96 CL 2012-13 D2 pecking order

Did anyone notice short benches the first week of play? Injuries already a factor?
At D2, when you go 2-3 deep into the bench you see the difference on the field. Maybe DTRW and Solar already have players out. Maybe FCD/Comets did lose players to D1 and/or academy.

Short benches? My guess is a few teams barely had the 14 to play in the league. Wonder if any of the teams have any phantom players on the roster. Or it could be that some were on vacation.

soccerdad1 wrote:Short benches? My guess is a few teams barely had the 14 to play in the league. Wonder if any of the teams have any phantom players on the roster. Or it could be that some were on vacation.

Yeah, first week's results are interesting but I wouldn't read that much into them just yet..we should wait at least 6 weeks or so before declaring which teams are for real and which aren't...

The Tejanos and the AMigos each had about 5 on the bench. Didn't notice any of the others.

I think it is due to the large amount of D1 teams carrying so many on their roster.
FC Dallas Premier - 22 players
DT White West - 21 players
FC Dallas Youth - 22 players
DT Red South - 22 players
Solar Chelsea - 22 players
DT Red - 21 players
TFC - 22 players
Odyssey - 19 players
If you look at just the teams above, and only being able to dress 18 each game that is about 28 players each weekend that are budget fillers for what ever reason. Just sitting the bench missing out on an opportunity to play. That is also 28 players that could be playing valuable minutes on a D2 team. It is quite sad that D1 coaches would do that to kids, knowing all along, even during tryouts, "that kid will prolly very rarely ever leave my bench!" But his parents are delusional enough to think they will get valuable minutes in real game action. Even worse, the kid and parent may have been told by the coach during tryouts "I really think your son can help us out this year." (Who's heard that before?) Doubt it!!!! They knew when they took your $ all you were was a donation.
American Eagles - 17 players
Amarillo - 18 player

I'm a little lost, where does it say that teams may only dress 18 in the rules?

Iplaysoccer wrote:I'm a little lost, where does it say that teams may only dress 18 in the rules?

Sorry my mistake, I was thinking of the premier league. Disregard my entire post.

Iplaysoccer wrote:I'm a little lost, where does it say that teams may only dress 18 in the rules?

It doesn't. The Post you're referring to is citing a non-existant rule to support whatever point he/she is trying to make (likely that his/her son's D2 team would have more players. It for the "roster fillers" in D1).

Well, the thought is not completely off track. Classic League substitution rules for D1 U15-U19 teams follow FIFA, specifically that in each half you can have only 7 subs and there is no re-entry. So, in any given half, and with a 22-man roster, you will have four kids who will not play that half.

I'm not sure I'd call them "budget fillers", because kids will get injured and the bench players will have opportunity to play. But it is something to keep in mind when looking at D1 teams.

Anyone who is getting on a top 96 D1 team has been to the rodeo a few times and knows exactly what they are getting into. They all should know by this point to ask how many on the roster. At this age the injury bug can hit hard as all these players do HS too. Some teams were also hit with players lost to deep runs in the UIL playoffs. For a 96 to be a budget filler I would say shame on the parents for not having made any effort to learn anything at all about their son's passion over the past 6 years.

I was way off on my original prediction, he he. Anyone surprised by results so far?


MP W D L GF GA Pts

1: CLASSIC 96B WEST (GONZALEZ) 3 2 0 1 10 6 6
2: FC DALLAS YOUTH 96B CENTRAL (BERTL) 3 2 0 1 9 5 6
3: DALLAS TEXANS SC 96B WHITE DALLAS (SHAMU) 3 1 1 1 10 7 4
4: ANDROMEDA FC 96B (AJDUKOVICH) 2 1 1 0 5 3 4
5: SELECT FORCE FC 96B (HASKINS) 2 1 1 0 3 2 4
6: COLLEYVILLE SA 16 AMIGOS GOLD 96B (FRIEDMAN) 2 1 0 1 9 7 3
7: ANDROMEDA FC 96B RED (ARSOV) 2 1 0 1 4 2 3
8: DALLAS TEXANS SC 96B RED WEST (HODDER) 2 1 0 1 2 4 3
9: SOLAR SC CHELSEA RED 96B (QUIROZ) 3 0 1 2 5 11 1
10: DFW TEJANOS 96B PREMIER (LANIER) 2 0 0 2 4 14 0

I saw Texans Red and Solar this weekend. Solar Red does not play together at all. They have too many players jacking with the ball not passing to wide open guys for goal scoring opportunities. After getting down, Solar thought it would be funny to try to play long ball with the Texans with small possession players. Solar never won the ball in the air 1 time. They have no skill to play it in the air. Texans have 1 fast forward that needs some skill improvement, but he can run and shoot.

What's the story with Tejano's? They looked even worse. They might get relegated again.

Saw the Andromeda vs Select Force game as well. Neither team too impressive. I have not seen Club Classic play yet, did they make some major upgrades?

Well, well.....Looks like Bertl’s boys got back on track dismantling CC 5-1. The only real race here will be for 2nd.

Speaking as someone with connection to the Tejanos:

There are stretches where the Tejanos are competitive and in games. The problem is those times are connected by total breakdowns. There are probably not enough true defenders or strikers on the team. It's basically a team full of midfielders. In both games they have given up 2-3 goals within ten minutes.

These are just my opinions.

SoccerDunce wrote:Well, well.....Looks like Bertl’s boys got back on track dismantling CC 5-1. The only real race here will be for 2nd.

