The Thunder have fallen on hard times with no wins since May. They seem to have fallen back into their old ways of finding ways to loose games. Can they turn it around?
From what I've heard the new owners will evaluate Lagos, Magee and Storlien and other paid employees based on their success. If that is the case wouldn't you think at tryouts the best 18 players will be chosen for the top elite teams no matter where they've played in the past? Why would anyone put their job at risk just to keep the status quo?
That is the way it has always been. I challenge anyone to find more than 1-2 players at U14,U16,U17 or U18 that do not already play for Bangu at 14,17 or 18 or WDB at 16 that would start for these teams. Granted there are probably many players that could be shuffled from 12-18 that a case could be made should be on the top team. It will always be that way no matter what you do or how you pick the teams.
Does the USL relegate their worst teams? If so, where does the Thunder move down to...Division III soccer? Men's U25 Premier league? Maybe Thwingu can create a division for them.
Cleveland beats Lightning 4-2.After a tie in their first meeting "Pop" Popovich made some strategic adjustments and the team cruised to an easy win.The Lightning continue their slide and it's now apparent some changes need to be made.
Dude, it didnt really matter if Lightning would of won the last 3 games, all Chicago has to do is beat the Kalamazoo Cones. (Did you know that the Lightning missed a PK in the 1st half at Chicago that would of put them in front?) The loss to Chicago is what killed them, and I think the team knows this. The only thing I can really complain about this year is the schedule. 2 back to back weekends where the team has to play 3 games in 3 days on the road. That is not good for anyone. Other than that, the team did well considering. The team had a few new members step up, it was a exciting year for all the home games, what more could you ask for besides advancing to the playoffs? 9:11, what changes did you have in mind?? They beat the MI Hawks tonight 2-0 on the road and tomorrow they play at Ft Wayne. Last time I checked, the team was more than a few games above 500. And that is with 2 highschool players starting. But, changes seem apparent to some?? LOL
The Lightning should not be subject to the same scrutiny as the Thunder anyway. This is an amateur team, not a bunch of professionals, They play in the weakest division of the W league and thus have some success. The very fact that they are forced to use youth players to play meaningful minutes shows that they have a way to go and will need to attract more accomplished players if they want to be among the better teams in the league. The team plays hard and does well with what they have.
“Lafayette, Indiana | FC Indiana in four years has become a force in women’s club soccer in the United States, winning two Women’s Premier Soccer League titles and one U.S. Open Cup. But despite origins within a Midwest Amish agricultural enclave, its influence extends worldwide, illustrated by its high standing, currently third, in one global ranking and frequent links with high-profile international players such as Women’s World Cup stars Marta and Cristiane of Brazil, Cynthia Uwak of Nigeria and Inka Grings of Germany.”
The article seems pretty self explanatory. A W-League team, with roots in Goshen, IN, is able to recruit and win with a “diverse” roster. The author is writing a book about the phenom of women’s global soccer.
The Lightning are worse this year.Instead of talking about an improvement plan all you get are excuses about why they can't compete. If this is the best they can do they should drop out of the league.
The Lightning finished 9-3-2. I will predict that Indiana wins the league. The Lightning tied Indiana and that actually cost them going to the playoffs. If they would not have tied Indiana would have won the regular season title. Chicago and MN to the playoffs and Indiana straight to the final four. Indiana is paying its players a lot of money, Minnesota has mostly youth players. I agree MN lucky to have a W league game. The young ladies played well with the exception of the Indiana game, 9th place in the overall standings. 9-3-3, 11-2-1, 9-3-2 or 29-8-6 in three seasons. I think they belong in the league. Changes to make would be to pay players but then they would not be able to give all the university age players a home. Not sure I want to see that. I know the management is happy with the team.
Drop out of the league with a 9-3-2 record - that must be sarcasm. With that "logic" every professional team in MSP would have disappeared a long time ago. The Vikings were 8-8 last year - tell them to drop out of the NFL. That had to be sarcasm.......?
Shekki??? Have you completely lost your mind? 29-8-6 over the last 3 years and they should drop out of the league? Isn't that a better win percentage than 4-3-3? (yeah, we know who you are) On top of being a prejudiced little bigot you're dumber than a box of rocks.
If the Lightning is going to gain support from the community at large they will need a better product, it is that simple. Going 6-0 against the likes of Kalamazoo and West Michigan and Fort Wayne is nice but is not going to gain much support. Like it or not for a women's sport to draw crowds the performance bar is higher than it is for men. I am not saying that is right, but it is the way it is. Look at Lynx v Timberwolves, Gopher sports etc. The Lightning will need to attract older and better players. All these youth players running around out there is nice but with one exception none of them add much to the team. The Lightning is currently a great outlet for local players and U of M players to play during the summer and should be applauded for that. Long term though they will need to eliminate their reliance on youth players and improve the product to survive. That said, some of the teams they play against, Kalamazoo for example, need to question why they are in this league. When and if the Lightning become a solid team it will still be difficult to attract fans for a game against teams like that. I know it is a long shot but I would like to see if a WPSL team could make it here. In the meantime please attend some Lightning games when you can. If we have good attendance it would make a WPSL slot a more realistic goal.
When will the new owner's demand a coaching change for the last-place Thunder? How do they expect to generate any momentum with their showing on the field?
