UAA Soccer

[VASoccerDad]

UGH.

Can't believe we let JCU tie us.

Costs us the city's bragging rights.

TBH, Case was lucky to get a tie. Got out worked, out muscled, out hustled, everything. JCU was stronger and fought harder, just didn't have much offensively. If JCU had any sort of offensive threat, they probably win.

Rossen has been out for Case the last couple of games so the D1 transfer is starting. Playing well, but then the backup has been a reserve center back. Big and tall, strong and fast, but is clearly not a goal threat. No idea what the coach is thinking- he has 2 very capable striker subs that he could be playing that are definitely goal-dangerous, but is not for some reason. His sub patterns have been strange and questionable, not sure if this is an every-year thing, but this year it's been odd.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Well, that's unfortunate.

How long will Rossen be out?

If he is going to be out for awhile, then I hope our coach rethinks his personnel.

[CalJohn]

Yes, the strikers, forwards and attacking midfield should finish when they have opportunites, but the problem is in the midfield not providing any opportunites any more. The first half of the Lycoming game showed that the midfield has the ability to connect passes to their teammates, possess the ball into the final third, and get shots and goals for their attackers.

John Carroll is an inferior team to Lycoming that dominated possession last night. When Case got the ball, the midfielders dribbled into pressure or passed short passes repeatedly to the wrong team. If the defense got the ball, the midfielders did not show for the defense, so the defense just long passed it to John Carroll's back line.

I am concerned that the similar pattern is happening again this year where the team tightens up due to coaching, chemistry, injuries or something unknown and then turns into a shell of the early season. I agree that the substitution patterns are strange and maybe the absense of key players that play with confidence like Rossen, apparently injured, and Trosch, who knows, cause the rest of the team to play jittery under pressure.

One last troubling thing is, like last year, last night the defense either went longball or went to the right side, where the midfield gave the ball away until the last 15 minutes. Their captain and, probably outside of Rossen, best player Cormack A. was able to connect passes and get push up the left side, but he barely touched the ball last night.

Come on Coach, this team can be special if you let it. Coaching, confidence and chemistry matter.



"TBH, Case was lucky to get a tie. Got out worked, out muscled, out hustled, everything. JCU was stronger and fought harder, just didn't have much offensively. If JCU had any sort of offensive threat, they probably win.

Rossen has been out for Case the last couple of games so the D1 transfer is starting. Playing well, but then the backup has been a reserve center back. Big and tall, strong and fast, but is clearly not a goal threat. No idea what the coach is thinking- he has 2 very capable striker subs that he could be playing that are definitely goal-dangerous, but is not for some reason. His sub patterns have been strange and questionable, not sure if this is an every-year thing, but this year it's been odd."

[Hopkins92]

Not to be too obnoxious, but on paper, JCU ranks higher than Lycoming on the NPI scale.

(I have a weird and grudging respect for the Blue Darts, whatever they're called, because they've knocked Hopkins out of November madness twice in "recent" years.)

Streaks... And I won't repeat my Smurf joke.

[CalJohn]

I am no fan of JC either, which is why I am not happy their tie with us raised them almost 30 NPI ranking in one day while ours went down 10 or so. Rankings aggregator has Lycoming 142 and JC 176, so it is closer than I thought between those two than my eye test thought. I will say JC's defense, size and athleticism was no joke. That doesn't change the fact that we made them look better than they were for 3/4 of the game.

[VASoccerDad]

Well, that's unfortunate.

How long will Rossen be out?

If he is going to be out for awhile, then I hope our coach rethinks his personnel.

I wouldn't think he's out very long...I saw the injury occur, it was just a collision. He actually got up and ran off the field, had a bandage on his leg after the game. I am assuming they are keeping him out, getting him healthy for conference games coming up, but they have no real offensive threat when he's not in there since they've been playing the center back at striker instead. The D1 guy has been starting and has good size but just isn't an "in the box" scorer. He seems to play more as a winger than a true center forward.

[VASoccerDad]

Yes, the strikers, forwards and attacking midfield should finish when they have opportunites, but the problem is in the midfield not providing any opportunites any more. The first half of the Lycoming game showed that the midfield has the ability to connect passes to their teammates, possess the ball into the final third, and get shots and goals for their attackers.

John Carroll is an inferior team to Lycoming that dominated possession last night. When Case got the ball, the midfielders dribbled into pressure or passed short passes repeatedly to the wrong team. If the defense got the ball, the midfielders did not show for the defense, so the defense just long passed it to John Carroll's back line.

I am concerned that the similar pattern is happening again this year where the team tightens up due to coaching, chemistry, injuries or something unknown and then turns into a shell of the early season. I agree that the substitution patterns are strange and maybe the absense of key players that play with confidence like Rossen, apparently injured, and Trosch, who knows, cause the rest of the team to play jittery under pressure.

One last troubling thing is, like last year, last night the defense either went longball or went to the right side, where the midfield gave the ball away until the last 15 minutes. Their captain and, probably outside of Rossen, best player Cormack A. was able to connect passes and get push up the left side, but he barely touched the ball last night.

