I'd have to say that we are better positioned than I thought we'd be at this point. I also think we've really missed Maher with his injury. I remember Chris telling me when he signed Steele & Maher that they had some great chemistry together. The problem is, I"m not even sure if they've played in a game together this season.
We look organized and conservative, although I'd like to see them attack a little bit more. I think the best thing in the season so far is that people are starting to talk about Carolina. Granted, alot of it is negative, but we're making an impact in the league instead of just being there like so many expansion teams seem to do in the first year.
Edozien's goal against Vancouver is Goal of the Week for Week 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH5KfjAFsyI While Carolina's goal scoring volume may yet be low, the strikes that have found net have been impressive. To date, 2 of the 7 USL Goals of the Week have been scored by Carolina, the only team to have been honored twice so far this season.
Starting another subject: Although we all hate the PA music during the games, it would be interesting to have a couple of songs that they play before and after the games consistently. They would hopefully have some sort of relation to our team name. Two songs that I heard just recently on my iTunes shuffle mode are: Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash (only because he says orange and it has a railroad theme) Carolina In My Mind - James Taylor (We are called the "Carolina" Railhawks) Of course State fans won't like that one... Of course we can sing these as well Just a random thought I wanted to share.
Seems to be getting on pretty well. He's started for us in just about every game. My take is Stu's game is very solid. Not flashy but gets his job done.
I bought the 18 ticket voucher pack. I got a personal call, not a robocall, about the USOC match. Anyone else get that?
I've been away in Spain this week, but there's a flurry of news updates this morning: A nice article in the Independent Weekly: http://trisoccerfan.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=757 RailHawks to get 2nd Round US Open Cup home match if they advance http://trisoccerfan.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=758 Friday Festivities for doubleheader match http://trisoccerfan.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=759
Oh please for the love of god no James Taylor. That song has got to be one of the worst examples of treacle ever recorded. Besides, it's so slow and down-tempo that it won't inspire people, it will put them to sleep. I think the UNC General Alumni Association must have a songwriting credit on it or something, the way they trot that out at every conceivable occasion.
if anyone wants to have a little pregame kickaround, let me know, i can be there at any time! i might bring a ball along to kick during the u-23 game!
Was checking out rhinosfan.com, looks like there'll be a few Rhino fans in attendance. Also found this cool animation. This is our dance we'll do after every goal.
Picked up tickets this afternoon. The best I could get was the front row in the penultimate section away from the Depot. I think that's 308; 309 was sold out. (Or vice versa.)
Hard fought 2-2 game. I feel more like we get them get away with a point in a game we could've won though.
i feel we should have taken three from that game....we must have had 6 shots inches from the net within the last 20 minutes....oh well we will do better another time...good to see Connally in form!
It was a great answer to go up 2-1, almost immediately after they tied it. I think Maher is garbage... he never wins 50/50 challenges, he rarely makes any runs, and he doesn't really do anything productive.
I thought the team looked rusty last night. Passing was off, and they did not pressure the Rhinos, while they had possession, to the extent that they usually do. Perhaps they were wary of the heat as well. If the heat did effect them... it could be a long summer! Despite two good goals, I thought that Rochester looked the better team for much of the first half, as they were passing on the floor quite well. At half time, I wasn't too confident that the Railhawks could pull it off. The second half, though, saw the Rhinos defense deflate badly, and the Railhawks got to play a bit more. There were still several atrocious passes, but team defense picked up just a bit. The introduction of Liete, and, especially, Fusilier, seemed to have a positive effect on the Carolina attack. In the end, after several very close chances in the second half, I walked away feeling like a couple points, and possibly some bragging rights, were given away. Of course, one can also remember the excellent save that McClellan made in the first half, for the want of which all three points might have gone North... Another exciting game. I'm looking forward to Tuesday and RWB Adria!
I think Maher had a bad game...against Chivas USA he was gold. Scored our first goal on the volley. He looked to have some kind of bandage on his head?? whatever, he just didnt look himself today. But im just looking forward to the return of Johnny Steele!!
I've been to two games. The first one was a 0-0 game, I think the 2nd home game of the year. Carrieri was brilliant that match, looked to be too good for the USL. Last night he did very little and got in shouting matches with two different teammates. He made the brilliant chest layoff to Edozien. Maher's pass was more important and more difficult and more intelligent that what Edozien did to score.
Highlight for me, other than seeing Connally have a breakout performance while putting Calloway in his place for not playing him last year was Santiago Fusilier finally getting a good 30 minutes to make his case for the first team. He made the left side of Rochester's defense look absolutely school-boyish by beating them over and over and over with the exact same move (fake down the line and cut back left into the middle). My only disappointment is that he didn't finish one of those moves for the game winner. Santi is still a little raw, but he's one of the few players on the team that I believe has the potential to continue to develop his talent and perhaps escalate it to the next level. He's got a real challenge to breakthrough into a starting position with Carrieri ahead of him in the depth chart, but I really like what I saw from our little Argentine last night.