Of the 23 players now listed on the Lightning roster... 05 have yet to play in college 15 are playing in college 03 formerly played in college Until the 05 decreases and the 03 increases, they will continue to struggle against the top W-League teams. That's not a slam against any of the current "youth players". But it's clear, a Caroline Smith brings something to the table that a high school junior or senior does not. Experience is going to becoming increasingly important as the W-League evolves.
No W League team made the playoffs three years in a row. The Lightning were close so I think they deserve to be in the league. The bottom line is people do not care to watch women play as much as men in any sport other than tennis. The Lightning led the Midwest Division in attendance this year. Top ten in attendacne in the league all three years. Credit to the front office.
Umm...I think the anti-bigot thinks I'm responsible for every negative post out there. I have a big following, anti-bigot 'Goon.
I've been away for a few days, so I'm not sure if he thinks I'm anti-Lightning (I'm not, and could frankly care less).
I AM anti-Thunder/MTA and anti-liars-about-their-age-regardless-of-their-skin-color-though-the-most-questionable-cases-involve-immigrants-from-African-nations-that-cannot-be-documented-so-they're-given-a-birthdate-that-corresponds-to-where-they-would-be-placed-in-American-schools-hence-the-frequent-1/1/xx-birthdates. Hope that helps clarify things.
Shekki
P.S. The Thunder is 4-8-5 so far this year (last place), 5-12-11 in 2007 (11th out of 12), and 7-15-6 in 2006 (12th out of 12). Over the last three years, that comes out to about 16-35-22. In the fricking USL! The team that finished just ahead of the Thunder last year is now in first place. Hmmm...did they get a new owner? A "new" stadium? A new "elite" youth development program? Maybe they're just coached better and have better players.
Shekki, So by that logic Bangu won 23 State Cup championships over the last 3 years because they're just coached better and have better players. Right? Wouldn't that be logical? Sounds about right to me. Hmmmm? Shekki, how does that foot taste that you just stuck in your mouth? People who get all wrapped up in bigotry and hate lose any rational thought process they might normally possess. I feel sorry for those all wrapped up in hate over a kid's game.
The Thunder ownership seems to have gotten ahead of itself. They needed to concentrate on their teams becoming a draw, not jumping into the youth soccer game. This is not good. They need better advisors.
1:56..I totally understand your thought process, but help me here, didnt one of the 05 Youth players at one time lead the W-League in assist's? And how many of those assist went to CS? And after looking at the team stats, she was 2nd on the team with points. I might also add, that there are other youth players playing in the league as well, WA Freedom has a youth player on the roster as well. Isnt the Freedom one of the top teams in the league?
It's time to get rid of the amateur players and coaches.We got enough premier teams.Start signing pros or just drop out of the W League. Today all you got is a bunch of wannabes and excuses.
The facts are the Lightning are getting worse. Their record speaks for itself.
The Thunder are a disaster.
The ownership should dump em all lock stock and barell and start over.
This blog was started with good intentions. I think the admin person left the state and thus left us hanging to now read all the bs that proliferates this site.
Anon 10:02- I am not interested in making a case for or against high school players on the Lightning roster. Their stats and performance speak for themselves. However, I would bet they will be stronger by the end of their collegiate careers. Check out the W-League Atlanta Silverbacks roster. Of the 23 players getting minutes.. 23 are post collegiate 03 are college seniors 01 is a college junior I couldn't find a "youth" player in the bunch. I'm not suggesting the Lightning change their ways if they want to continue down the current path. By all means, keep providing high school and college players from MN a venue. But, if they want to compete with the big boys, they may have to start paying players and recruiting differently.
I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be stepping in, when I said the Thunder stunk and that a team that was as bad as they were last year are now in first place while the Thunder continues to languish at the bottom of the USL, likely because they have better players and better coaching. For crying out loud, Bangu already has all the best players, and will only build on that through all the recruiting they're doing. I'm frankly disappointed that Bangu didn't win EVERY State Cup age group. Maybe with better coaching...
And again, why in God's creation would you want to put "THUNDER" on your marquee? Why? Why? Why?
Who will succeed Amos? I mean, who'd want THAT job, unless you had a personal tie to the community or the franchise. Would anyone with reasonable coaching qualifications want to coach that team?
A guy would make better dough coaching for MTA, though you'd have to put up with the nutty parents.
1045 you demonstrate cluelessness as to what USL coaches salaries are like and the opportunities that a head coach spot in USL 1 can provide. There will be numerous applications to take the reigns of the second longest running pro soccer franchise in US history.
I fully agree...well said. You're anonymous on this blog 50% of the time and have been known to write anonymous letters too. WeeWeasel is quite the coward.
Whomever is selected, I hope they at least take a serious look outside of the organization (and alumni). If enough $$ can be put out there, it would be nice to get a qualified candidate from outside Minnesota.
Don't know if there are any quality MLS assistant coaches out there who might be looking for some head coaching experience.
I heard Storlien is helping out Gramenz. Make sense they grew up together and played HS soccer together back in the day. Gramenz and Storlien played at Park and beat and SPA team with Manny L, Sanneh, Amos and Todd H in the state semi in the late 80's early 90's.
There is another HS'er from SSM, Chelsea Stewart that plays for the Canadian Natl 20s and the Whitecaps of the WL. This is the top story on TDS right now.
