North Shore Clubs

With the MAPLE season into play, the outlook for next fall & next spring has begun. With the merger of Aztecs & NESS, what do people think about the club layout on the North Shore? Will NSU & SF Vikings be able to compete with the new merged club or is it a matter of time til NSU & SF Vikings go away?

[Dad&Driver]

I think there's room for more than one club.

SF Vikings on the boys side is all but gone already.

NSU can probably stick around as long as they stay interested.

I agree,

I think that NE Aztecs will be the biggest club but that there is room for more clubs in this area. I think that SF and NSU will both be viable clubs.

[reality]

What is interesting is that just a couple years ago, the merger between the Force and SUNS, was being touted as the answer for NS soccer. Now there are those who are predicting that the Vikings won't survive the Aztecs/NESS merger. Ultimately the problem for North Shore programs is that the club talent pool isn't broad enough to support a club with multiple D2+ teams at each age group and there has been difficulty in keeping the very best players with their local clubs. So it has been impossible for anyone to keep a full stable of A/B and maybe C teams and the best Stars/Scorpions/Select/MPS/Bolts teams all have a picked off a few of the best NS players. More importantly, when was the last time that you heard of a player deciding to commute from the south shore or metro-west to play for a NS club? The Everton connection sounds nice and provides some sharp tie-in marketing toward younger players, but I think older players won't be affected by it - especially girls. The great strength of the new Aztecs is that their leadership is full of enthusiasm for the deal. That enthusiasm can be contageous. However, they will pretty quickly need to show some real steak to go with the sizzle. That will mean w/l performances in the State Cup and acceptances to the big showcases. The U17G team has done some of that, and the U15G team is poised for some, but the performances need to be consistent and across the board.

[Cujo]

What is interesting is that just a couple years ago, the merger between the Force and SUNS, was being touted as the answer for NS soccer. Now there are those who are predicting that the Vikings won't survive the Aztecs/NESS merger. Ultimately the problem for North Shore programs is that the club talent pool isn't broad enough to support a club with multiple D2+ teams at each age group and there has been difficulty in keeping the very best players with their local clubs. So it has been impossible for anyone to keep a full stable of A/B and maybe C teams and the best Stars/Scorpions/Select/MPS/Bolts teams all have a picked off a few of the best NS players. More importantly, when was the last time that you heard of a player deciding to commute from the south shore or metro-west to play for a NS club? The Everton connection sounds nice and provides some sharp tie-in marketing toward younger players, but I think older players won't be affected by it - especially girls. The great strength of the new Aztecs is that their leadership is full of enthusiasm for the deal. That enthusiasm can be contageous. However, they will pretty quickly need to show some real steak to go with the sizzle. That will mean w/l performances in the State Cup and acceptances to the big showcases. The U17G team has done some of that, and the U15G team is poised for some, but the performances need to be consistent and across the board.

There is plenty of talent on the North Shore. However, much of it is simply not inclined to play in MAPLE. This is due to a number of very strong town programs in places such as Danvers, Newburyport, and Andover. Why pay $1,000 or more to play in MAPLE when you can play for well-coached top notch teams in those towns. The best U14 teams in those towns can compete with many MAPLE teams. Danvers alone has a couple thousand players in the their program and 6 or 7 teams at each age level. There D1 ECYSA teams from what I remember were very strong.

What is interesting is that just a couple years ago, the merger between the Force and SUNS, was being touted as the answer for NS soccer. Now there are those who are predicting that the Vikings won't survive the Aztecs/NESS merger. Ultimately the problem for North Shore programs is that the club talent pool isn't broad enough to support a club with multiple D2+ teams at each age group and there has been difficulty in keeping the very best players with their local clubs. So it has been impossible for anyone to keep a full stable of A/B and maybe C teams and the best Stars/Scorpions/Select/MPS/Bolts teams all have a picked off a few of the best NS players. More importantly, when was the last time that you heard of a player deciding to commute from the south shore or metro-west to play for a NS club? The Everton connection sounds nice and provides some sharp tie-in marketing toward younger players, but I think older players won't be affected by it - especially girls. The great strength of the new Aztecs is that their leadership is full of enthusiasm for the deal. That enthusiasm can be contageous. However, they will pretty quickly need to show some real steak to go with the sizzle. That will mean w/l performances in the State Cup and acceptances to the big showcases. The U17G team has done some of that, and the U15G team is poised for some, but the performances need to be consistent and across the board.

