NEFC dominating US Club Soccer in the region

[Unregistered]

Use cars as an example.... You don't see Porsche put endless commercials bigging themselves up as they know they have a quality product. NEFC girls have a good product which is produced and showed on the field, they don't need the idiots on here like you who have to do the stupid advertising. Let your daughters do the talking on the field like they are doing and everyone will actually respect you all more! Congrats on your daughter's success that you didn't achieve as a kid!

You might want to go back and read some threads from different time frames. That is what this site has always been about. Whomever is on top at the moment crows while the rest kvetch and complain about them. Nothing new nor is there anything terribly out of line about it.

The interesting thing about this year's state cups is they really show a shift in power from the small clubs to the mega clubs. Clearly the game is now about competing in many states and many different leagues. GPS and NEFC are obviously way out in front of the other local clubs at this point and the interesting discussion point is really what can the other clubs do to catch up. If you follow the trend over the last few years, the big are getting bigger and now have tremendous resources that the other clubs may not be able to compete with. Does that mean we end up with consolidation and will that be a good thing?

[Unregistered]

As the person who started the thread, I can tell you the intent was really to make the bigger point that on a regional level the power distribution isn't really what we here in Massachusetts like to think it is. Seriously, for all the hype generated by the Stars, FCB and SSS to only capture 2 state cups between them is embarrassing but more important, we all know that there are significant changes coming and it isn't all that big a stretch to think all three of those clubs may end up on the outside looking in when they all come to be because they really aren't producing any sort of measurable results.

Thanks for at least confirming that you started the thread, BTNT. Pretty shameless and pathetic.

[Unregistered]

This thread really says more about what is going on in the region than some are willing to admit. When it comes to handing out things like a boys ECNL franchise or a Girls DA you have to know someone is looking at these sort of results and wondering who really is the soccer power in the region. No matter how you slice it, clubs like the Bolts (FCB) and Stars aren't really doing enough on a broad basis to warrant being called a top level club and GPS has to be put into the conversation instead.

Always projecting about what are willing or not willing to admit, right, BTNT. Nice dialogue you're creating for and having with yourself.

[Unregistered]

Who isn't grabbing money at this point? At least there is something (anything) in the trophy case to show for the money spent. What excuse do some of the habitual bashers have? FCB 1 cup and Stars none? Say what you will about GPS but if they are supposedly so weak, why then couldn't those two clubs have a better showing?

And wait! There's more from BTNT!

[Unregistered]

You might want to go back and read some threads from different time frames. That is what this site has always been about. Whomever is on top at the moment crows while the rest kvetch and complain about them. Nothing new nor is there anything terribly out of line about it.

The interesting thing about this year's state cups is they really show a shift in power from the small clubs to the mega clubs. Clearly the game is now about competing in many states and many different leagues. GPS and NEFC are obviously way out in front of the other local clubs at this point and the interesting discussion point is really what can the other clubs do to catch up. If you follow the trend over the last few years, the big are getting bigger and now have tremendous resources that the other clubs may not be able to compete with. Does that mean we end up with consolidation and will that be a good thing?

And more! And more! And more! Guess Brad didn't have an internship for you this summer after all, huh, BTNT?

[Unregistered]

As the person who started the thread, I can tell you the intent was really to make the bigger point that on a regional level the power distribution isn't really what we here in Massachusetts like to think it is. Seriously, for all the hype generated by the Stars, FCB and SSS to only capture 2 state cups between them is embarrassing but more important, we all know that there are significant changes coming and it isn't all that big a stretch to think all three of those clubs may end up on the outside looking in when they all come to be because they really aren't producing any sort of measurable results.

Now I am really confused. Don't Stars and FCB top teams not play in either of the "state cup" competitions? And isn't there another thread pondering why SSS top players leave the club as they age? So why are the results "embarrassing"?

I agree the mega-club trend may eventually leave small clubs in the dust, but using these results as proof is disingenuous and mis-leading.

GPS has to focus less on money and more on attracting and retaining talent. But they have the jump on all others in reach and size.
NEFC second best positioned, provided they can keep various area lower level teams and parents happy.
Stars wants to be a mega-club. Remains to be seen whether they have the organizational and management ability to pull it off.
FCB too early to tell, and uncertain whether they will want to grow numbers, and whether it is possible to dominate without a regional reach.

The reality is to produce a national level contender requires consolidating talent from all corners of New England. 4 or 5 clubs can't all be that level when there are only enough players to field 1, maybe 2 of these stacked teams per age group. Then factor in the ECNL-DAP factor and we are sure to have plenty of T-S positioning as this all plays out.

[Unregistered]

The amusing thing about what happens on this site is while Perspective has spent years trying to identify each and every BTDT post and attacking post/poster that criticizes what he obviously sees as the status quo he clearly has missed some very significant evolutionary moments in the local soccer scene. Three or four years ago it would have been unthinkable that the Stars would have been shut out from winning a single state cup and yet here it has happened and for some reason now that is not even worth discussing, never mind asking the questions like what has happened to clubs like the Blazers or SSS. There are some radical changes coming to youth soccer over the next 12-18 months and from the looks of things right now there are going to be a lot of clubs that are going to get left behind.

