Agree 100%.
'22-'23 SoCal and National Forecast and Updates
- Thread starter MARsSPEED
- Start date
Also, with rosters the size of the average ECNL team (and depth of the quality), it seems like even 4 injuries wouldn't have a big effect
SD Force runs the league now (at least 09s), and Rangers will have to knock them off if they want to lay claim to the top. Easier said than done.
This is a major coup. Impressive roster of teams the DPL is putting together in the SW. The gaps between ECNL/GA & ECRL/DPL continues to shrink.
SD Force has some good teams + they've been consistently good for a long time.
Interesting that they're not in GA while SDSC is. Also interesting that theyre not in ECNL when clubs like Rebels are.
Maybe they just dont care about being part of the big letter leagues.
SD Force teams across multiple age groups consistently beat top FRAM, Murrieta, and SDSC teams before those other clubs were added to GA. They’ve also beat all but a couple SW GA teams and would probably be mid-table SW ECNL with competitive games against most of the conference.
I heard the club tried to get into ECNL/RL and GA, but weren’t/aren’t being let in. Would be interesting to find out why. But their case demonstrates that merit is definitely not the top attribute for clubs to be added to the top letter leagues.
Venantsyo
GOLD
Well, I am not sure that was the primary target, but I guess it will have to do for now.
Venantsyo
GOLD
It’s hardly about what the clubs want, rather than what the leagues let them do and don’t do.
RandomSoccerFan
GOLD
This tracks. Here are the overall rankings for each of the listed clubs. SD Force shows quite well, and is competitive with all that are listed on the girls side. The club rating is tied to the top teams in all age groups 2012-2006.
This is more of a stretch. Even the midtable clubs in both Moroccan and Sonoran are still well into the top ten in the overall ratings, and look to be at least 2 goals stronger as a club. The individual ages/teams will vary a bit, but overall the picture is pretty clear.
RandomSoccerFan
GOLD
"The Rangers" and "The Fullerton Rangers" the same thing, or is the Fullerton entity a separate affiliate?
This pic makes it seem as if they could be one and the same:
EDIT: Yes, it looks pretty clear. Their instagram points to this website, called the Fullerton Rangers.
This pic makes it seem as if they could be one and the same:
EDIT: Yes, it looks pretty clear. Their instagram points to this website, called the Fullerton Rangers.
Not sure if I believe the numbers in this case. Force rarely gets to play GA + ECNL teams. It makes things more variable.
The hard part for a club like Force is if they do well the bigger clubs will just recruit away their talent.
RandomSoccerFan
GOLD
You might have to be more specific about which numbers you believe and which you don't for any reply to be meaningful. But at the club level, it's drawing from 7 teams for each club, over multiple years. The data set is literally hundreds and hundreds of games, both league and tournaments. For the relative ratings to be "off" at the club level by any significant amount, is more unlikely than doubting the ratings of a particular team, or a particular game's matchup.
Yep - that's always one of the problems with "what if?" hypotheticals. Even if they picked up a team entity and attempted to drop it unchanged into another league - just doing that would likely cause significant shifts in the players for the team.
Code
SILVER ELITE
The Force DPL G07's are very good as well. Probably better than any GA team in the Southwest, and all the ECRL teams except Beach. Only 10 or so ECNL teams in the Southwest they couldn't beat.
4-1 Blues over Surf;
1-1 between Koge and Legends
Watched both games; all the teams will be difficult to handle nationally (so long no injuries);Thought Blues looked the best out of the 4 teams though still the same kick and run( will that style last for a Nat Champ?) Surf possessed and spaced nicely, they will peak later in the year... Koge I thought looked 2nd best today out of the 4 teams, team is a combo of small ball, speed, space, and balanced with direct, apparently have not played much over the break- Legends very physical team, had their moments seemed to counter with big physical forwards with their speed.
