Confessions of a Soccer Nobody: Pointless
Please join me in
welcoming our newest addition to the writing staff as the Soccer
Nobody brings you a new feature here on DSB focusing on the
Harrisburg City Islanders and all things soccer. The Soccer Nobody is a
former player and coach of the beautiful game. After a remarkably
unspectacular high school career where he captained a tiny, private
school and earned All-Conference honors in a tiny, private school
league, the Soccer Nobody hung up his cleats. These days, he regularly
attends soccer matches throughout the world and finds his way to the
Skyline Sports Complex to cheer on the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Pointless: Harrisburg Drops Two on the Road
The Harrisburg City Islanders kicked off a three-game road trip this past weekend by dropping two games at Charlotte and Charleston respectively. While the City Islanders’ poor start to the 2010 season is disappointing enough, their inability to score goals is particularly frustrating considering the emphasis they placed on offense in the offseason. In all three of their losses Harrisburg held a statistical advantage in shots, yet they’ve managed only one goal since their season-opening 2-2 draw at Richmond on April 17. For those keeping track at home, the City Islanders have been outscored 9-3 in amassing their 0-3-1 record. So is it time to panic, Harrisburg fans?
A few signs point to things not being so bad. First, it’s always difficult to play on the road, especially in back-to-back games and at places like Charleston’s Blackbaud Stadium, a gem of a soccer facility that hosts the USL-2’s best team. Second, Harrisburg held the aforementioned advantage in shots. The City Islanders are capable of possessing the ball and generating chances, so hopefully it’s only a matter time before they start finding the back of the net. Third, it’s early in the season. J.T. Noone just signed, the team is still working out its kinks, and Harrisburg is a youthful squad that might take some time to develop. Finally, despite their poor start, the City Islanders are only five points away from a playoff position.
Now the bad news. This same five point margin in the standings is pretty large considering how few teams there are in the USL-2. This season, six teams comprise the league, meaning that only the top three qualify for the playoffs. With four wins in their first five games, the Charleston Battery (4-0-1, 13 points) is off to a flying start and seems to be running away with the league. Right behind are the Charlotte Eagles (2-2-0, 6 points) and Richmond Kickers (1-1-3, 6 points), teams like Charleston who have played in the USL-1 in the past. This newly configured USL-2 is as tough as it’s ever been, and it might be really difficult for Harrisburg to make up ground if they fall much farther behind. Also, the USL-2 season is only twenty games long, meaning we’re already through twenty percent of it. It’s not impossible to overcome a slow start, but in the short-season USL-2, every point matters.
Not only is the City Islanders’ inability to score goals disconcerting, but their defense has been shaky in yielding over two goals a game. Quite simply, they need to tighten up in the back. Also, if the offense is going to start clicking, they probably need Sheanon Williams to get more than one shot in two games. Personnel-wise, there are quite a few concerns. Noone is only on a short-team contract, meaning he might not be in Harrisburg long. This is troubling because the team desperately needs him as their target forward. Second, Nate Jafta suffered a hamstring injury against Charlotte and missed the Charleston match. There’s no word on the severity of the injury yet, but his pace and abilities as a playmaker are crucial for the City Islanders’ attack. Finally, this team hasn’t shown the same kind of offensive proficiency they did in their season opener at Richmond. Why is this worrisome? Well, Harrisburg benefitted from having two players on loan from the Philadelphia Union for that match, Shea Salinas and Toni Stahl. Each played the full ninety minutes and solidified the starting lineup. Can the City Islanders rebound and get results without them? That remains to be seen.
Harrisburg continues its road-swing on Thursday, May 13 at Real Maryland FC. Kickoff is at 7:30 pm in Rockville, Maryland. The City Islanders next return to the Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday, May 22 when they host the league-leading Charleston Battery at 7:00 pm.
Throw-Ins
Pointless: Harrisburg Drops Two on the Road
The Harrisburg City Islanders kicked off a three-game road trip this past weekend by dropping two games at Charlotte and Charleston respectively. While the City Islanders’ poor start to the 2010 season is disappointing enough, their inability to score goals is particularly frustrating considering the emphasis they placed on offense in the offseason. In all three of their losses Harrisburg held a statistical advantage in shots, yet they’ve managed only one goal since their season-opening 2-2 draw at Richmond on April 17. For those keeping track at home, the City Islanders have been outscored 9-3 in amassing their 0-3-1 record. So is it time to panic, Harrisburg fans?A few signs point to things not being so bad. First, it’s always difficult to play on the road, especially in back-to-back games and at places like Charleston’s Blackbaud Stadium, a gem of a soccer facility that hosts the USL-2’s best team. Second, Harrisburg held the aforementioned advantage in shots. The City Islanders are capable of possessing the ball and generating chances, so hopefully it’s only a matter time before they start finding the back of the net. Third, it’s early in the season. J.T. Noone just signed, the team is still working out its kinks, and Harrisburg is a youthful squad that might take some time to develop. Finally, despite their poor start, the City Islanders are only five points away from a playoff position.
