AkronZip54321

Akron needs to make a change. Take out Schmidt and Portillos, and put in Zakuani and Nagbe.

big time. no cutting edge in the final third. very weird to see us be dominated at home by a team like this.

Really think Nagbe needs to get a run of games up front so he can show that he should be in the USMNT squad asap... He's just that talented.

Love this Akron lineup! Brenes for Balogun, Stevenson in there, and the back 4 that I think is the one we need to stick with and let develop. Barrett needs to play well

Like my first half suggested, we were in trouble. I knew going in to this game it was going to be tough, even at home. It seems as though Porter agreed with my assesment of the players I thought struggled. Dagillis was subbed at half, Balogun came off in th second half too for the (imo) more polished and savy Brenes. The left side continues to be a problem too. Player ratings:Meves: 4 - The mistake early was a real howler but thankfully it didn't cost him. However, he didn't look comfortable the rest of the way.Yeddelin - 6 - Tried to get forward but wasn't able to convert a lot of his runs into successful attacks. Still like the way he plays and is only going to get better.Barson - 7 - Solid. Saved Meves on one occasion and overall had a commanding presence to him.Gallego - 6 - As I expected he struggled at left back and was better at center back. Still not one of his best games.Dagillis - 3 - Really thought he looked off the pace. I just view him as a utility center back and not someone that you can start at centerback if you want to be a realistic national contender. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh but he looked slow and his distribution wasn't good.Balogun - 4 - Again I found his distribution to be poor. At defensive midfield he needs to be a link-player and he doesn't quite seem up to it. Good that he scored a goal and put out some fires, but still might not have what it takes to play in this spot.Trapp - 7 - A solid shift from the youngster, really like his game. Has a good head on his shoulders and is someone that the team is gonna have to really count on this season.Caldwell - 7 - Does such a good job of keeping the ball and finding the next player. Really is a leader on the field. Played a number of great balls thru to Barrett when down to ten men.Quinn - 8 - the Akron M.O.M. Did a nice job of being active, finding the ball and making things happen. Served a class ball to Balogun on the goal as well. Will need to be consistent all season.Schmidt - 5 - Was ok but I think is much better suited at coming off the bench then starting. Didn't seem to assert himself enough on the game and really needs to take these chances because when Holmes is back his minutes will dwindle. Mattocks - 3 - Obviously the red card was a poor sign of maturity on his part but he was offside countless times this game and I'm sure his frustration is what led to the red card. Cost the team the win.Portillos - 4 - Didn't look comfortable and was sloppy in possession. Disapointed, because he doesn't look to be very useful in big games.Mayer - 6 - Gave away a few balls with errant long passes but really solidfied the backline. Think he is the left back answer until I'm proven otherwise.Brenes - 7 - Was a bright spot for sure, coming in and helping the team outplay New Mexico despite being down a man. May get a chance to start now - can he take the opportunity?Barrett - 5 - Really was annoyed with his play. I know he had a hard situation, being the lone forward against bruising NM centerbacks, but didn't take his chances and looked too erratic in his play. Has use, but more as a wide player then a center forward. Does Akron have someone who can play center forward if Mattocks is out? probably not...

this has been an ugly first half. dagillis doesn't look up to the task. baloguns been sloppy in possession and we aren't getting any production from whoever is playing up on the left. Holmes should hopefully solves this in a few games. We are very fortunate to be up 1 at the break.

An FYI: According to the mac-sports.com website, the Cal Poly game will be streamed online even though it's not a MAC game.Can't leak much info, but Akron will be using another new back 4 tonight. Can maybe piece it together based on who wasn't playing last game and who played well when given an opportunity...Look for this to be as serious a threat of a game to end the Akron win streak, it won't be easy at all.Dagilis over Gallego? Not too sure what I think of that. Haven't been to impressed with Dagilis in the past, but he was solid last match.It might just be me, but Porter's interview after last game kind of made me think he hasn't been too impressed with Dagilis either. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if Gallego got on Porter's bad side with that red. I can't think of the last time any other Akron player was sent off.not exactly.. a NEW back 4.I still don't understand why they've switched from the Mayer-Gallego-Barson-Yeddelin back 4 they used to begin the season anyway

