SLU Men's Soccer Thread

[billikenfan05]

35 minutes ago, WUH said:

Thanks for looking it up.

That is incredible to be honest.

I like that game and appreciate that they continue to schedule SLU.

Scrolling through all time series for soccer is a fun little exercise. A lot of schools I've never heard of and a few non-American schools. 

[Speyburn]

2 hours ago, WUH said:

No way that is true, is it?

My first ever SLU game happened to be Missouri State in the tournament way back when they played at Soccer Park.  I was so unprepared for the record cold weather, but the game was incredible.

All nine games were played in Saint Louis.

[cgeldmacher]

23 hours ago, OkieBilliken said:

For conference affiliation, basketball is the only thing that matters.    Des Moines, Carbondale, Terre Haute, Cedar Falls, Normal......trash, trash & more trash.   

I'll take Philly, Dayton, DC, Richmond, Chicago everyday.   

But that's the point.  We are talking about putting basketball in its own much better basketball only conference.  It sounds like it might be about a wash for the other sports.

[Franchise_08]

SMU vs SLU Billikens are very hesitant to attack with all these stars. No push down by 1 in the second half.

[SLUBALLS]

Others can opine on what exactly happened but a bummer of a game.  I never thought we were "out of it" but boy were we toothless in the attack.  To see only 3 actual shots and none by our forwards is disappointing. It is interesting to see our holding mid pairs swapping out now in the first two games......it is either Thiago and Brogan or Drake and Grady typically.  Those are really important positions that require a steady presence by at least one person, instead of a rotation among four.  Curious if that is simply looking for the right combo, fitness or taking advantage of depth?  Second item is not seeing some of are heralded recruits who are supposed to be of the attacking ilk.....namely Moore and Delkus. There is a reason for sure but their status as two highly ranked recruits, leaves me wondering why they don't see the pitch?  That said, Moore is coming off an ACL injury and Delkus is a freshman.  There are reasons and no doubt the coaching staff want more offense than what they saw last night.

Hopefully this is just a matter of finding the pieces that make the team excel down the road.

 

[courtside]

On 8/30/2024 at 10:09 AM, SLUBALLS said:

Others can opine on what exactly happened but a bummer of a game.  I never thought we were "out of it" but boy were we toothless in the attack.  To see only 3 actual shots and none by our forwards is disappointing. It is interesting to see our holding mid pairs swapping out now in the first two games......it is either Thiago and Brogan or Drake and Grady typically.  Those are really important positions that require a steady presence by at least one person, instead of a rotation among four.  Curious if that is simply looking for the right combo, fitness or taking advantage of depth?  Second item is not seeing some of are heralded recruits who are supposed to be of the attacking ilk.....namely Moore and Delkus. There is a reason for sure but their status as two highly ranked recruits, leaves me wondering why they don't see the pitch?  That said, Moore is coming off an ACL injury and Delkus is a freshman.  There are reasons and no doubt the coaching staff want more offense than what they saw last night.

Hopefully this is just a matter of finding the pieces that make the team excel down the road.

 

I’ll have more on the game when I get a chance. 

It’s actually common for SLU to rotate more than 2 central defensive holding midfielders. 

They used 3 in 2021 with the national quarterfinalists. AJ/Buendia/Wilkinson. 

4 was common in 2022 when you asd Okpoye, Johnson, etc..Townsend, Max, Mika, others have played there. Half a dozen or so last year. 

Playing consistently well there is a different thing altogether.

Having a 2nd 11 is essential.

Subs are 6 moments per game. No re-entry per half. This does not apply to Women’s Soccer.

SLU is also a redshirt program. Some of their best recent players redshirted year 1. Floriani, Buendia, etc…

Beginning next season, rosters will he capped at 28 for both Men and Women’s Soccer. All 28 are eligible for full scholarships. There will be roster reduction. It’s actually already happened in a few situations.

Anyway, I’ll try to add more about the game when I get a chance.

[courtside]

SLU will be 8th this week in the Top Drawer Soccer poll. 

