Zip_ME87

Horrid PK. AN10 should never take another one again unless the Zips are involved in a round of pk's that goes to 11, and he is forced to take one.

44:35 PENALTY KICK by AKR NAJEM, Adam MISSED, save Siegfried, Parker. Crap.

Gotcha.

Nate is at RB, as usual.

One would think posting that picture would be far worse than spelling out the F word on this board.

Closest looks like 2002 when the Zips went 7-7-2 during the regular season. Last time the Zips had >5 losses was 2014. http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2015-16/files/2015-msoc-guide-web.pdf

Not sure why it matters that we ever find out what happened. It's something that the coaches and players are keeping close to them, as they should, and something that Victor is likely too embarrassed to fess up to. The fact is that as much as I like love Victor, he f'd up somehow and let his team and us down. He's a good student with good grades who is on track to graduate this Fall. He's been good to me anytime I've ever talked with him, and I think the world of him for what he has accomplished (in a foreign country so far from home with English not his 1st language) and as a friend; however, there is something there that I will likely never know. I'm disappointed at the havoc he has wreaked on the Zips and on himself and that he won't be there celebrating with his teammates on Senior day or in the post season that would have been more likely with him. As much as the thought of what he has wasted sickens me, I wish more than anything that he looks hard at himself, truly owns up to whatever it is (root cause) and fixes it so that he can be successful in whatever he does.

I want folks to understand that I was just pointing out who the on-field leaders were in my opinion last season. No indictment of anyone on the field this season. Ben Lundt has done a stellar job in my opinion. Without him, the Zips would not have won/tied a number of games and would have certainly lost others by much larger deficits. Jake, last season, and Ben, this season, have had to make up for shortcomings in the midfield and on the back line that David Meves rarely had to face. Many a match, Meves could have done his homework back there.

I'd like to see Montreal Impact v Sporting KC MLS Cup. Let it go to PK's. Saad v Evan Bush for the Cup.

I should have put it in bold, but I think #1 is probably the biggest issue with this team. In the Zips system, the attack builds from the back through the middle and then up front. Without the right connections in the middle to get that going, it quickly falls apart as we have often seen. Of course, when you have to quickly get back to defend a counter, the midfield, as well as the back line, is crucial.

Unlike last season, there are only a few Zips in the MLS Playoffs this go around. East DC United - Chris Korb? (unsure of his status) Montreal Impact - Evan Bush West Colorado Rapids - Dillon Serna out with injury (season ending, if I remember correctly) Sporting KC - Saad Abdul-Salaam I think that's it. Huge change from 2015 season that resulted in Timbers v Crew MLS Cup in Columbus

Jake Fenlasson, Brad Ruhaak, Victor Souto from my observations.

A few observations... 1. No one has stepped up to do what Victor Souto could do at holding mid. 2. Can't finish; speed to the corners but not often down the middle; when they do get down the middle, often have to hold up for someone else to get there, by which time the defenders are there as well. 3. LB has been played by committee. No one has been able to claim the position. 4. Some upperclassmen are not playing as well as they have in the past.

He'd be wearing a Buckeye (boo) jersey these days. Maybe he can coach our back line from the stands next Wednesday.

Question: Are your referring to NH3 (who is a freshman) or ND4? I think you meant the former, but since they were both playing on the back line, I would like to be clear on your observations. Edit - I completely agree about BL1. He has saved this team on several occasions. Thanks.

No matter the lineup, it seems that we see the same over and over in the final 3rd...the Zips look dangerous getting there and then they slow their play down until the opposing players get there and cut off the lanes to the goal. Rarely does there seem to be urgency with this team. I must say though that I'm not as worried with the attack on the road as I am the defense. Shut outs at home...but only 1 on the road. WTF is wrong with the midfield and back line on the road?

How can you pronounce Holthusen as "Holt housen"? BTN announcers. Also, he's German, so it is Lundt with a long u sound. Not a short u as in lug nut announcer.

Where is CustomU...brick and mortar or online? I love how everyone makes light of this because "there is some place in Akron you can go to get something custom". Not all of us live/work in Akron. Point is that UA sports merchandising leaves a lot to be desired (along with marketing). A D1 school should have jerseys and customized apparel readily available. One of the best marketing tools is the apparel that students, alumni, and fans wear and giving them the apparel they want should be very high priority.

Horrible. Why can't we simply buy polos with our choice of the ARoo or Z and "Akron Soccer", "Akron Basketball"...etc. or a current jersey for our Zips sport of choice?

Happy I made the trip and happy to see Coach Dambrot was able to be there for Robby's goal. Loved seeing them enjoying a moment after the match and LeBron's tweet.

Congrats to ... Ben Lundt for some good saves. Nick Costa for getting ~10 minutes in goal and maintains the clean sheet. All the Zips who scored. Jesus Perez who has an awesome family (mom, sister, cousins) and friends who showed up in large numbers and made this a Zips home game. All the the the Zips for getting the shut out.

From Perry Kitchen's Instagram account: perrykitchen23. Great to be back with the #USMNT. Special to play at RFK again ?: US Soccer ??

Portland Timbers assistant coach Cameron Knowles inducted to University of Akron Hall of Fame

Not sure what's going on with these Zips. They looked good for the last 20 minutes. The rest of the game, the guys weren't moving to the ball...seemed to be just standing around waiting for the ball to come to them...as well as letting Michigan St push them off the ball. Not the team we are used to seeing at all. I didn't look at the final stats, but I think the Zips had more shots and probably had more possession, but much of that possession was in the first 2 thirds of the field. Never really threatened much until the last 20 minutes. Someone once mentioned to me that SOG isn't a very telling statistic because many times a SOG isn't really very threatening...often an easy save for the GK. That was true of the Zips' shots on goal in the first 70 minutes of this match.

Although the match ended in a tie, very happy to see Perry Kitchen start at RFK in the USMNT's friendly with New Zealand. http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-10-11-us-mens-national-team-vs-new-zealand/recap Edit - meant to put this in the USMNT thread, but it works here too.