New ECNL Clubs

I agree 8-0 games are nothing to coaches who are trying to evaluate talent. They would rather see tight contests between higher ranked opponents. In regard to SoCal GDA and outside competition, if you use the SoccerWire rankings and if you run the scenario of the Top 10 SoCal teams (actually only 8 ranked in the top 100) vs The Top 8 Everyone else, here is how it breaks down…

Top Ranked SoCal team
Blues
Beach
Legends
Surf
LA Galaxy
Real SoCal
LA Galaxy SD
Albion

Top Ranked Everyone Else
Solar
Tophat
Real Colorado
FC Dallas
San Jose Earthquakes
St James Virginia
Lonestar
Cincinnati Development Academy
NC Courage

The results for SoCal teams, U15, U16, U17 and U18/19, competing against these top 8 ranked teams for this year’s DA Cup competition so far has SoCal teams with a record of 11-20-6 (W-L-D). Interesting observations: Blues haven’t played a Top 8 opponent outside of SoCal so far this season in the DA Cup competition at any age level. Surf fared the best with a 3-0-0 record, but each win had a one goal differential.

Wonder what is going on behind the scenes in the ECNL-DA tug of war? I bet some dominos have fallen (one way or the other), but announcements are being held back due the disruption caused by the virus.
 
#1 and #2 rumored to be considering a move.


For Solar, probably depends on whether or not ECNL lets them keep their 2nd team in ECNL or bends the rules and let's them stay another year. If not, there are many who think they may drop DA and take the two team ECNL deal (like Real CO, Hawks, Sting, FC Stars, SLSG, Concorde Fire, Eclipse, PDA, etc).
 
I read on one of the boards that ecnl was also trying to bring over FC Virginia & NC Courage, both of whom are top 20 programs on that list.
 
I read on one of the boards that ecnl was also trying to bring over FC Virginia & NC Courage, both of whom are top 20 programs on that list.

If this is true, it's a smart strategy by ECNL, seems as though they have given up on socal and is admitting that socal belongs to DA so they are going after other parts of the country. Texas is still up for debate depending on who moves or stays. ECNL can then offer the best showcases with some of the best clubs if they attend. However, most of the people on this forum are from socal and so the question is will they sacrifice great competition week in and week out for a "possibility" of playing some really great clubs outside of socal? It is exciting to play a new team from a different state but is it worth the extra few thousand you have to pay?

Also, I ask again...if ECNL keeps giving every club two teams, how long before they give 3 or 4, etc....and then we are right back to the landscape of youth soccer where there is slammers/legends/big club team A, B, C, D, E, F......I feel like ECNL is really lowering the quality of competition. I know they are doing this to beat DA but now they are becoming part of the problem with development in the US.
 
Personally I do not care for the two team deal that some of the clubs are getting, but I also think it is a bit over blown. I think only 8 of the 96 clubs are “B” teams. A few of those (Crossfire Sting, SLSG) are hours apart or even in other states. But most of the others, FC Stars, PDA, Concorde Fire, Eclipse Select and Michigan WH have two teams in the same location. The “B” teams I have seen (FC Stars White & PDA White) we’re both middle of the road level ECNL teams.

I think if the ECNL continues to use the two team carrot it should be reserved for the Solar, TopHat & Real Colorado level clubs. But again, I’m not a fan.
 
Personally I do not care for the two team deal that some of the clubs are getting, but I also think it is a bit over blown. I think only 8 of the 96 clubs are “B” teams. A few of those (Crossfire Sting, SLSG) are hours apart or even in other states. But most of the others, FC Stars, PDA, Concorde Fire, Eclipse Select and Michigan WH have two teams in the same location. The “B” teams I have seen (FC Stars White & PDA White) we’re both middle of the road level ECNL teams.

I think if the ECNL continues to use the two team carrot it should be reserved for the Solar, TopHat & Real Colorado level clubs. But again, I’m not a fan.
Very well said and I think you are right.
 
Personally I do not care for the two team deal that some of the clubs are getting, but I also think it is a bit over blown. I think only 8 of the 96 clubs are “B” teams. A few of those (Crossfire Sting, SLSG) are hours apart or even in other states. But most of the others, FC Stars, PDA, Concorde Fire, Eclipse Select and Michigan WH have two teams in the same location. The “B” teams I have seen (FC Stars White & PDA White) we’re both middle of the road level ECNL teams.

I think if the ECNL continues to use the two team carrot it should be reserved for the Solar, TopHat & Real Colorado level clubs. But again, I’m not a fan.

Or the could run two flights, expand the regional leagues, etc. Not all teams should or need to be in the top flight.

Travel is likely to be reduced going forward and we may never get back to pre Corona levels. Time to rethink or restructure travel demands and scheduling IMO.
 
Or the could run two flights, expand the regional leagues, etc. Not all teams should or need to be in the top flight.