An FYI: According to the mac-sports.com website, the Cal Poly game will be streamed online even though it's not a MAC game.Can't leak much info, but Akron will be using another new back 4 tonight. Can maybe piece it together based on who wasn't playing last game and who played well when given an opportunity...Look for this to be as serious a threat of a game to end the Akron win streak, it won't be easy at all.Dagilis over Gallego? Not too sure what I think of that. Haven't been to impressed with Dagilis in the past, but he was solid last match.It might just be me, but Porter's interview after last game kind of made me think he hasn't been too impressed with Dagilis either. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if Gallego got on Porter's bad side with that red. I can't think of the last time any other Akron player was sent off.not exactly.. a NEW back 4.

An FYI: According to the mac-sports.com website, the Cal Poly game will be streamed online even though it's not a MAC game.Can't leak much info, but Akron will be using another new back 4 tonight. Can maybe piece it together based on who wasn't playing last game and who played well when given an opportunity...Look for this to be as serious a threat of a game to end the Akron win streak, it won't be easy at all.

Watched webcast from SLU.....TOTALLY DOMINATED ENTIRE GAME :DThe Mobile Version sure wasn't working... couldn't get anything but the score... no game stats... no quasi real-time info.With a score this large, and an obvious win, why does Porter not give the subs more time?My guess is that giving the starters more time to gel is more important to him than giving the subs action. They only had like 2-3 weeks in preseason and most of the starters have never played together. Only way to gel is to be out on the pitch at the same time. Besides, it was only 2-0 in the 85th minute.I think Porter tries to play the game the way it is "supposed" to be played. Limited subs.what they said. porter wants to get his guys to gel by giving them time together. also, anyone who knows porter knows he is ultra competitive and wants his team to be looked upon with high regard. he wants to punish teams and beat them by large margins especially if there is no 2nd game on a weekend and he doesnt need to worry about resting his players. in 2008 akron beat cleveland state 2-1 in overtime and a few weeks later UIC beat CSU something like 4-0 or 5-0 and the CSU coach said UIC was the best team they played all year. Porter showed this to his team and yelled at them about it. needless to say he takes a lot of pride in his team being the best and doesn't like to take his foot off the gas, especially when they struggled the previous weekend.

Funny they say that cuz I still consider him the greatest Akron player during the Porter era yet he wasn't one of the 2 who won the Herman. Really looked like a college version of Thierry Henry in his prime at Arsenal, in 2008.

I never really rated yoram much during his time at Akron in 2009 but I'm glad to hear he's doing well.

Love it! I'd love to see the cut-out "big heads" of players like some college basketball teams do.

Being a former high level player, I feel like I can give a little perspective of what I think will happen when everyones available. I expect a system very similar to the one used in 2009. here it is for those who don't remember: Bunbury Nagbe Nanchoff Ampai Gavin Zemanski Korb Valentin Barson Sarkodie Meves I'm having trouble making my post have the players names setup positionally like I would want but it was an inverted 4-4-2 and the simple roles were: Nagbe just off of Teal, Ampai in a freerole and Nanchoff on the left. Blair Gavin sitting just in front of Zemanski and the back 4 is self explanatory. The right side was open for Kofi Here's how I'd expect things to shake up by the end of the season: Mattocks Holmes Quinn Caldwell Trapp Balogun Mayer Barson Gallego Yeddelin Meves An almost identical system to that one because the personnel fit it very well. Holmes plays best as the second striker, just off of a guy like Mattocks who will want to stay high and on the last guy and have his job primarily be the finisher to the buildup from the skillful playmakers. Caldwell still gets to operate in the hole as a central attacking midfielder and Quinn and his nice left foot will take Nanchoffs old role. Trapp who Porter had even compared to Blair Gavin takes over his role as a central midfielder with Balogun sitting deep as the defensive midielder. The back 4 that played vs CSU looked very good to me so I expect that to ultimately be who it will be and we leave the right side open for the pacy and dymanic Deandre Yeddelin to fly up and down. Of course Caldwell will have to drift out to the right some for defensive responsibilities like Ampai did in '09 but that won't be a problem as Scotty played as a right midfielder for the National Champion 2010 team. this is just one persons humble opinion but who knows. I can tell you Holmes will make a difference; if he was here last year he might have and probably would have started which says a lot on its own. Hopefully the team can find a way to win until this lineup I have written down gels into being a contender like they have the ability to do so, because being a top 4 seed is a huge advantage when you have a home field advantage like Akron does.