And it is coming right down to the wire for second place with only 16 games left in the season (well, 15 for Comets since they have already played 3), to determine that position and who moves up to D1 with them. With no other FCD teams in D2 to snipe them, Comets are a given.

Who's with them?

Solar is a small team but to say a team lacks "skill" in the air sounds strange. You mean just headers... no other skill to air play but being tall, which means being closer to the ball. And what is "long ball"? Is that kick ball or control plays down the field?

DTRW is a good kick ball team, just bang it forward and let the fast strikers get to it.
Solar has talent but don't play as a team. They'll eventually get it together.
FCD/Comets still does not impress. They looked very average in Plano Labor day.
Club Classic is still smoke and mirrors; they will play themselves to the middle of the pact.
Andro looks like they picked up some talent; they need time to gel also.
Select Force look like last years team; not much recruiting opportunities out in East TX.

This age group has proven very unpredictable and all over the map... just like the boys horomones!

soccermom040 wrote:Solar is a small team but to say a team lacks "skill" in the air sounds strange. You mean just headers... no other skill to air play but being tall, which means being closer to the ball. And what is "long ball"? Is that kick ball or control plays down the field?

DTRW is a good kick ball team, just bang it forward and let the fast strikers get to it.
Solar has talent but don't play as a team. They'll eventually get it together.
FCD/Comets still does not impress. They looked very average in Plano Labor day.
Club Classic is still smoke and mirrors; they will play themselves to the middle of the pact.
Andro looks like they picked up some talent; they need time to gel also.
Select Force look like last years team; not much recruiting opportunities out in East TX.

This age group has proven very unpredictable and all over the map... just like the boys horomones!

Definitely agree D2 is wide open and nobody can predict top 5 even, much less top 2 at this point. I don't agree with Club Classic being "smoke and mirrors". The beat Solar Red by 5 goals less than two weeks ago, and beat DTRW by 3 before that. A few other observations:
- Select Force looks to be improved from last year..same players or not they are better
- Andro is improved from last year...so far at least.
- Andro Red is better than I expected they would be after relagation
- FCD/Comets look about the same - they can beat anyone, or lose to anyone - any given Sunday
- Solar Red is dissappointing so far (losing 6-1 to a smoke and mirrors team)
- Amigos are difficult to read, might know more after this weekend's double header but they weren't good last weekend
- Tejanos are not as bad as scores have indicated. I expect they will play hard and improve as the year goes, but may have trouble avoiding relegation.
- Texans White looks like a mid-table team at best
- DTRW is like Comets, can beat or lose to any team at any time

CC lost 5-1 to FCD/Comets, don't forget that. My peps told me DTRW was missing a number of players when they played CC. And the CC win against Solar... well Solar and CC can use the same excuse for losing by such wide margins. In the words of the old school bratha Ron Washington... that's the way futbol go!

Today is a perfect example of what has been plaguing the Tejanos.

After being up 1-0 at the half against Select Force, they give up 2 quick goals in the first three minutes of the 2nd half. Goals in bunches are what has been killing them.

Select Force 4
DFW Tejanos 2

Tejanos had the lead at halftime 1-0.

But once again they allowed multiple goals within a short time span. Within the first three minutes of the second half, Force scored 2 goals to take the lead and then scored again to make it 3-1. All within the first 10-15 minutes of the second half.

Tejanos scored again and had plenty of positive chances to make it an even closer game but SF held on.

Definite improvement after some coaching adjustments. The good thing as a "spectator" is that the Tejanos are playing hard for the most part. They just continue to have these stretches where they played sound, like the first half, but the stretches are connected with periods of breakdown.

Also, respect to Select Force for coming out in the second half and turning up the pressure.

By the way, how about those Amigos winning 4-2 over FCD Bertl?

Wha, wha.....?..... Comets I mean FCD central are making me look bad, they were to run away with the top spot.....

I predict the unpredictable! The teams seem to play well one week, not well the next. I am sure that some will rise to the top by the end of the fall season, but for now every game is anybody's game.

Crazy weekend for Andromeda 96.

Terrible loss yesterday, seemed to be cocky after scoring the first goal and collapsed after that.

Again today when they were up 4-1 after 30 minutes, second half was full of surprises.

Amigos came out playing and Andromeda just didn't even look half as good as their first half.

Lucky to come up with the 3 points today.


Going to be an interesting year in D2

Club Classic - 4
Tejanos - 0

Tejanos best defender IMHO was carted off the field after dislocating his ankle. CC deserved the win for sure but Tejanos played hard. Two late goals made the score uglier. Plenty of chances to score but Tejanos just couldn't finish.

I agree that right now, there is no runaway leaders in D2. As for the Tejanos, I'm sure they will play hard to the end but I just don't know if they can avoid relegation.

Anyone know any scores from yesterdays games? Anything interesting happen?

After leading 3-1 at one point, Tejanos lose 8-4.

Yeah. I know. Try sitting on the side line watching as a Tejanos supporter.

The already pretty thin defense is even thinner after last week's game where the Tejanos lost probably their strongest defender to an ankle injury for at least a month.

Not saying the Tejanos would have won just pointing out that along with the other issues I've well documented here, the injury bug has made it that much worse. There are also a few other issues I won't really touch on as not to cause any controversy for my BB. (it's not a coach issue, Jimmy is a great coach)

Let's just say that the Coach has shuffled almost the entire line up except for one position. Do the math.

The good thing is once again the Tejanos fought to the end. It would be very easy at this point to lose some gusto. At one point when it was 6-4, it look like the Tejanos might claw their way back.

But Andromeda didn't let up and finished nicely.