NASL Podcast Episode #17; Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Minnesota Stars Heading to the Finals
Welcome to episode #17 of the IMSoccer News North American Soccer League Podcast.
The 2011 NASL semifinals are history. The top two regular season teams have been eliminated and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Minnesota Stars are headed to the Championship series. The IMSoccer News Podcast staff of Jay (Yankiboy) Long, Gerry Wittmann and yours truly, Brian Quarstad, review the victories for Fort Lauderdale and Minnesota and discuss what went wrong for Puerto Rico and Carolina. We also look forward to the Championship series first leg to be hosted by the NSC Minnesota Stars.
We also discuss the controversy that seems to be brewing in Puerto Rico surrounding head coach Colin Clarke. Fans seem to be asking for a replacement. Really? After finishing second in the table and having some bad luck with FIFA international qualifiers during the playoffs?
We also pay tribute to Martin Rennie, who most certainly elevated the level of coaching in division II soccer for the past 3 years. Rennie will now leave the RailHawks to join the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS.
Please join Jay Long, Gerry Wittmann and I as we present to you another IMSoccer News NASL Podcast.
You can find all past episodes of the North American Soccer League Podcast here.
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A+ work as always gentlemen. It’s great to have the podcast back every week this time of year! Growing up there were a couple of professional sports athletes I watched that I really admired. Not only were they great players, but they also were first class guys, and they always on the field lived the idea of “act like you’ve been there before.” Those sports greats were Andre Dawson and Walter Payton. So today, I’m going to “act like I’ve been there before” in regards to my shout outs from both yankiboy and BQ on the podcast. LOL Thanks gentlemen.
Wanted to get a couple words in on the Coach of the Year discussion. First, let me say, and I think most Striker Likers would agree, that Coach Shore definitely shouldn’t get it. I just don’t feel like the Strikers came close to maximizing their full potential during the entire year, and I think some of his decisions were key reasons. If I had a vote I think I’d go with Coach Lagos. He didn’t have the most talented team in the league by far, but I think he better than any other coach was able to maximize what he had. The Stars were a tough opponent all year, and I think it’s showing now.
Now we all get to sit back, and anxiously await this Saturday’s first leg. Over the last two months (Sept. & Oct.) the Strikers have only given up two goals in a game once, the last game of the regular season, a meaningless game for them really, where they lost 2 – 0 in Tampa. I think it will be extremely difficult for the Stars to put two on the Strikers, even at home. By the same token, I have a lot of respect for Joe Warren, despite the bag of goals the Railhawks came up with this past weekend. He’s a veteran, and I expect him to play “like he’s been here before.” But our man Brian Shriver is as hot as can be, so my prediction for game 1 Saturday is a 1 – 1 draw in Blaine. Absolutely cannot wait!
BTW, BQ if you find someone to donate you that airline ticket to Ft. Lauderdale, I’d be more than glad to hook you up with tickets to the game! Can’t wait for this series to get underway!!!
I’d be covering the game SR so I’d be coming as media but thanks for the offer. Just need to find someone to donate their miles.
Otherwise I’ll be sitting with the crew at the Sweetwater.
1. Lucas Rodriguez. Great comments on Lucas. I was surprised to see him out on the pitch Saturday night as he got hacked to death the prior watch in the first leg of the semi-finals. For a player of smaller stature, he does seem to hold himself well on the field. He also has a quick pace off the ball and is willing to take anyone on 1 v. 1.
2. Manny for Coach of the Year. While most teams were down in Arizona training, we were wondering if we were going to have a team–or what shape the team would be in. Manny and the front office deserve a lot of credit for putting together a great team on such a small budget. It is almost as if Manny has a magic wand or something. COME ON YOU STARS!
I said the same thing on Saturday as your unnamed friend – the Railhawks should have fired (or even let go nicely if that was somehow possible) Rennie when it was announced he was taking the Vancouver job. Granted, it’s hindsight, but as things turned out with a 5 game losing streak and a first round flameout to the 6th seeded team when you’re the number 1 seed – they could have promoted whatever assistant they wanted or hired whoever to coach them the end of the season and they probably would have been better off.
Or they could have just made Jonny Steele player-coach – he would have led them!
Brian, if you’re finding $500-$600 fares, you’re not looking in the right places. *heh* I got mine for under $400, but that was for a direct flight into FLL; some of the guys are finding them cheaper by connecting or by flying into Orlando and riding down with Superrookie.
Just for clarification, I was at the 1999 Thunder Championship match. The announced attendance was 9,997. The place was standing room only ! They could have fudged and said something over 10K and didn’t.
Thanks Dan,
I had no sooner than finished the recording of that podcast and realized I was far too low in that number.
If they would have said the attendance was over 10,000 then the Thunder would have had to pay a larger amount to the league.