Lots of chatter that if you are NL, you are on the 10-month program. |
If Toledo players could get Hawks, they'd probably still take it, given their reputation/strength of team. Same for Jags. Tigers closer than Jags and maybe a tad closer than Hawks, but they're more like GTFC than the established names at the moment. Bottom line: Good for GTFC for getting the opportunity as it looks like they are one of the stronger RL clubs in the country, BUT the danger for a rising club is ending up like nearby Pacesetter, which always struggled before they got booted to RL. Also no slight at GTFC, but Midwest is a much, much stronger club. |
Yes, there could be fewer super teams now from Michigan as these clubs now have a better argument to keep their best players. |
OTOH, if they struggle, especially vs. the super teams, possibly easier to then recruit their best players and still lose them. |
I bet you can’t even list 5 ECNL programs who are 10 month. It might be the best thing for the top end, but it’s hard to sell in the culture of American sports |
Well, I don't have an official list -- maybe we could crowdsource one -- but I do know they exist and I know it happens way too much "unofficially" where a player may face a tough choice if they want to play HS, even if perhaps promised that they could. How do you think some top clubs maintain their edge? One way or another they make sure some players don't play HS, which in their minds view in terms of player development as often not great and also an injury risk. |
Kinda a catch 22 for a club like GTFC, yes that is good getting the promotion, but that club will never compete at the top anytime soon, with another club in the area already getting the edge on there pre-ecnl teams(coaching/environment). Columbus resident here, with a niece at GTFC. Her parents are not happy about the move next fall especially with the big switch 26/27. Too much soccer saturation in that northwest Ohio market with multi sport athletes at the club. Rl worked for them due to travel basketball being her #1 sport. Should have given the promotion to Midwest not GTFC, especially with the soccer growth/population in Grand Rapids. So is it better to be on a very strong RL team with solid coaching/ environment or a very weak National team at or near the bottom every year? |
Valid question/concern. What's the other club that they're competing with in NW Ohio? Also, to clarify, Midwest was NL and left for GA because it faced demotion, apparently. Some question that as political since other NL teams were weaker in the standings. But that's club soccer, sadly. |
What is the big move in 26/27? Who has the pre-ecnl edge in the area? Pacesetter is RL, GTFC was RL and now going NL? How can someone be promoted (Midwest)? When they got kicked out of ECNL. Not only that but Midwest was in the Midwest conference (Spring HS season), and GTFC is Ohio Valley (Fall High School)... you sure you are from the area? lol |
Michigan Hawks & Michigan Nationals have superteams because of the soccer talent in Metro-Detroit.. the 1-2 kids driving from other areas are not what "makes it" for the area. Not to mention you add in Jaguars have a pretty good 09 team (Nationals & Hawks both v. good at 09), the population speaks for itself. |
Yes, soccer is big in SE MI. But AA is part of Metro Detroit. Those Midwest kids carpooling driving 2 hours. The kids form Toldeo. All the Rush kids the Jags got when they got bought out ... Shall I go on ... There's a reason why these teams are so deep and that could be changing with more local-er teams playing at higher levels. |
Wouldn't you still have the solid coaching and environment playing in the NL? OK, your not 1st, but who cares, competing against better players makes you better, not beating up on weaker teams... |
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this whole thing is a mess. They should have a chart for who is where.
Do they think this annoying slow drip makes them look cool? |
No, but the slow drip is definitely applying pressure to certain clubs who are on the fence. A smart negotiating tactic. |
while pissing off a ton of others. Sounds smart. |