fknbuflobo

And because I know you are all clamoring for it, this is what I want to see Saturday. http://football-formation.com/lineup/69386/proposed-Akron-Zips-9-1-18 Create your own lineup at football-formation.com

Do not take the Panthers lightly, Zips fans! https://pittsburghpanthers.com/index.aspx?path=msoc As nearly everyone predicted, Coach Jay Vidovich has turned around this once dismal program. https://pittsburghpanthers.com/staff.aspx?staff=392 While we were stinking up FES/CCF last Monday vs. NCS, Delaware 1-6 Pittsburgh. All this guy did Monday was score a hat-trick. https://pittsburghpanthers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=9825 #9 Edward Kizza has been favorably compared to our #9 David Egbo. Some say Kizza if even better than Egbo. (I don't, but some do.) Regardless... These Cats can play! If Zips exit the locker room unmotivated, like we would rather be doing something else, Panthers will whip us good. Frankly, I cannot guarantee my good behavior should Zips start the season on three consecutive home matches without a win. (You may want to preemptively alert security.) It is time for our team and our coaches to perform with urgency, because the 2018 season hangs in the balance.

I am now officially over Captain Marco Micaletto's gifted strength of foot. (Well, not really.) Yes, Marco sees the whole field well. He knows where the ball should go and has the rare strength and accuracy to get it there, from seemingly anywhere. What a sweet stroke that boy has! But. Just because Marco can deliver a world class long ball does not mean that ball will be received by another world class foot. Many of Micaletto's aerial passes were fumbled out of touch last night. I lost count on how many. On this team, I suggest that Marco would be better suited closer to goal, in the 3 layer of a 4-2-3-1. Let him send those bombs in as long range shots on goal. We may sacrifice some in distribution by deploying Marco further up the pitch. But Zips need to change. Our offense was strangled by NCS last night. Wolfpack did not forward press. And they kept their back line very high. SO, their entire squad was compressed into 35 yards of field length. And then they simply dared us to pass into midfield, which we suddenly suck at doing. How many unforced turnovers did we have? Ballgame.

Simply Deplorable! Worst showing in several years!

All good points. Play this same match come November, and Zips win going away. On to Wolfpack and all those ACC RPI points.

Furman Purple Paladins. Alma Mater of one Clinton Drew Dempsey. Still Suckeyes!

Zips had more quality than Butler, but Bulldogs were more cohesive, organized, disciplined. A very entertaining match, if not an expertly played one. Too sloppy on both sides. I think a few Zips personnel questions were answered vs. Butler. DO NOT SLEEP on #18 Ivan Nikolic! The east end crossbar is still ringing from his titanic blast! He so reminds me of Stu.

Zajac had been poised for a monster junior season, potentially even his last as a Zip. Let us see how his recovery goes. He is a fine young man who has hit a spot of bad luck. Get fit soon, Marcel! Akron’s 2018 championship aspirations are inextricably linked to the health of Marcel Zajac’s toe.

This line-up is an actual PREDICTION. It is not necessarily the squad I would field vs. Butler, but Coach Embick has proven smarter than I am (on several occasions). I am pretty sure on the formation and system. http://football-formation.com/lineup/69187/Akron-Zips-8-24-2018 Create your own lineup at football-formation.com

E Don’t think so. Need to go to rule book to be sure. Anyone? NCAA so whack!

Ritaccio?

http://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/search/label/2018 Gaucho Dan's RPI calculation is more accurate than any other. As repeated annually, NCAA tournament seeding is 95% RPI. http://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/rpi-update-is-updated-for-2018.2085750/#post-37014487

Hoosier GK Trey Muse is regarded by most as best in the NCAA, if not the country as a whole. He is a likely future USMNT. https://iuhoosiers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=9764 I have not yet connected these dots, but it is probable that Zips' GK Tor Saunders knows Trey Muse from them both playing in Sounders youth programs.

Freshmen Milanese and Ritaccio had better sort their shite out! Sloppy play at CB vs. Hoosiers will result in 3-0 drilling. Should that happen, watch for Strachan to move back to CB, and one (both?) of those two to the bench. As a player, if you like gambling, do not choose Center Back as your position. Hardest position in the sport, imo. No room for error.

No way! Really?

Maybe I am just missing the World’s most obnoxiously surly fly-weight, Stuart Holthusen. But freshman Ivan Nikolic #18 sure does remind me of someone. The same moves, the same body language, the sneer. Pure Forward.

Diogo Pacheco needs to be on the pitch. I am now certain of it. At whose expense? I am not as sure about that. But Pacheco has earned a look among the first XI.

That was really some storm!

It would be even greater if I were on vacation.

OK. I would like to try out this line-up. This is not the lineup that I predict; this is the one I would try (with my limited knowledge and experience). http://football-formation.com/lineup/68947/Akron-Zips-8-13-18 Create your own lineup at football-formation.com

Niko De Vera is an exemplary Akron Zip. It was heart-warming to see him at the match.

I was watching. It did not look good.

I believe Spanish Freshman Pol Hernandez to be the favorite at Left Back.

It is ridiculously premature to suggest a lineup, with the first official practice starting on Wednesday. Embick sort of dared me to make a lineup, so I did. And I will bet that our base system will be 4-2-3-1. As if Embick is ever going to read this board. Ha! Let us see how accurate I am. To answer your question: Yes. We should be concerned with so much youth starting in the Defense. But for this squad to go very far, freshmen will need to be major players. Reference 2009.

I attended ID Camp Friday and Saturday nights. I commented to Coach Embick that I could not remember having so many new faces in one camp. He replied, sardonically, "I might be asking you for a lineup." Pretending that he was anything but mocking me.....