Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CW ran the formations LO told him to use.

So LO told him to use the formation that Union uses but not Brave?

Yep — Union’s regular formation last night. Most of the 2011 top players (union and braves) were in for very limited minutes because they already have offers and have accepted (about 12 total). There were about 36 players there last night (including 5 GKs) — so the other 24 (of highly varying levels) were being looked at for 4-6 more spots. I think there were a half dozen players or more who were strong and together with those who are already been secured, will raise the overall level of the team.

This!!

I hope CW/LO keeps the roaster size to 18 so they are not playing musical chairs every weekend when the session starts. This is really not fair to the kids and parents. Also, there were a few external girls last night that deserve offers. For now, until the Bethesda, Pipeline and MD United tryouts are complete in Mid April, they need to keep the roaster at 15 and leave 3 or 4 open to see if there are some talent that would come from that direction.

Hoping this is merit based so folks do have to go through this again in a few years. This time there may not be any teams left to merge with.

So I haven't coached ECNL, but I imagine it would be a somewhat large risk to keep that many slots open until Mid-April given the current ECNL ID timelines. Do other teams do this?

Yes, heard Arlington 2011 made offers to 16 and keeping two slots open for this reason.

Is that for girls or boys?

Girls

Given how stacked the 2011G Arlington team is, guessing it is all the current players.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is mostly based on skill 70% but then which coach is going to push for their bubble players 30% in this year of sausage making. That's where VA Union people are upset if CW is not pushing but LO is.

The other unknown is roster size. If they go larger then may have 3-4 players not dressing along with 7 subs. Nobody wants to be that player.

A lot of unknowns in this sausage!

I hope not. This only works for teams that do not play everyone (i.e. Bethesda). There was enough talent yesterday. If they do the right thing and select based on merit to avoid drop off in play when the subs come in. This has been the issue with Union 2011 this year and have resulted in very bad losses (0-4, 0-5, etc.).

This makes no sense 0-4 and 0-5 losses aren’t due to subs. Even if you’re telling me that goals against only happened when subs are on, it also means the starters couldn’t score.

We shall see who’s in charge. Sounds like the behind the scenes actual coaching has been taken over by CW from V as it was at Brave last year lol.

Those 16 are probably the current players.

Anonymous wrote:What the outsiders to Union don’t understand is that this isn’t about W’s and L’s to CW. If you’re into the “winning at all costs” scenario you’re 100% going to the wrong place. 8-9th grade is about getting on the field and playing, not about college recruiting or going to nationals. That time will come. When the roster size is 20-22 for FVU next season (which it will be at a minimum, especially if their taking a lot outside players not currently at Brave or Union), let’s see who’s happy and who’s not when the dust settles. All of the ECNL teams in NoVa will be good but you have to do what’s best for each and everyone of your families and children.

Where have you been? This is no longer McLean. CW is not in charge. And ECNL wants wins.

What the outsiders to Union don’t understand is that this isn’t about W’s and L’s to CW. If you’re into the “winning at all costs” scenario you’re 100% going to the wrong place. 8-9th grade is about getting on the field and playing, not about college recruiting or going to nationals. That time will come. When the roster size is 20-22 for FVU next season (which it will be at a minimum, especially if their taking a lot outside players not currently at Brave or Union), let’s see who’s happy and who’s not when the dust settles. All of the ECNL teams in NoVa will be good but you have to do what’s best for each and everyone of your families and children.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It could have been stronger than before if they were building from strength to strength. The reality is they are not, so just cause you can't handle that truth doesn't make it misleading or misinformation. You're just coming off disinformed.

+1 (parent who's player is safe but questioning strength of team next year and leadership)

From what I know of the 11 or so 2011s who have received offers, they are a strong and talented group of players. Not sure how the rest of the roster will fill out but it looks promising so far. Next step will be building some team chemistry between the players (which may be easier than building chemistry between the parents given the discourse on this site).

Would have thought some of them would have followed their former coach DB over to NVA

I'm guessing some have, and it makes sense for a player to go where they think they have the best opportunity to play and with a coach they feel comfortable with. Although I don't know if it makes sense to drive from Mclean to Louduon during rush hour three days a week.

I am guessing some have too, will be interesting to see what the picture looks like when the dust settles. No need to talk about specific players here but folks who were there probably have a good guess. And the drive isn't bad at all once you get on the toll road + greenway.

So what will that toll cost be for 3x times a week there and back?

That is not your concern. They have deep pockets. Let them worry about that.

Anonymous wrote:09B ID was sparsely attended last night. Existing players jumping ship? Or maybe just lots of cuts?

they are also recruiting outside to some other ECNL kids who havent showed up yet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It could have been stronger than before if they were building from strength to strength. The reality is they are not, so just cause you can't handle that truth doesn't make it misleading or misinformation. You're just coming off disinformed.

+1 (parent who's player is safe but questioning strength of team next year and leadership)

From what I know of the 11 or so 2011s who have received offers, they are a strong and talented group of players. Not sure how the rest of the roster will fill out but it looks promising so far. Next step will be building some team chemistry between the players (which may be easier than building chemistry between the parents given the discourse on this site).

Would have thought some of them would have followed their former coach DB over to NVA

I'm guessing some have, and it makes sense for a player to go where they think they have the best opportunity to play and with a coach they feel comfortable with. Although I don't know if it makes sense to drive from Mclean to Louduon during rush hour three days a week.

