Thanks, Evan was telling me about them last night... things are sort of crazy, there's this busy week, then Cancun from Monday to Friday night, then go to Austin Saturday. I want to make sure I get a seat.
unfortunately, i have. i would have rather been stuck in a 12 hour car drive with atpag & davincicustomhomes (for the old school peeps). i keed atpag, i keed. don't pm me, please.
ah, Davincicustomhomes. Didn't he invent the "nuts and bolts, nuts and bolts, we've been screeeewed" chant? Or was that atpag?
Tonight I went to the Austin Aztex game with the NE Revs. So here are my observations: I left at 75' with NER up 2-0. Extremely windy (it took a piece of paper 6 seconds to travel the length of the field!) which made the 50 degrees feel like about 28 degrees. First goal was a defensive collapse that gave Videira a free and open look on a slow roller on the penalty spot. Second goal game in the 2d half when a AA defender whiffed a header over the endline for a needless corner, then the same defender made an amazing diving header own-goal on the ensuing corner kick. Both mistakes were due to not judging the wind. NER could have gotten another when Nyassi got away. He blew past a sprinting Aztexian like he was standing still. NER: Same ol' Rev's. cept no TT. Dube running the center channel with Nyassi and Mansally on either side at the outside Mids in the 4-5-1. Outside left was a Rookie Kevin Alston and a Mike Videira played the CAM. Aztex unvieled their new USL-1 team. Very few players from last years PDL team. First half: GK is the same kid from last year -- a Texas product name Miguel Gallardo. He was not tested as he had no chance on the goal. I remember watching him last year and thinking he was a good prospect. Good size, VERY athletic, some great saves, a soccer player. I'm glad to see him get a shot at a higher level and get some better training. New central defenders: It looks like they are imports from English lower divisions. They yell "fookin el" allot. Or look like they would. New left MF is Hector Quitanar. I'm told he is a local kid who played at Clemson then played south of the border for a few years. He showed some clue and plays like a nice mix of Mexican and US soccer influences. Central MF included a hard playing British kid name Eddie Johnson who looked like he was raised in an English football academy. Short hair, hard tackling, running hard all the time. 2-1 odds he and Mullan square off next week. The target forward was very interesting. Another Brit, black, tall, named Gifton Noel Williams. I was told he played at Watford and has played in Spain. He doesn't seem fast, but he has good touch, very good vision, holds the ball up well, and moves especially smartly. He plays like a solid pro. He has the crafty nature of knowing exactly how to position himself relative to his marker. He anticipates and reads the game, makes good runs. He was winning most everything that came his way and he was dominant in the air against NER's starting center backs. If he gets some service he is going to score some goals. He is a tall dark version of Brian Ching with better feet. Second half the Aztex changed their entire team. Kyle Brown got a run up top. He had a couple chances out away from the goal to do something but did not. I'm looking forward to seeing all you guys up here next week.
So you were one of the early exits Don? I couldn't believe how many people left because it was "too cold". I would not expect to see the same team next week. Aztex are still doing trials and I know there are a few new faces coming in this week. I also will be surprised if Ching,Mullan, Davis and even Stu get much time next week. Brian Mullan said because of the ,as I like to call it plastic grass , he didn't expect to play. He said certain players might see a few minutes , but that it was not ideal for most of the starters to play on that stuff. Be aware that the stadium has East and West sides that are not connected. Make sure you check your ticket so that you park on the right side of the stadium. I would suggest seating on the West side as the nicer of the two. Bigger parking area, tailigating section is large, parking area lighting is better after the game, team benches are on that side and I work on that side. Right inside the Westside gate you will find the Holden's Heroes fundraiser too. Matt Reis donated his jersey for a silent auction to be done next week. We also have the last few of Evan's private collection being auctioned.My son and his teammates will be registering bone marrow donors and collecting for HH , so please stop by and help out.
Yeah, I left at 75' more motivated by how the game had devolved and my desire to beat the crowd but getting out of the cold was motivating me as well. I had not come dressed for it.
It was freaky windy wasn't it? I thought I was back in Cali fighting the Santa Ana winds. Thankfully we came prepared because we needed to stay after to finish up. The match was about what I expected for a new team with only week of practice under the belt. My hope is to see Kyle do well because he has always been a class act. These games are good pre-season training for the Aztex and hopefully a way to help get new fans for the Dynamo.I fully expect Dynamo to play mainly the younger players and that will be great for them too.
Watching how Gifton Noel Williams played I'm afraid Kyle will be second string. Williams is a serious player from little I saw.
I actually did not see him play. I was working box office and then gate until about the 65th minute. I know Kyle looked good at the scrimmage earlier in the week when Aztex won 3-0 against NE. I'm looking forward to seeing Gifton play. Sadly I will be working box office next week too
Odio Austin y su equipo de mi3rda! Countin' the days till I see my team victorious! Lo unico Azteca que tienen es el p!nche nopalote pintado en la frente, chicanos malparidos!
They had no issue last week, so I'd say it is cool. Make sure you set up your tailgate area in the lot by your gate. Otherwise it will be a hassle getting around to the right entrance. Cops seem pretty cool too. I asked about smoke bombs and such and the two cops I was talking to said it would add atmosphere West gate will have the Holden Heroes collection cans , bone marrow registration and auctions too. My little player found out today his next surgery is March 17th. They are trying to repair the nerve and muscle damage. So, he has two games left to play and then he is out once again. He scored two wicked goals last week. Just to prove a point to himself he kept taking left and right footed shots and ended with a goal from each! He'll be on a no weight bearing confinement for 3-4 weeks, so I set up his wheelchair rental today. His first two weeks will be 100% bed rest... he is very pissed about missing the opening games. Such is life for him. He's tough...he'll be back once again... no doubt!
Thanks for the info!! Much appreciated. Is there no ramp, he cant go in the wheelchair? Its kinda like bed rest no? You should take him up there, well spray paint that wheel chair orange!
Austin Aztex up 2-1 at the half, really entertaining game. with plenty of fans. Houston Dynamo fans are pretty passionate, but sing some really stupid songs.lol
sorry, i fail to recognize the judgment of someone that is posting to bigsoccer from their cell phone at halftime of the game.
Bizarre Refereeing at Austin Did anyone else notice the referee after Austin's second "goal" last night? Here's how I saw it: - Austin player gets to the bye-line and fires a low cutback across the goalline - Barrett tries to clear, but clearly gets bundled into the ball by another Austin player leaving both he and the ball nestling in the net - The ref, rather than running back to halfway, runs forward to the six-yard line and indicates a direct free kick to Houston - Meanwhile, all the Austin players run off to the fans in the West Stand celebrating wildly with the fans while the DJ (how annoying was he?) blasts DJ Otzi or MARRS over the tannoy. - The ref stands there for about 30 seconds before realising that nobody is paying any attention - He just decides to cut his losses and give the goal! I've never seen anything like it! I know it was an exhibition game, friendly, whatever...but that was abysmal.
Re: Bizarre Refereeing at Austin Well, that's ok, he made up for it by calling back our goal and giving us a free kick instead. ....No, wait a minute.