Monday, March 10, 2008
'08 Girls State Cup
With a regional champ at U13 last year, the hopes for up and coming regionally-competitive girls teams is high. The girl’s draw shows 16 teams entering at U16 and 17 teams at U13. Can the BNG U14s repeat? Will WDB keep a strangle hold on the U16 age group? Can the BNG 17s maintain their dominance? Can the Shattuck U18 girls really compete with the likes of BNG, TNK and WBL? Can anyone give the SCV U19 girls a run for their money this year?
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533 comments:
1 – 200 of 533 Newer› Newest»For what it's worth, here's my take...
U13 Bangu beats plymouth
U14 Bangu beats wayzata
U15 Bangu beats EP
U16 Woodbury beats Bangu
U17 Bangu Beats Wings
U18 Bangu beats Bangu
Is there a typo on the U13 schedule? They have a Bangu U14 Premier team listed in the play-in game. (BTE14GPR01)
im guessing its a pure draw at u13 given that it's their first state cup...its fair for everone in involved, not an anti-bangu rule as I'm sure many of you will attempt to argue
8:04 - correct, it is a pure draw at U13 since they have no basis to seed teams and that is the U13 team that played up last year and secured a U14 premier slot.
anon 658...
That is Bangu's U13 team that plays up a year. They qualified for 14P - no typo...
Shattuck U18 will win.
at U14G there is a group of death in group A with Bangu Blue, the defending region champs, and three U14 premier teams, North Suburban, Eden Prairie and Eagan.
Bangu Blue should come out fine, but, I don't think it will be easy and the wild card team won't come from this bracket.
Other predictions in this bracket:
Group B: Bangu White (MRL)
Group C: Dakota Rev
Wild Card: Bangu Green (14 Prem)
Semis:
Bangu Blue over Green
Bangu White over Dakota Rev
Bangu Blue off to defend their region title.
U14observer,
I would not count out Wayzata, they looked good this weekend and Dakota REV looked very average at best. I would count Wayzata in the semi's for sure.
Where were they playing?
Dakota Rev was my sleeper pick, I don't see St. Croix or Blaine contending with Bangu White & Green. Maybe both Rev and Wayzata will get thru, but, it won't matter against Bangu Blue.
Bangu Blues are the best team on paper for sure - stock full of talent, very athletic, and coached by one of the state's top coaches. The gap between them and everyone else at the age group was immense last year. HOWEVER, the gap will slowly be closed (though never completely IMO) year after year and there are always upsets in State Cup. Always.
It would be disappointing if they didn't rep our state at Regionals again this year, but if they get upset, more power to the team that does it.
U13s, Bangu Blue
U15s, EP has a shot this year over Bangu Blue.
U16s, no brainer.
U17s, Stars should do it.
U18s, no idea how good SSM is, but Bangu Blue is tough.
U19, who is even at this age group?
Wayzata and Dakota Rev were at the Bangu Friedlies in St Cloud, Wayzata beat Bangu White 3-0, Dakota Rev lost to Bangu Green 2-0. Although lots of teams missing players due to the state basketball tournament.
I would say Wayzata has a very organized defense and will be hard to score on, Dakota Rev did not look very good and stuggled in the games I saw. Bangu White was also average at best, although they were missing 5-6 players due to basketball and illness so not sure how to guage them at this point. Should be fun to see who get through although none of the teams have a chance at beating Bangu Blue unless they take them to PK's.
The Wayzata team also only managed to beat the Bangu U13 Blue team 1-0 in St. Cloud. They scored early and the younger team seemed to get better as the game went on.
It will be really interesting to see if U14 coaches try and pack it in against Bangu Blues. This is part of the game, but is it more focused on results than on development? I honestly sit on the fence about this, and can't wait to see how this plays out.
Thank's to Bangu and especially MC my girls had a chance to play three very competetive games against three good opponents in March for less than $400.
I can only hope that we get invited back next year. MN soccer need more events like this in the winter if we want MN soccer to develop.
As far as the results from the weekend I would not put to much weight on them for various reasons
However I want to point out that Wayzata is looking good and is probbaly the team that have improved the most so far since last season.
My girls (REV) have had the opportunity to play the Green U14 White U14 and Blue U13 Bangu teams as well as EP U14 and Wayzata U14 atleast once this winter, we played NSS this fall and Eagan have had some good results this winter as well. If it was not for MA's team this would probably be the most open age group.
It is to early for me to make predictions accept that MA's team will win. I be back with my predictions (not that I think peopel care) when we know how teams do in the out of state spring tournaments. Have a feeling that teams will look very different when the coaches try to win and the players are 100% focused on soccer.
Great to have the blog up and running hope people behave.
Swedish Smurf
Bangu Green is down from last year. They are much slower, lost some defense. Wayzata looks much improved. Their back line is solid. Eagan picked up some decent players and is very deep. Bangu White will be stronger with the addition of a few players from the Blue team. Haven't seen EP or NSSA yet. Bangu Blue will come out top and yes that pool is the loaded. Luck of the draw.
To Anon 3:19
What is a Bangu anyway?
Bangu will match their cup championship count from last year. But I think the girls may win 4 and the boys 4 (versus 5 and 3 last year.) I think they have a 50/50 shot of picking up 1 more on the girls side at 13s.
Anon 8:16pm
I agree, Bangu has a 50/50 shot at U13. They are a good team and have had great preparation compared to the other teams in this age group. They are good, but will not come close to a regional championship like MA's group.
I do think they will win the U13 group, but they are not as talented.
Blue 13 will win my guess by 3goals or more in the final
Swedish Smurf
The Bangu U13 is a talented group of players and should win state cup, however they do have a few weaknesses and could find themselves in a tough fight to win the title. I would consider PSA, Wings, Burnsville and the Bangu East U12's as contenders, although on paper Bangu's 13's are the favorite. As far as them winning a regional title like last years U13 team, that is a long shot, they do not have the talent of that team. If they do win state cup they will certainly be competitive, however the likelyhood of them winning a regional title is a long shot.
I agree with smurf. The Bangu U13 blue team is the clear favorite. I watched that team play PSA in St. Cloud last weekend and they were clearly the better team. They controled the ball and played much faster. I don't think that PSA had many chances and may have only been inside the 18 once or twice. I think the score was close (1 or 2-0), but you could tell the coach was working on things during the game. I didn't see their game against Wayzata U14, but I understand they were evenly matched.
That said, that's why they play the games.
As for regionals, probably a long shot. This team has followed the same path as MA's team, but MA clearly has more talent. I'll be interested in seeing how they do in Vegas this weekend. They have a tough schedule.
