dins8

Food for thought... West won the East/West THSSCA game tonight 2-1. I know there's been a lot of thought about the West districts not matching up to the DOD and the East, but they apparently did well tonight. Not sure who scored for the West, but Caleb Lucas scored the only goal for the East. Btw...my opinion on All-State: Caleb Lucas, Maryville Tim Baker, Catholic James Ferguson, Bearden Tyler Rhone, Farragut Andrew Jones, West And...NUMEROUS players from Dobyns Bennett

Good luck to both teams tonight. This is always the matchup that everyone waits for in Knoxville!

I don’t think anyone is denying that Bearden is a great soccer team, mack. In fact, I am almost certain that Olif is a Bearden supporter, and he was simply commenting on the contrasting styles of the two teams. When juxtaposing the two teams you will find, like Ned said, two talented sides with two different approaches to the game: Bearden focuses on keeping their defensive shape and catching opponents in transition, while Maryville tries to keep the ball and make their opponents chase. Both teams’ philosophies have looked flawless at times, yet both have looked vulnerable as well—Maryville was exposed at Bearden, and Bearden looked susceptible against Catholic. With that said, I don’t think anyone in this area continues to denounce Coach Turner’s philosophy as unattractive or “boom ball.†In fact, I think Bearden’s method is one of the most effective and enjoyable brands of soccer to watch. They form an impervious blockade of defenders in the middle of the pitch, disallowing any form of solid penetration. All shots against Bearden are going to be low percentage shots, and if a team is tricky enough to slip behind their back line or give a good service in the box, the ball is going to undoubtedly be contested or rather won by Bearden. What is even more impressive is how quickly they counter, forcing their opponents to chase, panic, and lose their shape. After Jose Mourinho’s Inter team sent Barca packing in last year’s Champion’s League semifinal, he was asked to comment about how lopsided the possession battle was. Mourinho ostentatiously claimed that it was all part of a plan and that his Inter side didn’t want the ball because they never wanted to lose their shape. I think Mourinho is a downright liar; I think Inter was outmatched and pulled the win out of their back side. Bearden, on the other hand, knows exactly what they are doing, and they play an attractive and remarkably effective brand of soccer.

I really doubt that Coach Woods is laughing over these comments. Too often parents cannot dismiss their vicarious involvement in their son's life, and, consequently, they fail to see their son's shortcomings. A coach's perspective, on the other hand, is almost always objective; therefore, he is more than likely privy to unique knowledge for why a kid does or does not get time on the pitch. Unfortunately, coaches rarely get the credit that they deserve. Sometimes parents serve "coach roast" at the dinner table; other times parents gossip like school girls over a coach in the stands; and, at the very worst of times, parents publicly lambaste a coach on a forum. I find this thread tacky, unappreciative, myopic, and wrong. Good luck to Coach Woods. I, for one, think he is a good coach and a good guy.

Pinball, Good to see you on the boards. As always, you have some good insight, yet I think a lot of people might be overlooking or rather inadvertently dancing around the biggest factor in this game: Centennial's keeper. I respect Centenial's plan to keep numbers behind the ball, or as you put it, "park the bus in front of the goal." After all, as Siegel pointed out, Inter was crowned kings of Europe by implementing this same tactical plan. However, I disagree with you that Centennial's coach was the first to give this tactical strategy a go against the Admirals. Farragut has seen numerous teams excersise this tactical plan, and, like you said, they continued to play the ball into the 18 and have at times DRILLED teams that try to play a bunker and counter game. In essence, I don't think that Centennial's coach finally figured out a way to crack Farragut; instead, I think he realized that his best shot was to roll the dice and take his chances with a bunkering strategy and rely on the best keeper in the state. After all, who is to say that this game wouldn't have been at least 4-1 had Centennial fielded someone between the pipes who didn't appear to be superhuman. Now, to anyone who says that Farragut wasn't that good in the first place...that's just ridiculous. Farragut's last two seasons speak volumes about their coaching staff, their senior class and the program as a whole. Unfortunately for Farragut, soccer is a cruel game and one of the few sports where an inferior side stands an honest chance against a powerhouse. This is not to take anything away from Centennial's victory at all. Hats off to both teams. Good luck to Hville and Centennial in the finals.

