their incompetence. This the worst rollout of a partnership ever (second to the SYC rollout).

There was no choice, the vote would have been merge with Brave or lose ECNL. Your Club told you that. It’s what BRYC was told with Vienna and probably what McLean was told about SYC.
It’s done, it’s not great for a lot of people, but it’s not going away.
Why make it worse than it already will be for a lot of kids.

I guess you just believe everything you hear and don't ask questions ever. What a dumb comment. Wake up. We are being lied to for self-interest of a few and hurting our own players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the solution:
Each ECNL team will be assigned 3 coaches—1 unanimously selected from each of the 3 club voting groups. The coaches rotate with each practice/game. Rock/paper/scissors decides who starts the rotation. Each player will have the benefit of 3 coaching styles, 3 evaluators, 3 styles of play, and 3 college references. The annual cost will have go up just a little to around $7,500 (uniforms, snacks, and travel not included), but well worth it! Problem solved.

The Judgment of Solomon. Why do you need the Union coaches to come to agreement? Let them out, this is a Deja Vu - old BRYC Boys TD didn’t want to sign off on BRAVE.

And replace them with the BRAVE boys coaches which have done a bang up job? That makes so much sense. You obviously don't know anything about the McLean Boys coaches. These are the coaches that have rebuilt McLean's reputation after they lost DA. They won the clubs only National Championship and have do so much to transform the boys program. And MYS leadership just wants to throw them out like nothing. It's a masterclass in weak leadership by Louise. From what I was told the the McLean Boys TD would have signed off on the merger if he could keep his best coaches. Which makes all the sense in the world. Why wouldn't the club want that? Instead McLean Girls leaders (Louise, Clyde, Nadir) are offering up the boys program in order to make the Girls stronger. The smoke screen is that it's the boys program's fault - which is patently false. Nobody has even confirmed what the clubs standing were in past years. It's just being assumed looking at their current rankings this year that the boys program has been bad. Except in 2022 they were National Finalist at U19. You don't see the club leadership pushing that narrative do you. This is all politics to cover up what's really happening. The real issue is that SYC is no longer a pipeline for Nadir and Clyde and they CAN'T develop young talent so they need fresh blood. Kevin James isn't an idiot. He knows he is on the hot seat for his sh*t deal with BRYC that has failed. The league was only going to kick out one club and the obvious choice is BRAVE. Plain and simple. Kevin and Nadir got together and made a deal to save their asses and in order to do so they have to fire the most important McLean Boys coaches.

I’ve always believed the McLean Boys coaches were very good, but at the moment their egos appear to be putting a lot of kids in a very bad spot. Their bosses made the decision without them. That’s uncool.
But their stonewalling isn’t doing anyone favors.

No coach of an ECNL club is ever going to like a merger like this. I’m sure the Vienna and BRYC coaches feel exactly the same way.

Should the coaches have been consulted? I mean, I think it’s pretty clear what they’re going to think of it.

IMO, the only mistake here was that they should have aligned on a coaching slate before they announced it. But, at this point, the MYS leadership needs to just move forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brave is one of the lowest ranked teams in ECNL (boys and girls)- how does this help McLean improve their record/performance in ECNL? It is often stated that the Brave players are not caliber of other ECNL players so what is the benefit?

Wait until you see McLean players under VYS coaching!

Yes! Just wait! They're gonna sweep playoffs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the solution:
Each ECNL team will be assigned 3 coaches—1 unanimously selected from each of the 3 club voting groups. The coaches rotate with each practice/game. Rock/paper/scissors decides who starts the rotation. Each player will have the benefit of 3 coaching styles, 3 evaluators, 3 styles of play, and 3 college references. The annual cost will have go up just a little to around $7,500 (uniforms, snacks, and travel not included), but well worth it! Problem solved.

The Judgment of Solomon. Why do you need the Union coaches to come to agreement? Let them out, this is a Deja Vu - old BRYC Boys TD didn’t want to sign off on BRAVE.

