2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[lastguyoffthebench]

I was referring to 2013...  wood up top with Payne in the hole.  Jt and Kovach high and wide with myers and ramirez holding...   

You can debate it any way really...

[D3soccerwatcher]

Messiah has played a 4-3-3 since the Brandt days...and they still do.

[Mr.Right]

Yes. Thy have been in a strict 4-3-3 ever since I have been watching

[Flying Weasel]

Any formation is fluid and any numbered representation can only tell you so much.  By itself, the 4-3-3 designation can't tell you how those three midfielders line-up and position themselves.  I don't find the 4-2-3-1 to be inaccurate.

The bottom line is that they play with four across the back (expecting the outside backs to push forward a lot), a target forward and two wingers, and have alternated over the years between a triangle and inverted triangle of central midfielders (which is very fluid within games, of course, and more fluid in some years than others). 

When they play with the midfield triangle that has two more deep lying or "holding" CM's and a single AM in the hole behind the target, I find the 4-2-3-1 to be fairly accurate description.  In 2013 with Payne in the midfield but usually more advanced than Ramirez and Sheldon Meyer, the 4-2-3-1 description seems fairly refelctive of the positioning.  This year with Payne at target, Danny Brandt took on the advanced midfield role with Ramirez and Benji Kennel in support, though too advanced and attack-minded to want to call them deep-lying.  It's been a little while since there's been a clear "defensive" midfielder at the base of an inverted triangle like when (I hope old age isn't make me confuse names) Renko and Visser and others filled that role.  These past few years have seen the midfield trio play as advanced as ever without a designated D-mid, but with Carter Robbins often pushing up from centerback becoming essentially another midfielder at times.  And I think that's where the suggestion of a 3-4-3 comes from.

[PaulNewman]

RH, great job with the Byrne interview.  Impressive.  Looking forward to the others.

[Ryan Harmanis]

Thanks.  All four coaches gave really good interviews, and talking with them it's easy to see how the programs have been this successful. 

Weather permitting (100% chance of rain for the semis), it should be a good weekend.

[Nutmeg]

Thanks.  All four coaches gave really good interviews, and talking with them it's easy to see how the programs have been this successful. 

Weather permitting (100% chance of rain for the semis), it should be a good weekend.

100 percent? dang......

[PaulNewman]

Wow.  Again, I have to say the coach interviews are superb.  I hope folks realize how much time and effort it takes to put those together.  The interviews certainly reveal the level of knowledge and nuance that these coaches possess, and one definitely gets the feeling that they care about their players.

I find Guiliano to be particularly impressive, and it's hard not to be rooting for him and his team (although I love Byrne too).  Guiliano seems to be truly devoted to his players and one can easily imagine any of them giving him a call in a time of need 15 years from now.  Wheaton is losing a good man.

[PaulNewman]

Tufts looks good but I have never seen OWU look this bad.  Almost looks like they are throwing the game.  First touch after first too strong and right to a Tufts player.  Virtually no possession.  A horrid performance so far.  WIll be interesting to see what Martin can figure out at the half.

[KnightFalcon]

Give credit to Tufts for that - they are giving OWU no space

[Saint of Old]

THE two best tams will be playing for the title tomorrow imo.

These boyz deserve the crown whoever wins.

Great Tournament.

[GarbageGoals33]

I haven't seen a team this over matched in a Final 4 game in quite some time.  OWU backs lack the ability to distribute.  Tufts vs. Wheaton should be a great game, both teams work hard and play some good ball. 

[KnightFalcon]

I haven't seen a team this over matched in a Final 4 game in quite some time.  OWU backs lack the ability to distribute.  Tufts vs. Wheaton should be a great game, both teams work hard and play some good ball.

I'll give you two others: Messiah 4-0 over Williams last year and 5-1 over Ohio Northern the year before that

[PaulNewman]

As a Kenyon fan, and not even wanting OWU to win, I'm sick to my stomach.  That was a complete embarrassment.

Congrats to Tufts.  They played well but didn't really have to do anything spectacular, and Mr.Right is correct, they played kids who probably haven't played a minute in 15+ games.  I have never seen anyone make OWU look that bad.  Some of it had to be the Tufts pressure and greater athleticism across the board, but still, OWU's first touches even when they had space were bouncing 4-5 yards away from them.

I expect tomorrow to be a great game.  Both teams are on a roll, and both teams at this point must believe it is meant to be. 

[KnightFalcon]

But if we look honestly at the OWU run we could see this coming. They won 2 games on PKs and a third in OT on a fortunate shot from 30 yards out. Not a convincing stretch of 4 games leading up to this. Tufts is playing with as much confidence as any team I've seen in the last several years.

I hope the field holds up so it isn't an issue tomorrow