Can anyone explain why David Mayer did not play last game and if he is in fact injured, how badly. Also found it a little puzzling that Portillos went from starting game 1 to DNP in game 2 and barely used sub in game 3.

He's the prototypical "modern" outside back. A small pacy guy who flies down the wing and acts like a winger when we have the ball and is quick enough to defend players when need be because of natural athletic ability. Read in that article that he is a converted back and it's the perfect position for him. Exampes of similiar players are Dani alves, Patrice Evra, Ashley Cole. 10-15 years ago you'd rarely see guys like this.

I'll give my player ratings from the CSU Game: Meves - 6 - little to do; had 1 nervous moment in the second half where the ball almost spilled under him. Yeddelin - 8 - Great debut from the little right back. His pace really stood out and most of the attakcs in the first half came down his side. Gallego - 8 - Really stood out as a leader and a top notch center back. I'll go as far to say that after game 1, this back 4 is actually better then last years. He is a tougher defender then Valentin and will be able to handle physical strikers better. Barson - 8 - Strong and steady as always. Really is underrated in my opinion as he should be considered one of the top center backs in the country, and therefore an All-american. Mayor - Really liked his game. As nice a player as Korb was, I think the englishman is better. He is good on the ball, serves a good cross and although was never tested, seems a solid enough defender. An upgrade it looks like. Balogun - 6 - He did score a goal and didn't really cost them but I'm not sold on his technical ability. DM is very important in the Akron system as they are linking play quite a bit. One positive is he certainly brings something different to the table with a much more phyiscal presence then the other midfielders. Trapp - 8 - Really like his game. The way he pulled the ball back and beat a defender and shot at the top of the box off a corner kick (i think) was class. He's right at the level of some of the midfielders they've had in recent years. Caldwell - 9 - Really busy performance from the little midfielder, he just knows how to keep the ball and find the next player. His positioning was good too, finding the pockets of space to get the ball and pushing high enough to give Mattocks ample help. Portillos - 5 - Just a quiet debut from the Washington transfer. They had him on the LW and the Zips weren't getting much joy from that side during the first half. Think he will be a useful player but will have to make way for Luke Holmes from the 7th game onword. Quinn - 6 - Also pretty quiet although a little better then Portillos. His left foot is handy, and I like that he was on the right side to cut in; giving the outside backs more license to get forward. He will certainly have better days then Saturday, his ability is apparent for sure. Mattocks - 9 - Wow, what an improvement from last year. Last year he was statistically one of the best strikers in the country, but from the looks of it, he truly is one of the best now. I'm predicting he'll be a herman finalist at the minimum if game 1 is anything to base off of. He is a much more intelligent and polished player and I'd be surprised if he doesn't match his goal total from last year, especially being the only true goal scorer in the lineup right now. Barrett - 6 - A nice debut although a little jittery at times. Another player who will only improve as the season goes on. Stevenson - 5 - Quiet, solid performance at LB. Still think he is best playing in the midfield, but was nice to see him getting a run out for 30 minutes. Schmidt - 5- Also pretty quiet, but he did come in when the work was already done. Think playing wide in a 4-3-3 will suit him much better then as a striker in a 4-4-2.

That's just bizarre. We have a theory that he realized he wasn't going to get much playing time and so he backed out under the guise of wanting to "finish what he started" and our guys being a bunch of "pretty boys" Seems like a valid theory. Probably realized Balogun was going to play over him and did not want to come here and sit the bench. Makes sense.

Sounds like Barrett will be starting, assuming over Portillos. Porter sad on a recent video interview on gozips that they started 4 freshman last game and will be starting 5 this game. Predicting 3-0 Akron. These 2 California teams just aren't high profile programs that can threat us.