Top 5 Contenders For NASL Championship

With just one-week left in the regular season teams are gearing up for the playoff run. Here is a look at the teams with the best chance to take home the title:

1.New York Cosmos

The Cosmos have won the fall season, which clinches them a berth in the playoffs. Also, sitting atop the combine standing gives them the number one seed as they chase the title. This means they will have home field advantage all the way through the finals. Having not lost a home game in the regular season this season makes them huge favorites to claim the title. Entering the final game of the season with a 19-5-7 combined record for 62 points.

2. Indy Eleven

After an undefeated run is the spring season portion of the season they were the first to guarantee a birth in the four-team playoff picture this season. While they have not been able to stay perfect here in the fall they have continued their success as they sit in second for the fall season and in the combined standings. Just like the Cosmos they will host the first round of the playoffs. Indy has not been defeated at home this season. Their matchup for the first round is locked up and they will be playing the next team that will be talked about FC Edmonton.

3. FC Edmonton

The Eddies are having a very strong campaign. It’s been one of consistency for them as they finished the spring sitting in the third spot of the table. As the fall is winding down they sit in third for the season and combined record places them as the third seed for the playoffs. They have a record of 15-8-8 on the season and will head to Indy for round one of The Championship. If they are going to make a run it will start at the back as they have allowed the fewest goals of any team on the season. However even with their stingy defense it will be a tough task come November 5^th against Indy. This is because while they have thrived at home with a 12-2-2 record the road has not been as kind. They sit at just 3-6-6 away from home with one remaining away from home. They will look to pick up a positive result and a good feeling away from home and use that momentum to carry them through,

4. Rayo OKC

Rayo OKC is in their first season in the North American Soccer League. They have seen ups and downs throughout but are sitting in a good position entering the final week. They currently hold the fourth and final spot that would see them advance to the postseason. All they need to do is secure a single point. And they are in the exact form they need to be in at the right time as they are riding a four game winning streak and nine unbeaten. Many positives can already be taken from this inaugural season but if they can advance to a show down with New York they would not be short on confidence. They actually have a better record at the moment on the road with six wins and have only accumulated five while playing at home. However, they are in for a battle as they finish the season at home against the earlier mentioned Indy Eleven.

5. Minnesota United

Minnesota also enters the final weekend with the hopes of the playoffs still alive. It will not be easy for them as they sit three points behind Rayo OKC as they prepare to take on the New York Cosmos. They will need to beat the current favorite and get help to qualify. They are in their last season competing in the NASL and would love to end it with a championship. Just a few weeks ago it looked, as they would be a lock to clinch the fourth seed but have had struggles in recent weeks gaining wins and picking up the full three points. Having lost five of their last eight with just one win in that stretch puts them at a big disadvantage. This hole was built because while they have ten wins at home they have only picked up one road victory putting them on the outside looking in.

One week remains then we turn to the wild ride of the playoffs. With the top three teams mention already clinched and secured they know they are moving on to playing the following week. However one spot remains open and two teams are setting out to grab it and put them in a position to play spoiler against the favorites.

 

 

Roaming the Sidelines: A behind the scenes look

Q: What is your name?

A: James Long

 

Q: How long have you been coaching youth soccer?

A: I’ve been involved in it for the last several years about 7 now

 

Q: Did you play soccer growing up yourself?

A: Yes, playing was a big part of my childhood. I played growing all the way up from the youth levels through high school

 

Q: How did you get involved in coaching?

A: Playing in the club myself I knew many other coaches and those involved in the club so when it was time for my younger brother to get to this level they were looking for some coached to volunteer as an assistant and then I ended being asked if I wanted to take on my own team

 

Q: What age group are you currently coaching?

A: Right now there currently u15 but I had them from the start, which is u13.

 

Q: Have you coached any other ages in the past?

A: No I have only been involved in coaching kids around the high school age.

 

Q: Would you ever want to or do you plan to coach even younger moving forward?

A: Right now I’m focusing on ways to improve and get the most out of the kids I have now but at some point when my current team reaches the maximum age I would be open to a new challenge and think that would be a great challenge coaching at the youngest levels.

 

Q: What is it that you do as a career?

A: I am a teacher in the health field

 

Q: Are you married or have any kids?

A: No, no kids or marriage

 

Q: How many hours of your week are spent coaching?

