ECNL forcing Brave & Union Partnership

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MYS emailed the boys side that John Harkes is taking over as a coach for a few teams, and boys technical assistant on the boys side. If they had this ace up their sleeve for the boys side, why the heck didn't they pull it out sooner? This is a positive development for many players but it makes zero sense that disastor had to strike before the club decided to provide resources to the boys side....

Watched some of JH’s practice with a younger boys team tonight. They were working, laughing and having a good time. He was involved and played, took them on defensively but gently, watch them finishing, cheered on the Keeper, took a turn in the net. It looked great for first or second training with the team.

[Anonymous]

Always choose the better team. In this case VDA. If your kid is good and on a bad team, they will be bored at practice by October. Makes for a long year.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:McLean parent already have ML in their pocket so that's why they are so pissed off, and why SYC families are so willing to leave. MV has never demonstrated that he cares what any parent thinks. This is every overinvolved soccer parents worst fear but may lead to better results. Give the Dutch guy a shot

Better results than what? Winning the top bracket of Jeff cup? Finishing in 2nd place in conference play with just 1 loss? And no, no one has ML in their pocket. He's a tough but fair coach. He has a great reputation and every parent I know whose daughter played for him has nothing but good things to say, whether they played for him in Herndon, DMV FC, or McLean. Stop trying to create a false narrative. The "Dutch guy" doesn't have a good record and Brave families will tell you they are disappointed he's on the coaching slate.

Nice try, but not true. Most Brave players and families have embraced these upcoming changes only because MV is involved.

Not a false narrative this is the truth. Call me what you will, but I've been spot on for all this since page 1 of this thread. MV is well regarded, respected, and appreciated by Brave families. Notice I didn't say liked. They will certainly follow him to Union, IF they are able to make the team. He's not sentimental so he will put best team together from who shows up to tyouts and IDs. The fact that 7 Brave offers were made at 2010s speaks volumes to not his favoritism to Brave players, but the reality that half of the current Union team is not coming back, thats on ML and MYS parents specifically. If the team that just won Jeff Cup was bringing everyone back and just reloading with 2-3 best players at Brave, and 2-3 other solid players in NoVa making moves then sure my narrative is wrong. The truth is the team will be different, and ML had to bend and invite 7 Brave players. We all know only 2-3 should have been added, but when you lose talent you got be creative so more offers had to be made to the inferior group of players.

MV is in over his head regardless of what VYS parents who never had ECNL aspirations before believe. The reality is the BRAVE families lucked out that they will inherit McLean experience and connections because MV has zero pull with college coaches.

MV puts 4 players in college. LOL

MV is like every other coach in this area that knows how to survive in youth soccer. Make some pitch (in MV’s case it’s some BS about Dutch soccer philosophy) to recruit the best players you can. Throw them on the field w no real coaching philosophy or style other than play a very defensive set and boot the ball up to the star players and hope they can win games on their individual brilliance. If they win, kiss the star players asses so they stay and claim victory. If they lose, blame LO.

What a loser. No player that has options and D1 aspirations is following MV to FVU. FVU on the girls side will basically be Union plus a few players. Expect more of the same which is middle tier ecnl.

Middle tier ECNL is quite nice on the girls side.

Whatever you think. What if every other local ecnl team is better? Will you think it is still quite nice?

You’re the loser. MV has the trust of all of the top VYS players and families. They will all follow him to FVU. I have confidence once he takes over FVU that other families will see that he will take care of the impact players. Results will follow.

VYS really isn't that great. Awesome. They all follow MV. What does that get FVU? It gets them a few "ok" players at best and a good number of egotistical parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MYS emailed the boys side that John Harkes is taking over as a coach for a few teams, and boys technical assistant on the boys side. If they had this ace up their sleeve for the boys side, why the heck didn't they pull it out sooner? This is a positive development for many players but it makes zero sense that disastor had to strike before the club decided to provide resources to the boys side....

Watched some of JH’s practice with a younger boys team tonight. They were working, laughing and having a good time. He was involved and played, took them on defensively but gently, watch them finishing, cheered on the Keeper, took a turn in the net. It looked great for first or second training with the team.

It is not an ace up the sleeve. He is a temporary replacement for JW given that JW left mid-season. Harkes has helped out MYS before similar to this and his wife has coached in the past.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:2011 girls with a weak turnout as far as quality goes. Don’t see that team improving much at all. CW will have to be involved if that team has any chance next year. Probably the team with the least benefit from merging with Brave across the board. Outside of the goal keeper, not sure if they should be changing anything. Otherwise, they’re trading better existing players for weaker ones.

VA Union beat Brave 4-1 this season and several BRYC/VYS girls tried out for Union but didn't make it last year. Brave was the backup option for Mclean girls last year and none took their offers there but picked Union. LO is the head coach for next year and will have control of the roster... CW is not the kind of person who will push to have all his players beyond telling LO who his top selections are. He is too passive and would rather just go along. CW is the assistant coach so this is going to be a LO/MV in the background team according to Brave parents.

