slufanskip

I dont think his what if scenario was a knock on Marquette... it could have been anyone. I get the impression that he is just stating that a few good breaks in either direction can change a schools fortunes dramatically. I agree with him. As far as which city is better ... strictly a matter of opinion and who really cares ..again I think a point was being made. If I was in Marquette's shoes I don't know what I would do. I think I would have to seriously explore a new A-10 or a new conference surrounding the CUSA 4 and a few A-10 schools plus a couple of others for an 8-10 team basketball conference. With that said none of us know exactly what is being laid out for Marquette or Depaul. I think the Big East is a little desperate and a lot of the schools know that their stature and probably their revenues would go down drastically with the demise of the conference. Maybe they are dishing out a really sweet deal. Either way I think we will end up ok in a revamped A-10. Actually we may end up better. I have never liked our association with Cinci ...just the difference in the values of the two schools. In a revamped A-10 ...we can get to be a consistent top 20-40 school. If we can acheive that then maybe if things shift again we can be the one being recruited.

I agree a new conference would be best ... with the 2 A-10 schools and the four CUSA schools ... who else would you try to add ... if Xavier wants an east coast presence maybe UMASS and someone else

I would be surprised to see JF turn into more than an 8-10 pt per game scorer. I love his defense .. but he is eratic offensively. His shot is average and he doesn't show a lot of confidence in shooting it. He is wild driving to the basket and has not shown the ability to finish consistently. He also doesn't pull up for the 10-15 ft jumper ... he is more of a set shooter. I see him as the 1st guard off the bench by midseason if AD continues to improve. JF can come in at the 1,2, or 3 which also makes him valuable off the bench

I have dish network with the box that records digitally ...so I'll have to start searching for soccer and setting games to tape during the week. I'm pretty sure I'll be at the game wed. so I'll give a report wed night or thursday morning.

I agree with you Roy ... but I would have some concerns that they can ever get back to where they once were

I agree ... a very nice pickup. I also agree with your assesment of the team and their fortunes. Though I think they got a little better of the play overall against FIU. With that said ... were it not for a couple of outstanding saves by Hutton ... they could easily have tied, maybe even lost. But we all know great goalkeeping can carry you a long way. One or two great stops turn a tie or a loss into a win. Courtside, are you going to the game on wednesday? Thanks for the info on where you saw them play ... I need to pay more attention

Yes two is the maz ... so it was half way through the final overtime. After that the game ends in a tie.

I was thinking the same thing this morning while reading the post. SLU has the number 3 ranked soccer team in the country while starting at least 6 freshman. They also are in the top 5 in attendance year in and year out, so obviousely there is some local interest. After a two overtime win ... there is no mention of the game. That is sad

I was tracking on line with the live stat option on the SLU athletic site. Wileman came in for Vedad at 103:53 and scored the game winner at 104:33 ... obviousely a great subsitution. Charlotte was 2-0 in CUSA with wins over East Carolina and South Florida. Sounds like a good win ... Charlotte had about double the fouls, so it was probably a very physical game. We played a man up about the last 10 minutes of regulation. Vedad had a yellow card ... I don't know why but I know he whines a lot to the refs ... so I wonder if he said something he shouldn't have. We will be at home on Wed. anyone els going

From reading the different reports it sounds as if we will have quite a few more options on offense. This should keep us more consistent. I think we all know Brad will have the defense up to par. Let the games begin

Past history shows it is clear Fox Sports had it right. You make a move like a moron ..over and over again... you probably are a moron ... He is a good offensive coordinator at best. Now that defenses have figured him out a little he can't ( or hasn't ) adjusted.

agreed

Well said Courside I don't think anyone is expecting a SLU soccer title this year ... or even in the next 3. I would say that I beleive our chances have improved. I would be satisfied with a finish in the top 16, happy with an elite 8, and estatic with a final four. I'll be shocked if we win it all this year. however ... you never know until the games are played. As I said before... those who have never played soccer ...at any decent level ...usually don't give it a chance anymore. Those who have usually like it and usually alot.

I agree with your assessment ... you answered my question ... you consider the powerhouse to be the top 4-6 teams. I agree SLU soccer is not there anymore ... but with another final four and National Championship in the next 2-3 years could be. Football powerhouses ... Notre Dame and Michigan? They don't seem to fit the criteria you mapped out ... Florida would barely be in ... when was their last National Championship? Ohio State .. I don't think should be in with the exception of last year ... which is turning out to be very tainted ... there rececent sucess does not fit your bill any more than SLU Soccer does

I agree completely. IMO Slu is a soccer powerhouse and a program looking to climb back into the elite class.

Ranking Marque 89th ... tells you how little these rankings mean in assessing a recruits potential. If they had to go back and rerank that class based upon college results... Marque would obviously be much higher.

Taj, Just curious ... who would you call a College Basketball Power

SLU is not a soccer power .... I guess that depends on what you consider a power. Soccer games end up 1-0 so they are boring. It's not about the score ... it is about the opportunity and the build up. There is nothing more exciting than a brilliant diving save in a 0-0 match, even though no one scored. Soccer haters usuually don't understand the game ..and give it no chance ... many times it seems they find hating it something they can feel good about ... Go ahead stick your chest out and hate ... Watching your kid play for a year ... won't help you understand unless you want to. There is no strategy in the game at that level. If the rest of the world loves it .... there must be something to it. I grew up playing, have coached High School, and been a ref for small college and High School. It along with basketball are by far my favorite sports to watch. I love basketball also ... even though many times the first 90% of a game are just build up to the end ... is there really a difference in a 0-0 soccer game with 5 minutes remaining and a 70-70 basketball game with the same time remaining? Either way you could argue that everytihing previous is irrelavent, unless you enjoy the skill, atleticism and play that got them to that point. I have heard many posters say on this board ...that they weren't fans ...but after going to a game at Hermann .... they became one. Must mean something.