And replace them with the BRAVE boys coaches which have done a bang up job? That makes so much sense. You obviously don't know anything about the McLean Boys coaches. These are the coaches that have rebuilt McLean's reputation after they lost DA. They won the clubs only National Championship and have do so much to transform the boys program. And MYS leadership just wants to throw them out like nothing. It's a masterclass in weak leadership by Louise. From what I was told the the McLean Boys TD would have signed off on the merger if he could keep his best coaches. Which makes all the sense in the world. Why wouldn't the club want that? Instead McLean Girls leaders (Louise, Clyde, Nadir) are offering up the boys program in order to make the Girls stronger. The smoke screen is that it's the boys program's fault - which is patently false. Nobody has even confirmed what the clubs standing were in past years. It's just being assumed looking at their current rankings this year that the boys program has been bad. Except in 2022 they were National Finalist at U19. You don't see the club leadership pushing that narrative do you. This is all politics to cover up what's really happening. The real issue is that SYC is no longer a pipeline for Nadir and Clyde and they CAN'T develop young talent so they need fresh blood. Kevin James isn't an idiot. He knows he is on the hot seat for his sh*t deal with BRYC that has failed. The league was only going to kick out one club and the obvious choice is BRAVE. Plain and simple. Kevin and Nadir got together and made a deal to save their asses and in order to do so they have to fire the most important McLean Boys coaches.

I am guessing you had a son on the national finalist team, but you are being very misleading. You are pretending that this current year is an anomaly. I was with McLean back in the nationalist finalist days, too, and remember that team as exceptional and an exception - there was only one other ECNL boys team at the time seeded above 12th. The year before was worse, with most Union teams close to the bottom of the table. I feel like a jerk pointing these losing records out but can't just make stuff up.

What would be a realistic expection from a club like McLean to compete Nationally? We aren't Pipeline, Richmond United, NCFC, Charlotte, etc. We are small club relative the clubs in our division (Loudoun, VDA, Arlington all bigger). So my expectation is that we are going to be middle/lower of the division with a few teams have occasional success. Our best players are constantly getting picked off by MLS and the geniuses at ECNL just added Potomac last year which cut off a source of talent. The fact the Boys program has any sucess is due to the coaching talent. The reason BRAVE is terrible depsite being in the exact same situation as McLean is due to the LACK of coaching talent. The year that U19 went to National finals they had gone to playoffs 2 years in a row (2020 was canceled due to COVID). The reason they were so good is becuase the coach was able to bring in top MLS Next players from DCU which chose VA Union ECNL over SYC MLS Next. That is BECAUSE the coach is regarded as one of the best in this area. And McLean is about to let him and his leadership go (he is Boys TD) for f*ing BRAVE coaches. Is that less misleading now. Make it make sense.

With your first point, you are providing evidence to support the merger. According to you, McLean is too small relative to other clubs to have more than occasional success. I haven't heard anyone spell it out like this who does not support combining clubs.

To your second point on coaching talent. My kids have played with a couple of clubs including MYS, but not BRYC or Brave. Coaching talent is mixed everywhere my kids have played including McLean. But you're suggesting that MYS is firing the boys TD in favor of BRAVE coaches? Is that actually true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I guess you just believe everything you hear and don't ask questions ever. What a dumb comment. Wake up. We are being lied to for self-interest of a few and hurting our own players.

When I look at the teams record and the loss of the SYC partnership I do believe it. Much more than some crazy conspiracy theory you have cooked up to feel better. The simple answer is often the correct one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Brave is one of the lowest ranked teams in ECNL (boys and girls)- how does this help McLean improve their record/performance in ECNL? It is often stated that the Brave players are not caliber of other ECNL players so what is the benefit?

Do you really think every single BRAVE player is worse than every single Union player? You parents are really something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the solution:
Each ECNL team will be assigned 3 coaches—1 unanimously selected from each of the 3 club voting groups. The coaches rotate with each practice/game. Rock/paper/scissors decides who starts the rotation. Each player will have the benefit of 3 coaching styles, 3 evaluators, 3 styles of play, and 3 college references. The annual cost will have go up just a little to around $7,500 (uniforms, snacks, and travel not included), but well worth it! Problem solved.

