03 Classic League D1

Re my last post, I guess that applies to Che West as well.  They gain 4 from the FCDP game and lose one from tonight, meaning they are 3 up on Borgarello for tiebreak purposes.

Another quick turnaround for two Sunday matches:

Solar DeLeon  3-1  Colleyville Evolution
CE finds the net against the leagues best scoring defense, but the DeLeon boys win on the gallop.

FCD Premier   4-1   Texans Taleb
Nipper’s boys compound the Texans’ misery with another convincing defeat.

If I’m right on these, the chase for the Dallas Cup slot will go to the final week. FCDP plays FCD Central, and DeLeon plays FCD Borg.  Expecting favorites to win, so this is going to come down to goal difference.

Best wishes for good health/officiating/weather.

Looks like the goal differential goes to solar at +3. With one more game left. Solar needs to secure two goal differential at their next game and they lock the DC bid.

FCDP will need 4 goal differential against FCD Waters.

The odds are in favor for Solar Deleon

Good point on DeLeon, +2 against FCD Borg and FCDP can’t catch them.  Will Waters lay down to help?  Will Borg find some magic and pull off the upset?  Doubtful on both, but at least there is something to play for.

Interesting mid-table game on Wednesday night this week with Sawyer taking on Borg.  Sawyer has played some good soccer this year but hasn’t translated in standings yet.  They close the first half with Borg, Che, and Taleb, which theoretically are all winnable games.  Will be interesting to see how they do.

Wednesday predictions:

FCD Che West   4-1   Texans West
Che got well last week against one Texans team, don’t see a different result against this Texans team.

FC Premier   2-1   FCD Central
Waters’ boys will hang, but Opoku’s squad will finish at least two of their superior number of good scoring opportunities.

FCD Borgarello   2-2   Solar Sawyer
I was wringing my hands over this one for a good 20 minutes.  I could see anything from a 2-goal victory for Sawyer to the same for Borg.  I’m copping out and saying honors even, but a very hard fought match.

Good weather, competent referees, and healthy kids please.

Longview wrote:Good point on DeLeon, +2 against FCD Borg and FCDP can’t catch them.  Will Waters lay down to help?  Will Borg find some magic and pull off the upset?  Doubtful on both, but at least there is something to play for.

Interesting mid-table game on Wednesday night this week with Sawyer taking on Borg.  Sawyer has played some good soccer this year but hasn’t translated in standings yet.  They close the first half with Borg, Che, and Taleb, which theoretically are all winnable games.  Will be interesting to see how they do.

Wednesday predictions:

FCD Che West   4-1   Texans West
Che got well last week against one Texans team, don’t see a different result against this Texans team.

FC Premier   2-1   FCD Central
Waters’ boys will hang, but Opoku’s squad will finish at least two of their superior number of good scoring opportunities.

FCD Borgarello   2-2   Solar Sawyer
I was wringing my hands over this one for a good 20 minutes.  I could see anything from a 2-goal victory for Sawyer to the same for Borg.  I’m copping out and saying honors even, but a very hard fought match.

Good weather, competent referees, and healthy kids please.

TBH, I am a long time poster on the girls side, but I haven't contributed much on the boys. I need to give some credit...I really like (and appreciate) the way Longview posts...the readers in the 03 boys area are lucky.

Here is why, Longview plays this exactly the way it should be done on a forum. I never agree completely, but I read his (or her) honest opinion. Whether you agree or disagree, it doesn't matter. THIS is exactly what we came here to read.

Disagree...say that you think X is gonna beat Y...or that you don't like Coach Z, but give us a reasoned position that is supported by your thinking. Too often this forum becomes a place where people try to bully others. You can absolutely disagree, but respond with a reasoned position...and defend yourself if others disagree.

I was able to communicate (and make friends) with people across this forum when my oldest was playing. Those people are still my friends. Their daughters played with and against mine. It was an absolute blast to talk about our daughters' games, and I miss it...and it won't be long until you will miss it too.

