Fuller with the impossible angle takes down Toronto 1-0. That's 2-1 versus MLS competition. And we haven't won "against the run of play" either. Even against Dallas, we were in the match.
Don't go too crazy over pre-season results. Watched the game, most of it, tonight and I wouldn't classify the play of either team as having been very good. The Rowdies did well against MLS competition last year as well and we all know how that turned out But the Aztex were very solid last season and I'd expect them to be amongst the best of the USL Pro this year.
I reckon our main chance to measure ourselves against better teams in matches that matter will be the US Open Cup. Having said that, I admit to wondering a few times how well Orlando would do against a few MLS sides if we had an extra piece or two to plug in; a bit of extra speed down the flanks, or an extra bulldog in the back of the middle third. (maybe we can sign Gattusso if he wants to retire in the US...no, not really.) But we looks scrappy. It'll be neat to see what we can do.
Small field that's why there was a lot of bunching,saying that Tronto had space on the right wing they just didn't use it that much. I thought City played well,for a new team they played with hart.
No doubt that we have a few weak spots on the field. I do think that our center backs are MLS-quality along with a player here and there - but overall ...no. Which leads me to believe our coaching is very good. He double-teamed Ferreira all night on Thurs. and it almost worked. He pushed Fuller up top inthe 2nd half Sat. and... goal. We move the ball very well through the midfield - that's usually coaching. But even during the Open Cup MLS teams will play 2nd teamers, etc. So, it's hard to compare.
Have to be pleased with the results so far, nothing helps bring the fans out to games at any level or any sport more than winning games. Being able to tell prospective fans that the team is winning against MLS competition goes a long way to coercing them to come out to games and buying into the goal to be in MLS in a few years.
Quick, please tell me this is not what the team is selling its fans to try and drum up team interest. Wins over MLS sides in meaningless preseason friendlies? Come on, please tell me there is more. Please tell me that Donner isn't hoodwinking you guys. Talk to some Rhinos fans before you buy too far into MLS talk for a team he is associated with..... You guys need to slow way down with this MLS talk. LOTS of things would need to be accomplished by the club before they got even close to sniffing MLS. What kind of season ticket numbers is the team at thus far for this year? What is their plan for a stadium situation, as playing in the Citrus Bowl is really more of a negative then a positive? It might be prudent to have a bit more history then being a D3 team with a few friendlies under their belt before talking about MLS......
A team trying to "drum up interest" and sell tickets by winning games? Unheard of I tell you. They should lose all their games no matter how meaningful or meaningless they are, that will make people want to come out and watch. They're selling the same thing as any other USL/NASL team, professional soccer as entertainment. I'm not "buying into" anything more than enjoying soccer at this level at this point in time. I'm not naive and convinced that years down the road the team will still be in Orlando let alone in MLS. I really don't see a problem with that, do you? Would I like to see MLS in Florida? Yes. Would I prefer to see that goal reached in Central Florida preferably in Orlando in the near future? Yes. But at this point in time I am doing what I can by buying tickets and enjoying this level of play just like anybody else.
Fwiw: it appears to be just a lot of solid excitement at the moment. In fact, it's sorta the immediate afterglow, so to speak, of having won this past weekend's match on a really nice goal scored and celebrated right in front of the supporters section. It's nice that it was against an MLS side, but it seems like most OCSC fans around here realize that it doesn't mean much more than a decent preseason performance. I think most people are fairly level-headed about it all right now, even with that story about the MLS meeting that came out yesterday.
Love the passion Quick, hope you hang onto it, no matter how dismal things might get up there. It really sucked to be a Miami FC fan this year, but keep your eye on Ft. Lauderdale this year and see what a difference just one year can make if things are done properly. Worldgame - this is what I like to see. Enthusiasm and excitement for your team, but a level head as well. One of my few points of contention with our supporters groups down here (which I am not a member of) is they always want to swing the talk back to MLS at some point. If it is going to happen, Garber has cleared it up for them now from the meeting they had with him in January. Support what you have. If the numbers get big enough, you'll have our attention. I'd imagine he'd say the same to every market aspiring to the league. If we love and support our Strikers, help the team raise the bar to record heights of interest in the community, then they'll be on the path the to where they want to end up anyway. Me, I'm just incredibly lucky to be able to take my son to Lockhart to watch the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers just like my dad took me 30 years ago. I'd recommend your attitude to all OC fans, Worldgame. Enjoy what you've got, because as your predecessors in Austin can tell you firsthand, it might just slip away in the night. And don't trust Donner any further than you could toss him..........
Slow down guys, pre-season friendlies arent a good messure of how the team will end up playing. I expect Orlando being basically Austin with another name are going to do well in USLP Pro, I also expect Rochester and Charleston to do the same. But giant killer you are not, we all know there's only one giant killer in the US lower divisions
Yeah. Rochester. And until somebody else in the lowers wins the Open Cup, no one else can credibly make that claim.
I give props to Intru's Islanders for Giant Killing in the earlier rounds of the current Champions League. They absolutely crushed the "mighty" Galaxy.