I do not see Farragut falling to Hendersonville. Furthermore, I am baffled by your analysis of the Bearden and Collierville game. Bearden vulnerable to the counter? Bearden throwing all of their dogs forward? Bearden keeps their defensive shape as well as any team that I have seen. While their playing style is not easy on the eyes, they have proven to be very successful at grinding out 1-0 wins this year. Maybe I have not been watching Bearden closely enough though, but I, too, think that they will beat Collierville rather easily. I DO think that Hendersonville is capable of beating Farragut, but it is going to take an off night from Farragut and a tremendous effort from Hendersonville. Farragut WILL score, and I just can't see Muth, Wayman, and Kendrick stumbling again this year. Farragut has the best midfield in the state, but a lot of people forget that they have the best defense in the state too. Farragut wins 2-0 in the finals over (hmmm....) Bearden or Hendersonville. Now...assuming that Bearden and Hendersonville both get through, Bearden/Hville II could be a great match!

YES!!!! This makes my day. I love this guy!

I think G has an interesting point about sometimes having to know what you are doing MORE SO with a talented team, and the coaching staff at Farragut has obviously proved they are more than qualified. Anyone ever seen Farragut warm up? They are a group of boys that turn into a syncronized machine. No doubt, the coaching staff is the backbone behind such organization. Anyone who thinks that Coach Culbreth just rolls a ball out and says go play really doesn't know much about Farragut. Take their 2007 state title for example: Farragut came off the blocks as talented, explosive, but also egotistical. I never would have thought they would have made such a run after a tie to an inferior McMinn County side. However, by the end of the season, they had transformed into an organized, selfless juggernaut. Yes, Farragut has always had an abundance of talent, but it certainly takes a talented coach to organize that talent and keep a train from derailing. No way does Farragut blow up in the playoffs!

Strongly disagree, Coniglio. CAK is a true contender, but I do not see them "rolling people over" the way they have in the past years. Yes, they benefit from Catholic moving up in classification, but I think even BigG would agree that this CAK team is different--they are very young and still probably trying to work out some dents in order to move forward. That being said, I still see them as the favorite to win the AA/A title, but I think it will take a very dedicated/focused effort, which I am sure is right up Gerlach's alley. However, I would not be surprised at all if a team like Alcoa knocks them off down the road. CAK a front runner? Sure. Rolling over people? NO WAY!

I could be wrong, but I think w/ the Maryville/West tie, Catholic slides into the third spot with Maryville fourth and West fifth. 1.) Farragut 2.) Bearden 3.) Catholic 4.) Maryville 5.) West 6.) Lenoir City 7.) William Blount 8.) Heritage Look right?

I would not count Catholic out for sliding into the three spot. They have looked very good lately, and only a couple of things have to happen for them to slide in over both Maryville and West.

Lenoir City has an OUTSTANDING keeper. Not sure what his name is...

Can anyone update the scores for tonight?

Timmy Baker from Catholic is very small but very good (reminds me a lot of Tyler Gibson with his vision). He is a very solid addition to Catholic, and I expect him to be a big time player when he becomes an upperclassmen.

Congrats to Farragut on a big win over NW, and thanks for representing TN so well. Good luck tomorrow--bring it home.

Quick recap so far: Bearden/West: All Bearden. It was unfortunate that Tanner had to go into goal so early, but those are the breaks of the game. Yes, West would have given Bearden's defense more trouble with Tanner in the field, but this game was still all Bearden and a big win for the dogs. Side note: Tanner is a pretty darn good keeper--what an athlete! CAK/Gallatin: Gallatin scored early on a counter after CAK had been pounding the Gallatin defense for most of the first half. An immature side would have tried to force their way back after falling behind to a less talented team, but CAK showed both composure and resiliency as they battled back and owned the second half of play. Good win for CAK. Maryville/Hendersonville: Maryville moved the ball extremely well in the first twenty minutes to score a goal early. Minutes later, Maryville missed a breakaway which immediately changed momentum. From that point on, Hendersonville dominated the match, beating Maryville to nearly every ball and outworking the Maryville midfield and defense. Hendersonville was slow stepping off the bus, but they proved that they will be a state contender in AAA with a convincing win over the Rebels. West/McCallie: Good win for McCallie. I will leave this game alone since many will want to discuss the red card. Siegel/Germantown: Game was not as lopsided as the score. Siegel was selfless and patient. Germantown has a talented midfield (particularly #7 who is both tricky and quick), but their defense appears to be a bit young. Still, the gap between these two teams is nowhere near as large as the final score indicated. Bearden/Hendersonville: The game of the tournament so far. I thought Hendersonville had more chances, but Bearden proved to be the better side. I seem to remember someone (dins8) recently suggesting that Bearden is down this year. Boy, was I way off. What impresses me most about an Eric Turner side is the improvement leaps that they make each and every game. They are extremely organized on defense, and they have just enough offensive power to tuck one or two away against some of the best teams in the state. Alex Wilkerson scored early on a controversial PK. Controversy aside, this was Bearden's game; they were very well-prepared, and despite the fact that they had less chances than Hendersonville, one got the impression that Bearden was always in control of this game. Players of the game--Keepers on both sides; they both came up huge on numerous occasions. Looking forward to tomorrow. Glad to finally see some good weather for the Bearden tourney! Best, dins

