Liberty League

[deutschfan]

They didn't have one last year and if Brown has a sophomore year like Campbell they very well may not have one this year.  A win or tie against Cortland is already essential to stay in Pool C running.  Amazing how the first weekend can kill Pool C hopes.  First day of play and the LL is 1-4-1 against SUNYAC and Empire 8 schools.  Not an impressive resume against East Region teams.  Props to Union for scheduling their first fixture against Oneonta.  After so many years of Union playing stiffs post-covid they have turned it around and last year's success is a testament to the notion that you only get better by playing better teams. 

[Saint of Old]

What happened to Ajax?
They used to play total football, a football that entertained and made you enjoy watching them play.

Players used to attack with the synchronization of marching army and were just as deadly on attack.

The 4-3-3 was a beautiful thing to see.
Ajax owned football and even when they were not winning Championships they were entertaining and always a tough out.

Technical ability and ball mastery were tell tale sign of an Ajax player.

Now, the team seems mediocre and the movement of the ball slow.

They still can possess, but never seem to penetrate

Wingers are not confident and daring.

The system is just not built to exite and they have more Jordan Hendersons on the team and less Cryuffs.

Maybe, I should put these thoughts on the Professional Soccerbthread, I'm not sure.

[Saint_Dad]

I don't think it was all bad.  There were definitely some positives and the result could easily have gone the other way.  Geneseo's first goal was not a goal.  Kind of a complete embarassment for the ref that it was actually called a goal.  Their second goal was unfortunately a mistake by the backup keeper.  Ryan Campbell scored a beautiful goal on a nice cross from first year Grant Gilmore which was called a goal by the ref but called off sides by the linesman (the same linesman that called the first Geneseo goal a goal).  No discussion at all from the ref with the linesman. 
Newcomers Grant Gilmore and midfielder Nicholas Petrone looked very good.  I'd like to see more from Pijpers, Mogul, and Brown.  Expectations are high for Mogul, while Pijpers and Brown are expected to do some work inside the 18.  It will be tough to bounce back against a top team like Cortland, but I expect them to raise their level. 

[stlawus]

That was the type of bad luck and mistake that we saw last season, so it's not great that it's happening the first game of the season.  Also doesn't change the fact the team's first shot on goal came with 18 minutes left in the 2nd half when it was already 2-0.

It's just one game and the players know it was not a good start, I really do think they'll bring it against Cortland even if they don't get a result.  I just wish the ball would get out of the back much, much faster and not side to side.  Durocher teams played out of the back, but the ball always immediately went forward or diagonally and got across midfield quick, not side to side and slow to get up.  Making the NCAA tournament is the minimum standard, the program has to take out of conference games seriously.  Just trying to make sure you get to the LL title game is not enough.

[stlawus]

Really nice goal from Bard against SUNY Canton scoring directly off a corner.

[Saint_Dad]

The Saints came to play.  Almost a beautiful bicycle kick by Brown in first half.  Saints outplayed Cortland so far but can't put the ball in the net!

[kevdog]

I think SLU forgot there was a 2nd half. They appear not to anticipate where the ball will go and once again seems to get out muscle by the opponents.

[Kuiper]

I think SLU forgot there was a 2nd half. They appear not to anticipate where the ball will go and once again seems to get out muscle by the opponents.

I didn't watch the game, but just looking at the box score it seems like if you only play three subs a combined total of 19 minutes in the game, it's hard for all the starters to keep up the same form and intensity throughout the second half.  Is the bench that thin?

[stlawus]

There are 2 players that normally get significant playing time that are currently injured, but otherwise they don't normally sub that much regardless. 

[Saint of Old]

Camelot was fun while it lasted.

Search for the Holy Grail begins!

[Saint_Dad]

I think SLU forgot there was a 2nd half. They appear not to anticipate where the ball will go and once again seems to get out muscle by the opponents.

I didn't watch the game, but just looking at the box score it seems like if you only play three subs a combined total of 19 minutes in the game, it's hard for all the starters to keep up the same form and intensity throughout the second half.  Is the bench that thin?

With five Non-conference games to play before the LL season starts, and an at large bid almost out of the question already, I hope the Saints use these five games to prepare by using their bench and getting to the LL season healthy.  In a league that pretty much allows unlimited substitution, if you don't use your subs, you are going to be at a huge disadvantage.  This showed up in the second half.  Cortland does have more depth, but St Lawrence is going to have to use theirs to improve the entire performance of the team.  There wasn't a premier league team that used less subbing this weekend, even with their limited substitution rules.  Next weekend they have two games in 26 hours.  Hopefully they spread the minutes around.

[stlawus]

I think SLU forgot there was a 2nd half. They appear not to anticipate where the ball will go and once again seems to get out muscle by the opponents.

I didn't watch the game, but just looking at the box score it seems like if you only play three subs a combined total of 19 minutes in the game, it's hard for all the starters to keep up the same form and intensity throughout the second half.  Is the bench that thin?