There is plenty of talent on the North Shore. However, much of it is simply not inclined to play in MAPLE. This is due to a number of very strong town programs in places such as Danvers, Newburyport, and Andover. Why pay $1,000 or more to play in MAPLE when you can play for well-coached top notch teams in those towns. The best U14 teams in those towns can compete with many MAPLE teams. Danvers alone has a couple thousand players in the their program and 6 or 7 teams at each age level. There D1 ECYSA teams from what I remember were very strong.

Those towns may have the numbers in terms of player talent, but they probably do not have the numbers in terms of coaching talent.

What is interesting is that just a couple years ago, the merger between the Force and SUNS, was being touted as the answer for NS soccer. Now there are those who are predicting that the Vikings won't survive the Aztecs/NESS merger. Ultimately the problem for North Shore programs is that the club talent pool isn't broad enough to support a club with multiple D2+ teams at each age group and there has been difficulty in keeping the very best players with their local clubs. So it has been impossible for anyone to keep a full stable of A/B and maybe C teams and the best Stars/Scorpions/Select/MPS/Bolts teams all have a picked off a few of the best NS players. More importantly, when was the last time that you heard of a player deciding to commute from the south shore or metro-west to play for a NS club? The Everton connection sounds nice and provides some sharp tie-in marketing toward younger players, but I think older players won't be affected by it - especially girls. The great strength of the new Aztecs is that their leadership is full of enthusiasm for the deal. That enthusiasm can be contageous. However, they will pretty quickly need to show some real steak to go with the sizzle. That will mean w/l performances in the State Cup and acceptances to the big showcases. The U17G team has done some of that, and the U15G team is poised for some, but the performances need to be consistent and across the board.

There is plenty of talent on the North Shore. However, much of it is simply not inclined to play in MAPLE. This is due to a number of very strong town programs in places such as Danvers, Newburyport, and Andover. Why pay $1,000 or more to play in MAPLE when you can play for well-coached top notch teams in those towns. The best U14 teams in those towns can compete with many MAPLE teams. Danvers alone has a couple thousand players in the their program and 6 or 7 teams at each age level. There D1 ECYSA teams from what I remember were very strong.

Andover has an "inclusive" non-competitive program which does not allow travel soccer until U-12, and does little to develop players. As a result a lot of good players are leaving town soccer as young as 8 to play for U-10 teams such as NESS. The market for club soccer, at least at a young age, exists on the North Shore. Older players, at least on the boys side, tend to leave the North Shore for more competitive club teams.

[Cujo]

What is interesting is that just a couple years ago, the merger between the Force and SUNS, was being touted as the answer for NS soccer. Now there are those who are predicting that the Vikings won't survive the Aztecs/NESS merger. Ultimately the problem for North Shore programs is that the club talent pool isn't broad enough to support a club with multiple D2+ teams at each age group and there has been difficulty in keeping the very best players with their local clubs. So it has been impossible for anyone to keep a full stable of A/B and maybe C teams and the best Stars/Scorpions/Select/MPS/Bolts teams all have a picked off a few of the best NS players. More importantly, when was the last time that you heard of a player deciding to commute from the south shore or metro-west to play for a NS club? The Everton connection sounds nice and provides some sharp tie-in marketing toward younger players, but I think older players won't be affected by it - especially girls. The great strength of the new Aztecs is that their leadership is full of enthusiasm for the deal. That enthusiasm can be contageous. However, they will pretty quickly need to show some real steak to go with the sizzle. That will mean w/l performances in the State Cup and acceptances to the big showcases. The U17G team has done some of that, and the U15G team is poised for some, but the performances need to be consistent and across the board.

