Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 08:42     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone know what the chances are that Alexandria loses MLS Next top team with all the new MLS next additions locally. Or is the plan to over saturate the area with mls next teams over the next few years like what is happening to the GA now.


I don’t believe there are any new MLS Next 1 teams:

DCU
Bethesda
Armour
Achilles
SYC
Alexandria

The new additions are MLS Next 2. If teams do well in MLS Next 2, such as Coppermine, they may be promoted to MLS Next 1 in the future and others demoted or MLS Next 1 is just expanded.


Nope- they added loudoun this year. And then they promised all these MLS Next 2 clubs that they would get promoted to MLS Next 1. So it's not a problem now, but in 1-2 years, there will be a major dilution of MLS Next. Most of these lower level clubs would not have gone next 2 without that pathway...the dangled and will have to deliver at some point.


Actually they added NVA to tier 1 and Loudoun was added to Next2. Although to most - they are the same thing.

I find it hard to believe all (or maybe any) of the new local tier 2 teams get promoted any time in the near future.


Why do you think?
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 08:04     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone know what the chances are that Alexandria loses MLS Next top team with all the new MLS next additions locally. Or is the plan to over saturate the area with mls next teams over the next few years like what is happening to the GA now.


I don’t believe there are any new MLS Next 1 teams:

DCU
Bethesda
Armour
Achilles
SYC
Alexandria

The new additions are MLS Next 2. If teams do well in MLS Next 2, such as Coppermine, they may be promoted to MLS Next 1 in the future and others demoted or MLS Next 1 is just expanded.


Nope- they added loudoun this year. And then they promised all these MLS Next 2 clubs that they would get promoted to MLS Next 1. So it's not a problem now, but in 1-2 years, there will be a major dilution of MLS Next. Most of these lower level clubs would not have gone next 2 without that pathway...the dangled and will have to deliver at some point.


Actually they added NVA to tier 1 and Loudoun was added to Next2. Although to most - they are the same thing.

I find it hard to believe all (or maybe any) of the new local tier 2 teams get promoted any time in the near future.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 07:55     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, go to a different club. Remember they lost GA for a reason.


And more recently got it back. For no reason?


Reason being GA expansion. Post again after next season. It won’t be pretty.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 07:25     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone know what the chances are that Alexandria loses MLS Next top team with all the new MLS next additions locally. Or is the plan to over saturate the area with mls next teams over the next few years like what is happening to the GA now.


I don’t believe there are any new MLS Next 1 teams:

DCU
Bethesda
Armour
Achilles
SYC
Alexandria

The new additions are MLS Next 2. If teams do well in MLS Next 2, such as Coppermine, they may be promoted to MLS Next 1 in the future and others demoted or MLS Next 1 is just expanded.


Nope- they added loudoun this year. And then they promised all these MLS Next 2 clubs that they would get promoted to MLS Next 1. So it's not a problem now, but in 1-2 years, there will be a major dilution of MLS Next. Most of these lower level clubs would not have gone next 2 without that pathway...the dangled and will have to deliver at some point.


No. They created an entire new league. They did not create that new league to (within 1-2 years) dilute their current league (which is best in nation) with subpar talent. The clubs def would have gone MLS Next 2 because it is such a much bigger sticker to slap on your jersey/website than ECNL-RL. And most of these clubs are marketing this like they just joined MLS Next when in fact its an entirely new league.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 21:16     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:Unless your kid is a soccer prodigy, the club whose practices are convenient for you to get to and whose fees / commitment aligns with your family.


You're absolutely right...
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 20:56     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:Yes, go to a different club. Remember they lost GA for a reason.


And more recently got it back. For no reason?
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 19:07     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone know what the chances are that Alexandria loses MLS Next top team with all the new MLS next additions locally. Or is the plan to over saturate the area with mls next teams over the next few years like what is happening to the GA now.


I don’t believe there are any new MLS Next 1 teams:

DCU
Bethesda
Armour
Achilles
SYC
Alexandria

The new additions are MLS Next 2. If teams do well in MLS Next 2, such as Coppermine, they may be promoted to MLS Next 1 in the future and others demoted or MLS Next 1 is just expanded.


Nope- they added loudoun this year. And then they promised all these MLS Next 2 clubs that they would get promoted to MLS Next 1. So it's not a problem now, but in 1-2 years, there will be a major dilution of MLS Next. Most of these lower level clubs would not have gone next 2 without that pathway...the dangled and will have to deliver at some point.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 19:06     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Yes, go to a different club. Remember they lost GA for a reason.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 17:32     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What age group?

I would stay away from Alexandria if its 2013 / 2012. The head coach is a narcissist.


Yes, stay away. Other age groups are also a mess. The only exception might the 07’s.


Super helpful. I bet if you combined the "stay away" messages on here you would not find a single team at any club that you should join haha.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 17:17     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:What age group?

I would stay away from Alexandria if its 2013 / 2012. The head coach is a narcissist.


Yes, stay away. Other age groups are also a mess. The only exception might the 07’s.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 16:36     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What age group?

I would stay away from Alexandria if its 2013 / 2012. The head coach is a narcissist.


See this a lot on here, most likely your experience and the standing on the team formed this opinion.


I think that’s pretty standard here, the most disgruntled parents like to “warn” parents. The more rational parents are usually realistic about their kid’s development and just find a better fit if it doesn’t work out with a club.

Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 16:32     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:What age group?

I would stay away from Alexandria if its 2013 / 2012. The head coach is a narcissist.


See this a lot on here, most likely your experience and the standing on the team formed this opinion.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 12:57     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
What age group?

I would stay away from Alexandria if its 2013 / 2012. The head coach is a narcissist.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 12:05     Subject: Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:Anyone know what the chances are that Alexandria loses MLS Next top team with all the new MLS next additions locally. Or is the plan to over saturate the area with mls next teams over the next few years like what is happening to the GA now.


I don’t believe there are any new MLS Next 1 teams:

DCU
Bethesda
Armour
Achilles
SYC
Alexandria

The new additions are MLS Next 2. If teams do well in MLS Next 2, such as Coppermine, they may be promoted to MLS Next 1 in the future and others demoted or MLS Next 1 is just expanded.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 09:55     Subject: Re:Arlington or Alexandria for boys?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think between Alexandria, Arlington, and SYC there are three great options in a potentially drivable area. Those who are arguing that Arlington gets more kids to MLS academies than Alexandria (facts seem to confirm) are often people with kids who will never be invited to MLS academies. Focus on what's important...if your kid is in the 1% and is being courted by academies or D1 schools then you can be very critical on some of the fine margins between for-profit clubs. If your kid isn't in that 1% (usually pretty obvious) then do what is convenient. Why worry about prestige?

There will be countless people on here arguing that Arlington is better because they send more kids to academies and their kid is bang on average! Hilarious


+1 We are on an MLSNext team and the most talented kids are usually not trying to club hop or trying to find greener pastures or care much overall about how the team or club is even doing. They stay put wherever they are because they are likely happy with their coaching and development.


And they have the overall goal to leave the club team and go to an academy. So both Arlington and Alexandria will identify that player and work towards that end...its mutually beneficial to send those kids to academies. It's simple and only applicable to players in the 1%. The rest are frustrated parents who wish Johnny was better and complain about clubs. Always shifting responsibility...losers.