With five Non-conference games to play before the LL season starts, and an at large bid almost out of the question already, I hope the Saints use these five games to prepare by using their bench and getting to the LL season healthy.  In a league that pretty much allows unlimited substitution, if you don't use your subs, you are going to be at a huge disadvantage.  This showed up in the second half.  Cortland does have more depth, but St Lawrence is going to have to use theirs to improve the entire performance of the team.  There wasn't a premier league team that used less subbing this weekend, even with their limited substitution rules.  Next weekend they have two games in 26 hours.  Hopefully they spread the minutes around.

It's one thing if it was a lack of talent, but that is not the case. That's what makes it frustrating, I did not see a team today that was less talented, in fact I'd say half/majority of the positions talent wise SLU had an advantage. The limited subs that came in did not look overwhelmed, and there is plenty of talent on the bench yet. I don't pretend to be an expert but with injuries always playing a role in the Oneonta weekend there's gotta be more minutes on the bench.

[stlawus]

Right now Vassar looks to be the best in the league so far.  We've seen the past few years some wild variability in terms of teams starting hot and then faltering down the stretch, but as it stands that's the best team through the first weekend. 

Bard started hot last year and are 2-0 again. Ithaca looked really bad in their first game but righted things a bit with a 5-0 win today, albeit against a weak team.  Hobart-SJF was an extremely boring 0-0 affair, and now Hobart has the target on their backs for this season so they're going to get everyone's best game.

I would like to see Clarkson put together a nice season, but we've seen the past several seasons them starting really hot only to miss out on the league playoffs altogether.  Could this be the year?  They are well coached, good tactics, don't make a ton of mistakes and play with an identity.

Union has another tough test this week with New Paltz, but like others have said it's good to see them crafting a hard schedule even if they don't get results.

Us SLU fans have expressed disappointment with the start, but as I said in my previous post I would be much more concerned if it was a talent issue.  There is talent, so am I being delusional chalking this up to extreme bad luck?  Maybe so, but the team is going to get my benefit of the doubt at this point.  Games are not 80 minutes, but they really did bring it against Cortland for most of that game so they have the ability to put things together.  Has to start on Saturday though.  Here we go Saints!

[kevdog]

Right now Vassar looks to be the best in the league so far.  We've seen the past few years some wild variability in terms of teams starting hot and then faltering down the stretch, but as it stands that's the best team through the first weekend. 

Bard started hot last year and are 2-0 again. Ithaca looked really bad in their first game but righted things a bit with a 5-0 win today, albeit against a weak team.  Hobart-SJF was an extremely boring 0-0 affair, and now Hobart has the target on their backs for this season so they're going to get everyone's best game.

I would like to see Clarkson put together a nice season, but we've seen the past several seasons them starting really hot only to miss out on the league playoffs altogether.  Could this be the year?  They are well coached, good tactics, don't make a ton of mistakes and play with an identity.

Union has another tough test this week with New Paltz, but like others have said it's good to see them crafting a hard schedule even if they don't get results.

Us SLU fans have expressed disappointment with the start, but as I said in my previous post I would be much more concerned if it was a talent issue.  There is talent, so am I being delusional chalking this up to extreme bad luck?  Maybe so, but the team is going to get my benefit of the doubt at this point.  Games are not 80 minutes, but they really did bring it against Cortland for most of that game so they have the ability to put things together.  Has to start on Saturday though.  Here we go Saints!

I hear you. We SLU fans are use to winning and I can understand everyone's frustrations. Durocher built a good, winning program but it took some years before things turned around. His first 3 years he had losing seasons. His 2nd year he only won 4 games after starting the season 3-1. I know Tosh is in his 10th year and the talent seems to be there as Stlawus has said. Brown has grown on me. It's difficult to see on video some of the things that one can see in person but he seems to be in the right spot to attempt to score and throws body around to score. Gilmer has some really nice crosses although you can tell he is freshman as every time he gets knocked down he expects a call. I see lots of freshmen do that though. Hopefully things can turn around.

[Saint of Old]

People like to complicate football, but it is a simple game.
A team is going to play tye way the Coach wants to play.
Coach in 90s and 00s played a football that was a certain style now the football played is of a different style.
Whether you like one or the other is a matter of opinion.

The former worked with a pretty good Maestro in the middle and fast guys on the wing and normally a dominating center back. Those ingredients can be replicated(with god recruiting)and was successful for over 2 decades...

The latter can also be successful and in a more calm build up/requiring less pacy wingers or a dominant Sweeper
This system was successful for 8 years, but it requires a GOAT type center mid (General) to work.
Dede and then Sibanda played this role their entire careers back to back. It is very difficult to get players like those... The past 2 seasons SLU has not had a GoatStatus midfielder.

This is why people see that not many kids play... because you don't need to play alot of players in the current system. Guys are not required to run as much down the wi g and can conserve energy.

Players like Ballantyne/White/Bong could only last 60-65 mins per game because they were running like madden the entire time on the field.

Again not saying which style/system is better, just pointing out differences.