Team and Player Profiles from the Cup Championship Qualifiers

Because we only know which teams will be facing each other for the semis, it doesn't make too much sense to write match previews for this Sunday's double headers. Instead, here are some team profiles, which sort of serve the same purpose as the previews. You can find out a bit about the teams you're likely to face. And maybe you'll find out something you didn't know about your own team.

TEAM PROFILE: FC HEADERS

Background
Since FC Headers formed from a random group of free agents in 2007, the team has made it into 10 finals and collected 6 titles. Although their glory years were mostly early on, they've always been in the running from season to season and year to year. Going into game 7 in each of WSP's seasons, they were in first place. And they made it into last season's cup final.

How They Qualified
FCH were in first place until the last game of the season. But game 7 saw them drop three places. Their 4th place regular season finish meant that they had to face their old rivals (Badgers FC) in the cup championship's first round. During this 'quarter final' match, FCH looked like the team of 2007/2008, when they went undefeated for about 20 games straight, scoring close to 50 goals and conceding just 4. If they continue to play like they did against the Badgers, they'll look good to collect their 7th title on Sunday.

FC Headers finished the season with the second best offense (22 goals for) and the second best defense (7 goals against).

Strengths
Fitness. Depth. Positional play. Almost every player has points. Three of their players were in the running for the Golden Boot Award (and one was the winner last season). The team is as well-rounded as a team can get. Their defensive and offensive record are usually ranked the same, season to season (usually first or second).

Weaknesses
FCH has two weakness. (1) Only one person on the team communicates on the pitch. But she perhaps makes up for the rest. (2) FCH's aggressive play from keeper and defenders has resulted in more penalty kicks than any other team. More than all other teams put together, in fact.

Players to Watch

Fernando C. (Argentina)

Fernando creates space for himself and his teammates through an ability to keep the ball right on his laces from his very first touch. He doesn't look for the first opportunity to shoot or to pass but for the best opportunity. While he can shoot well from a distance, most of his goals are passed into an open net, close to the goalmouth. Fernando hasn't tallied nearly what he did last season. A leg injury is likely to blame for this. But he remains a major threat anytime he's on or near the ball.

Mike R. (USA)

Mike has made up the difference for Fernando C.'s relative lack of scoring this season. He's been amongst the top 5 scorers since game 1. But he's much more than a goal scorer. He spends as much time spoiling opposition attacks as creating chances for his own players. What's more: he doesn't get the credit he deserves on the scoreboard because he often makes the crucial penultimate pass on his team's goals. Unlike in ice hockey, we don't count these assists. If we did, he'd almost surely be his team's if not the league's top points earner.

Gina L. (USA)

When I used to keep for FCH, the chorus to Stepping Razor would sometimes pop into my head during the match as I watched Gina beat down blokes twice her size at center back. She's small, but don't you watch her size or you'll get cut up. If a player passes by her on defense, the ball doesn't. And if the ball passes by her, the player doesn't. She's also a significant offensive threat when taking the occasional shift in the midfield. In addition to all of the above benefits to her team, she's the organizational on-the-pitch force behind the team's offense and defense. If you're a striker close to goal and you've a player open at the far post, she'll say so and you'll hear it - all the way from the back.

TEAM PROFILE: SCOUSERS

Background

The Scousers have been together for just two seasons and so are one of the youngest teams in the WSP. But most members have played together informally for more than a year in a McCarren Park pick-up group. And so they know one another well. Most are also good friends. There's no tighter squad than this one, on or off the pitch.

How They Qualified


The Scousers finished third overall (one step up from last season). But their offensive and defensive record this season wasn't quite as good as in Spring. They faltered mid-way through this season but came back in the last few games with strong performances.



Strengths

They've depth to rival FCH. They're fit and fast. They hold and support the ball well. Their midfielders backtrack, and their defenders will join forwards to threaten the opposite goal.



Weaknesses


The Scousers can struggle when facing teams that just sit back and defend. But when on form, they're passing game is sharp and quick enough to get through such teams.

Players to Watch

Neil C. (England)

Neil, the Scousers captain, is the league's highest scorer this Summer. He's an all-round player whose control of the ball is his forte. He's as likely to have a go himself as to look for an immediate pass. You can try to second guess him if you want. But you'll often be left standing there with the play having passed you by. He's one player you don't want to take chances with by stabbing at the ball.

