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Post by uwmfutbol on Oct 3, 2006 21:45:42 GMT -6
UWM lost 1-0 to UIC tonight, but I expected a loss. When I watched UWM play NIU on sunday it was the worst performance I've ever seen from that program, hands down--and this is including their 2-1 loss to Denver in 2003 and their 1-1 tie to UIC in 2004.
I'm not sure what's going on, but that team is just playing terrible this year. They're not passing the ball well, too much of the offense looks lifeless out there, and they're letting garbage goals go. This team is talented enough to beat any team in the Horizon League, but they're just not getting it done.
Here's to hoping Coleman brings in a strong recruiting class next year and the guys are able to rebound with a strong core of seniors, because obviously nothing is going to happen this season.
What a disappointment.
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Post by Big D on Oct 3, 2006 21:55:39 GMT -6
The UWM game is always the scariest game of the year for me...although UIC has played UWM well even when you guys were a much better team.
Here's a question. Do you think UWM would be in a different situation had Bennett still been coaching? Maybe he had more of an impact than you think?
After last year, UIC fans knew that we were going to be the team to beat this year. Trask has been doing a great job for us. He's put together a solid coaching staff, including a current player from the Chicago Fire and a former MLS star and college all-American. As long as Trask is around, I see UIC as being the team to beat in the HL. We're lucky that the Chicago area is so diverse because we're able to get all kinds of international talent.
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Post by uwmfutbol on Oct 3, 2006 22:16:00 GMT -6
UIC is really good, but I still think that UWM should be better than them simply because 6 of the starters on this team have been to 3 straight NCAA tournies and have played some brutal competition--experience counts. UIC is really dangerous, though, and it'll be interesting to see what they can do in the NCAA tourney--they should get in at least as an at-large berth assuming they don't really screw up.
I don't really think Louis Bennett is that big of a factor, to be honest. The players got it all out of their system by beating Marquette this year, and proving they didn't need him. Plus, Jon Coleman has been with the program for 9 years, knows these players, and runs an offense similar to how Bennett did.
The problem IMO is a lack of chemistry. Individually the guys are really good, but one player holds on to the ball too long when he should have passed it, or one player shoots the ball too soon when he had time for another touch. Basically lots of little things that have never been a problem for the team.
Overtime is brutal as well. To go 0-6-6 in the last 12 OT matches is miserable.
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SRT4driver
Junior
We Are MILWAUKEE! And I'm all about accountability, unlike '5th Placer' Jeter apologists.
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Post by SRT4driver on Oct 4, 2006 13:05:04 GMT -6
Yes, this has turned into a brutally terrible season. Definately not what I, or anyone else for that matter, expected. This team was in a virtual tie for league favorite pick by the league's coaches, and with all the postseason experience it returned, is simply too good to be 3-8-1.  And just how many matches can a team lose by one goal?!?! This was number 7, BTW. I'm afraid this will end up being just the 6th losing season in 34 years of Division I men's soccer at Milwaukee.  |
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Post by Big D on Oct 4, 2006 13:16:43 GMT -6
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Post by uwmfutbol on Oct 4, 2006 13:27:13 GMT -6
What an unlucky goal for Fernstrum.
Either way, UIC controlled the game and UWM is notorious for falling apart in OT. It would have happened sooner or later.
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Post by uwmfutbol on Oct 4, 2006 13:27:59 GMT -6
UWM's got 5 straight home games. A few weeks ago I would have expected them to win all 5. Now... I'd be really happy if they won 3 of em.
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SRT4driver
Junior
We Are MILWAUKEE! And I'm all about accountability, unlike '5th Placer' Jeter apologists.
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Post by SRT4driver on Oct 4, 2006 13:57:32 GMT -6
I'm still holding out hope that they turn this thing around at home, and win 4 or even all 5. There's a ton of talent on this team, and they're oh-so close to having the opposite of their current record, or even better.
The NIU home loss was yet another close one, and none of the five upcoming opponents (save perhaps Michigan) are nearly as good as NIU.
I sure hope there's still the usual Top 25-type fan support for this homestand that our team has been accustomed to these last 5+ years. I mean, you don't just give up on a team that's 45-6-2 at home during that time (48-7-2 counting this season), just cause they've had a bad start.