FC Stars of Massachusetts United #29 Region I
Neusport 95 Green #6 Nation - #2 Region IV
Ohio Premier U13 Green #4 Nation - #1 Region II
Regional championships are an iffy thing. Last years U13 team capitalized on an excellent draw and upsets of all the regions top teams to win without ever playing a team ranked in the top 10 in the region except ratpack which was #7 at the time. They palyed well but were also very fortunate. To say that the 13 team will never match them talent wise based on one tourney is disrespectful of the younger team. Should we look at the U14's results in other major tourneys, which have not been very good, and say that means they are not a good team? Of course not. Let them play over the years and hope for both to do well. No need to compare and say one has less talent than the other.
Clearly it is Bangu 13 at the top of this age group. That said, don't count out Tonka it took the Bangu team til overtime at USA Cup to win and it could have gone the other way. Wings have a new coach and added new players. Either of these could knock off Bangu
just curious... how can you "tell the coach was working on things during a game."
Why don't you just say "I am a parent on the team and some girls were playing more than usual or in different places."
Sorry to disappoint you anon 904.
Actually, I'm not a parent of a player on that team. My daughter does play for another Bangu team. We scrimmaged that team several times and we have seen a lot of them over the winter. I also saw them play at NSC fall cup (watched two of their games that weekend) so I am somewhat familiar with what they do.
There were a few players at different positions and they were playing with different formations than I've seen this winter. I’m only guessing here, but the coach may have been getting different looks before they go to their tournament this weekend. Another possibility is, it looked like they only had three subs on the bench so they might have been tinkering some.
That's how I could tell.
There was much tinkering going on in St. Cloud with many of teams. I hadn't seen several of the Bangu and club teams in a while. Bangu's U15 MRL team had their hands full with the club from Madison, but they looked all weekend like they were playing people all over the place to try different combinations. Lesson to the rest of us from that lightly practiced Madtown club: if you want to stop a top Bangu team, you have to play quickly and don't let them get up a head of steam through the midfield. Knock a few people down . . . hard.
U14 State cup I'd look out for Wayzata. They looked fresh and like they were enjoying themselves.
I'llBRtBack
To anon 1147. could you please be a little more specific on how SSM 18's will beat the Bangu 18's?
13 Girls, Woodbury is stong, great coaching, I've seen them training this winter a couple times. They have to be considered a favorite in this age group. Which contrary to the conventional wisdom of earlier posters is not yet won!
Watched Woodbury U13 last year they played good soccer, and will benefit fromt the larger field, especially if they have been able to add additional talent.
However the gap between U13 Blue and PSA, Woodbury and Tonka is to big, they may be able to keep it close like Tonka did at USA Cup last year due to great goal keeping.
The Blue team was the best u12 team last year and they have added talented players from within the club and from outside the club and unless another team did the same I don't see how they can pull off the upset, if they do great.
My team have played both the U13 Blue team and the U13 PSA team and their is a very big difference between the two teams. The PSA team is a good u13 team but the Blue team is just better.
Swedish Smurf
I agree that Woodbury will be very good. Their coaches are the best in the age group and they will easily beat Tonka(easy group) and reach the final. I don't know if they have a shot against Bangu, which is miles ahead of the other teams in the age group at this point, but it will be a close game.
Bangu 13's L 4-0 Neusport NV #6N
Bangu 14's D 1-1 SoCal Blues #41N
Bangu 15's lose 2-0 LaRoca UT #40N
at Vegas
anon 1113-
although bangu is very strong in the midfield and up top, good teams have way to easy of a time breaking down their back line...if they continue to allow dangerous attacking players to have alot of space and time on the ball ssm will take advantage of this flaw and create dangerous opportunities with the 2-3 offensive threats that they have.
SSM is stronger on the defensive end than bangu, and as they say defense wins championships...that being said, I believe bangu has the most dangerous player of either team in Eckstrom
It should be a very close and even game...I'd say a 1 goal game one way or the other
Bangu has a rock solid defense and some speed up top, the midfield is where they could lose the game.
I respectfully disagree with you 549...I've seen them play a few times this year and their midfield is stable, their attacking players are strong on the ball and move well without it but their back 4 give opposing forwards way too much space...if you give a strong 1v1 player (like the one ssm has up top) too much time and space you play to that individual's strengths and consequently give up goal scoring opportunities...If Bangu tightens up that aspect of their team game they should be the better team...if not they could be in trouble
I understand. I also have seen them play and feel most of their defensive problems occur when their midfield gets caught upfield and the backs have no help. It should be an interesting game.
i completely agree with you there
have seen SSM U18 and Bangu play common opponent. SSM will prevail based on simple observation that they play with more forward linear game force directed at the net and have more trigger points of attack, Bangu will be blue after game despite abundance of quality players and fine coaching. Glad two talented teams finally get to compete against each other, either will represent the state well at regions. But wild card factor in match is fact that most of SSM talented players still 17 and have less tournament game pressure experience than Bangu. Should be most interesting game at State Cup in long time. State should be proud to have these two top talented teams playing each other and all the girls going to many top notch college programs.
Bangu 3 SSM 1.
It'll be interesting to see if Bangu can beat the collection of players SSM has recruited from across the country.
My hunch is those SSM girls will catch hell from their coaches if they lose to a bunch of Minnesota kids.
That would be an indictment of either the players or the coaching at SSM. Time will tell.
The SSM girls don't quite have the quality of players as the SSM boys. Additionally the Bangu girls are a special group. I agree that this could be one of the better games at MN State Cup, boys or girls. Its a shame they meet in the semis. I predict a BNG v BNG final.
Anon's 7:06 & 7:09....what kind of "hell" do you think they will catch?...This should be a good game..I only hope that both teams are healthy.
The kind of "hell" one catches when they've promised their "boss" that if you give us hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to build a program we'll get results "hell".
They can't afford to lose with them having scholarship players from all accross the USA to a bunch of girls from a state that lags the rest of the nation in soccer.
This will be the most pressure to win those coaches and therefore the players have ever seen.
Fortunately for the SSM staff on the boys side the top clubs don't have teams at U18 and SSM will win easily.
You have no idea about pressure. Pressure winning a state cup game? Please. Some of these girls are so use to playing in front of sidelines full of college coaches, and even one has won a National Championship all ready. I think you guys are making it more of a thing than the girls are. Pressure. LOL Its only going to be a state cup game. the sun will rise the next morning. Win or not its not the end of the soccer world. And IM sure all you will be at this Wed nite game then?? Hope so.
8:33
You are correct about the girls being used to seeing college coaches on the side lines, I don't think that will affect any of the girls at all.
What they will be thinking about is:
1. It's Bangu vs Shattuck
2. The winner will win state cup
3. The winner will also go to regionals.
There is alot riding on this one game for all of the girls and I wish all of them the best of luck!
