Rumor has it that NPL is no more (at least on boys side) and the top clubs have formed Development Players League to operate under the MLS Academy league as as a 2nd division? Anyone have insight?
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You do.... you said there is a rumor...Originally posted by Unregistered View Post -
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Friend who's son plays for Liverpool NPL '05 confirmed this rumor to me as their coach communicated it this weekendComment
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Wouldn’t that be the 3rd division?Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
MLS Academy pro teams (Tier 1)
MLS Academy pay-to-play teams (Tier 2)
DPL (Tier 3)Comment
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Just a massive money grab by MLS. Everyone's fees just went up $500 or $750 for the same or lesser product and now you are subsidizing an organization that wants no part of girls soccer. Well played!Comment
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America wants no part of women’s soccer. The only thing people rallied around was the USWNT and they’ve now been exposed as manipulative and greedy by overplaying their hand and getting spanked by a judge. They used up their goodwill. R.I.P.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Define “top clubs”. This would create such a huge vacuum for smaller clubs that don’t have the soccer political pull.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Soccer in America has got to evolve beyond the college game and that is finally starting to happen. MLS has been around 25+ years and is starting to gain traction and expand. While it was doing this, US Soccer did the right thing and started DA 10+ years ago to give a jump start to homegrown development. Not only did that produce a pipeline for MLS, but also to European leagues and the NT. Regardless of how DA ended, I don’t think US Soccer ever intended to be the long-term overseer of the DA. That MLS is now taking over is really good because this is the structure you see at top European clubs: the pros sponsor academies and additional private small clubs provide more teams for them to play against. It’s the sign of a healthy soccer ecosystem.Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
On the girls/women’s side, we still have a ways to go and MLS should NOT be involved. NWSL has done really well at raising the women’s game up from a low base, but unfortunately is a weak platform that may not last. There are too few teams with too little investment. The players are doing more to promote their sport than the owners/investors and that is a clear sign that it is far behind MLS in its evolution. It is frankly sad because the women have carried the USA’s soccer torch for decades while the big money has flowed to the men’s side. NWSL cannot do what MLS is now doing and while it’s regrettable US Soccer pulled out of the GDA, they invested too little and too late.
Not to bash ECNL, but it gets us no where as a soccer nation. It’s sole purpose is a vehicle to college, which is a dead end, consolation prize for those aspiring to a pro career. Until you have a viable pro option for women (and I’m not convinced NWSL is it), the women’s side is stuck where it’s been since the 1990’s.Comment
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Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
I agree with what you have said, but also the reality is there are few parents who are concerned with anyone or anything beyond their own family. Not saying I disagree with them, either.
If they view the end game as their kid getting some $$ for college as the only reward, they will do what it takes to make that happen (if it it costs more in the long run). Which is why ECNL is the desired route for many: a path to college. The end result does nothing to help the game, and arguably it actually hurts it, but that's not their concern.Comment
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I generally agree with one exception--the only real way forward for womens soccer would be if the MLS WAS invovled, with teams forming womens' teams--like the ones in Europe. Building on the existing MLS brands, and matching womens' teams with the existing men's teams would give the sport some glimmer of hope as a professional operation. Given the girls soccer market in the US, I think it could actually eventually prove to be more successful than WNBA, which is still struggling. Unfortunately, MLS teams have shown little interest in doing so, even though it could prove to be a long term marketing benefit. For now, though, they are not really interested in making the investment needed.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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What other teams are in this league? Looking for alternatives to the Boys ECNL which is a pretty weak league and then factor in all the travel....no thanks!Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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And unless all teams in those 3 tiers are eligible for pro/rel every single year, then the bottom 2/3 are clearly B and C leagues subsidizing the top tier. Even worse, the lack of true competition for spots into the top tier guarantees mediocrity or worse for most of the teams involved. There is simply no onus to tier 1 bottom dwelling MLS teams to do better and very little reason for the top quarter of each lower tier to do more either. WHAT A JOKE! Any clubs that sign up for tier 2 and 3 are grasping hopelessly at straws.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Thinking ECNL will now certainly leap frog tiers 2 and 3. Players will defect and play HS and get a better product that fits them.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Thinking you're an idiot. HS has never been a deciding factor on the boys side. ECNL-cheerleaders need to stay in their own lane.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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