Abboud, saw you as assistant last night with Donny. Congrats to the guys for a gutsy performance. A little different than working with 12 year old girls huh? lol At least you don't have parents to deal with.
If most of the haters on this blog haven't boycotted the Thunder already they will now if you're taking them. :-) Don't sweat it man - everyone hates a winner (but then again that must mean the Thunder are very well loved at this point). Good luck on Sunday and keep the Ws coming!
Uninspired performance tonight. Not sure why I even go anymore, and why a kid's club would want to wear this badge. Perhaps they should arrange a "friendly" with the Wilmington Hammerheads to get a flavor of the competition they should be playing. Do they relegate teams in USL? That'd be bad, as that's a pretty sad looking group of division 2 teams. Will the bus driver even know where Wilmington or Harrisburg are?
Not sure why you go up there? Maybe try not goign then. I'm sure you have a ton of other better things to do then watch one of the top teams in USL play in your backyard. And before you blow up with a post I'm not talking about the Thunder. I'm talking about their opponents on the evening. Super athletic and very technical. Was entertaining for me and those with me. I enjoy watching the Thunder as well but some of us who truly love soccer and want pro soccer in our area find positives rather than negatives. I'll continue and I know many kids who would be proud to wear the badge.
6:15 Anonymous, I suppose you also have season tickets for the Washington Generals because it's so fun to watch those Harlem Globetrotters beat them every night. Don't blow up....I'd love pro soccer too. I just lose my cool when people mistakenly believe that we already have it.
The Lightning won't get "overhauled". Their record the last 3 years is excellent. The Thunder will see many player changes before next season begins. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Thunder could use some real pros. Somebody like Pesz...A legit pro and a National Coach Of The Year or somebody like the "Artful Dodger" Willey.Thunder organization needs major upgrades if it is going to be successful.
No one here does. But this isn't a soccer blog. This is a parent/coach brag/mudsling/mine is bigger than yours blog. Looks like about 100 competitive teams worth of players as well as some of the state's most progressive soccer minds care about the Thunder.
hmmm....last time I went to a Thunder game (I didn't PAY, I swear), I saw maybe three teams and one or two "progressive minds." Most of the other adults were grown-up versions of the dork in 2nd grade who ran the filmstrips and helped with the A/V. You know, the guy you always took out in dodgeball. He's now proudly banging a snare drum at Minnesota Thunder games. I wondered where he would end up.
So enlighten us all Shekki, what does the Thunder/Lightning need to do to improve (a real answer, please)? Any fool can criticize, but it takes some thought, insight, and maybe a bit of a "progressive mind" to truly contribute.
They need to stop (tirelessly) promoting themselves as an elite professional soccer team, because they are not. They are the Minnesota Saints to the Minnesota Twins.
me thinks it is kinda funny how the blog volume dies down on this thread when the team wins a few games. i guess it is much easier to criticize than to compliment.
No, actually, that insipid AV geek who thought she was smarter than she was, and whose pathetic attempts to attract attention annoyed everyone around, well that person is now spewing stupidity on a blog while calling herself by maybe the lamest pseudonym ever created: Shekki. She really has come a long way.
Congrats to the Thunder. I think the new staff has a bit more passion and can create a bit more inspirational play. Amos is a super guy, but motivation is not one of his strong suits.
The threat of being banished to Lake of the Woods is usually a good incentive to get off your @$$ and play. Amos is a great guy, but they need a kick-in-da-britches type right now.
I thought they just did an overhaul? Ready to try a new bucket of dirt? Second to last place, 1-7-3 on the road, I love how some blunder goober gets on here to celebrate a couple of wins as the next coming. They're not for real. We don't have professional soccer any more here in MN. We have a toy team with an accompanying club of hypocrates that will continue to shovel dung at the rest of us and then wonder why they (and by extension their silly "pro" team) are so unpopular. It's all very amusing, actually.
The haters keep hating. Yeah I'm talking to both of you. Grasp on to anything to bash Bangu. That club is done, you are the only people who continue to bring the Bangu name back into things. Try to get over it if you can and your life will be much happier.
I'm sure they "hate" because their kids got cut. Isn't that how it goes? Why is anything but fawning praise called hate? I find the posts amusing as a fair balance to the CONSTANT stream of pro Goo/MTA crap shoveled out here and elsewhere by the directors.
More hate by 4:38. You can just feel it oozing between the words on the screen. Call it what you want it's all the same. You're entitled to your own beliefs but let us all be clear on what it is. Hater >=)
Another hater whose post, though trying to target the Thunder pro team, is obviously only here as a jab to the Goo Nation. So pathetically transparent form a little hater.
Instead of trashing the players, or even the coaches, you should look to the top.
Manny was certainly a talented player, but hiring old friends/former team mates is just another sign of his poor fit to lead an organization. He is a great guy and was a stand out player, how does that qualify him to run and re-build an organization?
Wait, look higher, the foreign business people who bought the Thunder are the ones to hold accountable. Surely their previous business success was dumb-luck.
WTF? Now you're a bigot if you call bad soccer bad soccer? Stick with childish, silly terms like hater, which only betray a lack of intelligence rather than bigot, which is slanderous.
