Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS I’m sure players similar to Gabby would be turned down to your star supporting or bench player. Right!!

I said Christian would pick the players. FCV is always about grabbing talent. I just happen to think, based on head to head results that there are few players at Spirit Christian feels he has to have.

You are naive in that case. Plenty of cases where a superior team has players inferior to a team they have beaten, even if soundly. FCV is notorious for replacing their current players with outside talent. It would be no different in this case,even assuming Christian has the financial leverage here. He may not.

Christian will pick the best players. You are naive if you believe Spirit will out number FCV players. You are also naive if you don't think more BRYC, Arlington and McLean kids don't suddenly view FCV Spirit as a more appealing destination.

I get that you like to bash kids playing for Spirit, but there are some good players playing there. Hate to burst your bubble. Some of your coveted FCV players won’t make the squad next year if this happens. Maybe even your little Mia. Sorry to break the news to you. Pride comes before the fall

There are good kids at every club. There would be 36-40 kids competing for 18-20 spots. Some age groups may see significant Spirit influence and others will not. There will be kids, as stated above from other clubs a little more interested now. That concentrates things even more. Christian picking the kids means just that, he will want control and pick the kids. If more of them are Spirit so be it. If one team is heavy with McLean and BRYC defectors so be it, but make no mistake, Christian will pick the kids.

Anonymous wrote:What is appealing about an unstable club no history of development- don't even have fields ....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS I’m sure players similar to Gabby would be turned down to your star supporting or bench player. Right!!

I said Christian would pick the players. FCV is always about grabbing talent. I just happen to think, based on head to head results that there are few players at Spirit Christian feels he has to have.

You are naive in that case. Plenty of cases where a superior team has players inferior to a team they have beaten, even if soundly. FCV is notorious for replacing their current players with outside talent. It would be no different in this case,even assuming Christian has the financial leverage here. He may not.

Christian will pick the best players. You are naive if you believe Spirit will out number FCV players. You are also naive if you don't think more BRYC, Arlington and McLean kids don't suddenly view FCV Spirit as a more appealing destination.

I get that you like to bash kids playing for Spirit, but there are some good players playing there. Hate to burst your bubble. Some of your coveted FCV players won’t make the squad next year if this happens. Maybe even your little Mia. Sorry to break the news to you. Pride comes before the fall

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS I’m sure players similar to Gabby would be turned down to your star supporting or bench player. Right!!

I said Christian would pick the players. FCV is always about grabbing talent. I just happen to think, based on head to head results that there are few players at Spirit Christian feels he has to have.

You are naive in that case. Plenty of cases where a superior team has players inferior to a team they have beaten, even if soundly. FCV is notorious for replacing their current players with outside talent. It would be no different in this case,even assuming Christian has the financial leverage here. He may not.

Christian will pick the best players. You are naive if you believe Spirit will out number FCV players. You are also naive if you don't think more BRYC, Arlington and McLean kids don't suddenly view FCV Spirit as a more appealing destination.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS I’m sure players similar to Gabby would be turned down to your star supporting or bench player. Right!!

I said Christian would pick the players. FCV is always about grabbing talent. I just happen to think, based on head to head results that there are few players at Spirit Christian feels he has to have.

You are naive in that case. Plenty of cases where a superior team has players inferior to a team they have beaten, even if soundly. FCV is notorious for replacing their current players with outside talent. It would be no different in this case,even assuming Christian has the financial leverage here. He may not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS I’m sure players similar to Gabby would be turned down to your star supporting or bench player. Right!!

I said Christian would pick the players. FCV is always about grabbing talent. I just happen to think, based on head to head results that there are few players at Spirit Christian feels he has to have.

Anonymous wrote:PS I’m sure players similar to Gabby would be turned down to your star supporting or bench player. Right!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:maybe Spirit-VA is going to absorb FCV?

That's more plausible. Although still not based in anything other than pure speculation.

No. FCV wants to get rid of a VA compeitor. They will either take over the VA side, effectively eliminating it or seeing to it that Spirit dissolves the VA side. There is no chance Christian took on that job without wanting some influence.

