Okay, nine mathces is slightly past the midpoint of the season, but whatever. Half of the home schedule is over. And I may be the only person still paying attention to the Metros on this webiste, but that's never stopped me from talking to myself before.

The 2-3-4 record gives the boys nine points through nine matches. That's not great, but when compared to the nine points in each of the past two full seasons it is an improvement.

Goal scoring is still a problem. While 0.9 goals per game is up from 0.75 in 2007 and 2008, it remains well below this season's league average of 2.1. With the more offensive play we've seen this year, I would have hoped there would have been more balls in the backs of nets. The 7-0 pummelling in New Orleans skews the goals against. I don't know what the heck happened there. The Jesters are a superior side, but they were held scoreless here the other night.

The pitch continues to be a disgrace. Even though the Metros still play in sad old Ezell Park, at least the field was usually in pretty good shape. I don't know if it is not being taken care of anymore or it is being overused. I doubt if there is anything that can be done to improve things this season, so we'll have to put up with watching soccer as if it was being played in an weedy, muddy open field somewhere.

Despite the doom and gloom, things are looking up. Looks like the playoffs are probably out of the question again, but the matches have been more entertaining this year. Fourth place in the division and best-of-the-rest is about all that can be reached, but it is doable. Let's see if Richie can get push the boys to some more goals and more wins.

This team and organization is a joke. The Southeast Division gets worse every year since the Metros started playing PDL. This year is the weakest conference yet and 6 of the 8 teams are under .500. Not to mention you have played 13 games and your leading scorer has 2 goals and only 7 people total have found the back of the net. Its also suppose to be a developmental league so why are people in the upper 20s playing. This should be for 18-21 year olds. Its trying to be run like a professional organization but turns into a professional failure the last couple years.

I don't know how the Metros organization is somehow bringing down the division. If anything, poor results by the Metros should boost the points totals of the rest of the division.

As far as the performance on the field is concerned, this season has been more successful than the past two and there is still one match left to play. They have bettered 2007 and 2008 in points, goals scored, goals against and goal difference. Yes, they continue to finish well behind the rest of the division and the league as a whole, but let's at least acknowledge some improvement. And they have been more entertaining to watch. The previous few years were moribund.

I am disappointed in the organization this season. Part of that is on me. I ceased working for the club and to be honest things have suffered. Other changes have also affected communication and match day activities. There is definitely room for improvement there.

I will mention again the complete embarrassment that is the pitch at Ezell Park. On a dry day it is a bumpy ground with patches of dirt. If it has rained it becomes anywhere between a muddy mess and a quagmire of puddles. To be honest I would be surprised if opponenents haven't complained to the league about its condition.

So there it is. The home schedule is over and the 2009 season as a whole is almost at an end. The Nashville Metros have played USL soccer for twenty years. We'll have to see how many more years they have in them. Unless there is improvement on several fronts, there might not be too many more.