97 PPL Predictions 11/21

Only two games this weekend, one in each group. Then we'll have to wait until early December to finish out the remaining 8 games.

Group 1

ASG (3-4-1) vs. Nationals (1-5-2) - last year's Challenge team ASG has fallen on relatively hard times this Fall, although they had a very strong effort last time out to tie FWU N Blue 1-all. It is pretty clear that the pool of challengers in Group 1 this year go only 7-8 teams deep, with the Nats being on the border of being competitve to being overmatched on most weekends. Despite their one-win campaign so far, they do have a respectable -3 goal differential, which means they have been pretty close in most of their games. ASG is +3 with only four more goals scored than the Nats, so logic says this game will be close. The score may be close, but I still believe ASG will control the pace of this game and win 2-0.

Group 2

Blaze (5-4) vs. Celtic United (2-8 ) - The Blaze dropped two games last weekend to two of the top teams in Group 2, Aces and Valencia. The Aces game wasn't close for the final 40 minutes or so in a 4-0 shutout, but the Blaze made a valiant effort in a close 3-2 loss to Valencia. The Blaze's four losses have come to the teams currently ranked #1-#4 in the group, so it is pretty clear that they are just a notch below these four teams, leading the pack that includes FCD White, FWU N White, HPSA Scots and McKinney FC in the middle of the standings. They will get things back on track in this game against a Celtic team with a -28 goal differential that has won just once since the first week of October. Blaze by their usual 5-1 margin when they play teams below them in the standings.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

I am an ASG '97 fan. I think they are second or third team in PPL and can scare some higher league teams. They are better than last year. They have a very good coach. But soccer is a unique sport, and at a young age, the thugs, well let me re-rephrase that, the kick ball teams, I mean the defensive.... oh darn. Have the advantage. No question though that Latino team plays good soccer and deserves everything. All any other team can do, including ASG, is play anti-soccer against them.
Don't be afraid of technique, even if your coach is during a tight game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AhDeB76oZs&feature=PlayList&p=168A4A5C863BF9B2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=9
You Tube, "Elliot Easton Gives Advice For Young"

That's a pretty strong statement Stylecounselor to say they are second or third in PPL. I'll admit I haven't seen ASG play this season, but the record alone speaks for itself. I don't know how you can say they are better than last year at 3-4-1. Their four losses and the tie have come to the five teams ahead of them in the standings. Their three wins were to teams currently ranked below them. Their record is what it is; they are middle-of-the-pack in Group 1. Granted, they are not far off, as all of their losses have been by one or two goals. But part of soccer is finding ways to win those close games, and ASG has not done well in that regard this season. Maybe they just need some more time to get better, but the clock is ticking. They are already 9 points behind second place, and in my opinion that is too big a defecit to make up to once again challenge for D3.

"the record alone speaks for itself".
The record is irrelevant. Perhaps the following smart folks can help you understand. These are all coaches under pressure to have their teams play very, very, good. Winning an ugly game here and there, is ok, but the fans will not accept a champion that does not play well.
1) Post comments after big clash between Barcelona and Inter Milan.
During the entire time game, there was hope of winning even though, "Barcelona Are Miles Ahead of us".
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2009/11/24/1645878/barcelona-are-still-miles-ahead-of-us-inter-coach-mourinho
2) Pre-game comments before the biggest intra-league game in the world
Kaká: "El Barça juega mejor, pero no es favorito"
In summary: "We are in first...Barca plays bettern than us...we hope to be that good"
http://www.marca.com/2009/11/23/futbol/equipos/real_madrid/1258933048.html
That was an interview by a major Madrid publication. Kaka, Ronaldo, etc. want to play for a team where the pressure chokes most players, the pressure to entertain.
3) Ahead of Chelsea- Arsenal game
Every big player on every big team wants to play that nice futbol
"I think it will be a fantastic match because both teams want to play football."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=704888&sec=england&cc=5901
Over and over, there is very little mention of record. The context is more likely the way the team plays.
4) Ronaldo has not played in 6 weeks, but will force him self to playa on the VISITING team.
"Lo más importante es ganar; si jugamos bien, mejor", aseguró el portugués.
"Si jugamos tan mal no deberíamos ser primeros.
"As visitor, the most important thing is to win. If we play well, even better. If we play poor, then we do not deserve to be in first".
Be clear, play well, really measn play nice futobol like Ancelotti alluded to above.

Wow, I guess you really put me in my place, huh? Yeah, a team's record has absolutely no bearing on anything in competitive soccer. Forget everything I said, I'm clearly an idiot. I'm sure Classic League will let ASG challenge for DIII regardless of what their record is, as long as they are playing well.