GA & MLS NEXT Form Strategic Alliance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

This tangent started with a comment about GA paired with NWSL on a MLSN model potentially being able to develop players who are better prepared to play the evolving women’s professional game, which clearly is different than college kickball. Is there any reason to think the coaches in GA are suited to this? And don’t you need to start developing these technical skills much younger than U13?

Actually we're going through exactly this right now at my kids club. (GA top 50 team) our current coach plays intelligently and as a team. The new coach they want to put on the team is 100%, find the biggest players and play bootball. Unfortunately the club is allowing this to happen. Eventually bootball coach will get canned because they don't win. It just sucks that we're going to have to go though his losses.

Saying all this because it's no just ECNL playing bootball. Some GA coaches are like this as well. When you see it all you can do is shake your head.

I think if a Club is really going to try to elevate their playing standard, they will have to have a quality Director of Coaching who is freed up enough to QC the Coaches at practice and during games to enforce a practice and game-play standard. We're in GA and we have a GA coach who is good, but quickly reverts to bootball when the team is behind and runs a similar play-practice-play style of practice that is starting to become dull. It is essentially hard to say you have a club standard, but the Coaches games and practices are not reviewed or evaluated to uphold a standard. In other words, just like any club, it only takes one Coach to unravel a standard, especially when they are not checked up on.

If the DOC is coaching 3-4 teams, they probably won't have the time to check up on the other coaches to elevate the coaching level.

In our situation the problem coach is the DOC. He coaches a couple of teams, plays favorites, and is 100% bootball. If he won all would be forgiven. But he doeant. Everyone knows the writing is on the wall. Unfortunately it's going to take some time to play itself out. It's the owners of the clubs fault for letting things get to this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

She might be the highest salaried US player in the world right now but there are women in Europe making 3X her wages…………..there is a reason Sam Kerr left the Red Stars for England, and it wasnt the food…………

Please name one national team in the world that would not start Trinity Rodman.

Are you serious? Spain, Germany, Brazil, maybe England depending. She doesnt fit the style of play for those nations. She fits the US style of play to a T. If she is a world beater, why doesnt she go to England or Spain and make more than $250k a year?

It is why Cole Palmer never saw the field for Man City but is player of the year for Chelsea.

They would all take her and start her. She’s the #5 player in your Guardian rankings lol.

Maybe she’s happy playing in the country she’s grown up in and where her family is? Why doesn’t Cole Palmer go to Saudi Arabia and make more money? Everything isn’t about money. You’re definitely one of the ROI youth soccer parents.

Also Cole Palmer went to Chelsea because he wasn’t going to beat out Mahrez and Silva. At least that’s what Pep Guardiola said in an interview.

Maybe. Fit isnt there but maybe they take a best available athlete. Trinity technically skills are not refined. Her athletic skills are certainly dominate but some clubs dont play that style. Doesn’t really matter. You have your opinion and I have mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

This tangent started with a comment about GA paired with NWSL on a MLSN model potentially being able to develop players who are better prepared to play the evolving women’s professional game, which clearly is different than college kickball. Is there any reason to think the coaches in GA are suited to this? And don’t you need to start developing these technical skills much younger than U13?

Zero chance either ECNL or GA, regardless of affiliation, could ever standardize a curriculum. Too many egos, profit motives and conflicts of interest. USSF is honestly a joke. Might not be their fault because they dont get funded like other nations but it is the Wild West out there in girls youth soccer. Even the US ID scouts are all over the place. There is simply no standardization anywhere in the pyramid.

Do you think academies in England and Spain are following curriculums from their national governing body? It’s club by club.

DCUM. Full of “knowledgeable” parents.

So confidently incorrect……….

Yes, clubs have a club curriculum, but if you dont think the FA has MUCH more influence over the strategy for womens soccer development in the UK than USSF does in the US, you are 100% wrong.

I just laugh that you think USSF actually holds sway over Lavers/ECNL? He is openly contemptuous of USSF as is evidenced by almost everything he says on his podcast.