I see this being a very tough game with neither team having a clear cut edge. Bearden is extremely organized on defense, and they do a solid job eliminating any sort of creativity by even the most inventive attacks. Their back three take few chances going forward and are excellent at congesting the middle. To accompany the back line, Patrick Harmoney enjoys sweeping up the hole to assist in negating any sort of space for opponents. West has some very talented attackers (namely Tanner and Jack), but Bearden's defense is so organized that I expect them to be fully prepared for a predictable attack. Yes, Jack is excellent one vs. one, but Seth Williams is an exceptional defender as well, and I believe that by playing together at KFC, Jack has inadvertently revealed some of his attacking proclivities to Seth--after all, Seth had little trouble containing Jack in both match ups last year. Yes, West will unleash Tanner's patent sling shot, but I suspect Turner has spent nearly the entire week looking for ways to dodge these bullets. In the end, I think West's offensive arsenal will get caught up one too many times, and Bearden will eventually catch them in transition. Look for West to win both possession and the shot count but Bearden to win the game by a goal. Good luck to both sides. Can't wait to watch two of the best teams in the state!

What day/time is the Bearden Catholic game rescheduled for?

Does anyone have the Catholic/Hardin Valley score?

Bearden 1 Alcoa 0 Very good game. Both teams played hard and played to win. Bearden scored on a quick counter late in the game--vintage Bearden. They also had more chances but didn't always have the run of play. For instance, Alcoa dominated the first ten minutes of the game before Bearden seemed to own the last 30 of the first half. I thought maybe Bearden was going to blow the game open, but then Alcoa had a 15-20 minute spurt in the second half where they had the better play. Momentum is a funny thing. Alcoa will do very well in AA/A this year. By far they had the best player on the field tonight (Austin Stone). He is intelligent, elusive, and knows how to make others around him better. Like all sophomores, he gets lulled into complaceny, but as he matures he will be a consistent force for the Tornadoes for years to come. Overall, I thought the game was well-managed by Alcoa. They had their chances, and they had chances to tie it in the end. I think this game will only help them in the long run. Bearden, on the other hand, is down this year, and could (for once) have an early exit come May. They still look like Bearden--physical, direct, organized on defense--but they lack the one, two punch up top that they have had in the past w/ kids like Webster, Shoenfield, and Campbell. This is not to say that they won't have a solid season. After all, the dogs have proven year after year that they are resilient and they know how to win when it matters. Moreover, Wilkerson had an off night, and a veteran player like him will sharpen up down the road. So, paradoxically, despite the fact that they are nowhere near as strong as they have been in the past, don't be surprised if we see Bearden slip through the D.O.D. yet again. Player of the game: Austin Stone (Alcoa) Player of the game: Seth Williams (Bearden) What a tackler! Funniest part of the game: Austin Stone jogged over to the bench in the middle of the game and popped a pill. It was illegal, and I am going to report it to the state. (Just kidding, akula. I thought it was hilarious, and it was obviously nothing illegal). Scare of the game: #2 for Bearden went down late in the game ostensibly with a knee injury. He did proceed to walk off the field, so I think it fortunately was just a bad cramp. Hope he is okay--he is a very good player who showed off a cannon from long range. Best, dins

I'd like to echo what Facts said. While I don't always agree with the rankings, they are about as arbitrary as Eurosport, and they always generate good discussion. Well done, mjuhb!

Hmmm...Correct me if I'm wrong, but 8 out of the last 10 state championships have come from teams from the DOD, including last year's winner--Farragut. Let's not forget that in the last decade, the DOD has not only produced the winner 80 percent of the time, but has also almost ALWAYS had another rep from the district in the final four/state finals. (Shoot, in 2007, we could have saved everyone from Knoxville some gas money and just played the final between Farragut and Bearden in our own backyard). If that isn't enough, the D.O.D. added Catholic and West, both of whom have either won or made the state final four in their respective classifications in the last two years. Add Maryville and Lenoir City into the equation--both teams who have upset Bearden in the last three years--then, in my mind, you have a pretty loaded district. District 11 only traditionally has Brentwood in the mix of things; and, even when Brentwood is in the mix of things, the crown normally goes home with Farragut or Bearden. At one point during the 2009 season, five of the teams in the DOD made up the top ten in the state (Farragut, Bearden, West, Maryville, and Catholic)--Catholic being in AA/A classification, of course. While I appreciate the argument, I vehemently disagree with you and find your argument unfounded.