You assume they have more leverage than Spirit. That may not be the case. Christian who is FCV's leader of the pack, is now down the totem pole at Spirit. LOL, how the world turns.

It may be exactly flipped from what you have stated. FCV's win count is irrelevant to business operations or decisions on either side. Spirit can retain the "brand" by promoting that they have assumed FCV's coaching resources and probably the best players as well.

Time for FCV parents to start to worry, especially the bottom half of rosters, bench players, and "DPs."

FCV parents worried? LOL!!!!!! This is a huge win for them.

LOL says who? Stop living in the past. Outside of the several star players at every age group (about 4-7), lots of parents are in for a rude awakening.

You mean that parents, who’s teams have kicked Spirit’s ass are worried about Spirit players taking their spots? Lol!!!!

There are differences for the 4-7 very best players, sure, but the rest of those teams are riding the coattails of the freaks. Anyone who has watched the matches can see it.

But you are right. The hubris won't allow them to see it until their bench player or supporting cast member gets cut over the better Spirit players. That would be fun to watch!

If such a merger does happen, FCV will pick the players, not he other way around. There is no chance that FCV conceded that control unless Spirit outright buys them. If a deal falls through FCV is going to leave with the players that they trust and believe in, not another clubs coaching staff. Richie Burke could get blown out in every game this coming season and get fired along with the rest of the staff sending Christian back to work for Spirit as a FCV owner? No chance. If it goes south Christian wants the players and a healthy club.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:maybe Spirit-VA is going to absorb FCV?

That's more plausible. Although still not based in anything other than pure speculation.

No. FCV wants to get rid of a VA compeitor. They will either take over the VA side, effectively eliminating it or seeing to it that Spirit dissolves the VA side. There is no chance Christian took on that job without wanting some influence.

You assume they have more leverage than Spirit. That may not be the case. Christian who is FCV's leader of the pack, is now down the totem pole at Spirit. LOL, how the world turns.

It may be exactly flipped from what you have stated. FCV's win count is irrelevant to business operations or decisions on either side. Spirit can retain the "brand" by promoting that they have assumed FCV's coaching resources and probably the best players as well.

Time for FCV parents to start to worry, especially the bottom half of rosters, bench players, and "DPs."

FCV parents worried? LOL!!!!!! This is a huge win for them.

LOL says who? Stop living in the past. Outside of the several star players at every age group (about 4-7), lots of parents are in for a rude awakening.

You mean that parents, who’s teams have kicked Spirit’s ass are worried about Spirit players taking their spots? Lol!!!!

There are differences for the 4-7 very best players, sure, but the rest of those teams are riding the coattails of the freaks. Anyone who has watched the matches can see it.

But you are right. The hubris won't allow them to see it until their bench player or supporting cast member gets cut over the better Spirit players. That would be fun to watch!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:maybe Spirit-VA is going to absorb FCV?

That's more plausible. Although still not based in anything other than pure speculation.

No. FCV wants to get rid of a VA compeitor. They will either take over the VA side, effectively eliminating it or seeing to it that Spirit dissolves the VA side. There is no chance Christian took on that job without wanting some influence.

You assume they have more leverage than Spirit. That may not be the case. Christian who is FCV's leader of the pack, is now down the totem pole at Spirit. LOL, how the world turns.

It may be exactly flipped from what you have stated. FCV's win count is irrelevant to business operations or decisions on either side. Spirit can retain the "brand" by promoting that they have assumed FCV's coaching resources and probably the best players as well.

Time for FCV parents to start to worry, especially the bottom half of rosters, bench players, and "DPs."

FCV parents worried? LOL!!!!!! This is a huge win for them.

LOL says who? Stop living in the past. Outside of the several star players at every age group (about 4-7), lots of parents are in for a rude awakening.

You mean that parents, who’s teams have kicked Spirit’s ass are worried about Spirit players taking their spots? Lol!!!!

There are differences for the 4-7 very best players, sure, but the rest of those teams are riding the coattails of the freaks. Anyone who has watched the matches can see it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:maybe Spirit-VA is going to absorb FCV?

That's more plausible. Although still not based in anything other than pure speculation.

