Anonymous
03/04/2021 07:27
Subject: McLean in decline?
Isn't this about the girls side. I don't think the boy's side was ever at the elite level which is why it lost the DA. The girls side could stumble with Arlington receiving the DA. Clearly, McLean has the best track-record at placing girls at the next level but Arlington is building a strong track record of its own.
Anonymous
03/03/2021 22:18
Subject: McLean in decline?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are you saying that VDA, Richmond, and Arlington were only offered MLS Next for u13-14?
My understanding was that all age groups were offered to original DA teams. BSC and Baltimore have all age groups represented. Look at the MLS Next teams for u15 and up, it’s all former DA clubs.
Well DC United was moving out to Va. I heard DC United will have their own youth program ..so why offer anything to a club that could be seen as competition?
DCU has always had their own youth program. That is not new with the move to VA. Three years ago DCU had a u12 team even. Arlington was only a few miles away and had a DA program. Competition is not new for DCU.
Again, my understanding was all of the former DA clubs were invited to join MLS Next, but for whatever reason, the VA clubs decided to join ECNL instead.
In the last DA boys season, there were two tiers of DA teams. This was done to appease the MLS clubs, who grew tired of beating the bottom half of DA by 5+ goals every game. The only local DA teams that were not affiliated with a MLS club, but that were invited into that top tier DA league,
were Baltimore Armour and Bethesda. When DA collapsed, the MLS Next teams were basically the same as the former top tier DA teams. That’s why BA and BSC were invited to join. The other lower tier DA teams were left to figure things out on their own, and most reluctantly accepted the invitation from ECNL.
I don't think this is correct - or at least not entirely correct - for several reasons.
1. The tier system was only for the DA cup, not for the regular league play - and it was not intended to be a permanent structure - the suggestion was that teams could mopve based on results.
2. There appear to be clubs which are full members of MLS Next with all age groups which were not in the top tier of the DA cup. PA Classics is one example, but there are others.
3. It doesn't match what we - as Arlington parents - were told by the club. Nor does it match what MLS Next said publicly.
Nevertheless Arlington was in an odd situation. They had only the junior teams as part of the DA, and had just been awarded the U16/17 age group for the following year as a consequence of the coaching and performance of the junior teams (so they would have had 4 of the 5 possible age groups). Consequently it would have been possible to argue that they did not automatically qualify under the public MLS Next policy of offering all existing DA clubs membership in MLS Next.
In addition it may well be that DC United did not want to see Arlington as a full member of MLS. It certainly appears that they are not offering this to SYC/Alexandria/Achilles. It looks much more like DCU want other clubs to develop kids that will move to DCU at U15. And it is certainly true that DCU have repeatedly made offers to a number of Arlington kids who have declined to take them up. So perhaps DCU did block Arlington being offered full membership and Arlington chose not to expose the exact details to parents regarding what was and wasn't offered.
That said, both Richmond and VDA would absolutely have qualified for full membership, as would a large number of the Carolina teams which elected to go to ECNL. And they chose not to joing MLS Next. So it is entirely possible that Arlington was offered full membership and elected not to take it for the reasons they stated at the time.
My son played two Carolina ECNL clubs in the fall. Beat one and tied the other. We are a CCL team.. I saw some good players on those teams though. Overall they were well coached, but not as good as the Virginia ECNL teams we have faced. Just saying don't throw out the baby fot the bathwater. You may find better competition closer to home than you think. Even if they aren't ECNL.
Anonymous
03/03/2021 21:42
Subject: Re:McLean in decline?
Any time a club is trying to sell its parents on why it’s a good idea the club did not join the top league, I’d be skeptical of every word.
Anonymous
03/03/2021 19:20
Subject: McLean in decline?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are you saying that VDA, Richmond, and Arlington were only offered MLS Next for u13-14?
My understanding was that all age groups were offered to original DA teams. BSC and Baltimore have all age groups represented. Look at the MLS Next teams for u15 and up, it’s all former DA clubs.
Well DC United was moving out to Va. I heard DC United will have their own youth program ..so why offer anything to a club that could be seen as competition?
DCU has always had their own youth program. That is not new with the move to VA. Three years ago DCU had a u12 team even. Arlington was only a few miles away and had a DA program. Competition is not new for DCU.
Again, my understanding was all of the former DA clubs were invited to join MLS Next, but for whatever reason, the VA clubs decided to join ECNL instead.
In the last DA boys season, there were two tiers of DA teams. This was done to appease the MLS clubs, who grew tired of beating the bottom half of DA by 5+ goals every game. The only local DA teams that were not affiliated with a MLS club, but that were invited into that top tier DA league,
were Baltimore Armour and Bethesda. When DA collapsed, the MLS Next teams were basically the same as the former top tier DA teams. That’s why BA and BSC were invited to join. The other lower tier DA teams were left to figure things out on their own, and most reluctantly accepted the invitation from ECNL.
