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Post by oraclesfriend on Apr 11, 2020 12:49:06 GMT -5
@soccermaxx72 Going DA for TH was the best thing for them at the time. That league has held the majority of the top talent across the country, which they also have for the area. DA also gave them more exposure to YNT. To hold them out because they made a decision to stay in the most competitive league for them would be wrong. If ECNL cares about the kids'development and having the best clubs and players holding out Tophat would be a huge contradiction to that. Tophat is ranked as best club or one of the best clubs in the country currently and pretty consistently. There isnt another club in the area that has their level of college commitments, signings, or YNT selections. If you keep them out, or others like them who chose DA over ECNL, you are clearly not interested in having the best players or programs available in your league. Well, considering last year the only local club that tophat’s top level players competed against was UFA, doesn’t seem to be a big loss for the ecnl clubs. Plus, I only propose making them wait a year or two as that will weaken Tophat and protect the current ecnl clubs. And before someone tries to spin that I don’t understand the Tophat culture or they way they develop players, let’s just call that BS. I know for a fact that their top teams are built on mercenaries that have come from multiple different clubs to assemble their top teams. Less that 50% of their players on their u14, u15 DA teams started at tophat. I will give Tophat credit for being the best recruiters Give me a ECNL team in the area that doesn't have a similar situation...possibly Concorde (not counting the SSA team). Same for UFA's DA team. All clubs have kids playing for them that did not start there. What about you? Does your child play at the same club she started at? If you are who I think you are there have been at least 3 clubs in your child's past... |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Apr 11, 2020 13:35:20 GMT -5
Well, considering last year the only local club that tophat’s top level players competed against was UFA, doesn’t seem to be a big loss for the ecnl clubs. Plus, I only propose making them wait a year or two as that will weaken Tophat and protect the current ecnl clubs. And before someone tries to spin that I don’t understand the Tophat culture or they way they develop players, let’s just call that BS. I know for a fact that their top teams are built on mercenaries that have come from multiple different clubs to assemble their top teams. Less that 50% of their players on their u14, u15 DA teams started at tophat. I will give Tophat credit for being the best recruiters Give me a ECNL team in the area that doesn't have a similar situation...possibly Concorde (not counting the SSA team). Same for UFA's DA team. All clubs have kids playing for them that did not start there. What about you? Does your child play at the same club she started at? If you are who I think you are there have been at least 3 clubs in your child's past... We preach on here that the perfect model should be to try and stay local with clubs n coaches in the earlier years as long as development is the goal. One should not be driving upwards of 2-3 hours per day if possible prior to maybe U13/14 etc. We can collectively agree that TH has some of the best players and teams in the country coupled with the model of training and level of exposure. Soooo, @soccermaxx72 if my daughter is of that caliber why in the world would I not send her there? At the end of the day, soccer is still controlled by pea-brained idiots who put their egos and feelings before that of the game. I can definitely see folks looking to "punish" TH by keeping them on ice for one year. Then again, I do know that there are those who feel you have to reward those who were loyal and stayed to keep the league running too... |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Apr 11, 2020 13:40:09 GMT -5
I had heard AB bought the property near AU training grounds to build a new Falcons office to have all his sports teams consolidated in one area. Next adventure...the Braves? Not sure about your sources but I don't believe this to be correct. The land is not enough to house the Falcons current needs. If you look at the current layout of AU, they have some glaring needs. First and foremost is parking. They miss out on a bevy of revenue generating hosting events based on that alone. Additionally, they don't have enough fields(4/6) to house the current number of teams they have. Finally, there is the rumor of potentially adding a girls program. Again, where will they practice. This is just my 2 cents based on discussions with those in and around the program... |
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Post by rifle on Apr 11, 2020 19:15:13 GMT -5
ECNL punishing Tophat by exclusion. Deja vu?
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Post by atlfutboldad on Apr 11, 2020 23:17:55 GMT -5
ECNL punishing Tophat by exclusion. Deja vu? Maybe, but it'd be deserved this time. Spurned lover and whatnot. |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Apr 12, 2020 0:06:35 GMT -5
The last go around, wasn't it the other local clubs working behind the scenes to block TH from joining their ranks...?