No. FCV wants to get rid of a VA compeitor. They will either take over the VA side, effectively eliminating it or seeing to it that Spirit dissolves the VA side. There is no chance Christian took on that job without wanting some influence.

You assume they have more leverage than Spirit. That may not be the case. Christian who is FCV's leader of the pack, is now down the totem pole at Spirit. LOL, how the world turns.

It may be exactly flipped from what you have stated. FCV's win count is irrelevant to business operations or decisions on either side. Spirit can retain the "brand" by promoting that they have assumed FCV's coaching resources and probably the best players as well.

Time for FCV parents to start to worry, especially the bottom half of rosters, bench players, and "DPs."

FCV parents worried? LOL!!!!!! This is a huge win for them.

LOL says who? Stop living in the past. Outside of the several star players at every age group (about 4-7), lots of parents are in for a rude awakening.

You mean that parents, who’s teams have kicked Spirit’s ass are worried about Spirit players taking their spots? Lol!!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:maybe Spirit-VA is going to absorb FCV?

That's more plausible. Although still not based in anything other than pure speculation.

No. FCV wants to get rid of a VA compeitor. They will either take over the VA side, effectively eliminating it or seeing to it that Spirit dissolves the VA side. There is no chance Christian took on that job without wanting some influence.

You assume they have more leverage than Spirit. That may not be the case. Christian who is FCV's leader of the pack, is now down the totem pole at Spirit. LOL, how the world turns.

It may be exactly flipped from what you have stated. FCV's win count is irrelevant to business operations or decisions on either side. Spirit can retain the "brand" by promoting that they have assumed FCV's coaching resources and probably the best players as well.

Time for FCV parents to start to worry, especially the bottom half of rosters, bench players, and "DPs."

FCV parents worried? LOL!!!!!! This is a huge win for them.

LOL says who? Stop living in the past. Outside of the several star players at every age group (about 4-7), lots of parents are in for a rude awakening.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:maybe Spirit-VA is going to absorb FCV?

That's more plausible. Although still not based in anything other than pure speculation.

No. FCV wants to get rid of a VA compeitor. They will either take over the VA side, effectively eliminating it or seeing to it that Spirit dissolves the VA side. There is no chance Christian took on that job without wanting some influence.

 

There are too many elite clubs, particularly in the VA area, which is hurting competitiveness in both GDA and ECNL. Further, the two WS clubs are not dominating, which USSF probably thinks should be occurring.  GDA will allow a long leash to pro team academies, but I doubt they will allow this to occur indefinitely. Across the three age groups, the records are 8-28-3 (VA), and 14-16-3 (MD). Middling at best. Combining the two WS teams (with associated losses of players due to the commute) would only help.

WS has a history of late disclosures regarding rosters, roster sizes that have caused uncertainty at best. They have new management for sure and perhaps this will change, but I don’t think you can rely on them having any integrity with regard to business decisions affecting players and families. The GDA staff on both MD and VA sides is largely unchanged so more of the same is likely, at least in the near term.

 

The primary issues with the previously proposed WS/FCV/BRYC/Loudoun/etc mergers had to do with control, and it is unlikely that anything has changed there. No club in this area already having an elite program is going to be willing to cede control of that program to WS. The only clubs that are aligning with WS are the ones that did not previously have an elite program (defined here as ECNL or GDA). The initial partnering on the MD side is much stronger and worth building on. It could be the start of a pipeline. Under the current construct, with due respect to GFL, and RSC, WS VA has almost no pipeline, and it is not clear how that will ever improve given the number of elite teams already in the NoVA area.

 

With regard to the attractiveness of a club merging/aligning with WS, the benefits of WS are primarily a pathway to elite youth levels and eventually to the pro’s. Clubs with existing elite level programs do not need the former, and the latter is of almost no value to 99% of local elite players who are squarely focused on college level play only.

 

I don’t see GDA being a focus of Larry Best in the near term and I don’t think the middling performance of WS GDA teams has reached a point of criticality with USSF. His hiring, and the hiring of Burke, relieves the GDA coaching staff to some extent, and they can simply carry on. I am sure there is much to be done on the pro side. Eventually though, I think something has to give in the elite scene here. If it is to happen via WS, it will be the assimilation of the VA side into MD.