Just as one example of FA. They actually have a multi year strategy for development of women’s soccer. Rather than take shots at DCUM parents knowledge, try doing just the bare minimum of research before you clown yourself.

https://www.thefa.com/news/2024/sep/27/women-and-girls-stratgy-progress-inspiring-positive-change-20242709

These are actually very impressive results.

https://www.thefa.com/-/media/thefacom-new/files/womens/2024-25/the-fas-inspiring-positive-change-strategy-wrapup.ashx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

This tangent started with a comment about GA paired with NWSL on a MLSN model potentially being able to develop players who are better prepared to play the evolving women’s professional game, which clearly is different than college kickball. Is there any reason to think the coaches in GA are suited to this? And don’t you need to start developing these technical skills much younger than U13?

Zero chance either ECNL or GA, regardless of affiliation, could ever standardize a curriculum. Too many egos, profit motives and conflicts of interest. USSF is honestly a joke. Might not be their fault because they dont get funded like other nations but it is the Wild West out there in girls youth soccer. Even the US ID scouts are all over the place. There is simply no standardization anywhere in the pyramid.

Do you think academies in England and Spain are following curriculums from their national governing body? It’s club by club.

DCUM. Full of “knowledgeable” parents.

So confidently incorrect……….

Yes, clubs have a club curriculum, but if you dont think the FA has MUCH more influence over the strategy for womens soccer development in the UK than USSF does in the US, you are 100% wrong.

I just laugh that you think USSF actually holds sway over Lavers/ECNL? He is openly contemptuous of USSF as is evidenced by almost everything he says on his podcast.

Just as one example of FA. They actually have a multi year strategy for development of women’s soccer. Rather than take shots at DCUM parents knowledge, try doing just the bare minimum of research before you clown yourself.

https://www.thefa.com/news/2024/sep/27/women-and-girls-stratgy-progress-inspiring-positive-change-20242709

The FA has a proven track record of success in soccer like the other major European federations. US Soccer is an absolute joke. They hire siblings of executives to coach senior national teams. They fail at every turn. Funny how confident you are in US Soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

This bad take on US women’s soccer comes up every year. Then the US goes and wins the gold medal in the olympics against these countries that are supposedly so far ahead of us. The US women don’t dominate the rest of the world but to say Europe is so far ahead is just not supported by facts. Don’t confuse a particular style of play with being superior. Not all European teams are play technical either.

This was a discussion of NWSL being a superior league, not an indictment on USWNT. But is it just a coincidence that our resurgence after terrible prior Olympics and WC comes with a European coach moving towards players with a European style? Maybe?

Go watch YouTube interviews with Emma. Her time here and US soccer culture made her who she is. She took that standard of excellence from our women’s game to England and dominated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

This bad take on US women’s soccer comes up every year. Then the US goes and wins the gold medal in the olympics against these countries that are supposedly so far ahead of us. The US women don’t dominate the rest of the world but to say Europe is so far ahead is just not supported by facts. Don’t confuse a particular style of play with being superior. Not all European teams are play technical either.

This was a discussion of NWSL being a superior league, not an indictment on USWNT. But is it just a coincidence that our resurgence after terrible prior Olympics and WC comes with a European coach moving towards players with a European style? Maybe?

Go watch YouTube interviews with Emma. Her time here and US soccer culture made her who she is. She took that standard of excellence from our women’s game to England and dominated.

You’re mixing apples and oranges. For relative seriousness with which the women’s game is taken, the US model indeed has been exported to various parts of the world, including England. For how to play the game, sorry, we are importers, not exporters. Other countries look to their men’s programs for how to play, not the US women’s program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

This bad take on US women’s soccer comes up every year. Then the US goes and wins the gold medal in the olympics against these countries that are supposedly so far ahead of us. The US women don’t dominate the rest of the world but to say Europe is so far ahead is just not supported by facts. Don’t confuse a particular style of play with being superior. Not all European teams are play technical either.

This was a discussion of NWSL being a superior league, not an indictment on USWNT. But is it just a coincidence that our resurgence after terrible prior Olympics and WC comes with a European coach moving towards players with a European style? Maybe?

