Timbers Patch = ECNL

[Unregistered]

How were they going to consolidate? Medford, Bend and Salem girls come into PDX, Beaverton, or LO to practice 3-4 times a week. PDX girls travel to Salem for practice?? For us it was simple geography. We were glad when OPL was formed so we could play close to home and still have the weekend to do other things. Just one families opinion.

First of all, by not having two clubs. That would be the most obvious solution.

Believe it or not girls from Bend were the first to play ECNL out of Oregon. They played for Colorado Rush. It would be cheaper and a better experience all around for talented players like those to continue to discovery play out of state. They practice with their clubs and play with the best, against the beset. The Oregon ECNL teams do not meet the original intent of the league... another example of a money grab.. even the league is doing it to introduce more revenues via more clubs. I am actually very surprised that people don't see what is going on. IF you were not playing at an elite level before then it is unlikely you will be now. The good news is that the ECN Leauge will make a lot more money and put the final nails in the ODP coffin.

[Unregistered]

easy on the settle train. Last time I checked that ecnl team from up north only tied our diluted ecnl team.

I suspect unless your daughter is on one of the stacked teams for one of the clubs... meaning more than 50% of the good Oregon players are there, then you will not see this as a trend. In fact you will see the same thing that Oregon has always seen while playing out of state. You must consolidate as much talent as possible to compete well. Why do you think that clubs like Crossfire ECNL (Redmond), WPFC and Colorado Rush were always pulling in out of state players? They don't even suffer from the smaller metropolitan area population problem either. But no one is going to be able to tell you squat. You will need to play a couple of years of ECNL to see the obvious:

1- MOST not all of the Oregon teams will not compete as well
2- ECNL is getting watered down now by accepting clubs that do not meet the intent

[Unregistered]

I suspect unless your daughter is on one of the stacked teams for one of the clubs... meaning more than 50% of the good Oregon players are there, then you will not see this as a trend. In fact you will see the same thing that Oregon has always seen while playing out of state. You must consolidate as much talent as possible to compete well. Why do you think that clubs like Crossfire ECNL (Redmond), WPFC and Colorado Rush were always pulling in out of state players? They don't even suffer from the smaller metropolitan area population problem either. But no one is going to be able to tell you squat. You will need to play a couple of years of ECNL to see the obvious:

1- MOST not all of the Oregon teams will not compete as well
2- ECNL is getting watered down now by accepting clubs that do not meet the intent

BS. I was talking with a parent from Spokane that said he knows of two girls that are an ECNL team here in Portland. So they are pulling players that are deep into Washington. ECNL is not watered down. *** do you mean intent??? You don't know what your talking about.

[Unregistered]

Making the national team isn't the benchmark. Making a nationally recognized team should be. Oregon doesn't have the population base to support two high level teams. They can do one as evidenced by the sporadic successful team from Oregon and the successful ODP teams. They all had one thing in common, most of the high level players in the age group gravitated to those teams. For the club teams, they took it a step further with high level guest players. Two teams at each age level that don't include the players who can't afford the astronomical expense is one two many.

If Oregon doesn't have the population to support even 2 teams then why did the Timbers, in their infinite wisdom, create a third team?

[Unregistered]

First of all, by not having two clubs. That would be the most obvious solution.

Believe it or not girls from Bend were the first to play ECNL out of Oregon. They played for Colorado Rush. It would be cheaper and a better experience all around for talented players like those to continue to discovery play out of state. They practice with their clubs and play with the best, against the beset. The Oregon ECNL teams do not meet the original intent of the league... another example of a money grab.. even the league is doing it to introduce more revenues via more clubs. I am actually very surprised that people don't see what is going on. IF you were not playing at an elite level before then it is unlikely you will be now. The good news is that the ECN Leauge will make a lot more money and put the final nails in the ODP coffin.

And guess what, those discovery players still spend thousands of dollars on travel costs. It's not any less expensive to be a discovery player.

[Unregistered]

If Oregon doesn't have the population to support even 2 teams then why did the Timbers, in their infinite wisdom, create a third team?

They are trying to stop the downward spiral of their girls program. They are desperate right now. They lost alot of good players to OPL clubs. The academy is a dismal failure. They are going to start losing some of their best players to ECNL. OYSA girls soccer is in bad shape.

[Unregistered]

easy on the settle train. Last time I checked that ecnl team from up north only tied our diluted ecnl team.

Where did you check...? If you look at the ECNL site there does not appear to be any Washington Oregon match ups yet. Let me guess..NWCL???

[Unregistered]

And guess what, those discovery players still spend thousands of dollars on travel costs. It's not any less expensive to be a discovery player.

Definitely less expensive. You don't pay full league fees.

[Unregistered]

They are trying to stop the downward spiral of their girls program. They are desperate right now. They lost alot of good players to OPL clubs. The academy is a dismal failure. They are going to start losing some of their best players to ECNL. OYSA girls soccer is in bad shape.

All Oregon based girl's soccer is in bad shape. It makes me sad. It also makes me sad that people that are drinking the kool aid and pointing the finger are totally missing the point that both sides have f'ed Oregon soccer over in a huge way and it is sad at best. But, if it makes you feel better to think that your leaders are the "good" guys trying to save the soccer for those who can afford it then more power to you. I am pissed and fed up with all of them.

[Unregistered]

Where did you check...? If you look at the ECNL site there does not appear to be any Washington Oregon match ups yet. Let me guess..NWCL???

Yes it was NWCL Washington Premiere with some local talent tied FC PDX. Just stating a fact. Seems to have rubbed some the wrong way. Sorry

[Unregistered]

If Oregon doesn't have the population to support even 2 teams then why did the Timbers, in their infinite wisdom, create a third team?

that's the point, there should not be a third team. or a second team, only one team. you've gone 90% of the way with your question, now take the final step.

[Unregistered]

Yes it was NWCL Washington Premiere with some local talent tied FC PDX. Just stating a fact. Seems to have rubbed some the wrong way. Sorry

It doesn't rub me wrong but it isn't necessarily the indicator you need. The NWCL does not always bring the first team from the northern ECNL clubs. Crossfire will play many of the girls that don't ever get to play and they have been known .... last year for sure ... to put really young girls on older teams for the experience. Last year there were 5 13 year olds playing U18. They actually won... but, believe what you want and brag now while you can.

[Unregistered]

It doesn't rub me wrong but it isn't necessarily the indicator you need. The NWCL does not always bring the first team from the northern ECNL clubs. Crossfire will play many of the girls that don't ever get to play and they have been known .... last year for sure ... to put really young girls on older teams for the experience. Last year there were 5 13 year olds playing U18. They actually won... but, believe what you want and brag now while you can.

Not bragging and we were not talking about Crossfire now are we. Glad your happy with your arrangement and more power to you. But facts are last time your ecnl power team played a PDX team that was the diluted option you spoke to earlier. They tied!!

[Unregistered]

Not bragging and we were not talking about Crossfire now are we. Glad your happy with your arrangement and more power to you. But facts are last time your ecnl power team played a PDX team that was the diluted option you spoke to earlier. They tied!!

haha says the people who are putting down the thorns for not winning a league... look at us, we tied

[Unregistered]

that's the point, there should not be a third team. or a second team, only one team. you've gone 90% of the way with your question, now take the final step.

So the first step towards a solution is to eliminate the Thorns Academy. Great! Let's do it. Then we'll see if there still aren't enough top players to fill two teams. Hint: there are.