Games of the week

[SKUD]

Good intel Sierra- trying to lighten up the thread with some
Humor and satire.  Everyone is so serious about this . Let's all have some
Fun!

[Hopkins92]

Hopkins is 100 percent not as organized in the back. They will try to work it out of the back come hell or high water, but this squad doesn't have 5th year senior Treinen (sorry to be repetitive for those paying close attention) who bossed that back line better than any I've seen in a decade.

That said, Hop has started unlocking their offense a bit, which was really what has been their achilles heel the last few years.

With THAT said, I think this year's Dips squad is a cut above and with the came in "Amish country" I predict they win in a one goal game.

[SimpleCoach]

Hopkins is 100 percent not as organized in the back. They will try to work it out of the back come hell or high water, but this squad doesn't have 5th year senior Treinen (sorry to be repetitive for those paying close attention) who bossed that back line better than any I've seen in a decade.

That said, Hop has started unlocking their offense a bit, which was really what has been their achilles heel the last few years.

With THAT said, I think this year's Dips squad is a cut above and with the came in "Amish country" I predict they win in a one goal game.

This.

All those Amish Moon Pies are finally having an impact on F&M ... Hopkins is a bit of a work in progress.

SC.

[SimpleCoach]

Hopkins is 100 percent not as organized in the back. They will try to work it out of the back come hell or high water, but this squad doesn't have 5th year senior Treinen (sorry to be repetitive for those paying close attention) who bossed that back line better than any I've seen in a decade.

That said, Hop has started unlocking their offense a bit, which was really what has been their achilles heel the last few years.

With THAT said, I think this year's Dips squad is a cut above and with the came in "Amish country" I predict they win in a one goal game.

This.

All those Amish Moon Pies are finally having an impact on F&M ... Hopkins is a bit of a work in progress.

SC.

[Kuiper]

If you're looking for a game to watch while waiting for the North Park v. North Central game,  Macalester @ Carleton might be a good choice.  If you want a game after the NP/NC game is finished, try the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps game at Occidental. 

[SierraFD3soccer]

Hopkins is 100 percent not as organized in the back. They will try to work it out of the back come hell or high water, but this squad doesn't have 5th year senior Treinen (sorry to be repetitive for those paying close attention) who bossed that back line better than any I've seen in a decade.

That said, Hop has started unlocking their offense a bit, which was really what has been their achilles heel the last few years.

With THAT said, I think this year's Dips squad is a cut above and with the came in "Amish country" I predict they win in a one goal game.

This.

All those Amish Moon Pies are finally having an impact on F&M ... Hopkins is a bit of a work in progress.

SC.

Hahaha, I would go with shoofly pie and birch beer (preferably white version). Shoofly is the best, right up there with rhubarb pie. My mom was good at both though we lived a little bit out of Amish territory (more Moravian area - and not to far from the infamous bookstore). https://www.goldenbarrel.com/recipe/pennsylvania-dutch-shoofly-pie/

[SierraFD3soccer]

Hopkins is 100 percent not as organized in the back. They will try to work it out of the back come hell or high water, but this squad doesn't have 5th year senior Treinen (sorry to be repetitive for those paying close attention) who bossed that back line better than any I've seen in a decade.

That said, Hop has started unlocking their offense a bit, which was really what has been their achilles heel the last few years.

With THAT said, I think this year's Dips squad is a cut above and with the came in "Amish country" I predict they win in a one goal game.

Definitely not going to predict as to score. Though round, the ball goes in so many different unpredictable directions. Will predict that it'll be a very good game.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Good intel Sierra- trying to lighten up the thread with some
Humor and satire.  Everyone is so serious about this . Let's all have some
Fun!

Got it SKUD. Figured as much. The truth behind the kidding is spot on.

F&M has played that way in the past in certain games against specific teams. Just wanted to provide context as to why the kidding was true. The context being is that F&M purposely can play chaos, long and/or swarming ball when needed and the coach calls on it. Against other teams, F&M may look like JHU as it plays out the back. From my perspective, F&M has a style, but is not afraid to get out out of that to adapt to a style that would possibly be more effective against a good team.

[SimpleCoach]

Good intel Sierra- trying to lighten up the thread with some
Humor and satire.  Everyone is so serious about this . Let's all have some
Fun!

Got it SKUD. Figured as much. The truth behind the kidding is spot on.

F&M has played that way in the past in certain games against specific teams. Just wanted to provide context as to why the kidding was true. The context being is that F&M purposely can play chaos, long and/or swarming ball when needed and the coach calls on it. Against other teams, F&M may look like JHU as it plays out the back. From my perspective, F&M has a style, but is not afraid to get out out of that to adapt to a style that would possibly be more effective against a good team.