I don't think this is correct - or at least not entirely correct - for several reasons.
1. The tier system was only for the DA cup, not for the regular league play - and it was not intended to be a permanent structure - the suggestion was that teams could mopve based on results.
2. There appear to be clubs which are full members of MLS Next with all age groups which were not in the top tier of the DA cup. PA Classics is one example, but there are others.
3. It doesn't match what we - as Arlington parents - were told by the club. Nor does it match what MLS Next said publicly.
Nevertheless Arlington was in an odd situation. They had only the junior teams as part of the DA, and had just been awarded the U16/17 age group for the following year as a consequence of the coaching and performance of the junior teams (so they would have had 4 of the 5 possible age groups). Consequently it would have been possible to argue that they did not automatically qualify under the public MLS Next policy of offering all existing DA clubs membership in MLS Next.
In addition it may well be that DC United did not want to see Arlington as a full member of MLS. It certainly appears that they are not offering this to SYC/Alexandria/Achilles. It looks much more like DCU want other clubs to develop kids that will move to DCU at U15. And it is certainly true that DCU have repeatedly made offers to a number of Arlington kids who have declined to take them up. So perhaps DCU did block Arlington being offered full membership and Arlington chose not to expose the exact details to parents regarding what was and wasn't offered.
That said, both Richmond and VDA would absolutely have qualified for full membership, as would a large number of the Carolina teams which elected to go to ECNL. And they chose not to joing MLS Next. So it is entirely possible that Arlington was offered full membership and elected not to take it for the reasons they stated at the time.
Anonymous
03/03/2021 18:15
Subject: McLean in decline?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are you saying that VDA, Richmond, and Arlington were only offered MLS Next for u13-14?
My understanding was that all age groups were offered to original DA teams. BSC and Baltimore have all age groups represented. Look at the MLS Next teams for u15 and up, it’s all former DA clubs.
Well DC United was moving out to Va. I heard DC United will have their own youth program ..so why offer anything to a club that could be seen as competition?
DCU has always had their own youth program. That is not new with the move to VA. Three years ago DCU had a u12 team even. Arlington was only a few miles away and had a DA program. Competition is not new for DCU.
Again, my understanding was all of the former DA clubs were invited to join MLS Next, but for whatever reason, the VA clubs decided to join ECNL instead.
In the last DA boys season, there were two tiers of DA teams. This was done to appease the MLS clubs, who grew tired of beating the bottom half of DA by 5+ goals every game. The only local DA teams that were not affiliated with a MLS club, but that were invited into that top tier DA league,
were Baltimore Armour and Bethesda. When DA collapsed, the MLS Next teams were basically the same as the former top tier DA teams. That’s why BA and BSC were invited to join. The other lower tier DA teams were left to figure things out on their own, and most reluctantly accepted the invitation from ECNL.
Anonymous
03/03/2021 15:35
Subject: McLean in decline?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are you saying that VDA, Richmond, and Arlington were only offered MLS Next for u13-14?
My understanding was that all age groups were offered to original DA teams. BSC and Baltimore have all age groups represented. Look at the MLS Next teams for u15 and up, it’s all former DA clubs.
Well DC United was moving out to Va. I heard DC United will have their own youth program ..so why offer anything to a club that could be seen as competition?
DCU has always had their own youth program. That is not new with the move to VA. Three years ago DCU had a u12 team even. Arlington was only a few miles away and had a DA program. Competition is not new for DCU.
Again, my understanding was all of the former DA clubs were invited to join MLS Next, but for whatever reason, the VA clubs decided to join ECNL instead.
Anonymous
03/03/2021 15:13
Subject: McLean in decline?
Anonymous wrote:Are you saying that VDA, Richmond, and Arlington were only offered MLS Next for u13-14?
My understanding was that all age groups were offered to original DA teams. BSC and Baltimore have all age groups represented. Look at the MLS Next teams for u15 and up, it’s all former DA clubs.
Well DC United was moving out to Va. I heard DC United will have their own youth program ..so why offer anything to a club that could be seen as competition?
Anonymous
03/03/2021 14:58
Subject: McLean in decline?
Are you saying that VDA, Richmond, and Arlington were only offered MLS Next for u13-14?
My understanding was that all age groups were offered to original DA teams. BSC and Baltimore have all age groups represented. Look at the MLS Next teams for u15 and up, it’s all former DA clubs.
My understanding was that all age groups were offered to original DA teams. BSC and Baltimore have all age groups represented. Look at the MLS Next teams for u15 and up, it’s all former DA clubs.
