NATIONAL CUP O5 2018

For everyone else's sake, not mine, I hope its not at Galway Downs either. Think they've started construction on the freeway on/off ramps at Temecula Pkwy and traffic is awful.
 
HERE ARE GROUPS "C" AND "D"
“Group C”

Real So Cal G05 Pre-Academy (YSR #7)

Eagles G05 (YSR #14)

So Cal Academy G05 Gallo (YSR #26)

Express Girls 05 Premier Newman (YSR #50)

AVG. 24

Real So Cal is another well-organized team that many find difficult to break down. They can play a quick 1-2 game then look for seams in the defensive line or out wide with an overlapping run or switching the ball across the field. They also have speed throughout and it comes in handy when putting players in positions to make something happen. And, quite recently their form in CRL is one to watch out for. They have had some impressive results of late. Eagles like RSC are another formidable systematic outfit that always seem up for a challenge. With a direct style of play look for them to play the ball to their midfield and find gaps to run in and pass through. Eagles are also a resilient team. They recently fell short at Eagles Elite Classic in group play, but came back strong this weekend at the Silver Lakes Winter Cup as the victor against a team they seemingly lost to earlier in the tourney. So Cal Academy appears to be one of those teams that has upset a few teams early on in the year. Can they do it now? Maybe, they have played Eagles several times this year and have had some close results, but not finished the deal. The REAL task what can they do against Real So Cal? Express like so many teams can win those games they should but truly struggle against top competition. Unless they can find the right formula and cohesiveness of play this is another one of those moments.


“Group D”

LAGSB 05 Pre-Academy (YSR #5)

SD Surf Academy 05 (YSR #17)

Beach FC LB 05 (YSR #34)

Pateadores RSM 05 (YSR #62)

AVG. 29.5

LAGSB will play a possession style game where the ball will move in all directions and all the while keeping it on the carpet. They will do this win or lose and without regret. Since summer this team has gelled and had some nice results. Like most Surf teams this squad plays a nice style. Look for them to connect the ball and make some great runs forward. If they play there cards right can garner enough for a coveted wild card spot. Beach comes in having played some very tough teams in league and has demonstrated they are not easy team to encounter and from observations play with a lot of heart. They will look to send the ball and rely on a stout defense to keep teams at bay. Patedores during SCDSL were tasked with taking on top competition from both Surf and Blues. However, they sat towards the bottom of the table. Maybe they were given more than they could handle during league play. It feels National Cup may be as well.
I like your take on RSC in the C Bracket. I think Eagles will have their hands full & then some trying to contain them.

LAGSB should control their own destiny in the D Bracket fairly easily. Well, should.....Surf B can play them tough and make some noise....I mean, any given Sunday...
 
Decided to release the final three teams early. :D

GROUPS "I", "J", and "K"

“Group I”

SD Force FC Academy 05 (YSR #18)
DMCV Sharks 05 EGSL (YSR #15)
Rebels Soccer Club 05 Academy (YSR #33)
Legends FC 05 (YSR #64)

AVG. 32.5

SD Force likes to play O’campo style which is a nice brand of mixed possession and physical toughness. To test their mettle SD Force participated in the play-in for CRL and finished top of their group. They now are in the midst of CRL and sit in the middle of the pack with some big upsets over favored opponents. They also face a familiar league opponent in DMCV, which they have had mixed results. This team obviously is capable of big games against big teams which makes their immediate path one that they can travel. So, let’s see what they do. DMCV are a well-coached squad with a familiar style and play with some tempo. They came up short at CRL play-in versus SD Force but found some retribution in league. Do I dare say grudge match? May the best team win this matchup. Rebel’s maybe another team that could find playing National Cup a tough reality. They finished mid-table in SDDA and per their record have not played a consistent level of competition like they will see here. Rebel’s style is often a fun one to watch as they are a club who likes to ping the ball around as if playing high paced billiards. Legends appear to be the team looking from the outside in. They have had a tough go of it for much of the year and this will be a difficult road for them as well. Being that they appear to have been inactive for some time I would assume a club break was in effect. Hoping that starting anew and putting everything else behind them will bring some positives.

