The Aztexan

This just in: the Aztex playoff sweep will be viewable online! Here's the place to point your browser tomorrow at 4:00 (Austin time): http://ftslive.rbm.tv/.

There are also once again plans for supporters to gather and watch at Mother Egan's on 6th Street. I won't be able to sneak out of work at that time, unfortunately, but I'll be there in spirit.

Come on Aztex! Start the playoffs like you started the season! (Not counting that very first game, of course...)

Labels: gameday, supporters, U-23

My son is going to a week-long Boy Scout camp near Balmorhea in West Texas starting on Saturday.

The Aztex will play their last regular-season game Saturday night in El Paso, just a hop, skip and a jump west of there (that is, if the hop takes an hour, the skip takes another hour, and the jump takes half an hour).

What else could a Scout-dad Aztex fan do, but go to the game? (Especially since we didn't get to host the playoffs here...) Anyway, this gives me an excuse to stay at a Hyatt Saturday night, instead of in a tent in the West Texas desert in July. Sorry, son.

So I'm going to try something new for game updates: an online service called Twitter. It's kind of hard to explain, but basically it's just a way to post extremely short (140 characters max) updates, and it's easy to post to via cellphone text messages. My Twitter account is aztexan.

If you already have a Twitter account, you can "follow" me, and you'll get my updates on your home page (or via your Twitter client, or your cellphone, or however you have it set up). If you don't have a Twitter account, you don't need one. Just refresh that link periodically to see updates.

I thought I'd try this out, just to see how it goes. I realize this isn't really necessary, as the Patriots should have live streaming video of the game on their website. And a bunch of Aztex fans are gathering once again at Mother Egan's (715 West 6th Street) for the game. That's the place to be on Saturday night, if you're in Austin.

Labels: gameday, supporters, U-23

Way to go, Aztex! The boys went to Laredo last night, and beat the Heat in the heat. (With a kickoff temperature of 106 degrees, that's not just a figure of speech.) Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make the roadtrip myself, but a couple of other dedicated ultras did. Following is the fan report from Matt, aka 'mgrayscale' on the BigSoccer Aztex forum. Note that he wrote this up and posted it at 2:25 AM, after getting home from the game. Thanks, Matt!

• Jamie Watson was the goal scorer with a beautiful second half drive into the box that culminated in a turn of the defender from left to right in front of the goal and a right foot ding.


• Miguel Gallardo continues to keep a very clean sheet, and had some very good saves. He was challenged several times with some great shots, but he was more than up to the challenge.


• Beto was well adept at defending an evenly matched (size wise) striking line. He was able to kill a majority of the attacks that came his way, dishing out to the wings.


• The Heat are GOOD. This is a team that have a very good set of forwards, who are able to collect, turn and sprint down field before you even know the ball is coming.


• There were two reds against the Heat, but both came after the Aztex score.


• The Heat have the WORST announcer. All night he played bits and pieces of songs and sounds DURING PLAY!! Everything from Vanilla Ice to Homer Simpson. Yes, it was that bad.

In addition to the excellent game notes above, Matt also kept stats. Although they differ somewhat from the official USL match information, most notably in the fact that the official stats only show one red card, they're provided here as well.

Starting Lineups
Austin Aztex U23s	Laredo Heat
13 – Josh Alcala	4 – Leone Cruz
15 – Westley Allen	22 – Daniel Glavan-Barbosa
4 – Kieron Bernard	9 – Felix Garcia
11 – Andres Cuero	10 – Juan Ibarra
1 – Miguel Gallardo	21 – Dioniso “Nicho” Infante
6 – Ezual Lewis	11 – Gregory Mulamba
5 – Beto Papandrea	27 – Oliver Mulamba
8 – Marcelino Uriarte	7 – Carlos Ordaz
7 – Jorge Vega	23 – Stiven Ospina
14 – Juan Carlow Vicens	6 – Raul Quinones
23 – Jamie Watson	1 – Ryan Cooper
First Half
Austin Aztex U23s	Laredo Heat
Fouls
5	6
Shots
3	2
Corner Kicks
3	0
Offsides
1	4
Substitutions
0	0
Goals
0	0
Yellow Cards
	23 – Stiven Ospina (43:50) Illegal tackle
	22 – Daniel Glavan-Barbosa (44:50) Illegal tackle
Second Half
Austin Aztex U23s	Laredo Heat
Fouls
10	8
Shots
1	0
Corner Kicks
0	1
Offsides
0	1
Substitutions
22 – Robin Martinez for 7 – Vega @ 60:27	5 – Silas Blackwell for 23 – Ospina @ 50:14
9 – Edgar Alvarez for 13 – Alcala @ 64:27	13 – Adan Villavicencio for 21 – Infante @ 69:10
20 – Kevin Klaus for 23 – Watson @ 71:19	19 – Isaac Morales for 5 – Blackwell @ 76:00
2 – Andrew Taylor for 8 – Uriarte @ 86:37	20 – Charles Browne for 4 – Cruz @ 79:36
Goals
23 – Jamie Watson (66:47)
Yellow Cards
5 – Beto Papandrea (79:01) Illegal Tackle	22 – Daniel Glavan-Barbosa (61:50) Illegal tackle
22 – Robin Martinez (83:29) Unsportsman
Red Cards
	22 – 2nd Yellow @ 61:50
	6 – Raul Quinones (83:29) Unsportsman

Labels: gameday, supporters, U-23

I saw this recently on the excellent FC Dallas fan site, 3rd Degree, in a write-up of the recent FCD vs. LA Galaxy game. It's probably preaching to the choir for most of the readers of this site. But maybe it's worth remembering, as we prepare to start dragging friends & family to live Aztex matches, some of who may try to say 'no, thanks -- I've seen soccer on TV.'