I read what you guys post. THANK YOU for making this something worth reading on this forum. I don't have much to say about many of the games you are talking about, but I read and make my own assessments.

I just wanted to say thanks for keeping this thing interesting...in a short-of-psychotic way.

Coming down the stretch of the first half has positions 3 in the standing wide open for as many as 5 teams to claim. This should be a great finish. Even better, so many of these teams seem to have gelled with their new players, so we should start to see some great soccer until the holiday break. Good luck all and may our boys walk off the field as healthy as they went on. Longview, I may not like your predictions, but hard to argue them too.

Can someone explain the reasoning behind the red card for dropping an f bomb rule? I understand if a kid f bombs a ref or a parent or coach, they should be gone.

However, if a kid misses a shot and yells "F**K, why is he given a red card for simply being mad at himself? Seems pretty harsh when there was no intent but to express his won frustration at his shot or pass.

That happened?  I’m with you - I thought red card offense was over the top abusive language toward an opponent or an official.  Unless official thought it was at someone else, seems like a warning (not even a yellow, but a warning that next time it is a yellow) would have been right action.  

Don’t see anything in CL rules calling out that use of that word is an automatic red.

We got caught by this also. One of our boys shanked the ball and said the F-Bomb to himself (loudly). Automatic RED and two games. Worse part it happen in the first 10 minutes of the games. We played down the rest of the way. AR said he would have let it go.

Next two games at roster check REF shows us a sign warning not to use the F-BOMB.

Huh. Wonder if that was covered at managers meeting before the season. Good to know.

Longview wrote:Huh.  Wonder if that was covered at managers meeting before the season.  Good to know.

It was. RED Card plus two games for F-BOMB and Racial Slurs.

[quote="rocketpop"][quote="Longview"]Huh.  Wonder if that was covered at managers meeting before the season.  Good to know.[/quote]

It was.  RED Card plus two games for F-BOMB and Racial Slurs.[/quote]


I get the punishment for racial slurs and cussing at other people but to say it to yourself out of frustration is a little harsh in my book. Even if they know its the rule, its almost an involuntary response sometimes when you screw up on the field.


I think the rule is known, just think it's a bad rule. I am all for kids not cussing but two games is a lot for one word.

Reiterating this prediction for tonight - gotta think about the rest of this week’s games still.

FCD Borgarello   2-2   Solar Sawyer
I was wringing my hands over this one for a good 20 minutes.  I could see anything from a 2-goal victory for Sawyer to the same for Borg.  I’m copping out and saying honors even, but a very hard fought match.

So here’s an interesting situation.  DeLeon and FCDP play tomorrow night.  Let’s say FCDP wins, vaulting them into 1st place in the standings after the 9 game Dallas Cup cutoff.  But it’s not the right 9 games - the true 9th game for both teams (i.e., to complete the first round against all opposing teams) isn’t rescheduled until Nov 5th.  Classic League will have to go parse up the results at that time to get the true 1st place team after just the true first round of 9 games, right?  

I’m sure both will get in DC anyway, but curious to see how this gets handled.

[quote="Longview"]So here’s an interesting situation.  DeLeon and FCDP play tomorrow night.  Let’s say FCDP wins, vaulting them into 1st place in the standings after the 9 game Dallas Cup cutoff.  But it’s not the right 9 games - the true 9th game for both teams (i.e., to complete the first round against all opposing teams) isn’t rescheduled until Nov 5th.  Classic League will have to go parse up the results at that time to get the true 1st place team after just the true first round of 9 games, right?  

I’m sure both will get in DC anyway, but curious to see how this gets handled.[/quote]

Based on the forecast for tomorrow, the game tomorrow won't go forward and the rescheduled original 9th game will be played first. But if not, they probably just look at it after the original 9th game is played, whenever that is. I think you are right in they both get into DC.

This league is snakebit - Sawyer/Borg canceled for tonight because of this electrical issue/lights not working at Richland. Rain tomorrow.  

Probably a sentient bee attack on Thursday night, and an alien invasion on Sunday.