The Judgment of Solomon. Why do you need the Union coaches to come to agreement? Let them out, this is a Deja Vu - old BRYC Boys TD didn’t want to sign off on BRAVE.

And replace them with the BRAVE boys coaches which have done a bang up job? That makes so much sense. You obviously don't know anything about the McLean Boys coaches. These are the coaches that have rebuilt McLean's reputation after they lost DA. They won the clubs only National Championship and have do so much to transform the boys program. And MYS leadership just wants to throw them out like nothing. It's a masterclass in weak leadership by Louise. From what I was told the the McLean Boys TD would have signed off on the merger if he could keep his best coaches. Which makes all the sense in the world. Why wouldn't the club want that? Instead McLean Girls leaders (Louise, Clyde, Nadir) are offering up the boys program in order to make the Girls stronger. The smoke screen is that it's the boys program's fault - which is patently false. Nobody has even confirmed what the clubs standing were in past years. It's just being assumed looking at their current rankings this year that the boys program has been bad. Except in 2022 they were National Finalist at U19. You don't see the club leadership pushing that narrative do you. This is all politics to cover up what's really happening. The real issue is that SYC is no longer a pipeline for Nadir and Clyde and they CAN'T develop young talent so they need fresh blood. Kevin James isn't an idiot. He knows he is on the hot seat for his sh*t deal with BRYC that has failed. The league was only going to kick out one club and the obvious choice is BRAVE. Plain and simple. Kevin and Nadir got together and made a deal to save their asses and in order to do so they have to fire the most important McLean Boys coaches.

I am guessing you had a son on the national finalist team, but you are being very misleading. You are pretending that this current year is an anomaly. I was with McLean back in the nationalist finalist days, too, and remember that team as exceptional and an exception - there was only one other ECNL boys team at the time seeded above 12th. The year before was worse, with most Union teams close to the bottom of the table. I feel like a jerk pointing these losing records out but can't just make stuff up.

What would be a realistic expection from a club like McLean to compete Nationally? We aren't Pipeline, Richmond United, NCFC, Charlotte, etc. We are small club relative the clubs in our division (Loudoun, VDA, Arlington all bigger). So my expectation is that we are going to be middle/lower of the division with a few teams have occasional success. Our best players are constantly getting picked off by MLS and the geniuses at ECNL just added Potomac last year which cut off a source of talent. The fact the Boys program has any sucess is due to the coaching talent. The reason BRAVE is terrible depsite being in the exact same situation as McLean is due to the LACK of coaching talent. The year that U19 went to National finals they had gone to playoffs 2 years in a row (2020 was canceled due to COVID). The reason they were so good is becuase the coach was able to bring in top MLS Next players from DCU which chose VA Union ECNL over SYC MLS Next. That is BECAUSE the coach is regarded as one of the best in this area. And McLean is about to let him and his leadership go (he is Boys TD) for f*ing BRAVE coaches. Is that less misleading now. Make it make sense.

With your first point, you are providing evidence to support the merger. According to you, McLean is too small relative to other clubs to have more than occasional success. I haven't heard anyone spell it out like this who does not support combining clubs.

To your second point on coaching talent. My kids have played with a couple of clubs including MYS, but not BRYC or Brave. Coaching talent is mixed everywhere my kids have played including McLean. But you're suggesting that MYS is firing the boys TD in favor of BRAVE coaches? Is that actually true?

YES. This is the reason the parents are upset. Just wait until you see the lineup. They are delaying the release because it's embarassing who will be coaching the teams. It's a HUGE step in the wrong direction and nobody wants to be accountable for this dumpster fire. Insert spiderman meme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I guess you just believe everything you hear and don't ask questions ever. What a dumb comment. Wake up. We are being lied to for self-interest of a few and hurting our own players.

When I look at the teams record and the loss of the SYC partnership I do believe it. Much more than some crazy conspiracy theory you have cooked up to feel better. The simple answer is often the correct one.