Which brings me back to why this game is better viewed in situ than it is by sitting at home, at a friend’s house, or in a bar. Watching the FC Dallas vs. L.A. Galaxy match from the stands where the entire field is always in view helps to see what only the very best players see: The whole picture unfold, the runs of team mates, the presence of opponents, and the options available. With one magical pass midway through the second half Beckham confirmed to me his brilliance.

People, especially those who aren't already fans, need to realize that watching soccer is different than watching other sports. Basketball is most similar, I guess, but even there, the court is small enough that the TV cameras capture most of the action. Baseball and American football are also very well-suited to television. If all you see in those sports is where the ball goes, you're not missing much.

But seeing the fluidity of a soccer match in person -- the ebbs and flows of players, the dynamic changes of formation, how subs affect that, and all the rest, is very different. And it's a much richer experience than only seeing what the TV cameras show (i.e., where the ball goes).

Now, when does this season begin, again?!

Labels: supporters

Join the Aztex supporters group, gathering once again at Mother Egan's on 6th Street, this Wednesday, Mar. 19. The “agenda”: watch the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals game between the Houston Dynamo and Guatemalan side CSD Municipal (The Orange vs. The Reds!). Also, if time allows, we'll continue to not decide on a name for the supporters group. ;-)

The game starts at 7:30; some will be there as early as 6:30. And don't forget: in addition to a fine selection of beer, Mother Egan's menu also features fried Milky Way or Snickers. What more could you ask for?

Labels: supporters

I mentioned this in a previous post, but don't forget: Aztex supporters group meeting 6:00 tonight at Mother Egan's Irish Pub, located at 715 W. 6th St.

Come help form the best supporters group the USL's ever seen! You'll be able to tell your great-great-grandkids, "I was there at the beginning."

Labels: supporters

I saw this 2-and-a-half minute video mentioned on the BigSoccer forum some time ago. It's originally about the Irish Football League, but I'm sure it rings true with fans far and wide.

Do you ever wonder sometimes why you bother? I mean, how easy would it be to forsake the local version of the beautiful game for the warm and cosy alternative offered courtesy of your satellite dish?
You've got your numerous camera angles, expert analysis, build-ups, post mortems and all manner of gadgets and gizmos at the other end of a wee red button.

Hard to beat, isn't it? Irish League football doesn't really stand a chance. So why do we bother?

Speaking of bothering, some of us are getting together again this Wednesday, Mar. 5, at 6:00 at Mother Egan's on 6th. We'll be forming an Aztex supporters group, at least the beginnings of one. Hope to see you there!

Labels: supporters

They're keeping busy over in the Aztex front office. Yesterday a fan club email list, today, a Founders Club. If you're one of the first 100, $250 gets you:

• Two season passes for all 8 home games of the U23 Team in 2008


• Two Aztex polo shirts


• An invitation to the end-of-season Player Awards Banquet


• An invitation to two Head Coach’s Briefing events during the season


• 30 Day advance notice of 2009 season tickets for the Professional and U23 teams


• Your name listed on the Founders Club Page in the Match Day Program

Labels: supporters

Seen on the Aztexan site today, the team has established a fan club. It sounds like, from the signup form, it's mainly a mailing list, "for special updates and offers."

According to the team site, the first chap to notice the signup ad was "13 year old Alistair Donaldson of Loggerheads, Shropshire in the United Kingdom." Unfortunately, I don't see a way to link to the main story with the lad's picture. You'll have to just go to the team home page, I suppose (note to Aztex webmaster: provide permalinks to your stories! ;-).

Labels: supporters

To follow up on last week's post about a get-together Wednesday night -- to watch the U.S. vs. Mexico game and start talking about an Aztex supporters group -- the location has been finalized: Mother Egan's Irish Pub, 715 W. 6th St. (Google map).

The game starts at 8:00, but it sounds like some may come a little earlier, for dinner. That's what I'm doing. See you there!

Labels: supporters

Some of the Austin-area folks on the BigSoccer forum are planning to meet next Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 8:00 PM (CT), to watch the U.S. Men's National Team take on Mexico. Another purpose is to discuss plans for an Aztex Supporters Group.

The exact location is yet to be determined; current candidates are Mother Egan's or Fadó. I'll update or post again when that decision is finalized.

Mark your calendars, and I hope to see you there!

Labels: supporters