98/99 Girls

[pitchpapa]

Since the dust has now settled, what is the outlook for this age group next year? Did any teams split up? Did any of the major teams add some blue chippers to become deeper and stronger? Who are the sleepers in this group next year?

I think Larry Hulcer's SLSG Premiere Navy team is a sleeper team. I think Marty Mannion is a fine coach. If he picks up a couple of players who can put the ball in the net, his team could be very good. Wipke and McDoniel should hire GM's and let them work a trade to everybody's satisfaction.Approved by the parent/agents of course. Ram Turf is always greener on the other side I suppose.

[wisekeeper]

I think there was less movement than some thought would take place, we have a few new faces but the core is the same. I really think there will be some interesting games this fall and based on the tournaments we are playing it will be fun!

Looks like a lot of teams starting practice early so maybe there was movement and they are starting practices early to help them all come together as a team. Again, I'm excited to see how this age group plays out this fall.

Now to leave St. Louis late next week for two weeks in Denver to get ready for the fall season, that's if the entire state of Colorado isn't burned to the ground in the next couple of weeks. At least I hope it will be cooler in the mountains.

[pitchpapa]

Looks like the Kaver team is on the move again. This time landing at Real Stl. Btw, Nacho seems to be off to a good start, with boys and girls teams in most age groups.

[AD]

Top ten no order: LF should have four of the top six or seven teams in this age group with wipke, heusgen g, brinker, and huesgen b. Slsg has two teams in that top tier bunch, elite and navy prem. JB Sch and Binos round out the top tier in my opinion. So that is eight teams. What other teams deserve some consideration for the last two spots. Mannion was mentioned as they should be but didnt play that well down the stretch of spring. Any other jb, slsg, or fusz teams that could be in this group? Or anyone else outside of those clubs?
What is going to be the big local tourney that some of these may meet up?

[pitchpapa]

I don't think either one of the Husgen teams are better than Mannion. I don't think Husgen b was as good as SLSG Juventus last year. Husgen g lost their best player and probably won't be as good as Juventus this year.

[AD]

Looking at spring standings as a measuring stick, I would think for sure huesgen gold is stronger than mannion but I dont know if any if the teams lost or gained players.
So your saying juventus is third best slsg team? I thought someone told me last spring barcelona was best team after elite and premiere. I havent seen any of the slsg at this age group.

[wisekeeper]

I wouldn't try to rank anyone at this time because some teams lost some key players and some teams picked up some key players. I think a lot of teams found they had big holes in various positions when they got to cup, look at the scores of some of the games, and are making adjustments as we speak. Plus this is soccer and rankings are not worth the paper they are written on from weekend to weekend.

My suggestion, sit back in the chair and get ready for some good tough play this fall and expect the unexpected. I know I'm ready to start watching!

[pitchpapa]

Agree with the wise keeper's points. As to who is SLSG's 3rd team, Id say this. Juventus plays better soccer than Barcelona. Barcelona is more physical but has difficulty stringing more than 3 passes together. Juventus beat them in the Fall. In the early Spring Barcelona won, but Juventus was missing four girls, including probably their two best players. Juventus played with no subs. Still, Juventus led 1-0 with about 5 minutes left. They couldn't hang on and withstand the bull rush to the net at the end. With both teams at even strength and a center ref who takes control early, Juventus wins easily. Btw, I do not have a daughter on either team.

[AD]

It is just fun to talk about, dont mean anything by giving a top tier. I agree I am ready to see some action come fall.
Pitch got a question for you. My youngest has played at slsg for the last three years and reg season games are competitive but lack some rivalry if that makes sense. It seems by your last post and from what I heard the 98/99 has more of that rivalry/intensity?

[pitchpapa]

Well I don't know about know that. I know Premiere gets pretty pumped up about playing Elite and I think the loud mouth, football style coach in the age group gets a lot of people's dander up. Other than that, most matches are more like Friendlies.

[pitchpapa]

I assume that Wipke, Schneider and Premiere will all be playing MRL in the Fall. Who else will be playing MRL this season? Will Wipke play in the U-14 or U-15 Division ?

[wisekeeper]

Pitch - no reason to play up in MRL, we will be playing in the u14 bracket this fall. We will be playing our age group in all or games this year.

[Coop]

Agree with the wise keeper's points. As to who is SLSG's 3rd team, Id say this. Juventus plays better soccer than Barcelona. Barcelona is more physical but has difficulty stringing more than 3 passes together. Juventus beat them in the Fall. In the early Spring Barcelona won, but Juventus was missing four girls, including probably their two best players. Juventus played with no subs. Still, Juventus led 1-0 with about 5 minutes left. They couldn't hang on and withstand the bull rush to the net at the end. With both teams at even strength and a center ref who takes control early, Juventus wins easily. Btw, I do not have a daughter on either team.

I thought I'd get in to the fun here a bit. My daughter played for Barcelona 2 years ago and a bit last year. Pitch is about on other than I do think Barce is probably the best conditioned team I can remember seeing. When my daughter played for them she played better than she had ever played before. Ran faster, played tougher, had a lot more passion to her game and scored in about every game. I think the drawback is that they seem to have a lot of injuries. If i'm not mistaken though, I thought Juventus and Barcelona have tied 2 out of 3 of the last few games, winning the last game 2-1 this past spring so I wouldn't say wins easily. 2 totally different styles though, for sure.

[AD]

I saw the preliminary brackets for U14 girls in Slysa. I saw that LF is in Div 2. I imagine they will request to be put back into D1. I also saw a LF Paulsen in D1? What team is that. Other moves that I saw is that LF Huesgen is back down playing in U14 D1 but I didn't see the LF gold team in U14 or U15. Is that the Paulsen team or our they playing MRL?

[SoccerNutt10]

Paulson is the old Mannion Red. He went to just one team and is now coaching the blue team.

[AD]

Thanks. That makes sense now. Is Huesgen gold playing MRL?

[wisekeeper]

The rumor is they will be playing MRL....I will be interested to see which teams from the area are playing MRL as we are Lou Fusz - Wipke and I think JB Schneider but I'm not sure of the other teams playing. There were rumors of a few Gallagher teams playing MRL but I'm not for sure on that.

[no time]

WK Will Wipke and Schneider play their own age or continue to play up?

[AD]

Wipke looks to be only playing MRL. Schneider is listed in the U15 D1bracket, not sure it they are also dong MRL....don't know if you can do both but I would imagine so.

Not sure on slsg playing MRL, but if I was a betting guy would say Elite and possibly Premier.

[AD]

Trying to figure this out. Without naming the team/club I noticed a team that played in D1 last fall but finished at or near the bottom and then didn't play in SLYSA last spring (tourneys only- and didn't win any)...I believe they are now listed in the D2 U15 bracket. If they are not consistently being successful at their own age group, why would you move them up an age level?
With that said, in my opinion I believe the coach/director knew they wouldn't make the D1 cut at U14 so asked to be D2 at U15 so his players/parents would believe they were not getting pushed back. Maybe I am way off base with this.
Your thoughts?