Try again. SYC leaving the Union ONLY hurt the Girls. Anyone who knows anything knows that the Boys did not benefit from the SYC partnership because they have MLS Next. So the league forcing a merger because SYC leaving union hurt the boys is ridiculous. Union Boys have been building there program from other sources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the solution:
Each ECNL team will be assigned 3 coaches—1 unanimously selected from each of the 3 club voting groups. The coaches rotate with each practice/game. Rock/paper/scissors decides who starts the rotation. Each player will have the benefit of 3 coaching styles, 3 evaluators, 3 styles of play, and 3 college references. The annual cost will have go up just a little to around $7,500 (uniforms, snacks, and travel not included), but well worth it! Problem solved.

The Judgment of Solomon. Why do you need the Union coaches to come to agreement? Let them out, this is a Deja Vu - old BRYC Boys TD didn’t want to sign off on BRAVE.

And replace them with the BRAVE boys coaches which have done a bang up job? That makes so much sense. You obviously don't know anything about the McLean Boys coaches. These are the coaches that have rebuilt McLean's reputation after they lost DA. They won the clubs only National Championship and have do so much to transform the boys program. And MYS leadership just wants to throw them out like nothing. It's a masterclass in weak leadership by Louise. From what I was told the the McLean Boys TD would have signed off on the merger if he could keep his best coaches. Which makes all the sense in the world. Why wouldn't the club want that? Instead McLean Girls leaders (Louise, Clyde, Nadir) are offering up the boys program in order to make the Girls stronger. The smoke screen is that it's the boys program's fault - which is patently false. Nobody has even confirmed what the clubs standing were in past years. It's just being assumed looking at their current rankings this year that the boys program has been bad. Except in 2022 they were National Finalist at U19. You don't see the club leadership pushing that narrative do you. This is all politics to cover up what's really happening. The real issue is that SYC is no longer a pipeline for Nadir and Clyde and they CAN'T develop young talent so they need fresh blood. Kevin James isn't an idiot. He knows he is on the hot seat for his sh*t deal with BRYC that has failed. The league was only going to kick out one club and the obvious choice is BRAVE. Plain and simple. Kevin and Nadir got together and made a deal to save their asses and in order to do so they have to fire the most important McLean Boys coaches.

I’ve always believed the McLean Boys coaches were very good, but at the moment their egos appear to be putting a lot of kids in a very bad spot. Their bosses made the decision without them. That’s uncool.
But their stonewalling isn’t doing anyone favors.

McLean Boys parent here. The club isn't listening to its members. It's not the coaches stonewalling. The parents have written countless letters to the leadership that they don't want this merger. They are trying to protect their coaches from being unjustly fired. Louise and company should be fired for their incompetence. This the worst rollout of a partnership every (second to the SYC rollout).

She may likely “go away” on paper but that doesn’t mean she’ll be off the books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the solution:
Each ECNL team will be assigned 3 coaches—1 unanimously selected from each of the 3 club voting groups. The coaches rotate with each practice/game. Rock/paper/scissors decides who starts the rotation. Each player will have the benefit of 3 coaching styles, 3 evaluators, 3 styles of play, and 3 college references. The annual cost will have go up just a little to around $7,500 (uniforms, snacks, and travel not included), but well worth it! Problem solved.

The Judgment of Solomon. Why do you need the Union coaches to come to agreement? Let them out, this is a Deja Vu - old BRYC Boys TD didn’t want to sign off on BRAVE.

And replace them with the BRAVE boys coaches which have done a bang up job? That makes so much sense. You obviously don't know anything about the McLean Boys coaches. These are the coaches that have rebuilt McLean's reputation after they lost DA. They won the clubs only National Championship and have do so much to transform the boys program. And MYS leadership just wants to throw them out like nothing. It's a masterclass in weak leadership by Louise. From what I was told the the McLean Boys TD would have signed off on the merger if he could keep his best coaches. Which makes all the sense in the world. Why wouldn't the club want that? Instead McLean Girls leaders (Louise, Clyde, Nadir) are offering up the boys program in order to make the Girls stronger. The smoke screen is that it's the boys program's fault - which is patently false. Nobody has even confirmed what the clubs standing were in past years. It's just being assumed looking at their current rankings this year that the boys program has been bad. Except in 2022 they were National Finalist at U19. You don't see the club leadership pushing that narrative do you. This is all politics to cover up what's really happening. The real issue is that SYC is no longer a pipeline for Nadir and Clyde and they CAN'T develop young talent so they need fresh blood. Kevin James isn't an idiot. He knows he is on the hot seat for his sh*t deal with BRYC that has failed. The league was only going to kick out one club and the obvious choice is BRAVE. Plain and simple. Kevin and Nadir got together and made a deal to save their asses and in order to do so they have to fire the most important McLean Boys coaches.