Shekki has made very bigoted posts. Stuff like "all the non-white kids are 2-3 years older than they claim to be". It's not his posts about quality of soccer but his posts about the "non-white kids" that he has made on this blog that make him bigoted.
League has 11 teams. How many teams make playoffs?Thunder has 4 tough games remaining and probably is not favored in any of them.Is 8th place a playoff spot?
Anon 1:30 OR, maybe there are some that see no need to dance on Amos's grave so to speak. When he left, the Thunder were in last place. While maybe not the best coach for this bunch... Most long time Thunder fans have a soft spot in their heart for Magee.
Congrats Thunder on making the playoffs. Lets go out and support a team that is trying to turn around its season and franchise. Great game tonight. Next home game Sunday vs Vancouver.
Big game on Sunday for the Thunder. They beat a very good Montreal team to get in to the playoffs. Four great goals scored in the game. Monteral had a free kick goal then Ricardo Sanchez a free kick goal. A great header goal by Civillikis and then Bass from Domrowski. This is the best live soccer to watch in the Twin Cities bring out your teams and enjoy a great game Sunday night.
Im a out of state Thunder Fan, I find it funny how so many people on this site was calling for Thunder to fold and how not good they were...However they find themselves in the playoffs. So much on what you all know huh!!
Let me guess: You're a star pupil at the North Dakota School of Tractors and Combines? Do they offer an English major there (or even any curriculum)? The reality is that the U League stinks, and the other crap teams are, it turns out, as or more inadequate than the Thunder. They have a nice run going, but it's still brutal soccer by any professional standard.
Brutal? The U League stinks? Hmm... another blogger spouting negativity bred in ignorance. Seen any of the CONCACAF Champions League results lately? Seen the two horrible USL teams advance further than and post better results than some of the MLS teams?
http://www.concacaf.com/
Your response? I'll post it here for you. "MLS sucks too!" So predictable.
The USL is actually a very competitive league. CONCACAF Champions League shows the USL teams doing well. Open Cup showed that a USL team can reach the final. No it will never be the EPL or La Liga but the soccer is not that bad. Did you see the Montreal vs Minnesota game last weekend. Two great free kick goals, a great header goal, and a good finish on a first time pass outside the area. The field at NSC is better without the track. Go support the local team on Sunday in the playoffs. Its not the best in the world but its the best we have to watch in person in MN. It would be to bad if we did not have the Thunder.
I think that is the way the organization is moving. But Gramenz has stepped in to fill the remainder of the season and has done a terrific job. Good luck to the boys tomorrow night. We need 3 goals!
3,811 people at the game tonight? Wow. I remember 10,000 at the A-League final in 99. I am happy for Gramenz, but this team is not what they once were to MN. I don't know what the cure is, but the old team certainly was a more interesting and popular part of the sports scene here.
11:40PM, exactly. One of the reasons behind MTA. We're not doing a good enough job developing our boys talent. Now we'll have consolidation at older age groups, US Soccer Dev Academy, PDL, Thunder.
Anon 7:09 If MTA "consolidates" MN youth talent at the older ages... Won't those highly skilled players just move on to play college soccer? How does that help the Thunder roster local players and thereby generate enthusiasm? I get it if we lived outside of the U.S.A. where players often move from the youth to some level of the professional ranks. But here, college seems to be the first stopping ground post high school. Maybe I'm not following the train of thought ...
322 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 322 of 322Same old same old whine.....
From what I've heard the new owners will evaluate Lagos, Magee and Storlien and other paid employees based on their success.
If that is the case wouldn't you think at tryouts the best 18 players will be chosen for the top elite teams no matter where they've played in the past?
Why would anyone put their job at risk just to keep the status quo?
That is the way it has always been. I challenge anyone to find more than 1-2 players at U14,U16,U17 or U18 that do not already play for Bangu at 14,17 or 18 or WDB at 16 that would start for these teams. Granted there are probably many players that could be shuffled from 12-18 that a case could be made should be on the top team. It will always be that way no matter what you do or how you pick the teams.
St. Croix Rossoneri U14B is loaded with players who could play anywhere they want. They're constantly recruited.
8:34 surely you jest...........
No, he is not jesting. And don't call him Shirley...
Lightning loses again, 4-2 to Cleveland. There will be no playoffs.
Does the USL relegate their worst teams? If so, where does the Thunder move down to...Division III soccer? Men's U25 Premier league? Maybe Thwingu can create a division for them.
Cleveland beats Lightning 4-2.After a tie in their first meeting "Pop" Popovich made some strategic adjustments and the team cruised to an easy win.The Lightning continue their slide and it's now apparent some changes need to be made.
Dude, it didnt really matter if Lightning would of won the last 3 games, all Chicago has to do is beat the Kalamazoo Cones. (Did you know that the Lightning missed a PK in the 1st half at Chicago that would of put them in front?) The loss to Chicago is what killed them, and I think the team knows this. The only thing I can really complain about this year is the schedule. 2 back to back weekends where the team has to play 3 games in 3 days on the road. That is not good for anyone. Other than that, the team did well considering. The team had a few new members step up, it was a exciting year for all the home games, what more could you ask for besides advancing to the playoffs? 9:11, what changes did you have in mind?? They beat the MI Hawks tonight 2-0 on the road and tomorrow they play at Ft Wayne. Last time I checked, the team was more than a few games above 500. And that is with 2 highschool players starting. But, changes seem apparent to some?? LOL
The Lightning should not be subject to the same scrutiny as the Thunder anyway. This is an amateur team, not a bunch of professionals, They play in the weakest division of the W league and thus have some success. The very fact that they are forced to use youth players to play meaningful minutes shows that they have a way to go and will need to attract more accomplished players if they want to be among the better teams in the league. The team plays hard and does well with what they have.
