Most Improved Team this Spring

Cast your vote. Which team is your nominee for Most Improved Team? Include WHY. Don't just name the team. Makes for much better reading when there is bullet points with some facts behind the bold nomination.

I like the Gio and Saints teams. Gio played well in tourneys and have played well in the season aside from this weekend. Some added players and continued development has the team playing well.

I do not think I knew the Saints team before this season, but they are playing well. Competitive games against top 20 teams and a great win over Renfro.

EyesWideOpen wrote:I like the Gio and Saints teams. Gio played well in tourneys and have played well in the season aside from this weekend. Some added players and continued development has the team playing well.

I do not think I knew the Saints team before this season, but they are playing well. Competitive games against top 20 teams and a great win over Renfro.

I like SRSA 02/Colvin. For a team that has been used to being on top, they have truly embraced Colvin's style and once they acquire a few players that they are looking for along with what they already have, they will be tough to beat. The fact that through all of this, they have only dropped one game.

I have seen what Colvin has done in the past. This will be a top 02 team......

FCD is not winnIng by 1 or 2 they are winning by 4,5,6. They would be at the top of the list. Even though Polaris has taken some losses they are a better team. Dynamo also looks to improved with some new players. Don't count out Sting.

Fever and Feet going in other direction.

Dynamo is now in my mind complete with the addition of the new player. They were tough before, now they score in droves, a solid top 5 in my mind. Polaris is better than all the haters give them credit for, way athletic and tough defense, they are coming together at just the right time. Gio is peaking at right time as well and with the their new addition they are not going away. Have not seen the Saints play but apparently they must be doing something right! FCD solid and Searls will be deadly if they can whittle down to one team.

FCD Premier. They have gone from in the top 4 to clear number one. They are NOW handling good teams so well that it feels like no contest.

Polaris. They might not be putting it together week in and week out but that team made a major move in rankings since last fall and is now competing hard in the #5 - #10 arena.

Gio. I think they have only had one bad result in months, right? Need to see them start playing the top teams to know for sure. Jumped 12+ places in the rankings since the fall.

Dynasty. I haven't seen them yet but several people I know said they are for real so I'm throwing them in here.

Solar Stark. Another 10+ place jump upward team. I saw them score 5+ in two different games this Spring. Scoring is hard to teach. I'm betting they do well at qualifying.

The Dynasty team is good, seen they play several times. FDC is a cut above, watched them destroy Searls two weeks ago, unbelievable level of play for 02's but his 01 team are studs as well. Think coaching might have something to do with it???

Java,

Good call on Dynasty. big and physical. They don't play in north Dallas a lot, but they are a good team.

I watched FCD Grubb Saturday and they are the best 02 team I have seen. They look to have really stepped it up to and are playing great. Lookign forward to playing them this weekend - may "accidentally" leave that game off the prognostication list this weekend!!

soccerman75 wrote:The Dynasty team is good, seen they play several times. FDC is a cut above, watched them destroy Searls two weeks ago, unbelievable level of play for 02's but his 01 team are studs as well. Think coaching might have something to do with it???

Nah! Good recruiting. Its all about the superior DNA of the parents. I asked the FCD parents and they confirmed it while on the sidelines. Just kidding, just kidding. Don't jump all over my post, parents. The coach must be brilliant :-)

There are a few good-looking Teams and clubs that have not appeared before (maybe due to our intentional blindness?)
Solar - FC Dallas - Sting all have good teams and a few average teams and traditional names. These Big names do attract premium players with some ease, so get a leg-up each year during 'the big switch' that occurs each year.

So, how does a smaller Club make it to the top tier? Clearly, it's an element that is not common and may not be naturally occuring in a big club. Is it that dearest of all American ideas that exists in those lone leaders in our community - to take full responsibility for their lives and create a unique challenge for themselves?

I am personally looking forward to getting close to those teams/clubs that came from 'nowhere' (they always know where they were)... to find out about their 'special sauce'.

I personally admire the work that TFC and the SAINTS have done to build their programs - there must be something Real there!
SAINTS - they play 'prettier' football
TFC - Play tougher than most!

Play Fair!

independentdad wrote:There are a few good-looking Teams and clubs that have not appeared before (maybe due to our intentional blindness?)
Solar - FC Dallas - Sting all have good teams and a few average teams and traditional names. These Big names do attract premium players with some ease, so get a leg-up each year during 'the big switch' that occurs each year.

So, how does a smaller Club make it to the top tier? Clearly, it's an element that is not common and may not be naturally occuring in a big club. Is it that dearest of all American ideas that exists in those lone leaders in our community - to take full responsibility for their lives and create a unique challenge for themselves?

I am personally looking forward to getting close to those teams/clubs that came from 'nowhere' (they always know where they were)... to find out about their 'special sauce'.

I personally admire the work that TFC and the SAINTS have done to build their programs - there must be something Real there!
SAINTS - they play 'prettier' football
TFC - Play tougher than most!

Play Fair!

I think the big clubs have a huge advantage with ECNL league. I keep hearing that a DD that plays ECNL has a much better shot at D1 college ball. Small clubs are locked out of this by design. Not 100% sure on this but I think the only ECNL clubs are Texans, FCD, Sting, Solar, and Feet. Don't see that changing soon.

EyesWideOpen wrote:Java,

Good call on Dynasty. big and physical. They don't play in north Dallas a lot, but they are a good team.

I watched FCD Grubb Saturday and they are the best 02 team I have seen. They look to have really stepped it up to and are playing great. Lookign forward to playing them this weekend - may "accidentally" leave that game off the prognostication list this weekend!!

Will FCD and SRSA meet again? or that won't happen until tournament play? The reason I ask is because I can't recall SRSA loosing to FCD back to back.. That rematch would be nice after they have adapted to Colvin.

soccerA wrote:

EyesWideOpen wrote:Java,

Good call on Dynasty. big and physical. They don't play in north Dallas a lot, but they are a good team.

I watched FCD Grubb Saturday and they are the best 02 team I have seen. They look to have really stepped it up to and are playing great. Lookign forward to playing them this weekend - may "accidentally" leave that game off the prognostication list this weekend!!

Will FCD and SRSA meet again? or that won't happen until tournament play? The reason I ask is because I can't recall SRSA loosing to FCD back to back.. That rematch would be nice after they have adapted to Colvin.

Looks like FCD will play either DT South or Dynamo in the TGPL Championship. Only way SRSA gets in is if either one of them(South or Dynamo) has a major hiccup before the play each other the final week. Looks like SRSA will have to play the loser(Dynamo can also advance with a tie against South) of the South vs Dynamo game. So looks like the SRSA vs FCD rematch will have to wait until tourny.