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Post by gunner on Apr 12, 2020 0:13:54 GMT -5
Why would the other clubs not want Tophat back in ECNL? They should/would make the program stronger right?
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Post by coffee on Apr 12, 2020 9:48:06 GMT -5
Be careful for what you wish for. It just may be that ECNL should be courting NTH and other former DA teams while their is some uncertainty instead of acting like high schoolers. What comes after DA might be terrible, but it also might be stronger than what was there before. I’m not so certain as others seem to be, that there will be a mad panic and scramble of top players to clubs that didn’t have DA teams. Sure, some will hedge their bets and rush to find a new home. Yet, let’s remember that the players and parents (of which I’m not one) on those former DA teams are quite used to being actively recruited; I think most of them will have the confidence and patience that comes from being among the best.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Apr 12, 2020 9:48:15 GMT -5
Tophat will reign supreme for as long as they exist --- the only and only thing that will dethrone them is ---- Atlanta United or another fully funded professional women's program coming into town.
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Post by guest on Apr 12, 2020 11:07:57 GMT -5
What about you? Does your child play at the same club she started at? Yes. Personal opinion is we should all get back to the model where you start and finish with your local club. |
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Post by guest on Apr 12, 2020 11:24:40 GMT -5
Before all the birth year mandate and league fragmentation, one of the biggest issues in GA Soccer was club-hopping (and by extension, recruiting). I remember long ago playing at state cup. We were playing a team we had lost 0-1 in the regular season. Everyone was looking forward to the rematch. When the game started, we all remarked, Hey, where’s that speedy #4? Why do they have two #10s? Why does that girl have a different jersey with a duct tape #1? Oh, these are their ECNL girls, they bumped the normal starters out. Oh that girl plays for another club and she is ‘guesting’. Good bye state cup chance.
Or similarly, you are a bubble player on your clubs 2nd team. You get called up every now and again. Your coach says you have worked really hard and have a great shot at making the top team. You go to tryouts day 1 and 2, and are in the top team group. Then on day 3, five new girls show up and are talking to coach. Coach must have been working the phones. End of top team chances.
Just not a fan.
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Post by 04gparent on Apr 12, 2020 11:48:06 GMT -5
What about you? Does your child play at the same club she started at? Yes. Personal opinion is we should all get back to the model where you start and finish with your local club. Honest question... I have been around for 15 years. Players changing clubs has always been a part of Georgia Soccer. So when was it that players never changed clubs? |
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Post by gunner on Apr 12, 2020 11:49:49 GMT -5
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Post by oraclesfriend on Apr 12, 2020 11:52:58 GMT -5
What about you? Does your child play at the same club she started at? Yes. Personal opinion is we should all get back to the model where you start and finish with your local club. The question was directed at an individual who was being a hypocrite about Tophat, not a general question. I am against regular club hopping, but we did leave a club (once) because we were not a fan of the coach and my CHILD was the one who made the decision. The coaching and the club was not a good fit. There is nothing wrong with making a change now and then, but I did find every year or every other year club hopping to be an annoyance. |
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Post by mistergrinch on Apr 13, 2020 10:29:10 GMT -5
Before all the birth year mandate and league fragmentation, one of the biggest issues in GA Soccer was club-hopping (and by extension, recruiting). I remember long ago playing at state cup. We were playing a team we had lost 0-1 in the regular season. Everyone was looking forward to the rematch. When the game started, we all remarked, Hey, where’s that speedy #4? Why do they have two #10s? Why does that girl have a different jersey with a duct tape #1? Oh, these are their ECNL girls, they bumped the normal starters out. Oh that girl plays for another club and she is ‘guesting’. Good bye state cup chance. Or similarly, you are a bubble player on your clubs 2nd team. You get called up every now and again. Your coach says you have worked really hard and have a great shot at making the top team. You go to tryouts day 1 and 2, and are in the top team group. Then on day 3, five new girls show up and are talking to coach. Coach must have been working the phones. End of top team chances. Just not a fan. This is so true. I've seen top teams with TONS of turnover due to club-hopping.. and they always fill them with more club-hoppers, never actually developing/promoting from within.