I for one will be there, (watching the other game).
soccerr
We are all under the assumption that the first round SSM vs. Bangu matchup will be the end of the road to Regionals for one team. But, I found the below on the MYSA website......
"4.4.2.2 SUMMER STATE TOURNAMENT POLICIES
...e. The MYSA summer state tournament will be a round robin format. In divisions with only four teams, the champion will be determined by the team with the highest point total. In the event of a tie, the champion will be determined using the tie breaking rules in paragraph 4.4.4.1.c."
Doesn't this say that both teams will still be competing in a round robin?
The MYSA summer state tournament is held in July and does not include premier and MWRL teams, only C1,2 and 3 teams as far as I know.
soccerr
bangu blue can still qualify with a loss to ssm through mrl...regardless...I am marking my calender for this one....
Is there anyone out there who is familar with both teams(bangu and ssm) who could provide a unbiased preview(barring injuries) which looks to be a great match?
Tommy...you going this game?
MYSA's summer state tournament is for the MYSA league. Each division PR, C1, C2, C3 may play. There have to be at least 4 teams that want to play in a division. I can't recall the last time a PR group actually played in the summer state tournament.
I'm in Chicago this weekend if the game is taking place this Sat/Sun.
I did want to do some viewing this weekend but I was taken out of town on business.
Anon 10:20
Have to agree with you completely. Whether anyone admits it or not the Bangu vs SSM game involves some big stakes. Simple logic tells us that SSM should be the heavy favorite simply by the fact that they have an essentially hand picked team from around the country including several National Pool players against a team from Minnesota. Anything other than an SSM win is bad news for any outsiders looking in.
I agree with anon 12:35...
If SSM loses this match to a team comprised of players only from Minnesota after SSM spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on scholarships and recruiting players from all across the USA the soccer staff in Faribault will be squirming in their seats trying to explain it to the powers that be.
Wouldn't want to be in Napoleon's shoes after that loss.
To the Anon's..once again the passive agressive posturing without knowing your facts....looks like the Bangu talent pool equals that of ssm..hundreds of thousands of dollars?...If you look below and use odp as a benchmark, I think you will find for the most part equal talent level. Not sure why we can't discuss this game in a different manner, but so be it.
Columbia Megan Gallivan D MN Edina The Blake School Bangu Tsunami
Concordia-St Paul Savannah Nolen F MN Rochester Century HS Bangu Tsunami
Creighton Macy Mauer F MN Woddbury Woodbury HS Bangu Tsunami
Minnesota Shari Eckstrom M MN Brooklyn Park Camplin Park HS Bangu Tsunami
Minnesota Josie Solie M MN Mahtomedi Mahtomedi HS Bangu Tsunami
Minnesota Tamara Strahota F MN Burnsville Burnsville HS Bangu Tsunami
North Dakota State Danielle Boldenow M MN Forest Lake Forest Lake HS Bangu Tsunami
North Dakota State Emily Brostrom F MN Dayton Champlin Park HS Bangu Tsunami
North Dakota State Michelle Gaffaney F MN Bloomington Jefferson HS Bangu Tsunami
North Dakota State Laura Wagner M MN Plymouth Wayzata HS Bangu Tsunami
Northwestern Kelsey Bertamus F MN Burnsville Lakeville South HS Bangu Tsunami
Ohio Remi Famodu D MN Bloomington Kennedy HS Bangu Tsunami
Ohio Toye Famodu M MN Bloomington Kennedy HS Bangu Tsunami
Saint Cloud State Tara Evangelist D MN Mahtomedi HS DePaul TR Bangu Tsunami
Saint Cloud State Tiffany Jordan M MN Mahtomedi DePaul TR Bangu Tsunami
South Dakota State Stephanie Peterson D MN Lakeville Lakeville South HS Bangu Tsunami
Wisconsin Krista Lundgren F/M MN Lakeville Lakeville South HS Bangu Tsunami
This list was pulled from soccer buzz...not to mention that ssm starts roughly 7 U-17's.
Some well thought out coments would be appreciated as it concerns to play on the field.
It's really hard not to look at the U18 match up as anything other than a team from Minnesota vs an all-star selection that was recruited from all across the USA.
That's the reality of it.
It will be a good match with very high stakes for some involved.
I don't think anyone disputes that Bangu has more, or at minimum equal, overall talent than SSM. That is not to say they are a lock to win, they are not. The point is that they should not be more or even equally talented given SSM's ability to pull players in from out of state while Bangu is comprised strictly of players from MN. Should be a good game but if both teams play well Bangu will win. The only place SSM will have an edge is in the midfield and that will not be enough.
I must be having blogger problems...without revisiting the ssm issue of where they come from etc(this has been beaten to death, it's over, they are, get over it),
Could someone who is somewhat familar, perhaps a bangu white parent, try and give an honest assessment of this game...If sssm has an edge at midfield, how did you come to this conclusion?..If bangu has the edge at forward and defense, who was this determined?
Thanks, MNSoccer
What makes this game interesting is the importance for SSM. They have not been able to get their teams into the major showcase tourneys in the upper flights. A state cup title would help there and also aid recruiting. The quality of soccer, while good by MN standards, is not great. Neither of these teams is a serious contender for a regional title unless they receive a very fortunate draw. If both teams were from MN this game would not draw nearly the interest it does, at least on this blog.
anon 3/14 509, 549, 610 and 624 are correct as to flaws with the bangu 18s....their midfield gets caught forward leaving a big gap b/t them and the back 4...this leaves them suseptible to breakdowns in the back as their back 4 are not great 1v1 defenders against dangerous attacking players
SSM is strong 1-11, but lack any real depth...they have one very strong attacking player who can break people down on the dribble..they have alot of speed on the outside but have a tendancy to play through the central midfield. they are also pretty good in the air on the offensive end.
SSM move the ball very well as a team and move off the ball as well as any team I have seen this year. They are very physical and some would say dirty at times.
Unlike SSM, bangu tends to play the ball through the same 3-4 people at all times...they don't play through the middle much but rather get the ball to their fast outside midfielder who in turn plays it into the feet of Eckstrom or switches the ball to strahota. They try to get those two isolated with defenders in a 1v1 situation because both are very dangerous on the dribble.
Given that these two teams match up very well against each other(bangu has the more danerous individual attacking players and the best player of either team in Eckstrom, while SSM is strong on the defensive end and difficult to break down), I believe it will be a very even game.
As previous posters have suggested, it will probably come down to who stays more balanced in the midfield. If either teams' midfield gets caught forward at the wrong time that team will probably pay for it as both bangu and ssm have the fire power to counter quickly and effectively when such opportunities present themselves.
anon 11:44...great post..thank you.
Except that there are at least 3, if not 4, players on these teams better than the one mentioned.
ok anon 12:09..who?...I thought anon 11:44 did a good job and tried to be as objective as possible...