A: It probably is about three hours of practice a week and hour and a half of gameplay a week plus the driving to and from away games

 

Q: What makes you want to spend this off time on the soccer field?

A: Well growing up I was always on a soccer field either playing or watching other games going on around me. I loved every second of it and its been a big part of my life ever since. Something I have continued to enjoy and it’s a good way to clear my head from everything else going on and focus and the game I enjoy most

 

Q: What is the biggest reward in doing it?

A: Its awesome to see the kid’s progress in the game. But it’s also rewarding because you are not just teaching them the game of soccer even though that’s a big part of it. Being a youth coach you are always helping to teach them life lessons they will be able to use moving forward as they enter college and beyond.

 

Q: How long do you plan on coaching?

A: I plan on doing this a long time. As long as I enjoy it I’ll continue to be on the sidelines helping the continued teaching of this amazing game.

Roaming The Sidelines

Across the globe you will find soccer as the worlds most popular game. Here in the United States it is a game on the rise. This is seen with an increase in participation at the youth levels and the ever-increasing popularity in the EA sports game named Fifa. With a rise in popularity it is important to find quality coaches to teach the skills and get the best out of young players learning a new game.

Finding dedicated and quality coaches at the youth levels of any sport can be difficult. Some of these coaches may have never coached or even played the sport but just asked to volunteer because they have a kid on the team. This could stunt the growth of player at a young age without the teaching of the proper skills. This is why I was honored when I got the chance to sit down with a man who has an abundance of knowledge about the game of soccer and is an asset to those he is around, James Long. From the onset the conversation was flowing, simply talking about the nuances of the game. But then it was time to get down to busy and I wanted to start off with a simple question of how long have you been coaching soccer. A question he seemed to be expecting as he smiled and said “I’m still fairly new only being involved the last several years, maybe about seven seasons”. For clarity purposes can you define a season? “Of course each year consists of two main seasons. There is a spring and a fall when we play outdoors. Then in between those seasons when it’s to cold outside we will practice and occasionally play some winter tournaments that take place indoors”.

As you are now on the coaching side of things were you a player yourself growing up, I asked. “Playing was a big part of my childhood, I played all the way up from the youth levels through high school” he replied. There is no better experience then being in between the lines doing it. Having been a player myself but not having transitioned into coaching I was curios and asked “How did you get involved in the coaching side of things”. This brought out some laughter as he chuckled and smiled. “ It was not something I expected to do at first but playing in the myself I knew many other coached and those involved in the club so when it was time for my younger brother to get to this level they were looking for some coaches to volunteer as an assistant”. Later on “I ended up being asked if I wanted to take on my own team as a head coach” he responded. This lead right into my next question “you started because you said it was your younger brothers team but are you married or any kids of your own? His reply “no, single with no kids of my own but its like a do during the week”

Having peaked my interest I had to ask, “what is it that you do as a career”?

“I am currently a teacher in the health field for middle school”. Already being surrounded by kids all week not many would then volunteer more of their time to be in charge of them. “How many hours of the week are spent coaching” I responded. Coaches have to put time in to the craft. For him “it probably is about three hours of practice a week. Coupled with another hour and a half of gameplay a week plus the driving to and from away games”.

Already taking up a great deal in his busy schedule I did not want to keep him much longer and told him I had just a couple more questions. The first being “what is the biggest reward in coaching? For me “it is awesome to see the kid’s progress in the game. When they learn a new move, the excitement that they get. But it is also rewarding because you are not just teaching them the game of soccer even though that’s a big part of it. Being a youth coach you are always helping to teach them life lessons they will be able to use moving forward as they enter college and beyond”. One last question I stated “how long do you plan on coaching? “I plan on doing this a long time. As long as I enjoy it I’ll continue to be on the sidelines. I envision that to be a very long time to come”.

As the conversation came to a close it was clear that as long as there are coaches like James at the youth levels soccer is in good hands.

Playoff Push

With the major league soccer season winding down the playoff races are heating up. In both the Eastern and Western conference the top spots are up for grabs, while the last few spots remain unsettled as well.

