Tag: fiction

Just what we needed!

I am happy with the win and the boys worked hard in the sun for it! 6-1 is a very nice reversal from 1-2 last year and the quality of play was higher. We did much of what we have been practicing and when we didn’t, we paid the price. I am not shooting off the fireworks here because the season is long and I want the boys to focus on the next opponent and how to get better. They are always allowed to enjoy a win though and I hope they are relaxing in a hot tub somewhere!

What I loved:

Some nice movement and possession at times as exemplified in the Hetrick goal. Good soccer requires all of the instruments playing their different lines and at times today we were all in time. When we weren’t there was the hustle and toughness we demand to outwork our mistakes. They did that.

We lost Andrew today to an injury which I hope is not severe. He was working hard and creating chances so that broke my heart. Yahriel was great along with Ben and Tyam in providing relief for us there. In fact for his rising to the challenge, Yahriel is our man of the match.

I saw some unselfish play today which I love and I also saw improvement on some other things that stay in house. Great save from Logan on the PK and altogether a very nice start.

I saw some great play from Rollin’ Nolan and Connor and Kaarsen and Keerat got it done.

The “J’s” got a win as well which is always exciting too. Owen Smith and Yasser tallied.

What needs to improve:

There are positional things to work on, as are some decision making, and general speed of movement but those are for Monday – Enjoy your weekend boys. This WAS JUST WHAT WE NEEDED!

BOYS – Check those emails.

Training Day 4 Recap

The Good:

1. Blue (our less experienced or newer players) often start slow but they are improving each day. Integration into drills is possible when the base skills reach a critical level. They were undermanned in our scrimmaging today at times but still manage to cause some trouble for our golds – Kareem comes to mind with some nice possession. Great job Kareem.

2. The transitioning was better today as was the ball control. Some of the quick transitions to Dillard from our midfield were fantastic. They will not all work but they will create trouble. Braden, Steven, Harnit, etc you guys were feeding the beast really well today

3. We took better care of the ball at times today as well. Off the ball movement, receiving ready and having had a look around, one touch all help with this. Ben Taube and Kaarsen had a really nice 1/2 combo from hold up play which I really liked.

The needs improvement:

1. The first touch – it still lets some guys down

2. Relationship building – between all of us. This is something that is a life skill!

3. Communication – it is present but more more more.

There is always more good than I have time for and more to work on than I have time to say.

Looking Ahead:

Our first scrimmage is Saturday @Pocono Mountain East High School. The bus leaves from the high school at 12:30 PM sharp. Be there 10 minutes early. We will carry 36 players for the trip. They plan to run three “halves” with one for the JV to give them a run. Work hard JV to be included on that bus for this game. The varsity line-up (starting and call-ups) will be posted tomorrow night.

Good luck on SAT’s saturday. You are student athletes and I care about your future. Best of wishes on it!

We had a lot of guys who have been present and accounted for all 4 days- here they are and make it a perfect 5 tomorrow

Brycen, Jaydem, Yahriel, Braden, Dillard, Justin, Owen, Declan, Logan, Alex, Aidan Flood, Rogan, Carpenter, Browne, Caswell, Cromwell, Gaudet, Nolan, Kaarsen, Connor, Jose, Harnit, Keerat, Ben Taube, and Big Luke (25 guys)

Thank you! Don’t worry, I know some of the misses are for golf or sickness – all good on those:).

And here are all those awesome guys – and some other awesome ones too!

Player Rating USMNT vs Belgium

Having read some of the other websites player ratings – I am wondering if they watched the same game. Here are my thoughts:

I will start with the good grades:

Tillman – A – This is not because of the goal. He was tireless and active and of our players seemed truly in the fight.

Balogun – B – He made runs, was active, and had a dangerous chance. Strikers can’t and don’t score every game. He was active.

Robinson – B- – You knew he was on the field unlike some of our other players. Up and down and having to cover the whole left side really. Some culpability in the 1st goal but he was fine tonight.

Freeman – C – There was trouble down the right all night. Some successful challenges. Some poor positioning. Some good some bad.

Adams – C- – Outmanned in the midfield and not on his best night but was saddled with low ebb all around him but he didn’t dispel the gloom and became lost in it.

Berhalter – C- The super sub brought some fire and that shot was whisker close ….. to hitting the post! A full foot from punching it in. Good hit but those are not enough for a grade above a C. Not much else that was game changing from the son of our former coach.

Dest – C- Not as aggressive as I wanted him to be. Some sites have him ranked as a 2/10. C’mon man!

Richards – C- Had some clumsy moments. Seemed to care the most at the end – nothing objective to support that. He’s a good center back – it just all crumbled around him.

Ream – D+ – Did have some successful challenges. No one can be a hero all the time and he was ordinary tonight. Beaten on header. Clumsy on the 3rd goal when we needed a hero. The grade seems harsh based on his age but no favors for the old. I think we need another center back or two.

Reyna – D Not much to speak of and he played TOO LONG for that to be the narrative. Did he help with momemtum at beginning of second half – yes. Did he change the game? No.

McKennie – D- Forgot he was playing. I even looked for him at times to locate him. Disappearing act par excellence.

Pulisic – F – Led the team in turnovers despite exiting. Maybe he was playing hurt all along. I hate the whining for fouls which makes him hard for me to grade always but today he did not pass the test.

Coach Pochettino – As a coach my heart goes out to him. Did he pick our best 11? Probably. Do we have some talent holes and gaps? Yes. He tried his best to hide our weaknesses and for that I rate him well. BUT – we came out with less intensity than we should have and that is on him and despite kicking bottles was not able to change the game enough with subs – partly due to the roster. Was he expecting Belgium to pack it in like our other opponents (except Turkey and we lost to them). Distractions, energy, and lack of aggressiveness are his responsibilities and he must go down with the ship – D.