Caroline C. (USA)

Caroline hits the net as accurately and crisply as any of the league's top five scorers. She made it into the top five last season but hasn't been quite as consistent this season, perhaps owing to several injuries. She appears to be back on form with two goals in the Summer season's final game. But her main strength, like Captain Neil, is ball control. Try to take the ball off her too quickly and you'll think you've stepped into a fun house, in which the joke's on you.

TEAM PROFILE: CHICO'S BAIL BONDS

Background

This is another veteran squad whose core has been playing together since 2007. They've had several recent succeses. They won this season's league title, and they achieved a double header last Spring, taking home WSP's league and cup title. They also won the Northside Winter league's cup in 2009/2010.

How They Qualified 


It was another slow start for Chico's this season. But like in Spring, they eventually found their stride. Each game saw them build on many of their strengths (below). However, unlike last season when offense was their chief strength, Chico's secured the Summer league title principally through defensive efforts.

Strengths


Patience. Resolve. Depth. Determination. Communication. Every player puts out a great defensive effort. Accordingly, the team tied for the best defensive record this Summer.

Weaknesses


Despite a good qualifying campaign in the latter half of the season and a league title acheivement, CBB's offense underperformed this season. They scored just 13 goals. Last season, they tallied 25.

Players to Watch


Chenco C. (Haiti)

We've dubbed Chenco the Haitian Hurricane for a reason. He can have a calamitous effect on the opposition. He's fast and lethal. He also has an unsettling air of calm before he strikes. As much as - if not more than - any other WSP player, he's the finished article. He's a striker, a midfielder, a defender and a keeper. But in this league, he occupies the midfield more than anywhere else. You'll find him at the edge of both goal boxes and swirling about everywhere in-between. While he sometimes changes games from his savvy, solo efforts, he's nothing less than unselfish.

Jimmy H. (USA)

This season, Jimmy didn't have the goal-riddled performance of Spring. But he had his share of game winners this Summer. Jimmy is also an unselfish player, assisting almost as much as he puts the ball into the net himself.

TEAM PROFILE: HAWKS FC

Background
The Hawks are a relatively new team on the scene (they played under the name of Hounslow Harriers in Spring). But the team comprises players who know each other well. Some are friends, two share the same last name by design, and four work in the same company. They're a tight lot.

How They Qualified
The Hawks' road to qualification was the bumpiest of the final four. Their wins and losses were difficult affairs. They finished a mere 7th in the tables but still managed to be one of the league's top goal-scoring forces (3rd overall).

Strengths
This is the most tenacious team, possessing an incomparable, palatable drive to win. With ball at foot, you can easily see that there's an intention to score that approaches impatience. The team has two of the four best shooters in the league.

Weaknesses
Positional play is the team's chief weakness. That is, players tend to flood the offensive zone and thereby get caught out of postion. The result: Hawks FC is often outnumbered on the counter attack. This creates undue problems for the Hawks' back-line, which is far better than the team's goals against average would suggest. A few on the team also hold the ball too long, trying to beat one too many players rather than making a simple, higher percentage pass. The result is that many players watch the ball carrier instead of moving into open space, presumably because they don't expect to receive a pass. A circular process ensues, where the ball carrier continues to take people on because passing options aren't there.

Players to Watch

Tim S . (USA)

Fleet of foot and possessing one of the hardest and most accurate shots in the league, you can't give Tim S. any space near to goal. He's even scored from about the center line. In fact, you may not want to give him any space at all, anywhere.

Andre A. (Bulgaria)

Andre can shoot from a great distance and still shift the goals off their sandbags. He's tall and strong, and he can hold the ball close to foot through quite a crowd.

Marianna R . (USA)

Marianna is the team's most versatile, well-rounded player. She's Hawk's third highest scorer but can play defense just as well as striker. Her best asset is a Beckham-like cross. Accurate. Crisp. Bending.

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We're looking extremely forward to the matches this Sunday. We hope to see plenty of other WSP players out there to watch the games.

Come to Berry Park after the matches to celebrate the end of another successful season. $1 from every beverage goes to our charity partners.

Get there before 10:30 pm if you want to eat.