09-08-2022, 08:27 PM
I somehow stumbled into a one hour trial period of BTN on Fox on my computer. Then I switched to my iPad, and that got me 5 more minutes. To my surprise, I then logged in on my iPhone and was granted another hour. On the other hand, soccer on an iPhone 8 with bad eyesight is worth the price I paid.
As to the outcome, I think NW is way better than their ranking (unranked). They reportedly took #19 Xavier to the woodshed recently, per the announcers. And the players looked skilled and savvy. I think they're a better than Penn State.
Soccer on turf is a different game than on a quality grass field. A much worse game. Even when played on the much improved turf as compared to when I played decades ago. The ball moves way too fast, which in effect shrinks the field considerably. Stanford had trouble adjusting, I think, but they had a much better 2nd half, even as they struggled to finish. I still believe they are a top 10 team. With that said, the tougher game and more challenging field conditions made it easier to discriminate the skill level of the Stanford players, and as a rule, the more talented players skewed young. Paul Ratcliffe has developed a pattern of starting Greubel, Williams, and Sayer at forward, and then subbing in Kostmayer, Montoya, and Kitahata, and I think the second group is more effective. As well, Jasmine Aikey deserves more playing time.
But this is just one game viewed in miniature, so I make these statements with even less conviction than usual.
As to the outcome, I think NW is way better than their ranking (unranked). They reportedly took #19 Xavier to the woodshed recently, per the announcers. And the players looked skilled and savvy. I think they're a better than Penn State.
Soccer on turf is a different game than on a quality grass field. A much worse game. Even when played on the much improved turf as compared to when I played decades ago. The ball moves way too fast, which in effect shrinks the field considerably. Stanford had trouble adjusting, I think, but they had a much better 2nd half, even as they struggled to finish. I still believe they are a top 10 team. With that said, the tougher game and more challenging field conditions made it easier to discriminate the skill level of the Stanford players, and as a rule, the more talented players skewed young. Paul Ratcliffe has developed a pattern of starting Greubel, Williams, and Sayer at forward, and then subbing in Kostmayer, Montoya, and Kitahata, and I think the second group is more effective. As well, Jasmine Aikey deserves more playing time.
But this is just one game viewed in miniature, so I make these statements with even less conviction than usual.