Just find it odd that he ended up coaching with the team he got his last win against. Why would Cooper want him, I know he had success at ncc but mostly due to his players. I figured he'd just hang up the whistle and find something different to do with his time.

I don't know him or much about him or his past. I saw the struggles he had mid season last year and just figured he would finally step away because the game has passed him bye, but what do I know.

Good luck to him and Cooper this year.

Just find it odd that he ended up coaching with the team he got his last win against. Why would Cooper want him, I know he had success at ncc but mostly due to his players. I figured he'd just hang up the whistle and find something different to do with his time.

I don't know him or much about him or his past. I saw the struggles he had mid season last year and just figured he would finally step away because the game has passed him bye, but what do I know.

Good luck to him and Cooper this year.

 

So, if his success at NCC was mostly due to his players, wouldn't the perceived struggles you mention also be mostly due to his players? As for the game passing him by, time will tell but I know where I will place my money.

 

I believe the bolded comment speaks volumes.

I don't mean to ruffle your feathers yellow card, this is just my opinion.

No problem, not ruffled by any means.

 

I guess I just have a hard time understanding how you formulated such an opinion about someone, or the decisions they have made, when admittedly.... you do not know much about him, or his past.

Mike looks like he is helping his old HC buddies at Cooper and waiting for a job to open up not much there dbly

G

Just find it odd that he ended up coaching with the team he got his last win against. Why would Cooper want him, I know he had success at ncc but mostly due to his players. I figured he'd just hang up the whistle and find something different to do with his time.

I don't know him or much about him or his past. I saw the struggles he had mid season last year and just figured he would finally step away because the game has passed him bye, but what do I know.

Good luck to him and Cooper this year.

 

The game certainly has not passed him by and in fact may be more knowledgeable about this years ncc team than most people. He is really good at putting the players in the best situations to succeed, knows formations and adjustments to counter what opponents may be doing.

 

If I am not mistaken this past weekend at BGG ncc started with a big win, won the second 1-0 and lost the third 1-0. Never scored on a set pc or by any type of designed play from what I heard. Defense must have played well but sounds like the offense stalled against so so competion.

G

 

The game certainly has not passed him by and in fact may be more knowledgeable about this years ncc team than most people. He is really good at putting the players in the best situations to succeed, knows formations and adjustments to counter what opponents may be doing.

 

If I am not mistaken this past weekend at BGG ncc started with a big win, won the second 1-0 and lost the third 1-0. Never scored on a set pc or by any type of designed play from what I heard. Defense must have played well but sounds like the offense stalled against so so competition.

 

Might take a bit to reload on offense when you graduate 9 seniors, 39 of 53 goals, and 34 of 46 assists. Hard to be quite as good on set pieces, especially early in the season, when you lost: 1) Freppon's throw-in, 2) Hensley's head, and 3) Pat Louis on free kicks. I'm not sure how many teams are even working on set pieces at this juncture (or would show them if they had them installed).

 

Madison Southern, who NCC lost to 1-0 in its last game, is a marked contrast to NCC. They only graduated 4 seniors and return players who accounted for 64 of 66 goals and 45 of 51 assists, so you'd kind of expect them to be playing in synch a little earlier in the season.

 

It sounds like NCC's defense did a nice job over the weekend and that's always a solid foundation to build from. The offense will come around as they gel and figure out how to get the most out of their personnel. I'm not sure they'll be as explosive as the last two years, but I think they'll do just fine.

All I'm saying is that there comes a time when the game passes you up, I'm pretty sure that has happened to him.

I don't understand why you talk about set pieces and throw ins like he was a genius? As mentioned before, he had freppon Hensley and Louis, of course your going to score on set pieces. Why does everyone give him so much credit, sure he had a little success but what did he do that other coaches haven't? Did he even leave Ncc in a better state than when he started? I guess we all form our own opinions. I don't think he can help out at cooper, they were pretty strong last year without him.

Knowing Mike the way I do , I am sure he accepts this challenge. Dblyellow, you can keep trying to convince people that he's not a good coach but I'm not sure they are buying it.

I'm pretty sure that the above statements are true, he is helping his friends at Cooper in any way possible because he loves the game. As a matter of fact he is donating his time. He told me that he loves being at Cooper and loves seeing the progress the program is having. From my understanding he was helping them in the off season with scheduling ( trying to get them playing better teams).

I'm sure Mike would love to sit and talk soccer with you any day of the week, you should give him a call. Message me I'll give you his #

Have a blessed day Dblyellow

DBLY.... You are right, we can all form our own opinions, seems like yours is in the minority on this topic which could be attributed to you not knowing Mike.

 

I, for one, feel he left NCC in better shape than when he arrived, they made the Regional Finals in 2 of the 3 years that he was there. I am pretty sure that most programs would be happy with these results.

 

I also agree that Cooper had a pretty strong year last season, I also know that they beat NCC in their first meeting but the second time they played resulted in Cooper's only convincing loss of the season, I am going to give Mike some credit for this.

 

At the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is that the staff at Cooper, and the player(s) I have spoken with, are glad to have Mike around.

Edited July 29, 201511 yr by Yellow Card

I also agree that Cooper had a pretty strong year last season, I also know that they beat NCC in their first meeting but the second time they played resulted in Cooper's only convincing loss of the season, I am going to give Mike some credit for this.

 

You can credit you or what (field) for the two different results.

If I recall correctly, Cooper was missing a starter or 2 (Zane Ross) being 1.

It's all a matter of who was on the field, not who was coaching.

Flops I have tried to speak to Mike in the past and he acted as if he didn't care about tactics and formation.

If you could get 10 former players to rank his coaching (head coach) he may be lucky to get a 5. Anyone out there a former ncc guy?

I think I understand what you are trying to say DBLY....

 

1. Cooper was missing a starter. (FYI, Ross was not part of the team at this time).

2. Mike does not care about tactics or formations.

3. For some reason, you are determined to drag Mike through the mud and you are looking for help from former NCC players.

 

From where I sit, it seems like you made a comment about a goal that was scored in Cooper's match on Saturday and used that as a segue to make snide comments about Mike now helping out at Cooper. I am not sure why you are determined to try and discredit what someone is doing, or has done, if it has nothing to do with you. I can assure you that the Mike McDonald I have gotten to know, is not the same Mike you speak of. This might also be a good time to remind you of the comment you made in post #61 .

I'm in no way trying to drag his name through the mud, that happened back in November. I just think the game has passed him bye,

So... anything else on Bluegrass Games or is it time to shut this one down?

Sir.....I agree. I will get us back on track.....

 

 

Anyone see Mike at the Blue Grass games?

 

 

And my 2 cents....I do not know or have spoken to him. As someone who had an older son and ow younger son that played on teams against him....he seemed to experiment during the season with players and forms and when it came down to the Regionals, he had one of the most prepared teams in the tourny because of what he found out during the season.