On top of what 9:24 added, this is a amateur team playing against pro teams and playes. We should feel lucky to have a WL team.
http://www.theglobalgame.com/blog/?p=456
“Lafayette, Indiana | FC Indiana in four years has become a force in women’s club soccer in the United States, winning two Women’s Premier Soccer League titles and one U.S. Open Cup. But despite origins within a Midwest Amish agricultural enclave, its influence extends worldwide, illustrated by its high standing, currently third, in one global ranking and frequent links with high-profile international players such as Women’s World Cup stars Marta and Cristiane of Brazil, Cynthia Uwak of Nigeria and Inka Grings of Germany.”
??? What was that all about?
The article seems pretty self explanatory.
A W-League team, with roots in Goshen, IN, is able to recruit and win with a “diverse” roster.
The author is writing a book about the phenom of women’s global soccer.
The Lightning are worse this year.Instead of talking about an improvement plan all you get are excuses about why they can't compete. If this is the best they can do they should drop out of the league.
The Lightning finished 9-3-2. I will predict that Indiana wins the league. The Lightning tied Indiana and that actually cost them going to the playoffs. If they would not have tied Indiana would have won the regular season title. Chicago and MN to the playoffs and Indiana straight to the final four. Indiana is paying its players a lot of money, Minnesota has mostly youth players. I agree MN lucky to have a W league game. The young ladies played well with the exception of the Indiana game, 9th place in the overall standings. 9-3-3, 11-2-1, 9-3-2 or 29-8-6 in three seasons. I think they belong in the league. Changes to make would be to pay players but then they would not be able to give all the university age players a home. Not sure I want to see that.
I know the management is happy with the team.
Drop out of the league with a 9-3-2 record - that must be sarcasm. With that "logic" every professional team in MSP would have disappeared a long time ago. The Vikings were 8-8 last year - tell them to drop out of the NFL. That had to be sarcasm.......?
Shekki???
Have you completely lost your mind?
29-8-6 over the last 3 years and they should drop out of the league?
Isn't that a better win percentage than 4-3-3? (yeah, we know who you are)
On top of being a prejudiced little bigot you're dumber than a box of rocks.
he is just jealous cuz his dd didnt make the team!! That or she didnt get much playing time.
If the Lightning is going to gain support from the community at large they will need a better product, it is that simple. Going 6-0 against the likes of Kalamazoo and West Michigan and Fort Wayne is nice but is not going to gain much support. Like it or not for a women's sport to draw crowds the performance bar is higher than it is for men. I am not saying that is right, but it is the way it is. Look at Lynx v Timberwolves, Gopher sports etc. The Lightning will need to attract older and better players. All these youth players running around out there is nice but with one exception none of them add much to the team. The Lightning is currently a great outlet for local players and U of M players to play during the summer and should be applauded for that. Long term though they will need to eliminate their reliance on youth players and improve the product to survive. That said, some of the teams they play against, Kalamazoo for example, need to question why they are in this league. When and if the Lightning become a solid team it will still be difficult to attract fans for a game against teams like that. I know it is a long shot but I would like to see if a WPSL team could make it here. In the meantime please attend some Lightning games when you can. If we have good attendance it would make a WPSL slot a more realistic goal.
Anon 8:45
There only 2 youth players on the team.
I think you mean the WPS not the WPSL.
When will the new owner's demand a coaching change for the last-place Thunder? How do they expect to generate any momentum with their showing on the field?
There are 5 youth players on the Lightning. Granted 3 of them will be leaving the youth ranks soon but as of this season that is what they are.
Of the 23 players now listed on the Lightning roster...
05 have yet to play in college
15 are playing in college
03 formerly played in college
Until the 05 decreases and the 03 increases, they will continue to struggle against the top W-League teams.
That's not a slam against any of the current "youth players".
But it's clear, a Caroline Smith brings something to the table that a high school junior or senior does not.
Experience is going to becoming increasingly important as the W-League evolves.
Arent the Thunder and Lightning games free???
No W League team made the playoffs three years in a row. The Lightning were close so I think they deserve to be in the league. The bottom line is people do not care to watch women play as much as men in any sport other than tennis. The Lightning led the Midwest Division in attendance this year. Top ten in attendacne in the league all three years. Credit to the front office.
The Thunder are in last place, and no, they're not for real.
Umm...I think the anti-bigot thinks I'm responsible for every negative post out there. I have a big following, anti-bigot 'Goon.
I've been away for a few days, so I'm not sure if he thinks I'm anti-Lightning (I'm not, and could frankly care less).
I AM anti-Thunder/MTA and anti-liars-about-their-age-regardless-of-their-skin-color-though-the-most-questionable-cases-involve-immigrants-from-African-nations-that-cannot-be-documented-so-they're-given-a-birthdate-that-corresponds-to-where-they-would-be-placed-in-American-schools-hence-the-frequent-1/1/xx-birthdates. Hope that helps clarify things.
