National Cup 2017...

Which team will be the Cal South National Cup 2017 Champion for Boys 2003?

A) CDA Slammers FC HB B03 Godinez Black
B) TFA - FCLA
C) San Diego SC B2003 Academy Navy
D) Valley United - Delgado
E) Colton America SC Gold - B2003
F) Xplosion SC B03
G) LA UNITED FA 2003 ACADEMY RESERVE
H) Oxnard United Soccer Club
I) Rest of the Field: Downey, Arsenal, Total Futbol Academy, Albion SC, Rebels, Fullerton Rangers, CDA Slammer Esparza, Oceanside

Get your vote in :cool:
 
Unlike previous years, it feels like Godinez Black and then it's everyone else.

But to make things interesting, I'm going to go with SDSC Navy. They have to get through TFA and Valley United just to reach the Semi-Finals, but I think if they can get there, they'll be battle tested and be able to give Godinez Black a good fight. Saw it last year with 03/02 Nationals. The bottom half of the ladder was extremely competitive while TFA pretty much had a cake walk on the top half. By the time TFA got to the Final, they ran into a Strikers team that was firing on all cylinders.

That said while being battle tested is good, you can't be bruised up too much. Last year Golden State ran out of gas after multiple overtime games. So I'd think if SDSC is going to have a chance, they'll have to get by TFA and Valley United without having both games going to extra time.

But it's still so hard picking against Godinez Black. They're basically at the level of a mid-level DA team right now. The teams that gave them trouble last year are all in the DA system now.
 
There's Godinez Black and then there's everyone else. It'd be a huge upset if Godinez Black doesn't run the table.
 
Oxnard gave Godinez Black a good game in CRL. CRL 1 and 2 finishers in the NC final would be fitting.

Quarter final picks, all higher seeds:
Godinez Black, Oxnard, TFA - FCLA, LAUFA, Colton, and Valley United.

Toss up between Xplosion/Fullerton and TFA/SDSC.

Valley United is a good team with a small bench, they have some speed and solid CB.
TFA looked good against AC Brea - when was able to catch some portions that one.
 
tylerdurden said:
I'm biased but my vote is for Oxnard United.
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Oxnard has a solid team. This Saturday you'll be playing Oceanside. They have some good speed and will make runs down the left looking to cross. #8 and 9 are quick.
Looking at CDA Esparza vs LAUFA red it's all about which team shows up. Esparza looks like they moved down their 04's and looked really good in their first game and then bad in their second last Saturday. I'll pick Esparza's boys.
Xplosion vs Rangers should be a good one. Both have stud forwards. At CRL I saw xplosion have a great gave vs Oxnard through 65 minutes and then lose the game in the last 5. They need to stay focused.
Colton vs Rebels... in picking Colton. Rebels could have beat a few others but not in this draw.
Valley United vs Albion Garton. I'm picking Valley united. They are a deeper team. I heard they might have lost a stud to Real Socal though. ?
TFA vs SD Navy. Likely the best game in this round. I'm picking TFA if they can shut down the ODP stud.
FCLA vs Arsenal. I hope Arsenal can pull it out. The FCLA team some how advanced after looking like horrible and then their long haired kid turned it on and lit up the Esparza backline.
CDA Godinez vs Downey. I'm picking my son's team. Way to many players. It's always a different kid. If they can keep everyone healthy i think they got this side of the bracket. Colton and Oxnard on the other side.
 
Granted I don't think I've seen any of these teams play this year but I was say/predict this:

Every year there seems to be a different team catch fire and surprise most everyone, I've done polls like this for a number of years and I think the favorite(s) has only won like 1 our of 5 or 6 for example

This year maybe different but some of the games will be very close, OT's PK,s and you just never know

If you look at any of the 2nd teams in their group: Arsenal, Total Futbol Academy, Albion SC, Rebels, Fullerton Rangers, CDA Slammer Esparza, Oceanside. The one that stands out to me is TFA they have a long history of doing well in the knockout rounds with a coaching staff that knows how to get their players ready. Perhaps they don't the stacked roster like in previous years but they might be some newer players stepping up.

Two other longer shots that could make some noise are LAUFA which seems to play better in tournaments and has a strong 2003 program from what I've heard and Colton America, they have a very solid defense for what I've been told and that's' what separates teams sometimes in these close games.

Good luck, (4) four more games if you go all the way should be a great experience for the players.
 
PRIDE IS DIFFICULT TO SWALLOW!

I will do anything for my son.
I'm one of them guilty parent that thought the grass was greener on the other side on how our friends and other coach said. I admit it, we left a team that needed my son thinking I'm going to a better team and get more deveopement....not.
My current team is OUT of Nationals, full of politics, favoritism and difficulty whatching my old team advance without my son where he always had playing time.
This a very difficult thing I must do now, talk to our old team to see if we can return now that I see whats out there(Tail between my legs). I want to return to old team becouse I realize I made mistake...maybe it's watching my son sitting on bench and/ or team doing bad.

Has this happened to anyone?
 
Night Owl said:
PRIDE IS DIFFICULT TO SWALLOW!

I will do anything for my son.
I'm one of them guilty parent that thought the grass was greener on the other side on how our friends and other coach said. I admit it, we left a team that needed my son thinking I'm going to a better team and get more deveopement....not.
My current team is OUT of Nationals, full of politics, favoritism and difficulty whatching my old team advance without my son where he always had playing time.
This a very difficult thing I must do now, talk to our old team to see if we can return now that I see whats out there(Tail between my legs). I want to return to old team becouse I realize I made mistake...maybe it's watching my son sitting on bench and/ or team doing bad.

Has this happened to anyone?
Click to expand...

All that is really important is whether the kid wants to return to his old team, and his old coach and teammates want him back. If that's good, then suck it up, buy some donuts and tacos for everybody and bring him back.
 
Night Owl said:
PRIDE IS DIFFICULT TO SWALLOW!

I will do anything for my son.
I'm one of them guilty parent that thought the grass was greener on the other side on how our friends and other coach said. I admit it, we left a team that needed my son thinking I'm going to a better team and get more deveopement....not.
My current team is OUT of Nationals, full of politics, favoritism and difficulty whatching my old team advance without my son where he always had playing time.
This a very difficult thing I must do now, talk to our old team to see if we can return now that I see whats out there(Tail between my legs). I want to return to old team becouse I realize I made mistake...maybe it's watching my son sitting on bench and/ or team doing bad.

Has this happened to anyone?
Click to expand...

Cant go back only forward, sometimes change can be a growth or learning process or other times not as much. Don't know if you changed before season or during transfer windows but short term on a new team can be hard to come by the minutes unless your replacing a starter due to something?

Every year kids, teams, or even coaches change and/or move on so consider other options besides the old team, really should be player driven, what does he want?
 
mahrez said:
Cant go back only forward, sometimes change can be a growth or learning process or other times not as much. Don't know if you changed before season or during transfer windows but short term on a new team can be hard to come by the minutes unless your replacing a starter due to something?

Every year kids, teams, or even coaches change and/or move on so consider other options besides the old team, really should be player driven, what does he want?
Click to expand...

Great point! Also, the grass isn't always greener on the other side and too many people have found that out the hard way. National Cup is not the end of the world but playing time, coaching, team and sideline chemistry is important. It can be difficult to go back and sometimes they won't let you but all you can do is try.

My pick- My friend is the trainer for CDA Slammers Black so Ill pick them.
 
Tough to pick against a team that hasn't lost since.....uh, ever? Realize some love the underdog.

Will be interesting to see how this team does at Regionals and beyond. Special group of boys for sure.
 
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