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(SOC) 2024 Soccer Thread

Discussion in 'Alligator Alley (other sports)' started by LTG61, Aug 2, 2024.

  1. LTG61

    LTG61 GC Legend

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    I appreciate the offer. But, someday I'd probably forget to honor the source, and run my mouth. So, I'll just be content with your confirmation that my eyes aren't lying to me.
     
  2. LTG61

    LTG61 GC Legend

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    Halftime vs UGa: 0-0.

    The good: an obvious emphasis to maintain more possession and develop it into an attack. Also, some lineup changes.

    The bad: unable to develop the possession into an attack. UF is doing a better job in the midfield, but UGa is getting more players back than UF pushes forward and more players forward than UF gets back on defense.

    The ugly: set piece plays. Just mindless. Once, UF took a corner and loaded 5 players into the 6-yard box with the other 4 well back. The CK went to the 18 yard line. On another, they ran a player out to play a short corner. That player received it about 15 yards from the corner, then tapped a 3-yard return pass that UGa easily collected and walked away with.

    C'mon, man!
     
  3. gtr2x

    gtr2x GC Hall of Fame

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    First soccer I've watched in awhile. 0-0 tie with Georgia, not many chances for either side while I was watching. Small sample but as noted above, corner kicks just seemed like weak giveaways.

    Bailey on the wing stood out to me. Just nobody to finish. :( Goal keeping was solid, there is that.
     
  4. LTG61

    LTG61 GC Legend

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    Final: 0-0.

    This was the minimum result UF had to have. But, in the last 17 minutes, the Gators had UGa completely on the ropes. Unfortunately, none of their flurry of shots went in (all good quality shots, too).

    In the second half, UF again did a nice job with possession. Blom started taking the corner kicks, and they were much higher quality than the first half.

    Curtis played outside midfield this game. She did pretty well, but she's still UF's best defender - by far. It looked to me like UF used a 3-4-3 formation by moving Curtis up to midfield. That left Hauser at the outside fullback but, IMO, she doesn't have the foot speed to be left alone like that.

    And I don't know what's going on with Lena Bailey. She's looked lost at forward the previous two games. CSB must have thought so too, because Bailey didn't step foot onto the field until 15 minutes remaining in the first half. But, nothing changed. Not a good work rate off the ball. When she gets the ball, her head goes down and she doesn't look for anybody else. If she finds herself at the endline, she sends across a blind cross, with no idea who might be in the box or where they are.

    Still, UF got a must-have point if they are going to make the SEC tournament, and they looked generally better while doing it. Here's to continued improvement and an appearance in Pensacola this November.
     
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  5. traubgator

    traubgator GC Hall of Fame

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    Yea, you have to build on that Texas win, so its unfortunate, this team has to make the sec tourney to show progress.
    The next 4 games are winnable games, with vandy being the toughest opponent. Bama and Tenn are average at best -- Bama is slow everywhere on the field and their keepers aren't very good, test them all day. Force and bait them to build out and then play high pressure and they will commit turnovers and play negative.

    first touch has to improve, keep the ball in play and work -- were not going to be one of those pretty soccer teams right now, we have to beat the opposition with effort and tenacity, get after it. Lots of the teams in the SEC have a at least one weak left or right back, I'd focus always on that side of the pitch, and put another body their to attack the flanks with numbers. so many outside backs push up and lose track of their mark -- put 2 attacker on a flank, let your 9 float around more and create number mismatches. Time to push the envelope and its time for the coaches to focus on the now, or they won't be around for that 2026 recruiting class they are taunting as some incredible class.

    I now most hey rah rah soccer, but this team needs better energy, use the bench and the numbers and just go crazy hard.


    2 goals total in SEC play won't cut, shut out again the last 2 games.
    Very favorable schedule with only having to go to Tuscalossa, the other 3 games are at home - but 3 games in essentially a week to end the season wont' be easy
     
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  6. traubgator

    traubgator GC Hall of Fame

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    Down 2-0 to vandy.
    I Encourage all to watch the 2nd goal we conceded. I think it was 3 players who got beat and quit on the play. zero effort defensively. Painful.
     
  7. BurkeGator

    BurkeGator All American

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    I am watching, but not sure why? This team is completely overmatched against a good, not great Vanderbilt. Goldberg is under almost constant assault and may have a case to sue her teammates for non-support. I know they have good recruiting classes coming in, but it is going to take a greater influx of talent to get this program out of its current rut. You can start with bringing in forwards who can finish, and mid-fielders who can control the ball and connect passes. All things Vandy are adept at.
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2024
  8. ocalaman

    ocalaman GC Hall of Fame

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    Gators held scoreless yet again. 12 shots on goal by Vandy, only 2 for Florida. Final scoere 2-0 commodores.
     
  9. traubgator

    traubgator GC Hall of Fame

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    Yea that was painful to watch.

    most clubs teams in the south would throttle this team.

