Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Trade Block

Alamo City Makes Two Players Available

Michel and Daigo Kobayashi have been placed on the trade block by the Alamo City Soccer Club.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Battle Lose First Match of 2013

Complete Lack of Effort has Battle Hitting Reset Button

It started and ended well as Thierry Henry and Giles Barnes provided book end scores this weekend.  The problem, was that nobody bothered during the rest of the match.  Now, to be fair to the Alamo City players there was a bit of controversy surrounding what would have been a double score for the Battle.  In the DAL/VAN match, Michel placed a corner that Kenny Cooper appeared to head home.  The match officials ruled it an own goal by Vancouver though.  The complexion of the match changed from there.  It still wouldn't have been enough though, and the Battle players know that they were just flat.

"It happens," said team captain Theirry Henry.  "We've had 12 matches in a row unbeaten ... we've been on great form going back to last season.  We were due."  While Henry and the rest of the squad understand that eventually it all catches up, they were still disappointed to have it happen when it did.  The match, at home, against OC was a great opportunity to put a real stranglehold on the top of the table.  Instead, they sit tied for 2nd. 

Alliance is up next for a Battle team looking to 'reset' after the poor showing.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Transaction

Pending league approval the Alamo City Battle Soccer Club drops Brandon McDonald and adds Adam Jahn (SJ).

Friday, April 26, 2013

Week 9 - The OC Comes to Texas

Battle Host Red Hot Expansion Side Orange County

Fresh off of a complete performance that saw the Alamo City Battle Soccer Club put up a season high 7 points, the club now faces what many feel are truly the hottest club in the BSL so far this season.  The league has had a history of expansion sides starting off red hot.  The Orange County Zodiacs are doing their part to continue that trend.  They've put up the most points this season which translates into them also having the best average points per match.  While they've struggled to put up points the last two weeks that doesn't fool Alamo City.  The Battle are very cautious about that and are trying to avoid being suckered into a trap game, if you could have that against a club sitting in the standings as Orange County are.

Complacency has plagued Alamo City in the past and team captain Thierry Henry is hoping that he, and the club, have learned and are ready to capitalize on the current hot streak.  "This game changes overnight.  When you are in form you have to try and make it last as long as you can.  You can very easily go to the opposite end and be cold for a long time.  I did it before, and this club has done it before.  Right now, we're in form and we're going to try and carry that as long as we can.  We're gaining points and we're also getting more of our players in form.  We need to get as much from it as we can."

As Henry stated, the club is finding form across the lineup.  Last week two newly acquired players provided the difference in the match as Olmes Garcia and Brandon Barklage both got on the score sheet.  It was a nice addition especially given that the "Big 3" all did their job by netting points.  Jimmy Nielsen also continued his fantastic start to the season.  If the Battle can continue the play they've had thus far there should be reason to smile come Monday morning.

WEEK 9 LINEUP VS Orange County:


Daigo Kobayashi  
Kenny Cooper    
Giles Barnes    
Andy Driver    
Michel
Brandon McDonald
Brandon Barklage
Thierry Henry    
Maicon Santos  
Olmes Garcia  

Jimmy Nielsen    

Eric Hassli  
Kleberson  
Clint Irwin      

Obafemi Martins  

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Transaction

Pending league approval the Alamo City Battle Soccer Club signs Brandon McDonald (DCU) and releases Edgar Mejia (CHVUSA).

7 Sets Record


Alamo City Gets Complete Performance Against Pennsylvania

For the first time in the 2013 BSL season, Alamo City had everyone available to play.  What a difference a full lineup makes.  The Battle lived up to their namesake this week as they poured in a season high 7 points to beat the Stoners 7-4.  It was a good thing it happened this week too because this was the best performance of the season for Pennsylvania as well.  Led by newly signed Brandon Barklage and his two points the Battle got scores from 6 different members of the squad.  The 'big guns' all got on the board (Henry/Martins/Cooper), Nielsen got yet another clean sheet, and the other new signing (Olmes Garcia) got on the board as well.  It was a complete showing for Alamo City for the first time in a long time.  

 The win brought with it a new BSL record for longest unbeaten streak overall (combined seasons) as well as reclaiming the top spot in the BSL standings.  While the club will undoubtedly enjoy the record the time to celebrate isn't now.  Looming in Week 9 is the highly anticipated match up with new club Orange County.  The Zodiacs are on fire to start the season and were putting up quite the offensive numbers up until the last two weeks.  

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

More Frustration in Draw - Week 8 Arrives Early

Alamo City Battles to 2-2 Draw With Capital District

It was a picture perfect example of the frustrations that the Alamo City Soccer Club has faced when playing their rival Capital District.  Andy Driver, Giles Barnes, and Maicon Santos all flubbing multiple chances inside the box.  Even worse, a few of the misses by Barnes were created by Driver.  That was just one match involving Alamo City players.  Then there was Kenny Cooper gaffing a PK and Kleberson on the bench as he came in for Philadelphia as a defensive sub and netting a SOG that would have won the match had he been able to be utilized.  About the only thing that went right, was the performance of newly acquired Clint Irwin in goal.  For whatever reason these types of things always seem to happen in bunches when the Gunners are on the schedule.  The first leg of the BSL Classic saw shared points and also a shared appreciation for Juan Pablo Angel.  While most of his points were compiled while in a Gunners uniform, the BSL legend played for Alamo City as well.  There's not time to sit and mope as Week 8 starts on Wednesday night and Stoners FC is the opponent.