I am not going to name names, these are still kids we are talking about. I will say that 1144did name one of them. In addition, how can you say a player that is not even on the region team is better than a national pool player?
anon 12:23...you know how things change..looking for objective thoughts is always difficult when dealing with parents etc..trying to keep to soccer takes can prove difficult...I thought the assessment by anon 11:44 was a good post..I think though that mnfutbol is going to have to have a bangu vs ssm u-18 post..as far as the names go..I see nothing wrong as long as it relates to the game and is not mean spirited..we are talking about U-18's here and I think names would be relative for pro's and con's.
regardless of national pool or regional team status, my comments were based on my observations of both teams during multiple games this winter...in my objective opinion, eckstrom's play influences the success of her team more so than any one player I have seen on either bangu or ssm...When bangu is at their best the ball goes through her...she creates on the dribble by beating people 1v1 and in the process opens up space for her teammates by drawing opposing players out of position to pick her up. her presence on the field makes everyone around her better.
She has unmatched qualities of speed, strength, vision and creativity on the ball,
and in my opinion, this makes her the most dangerous player on the field.
This is not to say that the other players mentioned are not great players because they are, I just think that she has the most noticeable impact on the field.
anon 12:58...no reason to defend your comments....
i'm not defending anything, i'm merely responding to 1223s inquiry as to how and why i have the opinion that i do
again...thanks.
Your recognition of Bangu's weakness is more about discipline than anything else. I have not seen the Bangu team this winter, but I will say that last summer I did not see the flaw pointed out.
I would be very surpised given their coach. It is also a relatively easy thing to fix. Holding MF players, at any level, set the defensive tone. A small amount of tacticle work with a single player can make the differnce in losing games 1-2 or winning them 1-0.
I am excited to watch the game in late April. I think going into the game Bangu has to be the favorite...but plenty of teams have been beat by lesser teams at State Cup.
What criteria do the DOCS use to evaluate the performance of their coaches and how often does the evaluation take place. Like any business that has customers the best should get attaboys and the unsatisfactory performers should get the "boot".Somebody on this blog should know how the process works. How about you TOMASS...
It is different based on requirements of the club on how the DOC is required to operate.
Shortages of coaching provides a large cushion of forgiveness.
Found this under Tourney news!
U13 State Cup:
Group A: Woodbury or Tonka (too close to call).
Group B: Bangu 14P (in a runaway)
Group C: Wings.
Group D: PSA.
Semis: Woodbury/Tonka; Bangu 14P.
Final: Bangu 14P in a close one.
Bangu have to be sure not to choke vs. DR in the play-in, but should run through their group and beat a good and well-coached Wings team in the semis. Despite Bangu'spoor showing in Vegas, they have an immense advantage in both talent and also experience at 11v11. Hopefully, they will be able to deal with the pressure.
Tonka have a very good reputation and they are capable of providing a great challenge to Bangu. However, watch out for Woodbury. They are the sleeper in the tournament, and they have the Inferno coach, too.
There may be 17 teams, but Bangu, Tonka, Woodbury, Wings and PSA are the only teams with a realistic shot to win this year.
Wings is the best hope of challenging Bangu at U13. They were the best of the U12's last year and they, too, have added a great coach.
8:58, agreed. Wings will be strong with their talent and capable coach.
The Wings? Pah-leez
3:36 - explain. How do you doubt a team that was among the top in the state last year and then went out and brought in DA as their coach? I think he will do very well with them (I'm not a Wings parent, coach or board member).
I have heard they train a fraction of what other top teams do.
for those who care...we practice 2 times per week and have been doing so since last fall. 10 of the players are also multi-sport athletes and manage to make a high percentage of the practices.
The Wings are sure contenders at U13. Being a good U12 team doesn't ensure being a good U13 team but Wings and several other teams with new U13 rosters and good coaching (there are some new coaches for a couple of teams) will mean several U13 girls teams will all be in the mix to win. It is not Bangu's tournament to lose but to win like all the others, even though some parents/coaches keep reporting otherwise.
IMO the Wings will have a hard time advancing out of their group. Wayzata has to be the favorite in that group.
Seems to me that there is pretty good parity in the U15G group. Anyone got any predictions for "dark horses" in this group?
Wayzata, EP, Woodbury?
Bangu Blue won this age group easily last year, 4-0 in the final over Bangu White. I am not aware of any player movement that would lead to anything different this year. Anything can happen though, as I am sure we will see teams "adopt a defensive posture" and try to get to a shootout.
If we really have that many teams with a chance to win at U13, then the winner will need a good draw at regions just to score a goal. Not a major problem at this age, but that age group needs to be consolidated by U15 or none of them will ever get accepted into major tourneys on their own merit.
The finals may have been lopsided like that, but wasn't there more parity in the pool games? Also, when one looks at the Premier league it seems that there are many, many 1 point games.
pool play is pool play and the goal is to win the game. Also, not sure if the U15 Bangu Blue's played in premier last year.
Bangu Blue did not play in league last year, and they were not pushed in group play either, one close game by score but they dominated.
EP is the Dark horse they have one exceptional forward who can change the game.
EP also has several solid defenders - look for scappy game between Goo Blue and EP. EP may just be able to pull it off this year. Have been told they had a bench full of injuries last year.
Hasn't the U-15 EP girls come close to winning the state cup a few times but fell short?
I think this game will come down to who can coach better. Both EP and Bangu Blue has so much talent. The coach can decide this game.
Who coaches these two teams?
U13 Bangu Blue 3 - EP 1
U14 Bangu White in shootout PK's over EP in semi-finals. This was a very even contest (not a pack it in and hope). Bangu Blue in finals over Bangu White 4-0.
just to clarify, the 6:54am response is to yesteday's 11:06pm post. The U13 game would have been played in 2006, with the U14 game being last year.
Thanks for the State Cup history 6:54. Who do you think will take the title this year in the U-15 girls age group? Which group do you believe is the toughest?
The pool of Bangu Blue/WDB/play-in/Wayzata #1 is probably a bit tougher than the one of EP/Bangu White/play-in/CR (EP has a play-in game as well, but I would be surprised if they don't get through to pool play). Bangu Blue/Wayzata #1 and EP/Bangu White out of the pools. Bangu Blue and EP in the finals (although the EP/Wayzata #1 semi could be a barn burner). Bangu Blue over EP in the finals in a very, very, tough match. My rationale is until EP can beat Bangu Blue in a game, you have to go with the champ. Lots of good players, good teams, and good coaches at the U15 level so nothing would surprise me - it could end up being CR vs WDB for all I know. Even the parents are tolerably (I did not say great - but tolerable) This age group and the U13 have the greatest overall team depth and should be the two funnest to watch out in Coon Rapids.