Marspeed after today from the SW conference in my opinion would rank these 4 team based from today's game (could change week to week);
1) Blues-though lost to Legends;
2) Koge-may go furthest in the Nat tourney with their style;
3) Legends-will be a difficult out nationally will match up with anyone;
4) Surf-has the style, just need a bit more intensity and may very well end up in the Final 4 nationally again.
Tim Powell
SILVER ELITE
I might be incorrect, but might take always was, that for clubs that do not have teams in ECNL or GA, that ECRL and DPL (respectively) serve as a potential pathway. Do well enough in those leagues against the second string teams from all the clubs in the “higher” league, and you can move up.
Worked for Legends and Beach, who went all in and put their best teams in ECRL (and somewhat shockingly for Pats the next year). Worked for FRAM on the GA side as they were in DPL only before they became GA.
What I would agree with is that it is head scratching that Force is not yet in GA. And frankly, I would have rather have the Rangers move right into GA - both of those teams are well ahead of the other DPL teams. Both teams would immediately raise the competitive level of the GA SW division.
rainbow_unicorn
PREMIER
On the G09 Southwest ECNL side it is going to be a crazy dash to the finish in the next several weeks with groups tightly clumped vying for playoffs. Mojave side will be Beach, Eagles and Royals battling for two spots. Sonoran side will be Slammers HBK, Sharks, AZ Arsenal and Surf battling for two spots. That will leave some very, very good teams sitting on the sidelines come playoffs in June.
Tim Powell
SILVER ELITE
As most folks know, Shark a used to struggle across nearly all ages groups until recently.
@rainbow_unicorn - Are you of the opinion this is almost solely due to their director hire away from Albion in Aug 2021, and I would assume recruiting players (from Albion and possibly other clubs)?
rainbow_unicorn
PREMIER
Not sure...I do not have any special insight into SD or Sharks. All I know is that SD talent seemed to be spread out in the younger years (Surf, Albion, Liverpool, Force) and has slowly consolidated to Surf and Sharks as of late.
Sharks girls are starting to revert back to what they always were. The problem with DMCV is it's an expensive place to live. This means it's hard for Sharks to put together a youngers Rec to olders Competitve funnel because theres not as many local kids. Also Surf + Albion + City + Force + others are all within driving distance. Youngers with talent quickly get recruited away.
When MW came to Sharks he booted all the existing players from competitve teams + replaced them with Albion + City + other teams in the area. Everyone was so excited to have an ECNL option (other than Surf) in North County that he was able to recruit like crazy.
Unfortunately for MW booting all the existing Sharks competitive players pissed off a lot of people + word got around. More recently MW is losing talent to Surf + also he doesnt seem to understand that players / parents arent going to switch to Sharks just to play ECNL you have to be personable.
The slow decline back to where Sharks were 2-3 years ago will happen again. Neither of the big GA clubs in SD (City and Albion) are going to let players go to Sharks without a fight.
From a players perspective because Surf is so dominate if you're in SD + you want to do ECNL it doesnt make sense to play for anyone other than Surf because you'll never win or be in contention for a national title. Might as well go to City or Albion + do GA where you'll have a chance at a national title + getting noticed if you're not going to play for Surf.
When MW came to Sharks he booted all the existing players from competitve teams + replaced them with Albion + City + other teams in the area. Everyone was so excited to have an ECNL option (other than Surf) in North County that he was able to recruit like crazy.
Unfortunately for MW booting all the existing Sharks competitive players pissed off a lot of people + word got around. More recently MW is losing talent to Surf + also he doesnt seem to understand that players / parents arent going to switch to Sharks just to play ECNL you have to be personable.
The slow decline back to where Sharks were 2-3 years ago will happen again. Neither of the big GA clubs in SD (City and Albion) are going to let players go to Sharks without a fight.
From a players perspective because Surf is so dominate if you're in SD + you want to do ECNL it doesnt make sense to play for anyone other than Surf because you'll never win or be in contention for a national title. Might as well go to City or Albion + do GA where you'll have a chance at a national title + getting noticed if you're not going to play for Surf.