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Gotta have those pix, Z.I.P.!!!!!!!!!

We're definitely going to have to grab a Puerto Rican flag next season with Abreu and 'Melo. Zach, please expound. Who are these guys?

Bravo AkronZip54321! As a very long time player, at not quite a high level, I agree with everything you say in your long-winded post. You have the eventual lineup nailed, and your analysis on its functionality is dead on target. I would call Porter’s system a 4-2-2-1-1. And yes, it is exactly what we had 2007-2009. I have two points: 1) Yes, I too believe Holmes would have started the previous two years, likely displacing a very good player. Holmes is that good; just you wait and see. Personally, I think Holmes would play best as replacing Ampai in the hole, but we really do not have another proven F. Barett and Chiu may mature quickly. I assumed that this is where Speas would have fit; his mysterious departure continues to irk me. 2) Present formation accentuates the real and irreplaceable value of Perry Kitchen. He operated the holding MF all by himself, thereby enabling a formation of 4-1-3-1-1, with one more in attacking MF. Trapp and Balogun are much more like Gavin and Zemanski, respectively. I genuinely hope that this will not be the reason 2010 will be our only championship. Your post makes me wonder who you really are………..

An interesting discussion….. I see your point, skip-zip. True, the sport is rooted in Europe, and some of our players are foreign born. But our identity and style, though arguably derivative (Barcelona), are American, and unequivocally Akron. Flying foreign flags serves no purpose. We are not the United Nations. Would you propose the same for Basketball or Baseball? I believe we have foreign bred players on those teams as well. Please do not interpret my sentiment as xenophobic or jingoistic. I simply am confused at the notion of other county’s flag flying here. I doubt a European university (name one) would fly a US flag just because one of the Basketball players is from Ohio.

I wondered about Mayer as well. He was kicking ball around with other subs at half time of CSUN game and appeared to be OK. Porter is still probably experimenting with the starting XI. I thought for sure that Mayer had the starting LB spot, but maybe it's still up in the air between him and Stevenson? As for Portillos, I'm pretty sure it's just a thing of figuring out that spot. That's the one position that I figured would be up in the air more so than the other ones. I'm glad to see Tommy start because he really does seem to be a hard worker who puts 110% on the field. I am predicting though that when Luke Holmes returns he will probably be fighting for that spot as well. Based on what has transpired so far, I would bet heavily on Holmes starting when available. Where and in place of whom are the questions. Zips are having trouble linking in the final third. Holmes is a perfect remedy to that. I too am troubled by Mayer's absence and sporadic playing time. Mayer seems much better fit than Stevenson at LB. I think Portillos was always going to be the utility guy, much as Speas was the previous two seasons. The one I am really wondering about is Brenes. Seems we could have used some of his nastiness vs. Fullerton.

That a boy Scotty! Yedlin with the assist?

Looks like it. Schmitt started again too though, so I'm sure that will make up for it. Mayer looked good vs. Cleveland State. Maybe he is injured?

Mayer did not start? Stevenson starts @ LB?

I agree. Ashley Cole was the first of this breed, to my knowledge anyway, especially when with Arsenal. Roberto Carlos (Brazil/Real Madrid) was the first of this breed 15 years ago. Right On! How could I have forgotten him!?! How long did that dude play professionally? 20 years?

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. pardon me for adding my 2 cents I was not bitching about the refs, I was just commenting on what refs in America are taught to allow. It's opions such as yours that will distroy the game in America I sincerely welcome your two cents, taxguy. In fact, I love it. No insult is intended. I merely want to reinforce the fact that physicality, even brutality, is and always has been a part of this sport. Football is a very old sport, older even than our Baseball. Despite efforts to “clean it up,” there are intrinsic elements to the game that will never leave, unwritten codes, if you will. Americans are historically soft in this regard. I want Our Zips to realize this and be able to prevent less talented squads from taking us from our attractive soccer, and stealing a draw. Fullerton did exactly what I would do facing a superior opponent. In short, I want Our Zips to learn how to win ugly, if need be. Let’s hope they learn from this minor setback. Perhaps the officiating stunk last night. I did not see the game, only listened. But I suspect some of our young boys were not mentally prepared to be bullied about the pitch. At some point, if the ref is not controlling the match, one must take matters into one’s own hands. I suggest that someone from Akron should have earned a yellow, just to send a message. I do not prefer that style of play, but I am intimately aware that it is sometimes exactly what is required. Our Zips are sure to see more of the same this year. You can count on it. What do think Hartwick is going be like? Does anyone out there remember Caleb Porter as a player? That dude was downright nasty. Thanks for the retort. I invite you to have the last word, if you like.

I agree. Ashley Cole was the first of this breed, to my knowledge anyway, especially when with Arsenal.

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.