In the last 3-4 years, not sure I've seen a single kid make the top team at our club from the 2nd team (at least at the age groups that I watch).. all outsiders.
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Post by soccerlegacy on Apr 13, 2020 14:16:20 GMT -5
Before all the birth year mandate and league fragmentation, one of the biggest issues in GA Soccer was club-hopping (and by extension, recruiting). I remember long ago playing at state cup. We were playing a team we had lost 0-1 in the regular season. Everyone was looking forward to the rematch. When the game started, we all remarked, Hey, where’s that speedy #4? Why do they have two #10s? Why does that girl have a different jersey with a duct tape #1? Oh, these are their ECNL girls, they bumped the normal starters out. Oh that girl plays for another club and she is ‘guesting’. Good bye state cup chance. Or similarly, you are a bubble player on your clubs 2nd team. You get called up every now and again. Your coach says you have worked really hard and have a great shot at making the top team. You go to tryouts day 1 and 2, and are in the top team group. Then on day 3, five new girls show up and are talking to coach. Coach must have been working the phones. End of top team chances. Just not a fan. This is so true. I've seen top teams with TONS of turnover due to club-hopping.. and they always fill them with more club-hoppers, never actually developing/promoting from within.
In the last 3-4 years, not sure I've seen a single kid make the top team at our club from the 2nd team (at least at the age groups that I watch).. all outsiders.
as Metallica says... Sad but Truuuueeee! |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Apr 15, 2020 15:58:36 GMT -5
Whatever contact, sway or connections TH has with ECNL, they need to pull all the stops to get back into ECNL. Sadly, there is no other high level option for their teams currently. This year was marred in them dealing with the fallout of losing ECNL and only having GDA. Well, more and more it's looking like the GDA option is no longer so where would that leave their current top teams - DPL? I might be wrong but I don't believe they have NPL or NL, so outside of DPL their only other currently affiliated league would be SCCL and SCCL-P huh. I don't know that even TH would be able to weather the mass exodus that not getting ECNL would generate. This is especially true for their rising U15s+ teams. These girls are trying to showcase for colleges and scouts or are trying to maintain their spots on the YNT. If memory serves me right, you have to be playing at the highest level to maintain your spot on the YNT. Though I think it would be sacrilege in not allowing TH to rejoin the ECNL, logistics, pettiness or egos may actually allow this to occur.
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Post by gunner on Apr 15, 2020 17:19:23 GMT -5
Working off the Soccer Wire top 100 lists, here are the remaining top 40 girls clubs who are not in the ECNL:
1. Top Hat (GA)
5. FC Dallas (TX)
8. Legends (CA)
9. Beach (CA)
10. Earthquakes (CA)
16. FC Virginia (VA)
25. NEFC (MA)
26. Sporting Blue Valley (KS)
28. Cincinnati Development Academy (OH)
29. Lone Star (TX)
32.South Shore Select (MA)
35. LA Galaxy
37. Nationals (MI)
39. Charlotte Soccer Academy (NC)
I will be very surprised if Top Hat & FC Dallas are not admitted.
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Post by footyfan on Apr 15, 2020 18:43:27 GMT -5
Working off the Soccer Wire top 100 lists, here are the remaining top 40 girls clubs who are not in the ECNL: 1. Top Hat (GA) 5. FC Dallas (TX) 8. Legends (CA) 9. Beach (CA) 10. Earthquakes (CA) 16. FC Virginia (VA) 25. NEFC (MA) 26. Sporting Blue Valley (KS) 28. Cincinnati Development Academy (OH) 29. Lone Star (TX) 32.South Shore Select (MA) 35. LA Galaxy 37. Nationals (MI) 39. Charlotte Soccer Academy (NC) I will be very surprised if Top Hat & FC Dallas are not admitted. Thought I saw CSA had 2 teams in ECNL? |
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Post by atlfutboldad on Apr 15, 2020 19:37:23 GMT -5
If it's true NTH head man said some nasty things about ECNL, may have burned that bridge heading out the door. Sometimes the only way to mitigate and offer a "mea culpa" is to let that person go. Similarly to how college teams let go of rule- violating coaches before sanctions come down.