There are maybe 4-5 Brave players to add including the goalie but the rest of LO's picks are going to make the team weaker.

Let’s say an 18 girl roster and 4 Brave players moving to Union. The key will be how much SYC talent the 2011 girls lose, and how much external talent is willing to commit.

But if we assume those two offset (let’s say Union loses 3 SYC starters who would have made the team and picks up 3 strong players not on Brave), that leaves 15 slots. Are three Union subs better than the majority of Brave starters? The originally quoted poster (McLean dad) seemed to think all but one Union player was better than every Brave player. Let’s look at the numbers…

2011 Union is in 6th place at 7-4-3 with a +3 GD. Very respectable, but not at the level of their 2010s. They played in the 2nd flight of Jeff Cup last weekend, going 1-1-1, with the tie and loss to GA teams.

2011 Brave is in 8th place at 6-6-5 with a -6 GD. But they lost by 6 goals to Arlington 2011s, a team Union hasn’t had to play yet this season. They played in the same flight as Union at Jeff Cup, and went 0-1-2.

Take away that Arlington game, and the two teams look pretty similar on paper. The numbers don’t seem to support no Brave starters making the team, nor do they support the majority of Union bench players making it over the majority of Brave starters.

Except that it is widely recognized from Brave parents themselves that good fortune came into play and they got lucky with some games in the beginning of the season. Which is fine, no hate, because luck is part of sport. I have heard this from parents. That and the goalie singlehandedly kept them in some games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 2011 boy has just been offered spots at both FVU and VDA. After going through what each academy offers, we're gravitating towards VDA, primarily due to their training schedule. From what we understand, VDA is quite rigorous, holding training sessions 4 days a week for 1.5 hours each, with a relatively short break of just 2 weeks over winter.

However, I've been hearing some chatter from parents with kids at Brave, suggesting a different story there. They've mentioned that Brave's schedule is less demanding, with training only 3 days a week and a significantly longer break during winter. Moreover, it seems Brave participates in fewer tournaments compared to VDA, yet, interestingly, charges more for their program.

Is there any truth to these claims? I'd love to hear from anyone who's had experience with either (or both) of these academies.

Where do you get FVU charges more than VDA? I'm see both charge $3,200, but add in a field fee for VDA at $125. Team fee is also higher at VDA $720 vs $500, but does include more tournaments, so probably a wash. What am I missing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2011 boy has just been offered spots at both FVU and VDA. After going through what each academy offers, we're gravitating towards VDA, primarily due to their training schedule. From what we understand, VDA is quite rigorous, holding training sessions 4 days a week for 1.5 hours each, with a relatively short break of just 2 weeks over winter.

However, I've been hearing some chatter from parents with kids at Brave, suggesting a different story there. They've mentioned that Brave's schedule is less demanding, with training only 3 days a week and a significantly longer break during winter. Moreover, it seems Brave participates in fewer tournaments compared to VDA, yet, interestingly, charges more for their program.

Is there any truth to these claims? I'd love to hear from anyone who's had experience with either (or both) of these academies.

Where do you get FVU charges more than VDA? I'm see both charge $3,200, but add in a field fee for VDA at $125. Team fee is also higher at VDA $720 vs $500, but does include more tournaments, so probably a wash. What am I missing?

Pretty sure VDA rarely goes 4x a week. Its more often 3x a week just like everybody else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My 2011 boy has just been offered spots at both FVU and VDA. After going through what each academy offers, we're gravitating towards VDA, primarily due to their training schedule. From what we understand, VDA is quite rigorous, holding training sessions 4 days a week for 1.5 hours each, with a relatively short break of just 2 weeks over winter.

However, I've been hearing some chatter from parents with kids at Brave, suggesting a different story there. They've mentioned that Brave's schedule is less demanding, with training only 3 days a week and a significantly longer break during winter. Moreover, it seems Brave participates in fewer tournaments compared to VDA, yet, interestingly, charges more for their program.

Is there any truth to these claims? I'd love to hear from anyone who's had experience with either (or both) of these academies.

Unless there are commuting concerns, run to VDA.

Make sure you know what specific fields the practices are at. Some of the fields 1 hour apart from each other. Ask so you are not stuck in a crazy commute.

Trainings are always split between Woodbridge and Haymarket

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:2011 girls with a weak turnout as far as quality goes. Don’t see that team improving much at all. CW will have to be involved if that team has any chance next year. Probably the team with the least benefit from merging with Brave across the board. Outside of the goal keeper, not sure if they should be changing anything. Otherwise, they’re trading better existing players for weaker ones.

VA Union beat Brave 4-1 this season and several BRYC/VYS girls tried out for Union but didn't make it last year. Brave was the backup option for Mclean girls last year and none took their offers there but picked Union. LO is the head coach for next year and will have control of the roster... CW is not the kind of person who will push to have all his players beyond telling LO who his top selections are. He is too passive and would rather just go along. CW is the assistant coach so this is going to be a LO/MV in the background team according to Brave parents.