Who coaches the top bangu team for u-15's?
Eric Singer - same coach as the Bangu U18's. Andy Kasaa is the assistant coach. Dave Marshak is the goalie trainer.
It will be interesting to see how this age group will turn out. Does anyone know if these teams have scrimmaged each other over the winter?
Great post anon 3:39 also think that the U14 age group has depth and on top of that MA's squad.
Swedish Smurf
U13 and U15 are the weakest age groups at the top so should be the most entertaining and wide open. The other ages all have clear favorites. Any upset there is likely to come from a defensive game leading to a shootout.
anon 10:16, what do you base your assesment of the U15 group on. Bangu Blue has won the 2 previous state cups without being seriously challenged. They've added some new talent this year (forward, mid from Inferno, and keeper from U16 PSA) and also now have Singer and Kaasa coaching them. I think they have to be clear favorites.
anon 10:16 - I'm not sure if "weakest" at the top is the right statement. You could make the argument that they are "strongest at the top" with 2, 3 even 4 teams all being very good. I believe there is more quality depth at those age groups which makes for better competition.
Hisham has a really good team at that age group as well. Does anyone know if EP has recruited anyone? People think Bangu is the clear favorite to win in this age group, but I heard EP just recently scrimmaged Bangu (Bangu was full strength) and EP won 3-0.
There could be an upset this year in the U-15 age group.
What does everyone else think?
EP winning the Cup wouldn't be an upset to me. I watched EP play Bangu. Bangu came out flat and got what they deserved.
The U15 group is the weakest at the time because the best team at that age group, Bangu, has had very little out of state success compared to the top teams at other age levels. And no other team in this age group is even competitive against the better teams in the region. There may be enough talent in this age group to form a very good team, but if so it has yet to be consolidated.
Eden Prairie doesn't recruit.
That's against WH's principles as he goes nutso when Bangu "steals" his kids. So they would never take a player from another club.
So remember this, Eden Prairie does not recruit. ;-)
Anon 6:41
All clubs recruit including EP, it may not be obvious but it happens.
If EP also recruits why has WH made so much noise about it?
EP & BNG have a MRL game in a few weeks which might shed some light on what to expect at State Cup.
4:45, If you are using out of State as a guideline how do you pick them as worse age group. Didn't they just recently win an out of state tournament. Based on your criteria I would think the U13 age group would be considered the weakest. Has any team at this age group won anything out of state or even won more games than they lost in a single tournament
I believe anon 4:45 is equating age group strength with the success of the top team. Solid argument if all the top players are on the top team, but I do not believe that is the case at U15 and U13. The talent is spread out amongst the top teams. If you put the top 16 all on one team, then they might have the same success as some of the other age groups.
Which is exactly what 4:45 said
4:37 (or 4:45), he/she may have aluded to it a bit in the last line, but the bulk of the argument was the top team has not done as well as the other age group top teams, therefore that age group is weak.
Speaking of the U-13 age group. Wouldn't it have been better to have only subjected the three true U-12 teams ( Two Bangu and one Dakota Rev ) to the play in draw ? Seems odd to have the highest rated team, Bangu 14P, subject to possible elimination in a "one and Done" play in game. I am sure they will fair well against the Dakota Rev team, but in a one game measurement anything can happen. Seems the State Cup officials could have come up with a better way to unofficially seed the true U-13 teams ahead of the true U-12 teams who are playing up.
That's a very good point 501.
Predictions for the U-13 Girls
Group A - Tonka , Bville a sleeper.
Group B - Bangu 14P but needs to take the REV team seriously in the play in game.
Group C- Wings easily advances.
Group D- Maplebrook, Why is nobody talking about these girls ? Didn't they go undefeated in league the past two seasons ? Am I missing something ? If not them then PSA.
Just my opinion.
Thoughts?
501, Good point but poetic justice. Two true U13's had the playin last year and this team didn't have to play when they were U12. The team that lost the playin last year didn't get to experience State Cup because of the playin. They were one and done.
The MN U1's are terrible. Not a single kid in the bunch can even juggle over 25 times yet.
U2's are looking up, though, thanks to the little kickers program.
824, I agree with you on the U1's but the good news is there are some very talented U0's to represent the state in a few years. I've heard some have been rolling over early and a couple can even scoot on their backs. There is also a phenom at this age group who can actually pull herself up and get into a standing position. The local CC that she presides in has been talking to her parents about the benefits of their CC over playing for a Club. The parents have secured the services of a law firm to help with future dilemas this star will face in her future.
Isn't that the team with a sponsorship from a local diaper service? I heard they all have matching car seats....
this is stupid. can we get back to soccer?
this is stupid. can we get back to soccer?
Back to Soccer.
Many of the comments on various Blogs references National rankings from gotsoccer.com. Here is what I found relating to the age groups 13 and 14.
13 Girls
four rated at 13 and all three 12 teams rated.
#101 Tonka
#112 Wings
#136 Bangu Blue
#203 PSA
#172 Dakota Rev (U-12)
#260 Bangu FC Blue (U-12)
#277 Bangu FC E Blue (U-12)
U-14 Girls
#17 Bangu Blue 93/94
#213 Bangu White
#322 Bangu Green
#343 Wings
#488 Wayzata
So what does this tell us ? Several things I think. First Bangu has the best representation at the highest level of competition. Second, with the exception of MA's U-14 team the rest of the rankings are incomplete at best. The rankings are fun to look at and are certainly an indicator of the level of success a team has had, but especially at the younger ages they are probably no more than that, an indicator.
It doesn't tell us anything, especially at the younger age groups - totally meaningless.
It doesn't tell us anything, especially at the younger age groups - totally meaningless.
especially gotsoccer, also meaningless at older ages.
No ranking system is perfect. I think NSR is a more credible system over gotsoccer. Ranking teams in the 100 plus is a joke.
"WE'RE #488! WE'RE #488!" Do you think they make the foam fingers with numbers that high?
2:00, your team sucks were #487!!! LOL Hilarious
I'll tell you what any of the rankings on gotsocer.com tell you. If you were to read the criteria for ranking, you'd see that they only take into account results from tournaments which use the gotsoccer.com services for thier tournaments.
If your team does not select the "correct" tournaments, then you won't get the points.
Rankings don't mean much...but in my biased opinion, nationalsoccerranking.com is the most accurate. People complain constantly that the rankings are manipulated by those with an "agenda". I suppose this is true for every ranking system in the World...I can only say that there are checks and balances in place to keep this from expanding into the Regional and National rankings. State level stuff can be manipulated, but only from #3 and below. #1 and #2 are the State Cup finalists automatically. The rest are very subject to bias....but it isn't possible to have bias enter in the Regional and/or National Rankings.
For what it's worth.....