Finally, some games at the Richland Wetlands Nature Preserve.  Would have thought a smaller margin for FCDP and a little bigger for FCP, but Sunday's matches went as I expected.

We've got a lot of football over the next 2 weeks.  Going to do predictions for Monday-Thursday in this post, then come back Friday and hit the weekend.

Biggest thing starting to hit me is that the two DT teams are getting close to the danger zone.  From 16 bites at the apple, they tied each other, and Taleb got a point from 10-man FCD Borgarello, and that's it.  Historically, to stay up, you need a result in ~50% of your matches (more if you are draw heavy in your results, less if win heavy).  They are collectively at 19% (3 of 16, all draws).

Each team realistically has 4-5 points maximum available in the remainder of the fall schedule, and that includes 3 by one beating the other (another DT draw would be a killer for both).  If the better of the two is sitting on ~6 points after the fall, they would need serious reinforcements to get out of the relegation zone as I expect everyone else to at least be at 10 with more upside in the spring than the DT teams.  

On to the predictions:

MONDAY
FCD Central  0-1  FCD Che West  
Che hit a rough patch in late September, but all the time off has given them time to regroup.  I expect Waters to give them much more of a game than the first time around, but the West boys do enough to win.

TUESDAY (both from a previous post)
FCD Che West   4-1   Dallas Texans West
Che got well last weekon Oct 4 against one Texans team, don’t see a different result against this Texans team.

FC Premier   2-1   FCD Central
Waters’ boys will hang, but Opoku’s squad will finish at least two of their superior number of good scoring opportunities.

THURSDAY
Dallas Texans Taleb  1-3  Solar Sawyer
This is it - I don't see the Texans getting a result, but this is the kind of game they need to find a way to steal if they want out of the relegation spots. Sawyer shows up and puts some distance between themselves and the danger zone.

FCD Borgarello   0-3   Solar DeLeon
Borgarello has always been a gritty, counterattacking type team, but styles make fights and DeLeon is a bad matchup.  DeLeon wins on the gallop as, ironically, Borg resistance will be futile.

Good weather, competent referees, and healthy kids please.

Thanks a lot FCD Central - way to make me look bad right out of the gate!  Seriously, congrats to the Waters boys for a big win that has them cementing a spot in the Top 4 for now.

Hold off rain - I want to get these games in!

Any great predictions for this weekend games? It will be nice to get back to some regular soccer again.

Of course! Can't let a match day go by without spewing my inanity. Bummer we didn't get the Thursday matches in this week, but weather looks promising for Sunday.

On to the predictions:
Colleyville Evolution   1-4   FC Premier
Been a rough patch for CE, and unfortunately doesn't get any better in this round.  FCP piles on the misery for the new boys.  CE has been an interesting case this year - very strong in D2, and had some success in tournaments last year.  But the week-in, week-out grind in D1 is a high standard - there are no weeks off.

FCD Central   2-1   Dallas Texans West
Waters keeps flowing, while the Texans' hopes to build on the FCD Che West draw results in a tough loss on a 2nd half goal.  Central has done a nice job consolidating 4th place, although there are several teams below them that still might have something to say about that. Texans West continue to fight valiantly, but to no avail.

FCD Premier  3-1   Solar Sawyer
Statement game here - FCDP has been rolling, and I wonder if they remember who took points from them earlier this season?  I don't see this score getting out of hand, but the potential is there if Nipper's boys are motivated. Sawyer did it once, can they surprise us again? Magic 8 Ball says "outlook not so good".

FCD Borgarello   2-2   FCD Che West
Interesting mid-table battle - Che has had their problems of late, and Borg has quietly gotten results to sit in 5th with a game in hand on everyone but Sawyer.  Going to say honors even because that's my shorthand for "I have no idea".

Dallas Texans Taleb   0-5   Solar DeLeon
This sets up as the biggest margin for the day.  DeLeon keeps rolling, imposing their will on a game-but-outmatched Texans team.  DeLeon has FCD Borg (should be a comfortable win) and then the rematch with FCDP to end the fall - that one is going to be a cracker, will probably have a lot of neutrals watching.