[Unregistered]

Now I am really confused. Don't Stars and FCB top teams not play in either of the "state cup" competitions? And isn't there another thread pondering why SSS top players leave the club as they age? So why are the results "embarrassing"?

I agree the mega-club trend may eventually leave small clubs in the dust, but using these results as proof is disingenuous and mis-leading.

GPS has to focus less on money and more on attracting and retaining talent. But they have the jump on all others in reach and size.
NEFC second best positioned, provided they can keep various area lower level teams and parents happy.
Stars wants to be a mega-club. Remains to be seen whether they have the organizational and management ability to pull it off.
FCB too early to tell, and uncertain whether they will want to grow numbers, and whether it is possible to dominate without a regional reach.

The reality is to produce a national level contender requires consolidating talent from all corners of New England. 4 or 5 clubs can't all be that level when there are only enough players to field 1, maybe 2 of these stacked teams per age group. Then factor in the ECNL-DAP factor and we are sure to have plenty of T-S positioning as this all plays out.

Respectfully disagree. We all probably agree that what we have now is completely watered down. I think not being able win a state cup in this environment really calls into question just how good a job a lot of these clubs are doing. They clearly are cashing in but what do they have to show for it? I think that the consumer is starting to wake up and recognize the differences between the haves and the have nots. Take the Blazers and SSS for example, for as much noise as they have made, they have to be looking at where they are at today and wondering if they even have a shot at existence. I would have expected both of them to essentially clean up in the MYSA state cups and yet they didn't. That right there I think speaks volumes about the state of the mid level clubs and just how far off the pace that is being set by GPS and NEFC.

[Unregistered]

The amusing thing about what happens on this site is while Perspective has spent years trying to identify each and every BTDT post and attacking post/poster that criticizes what he obviously sees as the status quo he clearly has missed some very significant evolutionary moments in the local soccer scene. Three or four years ago it would have been unthinkable that the Stars would have been shut out from winning a single state cup and yet here it has happened and for some reason now that is not even worth discussing, never mind asking the questions like what has happened to clubs like the Blazers or SSS. There are some radical changes coming to youth soccer over the next 12-18 months and from the looks of things right now there are going to be a lot of clubs that are going to get left behind.

How come you don't want any credit for your astute insights, BTNT???

[Unregistered]

Respectfully disagree. We all probably agree that what we have now is completely watered down. I think not being able win a state cup in this environment really calls into question just how good a job a lot of these clubs are doing. They clearly are cashing in but what do they have to show for it? I think that the consumer is starting to wake up and recognize the differences between the haves and the have nots. Take the Blazers and SSS for example, for as much noise as they have made, they have to be looking at where they are at today and wondering if they even have a shot at existence. I would have expected both of them to essentially clean up in the MYSA state cups and yet they didn't. That right there I think speaks volumes about the state of the mid level clubs and just how far off the pace that is being set by GPS and NEFC.

More posting today, BTNT?

[Unregistered]

As the person who started the thread, I can tell you the intent was really to make the bigger point that on a regional level the power distribution isn't really what we here in Massachusetts like to think it is. Seriously, for all the hype generated by the Stars, FCB and SSS to only capture 2 state cups between them is embarrassing but more important, we all know that there are significant changes coming and it isn't all that big a stretch to think all three of those clubs may end up on the outside looking in when they all come to be because they really aren't producing any sort of measurable results.

Stars and FCB don't play in these things. Neither does SS Select. They are in DAP, ECNL or USYS. Get over yourself. Next year, most of the better NEFC kids will be calling Breakers home. So NEFC is done after this year.

[Unregistered]

How come you don't want any credit for your astute insights, BTNT???

Valid question. How come you don't want credit, BTDT?

[Unregistered]

Stars and FCB don't play in these things. Neither does SS Select. They are in DAP, ECNL or USYS. Get over yourself. Next year, most of the better NEFC kids will be calling Breakers home. So NEFC is done after this year.

Same coaches, same kids, same fields, same administration running it. I know you hate NEFC and just hearing the name upsets you, but although the uniforms and name might be different at the Elite level from U14-U18, it will absolutely still be NEFC kicking your butt.

[Unregistered]

Stars and FCB don't play in these things. Neither does SS Select. They are in DAP, ECNL or USYS. Get over yourself. Next year, most of the better NEFC kids will be calling Breakers home. So NEFC is done after this year.

Funny - I saw both Stars and FCB teams playing yesterday.

[Unregistered]

Stars and FCB don't play in these things. Neither does SS Select. They are in DAP, ECNL or USYS. Get over yourself. Next year, most of the better NEFC kids will be calling Breakers home. So NEFC is done after this year.

NEFC won't be done. They are a quality club that will have teams across a bunch of different leagues next year.

But the fact that these other clubs top teams didn't play yet got criticized was disingenuous. This type of slimy club promoting is ridiculous but unfortunately expected on this site.