Go watch YouTube interviews with Emma. Her time here and US soccer culture made her who she is. She took that standard of excellence from our women’s game to England and dominated.

You’re mixing apples and oranges. For relative seriousness with which the women’s game is taken, the US model indeed has been exported to various parts of the world, including England. For how to play the game, sorry, we are importers, not exporters. Other countries look to their men’s programs for how to play, not the US women’s program.

💯💯💯

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

This bad take on US women’s soccer comes up every year. Then the US goes and wins the gold medal in the olympics against these countries that are supposedly so far ahead of us. The US women don’t dominate the rest of the world but to say Europe is so far ahead is just not supported by facts. Don’t confuse a particular style of play with being superior. Not all European teams are play technical either.

This was a discussion of NWSL being a superior league, not an indictment on USWNT. But is it just a coincidence that our resurgence after terrible prior Olympics and WC comes with a European coach moving towards players with a European style? Maybe?

Go watch YouTube interviews with Emma. Her time here and US soccer culture made her who she is. She took that standard of excellence from our women’s game to England and dominated.

You’re mixing apples and oranges. For relative seriousness with which the women’s game is taken, the US model indeed has been exported to various parts of the world, including England. For how to play the game, sorry, we are importers, not exporters. Other countries look to their men’s programs for how to play, not the US women’s program.

This is from an article even before the Olympics….

'Every game is like a Champions League game'

The question, though, remains. Without a true measuring stick to compare NWSL to other leagues, how can you know where the league stands? How would Gotham fare against, say, Barcelona? Could Bay FC compete in the WSL?

Right now, all we can go on are the words of players who have played at different levels. According to Gotham's Esther Gonzalez, though, the NWSL has the edge. Gonzalez, a member of Spain's World Cup-winning team, signed with Gotham in 2023. Prior to that, she played for clubs all over Spain, including Real Madrid, Levante and Atletico Madrid. In her opinion, the pure depth in the NWSL is unmatched, as the league is the hardest to play in from top to bottom.

"One of the biggest differences with the Spanish League, which is a great league, is that here all the games, absolutely all of them, are like a Champions League game, at the highest level," she said. "In Spain, there are some games that you can win four or five to zero, that your physical wear and tear is normal, that you have everything under control..."

She added: "Here every game is like playing against Barca, which is the best team in the Spanish League: your level has to be the maximum, your physical demand is the maximum, and that happens weekend after weekend.

"Afterwards, the big difference is control. In Spain, we have a lot of control over the games, the times, when to pause, when to attack and when not to. Here they look so physically superior that it's all about transitions."

https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/the-nwsl-is-back-how-america-top-flight-has-fought-back-against-europe-big-spenders/blt095517da66f2d9e7

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

This bad take on US women’s soccer comes up every year. Then the US goes and wins the gold medal in the olympics against these countries that are supposedly so far ahead of us. The US women don’t dominate the rest of the world but to say Europe is so far ahead is just not supported by facts. Don’t confuse a particular style of play with being superior. Not all European teams are play technical either.

This was a discussion of NWSL being a superior league, not an indictment on USWNT. But is it just a coincidence that our resurgence after terrible prior Olympics and WC comes with a European coach moving towards players with a European style? Maybe?

Go watch YouTube interviews with Emma. Her time here and US soccer culture made her who she is. She took that standard of excellence from our women’s game to England and dominated.

You’re mixing apples and oranges. For relative seriousness with which the women’s game is taken, the US model indeed has been exported to various parts of the world, including England. For how to play the game, sorry, we are importers, not exporters. Other countries look to their men’s programs for how to play, not the US women’s program.

This is from an article even before the Olympics….

'Every game is like a Champions League game'

The question, though, remains. Without a true measuring stick to compare NWSL to other leagues, how can you know where the league stands? How would Gotham fare against, say, Barcelona? Could Bay FC compete in the WSL?

Right now, all we can go on are the words of players who have played at different levels. According to Gotham's Esther Gonzalez, though, the NWSL has the edge. Gonzalez, a member of Spain's World Cup-winning team, signed with Gotham in 2023. Prior to that, she played for clubs all over Spain, including Real Madrid, Levante and Atletico Madrid. In her opinion, the pure depth in the NWSL is unmatched, as the league is the hardest to play in from top to bottom.