As always, good weather, competent referees, and healthy kids please.

Had to scroll back and see if I had ever made a prediction on this week's game, but couldn't find anything.  On to the prediction:

Solar Sawyer   2-1   FCD Che West
A midweek 8pm game can yield all kinds of crazy results.  I see Che having a lot of the game, but Sawyer finds a way to win and not only extend Che's bad run of form but also continues to tighten the mid-table standings.

Too many previous and rained out predictions to keep track of, so I’m starting fresh for this week’s games.

FC Premier  3-2  FCD Che West
Holiday tournaments weren’t great for either, so will revert to league form and give the nod to the green and gold.

Colleyville Evolution  1-1  Dallas Texans West
Texans dig deep for a draw, but need to find W’s.

Dallas Texans Taleb  1-3   Solar Sawyer
Sawyer finally gets some breathing room on the relegation places, and DT Taleb are starting to sweat.

FCD Central   0-2   FCD Premier
Waters boys hang around but FCDP dominate possession and win on the gallop.

FCD Borgarello   0-3   Solar DeLeon
See previous prediction above, but DeLeon finds a third.

Good health, good weather, and competent referees for all.

Longview, cant argue with your predictions and logic, which might be the kiss of death for you since I never get these games right. As long as the boys get to play (no rain) and all come home healthy, it's a win.

0 for 2 so far - maybe I can achieve the Five-Spot of Shame this week with three more misses!

Talked to a DeLeon parent - that game ended 2-1, so congrats to Solar DeLeon for earning the DC bid.  If my math is right, they get it by +2 goal diff.

Congrats to DT Taleb on their first win of the season - there may still be something to say as to who gets relegated.

I need to get my mojo back on predictions. 2 for 5 with bad misses on the scores in the DeLeon and FCDP matches.  Lots of games next week to redeem myself.

The weatherman says a little chilly next week, but should get the games in.  Here come the all-new predictions:

Tuesday
FCD Premier  4-1   Solar Sawyer
A revenge game of sorts for FCDP given the draw the first time around, but I expect Sawyer to get on the board.  A top FCDP player got a red last night, so that could have an impact, but I think there will be enough motivation to carry the day.

FCD Borgarello  1-2   FCD Che West
Che has righted the ship with some good wins lately, but the Borg boys have shown themselves to be a tough out this year.  Che won the first time, and I'll say a repeat albeit with a tighter scoreline.

Colleyville Evolution  2-3  FC Premier
FCP in an ornery mood after the Che loss. I think they'll struggle a little in this one but ultimately get back on the right track.  If CE can steal a point, they'll be feeling good about padding their advantage on the relegation spots.

Texans Taleb  0-4  Solar DeLeon
Solar boys riding high on their Dallas Cup bid and look to build positive mojo before the showdown with FCDP on 12/10. Texans come down to earth after getting their first victory of the season.

Wednesday
FCD Central  2-1  Texans West
Waters boys get the W in a gritty game and keep the race alive for 4th at the end of the fall season.  Central has been very steady this year and don't see them tripping up here, to the Connell boys' chagrin.

Thursday
Small milestone - with Thursday's games, everyone will have FINALLY played everyone else at least once.

Texans Taleb  1-3  FC Premier
Just when the Texans get their first win, they get a week with games against DeLeon and FCP - tough to maintain momentum through that, so props if they even salvage a point out of these two games. FC Premier has been a little up and down this season so will want to finish strong.

FCD Borgarello  1-0  Solar Sawyer
Sawyer needs a win here if they are going to make any noise this year, and a win for Borgarello probably removes any risk of relegation for them. Borg has had good defense (only DeLeon and FCDP have a better GA per game), and both teams struggle to score (tied for 3rd worst in the league in GF per game), so going to say Borg takes this one by nicking a goal on a set piece.

As always, good weather, competent referees, and healthy kids please.