Rant on:
I'm starting to lose confidence in our attacking players. We just can't seem to get the job done. Amani's touches last night were pretty awful overall. We only seem to have one way to attack and the verity and surprise is missing up front.

The one play that sticks in my mind was a good play, we regained possession and played quickly up to him but his first touch was a cannon and he put the ball right back to a Carolina player sitting right at the top corner of the box. That just can't happen in this style of attack.

He is playing the position correctly, playing up high and picking the correct moments to come back into space to find the outlet pass. But then he can't find a supporting player to get the ball to. The outside mids and the attacking mid need to transition forward better and give him more choices when he is under pressure. Maybe these players need to talk more and let him know where to go with the ball. Once in a while he needs to change things up, use a flick-on and try to get behind on his own, turn and threaten to take on the defenders and keep them from closing him down so quickly. He needs to use 1v1, 1v2 shielding and dribbling skills better.

When we use a build up style we seem to be forgetting to play away from pressure. We bring the ball up one side well but then after the other team shifts to defend against that attack we keep on going straight into that pressure. We need to make better decisions of when their is space to play forward into and when to switch the field work the other team more and find a way into the box with close combination plays between players who know what play they are going to attempt to penetrate with.
Rant Off:



We also seem to have a bunch of players all over the field that are not 100% fit and not playing at the same level as last season, that is also disappointing the year after a championship.

Oh and by the way, I really don't think we have defended all that well this year. When did we forget how to defend? We have new players on the back line almost every game? Overall we do fine defending but we have periods where we make big huge youth player type of mistakes lately.

Take away Van Oooo, and Ibarra and this 2011 championship group of players is making last year look like it may have just simply been a lucky season.

From what I see, our play as been too predictable. For example, the Stars seem to like to attack on the right side of the pitch. I really did not keep track last night, but the last few weeks it is all we seem to do.

I would like to go back and re-watch the match against RSL. The Stars seemed to play centrally when they attacked and did it well. Maybe I am not paying close attention, but I have not seen it.

This also seems to be our mid-season slump. The Stars were unbeatable before SJ. After that, we seem to be struggling to get points. There have also been some errors in the backline that have resulted in goals.

I would like to see Freidland in an outside mid position or at least come back as a central defender. Kevin does not make many mistakes. Although he lacks physical size, the guy really does not get pushed around like you would expect. It is also an undisputed FACT the guy can out jump almost everyone.

PS: I was watching Kevin in team warm-ups before the last home match against the Strikers. While I do not claim to have ESP, I felt a vibe coming from him saying, "Manny, just put me in. I deserve playing time."

My boss suggested I take some time off tomorrow and on Thursday and that I should go watch Stars training. I will report back what I see.

Carolina has now passed us by in points with 31 in 22 games. SOB!
Carolina had 5 points in 9 games.
Carolina had 22 points in 16 games.

Stars had 16 points in 8 games.
Stars had 23 points in 14 games.
Stars had 26 points in 18 games.
Stars now have 29 points in 23 games.

CNN has made their projections and the Stars will not make the 2012 NASL playoffs with this current trend unless a hurricane hits Tampa this next week.

It seems like we just can't hang on or make the goals that need to be made.

The ball movement coming through the middle 1/3 in the first 25 was ok but a bit sloppy and slow. You could almost see the players having a hard time making a decision on where they should go with their next pass.

The defending was 99% ok (not great by any means) but then that 1% kills ya when you only score one goal a game...

23 games = 27 goals for, and 28 against. You just can't make defending mistakes at this point in a season with those numbers so close between scored and given up.

We have given up goals this year from stupid little mistakes made near our own goal that should not happen at this level of play. It is a lot easier to defend then to score goals. When defending you just have to destroy the others attempts CLEANLY!
In attack you have to create great things at this level of play where the other teams can defend well.

I understand lack of attacking chances in D2, I can't stand little defending mistakes made at this level.

I remain gutted after seeing Venages and Walker miss out on great one v. GK opportunities. Time to do a session on finishing.

On the other hand, great goal by Cristiano. I was able to capture it on my iPhone. I passed it onto the Stars front office and they posted it on FB during the match. Cristiano was also excited to hear I captured it and I was able to email the clip to him.

I haven't been to a game at all this year. I was excited to see so many people at the game. I thought the mid-field work very hard on and off the ball. I did however, think they were playing a man down. As I had not seen them play yet this year I thought Walker was hurt, his turns were poor, I watched him admire his passes instead of moving into positions, nor did it seem as if he could jump for headers. I was thinking a turned ankle, a pulled ham string something.

So I was surprised when he went out in the second half? Is he hurt?

Walker definitely didn't look as active last night as he has in the past, he usually puts in a bit more effort.

The lack of turning is typical, he can't turn to save himself.

Walker has been coming off an injury, so I assume that is part of why he came out. Even if he is having a bad night, he forces the other teams to play differently. The shape of the game is better with him in and you could see that when Simone came in.