Anonymous
03/03/2021 14:27
Subject: McLean in decline?
Anonymous wrote:^^ MLS Next was an option for all former DA clubs, like it was for BSC and Baltimore Armor boys. The boys Virginia DA clubs (Arlington, VDA, Richmond) chose ECNL over MLS Next for whatever reason. VDA and Richmond announced the switch to ECNL the same day DA collapsed while Arlington held out longer.
Because MLSNext is mainly 2 age groups 13 and 14 ( not everyone was offered full team schedules). No serious soccer club is going to structure any meaningful pipeline on 2 teams.
Anonymous
03/03/2021 13:34
Subject: McLean in decline?
^^ MLS Next was an option for all former DA clubs, like it was for BSC and Baltimore Armor boys. The boys Virginia DA clubs (Arlington, VDA, Richmond) chose ECNL over MLS Next for whatever reason. VDA and Richmond announced the switch to ECNL the same day DA collapsed while Arlington held out longer.
Anonymous
03/03/2021 12:50
Subject: McLean in decline?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Arlington to ECNL was about the boys side. ECNL wanted Arlington boys. They delayed the girls side a year out of deference to McLean.
It is real important to ECNL to increase their boy’s presence. This is where the money is. This will not be the last time the girls side will come in second.
I am confident there are a lot of other Arlington boys parents who do not feel like they are getting the blue ribbon by having to play in the ecnl.
If I were a boys parent I would be pissed. They sold the boys out for the girls. At this point, the NOVA boys don’t have a good league. But the only top teams are Arlington and Alexandria that can play at a high level.
When DA dissolved, MLS Next wasn’t an option. They had to find 2 leagues to compete in. ECNL was there best and only option at the time for the boys. Why would they be pissed?
Because MLS Next was an option?
Anonymous
03/03/2021 12:50
Subject: Re:McLean in decline?
Anonymous wrote:It doesn't help McLean with all the surrounding clubs. I know of 2 boys that play for Arlington but live in McLean and their team is a middle of the pack team in ECNL. It all comes down to luck for each age group. One age group may have great talent in the McLean area, but it seems in most of the boys age groups there isn't much local Mclean talent to be had so those with talent look for better clubs to continue their growth. McLean on the boys side gets stronger in the older age groups but is that due to recruiting or did the teams actually get better?
You're team is only as good as the best player and if the best player is not that good compared to top talent out there, then your team will probably get used to losing which is what we've been accustomed to.
I think it's more the other way around - your team is only as good as its weakest link. The problem is not that McLean doesn't have one or two good players. The problem is that Arlington can field several substitutes without the quality dropping off markedly.
Anonymous
03/03/2021 12:23
Subject: Re:McLean in decline?
It doesn't help McLean with all the surrounding clubs. I know of 2 boys that play for Arlington but live in McLean and their team is a middle of the pack team in ECNL. It all comes down to luck for each age group. One age group may have great talent in the McLean area, but it seems in most of the boys age groups there isn't much local Mclean talent to be had so those with talent look for better clubs to continue their growth. McLean on the boys side gets stronger in the older age groups but is that due to recruiting or did the teams actually get better?
You're team is only as good as the best player and if the best player is not that good compared to top talent out there, then your team will probably get used to losing which is what we've been accustomed to.
You're team is only as good as the best player and if the best player is not that good compared to top talent out there, then your team will probably get used to losing which is what we've been accustomed to.
Anonymous
03/03/2021 12:08
Subject: McLean in decline?
Anonymous wrote:BSC is in the same league as McLean but I don’t know anyone who is looking to move to BSC from McLean but the there are plenty of BSC kids entertaining a move to McLean. Also, Bethesda can’t keep its older girls. They lost two top 02-03 players to MUFC and Pipeline.
McLean will still get girls who want to play at the top level.
On the boys side BSC is in MLS Next and McLean is ECNL. I'm assuming on girls side BSC and McLean are in ECNL.
Anonymous
02/28/2021 11:47
Subject: McLean in decline?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Arlington to ECNL was about the boys side. ECNL wanted Arlington boys. They delayed the girls side a year out of deference to McLean.
It is real important to ECNL to increase their boy’s presence. This is where the money is. This will not be the last time the girls side will come in second.
I am confident there are a lot of other Arlington boys parents who do not feel like they are getting the blue ribbon by having to play in the ecnl.
If I were a boys parent I would be pissed. They sold the boys out for the girls. At this point, the NOVA boys don’t have a good league. But the only top teams are Arlington and Alexandria that can play at a high level.
When DA dissolved, MLS Next wasn’t an option. They had to find 2 leagues to compete in. ECNL was there best and only option at the time for the boys. Why would they be pissed?