fknbuflobo

Bisbee, surely you recognize that not all European leagues are the same. The Norwegian league is arguably at a lower level than the ever-improving MLS. Nowadays, representatives from EPL, Serie A, Bundesliga and Primera Liga scout MLS matches as much as they do any lesser European league. MLS is firmly on the Big 4’s radar now. I definitely agree with your point if you mean Mattocks should jump at a chance to play in one of the Big 4 leagues. Barring that, the GA contract is likely his best choice.

Signing with a Norwegian club is no better than signing with an MLS club, especially with a GA contract.

No Head Coach should be the Athletic Director. That is too much for one man to do. Successful examples of someone pulling this dual duty are nearly non-existent. This is not to mention the built-in bias one would have toward the sport he is coaching. I am vigorously against anything that could harm the men’s soccer program. Naming Keith Dambrot, or the soon to be named football coach, the AD has the potential to encourage Caleb Porter to look elsewhere. Such a notion is at best merely a bad idea, and at worst an unmitigated disaster. Tom Wistrill has been the most responsive AD in Akron history toward men’s soccer. Under his watch First Energy was built and Akron’s first team championship was won. Leave it alone. There is no defense for the Ianello hiring. It smelled bad initially and actually proved to be even worse. Give Wistrill another chance at getting a perhaps lesser known up-and-comer, someone with ties to the school and the community. Right now, the job is a tough sell, so only an unproven coach with high potential will take it. The board should extend Wistrill’s contract so that the HCs of all sports will be less uneasy. We are at the sad point where the HFC will need to be convinced to come. Firing the AD during this search does not lure anyone to take the offer. If anything, it repels potential candidates.

I'll bet 10 bucks its Charlotte. You're on How do you guys even know this shtuff?

Could the amount of top players in this particular class we're getting, be in effect to the previous national championship appearances, or the fact that Coach Porter is the U-23 coach for the Olympics? Or a little bit of both?

Today we commence the vetting of Fernando Pina. He comes highly recommended by all. At 5’10”, I would think him somewhat undersized for GK. He is purportedly cat-quick with exceptional ball skills. In fact, some say he could easily play in the field for most top collegiate programs. *I apologize for lack of proper attribution; I am supposed to be working after all . There is much more to come on this.

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. Shcmitt will likely come off the bench again. I hope Mayer stays because I am still not sold on Stevenson in that spot.

Le Bron Speas Very bad call. The LeBron comparison is assinine. +1 Yeah, you guys are right. I was just taking Zach's bait to be a smartass . I sometimes cannot help myself. The comparison does not hold. LeBron is a whole different conversation, one I prefer not to have. I first saw Speas play @ NC Soccer in (I think) 2003. He might have been 13. He went on to attend my old HS, where I watched him some more. I was crushed when he transferred to UNC. I sincerely wish Ben all the best. It appears he has earned a shot at his dream of professional soccer. Good for him! Asinine has only one S. Mix in a spell check.

I too prefer a laissez faire refereeing style, as long as it remains consistent. I want players to decide matches, not fat guys blowing whistles. Mr. Kennedy was unswerving throughout the match. He did not insinuate himself upon the competition at any point. There was consequently more organic flow with less interruption. This is why it was so entertaining to watch. Kennedy certainly could have pointed to the spot, but he chose not to. I would have complained if he had as it would have been a soft call inconsistent with the rest of his match. Word to all you sissies out there: Man-up and tackle the ball, Alice.

Alfred Koroma

Le Bron Speas

Fine job, Bobby. With that analysis, it would be insanity to enter the MLS draft without either a graduated degree or a Generation Adidas contract.

Having literally grown up with it, the Akron U moniker does not bother me at all. I rank our recent forwards: 1. Zakuani - speed 2. Nagbe - strength 3. Bunbury - size 4. Mattocks – grace Mattocks is not yet physically strong enough to step into a professional side and score consistently. Recall how future pro Charles Rodriguez of Charlotte manhandled Darren. It would benefit him greatly to stay another year at Akron, to drill more and hit the weights. But all indications are that he will bolt for the pros. I hope Mattocks goes to the MLS so that we can watch him develop. If he signs with a smaller European club, we may never hear from him again.

Agreed. Perhaps Ben Speas needed a change of scenery. I too remain supremely confident in Caleb Porter. Do not misunderstand me. Like any other executive officer, Coach Porter is subject to retrospective scrutiny. It comes with the position. I challenge interested journalists out there: Ask Coach Porter about the circumstances surrounding Speas' departure.

Props to Charlotte 49ers!

We will not count this as our own! UNC won the championship; Akron won nothing. If we are to count it at all, we will count it the result of an egregious personnel blunder by Coach Porter. It is abundantly evident that Ben Speas should have been convinced to stay, no matter what it took. Porter is my first choice to coach any team on any level, but that does not mean he is infallible. We will never know the entire truth, but rumors swirl that the two simply did not like each other. It also has been said that Coach Porter refused to guarantee a starting position to Speas during spring 2011. If Speas truly desires to someday play professionally, as he has publicly professed since early in high school, as a junior he must start. We congratulate local son Ben Speas in winning another championship. Boy, was he stellar throughout the tournament! ESPN announcers note that he is 11-0-4 in NCAA tournament competition. (Is that true?) But it is bittersweet that he has enjoyed this success away from his hometown program, especially considering he was once here.

49ers are brutally physical. This is one tough team.

Yes. Akron will get mentioned several times either way. Good PR. I am willing to bet that some analyst theorizes that Akron would be in the final had Speas not transferred to UNC. It is a natural journalistic angle. Just watch. I am rooting for 49ers. I actually think there are some future pros on that squad.

I agree with all your points, Zach. That being said, UNC looks the best side of all the final four. Tarheels will beat 49ers.

Gorgeous assist!

Papa Dons E. Market Street 44305 Go East, past Goodyear, past Britain Road, on North side of street

Games are 6:00 and 8:30. I am not so sure the Barley House is the right call for a Friday night.

I will go see Alex Morgan.... do anything she wants to do.

I saw him play vs. St. Ed's in the (I think) state quarterfinals. He played F, but I see him at MF on Zips. He will press to start.

Are we certain Souders plays centrally? I realize he plays CB right now. -----------------------------------------AK (How natural is that?)---------------- --------Caldwell ------------------------------------------------- Quinn----------- ----------------Trapp-------------------------------------Serna-------------------- --------------------------------------Gallego---------------------------------------- Souders-----------------------------------------------------------------------Yedlin -------------------------Barson-------------------Brenes--------------------------- ---------------------------------------Meves-----------------------------------------