+1 boys had to leave for better competition/ league in MLSNext. Boys ECNL is pitiful. |
If TAW was arguing that Alexandria 2012 and 2013 won’t be at the bottom of the GA table next year, I could understand, as the TSJFC are even worse than those Alexandria teams, but to suggest they will be competitive with the top teams from these other DMV clubs is just nuts. |
For 2010s, the top RL teams in the area are every bit as good as the top area GA teams, and are notably better than the average GA teams. 2010 Arlington RL can beat every local GA team, and is notably stronger than 2010 SYC (since the top 2010 SYC players are rostered on Union). |
Let’s check back in a year, really, and see who was correct. |
But for a 2010, if you want to play in college, GA is still a better place to be, especially if you're on a strong GA team. The GA and ECNL showcases that don't even allow RL or local leagues play in them are where coaches go to recruit. I mean, sure, you can get into college for soccer playing RL but you're going to have to put in 10x more work at LEAST. |
That is correct. Go where you wanted, seek good coaching. Don’t settle. |
For the current season, the only local GA teams are VRSC, TSJFC, and SYC. TSJFC is terrible because all of the old 2010 FCV GA players left the club. A few followed CC to VRSC and the rest scattered. I agree that the top 2010s who grew up at SYC had already settled at Union. But, if you look at this year’s results, VRSC and SYC GA teams are comparable to Vienna and Arlington’s RL teams, with Loudoun’s RL team a bit behind them. The remaining DMV RL teams are clearly behind this group, this year. Going forward, I would expect this group to remain comparable. The question for me is where do the 2010 NVA players go? If they stay with NVA at GA, then that team will be better than every other GA and RL in the area by a mile, but my guess is that many of them are scattering to other ECNL teams. MYS and Alex will remain where they are, which is well behind that group. This picture is similar at 2011, except that VRSC and SYC are better than every local RL team, with MYS and Arlington close and Stafford and GFR trailing a bit further. Same question about NVA, are they staying together at NVA GA’s club or scattering to other ECNL clubs? My guess is that the better players on those RL teams will migrate to a GA club because of the better college recruiting exposure. |
NVA 2010s lost every player. Like half went to ECNL, the other half to VRSC. They are going to be worse than Loudoun next year. I would add GFR and VSA to 2010 RL teams that are comparable to mid GA teams, better than Loudoun. VRSC should be much better next year and should easily beat Loudoun and NVA. |
| Agreed with poster above. Also to note, that the competition for RL teams will not be what it was. |
How are the remaining ECNL teams able to absorb all these players? Do those teams lose the same number they are absorbing or are their roster sizes growing? |
OP here: “Top” meaning GA1, not GA2 |
| Arlington changed their roster over with NVA players. VDA and Union added more pieces to get to over 20 roster spots. Nothing crazy yet but it’s the norm to grow above 18 at u-16 and forward |
A little of both. Word is that Union’s rosters have exploded and they have a revolt brewing. But bottom ECNL players lost their spots and likely are moving to GA teams. But, when, for example, an NVA team loses all its players to ECNL clubs, the displaced ECNL players scatter, they obviously do not all go to NVA. |
| Does anyone have a view on the 2013 VRSC GA team? Did they pick up any Loudoun second team players or are they all going to Loudoun’s GA team (like Loudoun’s first team players who are all going to NVA)? I’m wondering where they will sit relative to NVA and SYC, which have very good 2013 squads, versus Loudoun and MYS, which seem likely to be made up mostly or second and third team players (given NVA and Union paths for their first team players) plus additions from outside the club. |
Which age group? |