Mental16

I have seen three games now by Farragut, a preseason game, the Bearden game, and tonight's game. Farragut had back two of the missing defenseman this game that were absent in the Bearden game, but they had lost a couple of key mid-field players. I still think that when they work the ball like they did tonight against OR and a couple of weeks ago against Bearden -hurt or not- no team in the state can play with them...they just have to use their brilliance with ball work to get them somewhere. The problem that i see is that teams will get up 1 on them earlier in the game and then drop more back to pack in the box....it was pretty obviously done in both the OR and Bearden games. When this happens, they need to take more outside shots...tonight it worked with Russel's goal, but it should've been happening all game. They have shooters that can hit the ball, but they would rather dribble inside the 18 and pass across....sometimes you just have to be selfish and rip it. I do understand that posession doesnt win the games, but if Farragut would find a way to take an early lead against teams like Bearden or OR they wouldnt have to worry about finding small cracks against 8 defenders in the box....which, i think, would ultimately lead to more wins. More to the point on the injuries, their defense played fine against Bearden...their defense played mediocre tonight...those things happen. Farragut's bench is almost as good as its starters...if they realize that, they wouldnt have as much of a problem....it seems that some of the players dont play with as much confidence as they should....but even so, i would be more worried about their lack of goal production compared to their amount of control of the ball.

The game was awesome and a great idea. Bearden had players like Elam in goal, Victor Upshaw, Tayloy Haney, Matt Blair, Todd Vincent, and some others i didn't know the name of but were good players..Farragut had a range of players, mostly from the 04-05 era. They also had Andrew Doyle, Jameson Rhiner, Michael Henson, Kyle Mottern, and Shaun Stinton (from a while ago) come back...it was an entertaining game and i was glad i could be apart of it....except for the fact that it felt like 36degrees outside and was raining the whole time...i hope next year has just as big...or a bigger turn out for both teams.

I was a little disappointed in the game. Catholic really looked comfortable on the ball; especially around the box. Farragut, even playing a different formation in the first half, didn't work the ball like they could've. The second half got better, with farragut controlling the ball for the majority of the 40 minutes. they were able to work the ball a lot better and came together. It was good to see what they have the potential to do again. Catholic looked good...Farragut had their moments....they should both be fine this season and have a good showing at state.

This is the first time i have been on this year, and i think this is a good time to add a reply. First of all, how can you say that the defending state championship team is overrated with the amount of talent they seem to have year in and year out? I too predicted their victory last year; even though they hadn't played their best soccer until later in the season. It is hard to say that having one good goalie isn't going to help win the games. I played against Walker and his brother countless times and they both impressed me to no end. If Bryan is in the net, it will be extremely hard for Bearden to get scored on. I don't remember this Tom fellow, but if everyone is talking him up this much then he must be pretty decent and i will try to watch him sometime. As for TinMan, it is good to hear that you are doing well with playing and school in KY. I still can't wait for the BHS/FHS match. It should be another intense game, like usual....and will hopefully show two of the TN soccer powers at their best. Good luck to all, but Go Admirals.

I didnt read anything that any of you have posted recently....I would just like to say that if you would think back to the preseason of this year, i came on here and posted that Bearden was going to win state this year, Farragut would get there but lose similarly to last season (they did), and that next year was Farragut's year considering who is returning....I have now gotten two out of the three right.....So if you acknowledge what i said then cool..If not, then that is cool too....But HA!!! to anyone who doubted me.

I heard the game was an exciting one, and i was more than extatic to hear that Farragut showed that they are still around in High School soccer contentions. As for my prior posts about these two teams; regular season is one thing and tournament time is another. This game was the one that needed to be won, and Farragut did just that. Way to go Ads, and good luck to SH next season. As for Tin-Man's post about not liking hard-hitting matches....I always saw you as a very physical, scrappy, rough, but still skilled player. I viewed you as someone who brought the physical aspect to the game more than others, but that isnt a bad thing. I love when games get physical and become rougher....I just was suprised to see that you put that you didnt like these games.

Honestly..It doesn't matter what I, being a Farragut fan, say on here about any team. I never said anything about a team not deserving a win. I never said one team was better. And i never said one team is going to win state. I just wish that everytime SH beats Farragut they dont automatically assume that they are now the best team in the State; especially since Brentwood is the best as of now. Rankings mean nothing at this point. anyone has as good of a chance as any to win it this year. That has been, and is my point regarding Farragut fans making their team look bad.

Umm..this is always a real good game. If Farragut plays the way they are capable of playing, which they usually do against CAK, then they will probably win by 2. If they come out slow and do not play well in the first 10-15 minutes, they are going to find themselves behind a goal very early. I love both the teams. Good luck. Go Ads.

Man, I dont know who you been talking to but SCIENCE HILL is going to win STATE this year!!!!! I dont care what other teams are out there that are as good or better than them; I just know that THEY are winning it.

Is SH undefeated???? I can only laugh when i read these posts because it is like the Lakers beating the Suns...they think that they have won it all already, but there is still much more soccer to be played. The regular season is tuning up for the post-season. Farragut was at full strength, you did beat Farragut, but that doesnt mean that you are going to do anything later on; it simply means you have one more number in the win column....but go on and enjoy the victroy. I heard it was nice. I dont know anything about whose coach is calling other coaches or if a coach is inspiring, it doesnt matter. To call a division better than another one because of regular season is just dumb. Clearly the strongest region will have the best showing in state, and your division isn't quite their yet....and lets try to refrain from the use of clichets like "There is a new Sheriff in Town", you won a soccer game.

Talking to OR alum, their team is really not that strong this year; however it is a rivalry game which will always make it a closer match. I think Farragut will bounce back from their loss and give a strong showing.

