Ohhhhh, lots of thoughts! Team looks really good, new players seemed seamless. Very excited to start in Fall and we are still scheduled to have more players coming in. Going to be a very deep bench!
Wow! We've never had a recruit good enough for a call up to the NT. Heck, we've never had one called up from the FSU squad while at FSU to my knowledge.
Here is a blurb on Jaelin from a U23 game against Portland Thorns. M Jaelin Howell – Before coming off in the 62nd minute, Howell was superb at holding midfield. Shielding the back line, she handled the physical challenges well, was tidy with possession and moved the ball quickly. It’s no surprise that she’s heading off to a stint with the full team later this week down in Texas. Howell is going to be a huge hit for Florida State starting in 2018. Makes me excited for the future!
Casey Short got some good play at CB for the USWNT against Russia. Don't know if she'll stick, but it's nice to get a look. Also Jaelin Howell was called up, but don't know if she played.
No, Jaelin did not play. She and high school and club teammate Sophia Smith were added to the roster of the pre-game camp, but neither were named to the 18 member game rosters. (Similarly, fellow 2018 class player Brianna Pinto was on the She Believes roster, but never saw any game action.)
Are these youngsters really better than the top college players? Or, is US soccer thinking that these kids are the next Mallory Pugh's? More often than not, situations like this result in the disappointing realization that the player is more like Freddy Adu. I have never seen these girls play personally. I would hope that US soccer is not just pushing extremely athletic girls to the front of the line, like they have done forever, and that these kids are technically superior to most of the girls in the Country, with superior soccer IQ's, and supreme athletic tools also. The women's side needs to find youngsters that play like Pulisic!
2 things working against us CH. 1. Mark is in a habit of holding all info close to the vest. He doesn't like our postseason local games on TV, apparently because he doesn't want a scouting advantage. 2. FSU website show precious little interest in the offseason for soccer. I know Mark usually plays several scrimmages against UF, some U___ teams and some boys teams. I don't know any specific info I can share!
Well if it is a local game most teams won't pick it up unless the game is put on satellite. Maybe UF would sell it to their next opponent. But really, Utah didn't need a scouting report. The Noles just played bad. Makes you wonder what FSU does to get tape on other teams? HMMM. From the end of the season to the next.FSU is trying to have players cleared to play especially if they are international/transfer players. Many times players showing up without the NCAA clearance. Some players you never heard of because they turned around and go home. Others stick around to wait for a decision. Lastly, I'm glad Mark plays it close to his vest......it makes things very interesting!
Shes a regular on the 2000 YNT. So Cal kid. Slammers 00 ECNL. Smallish and waif like. Maybe 5'3" 110 ish. Skillful but not exactly devastating on the dribble. Good vision and technique. Plays ACM #5 slammers. I found this not super recent video there are probably others that are better.
Got Jukes?, you mentioned another goalkeeper coming in this fall, is that Bollinger? Is she graduating early, I thought she was class of '18.
Moul has transferred. Looks like a lot of scholarship space has opened with the mass exodus this off-season.
A creator and creative with the ball. Small in stature but it doesn't matter. We have seen and even deployed tactics of knocking her off the ball when playing against her. She gets up just as fast doesn't seem to miss a step and will make the opponent play. Equally good with her left and right. Has caps with the U16 U17 and U18 WNT. Has led her club team to 2 consecutive National Championships and working on a 3rd. Recently named by Topdrawersoccer as top 3 in the class of 2019. So I would say its a good grab for FSU.
Casey Short is getting some serious play with the USWNT. I have no inside info, but I'm guessing she sticks. They beat Sweden in a friendly in Sweden today. She played all of the game I believe.
Gloriana Villalobos http://www.tallahassee.com/story/sp...star-gloriana-villalobos-joins-fsu/355228001/
Well, a team with Villalobos and Castellanos in it seems quite good to me, to use an understatement. Probably it could get a good placement in some youth tournament for National Teams...
Good read on Gloriana. I had heard she was fitting in real well in the spring and making an impact. Glad to see it acknowledged by Mark who is usually real reserved. Can't wait.
The important factor will be that all the players play as a team, not individual stars. That's what won the Natty in 2014 and cost us the Natty in 2015.