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Zips will host #13 VCU (according to coaches' poll) tomorrow. Does anyone even realize this? Akron Hosts No. 13 VCU - University of Akron Athletics (gozips.com) If Zips MSOC plays a match, and no one comes to watch, does the inevitable draw still count as one point?

Alas, Zips have not enjoyed superior level team chemistry in several seasons. 2018 seems very long ago. Yes, this was once the hallmark of this program. Multiple transfers in and out is the collegiate soccer World we now live in. Mind you, no one cares much for team chemistry that does not render success. Zips base formation/system is 4-2-3-1. We very occasionally play 4-3-3. I do not believe formation/system is responsible for “pussyfooting” in the back, as I understand the term. At fault is a strategic choice to draw out the opposition and lure them into over committing. This is analogous to a boxer sticking out his chin, daring his opponent to hit him, with the intent to counter punch the unbalanced foe. But when the Zips stick out their chin, we are even odds to get knocked off our feet. One starts to wonder: Maybe we are not very good at counter punching. Another apparent Zips strategy is to treat every possession as precious and equal. Precious? Agreed. Equally precious? No. Against CSU, Zips made, not one pass, but four too many passes in our defensive right corner. With 13 minutes left, Zips disrespected the overall game scenario. That Ball should been given a long ride to the other half, knowingly conceding possession. Obviously, Zips cannot achieve success by always booming the ball out of the back. But specific situations mandate specific actions. Victory was in hand. That ball should have been sent into the upper deck. Instead, we stuck out our chin, getting a bloody nose for our trouble. We mismanaged the game. Not all Draws feel the same. The draw at Notre Dame kind of felt like victory. The draw hosting CSU definitely feels like a loss.

🤮

I hate complaining about referees. I really do. But that crew in Kalamazoo was awful.

I will take the 1-1 road result. However, we are down several defenders right now. Hope Ashton Kamdem is OK, but it did not look good. Josh Hardin, appreciate the Moxy, but you got to back off when carrying a YC. Everyone gets to act the fool once; you just spent your one time. I do like your fight, young man! Any word on Roberto Ydratch? That did not look good against Buckeyes.

They ain’t got no lights no how!

If Zips replicate the performance shown in hosting OSU, things will get real ugly real fast in Kalamazoo. Like 4-0 ugly.

Out of Likes for the day... something about the Time/Space Equilibrium.... Spot On! Preach!

The schedule has become noticeably more localized in recent seasons. Road trips to Omaha NE are sure to cause a grimace every other year. There has not been funding for off-season international trips. Not for a while. This I know. If elite programs are offering such enticing perks, then Zips are simply not keeping pace with the serious Market. There are many similarities between Universities of Marshall and Akron. Whatever they are doing is what we should mimic. We should observe and learn how Marshall MSOC is funding their program. Only so much can be kept secret; Marshall is a "public research university," as is Akron.

Are you suggesting that the restructuring of Zips MSOC coaching staff years ago is equal to strangling MSOC? -1 = strangulation? Seems like a minor shift. How might common sense (which you have) lead to such a conclusion? The correlation is obscure. Surely, there is more to your point than this. Please review and advise.

At last, you have become useful. How do you know that MSOC is being strangled?

Perhaps Buckeyes were underrated in the pre-season voting. I do not believe that. I think Buckeyes will finish middle of the pack in Big 10. On the other hand, judging from four games watched, Zips appear to be grossly overrated in pre-season coaches' poll. (I do not recall mentioning the Big East pre season polling on this thread.) The good news is that plenty of season remains for Zips to right the ship. But they need to start right now, in Kalamazoo come Friday.

The debacle versus OSU I hang mostly on the players. Also, Jared Embick is on the Hot Seat. These two things are not mutually exclusive

In a pre-season poll, Big10 MSOC coaches voted OSU to finish #6 in an eleven-team league/conference. That a mediocre side, and primary intrastate rival, can undeniably manhandle us, on our own grounds, is absolutely shameful. Zips lost 90% of all physical confrontations. Akron was consistently second to every contested ball. Fundamental passes were executed only erratically. Very rarely was there a meaningful three pass combination. There is no strategic planning, no tactical maneuvering, no formational scheming that can overcome the physical capitulation that 3,500 witnessed against OSU. If every 1v1 matchup is lost, success is impossible, regardless of the system employed. The attendance estimate of 3,500 is the largest crowd seen in quite some time. Most of those fans are not returning this season, and I cannot blame them. The course of this campaign must be corrected dramatically - and soon. If not, this season will end shortly, pathetic and bitter, prior to mid-November.

Nope.

WMU will play the same style as OSU but better. Broncos will beat us 3-0. Deplorable! 🤢 🤮

At a quick count, Zips utilized 17 players @ ND.

ND 1-1 AKR FT Good result. Matt Dreas seems born to play #6. He really has a knack for it. Now, if only he learned to shoot first touch from the D….

Indeed!

I realize your question has already been answered on this thread. Indeed, Emil is son of Jussi Jaaskelainen, longtime GK for Bolton Wanderers. I too am impressed with your depth of knowledge of minor tier English professional football. Bolton were last in the Prem in 2012.

We have lost the ability to receive the ball in midfield with our backs to the opponents’ goal, and then turn it upfield. Other teams are very physical when keeping us from playing through the midfield. That first pass from our defensive third into the middle third is hotly contested. Teams now realize that preventing that pass is the key to beating us. So, we must resort to playing over midfield rather than playing through midfield. And we are not especially good at that, the long ball.

AKR 0-0 PIT FT Another lackluster scoreless draw. On a positive note, though far from flawless, Zips defending looked more cohesive and determined. Especial recognition to MF Matt Dreas who has developed into our #6. More than one Zips historian has compared Matt Dreas to Ben Zemanski at Defensive Mid-field. Encouraging to see players improve; that is why we watch collegiate sports, right? I would counsel that Dreas needs work on distributing the ball after winning possession.

Friday vs. Pitt will be good measuring for Zips. Akron can ill afford to gift opportunities on our goal as we did versus Michigan. Unlike Wolverines, Panthers will convert such gifts into scores.

The first exhibition match is now 48 hours away. Gozips.com still has yet to update MSOC roster. We have 10 new players. This would not occur in a first rate Athletic Department.

A very nice Spring indeed. Quite curious that he left.