FBR09 Rankings August 21st, 2018

BigBaller, Eddy is talking about the Cowtown Classic and the Texas Lightning Showcase tournaments on South’s schedule.... they pulled their SOS down. Even FBR has pointed out that this is why South isn’t ranked higher. Eddy wasn’t talking about the out of state or non NTX tournaments.

Butfirstsoccer09 wrote:There are only 2 divisions the first 2 years of Classic - D1 and D3, so gold, silver and bronze doesn't really work.

Looks like they tried to balance out the Solar teams across the 3 divisions. I think Cosmos should have been with Rush, but then that would have put 2 of the top Solar teams in the same bracket. Just a guess.

I wasnt saying that in reference to the bye at all. This league is counter productive to development. This seeding is the most fair way to handle a qualifying tournament. It is not the best way to develop over the course of a whole year. In each bracket the top couple teams will not see much resistance and the bottom couple will be miserable. This perhaps would have served better as just a season long thing just before select. Just look at the Hamm bracket. Other than SS Rush is going to have some very lopsided games especially with that being possibly the weakest overall bracket. And so how do Rush or SS benefit with such a drop off after those 2 teams?

This league is not for development. This league is for Classic spots. That is its only purpose.

Winners don’t care who they play and SS will be ready when they see Rush again. SS is definitely number 2.

With several teams from the same club and a few A and B teams spread across the 3 divisions does anyone know if 1 player can play in more than 1 game per weekend? The website appears to suggest that rosters are allowed to change from 1 week to the next but I didn’t know if 1 player could play for their A and B team or the same club (different team) in the same weekend

Cerv1973 wrote:Winners don’t care who they play and SS will be ready when they see Rush again. SS is definitely number 2.

I would bet 99 percent of these kids dont care who they play. But at this age should parents and coaches be throwing development aside for a possibility at a bye? A bye that is likely out of reach for most of the teams.

Most teams are playing in a 2nd league for development purposes.

You are right. And the top teams have all been doing that for a while now. Playing up or playing boys. But like everyone got to see from the way Supercopa played out. There is a plethora of 09 talent in North Texas but now those teams wont see each other as often as they would have if the league was gold silver and bronze. You cant sharpen a knife with a banana. So just like coaches that have 2 teams that are at different levels practicing together, the lower tier has everything to gain. Okay I'm jumping off my soapbox and good luck to all the bananas.

All good points and I don’t disagree!

Just because SS tied Rush one time doesn't mean they should be number two. Even professionals lose or tie games they dominated and outshot their opponents. Rush is number 1 and 2, 3, 4, 5 are up for grabs. Also 9v9 will make things more interesting, along with no build out lines and punting is allowed.

USWNT_or_BUST wrote:You are right. And the top teams have all been doing that for a while now. Playing up or playing boys. But like everyone got to see from the way Supercopa played out. There is a plethora of 09 talent in North Texas but now those teams wont see each other as often as they would have if the league was gold silver and bronze. You cant sharpen a knife with a banana. So just like coaches that have 2 teams that are at different levels practicing together, the lower tier has everything to gain. Okay I'm jumping off my soapbox and good luck to all the bananas.

KeepersBeCrazy wrote:

soccerfan09 wrote:anybody know is fever united vega is fever united Vaughn?

Not sure, but my guess is Vaughn White, FBR rank 12.

Tahoe08SoccerMom wrote:
I’d rather see a gold, silver and bronze division (for competition sake and Dev)  and have the winner of each get a pass for D1, D2 or D3.  

You raise a good point, but you lose the "Cinderella story" by doing that.  If they just group the girls 1 - 10, 11 - 20, 21 - 30 with a pass into D1, D2, D3 respectively, that kinda stinks for the teams that have developed/picked up strong players since the rankings and due to the seeding, don't get into the higher tier.  I guess the counter to my argument is that the team will still be able to play in the QT to put them into the right level (right?).

Exactly.  Counter argument accepted plus how many bronze teams picked up “strong players” that will be game makers and push bronze to silver or silver to gold?  You never know I guess but don’t see many strong players making a play for a bronze team (no offense to bronze teams).  

The brackets make me think Solar requested as such (and being a big club threw around some weight) bc it gives the 3 top teams an “equal” chance to each of their top teams.  Bonus the only team that tied #1 happens to end up in that same bracket.  And will likely roster share when they play #1.  Kinda strategic thinking if they know all the variables I guess.  Working any angle to show proof to pull kids over next year ;-)

I would think that the top teams would not player share. Those parents and children have put in so much time and work, then to be discarded in favor of a couple of guest players? No way they stand for that; I would think other clubs would have a great deal to gain should that happen. Perhaps it will happen, I hope not, but perhaps.

