Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 10:26     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

Honestly, we are thinking of going to ECNL because of the absurd tournament travel of MLS Next.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 09:55     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

If MLSN 2 teams had a different badge (like ENCL RL and GA-A does) it would totally change the perception. best thing MLSN did was just allow them to use the same badge. Great parlor trick.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 08:37     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why are the MLS B team families so desperate about how their teams are totally definitely 100% not literally even with RL teams? Its the same pool of players as the year before MLS B team league happened. Taking the same group of kids and changing the name of the team doesn't magically make the team better.

Kids *move up* to ECNL or MLS HG. Kids move "laterally" between RL and MLS B teams.

Are there some standings somewhere that show in the DC area, MLS B teams are better than RL teams across the board?

I'm really baffled by the logic of these famileis.
because RL was garbage in VA and always has been. Those kids are left over kids who could never make ECNL or desperate to get a badge. MLSN Academy is brand new. And a big portion of former ECNL players with some RL as well.[/

‘New’ is relative - the only new thing about all these teams is the MLS 2 patch. These teams have been around since the dawn of time. None are new. True- they give playing opportunity for some bubble/bench ECNL players since the play is less competitive.


Every non-MLS Academy club (MLSN P2P clubs) was forced to standup a MLSN AD team. Perhaps not in the DMV, but elsewhere some of these clubs had no second team to promote to AD and had to recruit from scratch.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 22:07     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why are the MLS B team families so desperate about how their teams are totally definitely 100% not literally even with RL teams? Its the same pool of players as the year before MLS B team league happened. Taking the same group of kids and changing the name of the team doesn't magically make the team better.

Kids *move up* to ECNL or MLS HG. Kids move "laterally" between RL and MLS B teams.

Are there some standings somewhere that show in the DC area, MLS B teams are better than RL teams across the board?

I'm really baffled by the logic of these famileis.
because RL was garbage in VA and always has been. Those kids are left over kids who could never make ECNL or desperate to get a badge. MLSN Academy is brand new. And a big portion of former ECNL players with some RL as well.[/

‘New’ is relative - the only new thing about all these teams is the MLS 2 patch. These teams have been around since the dawn of time. None are new. True- they give playing opportunity for some bubble/bench ECNL players since the play is less competitive.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 19:40     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

Anonymous wrote:Why are the MLS B team families so desperate about how their teams are totally definitely 100% not literally even with RL teams? Its the same pool of players as the year before MLS B team league happened. Taking the same group of kids and changing the name of the team doesn't magically make the team better.

Kids *move up* to ECNL or MLS HG. Kids move "laterally" between RL and MLS B teams.

Are there some standings somewhere that show in the DC area, MLS B teams are better than RL teams across the board?

I'm really baffled by the logic of these famileis.
because RL was garbage in VA and always has been. Those kids are left over kids who could never make ECNL or desperate to get a badge. MLSN Academy is brand new. And a big portion of former ECNL players with some RL as well.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 16:53     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

Anonymous wrote:Or who is jumping to ECNL from MLS2 given the age group change? I suspect there are many Q3 and Q4 boys on MLS2 teams.


We debated it, but ultimately think we'll stick with MLSN2 as we like the club and are not dying to play in college (and make the sacrifices necessary to play ECNL NL) and have done the RL bit already and don't need a rehash. If college is your dream and you have an ECNL NL club nearby that's probably the better bet.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 16:35     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They dont travel much. But the MLSN2 teams in the area have beaten ECNL teams. Many of the 2 teams are rostered with former ECNL players.


This is pretty funny. The MLS 2 teams are teams that less than 12 months ago were playing in EDP or NPL or NAL. They are equivalent to ECRL (regional league). They are rostered with players from EDP and NAL and a few cut from ECNL.

They are no different than they were last year as SYCs 'B' team or St James EDP team or Alexandria's EDP team.
incorrect


The 7 ECNL players cut from my DC's team are now all on MLS2. They decided to take that offer over ECNL RL. Decent players but bubble players with little playing time. No ECNL players willingly left ECNL for an MLS2 roster spot. Many leave for MLSN1 roster spot, but not for AD. Sorry. This is still the B team. MLS is trying to make some money but don't kid yourself that the 2 teams are anything other than what they were less than a year ago. The B team.

