SimpleCoach D3 Soccer YouTube Channel

[SimpleCoach]

Lots of Hopkins and F&M love on here @EasyGoer. Get used to it. Dips have three ties including 0-1-2 Lynchburg. Granted they may be here by the end of the year, not now. Hopkins 2-2 gets handled by Rowan, who lost to Salisbury, but still at 11? Centennial looks like it's gonna be a great race again this year. Swat and Dickinson off to great starts and Wash will figure things out. But we're commenting about it, right? So great discussion starter. Go Mules!

Hopkins lose to Kenyon with 8 seconds left.  Rowan, yes, bad result.  But still a pretty good start.  But as I have said, Rowan is a team to watch.

F&M has ties against Lynchburg, Rowan and Kenyon.  That isn't too shabby against some great teams. That said, they need to win.  I mean, even when they made the finals, think the highest I ever had Williams was 11th... I think.

Swarthmore looks like they are having a decent start.  But lets see where they are at the beginning of October if they are serious.

Dickinson hasn't really played anyone of note... Messiah on Wednesday.  Just because a team wins 4 games, doesn't get them in my rank.  If that is the case, should WPI US Coast Guard, Hamline (6-0), Wabash, St. Mary's, Bard, and Thiel be added to the Top 25?

And maybe there is a lovefest on the boards, but not for me.  Been critical of Hopkins lack of final third discipline and how it gets them in trouble... like against Rowan.  That said, when they are tuned in, they are very good.  And ... I said F&M played Neanderthal Ball for the longest of time.

SC.

When you buy the ink, I guess you can rank however you want. Wins and losses are discreet data points, regardless of how founded your opinions claim to be. 2 losses in 4 games will rank no one in the top 15 of any serious polling......

Right.  They are discreet data points.  Which is why I look at how they play, who they play, their style of play, and so especially early on I tend to be more forgiving about things like losing with 8 seconds on the clock, or tying what I consider to be a Top 5 team. 

Feel free to share your top 25.  Happily give you a page on the website to promote it.  It's my ink after all, right?

Looking forward to your list.

SC.

[EasyGoer]

of course.  my apologies.  Great list, great post.  So many factors to consider.  As a follow up, how does getting scored on in the last 8 seconds differ from the first 8, or the 47:08 mark in a game? does it not count as it is so close to not being scored on? Lapse is a lapse, and I might argue that the last 8 seconds is far worse than the first 8....poor conditioning? Lack of focus? gave up too early??

I will simply say - by putting a list out there - you are open to comments - and readily dismissing fair questions based on clear win loss record doesn't seem far fetched  - nor should it require someone to post their own to be credible.

Also, pre season losses seems very explainable and forgivable. However, a loss (or run of wins) in a single elimination tournament at the end of the season not only directs the next seasons formal polling, but clearly your preseason polling - while I am sure that there is good reason and explanation - we need to be mindful of the optics.

[SKUD]

Not so Easygoer It's a forum and an opinion. Get on the show with SC and debate I'm sure he would enjoy that. But have fun and don't take yourself so seriously

[EasyGoer]

Fair enough....at the core of it all  - a frantic and exciting start....I think a fun season ahead.....

[SimpleCoach]

@EasyGoer.  No offense so no need to apologize.  I have my warped way of seeing things that don't necessarily jive with others.  I get it.  But I do love the banter.

SC.

[EasyGoer]

Thank you....and I love folks having takes, and yes - the banter to follow.  Onward....

[PaulNewman]

of course.  my apologies.  Great list, great post.  So many factors to consider.  As a follow up, how does getting scored on in the last 8 seconds differ from the first 8, or the 47:08 mark in a game? does it not count as it is so close to not being scored on? Lapse is a lapse, and I might argue that the last 8 seconds is far worse than the first 8....poor conditioning? Lack of focus? gave up too early??

I will simply say - by putting a list out there - you are open to comments - and readily dismissing fair questions based on clear win loss record doesn't seem far fetched  - nor should it require someone to post their own to be credible.

Also, pre season losses seems very explainable and forgivable. However, a loss (or run of wins) in a single elimination tournament at the end of the season not only directs the next seasons formal polling, but clearly your preseason polling - while I am sure that there is good reason and explanation - we need to be mindful of the optics.

Mindful of the optics?  What are the optics?

You may well turn out to be the most insightful poster in the storied history of D3 soccer.  While we await that possibility, I must say it is amusing to see another eager newcomer advising and lecturing the person who has devoted more time, posts/articles, game breakdowns, videos, and coach interviews on the topic of D3 soccer than literally any human organism who has ever existed.  Free speech and welcoming newcomers (because we're mostly decent people and support increased participation)...I get it.  At any rate, no worries, my posts will be few and far between.  Gotta admit this was something I'm simply not evolved enough to resist.  And gotta say if you're gonna critique, especially with that level of force and presumption, then the suggestion to provide an alternative, competing view with some actual content and analysis seems like an exceedingly fair response.

[EasyGoer]

of course.  my apologies.  Great list, great post.  So many factors to consider.  As a follow up, how does getting scored on in the last 8 seconds differ from the first 8, or the 47:08 mark in a game? does it not count as it is so close to not being scored on? Lapse is a lapse, and I might argue that the last 8 seconds is far worse than the first 8....poor conditioning? Lack of focus? gave up too early??

I will simply say - by putting a list out there - you are open to comments - and readily dismissing fair questions based on clear win loss record doesn't seem far fetched  - nor should it require someone to post their own to be credible.

Also, pre season losses seems very explainable and forgivable. However, a loss (or run of wins) in a single elimination tournament at the end of the season not only directs the next seasons formal polling, but clearly your preseason polling - while I am sure that there is good reason and explanation - we need to be mindful of the optics.

