The Thorns Academy is a total dumpster fire. None of their teams are successful, their leadership is non existent and lacking in anything remotely close to a strategic vision to improve the program.
They absolutely do not want to be in ECNL because it will expose them to the top clubs in the NW. They could hide out and lose regularly (and they did just that) by claiming they were in the US Soccer Development Academy, which had only one other team in the Pacific NW. Can’t hide if you actually have to play the very best teams in Seattle and Oregon.
They would finish at or near the bottom of every age group in the ECNL NW Division. They know this. Because it would be an embarassment for the Thorns first team and their overall brand they will take any other opportunity than to try and play in the ECNL. If they could even get accepted to the league.
Plus, they aren’t even run by the Portland Thorns. The Timbers/Thorns pay the Westside Timbers to run “their” academy. How jacked up is that!! Worse yet, Westside is only able to produce one top girls team every five or six years.
That whole thing is smoke and mirrors with half truths and lies thrown in for good measure.
They absolutely do not want to be in ECNL because it will expose them to the top clubs in the NW. They could hide out and lose regularly (and they did just that) by claiming they were in the US Soccer Development Academy, which had only one other team in the Pacific NW. Can’t hide if you actually have to play the very best teams in Seattle and Oregon.
They would finish at or near the bottom of every age group in the ECNL NW Division. They know this. Because it would be an embarassment for the Thorns first team and their overall brand they will take any other opportunity than to try and play in the ECNL. If they could even get accepted to the league.
Plus, they aren’t even run by the Portland Thorns. The Timbers/Thorns pay the Westside Timbers to run “their” academy. How jacked up is that!! Worse yet, Westside is only able to produce one top girls team every five or six years.
That whole thing is smoke and mirrors with half truths and lies thrown in for good measure.
Comment