At the top of the Eastern Conference sees both teams from New York in the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. These two sides are at 51 points through 32 games. The Red Bulls were “riding a franchise best 12 match unbeaten streak in MLS regular season play (15 games unbeaten if you count all competitions!). They haven’t lost since the first week of July and are tied for second place in the Eastern Conference, sitting just two points behind Toronto FC” http://www.empireofsoccer.com/the-longest-and-most-forgettable-unbeaten-streak-in-red-bulls-history-53562/. They have continued to keep that streak alive. There most recent game came against the Philadelphia Union were they picked up a 3-2 victory for there 14 straight unbeaten. That win brought them to “14-9-9 and finishes the weekend atop the Eastern Conference, tied with New York City FC on points but ahead on goal differential”http://www.firsttouchonline.com/red-bulls-unbeaten-streak-continues-with-win-over-philly/. The players are also feeling very confident. They know they are on a special run of form and are focused on keeping that going. “We just feel that we’re like unbeatable right now,” Kljestan said. “We have this presence about us. Without being cocky without being worried one way or another, we just feel we are very hard to beat right now. We just feel we are in a very good place as a team” http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=46036. With that place being another run at the supporter shield.

New York City FC is in only there second season of play being founded in 2015. This was a team that finished its first season with just 37 points and in eighth place. And here they are having turned things around and tied at the top of the table. It does not look like they will hold on at the top as “odds are decidedly against New York City FC finishing first in the East, much less winning the dinner plate. Bu the very fact that they aren’t mathematically eliminated from either through 32 od 34 games is utterly spectacular” http://www.hudsonriverblue.com/2016/10/1/13130926/nycfc-2-houston-dynamo-0-recap-david-villa-mls-playoffs. So New York will have some exciting action for the final two games for these teams.

However as the Eastern Race is heating up with the teams in New York we cannot forget about what is happening over in the West. This is becoming a three- team race with some familiar names right in the mix. That team is the Los Angeles Galaxy. A team that has seen stars such as David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard wearing their kits. This year has been no different for Coach Bruce Arena and his team as they are right in the mix playing a major role. “Furthermore, Arena’s men have lost just five matches all season; three fewer than Western Conference leaders FC Dallas”(http://total-mls.com/2016/la-galaxy-still-the-team-to-beat-this-season.html. Although they have recently taken a tough blow when they picked up there sixth lose of the season to those very same Dallas team. That saw FC Dallas extended its lead in the conference to four points. With the team with the best chance to win out west actually being the Colorado Rapids. They sit in second place; four points behind yet have two games in hand to close the gap.

The Major League Soccer regular season is coming to a close. Yet with things still as wide open as they are, we are in for some exciting, must see games to close it out.

 

Points Dropped By Red Bulls…Again

New York Red Bulls headed to Toronto to take on Toronto FC Sunday at BMO Field. This was a chance for the Red Bulls to go ahead and sit at the top of the table with a win. Things were looking good early for New York in this clash of the top teams in the eastern conference taking the lead in the 12’ minute on a Steven Beitashour own goal. Then in the 31’ minute the Red Bulls doubled there lead with Bradley Wright-Phillips taking advantage of a Toronto FC mistake at the back. Going up 2-0 before the half things could not be going better for the visitors. However on the brink of halftime Toronto got back into the game. Seeing United States National Team midfielder Michael Bradley stealing one back in the 41’ minute of the game. Ending a thrilling first half that did not disappoint.

As the teams took the field to get the second half underway the match was very much still in question. But once again New York would find the back of the net early in the half on a second goal from Wright-Philips in the 48’ minute. Having re-secured a two-goal lead it looked as New York was cruising and heading to first place and become the first team to clinch a berth in the playoffs. Earning leads has not been a problem for Wright-Philips in company but they have had a problem holding them hoping that would end here in Toronto. Once again those demons would haunt this team. Just twenty minutes after the Red Bulls third goal Jozy Altidore would strike for his first of the game and his teams second. Coming in the 68’ on a well-placed free kick that goalkeeper Luis Robles had no chance to stop.

Just as it was starting to look as they would be able to see it out and gain the three points on the road there issues struck again. It was the 86’ minute where USA national team members teamed up for Altidore’s second goal coming on an assist from Michael Bradley. And after five minutes of stoppage time the referee blew the whistled for full-time ending the match in a 3-3 tie. Keeping Toronto FC at the top of the table in first place and a place in the playoffs later in the year. Leaving the New York Red Bulls with just one point on the day and a league worse 18 points dropped from a leading position in 2016.