What's up with Solar Red?

Before I ask, let me state that my son plays for LP Rush. Good first half vs Solar Red, Second half not so good. As in Solar poured it on and won 7-0.

So here is my question. After the game Stricker hosted a team and parent meeting right there on the field. We only heard pieces of it as we walk by to exit field 9. It sounded as though there are many parents not happy with him or decisions he is making, which seemed odd as they just won 7-0. Also I heard him say he was brining on more player as he needed them if they hoped to win Nationals? Additionally, he said his team is good but not that good and that's why he will be adding players. Long after we got in our car and were exiting the parking lot, he was still on the field talking to the parents and players.

So either I really heard something incorrectly or trouble is on the horizon. Would love to get some perspective from a few Solar Red parents.

Interesting! Have not heard anything. Maybe it's about playing time. Would definitely like to find out what's going on..

Any idea on Oddysey v Solar Gold?

Thanks for post forthegame4.

Ody 3 SGold 0. Could have gone either way really. Our GK had a good game.

One would guess playing time is pretty good if you are winning by 7, but who knows.

Isn't it a bit early for the bait and switch? 6 games in to the season seems early. Based on previous postings on the board, I thought Stricker normally waited until the end of the season for that kind of thing.

Perhaps the parents of the numerous players who were asked to "politely" leave his team(s) this past summer (and the summer before that) can enlighten us as to what's about to go down.

This does not surprise me.  His MO seems to be the second he signs a kid up he is looking to replace him with someone better.  Contrary to what people might think I have no issue with this so long as he is transparent about it.  The issue I (and other parents) had was that he initially lied about it when he took over the team.  Possibly he learned and decided he would be outwardly open about how he operates.  If so then good for him.  IMO it creates problems for the team and kids to operate this way, but as long as there is transparency he should run his team any way he sees fit. I have seen organizations (and businesses) run like this and it never works however I can't blame Stricker for not being smart enough to understand this. His intelligence is what it is.

I see what parents here put up with from these coaches and organizations and it is obvious most of these parents are sheep and just let things happen to them.

Everybody would consider taking better players. But let's say you are smoking everybody in CL...where exactly are you getting these hypothetical better players in Oct?

Mid-Cities Rec? Is FCD U14DA bringing in boatloads of immigrants and having a fire sale from their current roster? Is everybody defecting to your team en masse due to your animal magnetism? Is Castro shipping Solar DA bench players to you instead of to his own CL team? Is his buddy Sawyer going to player pass kids for Nationals?

I would guess none of those things are happening and nobody is upgrading their team. Who knows. But if he is having hour long meetings with players after weekday games maybe his team has elevated their post-game rituals up to the Solar U14DA standard.

Stricker seems like a reasonable guy. A reasonable guy should be pretty happy about his team's performance so far.

Baah. Baah.

I  usually don't comment on things I read on the forum.  I didn't even have an account until this morning but I had to comment on this topic.   I know a few of these parents and I have not heard them say anyone was complaining about playing time.  This is arguably a brand-new team (about 12 new kids) so these players & parents don't know Stricker well. It is good that he took as long as he did to explain what he was doing.   This team as well as LP Rush and Odyssey is in RPL (Regional Premiere League).  If they win RPL they have an automatic trip to the regional tournament. They are also in NPL (National premier league).  If they win NPL they have an automatic trip to the national championship tournament.   This team is good but I can tell you from watching teams in NPL over the years Stricker's team will need help.  Stricker has always filled his team with athletes not just dedicated soccer players, because of that they have a bigger possibility of being injured playing those other sports.  To win a state cup, a regional championship, and a national championship you will have to deal with injuries.   As a former coach who has been there I can tell you it's a grind and Stricker knows that.  So the conversation you overheard was like a state of the Union address.  Stricker was letting his parents know where the team is and where he hopes they will be heading.  Sounds a lot like full disclosure to me.   Since I don't know Stricker personally I do not know his inner thoughts so this is strictly my opinion only.