I am guessing some have too, will be interesting to see what the picture looks like when the dust settles. No need to talk about specific players here but folks who were there probably have a good guess. And the drive isn't bad at all once you get on the toll road + greenway.

So what will that toll cost be for 3x times a week there and back?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2011 girls with a weak turnout as far as quality goes. Don’t see that team improving much at all. CW will have to be involved if that team has any chance next year. Probably the team with the least benefit from merging with Brave across the board. Outside of the goal keeper, not sure if they should be changing anything. Otherwise, they’re trading better existing players for weaker ones.

VA Union beat Brave 4-1 this season and several BRYC/VYS girls tried out for Union but didn't make it last year. Brave was the backup option for Mclean girls last year and none took their offers there but picked Union. LO is the head coach for next year and will have control of the roster... CW is not the kind of person who will push to have all his players beyond telling LO who his top selections are. He is too passive and would rather just go along. CW is the assistant coach so this is going to be a LO/MV in the background team according to Brave parents.

There are maybe 4-5 Brave players to add including the goalie but the rest of LO's picks are going to make the team weaker.

Let’s say an 18 girl roster and 4 Brave players moving to Union. The key will be how much SYC talent the 2011 girls lose, and how much external talent is willing to commit.

But if we assume those two offset (let’s say Union loses 3 SYC starters who would have made the team and picks up 3 strong players not on Brave), that leaves 15 slots. Are three Union subs better than the majority of Brave starters? The originally quoted poster (McLean dad) seemed to think all but one Union player was better than every Brave player. Let’s look at the numbers…

2011 Union is in 6th place at 7-4-3 with a +3 GD. Very respectable, but not at the level of their 2010s. They played in the 2nd flight of Jeff Cup last weekend, going 1-1-1, with the tie and loss to GA teams.

2011 Brave is in 8th place at 6-6-5 with a -6 GD. But they lost by 6 goals to Arlington 2011s, a team Union hasn’t had to play yet this season. They played in the same flight as Union at Jeff Cup, and went 0-1-2.

Take away that Arlington game, and the two teams look pretty similar on paper. The numbers don’t seem to support no Brave starters making the team, nor do they support the majority of Union bench players making it over the majority of Brave starters.

Anonymous wrote:16 is plenty to run a season with. Leaving two spots keeps things open for players seeking opportunity.

100% agree. The Union 2010G team was 15 or 16. Look where there are now - won the Jeff cup top bracket.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It could have been stronger than before if they were building from strength to strength. The reality is they are not, so just cause you can't handle that truth doesn't make it misleading or misinformation. You're just coming off disinformed.

+1 (parent who's player is safe but questioning strength of team next year and leadership)

From what I know of the 11 or so 2011s who have received offers, they are a strong and talented group of players. Not sure how the rest of the roster will fill out but it looks promising so far. Next step will be building some team chemistry between the players (which may be easier than building chemistry between the parents given the discourse on this site).

Would have thought some of them would have followed their former coach DB over to NVA

I'm guessing some have, and it makes sense for a player to go where they think they have the best opportunity to play and with a coach they feel comfortable with. Although I don't know if it makes sense to drive from Mclean to Louduon during rush hour three days a week.

I am guessing some have too, will be interesting to see what the picture looks like when the dust settles. No need to talk about specific players here but folks who were there probably have a good guess. And the drive isn't bad at all once you get on the toll road + greenway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CW ran the formations LO told him to use.

So LO told him to use the formation that Union uses but not Brave?

Yep — Union’s regular formation last night. Most of the 2011 top players (union and braves) were in for very limited minutes because they already have offers and have accepted (about 12 total). There were about 36 players there last night (including 5 GKs) — so the other 24 (of highly varying levels) were being looked at for 4-6 more spots. I think there were a half dozen players or more who were strong and together with those who are already been secured, will raise the overall level of the team.

This!!

I hope CW/LO keeps the roaster size to 18 so they are not playing musical chairs every weekend when the session starts. This is really not fair to the kids and parents. Also, there were a few external girls last night that deserve offers. For now, until the Bethesda, Pipeline and MD United tryouts are complete in Mid April, they need to keep the roaster at 15 and leave 3 or 4 open to see if there are some talent that would come from that direction.

Hoping this is merit based so folks do have to go through this again in a few years. This time there may not be any teams left to merge with.

So I haven't coached ECNL, but I imagine it would be a somewhat large risk to keep that many slots open until Mid-April given the current ECNL ID timelines. Do other teams do this?

Yes, heard Arlington 2011 made offers to 16 and keeping two slots open for this reason.

Is that for girls or boys?

Girls

Anonymous wrote:It is mostly based on skill 70% but then which coach is going to push for their bubble players 30% in this year of sausage making. That's where VA Union people are upset if CW is not pushing but LO is.

The other unknown is roster size. If they go larger then may have 3-4 players not dressing along with 7 subs. Nobody wants to be that player.

A lot of unknowns in this sausage!

I hope not. This only works for teams that do not play everyone (i.e. Bethesda). There was enough talent yesterday. If they do the right thing and select based on merit to avoid drop off in play when the subs come in. This has been the issue with Union 2011 this year and have resulted in very bad losses (0-4, 0-5, etc.).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:09B ID was sparsely attended last night. Existing players jumping ship? Or maybe just lots of cuts?

Last two ID sessions have been invite only.

4 kids from my son's club went to the first 2 sessions and they invited back the least skilled one last night who plays on our 3rd team. Coaches love those big kids with no skill. Heard the coach is quirky.