Mindful of the optics?  What are the optics?

You may well turn out to be the most insightful poster in the storied history of D3 soccer.  While we await that possibility, I must say it is amusing to see another eager newcomer advising and lecturing the person who has devoted more time, posts/articles, game breakdowns, videos, and coach interviews on the topic of D3 soccer than literally any human organism who has ever existed.  Free speech and welcoming newcomers (because we're mostly decent people and support increased participation)...I get it.  At any rate, no worries, my posts will be few and far between.  Gotta admit this was something I'm simply not evolved enough to resist.  And gotta say if you're gonna critique, especially with that level of force and presumption, then the suggestion to provide an alternative, competing view with some actual content and analysis seems like an exceedingly fair response.

Seems like another man that's threatened by a female that talks sports.  Regardless I appreciate your response!  Great minds and leaders are marked by humility... and would have comfort in their takes even in the face of us newcomers....do we simply want ring kissing or discussion?  If that was the case - we should subscribe to simple coaches podcast and just listen and smile!   Paul Newman thanks for granting me a smile and the encouragement to keep sharing takes!

[PaulNewman]

And the optics, Easygoer?  What is the exact concern there?

Yes, I am very threatened by women...and all sorts of things.  I'm even more threatened learning now that you are a woman (or so you say).

[EasyGoer]

And the optics, Easygoer?  What is the exact concern there?

Yes, I am very threatened by women...and all sorts of things.  I'm even more threatened learning now that you are a woman (or so you say).

The optics are unbalanced and inequitable weighting of outcomes.

[Rcjh2245]

of course.  my apologies.  Great list, great post.  So many factors to consider.  As a follow up, how does getting scored on in the last 8 seconds differ from the first 8, or the 47:08 mark in a game? does it not count as it is so close to not being scored on? Lapse is a lapse, and I might argue that the last 8 seconds is far worse than the first 8....poor conditioning? Lack of focus? gave up too early??

I will simply say - by putting a list out there - you are open to comments - and readily dismissing fair questions based on clear win loss record doesn't seem far fetched  - nor should it require someone to post their own to be credible.

Also, pre season losses seems very explainable and forgivable. However, a loss (or run of wins) in a single elimination tournament at the end of the season not only directs the next seasons formal polling, but clearly your preseason polling - while I am sure that there is good reason and explanation - we need to be mindful of the optics.

Mindful of the optics?  What are the optics?

You may well turn out to be the most insightful poster in the storied history of D3 soccer.  While we await that possibility, I must say it is amusing to see another eager newcomer advising and lecturing the person who has devoted more time, posts/articles, game breakdowns, videos, and coach interviews on the topic of D3 soccer than literally any human organism who has ever existed.  Free speech and welcoming newcomers (because we're mostly decent people and support increased participation)...I get it.  At any rate, no worries, my posts will be few and far between.  Gotta admit this was something I'm simply not evolved enough to resist.  And gotta say if you're gonna critique, especially with that level of force and presumption, then the suggestion to provide an alternative, competing view with some actual content and analysis seems like an exceedingly fair response.

Seems like another man that's threatened by a female that talks sports.  Regardless I appreciate your response!  Great minds and leaders are marked by humility... and would have comfort in their takes even in the face of us newcomers....do we simply want ring kissing or discussion?  If that was the case - we should subscribe to simple coaches podcast and just listen and smile!  Paul Newman thanks for granting me a smile and the encouragement to keep sharing takes!

I must have missed the part during registration where we designated M or F. Until now y'all were just a bunch of letters and numbers strewn together.

[Kuiper]

And the optics, Easygoer?  What is the exact concern there?

Yes, I am very threatened by women...and all sorts of things.  I'm even more threatened learning now that you are a woman (or so you say).

The optics are unbalanced and inequitable weighting of outcomes.

I think it's fair to say that Simple Coach has his own "unique" system of ranking.  He's pretty transparent about it, though, noting upfront that he has to have seen a team play to rank them and it's partly based on whether he likes how they play. That's going to make it fairly idiosyncratic by definition. Call it a Simple Coach ranking of teams he likes.

If you're looking for more conventional rankings you could look at the USC (United Soccer Coaches) rankings thread I just posted, which are far less likely to be based on whether the coaches have seen the teams play and far more on wins and some general sense of who they were against. 

If you instead prefer a completely algorithmic ranking that isn't infected by human bias, you can instead take a look at the Massey thread I updated today, which is influenced at this point in the season far more on the strength of the team the past few years and who they played.  It's not infallible, though, as evidenced by the ranking of Birmingham Southern, a school that closed over the summer.

And, of course, none of these rankings matter at all in the end-of-season NCAA tournament selections.  The new NPI ranking is the only thing that matters and that isn't out yet, although at some point the NCAA will post it weekly.  With the ability to drop a "bad" win against a weak opponent as long as you have ten wins that count and the fact that what is a "bad" win will change weekly based on how your opponents do, it's almost impossible to predict this stuff just based on wins and losses and strength-of-schedule, although both are factored into the rankings (check my thread on the NCAA Tournament Selection criteria for more info or links to info).

And, the bottom line here is that it's probably too early for any of this rankings stuff (perhaps to underscore the point, Covenant, who might have had a claim to being ranked higher after beating Washington & Lee, just lost to Rhodes 2-1).

And the real bottom line is that this is all just for fun. Enjoy the games everyone!

[EasyGoer]

😀💯💯

[SimpleCoach]

Week Two.

The SC Men's Top 25

Enjoy.

SC.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Just an idea, maybe interview NC Wesleyan coach. 57 on the roster of which 52 are int'l. Just very interesting. They have had some pretty successful years and play a competitive schedule. Plus they are known as the "Battling Bishops!"