Shekki
P.S. The Thunder is 4-8-5 so far this year (last place), 5-12-11 in 2007 (11th out of 12), and 7-15-6 in 2006 (12th out of 12). Over the last three years, that comes out to about 16-35-22. In the fricking USL! The team that finished just ahead of the Thunder last year is now in first place. Hmmm...did they get a new owner? A "new" stadium? A new "elite" youth development program? Maybe they're just coached better and have better players.
Shekki,
So by that logic Bangu won 23 State Cup championships over the last 3 years because they're just coached better and have better players. Right? Wouldn't that be logical? Sounds about right to me.
Hmmmm?
Shekki, how does that foot taste that you just stuck in your mouth?
People who get all wrapped up in bigotry and hate lose any rational thought process they might normally possess.
I feel sorry for those all wrapped up in hate over a kid's game.
Oops!
Shekki just stepped in it again.
He's a clueless sort of guy isn't he?
Funny how they get all tangled up in their own words. LOL
The Thunder ownership seems to have gotten ahead of itself. They needed to concentrate on their teams becoming a draw, not jumping into the youth soccer game. This is not good. They need better advisors.
1:56..I totally understand your thought process, but help me here, didnt one of the 05 Youth players at one time lead the W-League in assist's? And how many of those assist went to CS? And after looking at the team stats, she was 2nd on the team with points. I might also add, that there are other youth players playing in the league as well, WA Freedom has a youth player on the roster as well. Isnt the Freedom one of the top teams in the league?
LOL. It never stops.
It's time to get rid of the amateur players and coaches.We got enough premier teams.Start signing pros or just drop out of the W League. Today all you got is a bunch of wannabes and excuses.
The facts are the Lightning are getting worse. Their record speaks for itself.
The Thunder are a disaster.
The ownership should dump em all lock stock and barell and start over.
This blog was started with good intentions. I think the admin person left the state and thus left us hanging to now read all the bs that proliferates this site.
Anon 10:02-
I am not interested in making a case for or against high school players on the Lightning roster.
Their stats and performance speak for themselves.
However, I would bet they will be stronger by the end of their collegiate careers.
Check out the W-League Atlanta Silverbacks roster.
Of the 23 players getting minutes..
23 are post collegiate
03 are college seniors
01 is a college junior
I couldn't find a "youth" player in the bunch.
I'm not suggesting the Lightning change their ways if they want to continue down the current path.
By all means, keep providing high school and college players from MN a venue.
But, if they want to compete with the big boys, they may have to start paying players and recruiting differently.
'Goons,
I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be stepping in, when I said the Thunder stunk and that a team that was as bad as they were last year are now in first place while the Thunder continues to languish at the bottom of the USL, likely because they have better players and better coaching. For crying out loud, Bangu already has all the best players, and will only build on that through all the recruiting they're doing. I'm frankly disappointed that Bangu didn't win EVERY State Cup age group. Maybe with better coaching...
And again, why in God's creation would you want to put "THUNDER" on your marquee? Why? Why? Why?
Shekki
Magee resigned today as Thunder coach. A great guy and a great coach.
Now clean out the Lightning top to bottom.
why would you clean out the Lightning? One of the best records in the league the last 3 years.
Who will succeed Amos? I mean, who'd want THAT job, unless you had a personal tie to the community or the franchise. Would anyone with reasonable coaching qualifications want to coach that team?
A guy would make better dough coaching for MTA, though you'd have to put up with the nutty parents.
1045 you demonstrate cluelessness as to what USL coaches salaries are like and the opportunities that a head coach spot in USL 1 can provide. There will be numerous applications to take the reigns of the second longest running pro soccer franchise in US history.
anon 9:52 (most likely Shekki)doesn't like the fact that Storlien coaches for Bangu.
I LOVE how EVERY negative comment is immediately tagged to me. When I write, I use my name. I am not alone.
Shekki
And I'm a complete idiot.
Shekki
I fully agree...well said.
You're anonymous on this blog 50% of the time and have been known to write anonymous letters too.
WeeWeasel is quite the coward.
Who is going to help out Gramenz?
Marshak
As this is the Thunder thread...
Any suggestions on who should replace Amos as head coach?
7:34 - how about shekki!?! He seems to have it all figured out.
Will the new head coach of the Thunder be the over all DOC of the MTA as well??
Whomever is selected, I hope they at least take a serious look outside of the organization (and alumni). If enough $$ can be put out there, it would be nice to get a qualified candidate from outside Minnesota.
Don't know if there are any quality MLS assistant coaches out there who might be looking for some head coaching experience.
Regarding HS players playing in the W-L..Check this link out
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/component/option,com_topdrawer/Itemid,251/nid,3272/
I heard Storlien is helping out Gramenz. Make sense they grew up together and played HS soccer together back in the day. Gramenz and Storlien played at Park and beat and SPA team with Manny L, Sanneh, Amos and Todd H in the state semi in the late 80's early 90's.
There is another HS'er from SSM, Chelsea Stewart that plays for the Canadian Natl 20s and the Whitecaps of the WL. This is the top story on TDS right now.
Abboud, saw you as assistant last night with Donny. Congrats to the guys for a gutsy performance. A little different than working with 12 year old girls huh? lol At least you don't have parents to deal with.
