TheTank123

If anyone has time, you should explore the BigSoccer board, and see if there's a G.A. thread there -- or start one. I have to say -- I'm shocked that Seattle did not protect Nate Jaqua. As far as I'm concerned, he's the best player on their roster! Hope Montreal grabs him! As far as Chivas USA, I have followed their fortunes for several years. They're very poorly run from the top down. I know Zarek loves LA, and fortunes can change rapidly in MLS, however, I don't think anyone should regret getting our from under the gravity of the Galaxy at HDC. Was the Jaqua thing a joke? You'd have about (insert population of Seattle here) fans who disagree with you.

There have been very few goals scored off set pieces which is why I get so confused/annoyed when teams play that long ball into the box from 45 yards out. Most have been on the counter. Please explain the confusion/annoyance about the long balls.....do you mean we don't defend well against those? That may be the question I was originally asking but perhaps did not state it correctly. Most goals seem to be scored off of those longish balls played high into the box as contrasted with goals scored off of multiple passes and shot attempts from within the 18. Very few goals have been scored off longish balls played into the box, which is why I don't get why teams do it. Again, most goals that I can think of have been scored off the counter. Or on PK's...jesus, now that I think about it, how many goals have we given up on PK's this year? At least three (NU, SMU, UB) but there has to be more...

There have been very few goals scored off set pieces which is why I get so confused/annoyed when teams play that long ball into the box from 45 yards out. Most have been on the counter.

I don't think so. I'll definitely be making the drive down to Storrs, CT if everything plays out as it should.

They were the higher ranked team in better weather. How is that ridiculous?

we need an official watch party for this game and the MLS Cup. btw, attendance for SMU games: Game 1 459 Game 2 313 Game 3 1567 (not sure if the 1 is a typo) Game 4 501 Game 5 246 Game 6 523 Game 7 491 Total 4100 Average 586 shouldn't be too hostile as they'll most likely have a crowd in the 500's. I am ALL for the watch party. But where are we going to watch? have been waiting for the University to announce something. If they don't by tonight, we should have a plan A. Gozips shows the game scheduled at 8pm?? that makes no sense with the MLS Cup starting at 9. Remember, this is not football or basketball so the NCAA couldn't give two sh*ts.

Im pretty sure that headline was meant for the New Mexico kid :-) Serna is obviously the better player but last year wasnt really a breakout season for Akron, it was what was expected after the previous two.

Replace Balogun with Gallego and move Dagilis into the CB slot. Or, and I know this sounds crazy, what about Caldwell playing a holding DM position? I can't think of another midfielder on the team who tackles and plays defense with the tenacity he does.

Who outside of members of this message board thing he was the missing piece to the puzzle? I admit I thought he was going to have more of an impact than he did but I don't remember ever reading CP say anything of the sort.

IIRC Hoover is a suburb of Birmingham, Double AA baseball team has a ballpark there. Which is, amazingly, where they are playing the College Cup.

We'll get in, we'll have a game Thursday at home, and we're going to make a run for the Cup. I'm expecting a Big 10 school possibly for the first round. I'm calling it now...Northwestern at home in the first round. And we finally have a chance to return the favor from circa 2006! I think we have a chance at making a strong run too. We need to play consistently and Mattocks needs to return to his scoring prominence. His lack of goals in the last few big games may have cost him the Herman Trophy. I'd love to see a 4-4-2 with Mattocks and Holmes up top...I'd love to see that two-headed monster Their speed and willingness to make things happen one-on-one could shift the balance of play towards the opponent's goal. And having Holmes up top with him would prevent the defense from exclusively keying on Mattocks. I hope Coach Porter makes some such adjustments next game. We need them. 100% agree \ I dont necessarily see the problem with your lineup, I just have one bone to pick...I don't know where or how it happened, but Luke Holmes and "speed" do not belong in the same sentence. His technical skills are marvelous but he is slow...notice he never beats anyone based on pace.

Montero's is my GoTY

Well deserved all around, especially Trapp. He's an animal.

And join what? The ACC? No chance. The big ten? not worth it.

football program is garbage which hurts the chances for basketball and soccer to move up. I don't believe soccer makes enough money for the MAC to go out and actively recruit other schools to join.Come on Bisbee...you know as well as I that conferences care about the revenue sports, football and basketball. Akron isn't good enough in either sport to garner consideration from one of the newly forming super conferences.

It always seemed to me that the highest seed should play the first game. They get an additional 3 hours of rest and can watch game two without a later game on their mind. Did the Zips get to choose??Just seems like it would make sense that the highest seed (home team) would get prime viewing times. 5 pm is not prime viewing time.

I could not say it any better.Is F/11/11/2011 really @ 5:00 pm for the top-seeded match?I was thinking the same thing. The top seed always gets to play last...not this year I guess.

Its finishing, pure and simple. If any number of chances had been converted last night the game is totally different, Akron isn't throwing eveyrone forward and they dont get caught on an unlucky counter.

That's not what Andy Chiu's girlfriend said.I don't get if that's a joke or not.

I think it was literally less than 10 minutes in the Spring. I remember him as very unimpressive, contrary to his long list of credentials.Does anyone know the real story on Diego Navarette?I don't know the real story on his leaving, but for those of us who followed the Zips on the road, Diego played quite a bit more than 10 minutes for us in the Spring.Did you see any quality?Actually, I did. He had some speed and some good moves, but in the Spring games the team looked like they hadn't played much time together as a whole, which was the case. I was very surprised when Diego transferred. But, he may not have fit into the system, or he may not have felt comfortable at Akron. It doesn't really matter why he transferred; as with anyone, I wish him success.I've heard it had to do with being away from home, family, friends etc. He transferred to UAB where another current freshman from Chile has been a teammate of his back home. That may have played a role in why he chose UAB.

Is Matt Foldsey from St. Ignatius in the bag yet? He is a F, no?Yeah he is. I've heard he is a good player but have never seen him play.

Wow. Two of the top 3 ranked teams in the country couldn't draw more than that in the hot-for-soccer ACC? Not good.I think the timing of this game was the problem. I watched the 2nd half on ESPNU because I didn't realize it started so early, at 5 pm I think. I thought it would be a 7 pm start. Ben Speas had a number of shots (name mentioned a lot by the announcers), but did not score.Ben Speas and McKalley Tulloch are not Zips because they would not conform to coach Porter's style. He mentioned this at his interview today.Where/when is said interview available?

Yup.

...Teal Bunbury, Zarek Valentin, ...I know DeAndre met him at U18 camp and wanted to play for him thereafter. Please know that this is not yet official. I feel as if I may have jumped the gun but, like I said, my "source" is pretty much always right about these things.

Being able to say "I am a good enough coach that I was asked to coach the U23 national team in the Olympics" is a recruiting tool. The most hands on would have been the U18 job, but the U23 job has more prestige.