"One of the biggest differences with the Spanish League, which is a great league, is that here all the games, absolutely all of them, are like a Champions League game, at the highest level," she said. "In Spain, there are some games that you can win four or five to zero, that your physical wear and tear is normal, that you have everything under control..."

She added: "Here every game is like playing against Barca, which is the best team in the Spanish League: your level has to be the maximum, your physical demand is the maximum, and that happens weekend after weekend.

"Afterwards, the big difference is control. In Spain, we have a lot of control over the games, the times, when to pause, when to attack and when not to. Here they look so physically superior that it's all about transitions."

https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/the-nwsl-is-back-how-america-top-flight-has-fought-back-against-europe-big-spenders/blt095517da66f2d9e7

.

Who cares where the NWSL stands? Most people could care less. Even girls I to soccer could care less. We play our game. If we lose we lose. Not trying to get better here. This is a thread about Ecnl and ga soccer. Not pro soccer. Ecnl and ga soccer are geared toward the American college game. Not pros. That seems about right for 95% of the players. As to the 5%, who cares. Move to Europe.

[Anonymous]

NWSL and WSL (Women's Super League in England) are pretty comparable. Though, I'd say Chelsea Women would probably spank the the best NWSL teams like they do in WSL.

Both are good leagues, easily the best leagues in the world. Fun to watch but I feel like the worst teams in NWSL are better than the bottom of WSL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Did you watch the match? The best ECNL teams could compete against either WFU or UNC. Neither UNC nor WFU could hold a candle to the Houston Dash.

The college soccer technical skills is seriously lacking. It is no longer a stepping stone or development stage for pro-soccer. They just aren’t doing the right sort of work at that level to create pro-level talent. If you can’t see that, you know nothing about soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

This bad take on US women’s soccer comes up every year. Then the US goes and wins the gold medal in the olympics against these countries that are supposedly so far ahead of us. The US women don’t dominate the rest of the world but to say Europe is so far ahead is just not supported by facts. Don’t confuse a particular style of play with being superior. Not all European teams are play technical either.

This was a discussion of NWSL being a superior league, not an indictment on USWNT. But is it just a coincidence that our resurgence after terrible prior Olympics and WC comes with a European coach moving towards players with a European style? Maybe?

Go watch YouTube interviews with Emma. Her time here and US soccer culture made her who she is. She took that standard of excellence from our women’s game to England and dominated.

You’re mixing apples and oranges. For relative seriousness with which the women’s game is taken, the US model indeed has been exported to various parts of the world, including England. For how to play the game, sorry, we are importers, not exporters. Other countries look to their men’s programs for how to play, not the US women’s program.

This is from an article even before the Olympics….

'Every game is like a Champions League game'

The question, though, remains. Without a true measuring stick to compare NWSL to other leagues, how can you know where the league stands? How would Gotham fare against, say, Barcelona? Could Bay FC compete in the WSL?

Right now, all we can go on are the words of players who have played at different levels. According to Gotham's Esther Gonzalez, though, the NWSL has the edge. Gonzalez, a member of Spain's World Cup-winning team, signed with Gotham in 2023. Prior to that, she played for clubs all over Spain, including Real Madrid, Levante and Atletico Madrid. In her opinion, the pure depth in the NWSL is unmatched, as the league is the hardest to play in from top to bottom.

"One of the biggest differences with the Spanish League, which is a great league, is that here all the games, absolutely all of them, are like a Champions League game, at the highest level," she said. "In Spain, there are some games that you can win four or five to zero, that your physical wear and tear is normal, that you have everything under control..."

She added: "Here every game is like playing against Barca, which is the best team in the Spanish League: your level has to be the maximum, your physical demand is the maximum, and that happens weekend after weekend.