I’ve always believed the McLean Boys coaches were very good, but at the moment their egos appear to be putting a lot of kids in a very bad spot. Their bosses made the decision without them. That’s uncool.
But their stonewalling isn’t doing anyone favors.

McLean Boys parent here. The club isn't listening to its members. It's not the coaches stonewalling. The parents have written countless letters to the leadership that they don't want this merger. They are trying to protect their coaches from being unjustly fired. Louise and company should be fired for their incompetence. This the worst rollout of a partnership every (second to the SYC rollout).

She may likely “go away” on paper but that doesn’t mean she’ll be off the books.

+1. Consultant for $100k+ while they go cheap on the coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the solution:
Each ECNL team will be assigned 3 coaches—1 unanimously selected from each of the 3 club voting groups. The coaches rotate with each practice/game. Rock/paper/scissors decides who starts the rotation. Each player will have the benefit of 3 coaching styles, 3 evaluators, 3 styles of play, and 3 college references. The annual cost will have go up just a little to around $7,500 (uniforms, snacks, and travel not included), but well worth it! Problem solved.

The Judgment of Solomon. Why do you need the Union coaches to come to agreement? Let them out, this is a Deja Vu - old BRYC Boys TD didn’t want to sign off on BRAVE.

And replace them with the BRAVE boys coaches which have done a bang up job? That makes so much sense. You obviously don't know anything about the McLean Boys coaches. These are the coaches that have rebuilt McLean's reputation after they lost DA. They won the clubs only National Championship and have do so much to transform the boys program. And MYS leadership just wants to throw them out like nothing. It's a masterclass in weak leadership by Louise. From what I was told the the McLean Boys TD would have signed off on the merger if he could keep his best coaches. Which makes all the sense in the world. Why wouldn't the club want that? Instead McLean Girls leaders (Louise, Clyde, Nadir) are offering up the boys program in order to make the Girls stronger. The smoke screen is that it's the boys program's fault - which is patently false. Nobody has even confirmed what the clubs standing were in past years. It's just being assumed looking at their current rankings this year that the boys program has been bad. Except in 2022 they were National Finalist at U19. You don't see the club leadership pushing that narrative do you. This is all politics to cover up what's really happening. The real issue is that SYC is no longer a pipeline for Nadir and Clyde and they CAN'T develop young talent so they need fresh blood. Kevin James isn't an idiot. He knows he is on the hot seat for his sh*t deal with BRYC that has failed. The league was only going to kick out one club and the obvious choice is BRAVE. Plain and simple. Kevin and Nadir got together and made a deal to save their asses and in order to do so they have to fire the most important McLean Boys coaches.

I am guessing you had a son on the national finalist team, but you are being very misleading. You are pretending that this current year is an anomaly. I was with McLean back in the nationalist finalist days, too, and remember that team as exceptional and an exception - there was only one other ECNL boys team at the time seeded above 12th. The year before was worse, with most Union teams close to the bottom of the table. I feel like a jerk pointing these losing records out but can't just make stuff up.

What would be a realistic expection from a club like McLean to compete Nationally? We aren't Pipeline, Richmond United, NCFC, Charlotte, etc. We are small club relative the clubs in our division (Loudoun, VDA, Arlington all bigger). So my expectation is that we are going to be middle/lower of the division with a few teams have occasional success. Our best players are constantly getting picked off by MLS and the geniuses at ECNL just added Potomac last year which cut off a source of talent. The fact the Boys program has any sucess is due to the coaching talent. The reason BRAVE is terrible depsite being in the exact same situation as McLean is due to the LACK of coaching talent. The year that U19 went to National finals they had gone to playoffs 2 years in a row (2020 was canceled due to COVID). The reason they were so good is becuase the coach was able to bring in top MLS Next players from DCU which chose VA Union ECNL over SYC MLS Next. That is BECAUSE the coach is regarded as one of the best in this area. And McLean is about to let him and his leadership go (he is Boys TD) for f*ing BRAVE coaches. Is that less misleading now. Make it make sense.

