I believe that the Stratford Eagles will win state this saturday.
But it wont be easy
Atlanta International is a very good team and they play their home games on a turf field, which is a huge advantage.
But in my opinion, Stratford will win because of grit, determinations, and some good soccer players.
This is what I expect to see Saturday
GOALS- I was at Mercer yesterday and two games went to penalty kicks with no scored in regulation. This will not happen in the Stratford game. In fact my first bold prediction is that it will take 4 goals to win the game
YELLOW CARDS- at least a few for both teams. You get teenaged boys on the field playing in a big game and tempers will flare. No doubt about it. This game will be rough and physical from the very start.
NEW STARS- Don't look for Jonathan Dean to dominate because Atlanta International will try to take him out of the game. After watching the eagles play four times this year, I expect someone else to step up and put balls into the net. Sure Dean will get his goal and assist, and Joyner will always do what he does, but look for Thomas Traynham and Custis Donner to step up and have great games.
Home field advantage- If Stratford doesn't have 10 times the number of fans that Atlanta International brings, then something is wrong. They should be able to pack one side of the bleachers easily. I feel like on a hot day with the players getting tired a huge crowd can make a difference. STRATFORD FANS, DO NOT LET YOUR TEAM DOWN. I have talked to the players and everyone I talked to says the crowd makes a huge difference in the game.
I wish coach Ian Hayley and his team good luck. Being a first year team in the GHSA makes this the biggest athletic even in the schools history. DO work boys
Wow what a prediction. You are a tactical genius sir. 3-0. That is all
ReplyDeleteAhh hiding behind the anonymous tag. Its ok though I welcome comments. I could also say that Atlanta International had the better crowd. Sitting in the press box that was obvious. Not that that was the reason they lost. Stratford was unlucky. A free kick for one score, a careless hand ball in the box for a pk. that's the game
ReplyDeleteWell thank you for being honest at least. I have to say that the game surprised me, as a lot of our fans thought Stratford would win given their path to the final. That being said, a set piece is not luck (although the handball was definitely unlucky). It was well crafted, and Stratford came closest to a goal from a set piece themselves. However, please tell your boys to have some honor in losing. Some of the excuses in the article after the game are truly embarrassing for any fan to read. Especially the comment that the wind caught the ball and caused it to hit the post. I was wrong to write that first comment with such animosity, as I was a bit high on the adrenaline rush
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. I assure you that Zane Holliman did not say thw wind caught it with any cockiness. This was minutes after the game, and he said I thought It was going in , I dk the wind must have got it. I didn't feel it was cocky when he said it at all. I thought they showed honor in defeat
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