7 players cut from 1 team?

That seems like an ECNL issue. If you have that kind of turnover the team/club cant be that good.


Its a well known business philosophy that turnover is only a problem if its is regretted. Non regretted turnover is healthy. On a roster with 22-26 players losing 7 means you are replacing the bottom 30%. As they get older, you don't just get to be grandfathered in to your team just because you were there at U14. You have to earn your spot each year and compete against new talent. Typically bubble/bottom on each team is replaced with higher calibur players who either moved to the area and have to start fresh, or got cut by their current club (higher ranked ECNL team, or MLS). Sometimes, position rebalancing is also in play when a new coach comes in with new formations. Either way--12 months ago, MLS2 were the A teams in lower leagues like EDP and NPL. They are equivalent to ECRL (though I would argue that ECRL at least has a path to ECNL, where as MLS2 doesn't seem to given age group change).
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 10:25     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

Or who is jumping to ECNL from MLS2 given the age group change? I suspect there are many Q3 and Q4 boys on MLS2 teams.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 10:11     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

So who is jumping to MLSN since ECNL is pretty much dead?
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 10:10     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

I think its very obvious to everyone but the most delusional parents that around here ECNL RL = MLS 2.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 10:08     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

MLSN2 has a good trajectory - it's existed for one year and the teams are still a real hodgepodge of existing NAL/NPL teams, teams made brand new and teams migrated over from ECNL RL.

I'd bet in some places the teams are amazing and in others middle of the road. Just like some ECNL NL teams can be beat by other clubs ECNL RL teams.

Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 09:30     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

Here's just one example.

A middle of the pack in the standings U15 boys MLS Next 2 team-Loudoun.

Lost 0-1 to Steel City RL
Lost 3-2 to Charlotte RL
Tied Valor RL 0-0
Beat Burke (an NCSL team) only by 2
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 09:17     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

Why are the MLS B team families so desperate about how their teams are totally definitely 100% not literally even with RL teams? Its the same pool of players as the year before MLS B team league happened. Taking the same group of kids and changing the name of the team doesn't magically make the team better.

Kids *move up* to ECNL or MLS HG. Kids move "laterally" between RL and MLS B teams.

Are there some standings somewhere that show in the DC area, MLS B teams are better than RL teams across the board?

I'm really baffled by the logic of these famileis.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 09:12     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They dont travel much. But the MLSN2 teams in the area have beaten ECNL teams. Many of the 2 teams are rostered with former ECNL players.


No. Many of the 2 teams are rostered with former ecnl RL players, that's the equivalent league, so it makes sense.

ECNL is higher, of course.


ECNL is a dumpster fire. THE league 5 years ago. Now legacy teams holding it together with band aids.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 08:42     Subject: MLSN vs ECNL

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They dont travel much. But the MLSN2 teams in the area have beaten ECNL teams. Many of the 2 teams are rostered with former ECNL players.


This is pretty funny. The MLS 2 teams are teams that less than 12 months ago were playing in EDP or NPL or NAL. They are equivalent to ECRL (regional league). They are rostered with players from EDP and NAL and a few cut from ECNL.

They are no different than they were last year as SYCs 'B' team or St James EDP team or Alexandria's EDP team.
incorrect


The 7 ECNL players cut from my DC's team are now all on MLS2. They decided to take that offer over ECNL RL. Decent players but bubble players with little playing time. No ECNL players willingly left ECNL for an MLS2 roster spot. Many leave for MLSN1 roster spot, but not for AD. Sorry. This is still the B team. MLS is trying to make some money but don't kid yourself that the 2 teams are anything other than what they were less than a year ago. The B team.

7 players cut from 1 team?

That seems like an ECNL issue. If you have that kind of turnover the team/club cant be that good.


Not unique to ECNL. Happens to MLS1 team every year especially for the older age group for various reasons (injuries, playing time, commitment, distraction, not playing up at level, $$$$, dissatisfaction, misalignment of club/player/parent expectation, the list goes on and on.). This is happening on my DC's team each year.