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Post by atlfutboldad on Apr 15, 2020 21:49:20 GMT -5
Regardless, their administration has to be SCRAMBLING to set something up.
Surely contacting ECNL, but not sure if ECNL would be listening at this point.
Maybe trying to get all SE DA teams into DPL and make DPL have 2 tiers?
UFA is looking REALLY smart at this point.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Apr 15, 2020 22:01:06 GMT -5
It’s an interesting story.
Tophat for years can’t get ecnl, finally they are awarded ecnl and then 2 years later they dump it for a girls DA program which was destined to fail. (Timeline might be off).
The right thing to do for the kids is to let them back in.
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shaka
Jr. Academy
Posts: 96
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Post by shaka on Apr 15, 2020 22:17:26 GMT -5
It’s an interesting story. Tophat for years can’t get ecnl, finally they are awarded ecnl and then 2 years later they dump it for a girls DA program which was destined to fail. (Timeline might be off). The right thing to do for the kids is to let them back in. "The right thing to do for the kids"..... don't we all wish that was the motivation :-) |
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Post by soccerlegacy on Apr 15, 2020 22:39:06 GMT -5
I'm now hearing that DPL will also be going the way of DA... as in bye-bye. If so, Tophat would truly be screwed if Tophat doesn't get in ECNL.
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Post by atlfutboldad on Apr 15, 2020 22:55:04 GMT -5
The right thing for the kids would have been to drop DA and go with ECNL last year right?
Adult decisions are based on adult assumptions and adult hubris.
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Post by atlfutboldad on Apr 15, 2020 23:11:57 GMT -5
I'm now hearing that DPL will also be going the way of DA... as in bye-bye. If so, Tophat would truly be screwed if Tophat doesn't get in ECNL. If anything, DPL may be more important than before... But if they lost both, the exodus would be massive. For a year at least. Then they would welcone all the players that left just like ECNL is supposed to welcome Tophat back... |
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Post by soccerlegacy on Apr 15, 2020 23:23:25 GMT -5
I'm now hearing that DPL will also be going the way of DA... as in bye-bye. If so, Tophat would truly be screwed if Tophat doesn't get in ECNL. If anything, DPL may be more important than before... But if they lost both, the exodus would be massive. For a year at least. Then they would welcone all the players that left just like ECNL is supposed to welcome Tophat back... As I said in another thread... I'm sure the Tophat is begging to ECNL right now, but only behind closed doors. If that doesn't get them in, they will look to create or be a part of creating a totally new league and proclaiming it the best ever, much like they sold DPL to it's players and parents. I wonder if the NTH parents will still drink the cool-aid after seeing how that panned out?? |
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Post by atlfutboldad on Apr 15, 2020 23:57:37 GMT -5
Indoubtedly...to all questions/ statements.
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Apr 29, 2020 23:13:33 GMT -5
If it's true NTH head man said some nasty things about ECNL, may have burned that bridge heading out the door. Sometimes the only way to mitigate and offer a "mea culpa" is to let that person go. Similarly to how college teams let go of rule- violating coaches before sanctions come down. You might be on to something here, think back to a certain vacuum, AFU and entry into the top flight SCCL division 🤭 |
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Post by cleansheet on Apr 30, 2020 6:03:53 GMT -5
If it's true NTH head man said some nasty things about ECNL, may have burned that bridge heading out the door. Sometimes the only way to mitigate and offer a "mea culpa" is to let that person go. Similarly to how college teams let go of rule- violating coaches before sanctions come down. You might be on to something here, think back to a certain vacuum, AFU and entry into the top flight SCCL division 🤭 Do tell! Is the board stepping in? |
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