Coach Chass and HappyDaddy: Several notes:
- I apologize if you perceive that I was arguing for some result with respect to mergers or non-mergers. My post was intended solely as a discussion regarding the subject of this thread, to wit "Region 3 Premier league Fall 07."
- I've grown tired of trying to make the argument to Beezer and others that the best mechanism for Bridge to attract players from other clubs is to offer increasingly better and more comprehensive services to players. However, my ennui with respect to the subject doesn't mean I don't continue to believe it -- I find the continued complaining with respect to "why don't these other clubs come join us" to be insanely tedious and non-productive.
- I think that it's possible to evaluate Beezer's and other's position that they want a club to offer higher-level services without accusing them of living vicariously through their (or other) children and/or caring only about the glory of a club. If you focus on the thought of offering the best possible services to the widest range of children, then you end up with the result of more competitive clubs in an area. You can do that theoretically through mergers, through organic growth (i.e., offering more competitive services), through alliances (e.g., Bridge), and so on.
- However, I will make a point here that I see more focus from CESA and CUFC in terms of recreation and academy soccer than I do from most clubs. I believe this has to do with scale and with the fact that despite the common perception, select programs tend to financially underwrite recreation programs (at least in those cases in which you can't get the entire taxpayer base to do so.)
