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Post by freekick on Jan 30, 2012 13:34:34 GMT -6
The Saints didn't have the defense this year to make it to the Super Bowl. The Giants, after a poor start to the season, not only went on the road in bad conditions at Candlestick and beat the best defense in the league last week, the previous week they went on the road to Lambeau Field and beat the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl. Doesn't mean the Giants win it all, but sometimes a team on a hot streak is hard to deny- the proverbial team of destiny. Looking to see which soccer team will be this year's New York Giants.
I'm thinking 8 DI teams with a good chance, about 4 teams with a fair chance, and the rest would be a Cinderella story.
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Post by calcio on Jan 30, 2012 13:35:31 GMT -6
I think EA can be ranked either in front or behind Byrd. But I believe EA is a strong team heading into playoffs and should be in the top 7-8 area.
And as for the rest of District 5, I believe that all the teams have to be in the top 16.
My thoughts there are that Dutchtown is really close to EA, and has more on the "what have you done lately". Beating EA and Dominican. With the quality players dutchtown has, in the sense of actual college players. I think they are strong and will be carried by them as they battle through the playoffs. I could easily see them as the #10 seed.
St.Joesph, St Amant, and Baton Rouge High are tricky though.
SJA has to be ranked above StAmant and BRH.
But SJA and StAmant split, St Amant and BRH split, and SJA beat BRH both times (but the games were close). Wins are in Bold. SJA vs STA: 0-1 & 3-0 SJA vs BRH: 1-0 & 2-1 STA vs BRH: 2-3 & 3-1 BRH vs SJA: 0-1 & 1-2 BRH vs STA: 3-2 & 1-3
SJA and BRH have both had good results versus Lafayette. SJA tied Laffy 2-2. BRH beat Acadiana twice 2-1 & 2-2, Loss to Lafayette 0-1, beat Hahnville 2-1 and tied Westgate 1-1. However BRH ended the season beating East Ascension in Pks, and this game is not on the schedules/scores.
St Amant (before tonights match vs Dutchtown) has a Louisiana record of 11-6-1. Went 3-0 in Gulfport tournament, beating Picayoune 5-1, Long Beach 2-0, and Biloxi High 2-1. St Amant has lost both matches to EA 3-0, and lost the first meeting to Dutchtown 0-1.
My point being is that with the close results by these teams in district and similar records versus non district foes. I think SJA falls in the 11/12-14 range, St Amant in the 13-16 range, and BRH the 14-17 range. Especially if you look at the fact that Baton Rouge beat Hahnville and Acadiana, and BRH should be ranked behind St Joesph and St Amant.
I think SJA, St. Amant and Baton Rouge should be top 16.
Now in the suggested rankings (thanks for getting this thread started!) on this thread Zachary, Terrebone, Hahnville, and Acadiana are all ranked in the 13-16 area. I think Zachary, Terrebone, Hahnville, & Acadiana are all good squads. But their results if you go through and compare do not stand out over the SJA, StAmant, & BRH. * The following is based from the results available on the scores thread.
*Acadiana has not beat a BRH, SJA, or StAmant or a team with similar records. Acadiana also lost to BRH twice, assuming that they should not be ranked above BRH with those results. Acadiana should be at the top of the 20s or maybe lower teens. *Hahnville-Hard to compare schedules but they lost to BRH, and beat a common opponent with St.Amant (Destrehan) with a similar good result. They beat all the teams they played they should have beaten. But their best results are a semi-final win (1-0 of Cath. NI) and a win vs Central Lafourche 4-2. I know Hahnville will do well, but i dont believe their body of work shows they deserve to be higher than the 3 teams from district 5. *Terrabone hasnt played any teams you can really compare with except Westgate which they beat (4-1 & 2-1), and Mt Carmel which they lost to 0-4. *Zachary has the better results of all 4, and should deserve to be put ahead of Acadiana, Hahnville, and Terrabone. They also performed very well at the Gulfport tournament, going 3-0. Best results: beating Westgate 4-2 and tying St.Amant 2-2.
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Post by div1coach222 on Jan 30, 2012 13:39:52 GMT -6
freekick- still disagree with outcome of Saints vs Giants, but agree we need massive help on DEFENSE. You are right on with D I prediction!