I call it Neanderthal Ball... well not anymore, as I do think they are more purposeful than that.  But their aim is chaos in the final third.  That is the truth.

SC.

[SierraFD3soccer]

[quote author=SimpleCoach link=topic=9499.msg2091090#msg2091090

I call it Neanderthal Ball... well not anymore, as I do think they are more purposeful than that.  But their aim is chaos in the final third.  That is the truth.

SC.
[/quote]

Hmmm. Do mean as sort of high pressing (difference in that F&M backs are not in the other teams half - high line) or even gegenpressing in the final third?? Not giving the other team time to breath when F&M losses possession and/or the other team has possession off of a free/goal kick. Not saying that F&M is even close to Liverpool or Dortmund.  F&M in many ways is trying to park the bus in the offensive side, while not letting a counter to bite them.  Requires left/right back to fast/strong along with the two center backs to be beyond competent along with a keeper who has a high soccer IQ and good with his feet.

[paclassic89]

F&M, against the better teams, tends to completely bypass the midfield in their build up play.  They generate a lot of their offense from pressing and forcing defender mistakes.  Long diagonals or balls played over the top into corners from their backs or CDMs.   I think that's where the Neanderthal ball comes from. Also, long throws, free kicks launched into the box etc.  Contrast that with a team like Messiah who generally keeps the ball on the ground, builds through the midfield and aims to switch the point of attack laterally to create a numbers advantage on the wings or opportunities for their wingers to isolate an outside back and drive at them with the ball 1v1.

[Ejay]

F&M, against the better teams, tends to completely bypass the midfield in their build up play.  They generate a lot of their offense from pressing and forcing defender mistakes.  Long diagonals or balls played over the top into corners from their backs or CDMs.   I think that's where the Neanderthal ball comes from. Also, long throws, free kicks launched into the box etc.  Contrast that with a team like Messiah who generally keeps the ball on the ground, builds through the midfield and aims to switch the point of attack laterally to create a numbers advantage on the wings or opportunities for their wingers to isolate an outside back and drive at them with the ball 1v1.

100% true.

[Kuiper]

F&M, against the better teams, tends to completely bypass the midfield in their build up play.  They generate a lot of their offense from pressing and forcing defender mistakes.  Long diagonals or balls played over the top into corners from their backs or CDMs.   I think that's where the Neanderthal ball comes from. Also, long throws, free kicks launched into the box etc. 

So, would that explain why F&M has tied teams like Haverford and Swarthmore this year? If the opponent is weaker and its defenders sit back and get rid of the ball quickly, F&M has to generate offense on its own, which is more difficult?  Or were those just early season anomalies?

[Ejay]

I've only seen F&M play twice this year and each time they pretty much bypassed the midfield and played long diagonal balls out of the back to Horowitz. Not unlike Montclair who are constantly launching long balls to Lukovic. Clearly both teams have found success with that, but you don't see a lot of combination play through the midfield from either - at least I haven't seen it.

[SierraFD3soccer]

F&M, against the better teams, tends to completely bypass the midfield in their build up play.  They generate a lot of their offense from pressing and forcing defender mistakes.  Long diagonals or balls played over the top into corners from their backs or CDMs.   I think that's where the Neanderthal ball comes from. Also, long throws, free kicks launched into the box etc. 

So, would that explain why F&M has tied teams like Haverford and Swarthmore this year? If the opponent is weaker and its defenders sit back and get rid of the ball quickly, F&M has to generate offense on its own, which is more difficult?  Or were those just early season anomalies?

Numbers kind of speak for this situation. Based on these, you pretty much don't need to watch the games. 

F&M against Haverford - 31 shots 7 on goal. 1-1 Final  Swarthmore - 26 shots 6 on goal. 1-1 Final - Kean 14 shots 11 shots on goal. 1-0 loss. Total over three games 71 shots with 24 shots on goal. Only produced 2 goals for F&M. If you did not see the game or look at the numbers, you would think that all three games were pretty even.  F&M just couldn't figure it out till they played Ursinus.  All incredibly frustrating games.

Next 5 games all wins, F&M scored 17 goals (three games 3 goals and two 4 which one was against the Muhls). Over last 5 games 95 shots with 45 shots on goal.  F&M leads the Cent. Conf. on goals, shots and SOGs.

Also note over the previous two seasons, this season is substantially different. Perhaps a total anomaly. Last year over 20 games they scored 29 times (F&M was 13-2-5) or 1.45 goals per game, over 13 games this year F&M has scored 34 times (10-1-2) or 2.61 goals per game.  Please keep in mind that they only have a 5-0 win as opposed to other teams that have 8 or 9 goal wins against teams that they crushed (Ursinsus 8-0 v. Medgars Evers and 9-0 v. PS Berks)