“Our boys are underachieving in ECNL. But it’s not our fault: we have a small population to draw from and our best players are constantly getting picked off. But the other clubs, who have even smaller territory and also lose their best players to the same clubs we lose them to, it’s because their coaches are morons.”

When you’re an aging former model with thinning hair, and your younger, hotter girlfriend breaks up with you because you’ve let yourself go and now have a gut, it’s probably not a winning strategy to go on and on to your new girlfriend about how hot you used to be and how lucky she is to even be seen with you…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the solution:
Each ECNL team will be assigned 3 coaches—1 unanimously selected from each of the 3 club voting groups. The coaches rotate with each practice/game. Rock/paper/scissors decides who starts the rotation. Each player will have the benefit of 3 coaching styles, 3 evaluators, 3 styles of play, and 3 college references. The annual cost will have go up just a little to around $7,500 (uniforms, snacks, and travel not included), but well worth it! Problem solved.

The Judgment of Solomon. Why do you need the Union coaches to come to agreement? Let them out, this is a Deja Vu - old BRYC Boys TD didn’t want to sign off on BRAVE.

And replace them with the BRAVE boys coaches which have done a bang up job? That makes so much sense. You obviously don't know anything about the McLean Boys coaches. These are the coaches that have rebuilt McLean's reputation after they lost DA. They won the clubs only National Championship and have do so much to transform the boys program. And MYS leadership just wants to throw them out like nothing. It's a masterclass in weak leadership by Louise. From what I was told the the McLean Boys TD would have signed off on the merger if he could keep his best coaches. Which makes all the sense in the world. Why wouldn't the club want that? Instead McLean Girls leaders (Louise, Clyde, Nadir) are offering up the boys program in order to make the Girls stronger. The smoke screen is that it's the boys program's fault - which is patently false. Nobody has even confirmed what the clubs standing were in past years. It's just being assumed looking at their current rankings this year that the boys program has been bad. Except in 2022 they were National Finalist at U19. You don't see the club leadership pushing that narrative do you. This is all politics to cover up what's really happening. The real issue is that SYC is no longer a pipeline for Nadir and Clyde and they CAN'T develop young talent so they need fresh blood. Kevin James isn't an idiot. He knows he is on the hot seat for his sh*t deal with BRYC that has failed. The league was only going to kick out one club and the obvious choice is BRAVE. Plain and simple. Kevin and Nadir got together and made a deal to save their asses and in order to do so they have to fire the most important McLean Boys coaches.

I’ve always believed the McLean Boys coaches were very good, but at the moment their egos appear to be putting a lot of kids in a very bad spot. Their bosses made the decision without them. That’s uncool.
But their stonewalling isn’t doing anyone favors.

McLean Boys parent here. The club isn't listening to its members. It's not the coaches stonewalling. The parents have written countless letters to the leadership that they don't want this merger. They are trying to protect their coaches from being unjustly fired. Louise and company should be fired for their incompetence. This the worst rollout of a partnership ever (second to the SYC rollout).

There was no choice, the vote would have been merge with Brave or lose ECNL. Your Club told you that. It’s what BRYC was told with Vienna and probably what McLean was told about SYC.
It’s done, it’s not great for a lot of people, but it’s not going away.
Why make it worse than it already will be for a lot of kids.

And it’s ticking off a lot of parents who are likely now looking at other clubs that they wouldn’t originally have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the solution:
Each ECNL team will be assigned 3 coaches—1 unanimously selected from each of the 3 club voting groups. The coaches rotate with each practice/game. Rock/paper/scissors decides who starts the rotation. Each player will have the benefit of 3 coaching styles, 3 evaluators, 3 styles of play, and 3 college references. The annual cost will have go up just a little to around $7,500 (uniforms, snacks, and travel not included), but well worth it! Problem solved.