"Afterwards, the big difference is control. In Spain, we have a lot of control over the games, the times, when to pause, when to attack and when not to. Here they look so physically superior that it's all about transitions."

https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/the-nwsl-is-back-how-america-top-flight-has-fought-back-against-europe-big-spenders/blt095517da66f2d9e7

.

Who cares where the NWSL stands? Most people could care less. Even girls I to soccer could care less. We play our game. If we lose we lose. Not trying to get better here. This is a thread about Ecnl and ga soccer. Not pro soccer. Ecnl and ga soccer are geared toward the American college game. Not pros. That seems about right for 95% of the players. As to the 5%, who cares. Move to Europe.

Hahahahaha -- thanks for trying to change the subject so much that you in essence admit you've lost this point (as what you're responding to has context to this entire discussion and all you're doing here is trying to move the goal posts on the discussion!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Did you watch the match? The best ECNL teams could compete against either WFU or UNC. Neither UNC nor WFU could hold a candle to the Houston Dash.

The college soccer technical skills is seriously lacking. It is no longer a stepping stone or development stage for pro-soccer. They just aren’t doing the right sort of work at that level to create pro-level talent. If you can’t see that, you know nothing about soccer.

College sports has never been a developmental stage for pros in any sport. Just because it’s where players sometimes go first does not make it developmental. College coaches are just trying to win games. That is their job and they’ll lose it otherwise. Every coaching decision they make is to win games. As it should be. Rosters, playing time, positions, game strategy, recruiting.

The only ones with any vested interest in true development for the pros would be the pro teams themselves. Not because they love the game of soccer but because they want to win games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Did you watch the match? The best ECNL teams could compete against either WFU or UNC. Neither UNC nor WFU could hold a candle to the Houston Dash.

The college soccer technical skills is seriously lacking. It is no longer a stepping stone or development stage for pro-soccer. They just aren’t doing the right sort of work at that level to create pro-level talent. If you can’t see that, you know nothing about soccer.

College sports has never been a developmental stage for pros in any sport. Just because it’s where players sometimes go first does not make it developmental. College coaches are just trying to win games. That is their job and they’ll lose it otherwise. Every coaching decision they make is to win games. As it should be. Rosters, playing time, positions, game strategy, recruiting.

The only ones with any vested interest in true development for the pros would be the pro teams themselves. Not because they love the game of soccer but because they want to win games.

That's the weird thing. Both college and pro coaches are just trying to win + development means nothing to either. However women's college soccer for the most part is just bad soccer. You'd think that eventually some of the top youth coaches that do play very good soccer would eventually filter up to college levels but they don't.

I think the issue with college sports is that it's all a who you know type of environment. Wins are important but knowing the dean on a first name basis is more important. This type of mentality trickles down into who gets recruited and which divisions colleges play in, etc etc etc.

Hopefully NCAA blowing up will bring a new environment.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Did you watch the match? The best ECNL teams could compete against either WFU or UNC. Neither UNC nor WFU could hold a candle to the Houston Dash.

The college soccer technical skills is seriously lacking. It is no longer a stepping stone or development stage for pro-soccer. They just aren’t doing the right sort of work at that level to create pro-level talent. If you can’t see that, you know nothing about soccer.

College sports has never been a developmental stage for pros in any sport. Just because it’s where players sometimes go first does not make it developmental. College coaches are just trying to win games. That is their job and they’ll lose it otherwise. Every coaching decision they make is to win games. As it should be. Rosters, playing time, positions, game strategy, recruiting.

The only ones with any vested interest in true development for the pros would be the pro teams themselves. Not because they love the game of soccer but because they want to win games.

That's the weird thing. Both college and pro coaches are just trying to win + development means nothing to either. However women's college soccer for the most part is just bad soccer. You'd think that eventually some of the top youth coaches that do play very good soccer would eventually filter up to college levels but they don't.

I think the issue with college sports is that it's all a who you know type of environment. Wins are important but knowing the dean on a first name basis is more important. This type of mentality trickles down into who gets recruited and which divisions colleges play in, etc etc etc.

Hopefully NCAA blowing up will bring a new environment.

What does bad soccer even mean to a college coach? There is only winning and losing. Winning is good for them.