Travel is likely to be reduced going forward and we may never get back to pre Corona levels. Time to rethink or restructure travel demands and scheduling IMO.
I don't think teams are leaving DA for one ECNL team and one RL team, they are being promised two ecnl teams. I am really not sure which is better, DPL or RL. Very good point on the traveling.
 
I don't think teams are leaving DA for one ECNL team and one RL team, they are being promised two ecnl teams. I am really not sure which is better, DPL or RL. Very good point on the traveling.

Teams like Solar, FC Dallas, and Tophat (or FC Virginia or NC Courage) are not going to leave DA for ECNL + RL.
If those above teams could possibly be convinced to drop DA for two ECNL teams (like Real Colorado this month), then ECNL would be crazy not to offer it.
If they can pull those 3 (or 5) clubs over to ECNL, then DA is all but dead outside of SoCal. And it would just be a matter of time for SoCal. Lavers should be offering that group of clubs whatever they want to get a deal done as it's a unique opportunity right now to perhaps deliver a fatal punch.
 
Teams like Solar, FC Dallas, and Tophat (or FC Virginia or NC Courage) are not going to leave DA for ECNL + RL.
If those above teams could possibly be convinced to drop DA for two ECNL teams (like Real Colorado this month), then ECNL would be crazy not to offer it.
If they can pull those 3 (or 5) clubs over to ECNL, then DA is all but dead outside of SoCal. And it would just be a matter of time for SoCal. Lavers should be offering that group of clubs whatever they want to get a deal done as it's a unique opportunity right now to perhaps deliver a fatal punch.

Socal DA has 8 clubs in the top 50 according to that soccerwire rankings, 4 in the top 10. Why would it just be a matter of time? With this whole coronavirus thing, traveling is probably not going to be recommended for a bit and you know with DA it is the best ONE team. All those clubs with two ecnl teams are probably going to keep a few decent players that should be on the A team on the B team just so the B team is a little more competitive and attracts more players. Plus everyone loves how coaches promise no practicing with the B team but it ends up happening anyways. I think these socal clubs stay in DA, why would they switch to ecnl? To face less competition in their backyard for 80% of your games in exchange for one matchup a year, maybe, with REAL colorado? I get it, a club switching is big news but just remember that this has no affect on socal, in colorado, yes that is a big deal. That's a big loss for DA in CO.
 
Teams like Solar, FC Dallas, and Tophat (or FC Virginia or NC Courage) are not going to leave DA for ECNL + RL.
If those above teams could possibly be convinced to drop DA for two ECNL teams (like Real Colorado this month), then ECNL would be crazy not to offer it.
If they can pull those 3 (or 5) clubs over to ECNL, then DA is all but dead outside of SoCal. And it would just be a matter of time for SoCal. Lavers should be offering that group of clubs whatever they want to get a deal done as it's a unique opportunity right now to perhaps deliver a fatal punch.
You were saying?
 
You were saying?
Didn't see that coming. Another Top 20 club drops, interesting. NC Courage has a great program. With United following suit your right, what does that do to Tophat. Leaves them in more isolation and guaranteed expensive weekend trips.
 
Didn't see that coming. Another Top 20 club drops, interesting. NC Courage has a great program. With United following suit your right, what does that do to Tophat. Leaves them in more isolation and guaranteed expensive weekend trips.

I think that only leaves 5 teams in the GDA SE division? Top Hat has no one of any quality left to play.
 
Wow. Nearing the tipping point of GDA viability (at least outside of SoCal), in my opinion. For what many would consider to be truly "elite" clubs, there is just Tophat, Solar, FC Dallas, and FC Virginia left for anything outside of California.

If I’m the next group of clubs (Penn Fusion, Nationals, OK Energy, Cincinnati DA, etc.) after those “elite” clubs you list, I’d start to panic.
 
Socal DA has 8 clubs in the top 50 according to that soccerwire rankings, 4 in the top 10. Why would it just be a matter of time? With this whole coronavirus thing, traveling is probably not going to be recommended for a bit and you know with DA it is the best ONE team. All those clubs with two ecnl teams are probably going to keep a few decent players that should be on the A team on the B team just so the B team is a little more competitive and attracts more players. Plus everyone loves how coaches promise no practicing with the B team but it ends up happening anyways. I think these socal clubs stay in DA, why would they switch to ecnl? To face less competition in their backyard for 80% of your games in exchange for one matchup a year, maybe, with REAL colorado? I get it, a club switching is big news but just remember that this has no affect on socal, in colorado, yes that is a big deal. That's a big loss for DA in CO.
Corona is going to change more than just travel. All this time away from crazy soccer life has to remind parents how life should be...ECNL offers families more choice, more time, more freedom and similar college exposure. It also gives clubs more freedom to run their soccer operations as they see fit. Clubs jumping the DA ship are giving their families what they want. The two teams offer is just the cherry on top. Look for one of the "smaller" SoCal DA clubs to jump first.
 
Back
Top