NESCAC

[blooter442]

I am a little miffed about your defensive view on the Tufts middies. They swarm and have many many steals. I've never seen other midfielders slide tackle as much, especially Kayne. Do you mean physical size?

I disagree.

Has nothing to do with their physical size. Rather, they have a tendency to get overrun at times. I've watched them several times in person, and I can count several times from Saturday where Conn took the ball and went back to front - through the middle of the park - virtually unchallenged. To borrow an analogy from the early days of the PL, they have a few guys like Paul Scholes, but lack a Roy Keane to break up play in midfield.

[Nutmeg]

I am a little miffed about your defensive view on the Tufts middies. They swarm and have many many steals. I've never seen other midfielders slide tackle as much, especially Kayne. Do you mean physical size?

I disagree.

Has nothing to do with their physical size. Rather, they have a tendency to get overrun at times. I've watched them several times in person, and I can count several times from Saturday where Conn took the ball and went back to front - through the middle of the park - virtually unchallenged. To borrow an analogy from the early days of the PL, they have a few guys like Paul Scholes, but lack a Roy Keane to break up play in midfield.

Most of what you are referring to happened when there were some non-starters in.....

[blooter442]

Most of what you are referring to happened when there were some non-starters in.....

Well, in my observation, it often happened when the three starters - Kayne, Pinheiro, and Halliday - were in. I know who the starters are. I even praised their attacking acumen. I'll agree to disagree, but I don't think you should take offense over someone else's differing opinion.

[Nutmeg]

Most of what you are referring to happened when there were some non-starters in.....

Well, in my observation, it often happened when the three starters - Kayne, Pinheiro, and Halliday - were in. I know who the starters are. I even praised their attacking acumen. I'll agree to disagree, but I don't think you should take offense over someone else's differing opinion.

No offense is taken. And I agree with a lot of your analysis. And I think Conn College is better than given credit for on this board. They have a strong midfield....I think at this stage in the season they have the two best midfields in the NESCAC and maybe the country. And I mostly agree that Kayne could be a candidate for player of the year, as u stated above, given his field general status, though if majumber keeps his pace up, it could be a different story.

[All NESCAC]

Most of what you are referring to happened when there were some non-starters in.....

Well, in my observation, it often happened when the three starters - Kayne, Pinheiro, and Halliday - were in. I know who the starters are. I even praised their attacking acumen. I'll agree to disagree, but I don't think you should take offense over someone else's differing opinion.

No offense is taken. And I agree with a lot of your analysis. And I think Conn College is better than given credit for on this board. They have a strong midfield....I think at this stage in the season they have the two best midfields in the NESCAC and maybe the country. And I mostly agree that Kayne could be a candidate for player of the year, as u stated above, given his field general status, though if majumber keeps his pace up, it could be a different story.

Attended the Tufts vs Conn game in wonderful sunny Medford, MA and watched the Conn Vs Colby game live stream.  Tufts vs Conn was a physical battle with some bad blood left over from last years NESCAC playoff win by Conn over Tufts before Tufts went on to its magical mystery tour run to the National Championship.  It was a great soccer game and won by the better team--Tufts.  However, Conn gave Tufts all it could handle and Conn's two goals were great goals by two of their outstanding freshman forwards #11 Leon and #14 Lockwood.  These two Conn freshman are legitimate scoring threats....Murphy went out and recruited some goal scorers and they are both tough players.  Conn played well until the last 20 minutes when fatigue set in and Conn's back line was visibly exhausted leading to a great game winning goal by #24 of Tufts (he's a tremendous center forward...great with the ball at his feet and a quick trigger).  Conn's back line is shaky, but their goalie DeCuhna played tremendous making 5 huge saves or it could have been Tufts 4 or 5.  Tufts dominated the middle....the jumbos midfield and forwards are extremely skilled and fast and they swarmed Devlin every time he touched the ball.  Tufts was fun to watch, but their Center backs are shaky...overall they are a very very good team and play a fun style of soccer.
Sunday's Colby vs Conn game saw two pretty tired teams, but Conn dominated Colby and were again led in scoring by the freshman Leon and Lockwood.  I really like Leon....he's a very good player with sneaky speed and tough.  Colby looked like they didn't have any legs left after upsetting Williams the day before.  Conn got some good play from another freshman #12 Manogian at center mid who played most of the game.  Looks like Conn is strong in the middle and up top, but back line is very shaky, but to be expected after losing 3 long time starters to graduation.  Murphy looks like he has reloaded with a pretty good freshman class and while this year they will be a tougher game then I had originally thought (didn't know the frosh would score the way they have) this year, but next year they will be pushing for a very good year.