The Judgment of Solomon. Why do you need the Union coaches to come to agreement? Let them out, this is a Deja Vu - old BRYC Boys TD didn’t want to sign off on BRAVE.

And replace them with the BRAVE boys coaches which have done a bang up job? That makes so much sense. You obviously don't know anything about the McLean Boys coaches. These are the coaches that have rebuilt McLean's reputation after they lost DA. They won the clubs only National Championship and have do so much to transform the boys program. And MYS leadership just wants to throw them out like nothing. It's a masterclass in weak leadership by Louise. From what I was told the the McLean Boys TD would have signed off on the merger if he could keep his best coaches. Which makes all the sense in the world. Why wouldn't the club want that? Instead McLean Girls leaders (Louise, Clyde, Nadir) are offering up the boys program in order to make the Girls stronger. The smoke screen is that it's the boys program's fault - which is patently false. Nobody has even confirmed what the clubs standing were in past years. It's just being assumed looking at their current rankings this year that the boys program has been bad. Except in 2022 they were National Finalist at U19. You don't see the club leadership pushing that narrative do you. This is all politics to cover up what's really happening. The real issue is that SYC is no longer a pipeline for Nadir and Clyde and they CAN'T develop young talent so they need fresh blood. Kevin James isn't an idiot. He knows he is on the hot seat for his sh*t deal with BRYC that has failed. The league was only going to kick out one club and the obvious choice is BRAVE. Plain and simple. Kevin and Nadir got together and made a deal to save their asses and in order to do so they have to fire the most important McLean Boys coaches.

I am guessing you had a son on the national finalist team, but you are being very misleading. You are pretending that this current year is an anomaly. I was with McLean back in the nationalist finalist days, too, and remember that team as exceptional and an exception - there was only one other ECNL boys team at the time seeded above 12th. The year before was worse, with most Union teams close to the bottom of the table. I feel like a jerk pointing these losing records out but can't just make stuff up.

What would be a realistic expection from a club like McLean to compete Nationally? We aren't Pipeline, Richmond United, NCFC, Charlotte, etc. We are small club relative the clubs in our division (Loudoun, VDA, Arlington all bigger). So my expectation is that we are going to be middle/lower of the division with a few teams have occasional success. Our best players are constantly getting picked off by MLS and the geniuses at ECNL just added Potomac last year which cut off a source of talent. The fact the Boys program has any sucess is due to the coaching talent. The reason BRAVE is terrible depsite being in the exact same situation as McLean is due to the LACK of coaching talent. The year that U19 went to National finals they had gone to playoffs 2 years in a row (2020 was canceled due to COVID). The reason they were so good is becuase the coach was able to bring in top MLS Next players from DCU which chose VA Union ECNL over SYC MLS Next. That is BECAUSE the coach is regarded as one of the best in this area. And McLean is about to let him and his leadership go (he is Boys TD) for f*ing BRAVE coaches. Is that less misleading now. Make it make sense.

With your first point, you are providing evidence to support the merger. According to you, McLean is too small relative to other clubs to have more than occasional success. I haven't heard anyone spell it out like this who does not support combining clubs.

To your second point on coaching talent. My kids have played with a couple of clubs including MYS, but not BRYC or Brave. Coaching talent is mixed everywhere my kids have played including McLean. But you're suggesting that MYS is firing the boys TD in favor of BRAVE coaches? Is that actually true?

YES. This is the reason the parents are upset. Just wait until you see the lineup. They are delaying the release because it's embarassing who will be coaching the teams. It's a HUGE step in the wrong direction and nobody wants to be accountable for this dumpster fire. Insert spiderman meme.

Well, then this should be the point of the protest or the town hall or the letters . Not that it makes no sense to merge or that all the coaches at BRYC are terrible or even that the board didn't listen to JW. But that the most competent and qualified person is being let go, and that families may follow him wherever he goes. I think this makes sense to a lot of us where the conspiracy stuff sounds a little crazy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the solution:
Each ECNL team will be assigned 3 coaches—1 unanimously selected from each of the 3 club voting groups. The coaches rotate with each practice/game. Rock/paper/scissors decides who starts the rotation. Each player will have the benefit of 3 coaching styles, 3 evaluators, 3 styles of play, and 3 college references. The annual cost will have go up just a little to around $7,500 (uniforms, snacks, and travel not included), but well worth it! Problem solved.