There is plenty of talent on the North Shore. However, much of it is simply not inclined to play in MAPLE. This is due to a number of very strong town programs in places such as Danvers, Newburyport, and Andover. Why pay $1,000 or more to play in MAPLE when you can play for well-coached top notch teams in those towns. The best U14 teams in those towns can compete with many MAPLE teams. Danvers alone has a couple thousand players in the their program and 6 or 7 teams at each age level. There D1 ECYSA teams from what I remember were very strong.

Those towns may have the numbers in terms of player talent, but they probably do not have the numbers in terms of coaching talent.

Tarbox, Gonnam, Day just to mention a few good coaches. The top 2 or 3 town teams at u14 are usually very well coached. They are MAPLE and HS experienced - licensed with lots of years under their belts. Andover alone has 8 U14 girls teams. Their top team is REALLY good and well coached.

The talent is shifting to Peabody, North Andover and the Masco towns. Those kids play club. Most of the best players from the North Shore are just about all playing for the top clubs like Bolts, MPS, Scorpions, Select and plenty with the Stars. Reality is right. When players commute from other parts of the state to play for Northeastern clubs then it will be different.

What is interesting is that just a couple years ago, the merger between the Force and SUNS, was being touted as the answer for NS soccer. Now there are those who are predicting that the Vikings won't survive the Aztecs/NESS merger. Ultimately the problem for North Shore programs is that the club talent pool isn't broad enough to support a club with multiple D2+ teams at each age group and there has been difficulty in keeping the very best players with their local clubs. So it has been impossible for anyone to keep a full stable of A/B and maybe C teams and the best Stars/Scorpions/Select/MPS/Bolts teams all have a picked off a few of the best NS players. More importantly, when was the last time that you heard of a player deciding to commute from the south shore or metro-west to play for a NS club? The Everton connection sounds nice and provides some sharp tie-in marketing toward younger players, but I think older players won't be affected by it - especially girls. The great strength of the new Aztecs is that their leadership is full of enthusiasm for the deal. That enthusiasm can be contageous. However, they will pretty quickly need to show some real steak to go with the sizzle. That will mean w/l performances in the State Cup and acceptances to the big showcases. The U17G team has done some of that, and the U15G team is poised for some, but the performances need to be consistent and across the board.

There is plenty of talent on the North Shore. However, much of it is simply not inclined to play in MAPLE. This is due to a number of very strong town programs in places such as Danvers, Newburyport, and Andover. Why pay $1,000 or more to play in MAPLE when you can play for well-coached top notch teams in those towns. The best U14 teams in those towns can compete with many MAPLE teams. Danvers alone has a couple thousand players in the their program and 6 or 7 teams at each age level. There D1 ECYSA teams from what I remember were very strong.

Those towns may have the numbers in terms of player talent, but they probably do not have the numbers in terms of coaching talent.

Tarbox, Gonnam, Day just to mention a few good coaches. The top 2 or 3 town teams at u14 are usually very well coached. They are MAPLE and HS experienced - licensed with lots of years under their belts. Andover alone has 8 U14 girls teams. Their top team is REALLY good and well coached.

Cujo, you make my point. 8 U14 team in one team alone. How are the three coaches you mentioned going to spread their wealth?

What is interesting is that just a couple years ago, the merger between the Force and SUNS, was being touted as the answer for NS soccer. Now there are those who are predicting that the Vikings won't survive the Aztecs/NESS merger. Ultimately the problem for North Shore programs is that the club talent pool isn't broad enough to support a club with multiple D2+ teams at each age group and there has been difficulty in keeping the very best players with their local clubs. So it has been impossible for anyone to keep a full stable of A/B and maybe C teams and the best Stars/Scorpions/Select/MPS/Bolts teams all have a picked off a few of the best NS players. More importantly, when was the last time that you heard of a player deciding to commute from the south shore or metro-west to play for a NS club? The Everton connection sounds nice and provides some sharp tie-in marketing toward younger players, but I think older players won't be affected by it - especially girls. The great strength of the new Aztecs is that their leadership is full of enthusiasm for the deal. That enthusiasm can be contageous. However, they will pretty quickly need to show some real steak to go with the sizzle. That will mean w/l performances in the State Cup and acceptances to the big showcases. The U17G team has done some of that, and the U15G team is poised for some, but the performances need to be consistent and across the board.