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Post by Wofford Dad f/k/a SJA Dad on Jan 30, 2012 13:42:37 GMT -6
Overall record versus quality of competition versus district record versus head-to-head all have differing subjective meanings to different people. In other words, different strokes for different folks. That being said, you people are crazy Just kidding. But for me -- I don't care who you are, but if you go through the District of Death unscathed, that's good enough for me. SSA is my #1. Dominican beat Mount Carmel when it mattered most, and they're my # 2. Lafayette was unbelievable this year, and gets my #3. MCA is my #4. We should listen to Stephen Gerrard, because unlike most, he's seen a lot of teams play, including those teams with exotic, unpronounceable [or at least unspellable] names from the arctic regions north of Alexandria. Oh and btw, whilst this is an admittedly biased assessment, no way Zachary should be seeded ahead of St. Joseph's, who blasted them 7-1. Also since this thread started getting serious props for SJA at 12 or 13. Can't say I would argue with that!
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Post by calcio on Jan 30, 2012 14:05:51 GMT -6
SJA DAD! Just look at the schedules and scores thread! SJA must be above Terrebone and Hahnville! I think yall have to be 13, maybe even 12.... As for BRH they cannot be behind Acadiana, they beat them twice!
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Post by div1coach222 on Jan 30, 2012 14:08:25 GMT -6
SJA Dad-good top 12 (disclaimer my team is not #1) unfortunately do not know enough about the rest of teams to comment on...
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Post by Steven Gerrard on Jan 30, 2012 14:11:43 GMT -6
My comments are based on watching certain teams, not on their records. So, take it for what it is worth.
I agree about Zachary. No slight to the team or program, but if West Monroe is 12 then Zachary can't be 13 (in theoldhattrick rankings). Nor should they be 16. If that is the case, then West Monroe should be like 4 (which is not the case).
Also, Zachary is not as good as Natchitoches Central. So, you can't have Zachary at 16 and Natchitoches Central at 27.
For 6-9, I would swap Mandeville and Fountainebleu. I would keep Byrd and EA at 7 and 9. Again, this is based on what I saw.
Westgate should be ranked higher then Caddo Magnet. For that matter, Natchitoches Central should also be ranked higher then Caddo Magnet.
Good job SJA Dad. This is a good discussion.
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Post by NutMeg on Jan 30, 2012 14:29:12 GMT -6
When it comes to seeding the Top 4 in Division I a case can be made for all four teams. In my opinion I think that Lafayette is one or two, Dominican one, two or three, St Scholastica two, three or four and Mt. Carmel could be one, two, three or four.
Just my opinion, but again all four could end up anywhere. I think it would be a disservice for MCA/DHS to meet in the Semi-finals. Not saying they are the best two, however, all year they were #1 and #2.
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Post by div1coach222 on Jan 30, 2012 14:32:12 GMT -6
Steven Gerrard- good points and I know based on what you saw, but in the end Fontainebleau did beat Mandeville twice (at home and away) also during different parts of the season. Both were competitive against District Champion (SSA) I would throw out Mandeville losing 5-2 in final game of season. I did not see the game, but those two teams are more closely matched then that(first game2-1). Fontainebleau finished 2nd and Mandeville 3rd in District so anytime you seed teams even if you may have seen them play once or twice that should be a deciding factor and you cannot justify placing 3 above 2 in that scenerio unless there is a wide discreptancy in loss column. In this circumstance this is not the case. Just a thought and you are right about this being a good descussion.
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Post by div1coach222 on Jan 30, 2012 14:38:54 GMT -6
NutMeg- You are right if seedings could be done where Mt. Carmel / Dominican, Lafayette/St.Thomas and for once SSA/ Fontainebleau could be placed in different brackets so as to the teams not seeing the other until the finals. I know to do that would be manipulative, but would make it more exciting.
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Post by Wofford Dad f/k/a SJA Dad on Jan 30, 2012 15:23:08 GMT -6
You make some good points, and perhaps the coaches will take note. We did play a brutal, bone jarring, lock up the men and the children non-district schedule, losing to Dominican, MCA [twice], and SSA.
As for BRHS and Acadiana, you make another valid point. BRHS should be higher.
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Post by Steven Gerrard on Jan 30, 2012 16:04:50 GMT -6
Steven Gerrard- good points and I know based on what you saw, but in the end Fontainebleau did beat Mandeville twice (at home and away) also during different parts of the season. Both were competitive against District Champion (SSA) I would throw out Mandeville losing 5-2 in final game of season. I did not see the game, but those two teams are more closely matched then that(first game2-1). Fontainebleau finished 2nd and Mandeville 3rd in District so anytime you seed teams even if you may have seen them play once or twice that should be a deciding factor and you cannot justify placing 3 above 2 in that scenerio unless there is a wide discreptancy in loss column. In this circumstance this is not the case. Just a thought and you are right about this being a good descussion. Valid point. Sometimes what you see on the field is not what you would see if the coach was "playing to win." Sometimes teams will sit the starters early in the match and give playing time to the backups. So, what was a 1 goal game is really not a good indication of the playing level of the two teams. I know of teams that spent some tournament games giving playing time to players that made the trip to the tournament. And, there is nothing wrong with that. But, it does not give a true representation of how that team would look if the coach was "playing to win" and had the starters in for most of the game.