 

(Annual reminder, I am a consultant with Top Drawer Soccer)

[courtside]

SLU is 19th in the United Soccer Coaches Poll this week. 

[SLUBALLS]

Any color on the game on Monday from anyone?  I was expecting a 3-0 scoreline at least but appears our offense is just not ticking in terms of finishing right now.  

[courtside]

SMU played a 5-4-1. 

Indy played a 4-4-2

 

Both played very narrow to take away the middle of the field. SLU was slow to spread the width and get some spacing. Didn’t press high enough. And that can leave open lots of space when you play your defensive mids very deep, which SLU likes to do. 

 

2nd halves were much better in both games. Front foot. Better spacing and width. Playing up the line or diagonal. You have to move the defense side to side to improve space in the middle, but not by a knock around the back a bit East West unproductively. More diagonally reversing the ball with pace. Not strong enough on the ball in the final 3rd, not valuing possession enough there earlier in both games. It was sharper later.

 

Gave up too many 2nd, 3rd chances v SMU. But I’ll take the 2nd half there. Against Indy, just couldn’t finish many chances, off of the post, just wide, a variety of things. 

 

SLU hadn’t been receiving enough productivity and energy from a forward, a wing, and a defensive mid, so all of those personnel were tweaked successfully. Good recognition and changes there. Need to recognize sooner what the opposing is trying to do and adjust sooner in the game. Take what they give you.  Front foot, sharp, urgency, etc all have to be there from the opening whistle for a full 90.

[OkieBilliken]

Good morning!  Today is the day to get that damn boot back, clean the stink off of it and return it to its proper place in the universe.  

[Lord Elrond]

Been held hostage in Edwardsville for a year, desperately needs to return to its proper home. Welcome it back home at the Bronze Boot game today in CityPark. 

[Lord Elrond]

Nice save by Abonnel about 13 minutes in

[billikenfan05]

I hate this camera situation.

[Lord Elrond]

0-0 at halftime. SLU has generated more shots on goal, but SIUE has won more corners. Fairly even. So does the Bronze Boot Trophy return to Edwardsville in the event of a tie?

[OkieBilliken]

They keep it in the event of a tie.  Not an option.  Must score.

[Lord Elrond]

2 yellow cards for dissent on SLU, and SIUE makes the Pk, 1-0 SIUE with 28 minutes to play

[Pistol]

5 minutes ago, Lord Elrond said:

2 yellow cards for dissent on SLU, and SIUE makes the Pk, 1-0 SIUE with 28 minutes to play

Dumb foul by Leatherman. And dumb of Dougherty to jaw at the ref after the call.

[willie]

Weak call on the PK. I don’t profess to be a soccer expert but it sure seems to me we play too much East to West and not  enough North to South. 

[Lord Elrond]

We seem to want to work it for the perfect shot, rather than going directly for the other goal and creating chaos in front of their net, gives them too much time to get back and defend. And yes, weak penalty call after letting both teams play all game.

[OkieBilliken]

Is it too early to ask if Kalish is the Travis Ford of soccer…amasses lots of talent that doesn’t perform well?…is it too harsh because Im heartbroken and a little drunk?  

[billikenfan05]

5 minutes ago, OkieBilliken said:

Is it too early to ask if Kalish is the Travis Ford of soccer…amasses lots of talent that doesn’t perform well?…is it too harsh because Im heartbroken and a little drunk?  

He took the program to the Elite 8. Questions should be asked, but Travis Ford he is not.

[Lord Elrond]

Sooner or later we do need results. SIUE comes into this game 0-2-1, giving up 9 goals while scoring only 1? We ought to be ahead by 2 or 3 at this point.

[willie]

2 minutes ago, billikenfan05 said:

He took the program to the Elite 8. Questions should be asked, but Travis Ford he is not.

Ford never had the number 1 and2 recruiting classes. 

[billikenfan05]

5 minutes ago, willie said:

Ford never had the number 1 and2 recruiting classes. 

I feel like there's an obvious difference between Ford's tenure and Kalish's tenure...