Week 8 Lineup:
Kenny Cooper
Daigo Kobayashi
Michel
Giles Barnes
Andy Driver
Brandon Barklage
Thierry Henry
Obafemi Martins
Kleberson
Olmes Garcia

Jimmy Nielsen

Maicon Santos
Eric Hassli
Edgar Mejia

Clint Irwin

Transactions

Pending league approval the Alamo City Soccer Club signs Brandon Barklage (NYRB) and Eric Hassli (FCD) and releases Dillon Powers and Ben Speas.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Transaction

Pending league approval the Alamo City Soccer Club signs Olmes Garcia (RSL) and releases Andrea Pisanu.

Friday, April 12, 2013

The BSL Classic


Week 7 Brings Alamo City Face to Face With Arch Rival Capital District

Best defense in the league.

"Doesn't matter."

Top of the table.

"Doesn't matter."

Undefeated.

"Doesn't matter."

Best start to a season in club history.

"Doesn't matter."

The pattern was clear just a few seconds into the Alamo City press conference on Friday evening.  There is much to celebrate in the early part of the season for the Battle, but really, it doesn't matter.  Every player up and down the roster uttered those same two words every time a point about their start to the season was brought up.  It simply doesn't matter because this week Capital District is the name on the schedule.  This is the BSL Classic.  Two founding members.  The original champions of the league.  You don't get roots deeper than that and you won't find a more tense rivalry in the BSL.  When you look at the numbers it is easy to see why absolutely nothing else matters to the Alamo City players.  7-1-3 in favor of Capital District with a -10 goal differential is what the series stands at going into the first leg.  All time, the Battle have been owned by their rival.  Sure, there's the storybook 2009 BSL Cup but that's all that Alamo City has to smile about when looking back on the rivalry.  Since then the revenge has come in spades and in a right twist of fate, has also cost Alamo City hardware.  This is as good has things have looked for Alamo City coming into  a match up with Capital District ... to which Battle Captain Theirry Henry replied:

"Doesn't matter."

What does matter, is finally gaining a foothold in this rivalry.  The Battle will take aim this weekend and hope to fire a shot that shakes this rivalry back to life.


Week 7 Lineup VS Capital District:

Kenny Cooper
Daigo Kobayashi
Michel
Giles Barnes
Andy Driver
Ben Speas
Thierry Henry (C)
Edgar Mejia
Dillon Powers
Maicon Santos

Clint Irwin

Kleberson
Andrea Pisanu
Obafemi Martins

Jimmy Nielsen






Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Transaction

Pending league approval the Alamo City Soccer Club signs Clint Irwin (COL) and releases Sebastian Velasquez.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Battle Take Top of Table

3-2 Victory Has Battle Leading The BSL

Alamo City might have only put 3 points on the board, but they still managed to control the match from the opening whistle.  Jimmy Nielsen collected yet another clean sheet to lead the club to victory over Burud Town this past weekend.  Burud managed to claw back into the match but when Kenny Cooper and Michel combined on a score it was evident that it would be hard sledding to make up the deficit.  Luckily the management didn't have to worry about leaving Maicon Santos and his 2 goals on the bench this week.  While it wasn't expected, this is the type of thing that the club can't afford as the season moves on. Wasting points is never a good thing.  Now the Battle must gear up for the BSL Classic in an effort to try to start to turn around a very lopsided rivalry match up.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Top of the Table Tussle


Alamo City and Burud Town Face Off for Early League Lead

With roster moves still happening, the Alamo City Soccer Club will try to continue their unbeaten run to start the season as they take on Burud Town.  While the Battle got some possible disturbing news about Obafemi Martins over the weekend, the club is concentrating on the task at hand and that is staking claim to the top of the table early in the BSL season.  "Yes, we've played well here in the first few weeks," stated Thierry Henry "but so have Orange County, Burud, and Second City."  The club captain ensured that there is no looking ahead and no looking back either.  Each week is important to gain separation and the more you dictate early on, the better positioned you are for the stretch run.



Wednesday, April 3, 2013

On Your Mark

Henry Scores as Battle Remain Unbeaten to Start Season

It was back and forth all day but in the end the Alamo City Battle Soccer Club earned a draw with Second City and kept their unbeaten mark to start the 2013 BSL season.  There's no time to rest though as this week the club faces Burud Town, who is only behind in the standings due to MOV.  Hopefully Thierry Henry's first goal of the season is the opening of the flood gates for the Battle Superstar.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Transaction

Pending league approval, Alamo City signs Sebastian Velasquez (RSL) releases Jean Baptiste.