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Post by archangel on Jan 30, 2012 16:32:12 GMT -6
NutMeg- You are right if seedings could be done where Mt. Carmel / Dominican, Lafayette/St.Thomas and for once SSA/ Fontainebleau could be placed in different brackets so as to the teams not seeing the other until the finals. I know to do that would be manipulative, but would make it more exciting. Div1Coach222 - HAVE YOU LOST YOUR #$%*#^& MIND! Even the mere possibility of two non New Orleans area teams making it to the finals would make heads explode. Of course, that seeding is plausible: 1. SSA 2. Lafayette 3. MCA 4. Dominican 5. STM 6. Fountainebleau 7. Mandeville 8. Byrd
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Post by hobotiger on Jan 30, 2012 17:33:20 GMT -6
I agree with most of these with the exception of Northshore. They have been consistently ranked in the top 10 this year in the coaches poll. Their losses were to SSA twice, Mandeville twice, Fontainebleau once and Dominican once. How do you place a team that has performed at this level all year out of the top 10? I may be showing my bias as an NHS parent, but I think that playing in a district with SSA, Mandeville and Fontainebleau, should earn a top 10 seeding.
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Post by div1coach222 on Jan 30, 2012 17:40:14 GMT -6
hobotiger- I can see EA above you with you and Dutchtown fighting it out for the tenth seed. \Dutchtown has come on late to play some good soccer. 11th or 10th really is splitting hairs at this point. People around the state respect your coach, team and the district you all play in.
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Post by div1coach222 on Jan 30, 2012 17:45:55 GMT -6
Steve Gerrard- Without going into specifics you hit the nail on the head when it comes to tournaments. Also this time of year (for this particular tournament) some teams more then others are missing key players and that is why I personally put more stock in district and regular friendlies outside of the tournament realm..But we appreciate your input and being candid because we can only call them as we SEE them.
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Post by div1coach222 on Jan 30, 2012 17:54:11 GMT -6
archangel- no offense, but let's get 1 there before we question whether or not people are biased to this not happening. Let us be frank, overall north of I-12 from Covington to the southshore have dominated soccer for the last few years. Before you get in a uproar read my prior comments and I quote "do not be surprise if the eventual state champ comes from outside the New Orlleans area". We over here have great respect for the teams west of us. I just would love to see where the top couple teams from the powerhouse districts not see each other until semis and beyond. Would be kind of cool...
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Post by archangel on Jan 30, 2012 18:09:45 GMT -6
Div1Coach222, No offense taken. Besides, I was mostly kidding. I DO remember your earlier post, and I agree.
Also, not sure of the exact process, but it would be nice to have the 1st and 2nd place teams from each district on opposite sides of the bracket so they could possibly meet in the finals. This may take a little moving around, but does it really matter if you are swapped from 4 to 5, or 8 to 9?
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Post by NutMeg on Jan 30, 2012 19:37:11 GMT -6
NutMeg- You are right if seedings could be done where Mt. Carmel / Dominican, Lafayette/St.Thomas and for once SSA/ Fontainebleau could be placed in different brackets so as to the teams not seeing the other until the finals. I know to do that would be manipulative, but would make it more exciting. Div1Coach222 - HAVE YOU LOST YOUR #$%*#^& MIND! Even the mere possibility of two non New Orleans area teams making it to the finals would make heads explode. Of course, that seeding is plausible: 1. SSA 2. Lafayette 3. MCA 4. Dominican 5. STM 6. Fountainebleau 7. Mandeville 8. Byrd So let me get this right. Dominican beats Mt. Carmel and everyone moves up or down except for Dominican. Doesn't seem fair from my point of view.
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Post by archangel on Jan 30, 2012 19:54:50 GMT -6
NutMeg, You were the one who brought up the idea of Dominican and Mt. Carmel not meeting until the finals. I thought that was a good idea, and should also be extended to some of the other top districts. The seeding I proposed accomplished that. If it makes you feel better, swap MCA and Dominican. I'm just a fan on the board with an opinion, not a vote.
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