Now that the season is underway and the first "showcase" is done, any thoughts on the 2012s as they have stared their ECNL journey?
Based on what result? The draw that Blues had was vs Surf and HBK has not played either team. To say HBK and Surf are the team to beat is a bit premature. Those 3 teams are the ones to beat.Now that the season is underway and the first "showcase" is done, any thoughts on the 2012s as they have stared their ECNL journey?
Seems that Slammers HBK and SurfSD are the teams to beat. Blues doesn't seem as dominant as they once were...
it’s Blues , Surf and HBKNow that the season is underway and the first "showcase" is done, any thoughts on the 2012s as they have stared their ECNL journey?
Seems that Slammers HBK and SurfSD are the teams to beat. Blues doesn't seem as dominant as they once were...
Yeah, it's premature...and just an opinion. HBK recently added 3 players that weren't there when they tied at Surf Cup. They seem like pretty impactful players and team should get better as they gel over time. Blues has pretty much the same team they've had for a while and they just don't look as dominant as before from what I've seen. Surf always looks strong and looked to have more dangerous scoring opportunities vs. blues last month.
Doesn't look like any got pulled up to 11s for the last game they tied with Legends. I guess domination at 7v7 and 9v9 doesn't translate to 11v11? Match up this wkd vs HBK Slammers...
Legends had half of the 2013s team (the 2012 RL team) playing with the ECNL 2012 team helping them against Blues. Manny views the 2013s (and I can agree) as a better team than the current 2012 ECNL team. The 2013s have talent and I am sure that contributed against their tie with Blues.
Final score 1-1 HBK vs Blues. Seems Blues dominated with their speed first half but HBK took over second as Blues might have worn down.
Looks like the dominance that Blues 2012 team once had is now over. 11v11 is a different beast. As girls mature & defenses improve, games become tighter and tighter, especially at the highest levels. Players that were once dominant because of their athleticism and size are no longer that relevant anymore if they never worked on the fundamentals of tactical and technical passing.
RR was yelling hard the entire game. Seemed his game plan was to press hard and force HBK mistakes. PA was a lot calmer even when they went down 0-1... HBK seemed to be more creative in their attack.
My DD is older, but I was talking to a friend during the holidays who has a DD in this age group. He was asking how many girls that dominate at the younger ages continue to dominate as they get older. I looked back at the roster for my daughters team the year before they went to 11v11 (this was a top 3 socal team at that time that went to national cup finals and won surf cup that last year). Of the 13 girls on that roster, 3 are playing Power 4, 1 is playing at an Ivy, 2 others are playing at Mid-Majors and 1 is playing D2, and 6 are not playing college soccer at all. At the time, I would have told you that you were crazy to think that nearly half the girls wouldn't even play in college, but I think these stats are pretty typical. If you go back even further, the two most dominant girls on my DDs first Blues teams stopped playing soccer before they got to high school. Enjoy the ride!
I have seen this play out personally but will add that every team at this level is unique because teams are made up of individuals. The greatest soccer player in the country might lose interest because of dozens of reasons, more so because they are girls. Less so on the boys side, but it happens there too. I have seen top college players chose to retire that absolutely have a career in the pro game if wanted. So, some U12 teams maintain to the end and some crash and burn. The glue to young great teams staying great is the team/clubs ability to continually add and integrate top talent to replace ones that drop out for whatever reasons. That along with continuing great coaching which needs to change every 2-3 years. I think it is harder for teams to stay together for the long term today because the pro game and National teams pick off players a lot sooner today than the past. I guess that’s progress……..
parents always break up the great teams, always...
My daughter has had the same coach since 5 at the same club and has continued to Improve on different things each year.
That's awesome. I wasn't addressing individual player development but team development. A coach teaches most everything he has to give in 2-3 years. Players get on coaches nerves, coaches get on players nerves and that is why most teams fall apart if you try and keep the same coach for more than 3 years. I was referring to the championship team (not player) that is able to maintain that level of elite status throughout the youth progression.
While there is some truth to this statement of Blues 10's it's not the reason why the team fell apart. First year of 11v11 this team did great went to Virginia and lost to SD surf in Pk's so the team was good and had potential for more. The team fell apart when they started to lose their best midfielders or best players as they became an average team and not a contender anymore right after. Parents expect Blues to win or to be at the top competing for a title. This team had very high expectations and when they became just another middle of the pack team then the problems that I saw coming prior to leaving others started to see as well. At first everyone hated me for leaving but then they all came to their senses and realized that I was not the bad guy after all but just a parent that did what was best for his daughter's next season's development. If that coaching change was made sooner we may have all still been there along with the other ballers that were part of that team competing for an ECNL title. When a coach promises something or says they will do something for the development of players but does not follow through, you will see problems. It had nothing to do with parents taking control of the team and coach would not take the necessary actions for the good of the team. I would say more of a coach not being a leader and NOT doing the things that he promised... Fool me once sure, Fool me twice no... We lasted 2 seasons under coach and bounced. You can ask the 06's and 09's and they will have a similar story. Top players leaving, team falls apart because they are not winning like before, Blues parents expect more... problems, problems, problems...
So the coach was the doom and gloom in this case Luis? I dedicate this song to all the parents who were lied to, or promises were broken. CM's are the most important position in soccer, MOO. Then a top GK.