    I’m not sure if this coach knows a thing about soccer. That was actually disturbing to watch. Do the players not even care anymore. Just bad all around. I’m telling you that 2nd goal was disturbing defensively. Girls just quit on the play.
     
  10. LTG61

    LTG61 GC Legend

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    I'm traveling, so I didn't get to watch. The description of the defensive "effort" on the second goal is consistent with a trend that has been building in the past few games. I mentioned how UGa was getting numbers to both ends of the field better than UF, and a play where both central defenders were 'on vacation'. USCe's first goal (a corner kick to the near post) had no business coming close to an attacker, and there seems to be more and more instances of defenders turning their back or lazily sticking a leg out when "trying" to block a shot.
     
  11. BurkeGator

    BurkeGator All American

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    According to the broadcast announcer the team had been dealing with "sickness" throughout the week. That may in part have contributed to the below par defensive effort? I say that since the normally tough as nails defender Vanka uncharacteristically was beaten several times and she just looked drained most of the match. That very well could be from recent illness or just as likely from the cumulative wear of a seasons' worth of constantly having to give 100% effort for 90 minutes while performing remarkable feats of defending just to give this team a chance.

    My issue with the offense is how is it your most talented forward, Vera Blom is not the focal point of your attack? She disappears for long stretches of the match as it seems almost incidental that she gets on the ball. There was a particularly egregious example of this yesterday as the athletic Njeri Butts breaks free with the ball in the attacking half - head down of course - focused exclusively on a double marked teammate at the top of the penalty box while completely ignoring a charging and completely wide open Vera Blom on the right side. To be fair, there is no guarantee Blom would have scored, but with her skill I am willing to bet she does. I see Florida's opponents regularly exhibit the awareness to make that pass to devastating effect. Losing Hinnenkamp preseason has apparently been completely debilitating. I sure hope she returns next season and Blom doesn't get disgruntled and transfer out because, quite frankly, I do not see any viable alternatives unless there are some hidden gems in this incoming class or we get lucky in the transfer portal.
     
  12. traubgator

    traubgator GC Hall of Fame

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    So if you have access -- start watching 2nd goal at 1:25:00
    Vanderbilt vs. Florida 10/18/24 - Stream the Match Live - Watch ESPN

    right before the goal is scored, vandy player dribbles to corner for a cross, and their is no effort by any gator in sight to close down the ball and defend. then what follows is a complete defensive breakdown and lack of effort by the gators to go down 2-0. a few bad clearances as well
     
  13. LTG61

    LTG61 GC Legend

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    Halftime vs Bama: Bama leads 1-0.

    Sadly, it's just more of the same: no possession, send the opening kickoff directly out of bounds, under constant siege. Vaka got a red card through her own sheer incompetence. Sky Barnes flashed some potential at the center forward spot. Bama's goal came when Curtis just stuck her leg out instead of moving laterally to defend while Hauser could have also moved laterally one step laterally from the other side but didn't - electing to spin around to avoid getting hit by the shot.

    Truthfully, this game should be a blowout already. Goldberg has had two great saves, and multiple shots have clanked off the posts.
     
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  14. LTG61

    LTG61 GC Legend

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    Coach Bohon at halftime: "this team is going to go down swinging."

    That's her plan?
     
  15. LTG61

    LTG61 GC Legend

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    Another Bama goal 3:40 into the second half. Defenders just watched the pass come in; no one within 3 yards of the shooter in front of the near post.
     
  16. traubgator

    traubgator GC Hall of Fame

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    Yea. Bad. Very bad.

    nothing positive about this game besides Goldberg. But she should have saved the 3rd goal.

    Bama isn’t even special. Average team this year. We are so bad offensively. Nothing. So many careless give aways. Again bad touches. Heavy balls.

    this team is light years away right now.
     
  17. traubgator

    traubgator GC Hall of Fame

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    And like you said - the red card was so careless. Bad bad defense.

    has this team made any progress since last season? If we didn’t have Goldberg…. Wow
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:18 PM
  18. LTG61

    LTG61 GC Legend

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    Final 3-1 Bama.

    There is no concept. Defense is poke away or clearance rather than take possession or start a possession. Offense appears to have no idea what to do, or what they are trying to do, on any part of the field.

    I have to put the fault for this type of play and low quality of play on the coaches.
     
  19. traubgator

    traubgator GC Hall of Fame

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    Exactly. Who taught these girls to toe poke a clearance. Clear the ball!!!

    bamas keeper isn’t even good.
    Game day coaching isn’t hard at all, this team has no chance to be successful. I’m not sure these coaches are qualified to coach d1 soccer at a sec school where other teams actually play the game.
     
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  20. missourigator

    missourigator GC Hall of Fame

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    Now now now. I got negative feedback for suggesting that our coach was not SEC quality. In 3 years we have not improved. Time for a change. But you know how I feel about SS, so I quess she will get another year.