Backstrom has been playing outside mid almost this whole season. With their team, it works that he is out there. I talked to Farragut players after the game and they said that the game fell apart when Ben Lawson was cheap shotted after a pass and could barely move his leg because of a huge charley horse in his quad. Eddie then took it to them, as Lawson was on the bench and not staying with him. However, this game doesn't really matter, as many people would or like to say that it does, the real game will happen in sub-state. the last time SH beat Farragut in the regular season Farragut won state...

This JV game must've been amazing because it is getting more posts than the Varsity game which is one of the most attended soccer matches in the state.

I just thought i would bring this back on topic for a minute. Farragut's loss made me cringe when i heard it, but then i saw them dominate the Bearden game and look like a very strong team. I love it when that Chizaggi guy starts talking to Farragut players because almost everyone that has ever talked that much trash on this site doesnt represent as much as they would like to think. Chaser, if it is who i think it is, is a very strong defender and you will need more than just this Eddie guy to put up a strong showing. I can't wait to hear the result.

I dont think they play eachother in the opening rounds of the tourney, but they have a chance of playing eachother in the finals I think.

I first heard of the movie when Alijah Wood(sp) was on Leno or Letterman one night and they did a clip of the movie and he explained it; i was immediately drawn to it, being a soccer player. I researched its release and was disappointed to find out that it was only released in the UK and select cities in the US...so i pirated it, but i intend to buy it when it comes to dvd...it starts off amazing, but then slows down for about 15 minutes to build the story and then the rest is amazing.

Indeed

SAQ and other stuff like that is great. Even get involved with their water excercises, it works muscles more completely. Hills are good; long and steep. Someone also told me once that running down hills (not that steep) are good for stride; i dont know if it is actually true or not, but thats what they said.

I am against the mercy rule...my only point has been that the players can have enough control not to get up 26-0 on a team. i personally think that the idea for mercy takes more away from the game than if a team just gets up and then takes it easy or plays younger players.

I know that it happens more in HS than anything else. I dont think it is because the parents don't know better; it is more that they get so involved with their child's lives that they wish anything to happen to improve their lives. High School students cheer for injuries and rough play just because soccer isnt known as a physical, exciting sport to those who dont understand the game...lets face it, if you dont know what is going on or the strategy then it is boring to watch; same as any sport...High School students just like to heckle the other school. This is kinda weird to say, but i wish that Hooliganism got spread to the US soccer fans. The total devotion to a team and to its success no matter how good or how bad the team is, is just amazing to me. I saw the movie Green Street Hooligans and it was about soccer hooligans in the UK..the movie was amazing, and cant wait for it to get fans in the US because it is yet to show everywhere.

i dont remember bringing up 26-0 except for an example or hypothetical story. I understand where you are saying to play hard no matter who the team is. I was actually the same way, but when i played hard it didnt mean i had to score. You can play hard without running the score up and making the team feel like pooh. I am not saying put your team in a situation where you are up 2-1 with 2 minutes left..i am just saying that this is just a game, and even those people who arent that great at it want to have a good time and i dont think losing 16-0 is having a good time. Playing on Farragut, we stopped scoring at 8 on most teams...and that may seem a little excessive and it probably was, but our players werent out there to score goals..our 2nd string and JV played most of those types of games. I remember Jared Britcher and Aaron Doyle both coming off the field on their own will because they didnt want to pad the stats...even when our coach wanted them in, they refused. About the William Blount game; a similar thing happened to Farragut my sophomore year at sub-state. Our starters came out slow and we put in our "Death Squad" and they actually scored the first goal of the game...then our starters woke up and decided to play.

I am proud to say that i have played with you in the past. Apparently different coaches/parents have different mentalities of GAMES. it is not the end of the world if you take it easy on a weaker team To TIN-Man, it is one thing to try to run it up on a weaker team in the regular season and playing hard in a REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP game, the type of games to build confidence. If you say that you get confidence by running it up on Heritage and other schools like that then that is just messed up. It doesnt show that you have worked hard or that you came out on top in a tough game, it shows that you have no RESPECT for the other team. Just because Australia ran the score up on some team doesnt mean that it is fine to do. I understand that people have different paradigms than other people, but there should still be respect. Chizaggi...it is pronounced- pair-a-dime. It means belief system...dont ever attack another one of my posts again. I was discussing something with Tin-Man that he brought up...

Farragut lost to Science Hill...who was a pretty good team that year from my recollection, having played in that game. It wasnt like we were beat by Heritage (no offense to their soccer program, but it has been having to improve a lot over the last few years.) If you lust for your 26-0 games so much then why dont you just enter the special olympics and go for it. Or you could show some class and play the other team with encouragement and an understanding that you are superior so you act like the bigger man and take it as more of a pick-up game...they will have more fun losing 6/7-1/2 than 16-0. It isnt hurting anything with your hard work...that is shown in the Bearden/Farragut games, Oak Ridge/Bearden games....the state championship games...does beating up on weaker teams make you any better or worse?...or sell the team short of their hard work by not running up the score?

Backstrom and Russell are naturals at finishing...but neither of them are selfish players and wont put up 25-30 goals this season...look for them to have around 15-20 a piece.

For the mercy rule, I think they should not ever put on in place....not for the same reasons as Tin-Man, but for the team that is getting beat. I would never want to give up...it doesnt matter if the team is getting stomped, players still want the chance to play as best as they can and make individual plays...However, coaches of dominant teams should control the score. I know that Farragut for the past 4 years has been aware of games that they were going into to not run the score up on teams, but to just work the ball around; unlike other teams that like to beat teams 16-0 and pad their stats...but i am not going to name names Chuck Norris is not the second coming of Christ...he is simply the body guard of all that is good in this world.