If most of the haters on this blog haven't boycotted the Thunder already they will now if you're taking them. :-) Don't sweat it man - everyone hates a winner (but then again that must mean the Thunder are very well loved at this point). Good luck on Sunday and keep the Ws coming!
Dark Clouds rule.
Dark...whatcha smokin dude????????
Uninspired performance tonight. Not sure why I even go anymore, and why a kid's club would want to wear this badge. Perhaps they should arrange a "friendly" with the Wilmington Hammerheads to get a flavor of the competition they should be playing. Do they relegate teams in USL? That'd be bad, as that's a pretty sad looking group of division 2 teams. Will the bus driver even know where Wilmington or Harrisburg are?
Not sure why you go up there? Maybe try not goign then. I'm sure you have a ton of other better things to do then watch one of the top teams in USL play in your backyard. And before you blow up with a post I'm not talking about the Thunder. I'm talking about their opponents on the evening. Super athletic and very technical. Was entertaining for me and those with me.
I enjoy watching the Thunder as well but some of us who truly love soccer and want pro soccer in our area find positives rather than negatives. I'll continue and I know many kids who would be proud to wear the badge.
Only in Minnesota is it considered an accomplishment to be awarded a PARTICIPANT RIBBON.
6:15 Anonymous, I suppose you also have season tickets for the Washington Generals because it's so fun to watch those Harlem Globetrotters beat them every night. Don't blow up....I'd love pro soccer too. I just lose my cool when people mistakenly believe that we already have it.
Bring back de Kicks, mon!
Owners not happy. Thunder and Lightning to get overhauled top to bottom.
They must be tired of being a Washington Generals farm team.
The Lightning won't get "overhauled". Their record the last 3 years is excellent.
The Thunder will see many player changes before next season begins.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
How many Lightning players will get drafted? Possibly one. You shouldn't have to pay to watch a premier team.
Ace RIP
NO. Not for real (collosal collapse vs. PR is a fine statement of where we're headed).
Thunder could use some real pros. Somebody like Pesz...A legit pro and a National Coach Of The Year or somebody like the "Artful Dodger" Willey.Thunder organization needs major upgrades if it is going to be successful.
Man. Nobody cares about the Thunder. Anyone surprised by that?
No one here does. But this isn't a soccer blog. This is a parent/coach brag/mudsling/mine is bigger than yours blog. Looks like about 100 competitive teams worth of players as well as some of the state's most progressive soccer minds care about the Thunder.
11:09 who are some of these "progressive" soccer minds you refer to.
hmmm....last time I went to a Thunder game (I didn't PAY, I swear), I saw maybe three teams and one or two "progressive minds." Most of the other adults were grown-up versions of the dork in 2nd grade who ran the filmstrips and helped with the A/V. You know, the guy you always took out in dodgeball. He's now proudly banging a snare drum at Minnesota Thunder games. I wondered where he would end up.
Shekki
So enlighten us all Shekki, what does the Thunder/Lightning need to do to improve (a real answer, please)? Any fool can criticize, but it takes some thought, insight, and maybe a bit of a "progressive mind" to truly contribute.
Get some real PROFESSIONAL coaches.
They need to stop (tirelessly) promoting themselves as an elite professional soccer team, because they are not. They are the Minnesota Saints to the Minnesota Twins.
10:52, its more like Miesville instead of the Saints.
Didn't the Thunder just knock off the 1st place team Thursday night?
Once the owners get rid of the current coaches they should spend some of that big money and get a couple of stud players.
me thinks it is kinda funny how the blog volume dies down on this thread when the team wins a few games. i guess it is much easier to criticize than to compliment.
No, actually, that insipid AV geek who thought she was smarter than she was, and whose pathetic attempts to attract attention annoyed everyone around, well that person is now spewing stupidity on a blog while calling herself by maybe the lamest pseudonym ever created: Shekki. She really has come a long way.
Bring on the Super Bowl, home boy! Bang those drums! This team is a winner!
Shekki
Shekki, I saw you at the game wearing your scarf. Those are some white legs you have.
Congrats to the Thunder. I think the new staff has a bit more passion and can create a bit more inspirational play. Amos is a super guy, but motivation is not one of his strong suits.
The threat of being banished to Lake of the Woods is usually a good incentive to get off your @$$ and play. Amos is a great guy, but they need a kick-in-da-britches type right now.
Complete overhaul coming for 2009.
I thought they just did an overhaul? Ready to try a new bucket of dirt? Second to last place, 1-7-3 on the road, I love how some blunder goober gets on here to celebrate a couple of wins as the next coming.
They're not for real. We don't have professional soccer any more here in MN. We have a toy team with an accompanying club of hypocrates that will continue to shovel dung at the rest of us and then wonder why they (and by extension their silly "pro" team) are so unpopular. It's all very amusing, actually.
You can't expect a couple of high school coaches to coach a professional soccer team.These guys are in over their heads.
The haters keep hating. Yeah I'm talking to both of you. Grasp on to anything to bash Bangu. That club is done, you are the only people who continue to bring the Bangu name back into things. Try to get over it if you can and your life will be much happier.
