yazan07

I just double posted and don't know how to delete this one haha. Sorry.

I think that is a very high possibility. From everything I have read, Andrew Wenger is the best player in the draft, with the ability to play many positions. Darren however, is the best striker in the draft, and as of now, Montreal's best attacking option is a guy who would rather be in Houston and has made that clear. (I am still waiting to hear how that unfolds). I think Montreal takes Darren because they need him. I also think he gets good minutes there. If he falls second and gets taken by Vancouver, he doesn't play as much because they are deeper up top. That is the way I see it.

A couple more pieces about Porter and the U-23s: Soccer by Ives Fox Soccer (also written by Ives)

Generation Adidas: 5 things to know about Darren Mattocks

With the lack of depth on the backline I expect Zarek to make the roster, especially since he can play any position along the backline if needed. Sounds like it might not be the same for Kofi. I wish Perry could have been in this camp to see where he stacks up against the other players in the central defense and central midfield. We're pretty thin at defense and and I think him and Boss have been paired in the backline before, but I like him better in the midfield, though it sounds like Okugo will be tough to beat for that spot. Seems like Teal has a tougher battle than I realized. We are pretty deep up top, and that article didn't even consider Agudelo or Altidore.

Zarek's latest podcast from U-23 camp

I looked into Jamaica's recent call-ups to their national team just to kind of see where Jamaicans play overall. I know this isn't perfect because there can't really be an "overall" for a whole country, but whatever. It looks like a majority of Jamaican players play either domestically, in MLS, or in the Norwegian Premier League. Even though to us, Norway seemed random for Darren, he would actually be in company with some other Jamaican players. As far as playing in a bigger country, it doesn't look like their are any Jamaicans playing in the EPL or Serie A or Bundesliga. There are some Jamaicans playing in League 1 though. If Darren were to ever make it to a top league, he would probably at that point be one of the most successful Jamaican footballers (can't really be too sure though, since I'm not a Jamaican football historian).

Which makes no sense. Why would he not sign a homegrown contract if he wanted to leave early? He will most more and be more valuable to the Crew if he signs a homegrown contract. A difference between $10-15k a year. A $30k salary or a $45k salary with the possible bonus money. I agree, which is why I found it "interesting". I couldn't find the explanation for the * on Ben's name at that site either. The asterisks is because he is a junior. But that website is a joke. I remember checking it last year and it ended up being wildly inaccurate. EDIT: I just looked again, and if you don't believe me that that website is a joke, look who they have going to SKC right after Ben. David Bingham already plays for San Jose so I don't think he'll be going 35th in the draft to Kansas City.

Awesome news, can't wait to follow his progress in the MLS. Now, is he ready to move to Canada where it's probably even colder than Ohio? Montreal has the top pick, and Vancouver finished last this year so they have the second pick, I think. Montreal only has three forwards on their roster at the moment, and they could probably really use Darren. I think he gets chosen #1 overall and heads there. If not, he could get picked up by Vancouver, but they are pretty set up top. Revs finished in 17th place so they probably have the third pick. Maybe a team that needs more depth up top will trade up to get him (Ben Olsen, are you reading this?)

Absolutely agree! Look around and tell me which GK ever received a GA contract, or left early to the pros. Goalies are a different animal from field players. I know, I was one! Zak McMath and David Bingham from Cal received GA contracts last year I do believe. Jacob is correct, but I wasn't suggesting that Meves would be taking off to go to the MLS, I am well aware that young GKs don't make it in the MLS as easy as field players do. I was saying that Meves could potentially be forced to transfer if he wanted to keep playing. This is all just speculation, I'm just throwing out possible scenarios we could see. I understand the idea of grooming the new kid under Meves for a year, but that wouldn't make much sense if he is better than Meves (he may or may not be, I don't know). I don't think we have had a GK of this caliber ever, have we? If someone can do the digging or maybe just remembers, how were Meves and Bush ranked coming out of high school? I don't think they were top 10 recruits, were they? I know Meves has had an extra couple years of playing which might give him the edge over Pina, but if Pina is so good that he is ready to start now, why wouldn't he? Redshirting makes sense for a kid who would have to go a much smaller program to compete for a starting spot right out of the gate, but for someone who could potentially player anywhere, why would he come to Akron to sit for a year?

I had heard that this was in the works, glad to see it's happening! Right now we have five goalkeepers, and Fernando would make six. Two things that I have heard to be almost certain are that a ) McAdams will be transferring out, and b ) despite having a year of eligibility on the table, Poni will be graduating and will probably move on from there. That still leaves four. Now there are a couple of questions still left. Did JP come all the way from South Africa just to sit on the bench? I say probably not. If I were him, I would transfer somewhere to get playing time. I don't really know anything about the other freshman, Jake Fenalson, except that he is from California. The really big question though, is all of these other GKs aside, is there going to be some type of showdown between Meves and the new kid? I know some people thought that we should have been playing around with other goalkeepers this year, but really there is only room for one starting keep. Here's the way I see it: the new kid is probably good enough to start anywhere in the country. He is not coming to Akron to sit the bench or redshirt or something like that. He is coming to play now. We could be saying goodbye to Meves. After starting for three years, I don't think he will be choose to sit the bench either. One thing for sure, I am excited for next year, and more hopeful than I was going into this year. I don't see how we don't have the best recruiting class for next fall. Should be interesting to see how everything unfolds.

