We shall see. As I said, I'm not making predictions and I agree pace isn't everything, but that's my point. There are more than several players in these classes that have excellent soccer IQ + pace + athleticism. A few of them, though forwards, could play in the midfield as well. Also, yes. Every team in the PAC 12 has athletic girls with pace, but will each team have 5-7 straight burners with Abi Kim speed or ever faster? I don't think so.
2021 Women’s D1 Soccer Talk!!!!
- Thread starter Abraham Parnasis
- Start date
With 11 or 12 recruits, not sure, for next year there is bound to be at least one or two who will make an impact, if they play.
I’m sure the recruits are amazing. All I’m saying is he’s had amazing classes in the past and won nothing. Have you seen the rankings and players that have come through cal since he’s been there? Highly ranked and regarded and many went on to become pros. The talent has been there. will it change now? Maybe. I’m not rooting against them just find it crazy they haven’t been better. Maybe these are the classes to do it!
he had alex Morgan and couldn’t win. Soooo
he had alex Morgan and couldn’t win. Soooo
SoccerJones
SILVER
I think what you're saying is the guy can't coach. I would have to totally 100% agree with that notion. Given his tenure, the school (world class public school with no academic restrictions), and conference, they should have been way more competitive and have more proof in the pudding than only 1-2 second round appearances. His teams underperform, plain and simple. Maybe it's the coach, maybe it's the players. I was just looking at his bio and can't for the life of me, understand how he was hired:
| 2000 | Mississippi State | 8-11-1 | |
| 2001 | Mississippi State | 13-8-0 | |
| 2002 | Mississippi State | 6-13-1 | |
| 2003 | Mississippi State | 9-8-3 | |
| 2005 | Texas Tech | 1-18-0 | |
| 2006 | Texas Tech | 7-11-2 |
especially at a Pac-12 job. Again, we'll see how they do this year. They should have a good defense and mid...need scoring to happen up front.
eastbaysoccer
GOLD
When you have programs with talent and good coaching: Stanford, USC, WSU, UCLA you are already battling for 5th place in the pac 12. Add a new coach at Oregon and a potentially good one at Oregon State it’s gonna be tough for Cal next year. I see them in the 6-8 place next year.
SoccerJones
SILVER
well there you have it...it's not about how good or bad you are as a coach as much as who you know...smh
The Outlaw *BANNED*
PREMIER
He's lucky Tracy Hamm found a job when she did.
SoccerJones
SILVER
Good Call. She is definitely and up and coming young coach. I saw a training session of hers at Livermore and it was pretty darn good. She really connects with her players. It also doesn't hurt that she's a female, which is great for women's soccer!
Well, I'm guessing you will be rooting for your kids team...so who is it?
dk_b
GOLD
Ha ha! Got it!
eastbaysoccer
GOLD
I don't think Neil has done a terrible job but if you got rid of his 150K UC salary and hired Hamm (who is likely earning less then 100K) at 120K you'd save 30K per year and get potentially a better coach. That's a win win situation.
SoccerJones
SILVER
Agreed. Not a terrible job and from the outside looking in, he's done a good job staying clean and representing the university well. Because at UC's in non revenue generating sports, it's hard to get rid of someone who performs adequate. Sheesh, look at UCSB. That guy's been there forever and has nothing to really show for it...Recruiting is rough but to be at a destination school like UCSB...I would think it would be easy to get kids to want to come there...sun and beach???
eastbaysoccer
GOLD
UCSB should be a powerhouse being a top 50 school wonderful weather.
Simisoccerfan
PREMIER
UCSB is top of the list of schools that have distractions that keep athletes from being fully focused on their sport.
SoccerJones
SILVER
I think there's merit to what you're saying. How could it not be somewhat of a distraction?? But it all depends on the culture that's established and that culture starts with the head coach. IF he fosters an environment where it's okay to have beach days, then that's the norm. I'm sure there's a happy medium (im almost sure lol). If a motivated, ambitious coach with good pipelines were to take over at UCSB, things would change.
MakeAPlay
DA
Cal gets top talent every year. It isn't the talent it is the coach. He is a nice guy but if the coaches at Stnaford, UCLA or U$C had the same results they would have been fired a long time ago... They are the only California member of the PAC 12 that hasn't won a national championship in the last 7 years. They get plenty of talent (Alex Morgan for example). It's not about the talent level there....
MakeAPlay
DA
Abi Kim wasn't even in the top 5 for forwards that my daughter mentioned as being difficult to defend in the PAC 12. As a matter of fact she said she was easy because she had no left. If you could force her left she had to pass.
warrior49
SILVER
Basically the same scouting report my daughter's team got last season before they played Cal. Force her left. And it worked. Her game seemed to be make runs up the right and cross it.
MAP buddy... just using her as an example. My only point is there is significant talent coming in. I make no predictions concerning results.
The Outlaw *BANNED*
PREMIER
If you're a striker that can't go to your left...