Come on Coach, this team can be special if you let it. Coaching, confidence and chemistry matter.



"TBH, Case was lucky to get a tie. Got out worked, out muscled, out hustled, everything. JCU was stronger and fought harder, just didn't have much offensively. If JCU had any sort of offensive threat, they probably win.

Rossen has been out for Case the last couple of games so the D1 transfer is starting. Playing well, but then the backup has been a reserve center back. Big and tall, strong and fast, but is clearly not a goal threat. No idea what the coach is thinking- he has 2 very capable striker subs that he could be playing that are definitely goal-dangerous, but is not for some reason. His sub patterns have been strange and questionable, not sure if this is an every-year thing, but this year it's been odd."

Good analysis! Keying in on the center forwards...they haven't been playing with what I would consider a true center forward, someone that can score in the box off crosses, run in behind, check in when necessary, etc. Rossen wanders around all over the field- he's quick and can get in behind defenders but he's not a true center forward, although he has been effective. As for the D1 guy, he positions more centrally but acts more like a winger, would rather dribble around then get to goal. I feel like they need a true center forward that can be strong and physical but still fast enough to get in behind. Strikers are aggressive and typically a bit selfish, their main job is to score. The only people with that mentality are on the bench.

IMO, this is the difference between a true center forward and someone they just stick there because there are no other options. The problem is, they do have those options- there are 2 people that have barely played that can take up that position. Maybe it's just a coach preference, I don't know, but it's frustrating knowing there are players that can play that position and score at this level that are just wasting away on the bench.

[CalJohn]

If there is anyone who can generate good shots and goals that is sitting on the bench, I don't know why you don't at least try them against John Carroll. Especially strikers. Until the end, it is not like the offense was doing anything anyway. How much worse could the offense be than then?

Yes, the strikers, forwards and attacking midfield should finish when they have opportunites, but the problem is in the midfield not providing any opportunites any more. The first half of the Lycoming game showed that the midfield has the ability to connect passes to their teammates, possess the ball into the final third, and get shots and goals for their attackers.

John Carroll is an inferior team to Lycoming that dominated possession last night. When Case got the ball, the midfielders dribbled into pressure or passed short passes repeatedly to the wrong team. If the defense got the ball, the midfielders did not show for the defense, so the defense just long passed it to John Carroll's back line.

I am concerned that the similar pattern is happening again this year where the team tightens up due to coaching, chemistry, injuries or something unknown and then turns into a shell of the early season. I agree that the substitution patterns are strange and maybe the absense of key players that play with confidence like Rossen, apparently injured, and Trosch, who knows, cause the rest of the team to play jittery under pressure.

One last troubling thing is, like last year, last night the defense either went longball or went to the right side, where the midfield gave the ball away until the last 15 minutes. Their captain and, probably outside of Rossen, best player Cormack A. was able to connect passes and get push up the left side, but he barely touched the ball last night.

Come on Coach, this team can be special if you let it. Coaching, confidence and chemistry matter.



"TBH, Case was lucky to get a tie. Got out worked, out muscled, out hustled, everything. JCU was stronger and fought harder, just didn't have much offensively. If JCU had any sort of offensive threat, they probably win.

Rossen has been out for Case the last couple of games so the D1 transfer is starting. Playing well, but then the backup has been a reserve center back. Big and tall, strong and fast, but is clearly not a goal threat. No idea what the coach is thinking- he has 2 very capable striker subs that he could be playing that are definitely goal-dangerous, but is not for some reason. His sub patterns have been strange and questionable, not sure if this is an every-year thing, but this year it's been odd."

Good analysis! Keying in on the center forwards...they haven't been playing with what I would consider a true center forward, someone that can score in the box off crosses, run in behind, check in when necessary, etc. Rossen wanders around all over the field- he's quick and can get in behind defenders but he's not a true center forward, although he has been effective. As for the D1 guy, he positions more centrally but acts more like a winger, would rather dribble around then get to goal. I feel like they need a true center forward that can be strong and physical but still fast enough to get in behind. Strikers are aggressive and typically a bit selfish, their main job is to score. The only people with that mentality are on the bench.

IMO, this is the difference between a true center forward and someone they just stick there because there are no other options. The problem is, they do have those options- there are 2 people that have barely played that can take up that position. Maybe it's just a coach preference, I don't know, but it's frustrating knowing there are players that can play that position and score at this level that are just wasting away on the bench.

[DagarmanSpartan]

All right.

Good to finish non-conf with a win over Trine.

I am glad to see this because I remember that school bouncing us from the football playoffs some years ago.

The UAA schedule is always a tough row to hoe.

Hope we do well!!!

[CalJohn]

You aren't kidding. My heart has been broken before with UAA gauntlet, but when is last time we won 8 of first 9 with a tie? Didn't see Trine game, did anyone else see what happend? 2-0 sounds comfortible. When does Rossen return?

All right.

Good to finish non-conf with a win over Trine.

I am glad to see this because I remember that school bouncing us from the football playoffs some years ago.

The UAA schedule is always a tough row to hoe.

Hope we do well!!!