Rangers vs Eagles

[chipmonk]

I think there is a bit of confusion when it comes to MLS 2 if you look at the list in Souther California of Teams now with MLS 2 there are only 5 new clubs added that did not already have MLS Next. Which means that of the 18 clubs in the league this first year 13 of them already had MLS Next Programs I am not sure how that would change the landscape. What does this mean for EA? Well it will mean that some teams from EA will be moving up to MLS 2 however many of the clubs staying EA and new teams coming in to the league will make it much more competitive as it takes shape in the next year. EA will have a North and South Division now which will most likely have 15 - 20 teams per division this means there will be 30 to 40 total EA Teams in SoCal so I am not sure how the 5 teams that moved to MLS2 would have that big of an impact on EA and the level of competition. One thing I will say and you heard it here first mark my words, in a few years not sure how many, ECNL for boys will begin to disappear and eventually be completely gone.

The existing clubs that are now MLS2 are moving their former EA teams to MLS 2, that’s why there will be a big impact on the EA level of competition. Their 3rd teams that were either in EA2 or SoCal will now be their EA team. The hypothetical player movement from MLSN -> MLSN 2 -> EA would make it more like a 2.5 tier, but it is what it is.

My guess is that ECNL boys will most likely be on par with MLSN2 as it pans out, I doubt it will be gone in a few years.

 

[SelectMan]

Maybe in CA for MLS2 but I believe you're being a little aggressive saying that boys ECNL will disappear in a few years.

In other places boys ECNL has more of a foothold in the market and I guarantee ECNL will play the "we'll take girls ECNL away" card if clubs join MLS2 over boys ECNL.

The key in all of this is for a group of big girls ECNL clubs to switch to GA. If/when this happens ECNL will fall apart on both the boys and girls sides. Also if NWSL did Acadamies and partnered with GA like MLS did with MLS Next ECNL would be done.

I don't disagree with you in regards to the girls ECNL having a strong footprint on girls soccer in the US, I'm not trying to spread any negativity regarding the Boys side of ECNL, I just wanted to go on the record so that when it happens you can say some crazy person mentioned it on a soccer forum a few years back. US Soccer at least for Boys will have one path and it will be through MLS, MLS Next 2, EA, EA2 the local leagues will be feeders for these leagues. Not sure how long it will take for this to happen but it will happen. Girls are slowly making a move to GA and if the MLS does open up a girls side like all the other major leagues have done around the world then the Girls ECNL would be in serious trouble as well.

 

[CAZZZ]

The existing clubs that are now MLS2 are moving their former EA teams to MLS 2, that’s why there will be a big impact on the EA level of competition. Their 3rd teams that were either in EA2 or SoCal will now be their EA team. The hypothetical player movement from MLSN -> MLSN 2 -> EA would make it more like a 2.5 tier, but it is what it is.

My guess is that ECNL boys will most likely be on par with MLSN2 as it pans out, I doubt it will be gone in a few years.

Not on par with MLS2 for sure, Surf, SDSC, and Rebel can easily make the playoffs if they are in the MLSN Southwest league.

 

[KiloOne]

Not on par with MLS2 for sure, Surf, SDSC, and Rebel can easily make the playoffs if they are in the MLSN Southwest league.

What age group are you referring to? Rebels are bottom half of the table in most ECNL age groups. Surf and SDSC have a few good teams, but aren't easily making playoffs in MLSN Southwest.

 

[chipmonk]

Not on par with MLS2 for sure, Surf, SDSC, and Rebel can easily make the playoffs if they are in the MLSN Southwest league.

I'm sure ECNL will continue to have some strong teams, but the league as a whole just seems slightly stronger than EA right now and the MLS2 merge should make it stronger -> hence ecnl and mls2 will be on par. It's not that big a deal, the top teams in each of those leagues will still get exposure, but the MLS events will get a little more.

I would also guess that at the older age groups when kids leave pls next so they can play high school, now they can just drop to MLS 2 instead of switching to ECNL. That's where ECNL boys is strongest right now, that junior year age group.