We are Back!!!!!!!

The fall soccer season has started at My View of the Pitch with a whirlwind day.  I woke up at 6:30 this morning to watch the Arsenal vs Liverpool match that was starting at 6:45.  I had just got the TV on when I got a call from the boys high school coach to request to use my field for a scrimmage.  The high school field was unplayable because of last nights rain and the GHSC's fields were unavailable due to a soccer camp.  I had talked to the coach on Thursday evening and offered my field for the Saturday scrimmage when I saw the 3 day weather forecast but he thought that he would not need it.   The inter squad scrimmage with a breakfast afterword is a relatively new tradition, and the team and parents really enjoy it and it is very good for team bonding and introduction of new players parents.  There are 26 out for soccer this year and the season looks very promising.  There is level of excitement in this team that has never been there in the previous 4 years.  The scrimmage started about 7:45 and ended about 9:15 and the players and parents went to Danner Park shelter house for breakfast after.   

Madeline's first team scrimmage against a college team for this season was scheduled for 2:00 in Ft. Dodge against Waldorf College.  I don't have many details but one of her team mates parents texted me as Debra and I were on the way to Fayette to take the rest of the "stuff" that Meredith needed and to watch her first scrimmage against a Columbia Pride U-19 team.

The text said that Madeline had scored the first goal off a corner with a nice volley shot into the net.  I didn't receive any additional texts, so I sent one about 2 hours after the scheduled start of the game and found out that Iowa Central had won 3 to 2.  Here is what the coach posted on the facebook page about the game: 

"Good outing today vs Waldorf. Gave a good account of ourselves and held the majority of play. Goals scored by Brick, Bailey, and Paulsen and Van Praag and Zulk both had shutouts. Overall, a good day. Starting to get things to gel and ball movement was good at times. Coach is happy!!"

Debra and I are hitting the road again about 7:00 in the morning to meet Madeline in Des Moines to deliver her "stuff" and to eat breakfast, so I will have more details about the game later. 


Meredith's team has made several changes and improvements with new personal.  Everyone is anticipating a better season this year.  Because it was a scrimmage they played 3 thirty minute periods to allow for additional coaching instruction, and CMU won 3 to 1.  The goal keepers split the time between the posts and the lone goal was scored against Meredith with a penalty kick when one of Columbia's players was taken down in the box.


My analysis of the game includes the following details.  Possession appeared to be better than last year but passing still needs a lot of improvement.  The first touch with many of the players is poor and the loss of possession was because of that instead of a intercepted pass. There was ton of square passes in the midfield that served no purpose but to lose possession.  The forwards do not push up to crowd the defenders and there is almost no movement by the forwards off the ball.  It appears to me as a matter of timing of the runs.  What I observed was the cross or the penetrating pass being made and then the attacking player making a run to the ball.  In my opinion, run should be started and the pass find the player.  The defense looked better and faster than last year, but was really not tested with this opponent.  The play in the center midfield was solid and I was impressed with the quality of new players.  The team is faster in all positions and the transitions from offense to defense is good.  There are several rough spots in the transition from defense to offense and I think with the new speed on the team they should occasionally attempt a long ball over the top to keep the defense guessing. 

I am certain that the coaches will be addressing most of these problems and with their practices this week and their road trip to Kansas next weekend the Eagles will be ready and primed for the season.

(P.S. Arsenal lost 2-0 to Liverpool and I will have to endure the taunts from Madeline's coach until the rematch on March 3rd.)  My Gunners look pretty disorganized and not ready to start the season.  It is my prediction that there will be a coaching change before season end.