I'm sure they "hate" because their kids got cut. Isn't that how it goes? Why is anything but fawning praise called hate? I find the posts amusing as a fair balance to the CONSTANT stream of pro Goo/MTA crap shoveled out here and elsewhere by the directors.
More hate by 4:38. You can just feel it oozing between the words on the screen. Call it what you want it's all the same. You're entitled to your own beliefs but let us all be clear on what it is. Hater >=)
I hate, therefore I am
Another hater whose post, though trying to target the Thunder pro team, is obviously only here as a jab to the Goo Nation. So pathetically transparent form a little hater.
Instead of trashing the players, or even the coaches, you should look to the top.
Manny was certainly a talented player, but hiring old friends/former team mates is just another sign of his poor fit to lead an organization. He is a great guy and was a stand out player, how does that qualify him to run and re-build an organization?
Wait, look higher, the foreign business people who bought the Thunder are the ones to hold accountable. Surely their previous business success was dumb-luck.
Oh, surely...
It wasn't dumb luck and don't call me Shirley.....
Shekki Nation? Is that the "nation" of bigots?
We've all seen ought of Shekki's prejudiced act.
WTF? Now you're a bigot if you call bad soccer bad soccer? Stick with childish, silly terms like hater, which only betray a lack of intelligence rather than bigot, which is slanderous.
Shekki has made very bigoted posts.
Stuff like "all the non-white kids are 2-3 years older than they claim to be".
It's not his posts about quality of soccer but his posts about the "non-white kids" that he has made on this blog that make him bigoted.
Thunder win and tie in Miami. Knocking on the door for a first playoff spot in four seasons.
League has 11 teams. How many teams make playoffs?Thunder has 4 tough games remaining and probably is not favored in any of them.Is
8th place a playoff spot?
7
"Shekki Nation"? I like the sound of that.
Shekki
We need a scoreboard....
Thunder a win away from getting in the playoffs
Big turn around
No wonder this thread is so silent.
Anon 1:30
OR, maybe there are some that see no need to dance on Amos's grave so to speak.
When he left, the Thunder were in last place.
While maybe not the best coach for this bunch...
Most long time Thunder fans have a soft spot in their heart for Magee.
Go support the Thunder this weekend. Breast Cancer Awareness game and playoffs on the line.
Congrats Thunder on making the playoffs. Lets go out and support a team that is trying to turn around its season and franchise. Great game tonight. Next home game Sunday vs Vancouver.
Big game on Sunday for the Thunder. They beat a very good Montreal team to get in to the playoffs. Four great goals scored in the game. Monteral had a free kick goal then Ricardo Sanchez a free kick goal. A great header goal by Civillikis and then Bass from Domrowski. This is the best live soccer to watch in the Twin Cities bring out your teams and enjoy a great game Sunday night.
Went to the game, It was very exciting from start to finish. 4 great goals.
Im a out of state Thunder Fan, I find it funny how so many people on this site was calling for Thunder to fold and how not good they were...However they find themselves in the playoffs. So much on what you all know huh!!
Let me guess: You're a star pupil at the North Dakota School of Tractors and Combines? Do they offer an English major there (or even any curriculum)? The reality is that the U League stinks, and the other crap teams are, it turns out, as or more inadequate than the Thunder. They have a nice run going, but it's still brutal soccer by any professional standard.
Brutal? The U League stinks? Hmm... another blogger spouting negativity bred in ignorance. Seen any of the CONCACAF Champions League results lately? Seen the two horrible USL teams advance further than and post better results than some of the MLS teams?
http://www.concacaf.com/
Your response? I'll post it here for you. "MLS sucks too!" So predictable.
The USL is actually a very competitive league. CONCACAF Champions League shows the USL teams doing well. Open Cup showed that a USL team can reach the final. No it will never be the EPL or La Liga but the soccer is not that bad. Did you see the Montreal vs Minnesota game last weekend. Two great free kick goals, a great header goal, and a good finish on a first time pass outside the area. The field at NSC is better without the track. Go support the local team on Sunday in the playoffs. Its not the best in the world but its the best we have to watch in person in MN. It would be to bad if we did not have the Thunder.
I agree the Thunder are good for MN. They should hire a pro coach with a solid track record. This would add more respectability to the club.
I think that is the way the organization is moving. But Gramenz has stepped in to fill the remainder of the season and has done a terrific job. Good luck to the boys tomorrow night. We need 3 goals!
3,811 people at the game tonight? Wow. I remember 10,000 at the A-League final in 99. I am happy for Gramenz, but this team is not what they once were to MN. I don't know what the cure is, but the old team certainly was a more interesting and popular part of the sports scene here.
Not as many local players anymore. Great job by the team turning the season around.
11:40PM, exactly. One of the reasons behind MTA. We're not doing a good enough job developing our boys talent. Now we'll have consolidation at older age groups, US Soccer Dev Academy, PDL, Thunder.
Yes, MTA is definitely the answer for a good U League, err maybe PDL, team.
Have a nice winter Blunderheads.
Anon 7:09
If MTA "consolidates" MN youth talent at the older ages...
Won't those highly skilled players just move on to play college soccer?
How does that help the Thunder roster local players and thereby generate enthusiasm?
I get it if we lived outside of the U.S.A. where players often move from the youth to some level of the professional ranks.
But here, college seems to be the first stopping ground post high school.
Maybe I'm not following the train of thought ...
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