Group “J”
So Cal Blues 05 Kale (YSR #32)
Slammer FC 05 Winn (YSR #2)
Rebels Soccer Club 05 Elite (YSR #25)
SD Real Madrid 05 (YSR #48)

AVG. 26.75

So Cal Blues plays a direct and fast paced game. They like to send the ball forward with hopes of catching the defense off guard. They will use their athleticism to try and over power teams with a turbulent approach. They are a competitive side and make things difficult for the best of teams. It’s sometimes strange to see how teams are ranked within a bracket, especially when you consider Slammers. Slammers FC is one of the most formidable teams in the age group, but does not sit atop the bracket. This team was formed from OC Strikers, Irvine Strikers, and existing Slammers players which included some who were playing up last year, as well as a sprinkle of outside talent. They certainly play an English style game which is reflected by the gentleman who leads them. Look for a fast paced game where bodies are whirling everywhere with a tenacious effort to pressure the ball carrier, shut down passing lanes, and punish teams for their mistakes. Slammers will switch the ball from side to side or drop it just slightly over the top with such accuracy the ball will fall to the feet of the forward. Or they will drive right at their opponents. Rebels play a very attractive style which is fun to watch. In CSL they did not fare well, but have shown positive results in some mid-level tourneys. To be fair this grouping is going to be an uphill battle. SD Real Madrid will face a challenge they have not yet encountered this year. Most of their opponents in all competitions have not been of a caliber like Blues or Slammers, nor have they put themselves into situations where they could face such teams. Not sure what they can do here.

Group “K”

SD Surf Academy Select 05 (YSR #1)
Tudela FC LA 05 White (YSR #21)
Pateadores 05 Pre-Academy (YSR #38)
Murrieta Surf 05 White (YSR #35)

AVG. 23.75

Surf surely come into National Cup as the favorite with Slammers riding on their heels. Surf offer a level of sublime play and do it with a consistency that is hard to replicate. They move the ball with ease and control. Off the ball movement by their players is fun to watch. There are only a handful of teams that play like this. Surf are atop the standings of CRL. But, I must say in the last two weeks (at CRL) I have seen them play with a slightly different approach. This change of style I have seen before from CB, but not for some time. The backline is looking long and wanting to drop the ball in their competitors end, and then ping it around with such quality and creativity. This diversity of play can be lethal. Winning CSL South and the desire to chase down quality competition makes Tudela a team to not overlook despite their pairing with Surf. They are an active team and preach possession. But, Tudela will definitely have their hands full with Surf, yet if they play their cards right can score some points and find their way into the next round. It would BE fun to see Tudela play their style and match it with Surf’s. Definitely the matchup to watch in this pool. Since Surf Cup Pateadores have had a mixed bag of results. They had some positive outcomes over the summer, but dipped in form during league finishing at the bottom. But to their credit played the top teams out of the south closely. Hoping to see that earlier form once again and make a run. Murrieta Surf like a few other teams are hard to gauge. They are faced with a true challenge with their first encounter with Surf this calendar year, but have seen Tudela with some success. They should pair up nicely with Pateadores.

 
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Lastman great work and thank you for break down on the 05's. I know it takes a lot of time and effort. Tech as taught you well thru the tears.
 
For everyone else's sake, not mine, I hope its not at Galway Downs either. Think they've started construction on the freeway on/off ramps at Temecula Pkwy and traffic is awful.


Lol... it's a love hate with Galway Downs. Love that it's 10 minutes away but hate that my car looks like it was in a sandstorm after parking in the dirt lot

Though we do have some nice wineries And it beats the hell outta Lancaster !

For everyone else's sake, not mine, I hope its not at Galway Downs either. Think they've started construction on the freeway on/off ramps at Temecula Pkwy and traffic is awful.
 
Lol... it's a love hate with Galway Downs. Love that it's 10 minutes away but hate that my car looks like it was in a sandstorm after parking in the dirt lot

Though we do have some nice wineries And it beats the hell outta Lancaster !
We go to Weins Winery. Must say they make some quality reds.
 
Lol... it's a love hate with Galway Downs. Love that it's 10 minutes away but hate that my car looks like it was in a sandstorm after parking in the dirt lot

Though we do have some nice wineries And it beats the hell outta Lancaster !
I just hate driving past SilverLakes on the way to GD :(
 
@LASTMAN14 Great work as always. I find the analysis on Force interesting as I don't see the team as overly physical. However I have said on more than 1 occasion to my daughter (only my daughter and only in jest) that if a game becomes overly physical, if you can't win the game at least win the bar fight.
Good luck to all the teams.
 
@LASTMAN14 Great work as always. I find the analysis on Force interesting as I don't see the team as overly physical. However I have said on more than 1 occasion to my daughter (only my daughter and only in jest) that if a game becomes overly physical, if you can't win the game at least win the bar fight.
Good luck to all the teams.
MDAK- Sorry if I mislead you. I was not implying they were overly physical. Your squad are a physically strong group and for example are able to use that strength to fend opponents off the ball. Must admit I was hoping my statement would not be misunderstood.
 
It does look like a second team has withdrawn. FRAM. With teams out of groups E and F could really make getting into the next round difficult.
 
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Bracket E and F have 3 teams each, so teams in bracket E are playing the 3 teams in bracket F and vice versa. Never seen that before.
It does look like a second team has withdrawn. FRAM. With teams out of groups E and F could really make getting into the next round difficult.
 
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