3/31 6:00 Your post is a perfect example of why reasonable people have coined the term "Bangoober" the rankings are accurate when they put Bangu teams at the top and meaningless when they don't?
Got Soccer takes more into account than NSR , which rely on last years state cup and regions as primary source of rankings. Most of tournaments smart enough to use Got. Soccer anyway. Plus Got Soccer provides more UP TO DATE information and available justification with less bias than state experts sponsored from usually state club that has self interest in their NSR ranking. Case in point NSR Minn. expert is Bangu coach.
Let's face it. It would be nice if their were a credible ranking service, but there really isn't. Gotsoccer, as everyone points out, is not accurate because teams winning a bunch of lesser tournaments will get a higher ranking than those playing and not advancing in tougher tournaments. The latter may be much, much stronger teams. Additionally, Gotsoccer puts heavy emphasis on State Cup results, which can be skewed if the top teams meet early in the competition and ultimately there are teams in every age group in MN that are much better as the summer progresses (this is not to question State Cup results, the best teams usually win, but the relative positions of the others are not often correct this way).
NSR is completely unpredictable. They recognize the inadequacy of the Gotsoccer system, but their best response has been to utilize local "experts." These can be experts, but they can also be biased, dim-witted parents who like to see their kid's team ranked up there (the parents pay more attention than their kids). I know of one MN example where a team (not my own) destroyed a team ranked above them three times in one summer before the "expert" would flip-flop their position in the rankings (thereby demoting his kid's team). This type of hypocrisy does not do any good, either.
I don't know what the answer is, but it's not particularly useful to promote one system as being credible at this point because they are both highly imperfect.
You win by beating the team you are drawn to play.
State Cup decides who is the best team in the state.
Regionals decide who is the best team in the region.
Nationals decides who is the best in the country.
Rankings has nothing to do with it.
pretty simple anything else has no value except that it may help a team get into a tournament or two.
Swedish Smurf
But the NSR rankings linger for year while teams change add or lose players in fall following state cup. They reflect how good a team truly is for about 3 months out of year in summer after state cup and regions. NSR seldom reflect other tournaments results and is just instrument USYS uses to insure that players pool to better teams and clubs with the teams that played in state cup tournaments being given priority in going to other tournaments.
Well said Swedish Smurf!
Hoisting a pint in the Smurf's general direction....well put!
LOL, do you really believe the best team always wins? So upsets don't exist? It doesn't matter how you play that day? I may agree in most cases that the best team THAT DAY always wins, although ruling out luck, bunkering etc even makes that problematic. Saying just because you happen to win a tournament makes you the best team in the state, region, district or whatever is simplistic and wrong. In soccer in particular.
Well said 2:50. What you say is so obvious that I don't know how people would argue with it, but I'm sure someone will.
2:50 OK now winning the game is not an adequate reflection of determininig the better team .? Come on, seriously. Do upsets happen ? sure they do but the reason they are catagorized as an upset is because the other team was THOUGHT to be the better team. I hear what you are saying about a team having a "unlucky" day, but if head to head winning cannot be the ultimate determination for any ranking system then I say get rid of the league standings and leave it up to a coaches vote or a computer program ie:BCS in college football. Can't we all agree that if one team beats another and goes on to win a tournament,for whatever reason , "bunkering, bad luck,or any other excuse they want to use, that team has earned the right to be considered better on that day and for that Tournament and should be ranked higher because they have EARNED the right to be considered so.
No we can't. A teams body of work is what is important, not whether they are one shot wonders. The Gophers beat Penn State in soccer last fall, should they have been ranked higher? Unless you have maroon carpet the answer is no.
Swedish Smurf's logic is so simple it must be right. Right enough that a bunch of ditto heads chime in and say "me too".
But is the simple explanation right? If it is, then puzzle me this scenario.
Bangu 14 Blue (#22 nation) beats Penn FC (#14 nation) 1-0 in
Las Vegas. Obviously the Bangu girls are the best team.
Wait. The Goo Girls also lost to Utah (unranked) 1-2, AND Penn FC beat Utah 4-0.
So who is the best team? Maybe, just maybe, the best team doesn't always win, and the simplistic explanation isn't always the best.
BTW, Penn FC won the tournament.
A team that wins the game and continues to go on and win a tournament has earned the right to be considered better. My thoughts are consistant with Smurf's comments from 10:56 . Winning is the measurement for rankings in my book, everything else is secondary (to determine ratings). Clearly how a team plays and develops is important in measuring where that team may end up in the future, but until they can score more goals than the other team, I would rate them lower than the winning team everything else being equal.
Anonymous said...
"A team that wins the game and continues to go on and win a tournament has earned the right to be considered better."
Maybe, but what about the team that LOSES the game and goes on to win the tournament?
Or the team that loses the final because a key player goes down at a key moment? Or the team that wins on PKs, despite having no possession the entire game. Or, well, lets just say that there are many, many scenerios in which the better team scores less goals.
I'm sorry guys, it is clear that you all prefer simple because simple is easier on the head bone, but life isn't simple.
4:26 No system is a perfect reflection of a teams ultimate potential, but winning and losing are the only definative measurements avalible to rank teams. Your points are all fair, but how can a ranking be based on an injured reserve roster, or lack of luck on PK's or any other excuse used as to the reason for the loss ?
The point is that wins and losses over a period of time are the best indication of a teams strength, not any single game.
The point is . . . when you hoist a national championship trophy over your head, they don't record your team in the record book as not being the national champ because another team was consistently better over the course of a season. Rankings are a recruiting tool, nobody gives a rats behind once the whistle's blown.
I'llBRtBack
We just descended to a new level of silliness. Has anyone suggested that they would not be recorded as the national champ? In addition, by definition by the time you get to the national title game the one game wonders are gone.
I agree that upset happens otherwise why would my girls play state cup except that it will help them get better.
My point is that their are certain tournaments that are created to find a champion.
Fifa have the World Cup Uefa has Euro South america has Copa America and so on.
US youth soccer have State Cup, Regionals and Nationals.
The bottom line is that in the soccer world the team that win the championship is considered the champions and that is what matters everything else is for people who can't handle the truth.
With that said I still think a league system is a better way to determine who a champion is (like MN premier league) but that is not possible in the soccer world (except each country) and certainly not in US or MN youth soccer.
Swedish Smurf
Smurf and others
Nobody is arguing that the team that wins the champonship is the champion as SS stated in his last post. What is foolish is to say that team is the best team as SS stated in his original post on this topic. The best team does not always win, that is why they play the games. Any other way to look at it is for people who can't handle the truth.
3 years ago the U14 girls state cup champs won the title in a PK shootout. The best team? Hard to say being that the champs did not have a shot on goal for the entire game.