[blooter442]

And I mostly agree that Kayne could be a candidate for player of the year, as u stated above, given his field general status, though if majumber keeps his pace up, it could be a different story.

Good point. Majumder has five goals - and it's not even October - from 15 shots. That's an incredibly impressive shot percentage no matter how you spin it.

[All NESCAC]

And I mostly agree that Kayne could be a candidate for player of the year, as u stated above, given his field general status, though if majumber keeps his pace up, it could be a different story.

Good point. Majumder has five goals - and it's not even October - from 15 shots. That's an incredibly impressive shot percentage no matter how you spin it.

#24 Majumder is a handful....he is extremely dangerous in the final third, has another gear than most NESCAC players and also a quicker first step to gain leverage and he has a quick accurate trigger.  Both his goals against Conn were great goals (some very bad defending by Conn's young inexperienced backs, but great offense by Majumder).  He is the real deal and while Kayne is very good, Majumder is on fire right now.

[Mr.Right]

I believe Majumder is a definite upgrade over Hoppenot as he has improved greatly. he is looking like a striker all Nescac teams would want. A pure finisher. Majumder wanted Harvard bad but Harvard was not interested. He is from Williamstown and Russo wanted him bad also but he wanted out of town and chose Tufts. Another example of Tufts stealing a kid away from top level schools

[Mr.Right]

The two frosh for Conn are excellent players. The one from Avon is a surprise to me as he was not on many radars. Conn is scoring goals at a frenetic pace unseen before in the Murphy era. They are also letting in an amazing amount of goals unseen in the Murphy era. I love how these things work out

[Mr.Right]

After watching Colby v Williams on Saturday I will say NCAC is right Colby hung around and hung around and scored and WIDE open header off a corner. I mean Stanton was WIDE open. Colby has a long throwing frosh Cam Clougher but I was unimpressed for the most part on what I saw from them throughout the day. They were organized and they played very conservatively and took advantage of what they could but to me instead of bringing in 19 frosh who are very similar in many ways why not TRY to get 2 or 3 studs and fill in the rest. Easier said than done especially at Colby but they need like most teams a legit striker.

I thought Bowdoin v Williams was an interesting game. Rashid was unheard from basically the whole game except for his set piece. Sullivan benched De-Stefano and Moutenot for some height with the 2 Dory brothers starting, one up top and one in midfield. They give the team more height not sure about toughness but anyway I expect to see them in the line-up against Amherst. I think Williams two CB's are starting to take charge and become 2 of the best in the conference with Danilack and Tobias as they are extremely fast and tough.

As for Bowdoin they looked more tired than Williams did which is an indication that they might not be as fit. Diaz-Costa was unheard from all game and went out with an apparent injury. The frosh CJ Masterson might have been the most dangerous player on the field as he is lighting fast and got in a couple times but could not finish. This is basically the same lineup as last year for Bowdoin and still feel their wingbacks are question marks. Downing is fast and gets forward but is not very physical and Solarte is a step slow for my taste and Moutenot burned him a time or 2 on the flank.

[Brother Flounder]

Most of what you are referring to happened when there were some non-starters in.....

Well, in my observation, it often happened when the three starters - Kayne, Pinheiro, and Halliday - were in. I know who the starters are. I even praised their attacking acumen. I'll agree to disagree, but I don't think you should take offense over someone else's differing opinion.

No offense is taken. And I agree with a lot of your analysis. And I think Conn College is better than given credit for on this board. They have a strong midfield....I think at this stage in the season they have the two best midfields in the NESCAC and maybe the country. And I mostly agree that Kayne could be a candidate for player of the year, as u stated above, given his field general status, though if majumber keeps his pace up, it could be a different story.