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Post by JimmyLemke on Oct 4, 2006 18:37:30 GMT -6
The UWM game is always the scariest game of the year for me...although UIC has played UWM well even when you guys were a much better team. Here's a question. Do you think UWM would be in a different situation had Bennett still been coaching? Maybe he had more of an impact than you think? After last year, UIC fans knew that we were going to be the team to beat this year. Trask has been doing a great job for us. He's put together a solid coaching staff, including a current player from the Chicago Fire and a former MLS star and college all-American. As long as Trask is around, I see UIC as being the team to beat in the HL. We're lucky that the Chicago area is so diverse because we're able to get all kinds of international talent. Whatever. UIC doesn't have fans. Don't kid yourself, Big D, I laugh at your student section, basketball or soccer. Mwahaha. You're able to get international talent, huh. Ever heard the name Antou Jallow? Tenzin Rampa? Nkuti Ndely? Craig Mallace? |
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Post by Big D on Oct 4, 2006 21:15:43 GMT -6
Whatever. UIC doesn't have fans. Don't kid yourself, Big D, I laugh at your student section, basketball or soccer. Mwahaha. You're able to get international talent, huh. Ever heard the name Antou Jallow? Tenzin Rampa? Nkuti Ndely? Craig Mallace? Jimmy, those grapes sure are sour up there in Milwaukee aren't they? I don't understand your point about international talent. I never said UWM can't get any good international players. I'm just saying that the Chicago area has some nice talent and UIC is in a good position to get it since we're right there. Look at UIC's roster right now compared to UWM's, and see who's doing a better job recruiting foreign players... Don't hate... |
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Post by uwmfutbol on Oct 4, 2006 21:56:08 GMT -6
UWM doesn't have great talent. They have a solid group of good talent. Antou Jallow and Tighe Dombrowski have been the only players that I would consider great talent since I've been at UWM.
If you want to see great talent, you gotta look at teams like UCLA and Maryland--basically any team in the Pac 10 or ACC.
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Post by milwsport on Oct 5, 2006 7:33:49 GMT -6
It should be noted that UWM not only lost its coach, it also lost some talented guys who he was recruiting. But we have a rich soccer tradition that goes back 30 years. We will reload and come back.
Meanwhile, let's keep supporting the guys who are there.
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Post by JimmyLemke on Oct 5, 2006 8:42:43 GMT -6
Misunderstood, Big D, I thought you were making a point as to why UIC is recruiting internationally and we are not.
By the way, being an authority on Dombrowskis, I can tell you that all of them, Scott, Chad, Tighe, Neil, and Zeke, all former UWM players, were not as good when they were little brother Quinn's age. Quinn has the potential to be better than all of them, and it's pretty obvious why: when you have 5 brothers that played D-I college soccer, you get some amazing tutoring in the game of soccer. He's got 5 coaches in his own family.
And, being all very proud UWM players, Quinn most likely won't be different. Don't say he'll go to Marquette because of Louis Bennett, because I'm pretty sure Scott was playing here in 95 or so, right before Bennett took over.
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Post by uwmfutbol on Oct 5, 2006 10:51:10 GMT -6
UWM isn't playing poorly because of a lack of recruits, they're playing poorly because their existing team isn't getting it done. We don't know if it's because of Jon Coleman--and I sure as hell hope that's not the case, because that's going to really hurt recruiting.
My guess is UWM will have a tough year this year, but should be able to bounce back with a group of 8 seniors and a solid recruiting class.
It should be noted that with Detroit and UIC becoming better programs, and the arrival of Valpo, the HL is becoming a much tougher conference.
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Post by uwmfutbol on Oct 5, 2006 10:57:22 GMT -6
And here's my take on Marquette's situation. Yeah, Louis Bennett is a good coach, but he also inherited a strong program at UWM. He's walking into Marquette with a mediocre/bad program in the 3rd toughest conference in the country. I honestly think that he'll be fired before he can turn that program around, because it's going to take several years to do it.
They're 1-11-1 with 4 or 5 games left, and if they win any of them it's a fluke.
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