Hellloooooo........anyone out there? I want to eat some crow and tell you guys congratulations! You showed that you were the dominant team over the weekend-- good luck on the raod to the Championships! I was kind of right, the road to the Championship DID go through Des Moines......and now you will take that road even further! GOOD LUCK!
Now the PDL championship goes through Michigan. Wow: wins 4-0 and 4-1. I guess my concern about not getting too hyped about their latest goal outburst was a bit too presumtuous; their current run is 5 out of 6 games scoring 3+ goals. Fifteen netters in their last 4 games! Bring on the OCBS! Oh, yeah, MenaceFanatic, you did end up getting knocked out by someone other than Boulder (just joking). On another note, for some reason the PDL likes to say that this team was seeded #3 or #12 or whatever, for the playoffs. So the "#13 Bucks" beat the #3 and #4 teams. Now in the PDL playoffs, all teams are good. But in the Central conference, you have some monster teams. Anybody can beat anybody at this stage. Also, Menace, the attendence for your playoff game was listed as 1453. (The Bucks-Chicago final had 238.) Thought it would be more than that. None of your regular season games had less than 3500. I'm not saying that Michigan would have drawn 1K or more, but if that is the standard for hosting, are you really that much of a lock to host next year?
I am beting the Stoney Creek will have at least 1000+ fans in the seats for the match on Friday. I just hope they get the damn American football lines off the field before the match. It was real annnoying to watch the Crew US Open Cup match with the line on the field. I think that they, the Bucks, need to look for a new field if the lines can't be removed on time for a soccer match.
Re: Football Lines It's hard to find any kind of stadium field around this area without gridiron lines. I do grow tired of the "football lines hurt soccer" moaning. By the way, and I hate to say this, becuase it will become another thing for people to complain about, is that Stoney Creek uses Fieldturf. When you have that, the football lines are directly laid into the surface. The nicer reconstructred stadia around here (like the Bucks' home last year, Hurley field in Berkley) have Fieldturf with inlaid lines.
Re: Football Lines I didn't realize that those lines were part of the turf. That's too bad. It makes it harder for me to follow the game especially when the play is around the goal. Are they in the penalty or not? Also, isn't it against FIFA regulations to have any marks on the field other than the soccer lines? I know for a fact that there can be no advertising anywhere on the field.
I went to see the PDL semifinal between the Bucks and Orange County Blue Star, and was quite impressed by the Bucks' performance. They have very capable and skillful players and played with a great deal of energy. Also, they seemed very well-coached, and played well off the ball. On the other hand, Blue Star never got it going (perhaps because of travel?). They were a little slow in all aspects of the game. The crowd was pretty good, filling one whole side of the high school football stadium, but didn't seem to be that into it. It was quite suburban and laid back, not surprising, since they were playing in the exurbs of Detroit. There's still a long way to go there. What I found interesting was the Bucks' alliance with one of Detroit's top soccer programs, Vardar. It will be interesting to see what develops from this. Hopefully that will stimulate the growth both of soccer and the professional game in Detroit.
Having been there for the club's first three Open Cup games, I was a little disappointed with the turnout ....they're definitely NOT "Buck-like" crowds. I personally think it has everything to do with location. While the facility is FANTASTIC....the field is great, and stadium is great, but the location is too far north, and the stadium is located quite a ways OFF the highway. I thought the Hurley Field stadium was MUCH better location-wise. I'm sure the reason for moving had something to do with scheduling, but I think that they need to find a long-term solution for this. If those open cup games would have been played at Hurley, I'm certain there would have been MUCH bigger crowds, and that Crew game would have been sold out. Thoughts?
I thought the OC played reasonably well and could have been up 1-0 at the half with a couple of breaks. Then as soon as the Bucks went up 2-0 space opened up quite a bit. The Bucks old bugaboo of seasons' past - poor finishing - raised its ugly head as numerous chances to score a third were blown. And I was disappointed with the Bucks' play late - we couldn't seem to string more than 2 passes together to keep possession and run time off the clock. None of our subs played particularly well either. That won't fly in the heat of an August night in Laredo. The first half was itself a tale of two halves - the first saw lots of touches for Nate Jafta, though he was well tracked. Then early in the 22nd minute he was fouled hard, and we saw little of him then until late in the first stanza. And of course Nate delivered the assist on the first goal with a cross to Uzoigwe. The OC generally played good D in the first half, making it difficult to get the ball upfield thru the middle to Nate, and forcing the Bucks to the flanks. Unfortunately for the OC they left too much room there and did not count on Ty Shipalane's speed and skill down the right side. Ty made a passel of dangerous runs and should have had an assist on a nice cross into the OC box that Uzoigwe muffed.
I agree with Olujosh that the Bucks would have drawn a bigger crowd for the Open Cup games and the national semifinal at a more central location like Hurley in Berkley. I went to the Cup games as well as a couple of league matches at Stoney Creek and it is a real hassle to get there, especially in mid-week. To see less than 1,000 for the semifinal, knowing that the Crew Cup game didn't draw much more, says that location was a huge issue. I don't know the reason for the switch of venue, but cost and availability must have had something to do with it. As for the semifinal, OC looked lethargic, probably due to travel, and seemed content to wait for mistakes without pressing forward until they were 2-0 down. The Bucks certainly had better team speed, but as was pointed out before, should have finished this game off earlier. Too many clear chances were wasted. Jafta had one of the best after he rounded the goalkeeper and then hit a weak shot with his left that never threatened the open goal. It's too bad the game won't be on FSC until 11:30 Saturday night. That will limit what will already be a limited audience. However, Real Madrid and Barcelona, even in exhibition form, are still more significant than what is effectively the 4th division championship.