The D.O.D. showcases some of the top teams and top talent in the state. A district that nearly guarantees a state tourney representative in Farragut and Bearden just got tougher by adding perennial powerhouses Knox West and Catholic. This year's teams promise to be both talented and motivated, but unfortunately, only two will come out of the district with a pulse. The only question is: Who will it be? Here is a quick run down of arguably the toughest district in the state with some foreshadowing for how things might turn out. Farragut: Farragut boasts tradition, size, confidence--and sixteen seniors. No doubt, the favorite to clean house is last year's state champion that graduated only two starters. Ryan Stinton is the heavy favorite for player of the year, and the list of his supporting cast is endless. Their Achilles heel? As always, with sixteen seniors come sixteen unique egos, but Coach Culbreth has proven that he knows how to get his players to understand the team concept come tournament time. Bearden: Surely if there is a team that can challenge Farragut for the crown it is Bearden, right? Bearden remains as much of an enigma as any team this year. Of course, we know that they will be physical and play the direct/counter soccer that has made them successful over the years. And they have both talent in Alex Wilkerson and tenacity in Seth Williams. This is surely enough for them to challenge for the number two spot, but don't expect the Farragut/Bearden nailbiters of the past. Maryville: Like Farragut, Maryville anticipated returning numerous starters from their young '09 squad, but the early injury to one of their top goal scorers (Bradley Fisher) has left them looking for new faces to fill the role up top. Good news for Maryville is that they are deeper than they have been in the past, and some of the younger players should fit into a starting role nicely. Look for David Lethco to step up for the Rebels, and look for them to make noise this season as well. West: A three man wrecking crew combined with a savvy coach in Kyle McCoy. Jack McCoy should score in the boatloads, and Tanner Thompson will continue to unleash his Peytonesque sling shot, but I question West's depth. Sure, they have three proven veterans, but will West's supporting cast step up? Indeed, West's role players will be the key to their success down the road, and West fans believe that they have what it takes to slide into that two spot as well. Lenoir City: LC is often overlooked in the D.O.D. Coach Harris somehow motivates his team to hang around with some of the bigger teams that field twice the talent. Last year they tied a more talented Maryville squad, and for the last two years they have shocked Bearden. Lenoir City promises to upset again this year and perhaps spoil a two spot for programs that assume the two spot is theirs. Catholic: Notre Dame signee Luke Mishu will lead the charge into AAA for the Irish, but some say that the AAA powerhouses will not be so welcoming to a team that has co-reigned AA/A with CAK for so many years. Like West, Catholic promises to be talented, but will a newly established AAA team be able to hang with bigger numbers when depth promises to be a problem? Surely, Leader is up to the challenge. Heritage: It is no secret that Heritage has a long way to go to compete with the aforementioned programs, but they feel they have the answer in Maryville College grad Nick Bradford, their new coach, to get them moving in the right direction. Look for Heritage to take baby steps forward, but no doubt they have the right man to lead the charge in rookie coach Bradford. William Blount: I heard it is Coach Burnett's final year as a head coach, and he is most likely looking to go out with a bang. Unfortunately, for him, he graduates last year's keeper of the year, and, like Heritage, he lacks the talent on which some of the other programs rely. Don't expect him to go down lightly, though. Could this be the year for William Blount to pull an upset? I'm sure they would love to send their longtime head coach into retirement with a noteworthy win for the program. Good luck to all teams! Anyone have their prediction for how the teams in the DOD will end up? Best, dins P.S.--These teams are discussed in no particular order. Just based on my whims.

Alcoa proved just how good they were last year by beating Catholic in the Regionals and then going all the way to the State Championship Game. Also, if you can compete against McMinn, Oak Ridge, Maryville, Farragut, and Bearden you can play with anybody. Beside, we played them twice last season, I KNOW how good they are. Bottom line - pre-season polls are just for fun. Every year the teams are different, in strengths, weaknesses, personnel, team chemistry, etc. But as always it should be another exciting season. I am so ready for practices to begin. MJ is probably factoring in the post-season. Let's remember that Alcoa won when it mattered, and it is hard to not give lots of pre-season buzz to a team that made such a great run in the playoffs.