Now the bad news. This same five point margin in the standings is pretty large considering how few teams there are in the USL-2. This season, six teams comprise the league, meaning that only the top three qualify for the playoffs. With four wins in their first five games, the Charleston Battery (4-0-1, 13 points) is off to a flying start and seems to be running away with the league. Right behind are the Charlotte Eagles (2-2-0, 6 points) and Richmond Kickers (1-1-3, 6 points), teams like Charleston who have played in the USL-1 in the past. This newly configured USL-2 is as tough as it’s ever been, and it might be really difficult for Harrisburg to make up ground if they fall much farther behind. Also, the USL-2 season is only twenty games long, meaning we’re already through twenty percent of it. It’s not impossible to overcome a slow start, but in the short-season USL-2, every point matters.
Not only is the City Islanders’ inability to score goals disconcerting, but their defense has been shaky in yielding over two goals a game. Quite simply, they need to tighten up in the back. Also, if the offense is going to start clicking, they probably need Sheanon Williams to get more than one shot in two games. Personnel-wise, there are quite a few concerns. Noone is only on a short-team contract, meaning he might not be in Harrisburg long. This is troubling because the team desperately needs him as their target forward. Second, Nate Jafta suffered a hamstring injury against Charlotte and missed the Charleston match. There’s no word on the severity of the injury yet, but his pace and abilities as a playmaker are crucial for the City Islanders’ attack. Finally, this team hasn’t shown the same kind of offensive proficiency they did in their season opener at Richmond. Why is this worrisome? Well, Harrisburg benefitted from having two players on loan from the Philadelphia Union for that match, Shea Salinas and Toni Stahl. Each played the full ninety minutes and solidified the starting lineup. Can the City Islanders rebound and get results without them? That remains to be seen.Harrisburg continues its road-swing on Thursday, May 13 at Real Maryland FC. Kickoff is at 7:30 pm in Rockville, Maryland. The City Islanders next return to the Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday, May 22 when they host the league-leading Charleston Battery at 7:00 pm.
Throw-Ins
- Jason Hotchkin scored the lone City Islanders goal this weekend, heading home the ball against Charleston in Harrisburg’s 3-1 loss. The goal must have been satisfying for the Greenville, South Carolina native as he scored it in his home state.
- The Philadelphia Union dropped yet another match in their inaugural season of MLS play. The Union is 1-5-0 overall and hasn’t won since their home opener at Lincoln Financial Field. The big news to emerge from the club, however, is the announcement of their match against European powerhouse Manchester United at the Linc on Wednesday, July 21. It’s unlikely that Wayne Rooney will be available so soon after the World Cup, but a great chance to see players like Dimitar Berbatov and Ryan Giggs (right) nonetheless.
- The Union’s PDL affiliate, Reading United FC, hammered the Hampton Roads Piranhas 5-0 in their season opener at Reading’s Exeter High School on Sunday night. Formerly the Reading Rage, Reading United has built off capitalized on the Union’s presence in the area, developing a partnership with Philadelphia that will include an exhibition match against their parent club. The PDL is an amateur rung in the US soccer ladder wherein college players compete throughout the summer while maintaining their NCAA eligibility. Thus, Reading United features players such as Penn State’s Corey Hertzog, UNC’s Alex Dixon, and West Virginia’s Eric Schoenle and Raymon Gaddis. Hertzog scored two goals while James Madison’s C.J. Sapong registered a goal and two assists in Sunday’s victory. For more, check out their website.
Posted by Soccer Nobody at 5/11/2010 1:00 PM 
Categories: Confessions of a Soccer Nobody
Tags: Jason Hotchkin Reading United FC Harrisburg City Islanders J.T. Noone Philadelphia Union
Categories: Confessions of a Soccer Nobody
Tags: Jason Hotchkin Reading United FC Harrisburg City Islanders J.T. Noone Philadelphia Union
Great stuff...
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Soccer Nobody has put anything I have posted on this website to shame in only his first two posts
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