So, Eclipse can fail again in the North like is has before?? Given declining numbers of players, fragmented top leagues, uncertainty of whether S FC will be involved in ECNL, or how that will work (A/B or split squads), I think we may be over estimating the impact of this..if it does happen. If it does, I defer to Upper Left's assessment in that the only positive will to allow North Shore families to replace FC United car adornments with the much cooler ones from Eclipse.
Multiple people say JS has a very small amount of followers, most others despise the guy and see him for what he is. Apparently he has zero pull on any of the boys teams also.
I was on the same website as Volk this morning, and this caught my eye. Kind of apropos for today's rants: I think it speaks to those who oppose the Sports Made Profitable crew as well as those who have their doubts about the small but well-coordinated band of rebels selling dreams and promises on this site and throughout the Northshore these days.
Long time viewer, but this is my first post in the forum. Admittedly, it's a vent. A few weeks back I was in a parent meeting where the directors of FC United tried to explain why our daughter's coach "resigned" with 1/3 of the season left to go. There was no real explanation other than the staff couldn't work together for the benefit of the players. Very disappointing. I don't know who is to blame but it's no secret that Steve Morris (DA Director) and the coach were publicly arguing in front of the players during the winter showcase. Morris informed us he personally be taking over the team and then proceeded to speak about the great culture that he has created for the boys in the DA and how he will bring that to the girls. Currently, the three FC boys teams have a combined record of 8-16-4, which is far from great! When we questioned how Morris was going to manage our daughters team, along with the other team vacated by the departing coach and his other responsibilities, we got to treated to an hour of FC United Director, Baer Fisher, answering every question with "I don't have that information." One parent pointed out that Morris had alienated half the team in his brief time with them at the winter showcase. However, Fisher and Morris promised additional staff would be hired to address our concerns. Last Thursday, FC United announced the hiring of a Northwestern assistant coach to the DA staff. I admittedly know nothing about this coach, but FC United has already tried this move unsuccessfully. In the fall, they announced that Depaul coach Erin Chastain would be running all girls programming at FC United. We have yet to see her make an appearance at a practice or game. When Fisher was questioned about this, he informed us that she was only in charge of the non-DA players. Nice of them to inform us of this! So now here we go again. FC United makes an announcement of a college coach joining the staff, lets see if this one ever shows up and if he does lets see if he can save this wasted season. '
FCU's disarray has very little to do with the likelihood of Rory bestowing an ECNL badge on a tiny U-little franchise. Just because FCU/SMP failed to have a former coach sign a non-solicitation agreement doesn't make SFC any more attractive than other clubs to become an affiliate. Just look at post #1102. That sentiment is more in line with what I have heard from folks at FCU than your suggestion that players would flock. If given the opportunity, parents and players will chase the badge, the exposure, and the opportunity to play high school. They might end up playing for JS at SFC if this deal you imagine happens, but it won't be because they are chasing a coach. The SFC website looks to have been tuned up for this bid... looking at it you'd have no idea that their teams stopped at U11. They have certainly been flooding the zone with their own propaganda. But unless Rory or one of his top lieutenants is in the Northbrook library and bro hugging their future business partners at the annual State of Sparta address on Feb 20, I'm skeptical like Orange Card (and Concerned) that anything will come of this.
I think it ends up like this: a north suburban club folds into Eclipse (SFC? Sure, why not.). But both girls ECNL teams are still run out of Oak Brook, but north suburban kids on those teams (be they A or B) can train together (all age groups; boys too) at the north suburban site periodically/weekly to reduce the number of trips down to OB. On the margin, that would be attractive to a number of folks looking for HS play and/or FC United alternative.
This morning in the Starbucks drive thru the car in front of me had both Spartan and FC United magnets. A few years ago I used to see cars with Spartan and FC-1 magnets. Eclipse doesn't have car magnets, just window decals. Maybe this is the remaining hurdle? LOL!
Apparently they are "playing to win" based on a parent meeting with coaches however.... and that's a big however, I understand there are a lot of kids playing up on the current ECNL teams. Top 2006 team has up to 4 2007 players and that's essentially the case across the board. What the coaches have said is that the rosters will be strictly age appropriate meaning those 2007's (for example), now get bumped back down to 07 for State Cup. Should be interested - good they are in. I would not mind seeing one platform where top teams - or second teams at least are competing against one another - shit imagine that right? Of course we know Sockers won't show up but maybe they will be there for the USClub State Cup
Right. But by the time when they go from 7v7 to 11v11, they probably won't have the depth to compete with the bigger, aggregator clubs. Seen many small-club World beaters at U9-11 that fadeaway by U13. This isn't Hoosiers.
All depends on the club Depends on the club. That particular u11 team already has a few top players from the surrounding area so they likely will attract some more if they continue their success. A lot of times it is that group of world beaters losing a few to the “big clubs”.
Many 2008-2004 players are shuffling this winter according to what I am hearing. I know we've had many 2006 players come to our sessions. Eclipse has had a few between 2008-2006 this past week as well. Tis the season... Player goes from a completely mis-managed FCU to a Sockers where the player pool from 2004 down would not even be considered best of the rest anylonger - B teams. Sockers players looking at Eclipse which has some questionable coaches and a winter program that is half of what other clubs offer. Makes me wonder how many of these players - displeased with their current situation will just shuffle through the big three - looking for something that likely does not exist. Makes me wonder if ECNL/DA may start to have an adverse impact in developing teams at the very least. Has it all just become a numbers game for the big three?
I think this was the norm but I see the Galaxy/TC and CSA 05 teams providing more opportunities for good competition and training. Programming is a big deal and if it's meanignful then I think it's easier to keep those players as opposed to losing them to the 3 finishing schools.
Not sure if the players are staying. For 2017-18, the top U13s, based on spring state cup, were FCU, Peoria, Galaxy, CSA, Northwind and TC The next fall, FCU and TC played Prem I USYS and both were below .500 And Galaxy (barely above .500) and CSA (last place) played Prem II. So, it would appear that those USYS teams are losing girls to the 4 DA and ECNL teams? Maybe we should tag girls at U11 and U12 on the top IWSL teams to follow their migratory journeys. Like I said before, no dominant “small-club” team has lasted past u12. Certainly, some good ones, but, by U13, the best teams are housed in the Big 3.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/subu...ns-soccer-naperville-shock-st-0810-story.html NSA 2000s just won a U.S. Youth Soccer national championship and were a dominant team from the get go. They played up an age group while u10 u11 and u12.
Never going to stop completely but I see plenty of players who could easily make those top teams and have not left. From the conversations I've had with parents... they are just not interested. Is that any different from years past? Who knows.