There is plenty of talent on the North Shore. However, much of it is simply not inclined to play in MAPLE. This is due to a number of very strong town programs in places such as Danvers, Newburyport, and Andover. Why pay $1,000 or more to play in MAPLE when you can play for well-coached top notch teams in those towns. The best U14 teams in those towns can compete with many MAPLE teams. Danvers alone has a couple thousand players in the their program and 6 or 7 teams at each age level. There D1 ECYSA teams from what I remember were very strong.

Those towns may have the numbers in terms of player talent, but they probably do not have the numbers in terms of coaching talent.

Tarbox, Gonnam, Day just to mention a few good coaches. The top 2 or 3 town teams at u14 are usually very well coached. They are MAPLE and HS experienced - licensed with lots of years under their belts. Andover alone has 8 U14 girls teams. Their top team is REALLY good and well coached.

The coaches mentioned are quaity, but passed their prime and had their run over 5 years ago. Cujo name 5 coaches that will be coaching this weekend in Essex County?

Cujo reminds me of the scene from the movie Good Will Hunting. The pompus Harvard grad is spouting his mouth off in the bar trying to fool everyone with his false intlligence and Matt Damon's character puts him right in his place. Love that scene, I'm now going to call it "The Cujo effect"

[reality]

Per MIAA rules, Gonham, Tarbox (I assume you mean Bill and not Fred) and Day cannot coach HS age teams in their home districts of Newburyport, North Andover or Swampscott. Tarbox has been coaching boys soccer in the Merrimack Valley for over 35 years and I will leave it at that. Gonham coaches teams for the Vikings and Day was involved with Aztecs and Beverly indoor. There are probably just as many detractors of each coach's style and ability as there are supporters. That happens when you have been around for a long time. However, I must agree with the poster that these are not coaches that would elevate the level of a club like the Aztecs. I would actually say that the Aztecs have an excellent stable of coaches. Their mens and womens "pro" teams have provided plenty of excellent candidates. There is also a strong Salem State influence of foreign born players who have turned to coaching on the North Shore. Perhaps a bit more Central and South American than European. Field space is a huge problem, probably even greater than any part of the state outside of metro-Boston. This, combined with a shift in player base north and west, is why the Aztecs are playing many of their games in Lowell and Lancaster. It is also why the NESS facility, despite its inconvenient location, has great value. The fact is that the best female players do play club. Gone are the days of a top prospect staying with their town program, even in the biggies like Andover, Peabody or Danvers. The other fact is that many of the best NS players have left the Vikings and Aztecs. That includes players from Fenwick, Swampscott, St. Mary's, Peabody, Danvers and MASCO. To keep those kids at home, the Aztecs need to produce teams at every age group that can legitimately win the state cup - not just a couple that can make it to the Round Robin or maybe semi-finals. If they don't - then they will find themselves in two years in the same position as they were pre-merger.

The other major problem on the North Shore is the lack of leadership to run the club correctly. People's ego's get in the way and the rest is history. There is plenty of talent on the North Shore to compete and win State Cups but parents see other clubs that are run better and thus will spend the time in the car to that club than staying local. If ego's can be put to the side, a North Shore club could compete for State Cup on a year to year basis. Of course, this is easier said than done.

The other major problem on the North Shore is the lack of leadership to run the club correctly. People's ego's get in the way and the rest is history. There is plenty of talent on the North Shore to compete and win State Cups but parents see other clubs that are run better and thus will spend the time in the car to that club than staying local. If ego's can be put to the side, a North Shore club could compete for State Cup on a year to year basis. Of course, this is easier said than done.

North shore has very little to offer. Much inbreeding and sodomy among small animals. Too close to NH and that moron Cujo.