Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:News of the merger or since the communication from McLean made it clear that McLean families had to face the hard reality that the club has been in decline for some time?

Instead of pretending to still be a strong brand without competition, why not embrace that the club may have been given a true lifeline to being competitive?

It’s not like Arlington girls are doing any better. ECNL created this mess.

Agree - and if you look at how Arl boys are doing at the pre-ECNL boys levels vs SYC and Alex, it isn’t pretty. Their U12 pre-ECNL boys just lost 4-0 to SYC’s MLS Next II team…And this is an Arl team that was 8-0 with a +33 goal differential in league play. Arlington isn’t doing a bad job, it’s just that ECNL is losing ground rapidly vs MLS Next. McLean and BRAVE have their faults, but at the end of the day, ECNL is the problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:News of the merger or since the communication from McLean made it clear that McLean families had to face the hard reality that the club has been in decline for some time?

Instead of pretending to still be a strong brand without competition, why not embrace that the club may have been given a true lifeline to being competitive?

It’s not like Arlington girls are doing any better. ECNL created this mess.

They should have just merged Arlington and McLean and let Brave continue to build and also take in any of those players that may not have made the cut in that merger.

But I guess that still wouldn’t have solved the boys side which isn’t solvable given the number of mlsn teams in this area.

There are too many girls ECNL and GA teams in the DMV. Houston is a much bigger market and they have 4 clubs, 2 ECNL and 2 GA. Even after the McBrave merger, we have 5 ECNL and 3 GA, which is asinine. There isn’t enough nationally competitive player talent in the area to field that many competitive teams or enough nationally capable coaching talent in the area to develop enough players. In time, McBrave will combine with Arlington and the loser of the FCV - VRSC war will go away in some fashion, and we’ll still have 1 and perhaps 2 too many ECNL / GA teams. But the massive gap between the area’s ECNL and GA teams, on the one hand, and the ECNLR teams, on the other hand, will be narrowed to something that is more appropriate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least Arlington has one or two standout ECNL teams on the girls side.

True test will come during the playoffs.

Yes. It would be great for all of the NoVa girls programs in the area if teams can start to advance out of playoffs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD's are leaving after this season. Heard from other families exiting also.

Where will they be going?

To the DCUM forum to let everyone know.

Anonymous wrote:At least Arlington has one or two standout ECNL teams on the girls side.

True test will come during the playoffs.

I know a handful of families that are leaving.

I think for the most part you will see most families physically still there but emotionally their heads will be elsewhere. People are still holding on to what McLean was 10 years ago.

MYS as a whole has lost its place.

At least Arlington has one or two standout ECNL teams on the girls side.

They will keep the showcase players and all the good players will leave.

Anonymous wrote:How many families are now planning to leave Mclean after the news of the merger broke?

The important question is will there be an exodus of starters or will it just be players that would be squeezed out for next year.

Anonymous wrote:My DD's are leaving after this season. Heard from other families exiting also.

Where will they be going?

Anonymous wrote:News of the merger or since the communication from McLean made it clear that McLean families had to face the hard reality that the club has been in decline for some time?

Instead of pretending to still be a strong brand without competition, why not embrace that the club may have been given a true lifeline to being competitive?

It’s not like Arlington girls are doing any better. ECNL created this mess.

My DD's are leaving after this season. Heard from other families exiting also.

News of the merger or since the communication from McLean made it clear that McLean families had to face the hard reality that the club has been in decline for some time?

Instead of pretending to still be a strong brand without competition, why not embrace that the club may have been given a true lifeline to being competitive?

How many families are now planning to leave Mclean after the news of the merger broke?