Same with my vote for Dallas Cowboys ... did not register ... yet said I already voted

I looked up Peplinski's # on the Slu site #11. I don't remember him standing out too me. I'm looking forward too watching him play. Did you see Maryland and UCLA on T.V. If so what station ... I have Dish Network and got the U17 team ... on a spanish station, but I haven't seen anything for college soccer.

Courtside ... the player I was thinking was Peplinski ... was Casey Speiss. I got there too late to get a roster the last two games .. for some reason I have thought him to be Peplinski both times. So it is Casey Speiss that I like a lot. Now I'm looking forward too realizing who Peplinski is at the next game. I agree Vedad and Will were whining all game. I didn't think that anything unusual was going on with Will, he's just so small he gets knocked around too easily. With Vedad he was getting held alot, he initially didn't complain to the ref, but retaliated a bit, when the ref intervened,and stopped the pushing for the 2nd or third time ...he started complaining. I thought there should of been some calls there. ... but he better get used to it, it will happen a lot, especially in CUSA road games ... there won't be any calls there. Overall I thought the officiating was pretty good ...usually I am down on them ... seems they can never keep up with play and the linesman call any offside that is close ... regardless of where they are when the ball is played. I thought Vedad did a better job at staying on. It seems we both agree we need to work on holding the ball. I thought the transition from mid field to the forwards was almost non existent. The field was very slick and the ball was coming off the grass quickly ... if they could of held it more and played more through balls they could have gotten some nice opportunities. Almost all of their real opportunities were off set plays. Glad to see you agree with me on John D. He is a real talent. Someone had previously posted during one of the South east games that he was not very accurate on free kicks and corners ... I can't imagine that ... He was superb with the U17 team and has continued to be with us. I also agree with you on Martin... I think I missread your previos posts regarding him ... He was very good last year ... but this year he seems to have really stepped up ... he kept up in the lead with a couple of spectacular saves early. He is also very confident and strong on crosses. I have been following soccer a long time and as a former keeper ... I think he could end up the best we've had. He definately has the talent too play at the next level. I agree with your assessment of the game, and that we have a lot of work to be a final four team ... but I do think the talent is there and that it is a possibility. I haven't seen Maryland or UCLA yet ...have you? UCLA is usually very big and strong. My old high school coach was an asst. with them for a while in the late 70's and early eighties. A defender on our team also got a schollie to go there... Brett Tubert, too bad he was a doper and a wasted a lot of talent.

One guy I missed mentioning who played a great game is Nick Gannon, He is a solid all around defender with good size who does not shy away from anyone.

Regarding the game last night Hutton was incredible ... Of course I haven't seen them all or even the top keepers ...but I can't imagine one at the college level who is better than Martin. The 1st half was probably controlled 60-40 in the Bills favor with both teams having good scoring opportunities. Hutton made a highlight reel save on a blast at the upper right corner and a quick diving save of a low shot again to his right. The bills had an almost sure goal headed off the line by an FIU defender. The second half was provbably 70-30 in FIU's favor, though as a previous post stated SLU probably had more good chances. Some other random observations. Pulsari is a tremendous defender, he plays solid and consistent .. he seldom commits at the wrong time allowing himself to get beat ... he is very good at holding an opponnent and waiting for help and I don't think I've seen him get beat one on one yet this year. He is also the best Bills defender offensively and moves the ball well to the midfielders. Wickert plays a very accurate long ball ... but very often holds on to it too long and his pass gets deflected. When he tries to beat a defender on the dribble hold your breath. Defensively he is very strong and is outstanding with his head. Will John gets knocked off the ball too easily in tight spaces, trying to be too fancy. In the open field he is dangerous and has good vision ... he needs to pass the ball with more pace and accuracy. Besides Hutton the 2 brightest spots on the team were Vedad and John D. In an earlier post I stated Vedad need to learn to use his teamates more often ... thay is still true .. but if he has a chance to take someone one on one ... he should keep the ball and create his own opportunity. He has very good speed, and great moves along with a decent shot. I still have not seen them utilize his height, so I don't know if he has the ability to use his head. He is going to score a lot of goals as a Billiken. John D is incredible on set plays ... he has the ability to curve the ball to a spot with tremendous accuracy. He took a free kick from about 35-40 yards out that was going wide and hooked back in the FIU keeper made a bacwards diving fingertip grab to save the goal. I'm guessing he was 6'3" or 4" one inch shorter and it was a goal. On another free kick from just about 12 yards off the end line and 8 yard in from the side he hit a ball that hooked just inches wide of the far post. Every corner is a good opportunity when he takes them. The Bills had 2 or 3 grat chances off corners that just missed or were mishandled. When the ball is in play he is solid ... but does not distribute as well. Peplinski may prove to be their best midfielder as he gets older ... he is very confident with the ball, makes good decisions, and has good speed. As a team ... they need to finish better ... and work on their transition to and from the midfield. They depend way yoo much on the long ball. As they continue to improve and learn to work the ball up the field and pick and choose when they play it long. They will create better opportunities. When watching them play it is hard too believe so many of them are Freshman. They are very, very good. With Martin in goal ... he is a difference maker ... I don't think I will be suprised at anything they accomplish this year. Kudos to Dan Donnigan for keeping the best of St.Louis at home and adding great talent from outside the area. If you haven't seen these guys play, you are missing out.

SLU beat FIU 1-0 on an early goal by Vedad. I don't have much time but will give a more in depth summary tommorrow.

Thats 3 ... a couple more and were partying at Unca's