MLS invited all former DA teams to join its new league, but a group of former DA clubs joined ECNL before MLS was fully formed as a successor to DA. Some of those, like Real SoCal, had girls DA and going all in with boys ECNL too, even though it’s relatively new itself and not as well respected on the boys side as the girls side, may have been necessary to seal the deal for their girls to get in. More generally, though, the DA clubs that went Boys ECNL tended to have a strong technical director who was tired of playing second fiddle to the MLS Academies in DA and their fear was likely that this would be worse in MLS Next. The cost is that some of the best players gravitated to the clubs that went MLS Next, even if those clubs weren’t as strong when they were in DA. In all the clubs with both MLS Next and Boys ECNL, it appears that they have placed the top team in MLS Next, but in the former DA clubs with just Boys ECNL, many of those teams are still quite strong.Hey I was wondering if anyone knew why some teams ended up joining MLS next while others didn't. One example is LAUFA joined MLS Next, but Real So Cal was left out. Anyone have any idea why that would happen?
How many years before all the reshuffle finally settles? And we can see the "superiority" of one league over another?
I'm aware of some AZ clubs that are both MLS Next and Boys ECNL, are there any SoCal teams that did this?In all the clubs with both MLS Next and Boys ECNL, it appears that they have placed the top team in MLS Next, but in the former DA clubs with just Boys ECNL, many of those teams are still quite strong.
Pure speculation, but I think it would be at least a couple years. As of now, both leagues have great teams and not so great teams. ECNL will never have the MLS Academy teams, so if I were to bet I would say that MLS Next may become the "superior" league on the boys side. However, it wouldn't surprise me if the ECNL becomes the top for girls. Equally possible that both leagues end up being "the same, but different", or a 3rd "super league" is formed.How many years before all the reshuffle finally settles? And we can see the "superiority" of one league over another?
I'm aware of some AZ clubs that are both MLS Next and Boys ECNL, are there any SoCal teams that did this?
Does the MLS provide a pro path for girls or just boys? ECNL is all about college. If pro $$$ are out there for the girls because their supposed to act like the little pros all the time, then I say this MLS league might win out.Up here in NorCal Deanza is the only club I know that is doing mls and ecnl. Quakes and Deanza are the strongest teams up here and they are both doing mls. I’ve heard deanza’s 2nd teams will do ecnl. Up here it seems like ecnl is a bit more competitive 1-10 but mls has 3-4 real strong teams then a big drop after that and will see a lot of 10-1 games. That was the problem with DA the last few years. After being DA the last few years I’m looking forward to tournaments, more games and more fun with ecnl.
I think after a couple years one league will emerge as top league. I think mls could be top league if they had about a 3rd of the teams they currently have and just traveled way more for games. Hard to say you are elite when you have so many average teams. Also with promotion/relegation in ecnl the ecnl 10 teams will stay strong.
More generally, though, the DA clubs that went Boys ECNL tended to have a strong technical director who was tired of playing second fiddle to the MLS Academies in DA and their fear was likely that this would be worse in MLS Next.