ayses winter cup 01 predictions

by Guest 1/13/2013, 10:53 am

This is a hard tournament to call. On the face of it, Lightning looks like the easy favorite, followed by DT Craft and then FCD Blue. The fly in the ointment is that both Craft and Blue have both beaten the Lightning a couple of times. Still having said that, it is still the Lightning's tourney to lose but an upset by blue or craft could be in the works....

by Guest 1/13/2013, 11:14 am

soccerisgood123 wrote:This is a hard tournament to call. On the face of it, Lightning looks like the easy favorite, followed by DT Craft and then FCD Blue. The fly in the ointment is that both Craft and Blue have both beaten the Lightning a couple of times. Still having said that, it is still the Lightning's tourney to lose but an upset by blue or craft could be in the works....

If those teams have beat lightning a few times why would it be an upset if they did so again?

by Guest 1/13/2013, 11:22 am

Riquelme wrote:
soccerisgood123 wrote:This is a hard tournament to call. On the face of it, Lightning looks like the easy favorite, followed by DT Craft and then FCD Blue. The fly in the ointment is that both Craft and Blue have both beaten the Lightning a couple of times. Still having said that, it is still the Lightning's tourney to lose but an upset by blue or craft could be in the works....

If those teams have beat lightning a few times why would it be an upset if they did so again?

I think it would be an upset given their relative classic League standings/records and the talent level vs the Lightning. I certainly wouldn't start counting my chickens if I were the lightning...

by PG-Boy 1/13/2013, 11:46 am

It's the Tx Lightning's tournament to lose.

On the other hand, FCD Blue defeated them in the semi-final of the TFC cup last month. I believe, TX Lightning won in group play 4-0.

It's difficult to beat any team, twice in a short period of time because the losing team learns from the first defeat by making adjustments. Also, often the victor in the first encounter is over-confident in the rematch.

TX Lightning is a robustly assertive team. Very physical, but with flashes of beautiful finesse. When they get the engines fired-up, watch out. On the other hand, they have short-fuses and tend to self destruct when they lose their tempers. They definitely have the temperament of their fiery coach. These boys have earned their top 5 D1 finish.

FCD Blue plays a very hyper-aggressive and physical defense and midfield. It's not easy to break-them down. When they keep the score low until late in the game, they can sting. Their challenge has always been scoring more than one goal per match. Score early on them to win. Fail to score early, roll the dice.

DT Craft is a similarly physically agressive team like FCD Blue, but with boys that can score. They have imposing size and some really good speed.

It think DT Craft and FCD Blue will be meet in a semifinal. First team to score two goals, wins to meet TX Lightning in the Final.

The only way TX Lightning is defeated in this tournament is... if a team scores early and then causes them to lose their cool. When they start accumulating a bunch of yellow and red cards, boom.

by Guest 1/13/2013, 11:50 am

PG-Boy wrote:It's the Tx Lightning's tournament to lose.

On the other hand, FCD Blue defeated them in the semi-final of the TFC cup last month. I believe, TX Lightning won in group play 4-0.

It's difficult to beat any team, twice in a short period of time because the losing team learns from the first defeat by making adjustments. Also, often the victor in the first encounter is over-confident in the rematch.

TX Lightning is a robustly assertive team. Very physical, but with flashes of beautiful finesse. When they get the engines fired-up, watch out. On the other hand, they have short-fuses and tend to self destruct when they lose their tempers. They definitely have the temperament of their fiery coach. These boys have earned their top 5 D1 finish.

FCD Blue plays a very hyper-aggressive and physical defense and midfield. It's not easy to break-them down. When they keep the score low until late in the game, they can sting. Their challenge has always been scoring more than one goal per match. Score early on them to win. Fail to score early, roll the dice.

DT Craft is a similarly physically agressive team like FCD Blue, but with boys that can score. They have imposing size and some really good speed.

It think DT Craft and FCD Blue will be meet in a semifinal. First team to score two goals, wins to meet TX Lightning in the Final.

The only way TX Lightning is defeated in this tournament is... if a team scores early and then causes them to lose their cool. When they start accumulating a bunch of yellow and red cards, boom. They won't lose.

I think that's spot on

by Guest 1/20/2013, 4:17 pm

"It think DT Craft and FCD Blue will be meet in a semifinal. First team to score two goals, wins to meet TX Lightning in the Final. "

You were on the money PG. They both got to two goals and Blue won on penalty kicks. Now Lightning vs Blue in the final. Lightning's tournament to win. Lightning 3-1

by Guest 1/20/2013, 9:49 pm

congrats to the lightning, winter champs, 3-0
cheers

by Madcap 1/21/2013, 8:31 am

123, we wanted to catch that semi final but ODP had us in Arlington instead. 2-2 in regulation...one would assume it was well played by both teams. Can you give a summary? Thanks!

And once again, The Lightening show themselves to be a solid top tier team. Congrats to those boys as well.

by Guest 1/21/2013, 9:12 am

Madcap wrote:123, we wanted to catch that semi final but ODP had us in Arlington instead. 2-2 in regulation...one would assume it was well played by both teams. Can you give a summary? Thanks!

And once again, The Lightening show themselves to be a solid top tier team. Congrats to those boys as well.

A well fought even game, blue scored first on a pk after their forward was knocked down even though he scored, a pk was called and blue converted. Then craft scored on a nice outside shot on a breakaway. Late in the game craft scored on a long freekick by i think a kid who played for the lightning last season. Then in the dying minutes blue scored on freekick to tie. It was very back and forth. Then in pks blue converted 3 of 4 and craft was eliminated. I took away two things from this game. D1 is a tough place to play. Craft certainly didnt look like a last place team. Second, blue is a dangerous inconsistent team. Able to beat d1 teams but then barely gets by some much lower d3 teams. They need a go to scorer. I didnt see the final but i heard there was some monkey business on the time keeping, thats ntx soccer....

by allen04 1/21/2013, 10:24 am

blue scored first on a pk after their forward was knocked down even though he scored, a pk was called and blue converted.

So they scored, ref disallowed the goal and then had them take a PK for the goal? WTF?

by Guest 1/21/2013, 11:03 am

allen04 wrote:
blue scored first on a pk after their forward was knocked down even though he scored, a pk was called and blue converted.

So they scored, ref disallowed the goal and then had them take a PK for the goal? WTF?

yep, just your friendly ntx refs at work, Rolling Eyes

by Kids Soccer, Right? 1/21/2013, 3:43 pm

Madcap wrote:123, we wanted to catch that semi final but ODP had us in Arlington instead. 2-2 in regulation...one would assume it was well played by both teams. Can you give a summary? Thanks!

And once again, The Lightening show themselves to be a solid top tier team. Congrats to those boys as well.

A little off topic here, but how was the attendance at ODP for the 01 boys? With the Ayses tournament and a few teams in Houston from the area I was wondering if it hurt the turnout.

by Madcap 1/21/2013, 9:45 pm

I think we counted around 45 boys at ODP. It was by far the smallest turnout so far. The weather was great and it was enjoyable enough. It seemed like a good time for all.