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Let the officals do what they will, and then adjust to the officials. Akron failed to adjust to the officials. When they ain't calling it, meet thugery with greater thugery! The beautiful game be damned! "He sends one of yours to the hospital; you send one of his to the morgue." Frankly, it is very difficult for a predominantly finesse team to win a championship, regardless of the sport. We sorta pulled it off last year. It will not likely happen that way again. Bitching about officials is exceedingly weak.

Zips had better come to play with mouthpieces vs. Northridge, who are sure to employ the same tactics as Fullerton. I worry that this current squad hasn't enough scrap in them. When your team is fouled that often, somebody got to lay one of them out, just to show that it can be done. Who is the Zips' enforcer this year? Kitchen is gone. Michael Balogun, I am calling you out! You are the one to change the emotional momentum of a match if need be! Never let what happened tonight happen again!

OK. Getting nervous now.

I agree. He's looking good. Balogun has always been a ferocious tackler. Ouch! My ankles hurt just watching. His passing has improved dramatically, looking much more comfortable. After playing silently last year, he was very vocal last match, ala Kitchen. Perhaps he is a late bloomer. He has always had the physical tools to excel at this level.

A navy outline to the gold lettering would do the trick. I simply want to get familiar with the roster quickly, and I cannot decipher this lettering from afar. With last year’s team, with so many returning players, I recognized each just by the way they moved, without even noticing the numbers. Evidently, I am alone in wanting players' names on the back. Maryland's unis looked so... professional this last Spring.

The new kits look great in the photos, but are completely unreadable on the pitch. Seriously! They are so bad, somebody needs to change the numbering pronto. Where was the product/market research on that?

I absolutely agree. DeAndre played the first half on my side of the field, and he made it look effortless to cover one end of the pitch to the other. I wished I had brought my Sounders scarf to wave as extra acknowledgment for him. EDIT: Great article, btw. Thanks! Sounders fan? I gotta Zakuani #11 Jersey. Got lots of jerseys, but I think that one is my fav. Love the whole organization. Super cool that the gem of Sounders youth system is now a Zip.

I too was impressed by the cohesion among the back four. All three of the newcomers are players. But what JUMPED right out is how fast Yedlin was. Wow! I can barely believe saying this, but I think he is even quicker than Sarkodie. He did not show such speed in practices I have seen. Kid has serious wheels! Right Back is the funnest postiion on the pitch when blessed with such speed! If Zak11 had anything to do with delivering Yedlin, then props to Stevo.

What time @ Manny's?

I like all of these song ideas and will participate in any you kids start. Zach, thanks for the lyrics. lol. You are killing me with that. The one thing I would change is the blaring of the canned house music. Why is that necessary? Who are the people who enjoy that? Especially after a victory, the AK Rowdies gather for the "I believe" only to be drowned out by the lousy and distorted PA system. Kind of a head scratcher for me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oo2TP4i5jg...ayer_detailpage

Right On! I want one too. BTW, what does the star signify? A national title! Yes sir! I just wanted to see somebody say it.

Right On! I want one too. BTW, what does the star signify?

Punk-arse!

These would be even better with players' names on the back.

OK... I trust that. I was writing my last reply while you were replying... not very quick sometimes. Means that he misses Tulsa... back for OSU...? By the time he rejoins the team... they should be jellin. I haven't read this thread in it's entirerty, so I'm just jumping in here (forgive me if this has been discussed) but the team will be jelling without Holmes, so there's a danger of him being kept out of the loop for the entire year, no? He'd have to be awfully good to sit out the first six games, and then just jump into a starting/contributing role against Columbus, right? Yes, that is precisely why I am so disappointed. From what I have seen, Holmes is extraordinary. He has talent worthy of post season accolades. However, a team full of new faces will absolutely need to coalesce a soon as possible to be successful, with or without any individual. If Holmes is suspended, he may not contribute in a major way in this his only season with us. This makes his transfer here all the more puzzling. It does not add up that this suspension was anticipated. Why would he do that? Something unexpected happened, making me ask questions. Who has the full story here? Tank?

I'm with you Yaz! People poo-pooed it when I wrote that Schmitt would start this season, but have you actually seen him? He was a real baller, who showed true talent @ Crew Academy in the Development Academy League. Can't wait to see what he's learned from his three seasons of absorbing the Zips' system. Only question is, will Caleb use 2 on top? 4-4-1-1? 4-5-1? 4-4-2?... ANYONE know for sure that Luke Holmes is suspended? Why?

Ando is correct, AO Akron will be at Manny's Pub slamming down a few cold ones before the match this Saturday and all future matches 394 Brown St. On the corner of Brown and Exchange So, the students only "pep rally" in the field-house is scheduled for 5:30, correct? About what time do you think the squad will begin the march to the field?

bump No Box score! Who played in this match vs. Creighton?

Where is Manny's? On the Zip Strip?

They tend to cluster around the east end goal. This is where the AK-rowdies also clump. Zipsnation folks will generally be wearing a National Championship tee shirt. The AK-Rowdies have AK-Rowdies tees. Both will be loud and vulgar. Bisbee, be careful what you ask for. Make sure all your vaccinations are current.

Where did you hear that?? BTW -- the idea that David Mayer is a very good player should not come as any surprise, if you know he started for Wigan's Academy team (U19 I guess). As someone over at BigSoccer boards shouted out -- get him a Green Card fast, the USA needs a left back BAD. Z.I.P., Mayer looked really skinny to me. Good, but scrawny. Cristian Arboleda is already 22, a grown man. What is this business about Holmes having to miss 7 games? I do not believe it. Why would he transfer here knowing that beforehand? Maybe he did not know this would happen. I think it has to do with now being at a D1 NCAA school vs his previous NAIA (which it did not matter). Needless to say, he will get quality minutes and more than likely start once he returns from suspension. He was probably willing to take the suspension knowing he would get half a season and postseason to make his MLS/Pro statement. That is a huge blow to our title hopes! Holmes is a fine player. I do not buy your theory. Another season as NAIA POTY is more marketable than 1/2 season of @ NCAA Champs. Pro scouts do not care where the players are; they will find the talent. Look at all the players on the USMNT without any collegiate experience whatsoever. If this was an oversight, then it was a big one. Somebody did not do their homework. Very UN-Porter! I guess that moves Chiu into starting 11.

Where did you hear that?? BTW -- the idea that David Mayer is a very good player should not come as any surprise, if you know he started for Wigan's Academy team (U19 I guess). As someone over at BigSoccer boards shouted out -- get him a Green Card fast, the USA needs a left back BAD. Z.I.P., Mayer looked really skinny to me. Good, but scrawny. Cristian Arboleda is already 22, a grown man. What is this business about Holmes having to miss 7 games? I do not believe it. Why would he transfer here knowing that beforehand?

Is this another Porter surprise? Is this the reason Walls left? Medellin, Colombia!?! Z.I.P., where you at on this?

WTF!?! Do not throw my boy, Speas, in there with Walls. This looks like a totally different set of circumstances. I really hope that Walls was not the reason Speas was nudged out in the first place.

I keep waiting for someone to comment on Nagbe's PERFECT assist during Timbers over Galaxy.