But they where still the champions =). Again unless there is a league it is impossible to determine who is the best team in the long run.
Swedish Smurf
Wow. Agreed that the team that wins the championship is the champion. That does not make them a better team. Someone draw a picture.
The EPL (English Premier League) IMO is the best soccer in the World. It determines their champion by league play. Teams play each other twice (home and away). No playoffs. The team with the most points wins. YET the FA cup which is a single elimination tournament in England that includes amature teams is still the more coveted than the EPL championship. Why? Because soccer is a sport where you either score when you can or you don't. The best team is the team that wins the championship game irregardless of their overall record or status. Irregardless of them winning by pushing a long ball through for a quick goal and then packing the box for the rest of the game.
Either show up on game day or don't.
Championships are won not earned.
FA cup over EPL championship??? Obviously one man's opinion. Not mine. Now the Champions League is something to crow about....and I believe they do home and aways.
whose to say who the best team is? a bunch of parents? the team that wins is the best team. if a bunch of anonymous posters want to pick the best team, then someone call tom m. at mysa and let him know he can cancel state cup because the wise anonymous people on this blog have picked who the best teams are.
The best team is the one that obtains the best results over time. If two teams have similar results you can argue all day about who is better. Nothing wrong with that, that is part of what makes sports interesting as long as it is not taken too seriously. Anyone who would argue that there are no upsets and that the best team always wins is someone whose team is obviously inferior to another and can't deal with it.
Anyone who argues that their team lost but is still better is also probably having problems dealing with it. No one remembers the St Louis Cardinals win loss record in 1987.
I am not in either of those positions. It just seems obvious that the best team does not always win. "On any given day" etc. Upsets are what makes sports interesting. If an underdog wins they should celebrate the effort, skill and luck that went into their upset. Don't turn around and say they were the better team all along. It is puzzling that people even dispute this?? Some teams are better than others in any sport. Sometimes they lose to teams that are not as good. That does not transform the other team into the superior one.
Clearly the New York Giants were the best team in the NFL last year, and no one will remember Randy Moss and Tom Brady and all of the records they set. Not.
The Giants were the Super Bowl Champions, but they were NOT the best team in the NFL.
There is no glory in stubbornly sticking to a mistaken belief. Move on.
To anon 10:26 that is why soccer does not have playoffs to determine champions except in the US.
On another note MLS should be a straight league with home and away games. It should not be a closed league instead they should have promotion and relegation system. In the long run that will create more interest than a stupid playoff.
on the youth side country is to big would not be possible to have a national league but maybe each region could have a league where the top two teams move on to play for the nationalchampionship and the bottom two get's relegated (kind of liek today but the leagues should have more teams and no playoff).
Would still keep state cup and regionals and those winners would advance as well. Would provide 12 teams the league winners would get a buy.
Swedish Smurf
I can't think of a sport other than hockey where one lucky shot can win a game. A team can out shoot another 30 to 4 and lose on a fluke goal. Soccer is a sport made for upsets.
SS isn't that similar to what is happening now with national league teams on the boys side/
Anon 2:36 not an expert on the national league but I think it is a start from the little I know.
Swedish Smurf
Northsider said "Soccer is a sport made for upsets" I believe that is a very true statement. The Girls State Cup has 3 age groups with Play in games. Does anyone see any upsets in the making ? In the play in game or can a lower seeded playin team surprise once in the bracket ? here are the play in games, what do you think, any sleepers ?
U-13
BTE14GPR vs Dkt13GC1
U-15
ESD15gC1 vs BHK15GC1
SCV15GC1 vs WYZ15GPR02
PSA15GC1 vs EDP15GPR01
U-17
KIK17GC1 vs PSAGC1
BHK17GC1 vs BNG17GC1
At U13 BTE will win. The REV U12's can play with any other u13 team in the state but the BTE girls is a step above. I know if BTE does not win State Cup i will hear about it since I have predicted that they will win by three in the final
Don't know much about u15 but the St croix team could give the Wayzatta team a run for their money, always hard when you are the second or third team in the club the goal scorers tend to play on the top team.
Not sure if any of the other teams will be considered upsets since they are all C1 teams accept the EP U15's and they should win.
Once the bracket play start there will be upsets but I will wait with predictions until after next weekend when most teams have played competetive games.
Swedish Smurf
BTE will beat DR handily in the U13 play-in game and run through their group. Tonka will be their best competition.
I guess if you are the best team in league play and on paper, but always lose (choke) in the playoffs - then well you are still best team anyway. NOT.
There is no glory in stubbornly sticking to a mistaken belief. Move on.
splitsville
LOL absolutely amazing
1:37 I don't get that?!?
early WDM results
U13 Bangu L 3-1 JB Marine #45 N
U13 Wings L 2-0 Toro #29N
U14 Bangu T 0-0 Eclipse #26N
U14 NSSA W 1-0 LFUP NR
From the bangu homepage, regarding the WDMSC premier games:
"No other Minnesota club can boast acceptance of 8 teams to this event's top flights."
Ah, yes , another fine effort at building bridges of cooperation with local clubs! BT fans will rail about jealousy and "this is a fact," and that's fine, but then don't be so bitter when local clubs want nothing to do with you. I suppose it's a tough dilemma: You have to put down other clubs to get more players and build more teams, but then in doing so you end up undermining any chance of working in cooperation with the vast majority. Or, you could just let your teams' play on the field do the talking...novel concept, and, I'm sure, not possible for the ego factory.
anon 10:14
You can't tell me that other clubs don't boast about their accomplishments. We should be proud of all the girls and boys on those teams because their hard work on the field got them accepted. Don't tear them down, be happy for them, thats what I take away from the Bangu website posting.
Just chill out!
You can be happy for them and still recognize self-aggrandizement. I think the statement on the website is accurate. "Boast" - from Merriam-Webster - Boast often suggests ostentation and exaggeration. It may not be an exaggeration (it is true) but it's definitely ostentatious. "Pride attaches undue importance to the superiority of one's status in the eyes of others" - Lao Tzu
IllBRtBack
Wow 1014, now Bangu cannot even promote its own club without being insulting. That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
You can’t tell me any other club in the state wouldn’t do the same. Maybe we should just ban clubs from having Web sites. That would protect the few people who are offended by clubs saying something positive about themselves.
Common opponents at WDMSC premier games U13 girls Wings/Bangu...
Wings 1 Chicago Magic 6
Bangu 2 Chicago Magic 1
Wings 1 Cedar River Premier 2
Bangu 3 Cedar River Premier 0
I know that doesn't mean a lot, who knows how Wings/Bangu would match up head to head, but it is an indication that Bangu may be ahead of the curve at this point, but there are still a few weeks before State Cup begins.
It will be interesting to see how some teams compare at JFG.