I have to imagine Dillon Serna, TDS's #11 player in the class of 2012 figures into the starting 11. He is a left footed winger. Also, I heard a rumor that Mayer is trying to transfer out.

Porter's U-23s had an intra-squad scrimmage today. As far as our former Zips go, Zarek and Teal started for what appeared to be an A squad. Zarek went 90 at left back and Teal came out at the half but was subbed back in later. Kofi played for the other team which appeared to have not quite as talented of personnel as the other team. Despite this, Kofi's team won 2-0. Article from US Soccer

He came over and talked to us after the game too. We talked to him a little about this year's Akron team, Portland, and MLS in general. He's such a down to earth dude.

That's typically a good rule, but once you listen to some of his speeches on the house floor you might have to make an exception. BTW, don't let GoZips know about this, but Justin is Arab-American(terrorist!!!111). Yeah God forbid an Arab-American would be allowed to be elected to office. They're all terrorists, just like Obama.

Lets help the WPS and add a club in Akron. Then make a deal for Alex Morgan I would definitely get behind that! (pun not originally intended, but then I realized it was a pun so I'm not sure if it's intended or not)

Looks good, and stuff.

Anyone find an answer to this important question? I'd like to buy a couple for Christmas. Are they available? Or is there a talented screen-printer who could make a couple on the fly? just wondering, thanks. The UA Bookstore now has the 2011 Mens Soccer jerseys. However, they are not yet available online. You have to go to the UA Bookstore to get one. Whattt? Awesome! What numbers?

Who wants to start predicting line-ups? Oh, I do! Here is what I expect with what we know at this point (which I know is still very early) ------------------------Alfie K------------------------- ------Serna----------------------------------Quinn--- ---------------Trapp-------------Scotty-------------- ------------------------Gallego----------------------- -------***------Barson-------Souders-----Yedlin--- --------------------------Meves----------------------- ***Mayer/Stevenson/Brenes/Portillos/why are good LB's hard to find A few notes: 1. I would like for there to be a way to get Tommy on the field from the beginning. Maybe on the wing instead of Serna? But if he is as good as he has been projected to be, he is starter quality. Tommy has shown a huge improvement this year though and it seems like he could start, unless Porter really feels that we need him as a spark off the bench type player. 2. Back to Serna, it looks like with him and Quinn, we have two left footed wingers. I know Quinn played on the right at times this year so I put him there. It would solve the left back problem if one of them could play there, and then Tommy could start too! But it seems like they are both really attacking players. Really though, it's not like an attacking midfielder has never been converted to a fullback. I think if we have a surplus of midfielders, and one of them can potentially be better at another position than anyone else who plays that position, then we should play them there. 3. I can't wait to win another national title.

Does anyone get a little angry any time you see him in the pictures on these articles being the UNC poster boy? Like, I know him leaving was a decision he and Porter supposedly agreed upon, but it still bothers me. He transferred out of the national championship team, which in my opinion means he should have had to go to a team that does not do as well, and look where they are and look where we're at. I don't care that Martin Ontiveros is at Furman, good for him! Likewise with McKaulay Tulloch at UCF, Yoram Mwila at VCU, Humpty Hitchens at JMU, Diego "one spring semester and out" Navarrete, and everyone else. I just still think we maybe could have used Ben this year, and that if he couldn't find time here, how did he find time at a school that did better than us this year?

Haha I can only image how far he has come since then! I am seriously so pumped for next year right now. I don't care if Akron ever gets another football coach. Next year Porter is going to lead the US Olympic team to London (fingers crossed) and then come back and lead an Akron team with the talent and experience to reach the College Cup and win another title. Any time we lose a guy who was good enough to start for Akron, that loss hurts, but I think the only really tough losses are Darren obviously and Luke to some extent. On top of Koroma we are bringing in the #6 and #11 ranked players on TDS (at least, maybe more to come?). I know ranking often don't mean a lot, but it seems like from what we have seen if guys are in or around the top 10, they are the real deal (Trapp, Gallego, Yedlin, Valentin, Kitchen, etc.). Instead of having to build a completely new team from a few remaining parts, Porter will only have to fill in a few new parts to an almost completely returning team. It should be a good year.

Oh my gosh #3 in the country, that's huge for us. Is this Darren's replacement?

Guys, he has a great point, but I don't think we should stop there. I didn't realize until the other day that there is actually conference for university branches in Ohio, the Ohio Regional Campus Conference. I think the best way for our school to make it to the top would be for our administration to go to Can't State's and admit they they are far superior to us, and that it doesn't make sense to have two major universities so close together. Then we humbly request that they give us the pleasure of becoming a branch of their university. Once we have established ourselves as Can't State - Akron Campus then we enter and dominate the ORCC. Sound like a good plan? EDIT: Actually, hold that thought. I think they might have soccer in that conference, so we should probably find a lower one because let's be honest nobody cares about soccer

The only strikers Montreal have are Brian Ching (not going to happen) and Justin Braun. That is probably the position where they have the least depth. According to Ives, he would be their top choice.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives...draft-pool.html