Sick 'em, Rover(s)

Teams in the upcoming Dallas International Girl's Cup, April 15-20.  I'm looking forward to this one.

(Why is it we don't have any girl's teams around here named "Rovers'?)

U16 (Born after 8/1/97)

U16
Andromeda FC 98G Gold (TX)
Austin Texans 98G (TX)
Blackburn Rovers LFC (England)
Center Moriches Hot Shots (NY)
D'Feeters 98 ECNL (TX)
Dallas Texans ECNL u16
Dallas Texans Red 98G Dallas (TX)
Fort Worth FC 98G Red (TX)
Liverpool 98 Girls (TX)
Liverpool 98 Girls Fowler (TX)
Millwall FC (England)
NJ Stallions Dynamites
PFA /CSC Patuxent swarm (MD)
Preston North End WJFC (England)
Rio Rapids SC 98 Fury
Sting 98' (TX)
Sting West 98 (TX)
Texas Spirit 98G (TX)
Texas Spirit North '98 (TX)
Thunder Bay Chill Reserve Females (Canada)

Millwall are the ones you want to be careful especially if they bring there fans.

Go Texans !

Does anybody know how the South East England > Echo Junior Football League compares to LHGCL? Would the A bracket be consistent with our DI, B with DII...?

wow no Solar nor FCD.

I think we could fly to a tournament in China and end up with two other North Texas teams in our bracket. I hope this doesn't happen to these teams flying here from England.

I understand extra stadium seating is being installed to handle the traveling fans of Millwall.

Flight A Pts GP W L T GF GA GD
Blackburn Rovers LFC (England)   - - - - - - - -
PFA/CSC Patuxent Swarm (MD)   - - - - - - - -
Texas Spirit 98G (TX)   - - - - - - - -
Dallas Texans ECNL u16   - - - - - - - -
Flight B Pts GP W L T GF GA GD
Millwall FC (England)   - - - - - - - -
Center Moriches Hot Shots (NY)   - - - - - - - -
Andromeda FC 98G Gold (TX)   - - - - - - - -
Texas Spirit North '98 (TX)   - - - - - - - -
Flight C Pts GP W L T GF GA GD
D'Feeters 98 ECNL (TX)   - - - - - - - -
Preston North End WJFC (England)   - - - - - - - -
Liverpool 98 Girls (TX)   - - - - - - - -
Dallas Texans Red 98G Dallas (TX)   - - - - - - - -
Flight D Pts GP W L T GF GA GD
NJ Stallions Dynamites   - - - - - - - -
Sting West 98 (TX)   - - - - - - - -
Rio Rapids SC 98 Fury   - - - - - - - -
Liverpool 98 Girls Fowler (TX)   - - - - - - - -
Flight E Pts GP W L T GF GA GD
Thunder Bay Chill Reserve Females (Canada)   - - - - - - - -
Sting 98' (TX)   - - - - - - - -
Fort Worth FC 98G Red (TX)   - - - - - - - -
Austin Texans 98G (TX)

We drew Millwall FC. What is all the banter above about?

Eagleeye wrote:We drew Millwall FC. What is all the banter above about?

Go watch the movie Green Street Hooligans. Its about the supporters (gangs kinda) for the English teams. The supporters of the clubs get into brawls over their teams. I believe the reference could be to that, although the English natives might know more then I do.

My kid's team is hosting this team; nothing more. UK Coach joked about their many fans, but in reality we will probably be the only ones there supporting them at their matches.

BTW, congrats to the Texans for putting on a truly international event, with teams coming from all over...and even down under.

Shotshagger wrote:I think we could fly to a tournament in China and end up with two other North Texas teams in our bracket. I hope this doesn't happen to these teams flying here from England.

No kidding. Went to the Germantown Invitational outside of Memphis a few years ago. Excited to play against new teams. Walk up and our first game is against FWFC. Really? Drove all this way to play a team from our backyard.

Oh going to have to come catch some of these over seas teams play. If you had to pick 1 or 2 match ups which ones would be the best to see as a spectator?

Tx SPirit 98 gets to play Blackburn Rovers in the international cup. Should be a fun experience. That group will also travel to Germany and Sweden this summer to play in the Gothia Cup! Fun year for that group of girls!

lovesoccer wrote:Oh going to have to come catch some of these over seas teams play. If you had to pick 1 or 2 match ups which ones would be the best to see as a spectator?

From my experience, the international teams are not very good compared to the NTX teams. They generally come over here, go 0-3 in pool play, and go do some shopping before heading back across the pond.

MoveYourFeet wrote:

lovesoccer wrote:Oh going to have to come catch some of these over seas teams play. If you had to pick 1 or 2 match ups which ones would be the best to see as a spectator?

From my experience, the international teams are not very good compared to the NTX teams. They generally come over here, go 0-3 in pool play, and go do some shopping before heading back across the pond.

Someone needs to tell that to Blackburn, which currently sits atop the Texans in bracket A, or Millwall, which is also 2-0 so far in the tourney.  

I don't know that these teams will make it through to Sunday, but they've impressed me so far.

Shotshagger wrote:

Someone needs to tell that to Blackburn, which currently sits atop the Texans in bracket A, or Millwall, which is also 2-0 so far in the tourney.  

I don't know that these teams will make it through to Sunday, but they've impressed me so far.

I've noticed that some of the international teams have shown well this year. Good for them.

Folks interested in seeing how NT soccer compares/contrasts with another style ought to get out and see the Blackburn Rovers take on Texas Spirit North today at 12:30 at Ross Stewart 3. I don't think this will settle the question of What's Wrong With NT Soccer, but it should provide some good food for thought.

In general, these English teams seem to have had better training in foot skills, while putting less emphasis on winning with direct play or via superior speed and athleticism. They are good at penalizing overaggressive defenses.

They are not good at dealing with the NT 'heat,' and thus tend to fade late--they're also dealing with jet lag--but there is much to be learned from watching them. I'd like to see my kid's team play on their side of the pond.

The title to this thread was obviously a bit of a joke, but the Rovers have the last laugh. They are through to the finals against NJ. I expect their run will end against the uber-talented Dynamite, but meanwhile, North Texas is looking in from the sideline.

Heck, there was only one NT team in the semis.

Uber-talented is a good description for those kids. Caught 2 of their games - their movement off the ball is fun to watch and when they brought in the "second" group there was no drop-off. Very nice team.

Rover's have talent as well and play very well at the D-side. They just don't have the speed like NJ does. Couple that NJ up front speed and Rover's being little weak at the keeper and blimey!

The final score (4-nil) of the final doesn't really reflect the entire first half and maybe the first 20 minutes of the second. Until a truly unlucky bounce off a forward by a very strong center-back clearing attempt at the top of the 18 caromed in, I would have called this match 50-50 at best. Only minutes later a 40 yard free kick mishandled by the keeper looking into the sun made it 2-0 and it all went down hill from there. A second yellow for a top forward saw them down to 10 men and the other two goals were gimmies.

The Rovers acquitted themselves quite well and were truly impressive IMHO. We here in NTX could learn a ton from their skill and approach to the game. Very attractive football indeed.