I think part of the problem with Hurley field is that the Detroit Arsenal use that field as well. Maybe there were too many scheduling conflicts?
I think the Stoney Creek site was chosen because it was close to the Oakland campus (where I think the Bucks train), as well as having Vardar train at OU. And isn't the coach in that area, also? But, yeah, that slow drive through downtown Rochester is really a pain.
Some questions for fans of Bucks-land. Anybody want to get together to watch the PDL final? But I think that 11:30 p.m. would be a late start (and the game would end at 1:30 a.m.; even later if it doesn't go to overtime). Anybody going to Columbus on August 19 via the ticket special that was e-mailed today? Finally, any predictions for the final? You always hate to "eat the cornbread" and be the homer, but I say the Bucks take it. The one part of the Bucks resume that's missing, is the PDL champoinship.
Michigan Bucks 2008 PDL Schedule 2008 PDL Schedule unveiled http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/223056.html PDF version of 2008 PDL Schedule [+] http://www.uslsoccer.com/docs/home/PDL2008Schedule.pdf 2008 USL PDL Regular Season Schedule Day Month Date Visiting Team @ Home Team Time (ET) Saturday May 17 West Virginia Chaos @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM Wednesday May 21 Michigan Bucks @ West Michigan Edge 7:00 PM Saturday May 24 Fort Wayne Fever @ Michigan Bucks 4:00 PM Monday May 26 Michigan Bucks @ Cleveland Internationals 7:00 PM Friday May 30 Michigan Bucks @ Cincinnati Kings 7:30 PM Sunday June 1 Michigan Bucks @ West Virginia Chaos 7:00 PM Wednesday June 4 West Michigan Edge @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM Saturday June 7 Cleveland Internationals @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM Thursday June 19 Toronto Lynx @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM Saturday June 21 Michigan Bucks @ Kalamazoo Outrage 8:00 PM Wednesday June 25 Michigan Bucks @ Chicago Fire 7:00 PM Saturday July 5 Cincinnati Kings @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM Wednesday July 9 Michigan Bucks @ Fort Wayne Fever 7:00 PM Saturday July 12 Chicago Fire @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM Wednesday July 16 Kalamazoo Outrage @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM Sunday July 20 Michigan Bucks @ Toronto Lynx 4:00 PM
Re: Michigan Bucks 2008 PDL Schedule Nice to see the league has kept the home/away relationship with CFP and the Buckaroo's. Maybe different divisions this year, one great rivalry. As usual will probably be some of the best games played in the PDL this summer. Later, cfrsoccer
FYI - for those who haven't been following all the different Bucks threads that have been floating about -- we're trying to consolidate a bit: http://www.usldiscussions.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=78 Starting a supporters group...looking forward to the new season in the new stadium...come on in, the water's warm
Michigan Bucks Head Coach i had the misfortune of meeting the Michigan Bucks head coach at a coaching conference. Wow, what a arrogant S.O.B. The guy kept making comments to talk about himself, ha if he only knew how much the rest of the people around him were making fun of him. The guy I think it was Dan Fitzgerald....was a self promoting jerk. Rather than participate in the course, he always used questions to talk about himself.....wow. Hey, I like the Michigan the state, but your coach is a real piece of work. Not a nice guy, and would never be a coach i would ever want to play for.
Re: Michigan Bucks Head Coach That's odd. This is the first bad thing I've ever heard about Dan, who's always been a really good guy, in my experience. I'm sorry he gave you what appears to be a pretty bad first impression. I'm usually a guy who bristles pretty easily at the type of person you've described here, and he's never given me any reason to describe him thus.
Woohoo! Those upsets this weekend really helped our chances. No way do we host if Austin doesn't stumble. Probably FC Tuscon too. I'll be there with bells on for both. Can't wait!
The press release says yes, its at USA. I thought perhaps our bid might have specified OU but I don't know how that could be done on such short notice. Just wish this was still on a network. When did Fox stop showing the PDL title game? Could swear they did it last year but not sure.
my guess is that the USL will have livestreaming available...the website says that the facility can fit at least 1500...so I hope that they sell out. Something seems wrong about playing outdoor soccer at an indoor facility in the middle of summer...lol
Hmm.... I wonder if Mr D thinks he's going to have a problem filling the place up. Tix will be pretty cheap: "Presale prices for these $10 tickets are only $7 per day by purchasing on line or a family of four can purchase a Family Pass ($80 value) for only $25.This pass allows up to four people into all three games on Friday and Sunday for one low price.There are only 250 family passes available and once they are sold, no more will be printed so fans need to respond quickly.For coaches and group leaders wanting to bring a group of 20 to the game, those tickets can be purchased for only $6 each." Kinda odd this structure; it will be cheaper by $3 for me to buy a family pass to take my son to both days than to buy separately. Am pretty sure tix to our most recent high profile US Open Cup games were more expensive.
Yes all 3 games will be livestreamed. Would be much better to have them on a network. Though I did watch some of the livestreaming over the weekend. There were decent viewer counts. I know some Stampede & Pumas fans will be watching.
Am pretty sure USA can fit 1800 ok and squeeze in about 200 more to make things pretty tight. I hope we show the visitors a decent time. Mr Duggan had a lot of praise for Laredo years back.