Attended the Tufts vs Conn game in wonderful sunny Medford, MA and watched the Conn Vs Colby game live stream.  Tufts vs Conn was a physical battle with some bad blood left over from last years NESCAC playoff win by Conn over Tufts before Tufts went on to its magical mystery tour run to the National Championship.  It was a great soccer game and won by the better team--Tufts.  However, Conn gave Tufts all it could handle and Conn's two goals were great goals by two of their outstanding freshman forwards #11 Leon and #14 Lockwood.  These two Conn freshman are legitimate scoring threats....Murphy went out and recruited some goal scorers and they are both tough players.  Conn played well until the last 20 minutes when fatigue set in and Conn's back line was visibly exhausted leading to a great game winning goal by #24 of Tufts (he's a tremendous center forward...great with the ball at his feet and a quick trigger).  Conn's back line is shaky, but their goalie DeCuhna played tremendous making 5 huge saves or it could have been Tufts 4 or 5.  Tufts dominated the middle....the jumbos midfield and forwards are extremely skilled and fast and they swarmed Devlin every time he touched the ball.  Tufts was fun to watch, but their Center backs are shaky...overall they are a very very good team and play a fun style of soccer.
Sunday's Colby vs Conn game saw two pretty tired teams, but Conn dominated Colby and were again led in scoring by the freshman Leon and Lockwood.  I really like Leon....he's a very good player with sneaky speed and tough.  Colby looked like they didn't have any legs left after upsetting Williams the day before.  Conn got some good play from another freshman #12 Manogian at center mid who played most of the game.  Looks like Conn is strong in the middle and up top, but back line is very shaky, but to be expected after losing 3 long time starters to graduation.  Murphy looks like he has reloaded with a pretty good freshman class and while this year they will be a tougher game then I had originally thought (didn't know the frosh would score the way they have) this year, but next year they will be pushing for a very good year.

I also watched the Tufts Conn game on video and I tend to agree with All Nescac and Nutmeg's interpretation of the Midfield play. They "swarmed" Devlin who eventually got frustrated and obtained a Yellow card.  They are excellent both offensively and defensively.  That said, I feel Conn College will be a team to watch.
 

[Mr.Right]

One thing I forgot to mention in watching Tufts yesterday: Greenwood is a fantastic shot stopper, but he did not look confident on set pieces. He punched away two deliveries (actually, "slapped" would probably be a better verb) when he had time and space to catch them. I heard a few Tufts supporters audibly wondering "why didn't he catch it?" The best thing Brandeis can do is flood the box with high balls and hope he misplays one.

I agree with this as Greenwood is a superb shot stopper but does at times look unsure of whether to come or not to come on crosses and set pieces. Last year he did not have to worry about it as Kramer and Williams for the most part cleared everything out. This year is a bit different. You do notice a stutter step with him when he deciding to come or not. His shot stopping qualities and toughness far outweigh this picky critical point

[All NESCAC]

One thing I forgot to mention in watching Tufts yesterday: Greenwood is a fantastic shot stopper, but he did not look confident on set pieces. He punched away two deliveries (actually, "slapped" would probably be a better verb) when he had time and space to catch them. I heard a few Tufts supporters audibly wondering "why didn't he catch it?" The best thing Brandeis can do is flood the box with high balls and hope he misplays one.

Good point as both of Conn's goals were on Direct Kicks--first one the Tufts Center Back misjudged in the air and let the  long ball go over the top of him, and the 2nd was another free kick where Tufts back line tried to pull Conn offside and another Tufts defender lost his man on Lockwood's pretty 2nd goal.

I agree with this as Greenwood is a superb shot stopper but does at times look unsure of whether to come or not to come on crosses and set pieces. Last year he did not have to worry about it as Kramer and Williams for the most part cleared everything out. This year is a bit different. You do notice a stutter step with him when he deciding to come or not. His shot stopping qualities and toughness far outweigh this picky critical point

[12SNoon]

Had the chance to make it up to the Midd <> Amherst game over the weekend.

*Fantastic game to watch! Good scoring chances from both sides and the talent level was high.
*Chris Martin scored a superb header in the first 30 seconds. He's on a TEAR right now with these goals.
*Thomas Bull made a ridiculous point-blank save that I'm still scratching my head how it didn't go in -- I believe Glaser was the one who nearly scored it.
*Midd outside backs looked overwhelmed at times with speed of Amherst players. I think they are very good players without high pressure though.
*Glaser and Conrad were dangerous as per usual for the Panthers, especially on set pieces.
*Midd GK Sydor is a very good player. He'll keep Midd in a lot of games this year.
*Midd tried to use #18's long throw every single chance they could in the second half. It's a dangerous play but if I'm being honest it's pretty ugly on the eyes.
*My biggest takeaway: Amherst freshman #4 Luke Nguyen is the real deal. Would not be surprised at all if he winds up Freshman of the Year.

[Mr.Right]

Excellent recap of the game. Thank you for that however one bone to pick is that in 2012 you had 2 LONG THROWERS LERNER AND FIKKE which was even uglier on the eyes coming from all directions all game