ECNL forcing Brave & Union Partnership

[Anonymous]

Where’s the St James with their deep pockets to solve this dilemma? Maybe build a new facility in Tysons area and take over the Fairfax Vienna McLean ECNL Union.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yall are going to get this forum shut down again. Don't use names.

This. I thought the little league thread was nutso, but soccer parents are proving themselves to be next level psycho.

Blame US soccer approach of pay to play. And everyone thinking their kid is a messi. Merge two clubs and someone kids is out. Now add psyco NOVA overbearing parents. ECNL has been so diluted to the point were its not fun to watch. Drop back into RL play and make those teams better

Should really stop getting caught up in league names. No matter what they call Brave or Union, or if it because one team or two, there are still the SAME players making up all these teams. No new players are being added or removed. It's just a shuffling around with some new uniforms. No amount of shuffling or league designations will make the talent better or provide better development. It doesn't become diluted when its still the same players.

Lol this is exactly what is going on here. ECNL has sold its self as a college insider. A big portion those kids will no longer be ECNL. If those teams go to max roster the parent is a moron not to have there kid dress. They also will unlikely make another ECNL team. This ends up screwing alot of families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yall are going to get this forum shut down again. Don't use names.

This. I thought the little league thread was nutso, but soccer parents are proving themselves to be next level psycho.

Blame US soccer approach of pay to play. And everyone thinking their kid is a messi. Merge two clubs and someone kids is out. Now add psyco NOVA overbearing parents. ECNL has been so diluted to the point were its not fun to watch. Drop back into RL play and make those teams better

Should really stop getting caught up in league names. No matter what they call Brave or Union, or if it because one team or two, there are still the SAME players making up all these teams. No new players are being added or removed. It's just a shuffling around with some new uniforms. No amount of shuffling or league designations will make the talent better or provide better development. It doesn't become diluted when its still the same players.

Lol this is exactly what is going on here. ECNL has sold its self as a college insider. A big portion those kids will no longer be ECNL. If those teams go to max roster the parent is a moron not to have there kid dress. They also will unlikely make another ECNL team. This ends up screwing alot of families.

But if they can't make another ECNL team......does that tell you something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on comments I can see why this merger isn’t going anywhere fast. The McLean parents on the boys side just can’t seem to get past the crap numbers they’re putting out and are have a hard time letting go. Unfortunately the girls side is going to suffer due to the boys pulling them down like they always have. Hate to say it but anyone from this area knows the McLean boys side is and always has been terrible with the exception of one team. Don’t believe it? I guess the MYS boys parents haven’t looked at the college coaches choices lately. For every one McLean boy recruited for d1 there’s 20 girls…morons! Get your crap together on the boys side before this becomes a revolution within!

Braves boys teams are for worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok but really — did anyone think we’d get to Thursday 2/29 at 2:30pm and NOT KNOW COACHES?! Its just unbelievable.

I’m going to respond to this post just so it resurfaces on here and everyone realizes what losers we all are for caring about stuff like this. I’d say grow up but it’s clearly too late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok but really — did anyone think we’d get to Thursday 2/29 at 2:30pm and NOT KNOW COACHES?! Its just unbelievable.

I’m going to respond to this post just so it resurfaces on here and everyone realizes what losers we all are for caring about stuff like this. I’d say grow up but it’s clearly too late.

Losers we all are for caring about where our kids are going to continue playing soccer next year (and for which coach)? The horror!

[Anonymous]

This weekends NVA ID sessions will probably be packed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yall are going to get this forum shut down again. Don't use names.

This. I thought the little league thread was nutso, but soccer parents are proving themselves to be next level psycho.

Blame US soccer approach of pay to play. And everyone thinking their kid is a messi. Merge two clubs and someone kids is out. Now add psyco NOVA overbearing parents. ECNL has been so diluted to the point were its not fun to watch. Drop back into RL play and make those teams better

Should really stop getting caught up in league names. No matter what they call Brave or Union, or if it because one team or two, there are still the SAME players making up all these teams. No new players are being added or removed. It's just a shuffling around with some new uniforms. No amount of shuffling or league designations will make the talent better or provide better development. It doesn't become diluted when its still the same players.

Lol this is exactly what is going on here. ECNL has sold its self as a college insider. A big portion those kids will no longer be ECNL. If those teams go to max roster the parent is a moron not to have there kid dress. They also will unlikely make another ECNL team. This ends up screwing alot of families.

But if they can't make another ECNL team......does that tell you something?

Name another NOVA club that has two ECNL teams.. it aint happening. Why force a merge. They clubs without merging were going to get dropped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This weekends NVA ID sessions will probably be packed

invite only. And they are only allowing a few from each club. So maybe a few more then usual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is A LIE. Jamil was offered to be a coach and a director but he turned it down because Alan was not offered.

true

[Anonymous]

Arlington ECNL is sessions also going to benefit from this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok but really — did anyone think we’d get to Thursday 2/29 at 2:30pm and NOT KNOW COACHES?! Its just unbelievable.

I’m going to respond to this post just so it resurfaces on here and everyone realizes what losers we all are for caring about stuff like this. I’d say grow up but it’s clearly too late.

Nva just announced their coaches this morning and their tryouts start Sunday...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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’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.

So you wanted to stay just McLean and not try to improve? There is one half way decent Union boys team and they still don’t have a winning record.

2011 - 13th of 16
2010 - 13th of 16
2009 - 10th of 16
2008 - 6th of 16
2007 - 10th of 16
2005/2006 - 16th of 16

Nice try. Season for U13 and U14 is not done so ranking is not even relevant. But compared to Brave:

Union 2011 - 3-11-1. Brave 2011 - 2-12-1
Union 2010 - 4-9-1. Brave 2010 - 5-6-4
Union 2009 - 5-8-2. Brave 2009 - 1-13-1
Union 2008 - 8-3-4. Brave 2008 - 0-15-0
Union 2007- 6-8-1. Brave 2008 - 6-8-1
Union 2006 - 1-11-2. Brave 2006 - 4-8-3

I am not against a merger. I am against losing our best coaches to a program that is worse than ours.

Those numbers were pulled straight form ECNL. Not saying Brave’s record is better. Just saying that you shouldn’t be saying a merger of sort doesn’t make sense. Something needs to be shaken up or it will stay status quo which isn’t good.

Reshuffling the deck doesn't change the outcome. Still crap programs that should play a lower level. We are reducing teams from 12 to 6 teams. The players are the ones who suffer.

Not necessarily. If you take the better players from both teams, you’ll most likely end up with a better team. Now, yes, you need good coaching but you also need to have the right players for the positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok but really — did anyone think we’d get to Thursday 2/29 at 2:30pm and NOT KNOW COACHES?! Its just unbelievable.

I’m going to respond to this post just so it resurfaces on here and everyone realizes what losers we all are for caring about stuff like this. I’d say grow up but it’s clearly too late.

I don’t understand why this makes us losers? Any objective person would agree that this is bad. Every other club has announced. What’s confusing to you? Also, we should grow up? You’re the one calling random people names on a message board my friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This weekends NVA ID sessions will probably be packed

invite only. And they are only allowing a few from each club. So maybe a few more then usual.

Not that hard to get an invite on the girls' side, it seems. I've heard of one ECNL-RL player that got an invite.