The Judgment of Solomon. Why do you need the Union coaches to come to agreement? Let them out, this is a Deja Vu - old BRYC Boys TD didn’t want to sign off on BRAVE.

And replace them with the BRAVE boys coaches which have done a bang up job? That makes so much sense. You obviously don't know anything about the McLean Boys coaches. These are the coaches that have rebuilt McLean's reputation after they lost DA. They won the clubs only National Championship and have do so much to transform the boys program. And MYS leadership just wants to throw them out like nothing. It's a masterclass in weak leadership by Louise. From what I was told the the McLean Boys TD would have signed off on the merger if he could keep his best coaches. Which makes all the sense in the world. Why wouldn't the club want that? Instead McLean Girls leaders (Louise, Clyde, Nadir) are offering up the boys program in order to make the Girls stronger. The smoke screen is that it's the boys program's fault - which is patently false. Nobody has even confirmed what the clubs standing were in past years. It's just being assumed looking at their current rankings this year that the boys program has been bad. Except in 2022 they were National Finalist at U19. You don't see the club leadership pushing that narrative do you. This is all politics to cover up what's really happening. The real issue is that SYC is no longer a pipeline for Nadir and Clyde and they CAN'T develop young talent so they need fresh blood. Kevin James isn't an idiot. He knows he is on the hot seat for his sh*t deal with BRYC that has failed. The league was only going to kick out one club and the obvious choice is BRAVE. Plain and simple. Kevin and Nadir got together and made a deal to save their asses and in order to do so they have to fire the most important McLean Boys coaches.

I am guessing you had a son on the national finalist team, but you are being very misleading. You are pretending that this current year is an anomaly. I was with McLean back in the nationalist finalist days, too, and remember that team as exceptional and an exception - there was only one other ECNL boys team at the time seeded above 12th. The year before was worse, with most Union teams close to the bottom of the table. I feel like a jerk pointing these losing records out but can't just make stuff up.

What would be a realistic expection from a club like McLean to compete Nationally? We aren't Pipeline, Richmond United, NCFC, Charlotte, etc. We are small club relative the clubs in our division (Loudoun, VDA, Arlington all bigger). So my expectation is that we are going to be middle/lower of the division with a few teams have occasional success. Our best players are constantly getting picked off by MLS and the geniuses at ECNL just added Potomac last year which cut off a source of talent. The fact the Boys program has any sucess is due to the coaching talent. The reason BRAVE is terrible depsite being in the exact same situation as McLean is due to the LACK of coaching talent. The year that U19 went to National finals they had gone to playoffs 2 years in a row (2020 was canceled due to COVID). The reason they were so good is becuase the coach was able to bring in top MLS Next players from DCU which chose VA Union ECNL over SYC MLS Next. That is BECAUSE the coach is regarded as one of the best in this area. And McLean is about to let him and his leadership go (he is Boys TD) for f*ing BRAVE coaches. Is that less misleading now. Make it make sense.

With your first point, you are providing evidence to support the merger. According to you, McLean is too small relative to other clubs to have more than occasional success. I haven't heard anyone spell it out like this who does not support combining clubs.

To your second point on coaching talent. My kids have played with a couple of clubs including MYS, but not BRYC or Brave. Coaching talent is mixed everywhere my kids have played including McLean. But you're suggesting that MYS is firing the boys TD in favor of BRAVE coaches? Is that actually true?

YES. This is the reason the parents are upset. Just wait until you see the lineup. They are delaying the release because it's embarassing who will be coaching the teams. It's a HUGE step in the wrong direction and nobody wants to be accountable for this dumpster fire. Insert spiderman meme.

Are you saying that it's embarrassing because the coaching slate includes the Union Head Coach of the Boys 05/06, 07, and 10, and Girls 08 teams, all of which are ranked below Brave?