There are maybe 4-5 Brave players to add including the goalie but the rest of LO's picks are going to make the team weaker.

Let’s say an 18 girl roster and 4 Brave players moving to Union. The key will be how much SYC talent the 2011 girls lose, and how much external talent is willing to commit.

But if we assume those two offset (let’s say Union loses 3 SYC starters who would have made the team and picks up 3 strong players not on Brave), that leaves 15 slots. Are three Union subs better than the majority of Brave starters? The originally quoted poster (McLean dad) seemed to think all but one Union player was better than every Brave player. Let’s look at the numbers…

2011 Union is in 6th place at 7-4-3 with a +3 GD. Very respectable, but not at the level of their 2010s. They played in the 2nd flight of Jeff Cup last weekend, going 1-1-1, with the tie and loss to GA teams.

2011 Brave is in 8th place at 6-6-5 with a -6 GD. But they lost by 6 goals to Arlington 2011s, a team Union hasn’t had to play yet this season. They played in the same flight as Union at Jeff Cup, and went 0-1-2.

Take away that Arlington game, and the two teams look pretty similar on paper. The numbers don’t seem to support no Brave starters making the team, nor do they support the majority of Union bench players making it over the majority of Brave starters.

Except that it is widely recognized from Brave parents themselves that good fortune came into play and they got lucky with some games in the beginning of the season. Which is fine, no hate, because luck is part of sport. I have heard this from parents. That and the goalie singlehandedly kept them in some games.

But that’s part of the game—the GK is part of the team.

[Anonymous]

So, did ECNL force the Brave, Union partnership or not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, did ECNL force the Brave, Union partnership or not?

Combination of things? I think what happened was that ECNL highlighted to them that their boys program has been performing poorly and that their ECNL status was in jeopardy. That combined with SYC going their own way led to what we have now.

[Anonymous]

Have second round of offers for 2011 and 2010 gone out?

[Anonymous]

^girls

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:McLean parent already have ML in their pocket so that's why they are so pissed off, and why SYC families are so willing to leave. MV has never demonstrated that he cares what any parent thinks. This is every overinvolved soccer parents worst fear but may lead to better results. Give the Dutch guy a shot

Better results than what? Winning the top bracket of Jeff cup? Finishing in 2nd place in conference play with just 1 loss? And no, no one has ML in their pocket. He's a tough but fair coach. He has a great reputation and every parent I know whose daughter played for him has nothing but good things to say, whether they played for him in Herndon, DMV FC, or McLean. Stop trying to create a false narrative. The "Dutch guy" doesn't have a good record and Brave families will tell you they are disappointed he's on the coaching slate.

Nice try, but not true. Most Brave players and families have embraced these upcoming changes only because MV is involved.

Not a false narrative this is the truth. Call me what you will, but I've been spot on for all this since page 1 of this thread. MV is well regarded, respected, and appreciated by Brave families. Notice I didn't say liked. They will certainly follow him to Union, IF they are able to make the team. He's not sentimental so he will put best team together from who shows up to tyouts and IDs. The fact that 7 Brave offers were made at 2010s speaks volumes to not his favoritism to Brave players, but the reality that half of the current Union team is not coming back, thats on ML and MYS parents specifically. If the team that just won Jeff Cup was bringing everyone back and just reloading with 2-3 best players at Brave, and 2-3 other solid players in NoVa making moves then sure my narrative is wrong. The truth is the team will be different, and ML had to bend and invite 7 Brave players. We all know only 2-3 should have been added, but when you lose talent you got be creative so more offers had to be made to the inferior group of players.

MV is in over his head regardless of what VYS parents who never had ECNL aspirations before believe. The reality is the BRAVE families lucked out that they will inherit McLean experience and connections because MV has zero pull with college coaches.

MV puts 4 players in college. LOL

MV is like every other coach in this area that knows how to survive in youth soccer. Make some pitch (in MV’s case it’s some BS about Dutch soccer philosophy) to recruit the best players you can. Throw them on the field w no real coaching philosophy or style other than play a very defensive set and boot the ball up to the star players and hope they can win games on their individual brilliance. If they win, kiss the star players asses so they stay and claim victory. If they lose, blame LO.

What a loser. No player that has options and D1 aspirations is following MV to FVU. FVU on the girls side will basically be Union plus a few players. Expect more of the same which is middle tier ecnl.

Middle tier ECNL is quite nice on the girls side.

Whatever you think. What if every other local ecnl team is better? Will you think it is still quite nice?

You’re the loser. MV has the trust of all of the top VYS players and families. They will all follow him to FVU. I have confidence once he takes over FVU that other families will see that he will take care of the impact players. Results will follow.

This sounds like MV defending himself on the public forum and accidentally revealing his true colors. Says he will take care of about 3 kids while calling the rest losers. The team may win a few games and MV thinks that's justification but this unhealthy culture is not what any parent should want for their teenage daughter. Even if the team wins you and your DD will feel defeated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have second round of offers for 2011 and 2010 gone out?

Yes.