I will point out that Scarfone has tied Rush in the past once or twice. Colvin lost to Rush 2-1 in the Spring. South lost to Rush 4-1 in Denver. Like Soccergodntx said, one game isn’t everything.

This automatic qualifier is overrated. If South doesn’t win the automatic bid b/c they are in Rush’s divison, they will qualify easily still. If all 3 top Solar teams don’t qualify it won’t matter b/c 20 teams qualify. There is no conspiracy.

Not everyone is going to like the divisions, but they did the best they could and they obviously used FBR to do it.

I’m fine with JCL b/c it’s better than playing up in an ‘08 Silver league or playing against boys for development. It should be fun and interesting to watch the results with a “prize” on the line. But the “prize” won’t really matter in the end.

Ohh.. to be a parent of an academy player. The automatic qualifier is overrated comment makes me laugh.. QT is a beast.. Yes the stats mostly prove the FBR gets it right on who gets into D1 but there is movement between D1 and D3. AND.. QT in July is not for snowflakes.. It's freakin hard especially if you have to do it back to back weekends.. Don't kid yourselves.. The automatic D1 bye is YUUUGE.

AND.. A D1 bye vs a D2 bye could mean your team never gets into D1. The LHGCL season tends to humble the ones who think they are entitled.

Starting with a D3 bye is a long road to D1. Only 2 teams move up/down the first year and then only 1 moves up/down after that. AND.. The CPP rules will go against all D3 and D2 teams looking for D1 spots.. I speak from experience.

Trust me.. a D1 bye and No QT is YUUGE!

Maybe you’re right but I just find it hard to believe one of the top 5 will not qualify. They have like 6 losses against NTX teams outside the top 5 over the last year... combined.

The word "definitely" should not be used for any team's prospects or rankings except for d'feeters/rush #1. Other than that, the current environment certainly shows the 2-5 slots are consistent but interchangeable... for now. There are about 6 other teams that can certainly threaten to join the top 5 party in the coming year and 1 or 2 probably will. They are playing very competitive games vs. top 5 although there haven't been too many results (notwithstanding FCDE vs. Samba.) To assume there is no good competition outside of the top five is a fool's errand.

Now IMHO, there is currently a significant drop below that. Evaluating TODAY'S landscape, the top 10 or 14 or so should have an easy entry to D1 so the auto bye is... well, underwhelming. But I guess that's why they have to show up every weekend and play it on the field. Looking forward to seeing how things shake out and see who the party crashers are...

Is there a certain type of team/playstyle that going to 9v9 will make them a better or worse team from what they were during 7v7?

Fitness is the great equalizer. If you can run at the end of the game and the other team can’t then guess who wins.

The teams that depend on physical play will get dominated by skill, ball movement and speed. My prediction is you will see a great deal of movement over the course of the year. The teams that are playing twice a week will have more improvement over the ones that don’t.

Then again, I’m just an overage, overweight dad so what do I know?

Fitness will be key in 9v9 but from what I’ve seen, teams with good positional and field awareness will do much better. Teams that don’t have that will find themselves out of place which will open up the field against teams that do play a sound style of play and recognize the field space. Having played 9v9 will help too. Teams that are new to 9v9 will have a learning curve for a while most likely.

I agree with the positioning and field awareness, especially on this larger field.  Couple that with good passing, and I think physical play gets beat out.

How about a decently deep bench?  That, plus good conditioning of the core and whichever team is gassed at the end may give up some points.

What teams have already been playing 9v9?

This past weekend in the Beat the Heat tournament in Oklahoma City Solar Colvin, Solar South, Dallas Cosmos all played 9 v 9...Was fun to watch...As noted the teams with best conditioning and positional field awareness will normally win. The girls are really starting to understand the game much more now, and it shows on the field

Coaching

I also think that Morgan division will have the best competition. It has 5 of the top 10 teams in NTX. This division will benefit and develop the most.

Sting Spence is FBR #17 and yet, I had not seen them ranked before August. Is this another team that changed names/clubs?

D’Feeters Voutier can be defeated/tied if you have a strong defense and keeper. That has made the difference with Scarfone, SS and Colvin. If your team doesn’t have both, forget it, you don’t have a chance with them. You will be in for a good whooping!!