Other U13 Scores
Toro 2 Wings 0
WDM 2 Wings 1
JB Marine 3 Bangu 0
Eclipse 5 Bangu 0
This is not a very strong age group.
It is not a very strong age group, but there is talent at this age. An argument for the Thunder plan?
Eclipse 5 Bangu 0
How do you beat a team 2-1 in Las Vegas, then lose 5 - 0 two weeks later?
Link to LV Showcase results (scroll down to consolation E)
http://www.gotsport.com/events/results.aspx?EventID=1576&Sex=Girls&Age=13
No.
The U-13 age group is wide open. The next indicator to help all of the arm chair prognosticators is the Just for Girls Tournament (Des Moines) April 19-20 where we will have six State Cup teams participating.
Purple division
Bangu 95 14P
PSA
Dakota Rev U-12 playing 13
Burnsville
Orange division
Wayzata
Bangu 96 Blue U-12 playing 13
The Purple Division is the Most Competitive division at JFG so it will be fun to see if any of the above can advance out of their respective brackets
Think the Woodbury U13 team is playing JFG this weekend but in the U14 Purple division.
Blackhawks U13 are in the Chill out tournament this weekend.
At the U14 age group NSSA and Mad Dogs are in the Purple division at JFG this weekend. Bangu Green and Rev play in the U15 orange division.
Blaine U14 are at the chill out
Quite a few State cup teams in Des Moines in the older divisions as well. Will be interesting to see what the Woodbury U17 team can do, will they challange Stars and Wings this year?
Swedish Smurf
Does anyone have a link to the JFG scedules? I could not find them on the menace web site.
Thanks.
http://menacesoccer.com/youth/tournaments/forms/
Swedish Smurf
Here's my 2 cents as a former player, and fan of competetive amature soccer, regarding the U13 Blue team: I think that their soccer IQ, bread & butter skills, team play, conditioning, speed, etc., are very sound. I can see them winning state; however, it will be a battle, their losses as some have pointed out, have been to some of the best clubs in the nation, those defeats will serve them well as the make a run at the title. As long as they controll the tempo, take advantage of 17s speed, and win the ball, this is their year!
Comments made through
Bangu colored glasses, gosh this gets old. If any team controls the tempo, takes advantage of the speed of their fastest player(s) and wins the ball, they will win! Great analogy.
FYI, an analogy is a comparison based on resemblance. An example of an analogy would be, your outlook on life is as sour as the milk in the back of my fridge. Therefore I stated a fact; here's another fact, the negative comments on this blog suck. I give credit where credit is due, I also haven’t disparaged any other clubs, I also did not attempt to educate or inform other soccer gurus of information that they don't already know. For the record I have no vested interest in Bangu, I have actually despised them since my team lost to them in the Super America Christmas Cup back in 1987, but I have a daughter that I would like to have play for a great club, I have done my due diligence and find Bangu's system the best in the state. So there ya bastard.
if you're going to start calling people out or calling them vulgar names, have the guts to post your real name. if you can't cut being picked on a bit, then you shouldn't post or read this blog.
and no, i'm not anonymous 11:39.
1:14 Thanks for saying what many of us think!
I always love the "use a blog ID" comment. OK, so I'm "ABC123" oh no, now everyone knows who I am. Except for a few brave folks who have given enough info over time to allow themselves to be identified (tomass, a few others), everyone is still truly anonymous. Some bloggers even morph their ID's depending on the topic and tone of their conversation.
I agree anon 12:49pm was completely out-of-line with his last comments, but nice ID yourself anon 1:14pm.
just a thought here, but for all of the bloggers stating that the u13 age group is weak... how many teams from MN do you think could go to a out of state tournament and do well? And not just any out of state tournament! I can't think of many. Is Bangu just an easy target for everyone? I think everyone needs to realize that these are just 12 and 13 year old girls. I am not making excusses, but lets get real here! Bangu is doing a great job moving MN forward in the soccer world. It would be very intersting to see how the cc's would do against some top ranked teams in the country - would it be as much fun to blog about them getting their butts handed to them? I am guessing NO!
there are teams from U14 thru U19 that go out of state and do well on a regular basis. Granted maybe only 1-2 per age group but so far there have been no teams at this age group that have done anything. Nobody is saying there is no talent, but to this point not enough of it has been brought together on one team.
anon 3:58....correction, there might be one team at the following age groups (U14, U16, U17, U18)that does well at the top tier tournaments in the top flight. That doesn't mean other teams aren't doing well in lower flights at the top tournaments or doing well in the top flights at other tournaments. The important things is that more teams are doing better at more tournaments which is a big step forward for MN.
Bangu is forced to actively promote their products and services. They do not have a captive community or recreational program to solicit members from. Bangu has, at least in recent history, been up front about this promotion and fairly good at it. CCs will always have issues but they follow suit regardless.
If you have a problem with it I'd suggest not visiting their website, though I can almost guarantee some of the biggest anti-Bangu people are the ones who frequent their site the most often.
3:40, correct me if I'm wrong, Wings went to the same tournament and appears to have had a very good weekend if one uses the same standards you have for Bangu. I get tired of the Bangu bashing too but the manner in which the Bangu guys go about recruiting (not a bad thing in itself) by a CONSTANT drumbeat of denigrating all other clubs and the UNSUPPORTED baloney that no player can become a top level kid in a club other than theirs brings this on them. I will not accept the tired griping that all critisism of Bangu is jealousy.
Are we talking about U13 girls at WDM?
Wings - 0 wins, 4 losses
Bangu - 2 wins, 2 losses
If that's a good weekend for Wings per anon 6:00pm, I'd hate to see a bad one (JK).
The important thing is that they went, I'm sure they played hard, and learned a lot about their strengths/weaknesses to make themselves a better team in the future. IMO this is how good teams get better, challenging themselves both physically on the field and mentally by playing away from home, handling different environments, and facing adversity on the field.
Next comes the "old school" response from some blogger out there that says they should have stayed at home, saved all the money, played an older team, and achieved the same learning outcomes.
Thanks for the link coach smurf
In reference to the 13 age group, maybe parents and players are beginning to recognize there is not the need yet to run all over town to training spend thousands to support a system that doles out scholarships based on want rather than need and all the inherent problems with the self described elite clubs. Maybe this will be an age group that defies the frequent bloggers and waits to come together until they are 15 or 16 when it is more needed. Just a thought
Caveat to above post, yes Bangu 13's will win state cup
So 1221, when was your daughter cut?
Let the recruiting begin for next season. Oops, it already has. Players are already offered spots on next year's team. Just show up at "tryouts" and a spot is yours. Oh, and as an incentive we'll let you play for free but we'll disguise it as a scholarship. But don't tell anyone, especially all the parents paying thousands of dollars. Oops, word leaked out.
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