With the departure of the three teams from Puerto Rico, USL is working at revising the schedule. So far nothing official has come down but we understand that the schedule change should only effect the matches against the Puerto Rican teams and the remain Battery schedule will remain the same.
Tom Grady of the Wilmington StarNews has said in his blog that Wilmington three dates have tenatively been scheduled.
Most interesting is that it looks as if the Battery will return to Legion field on Friday June, 24. The other item of note is that Wilmington is now playing the LA Blues on Saturday, July 2.
Charleston were scheduled to play Puerto Rico United on July 1, the date of the Fox Soccer Channel live broadcast. Is it too much of a stretch to wonder since LA is coming to Wilmington they will play a match on Friday against Charleston?
USL has said they will have a complete revised schedule up by the end of this week.
Keep checking back at www.noquartersoccer.com for updates.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Schedule Revisions announced by USL
USL announced the revision to the remainder of the 2011 USL PRO season today.
To replace the matches left in the schedule with the withdrawl of Puerto Rican teams from USL PRO, Charleston will now play additional matches against the Wilmington Hammerheads on June 24 and Aug 3 against the Orlando City Lions. Charleston will also meet the LA Blues at home on July 1st.
According to the league announcement the Battery will not host in the live match on Fox Soccer Channel on July 1st, but will feature on FSC on June 24 at Legion Field in Wilmington.
Also, the International Division has been absolved with LA joining the National Division and Antigua joining the American Division creating two six team divisions. The playoff format will certainly need to be reworked as well but at this time the details are unknown.
Overall it appears as if the Battery will benefit from lower travel cost and while not hosting the FSC match on July 1st, will still appear on FSC twice, away at Legion Field on June 24 and Home against the Charlotte Eagles on Aug 12.
To replace the matches left in the schedule with the withdrawl of Puerto Rican teams from USL PRO, Charleston will now play additional matches against the Wilmington Hammerheads on June 24 and Aug 3 against the Orlando City Lions. Charleston will also meet the LA Blues at home on July 1st.
According to the league announcement the Battery will not host in the live match on Fox Soccer Channel on July 1st, but will feature on FSC on June 24 at Legion Field in Wilmington.
Also, the International Division has been absolved with LA joining the National Division and Antigua joining the American Division creating two six team divisions. The playoff format will certainly need to be reworked as well but at this time the details are unknown.
Overall it appears as if the Battery will benefit from lower travel cost and while not hosting the FSC match on July 1st, will still appear on FSC twice, away at Legion Field on June 24 and Home against the Charlotte Eagles on Aug 12.
Veteran Midfielder Diego Walsh joins the Battery
The Charleston Battery have announced the signing of central midfielder Diego Walsh.
The Brazilian/American midfielder played for Wellington Phoenix last year in New Zealand and has played with Real Salt Lake, Kansas City Wizards, and the Columbus Crew in MLS. He also had a very successful tenure with Miami FC inaugural year in 2006. Walsh spent 2006-2009 with Adelaide United. But has been training with the Battery on and off for since March.
How Diego will contribute to an already talented midfield will be interesting to see develop and most will probably wonder why the Battery didn't sign an experienced striker instead. It could be that Auggie has thoughts of pushing either Armstrong or Paterson into a forward role. Nicki seems to have a nose for goal and Armstrong could be a nuisance to defenders on his worse day. EDIT: We've notice that New Zealand is playing a friendly against Mexico in June in Denver, Colorado. Cole Peverley could be considered for the match and Walsh could be brought in as coverage for the midfield.
Diego's girlfriend/fiancee, model Heston Schulz, is expecting a child this October. She has family here in the Charleston area. It was thought that Walsh was merely training with the Battery to maintain fitness as rumor had it he was linked to a couple J-League teams in Japan. The length of the contract was not disclosed.
No Quarter wish Diego and his family to the Battery! Best wishes and may you score many goals!
The Brazilian/American midfielder played for Wellington Phoenix last year in New Zealand and has played with Real Salt Lake, Kansas City Wizards, and the Columbus Crew in MLS. He also had a very successful tenure with Miami FC inaugural year in 2006. Walsh spent 2006-2009 with Adelaide United. But has been training with the Battery on and off for since March.
How Diego will contribute to an already talented midfield will be interesting to see develop and most will probably wonder why the Battery didn't sign an experienced striker instead. It could be that Auggie has thoughts of pushing either Armstrong or Paterson into a forward role. Nicki seems to have a nose for goal and Armstrong could be a nuisance to defenders on his worse day. EDIT: We've notice that New Zealand is playing a friendly against Mexico in June in Denver, Colorado. Cole Peverley could be considered for the match and Walsh could be brought in as coverage for the midfield.
Diego's girlfriend/fiancee, model Heston Schulz, is expecting a child this October. She has family here in the Charleston area. It was thought that Walsh was merely training with the Battery to maintain fitness as rumor had it he was linked to a couple J-League teams in Japan. The length of the contract was not disclosed.
No Quarter wish Diego and his family to the Battery! Best wishes and may you score many goals!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Battery travel to Wilmington 5-21
The Charleston Battery will travel to the three and half hours north along the coast to take on the reformed Wilmington Hammerheads Saturday night at Legion Field.This will mark the first competitive match up between the two clubs. Both have met frequently over the years in preseason matches and there has been a good relationship between the two sides over the years with players being loaned between the two clubs. In fact, Wilmington's coach Irving was a common fixture at Battery matches last season and at the Battery trials prior to the start of the 2011 season And Colin Falvey joined the Battery on loan (and later signed with the Battery) from Wilmington after the Hammer's 2009 campaign finished.
Charleston will be looking to break a four match scoring slump and win less streak. The Battery offense has created 44 shots over the last four games but have been unable to find the back of then net. No Quarter would be worried if the team wasn't creating chances but as some point, someone has to start putting it into the onion bag.
We are waiting on word on who is unavailable but one would have to think Dykstra is still a week or two away and Dugoni (back) is still questionable.
No Quarters line up prediction:
Wiggins
Marples, Falvey, Wilson, Zaher
Paterson, Peverley, Jackson, Armstrong
Coleman, Kelly
I could see Auggie maybe shaking up the front line a bit perhaps with J.C. Mack possible replacing Kelly.
Wilmington on the other hand seem to be on fire right now. Their last match saw them defeat FC New York 3-1 and they could leap frog the Battery in the standings with a win, even though they have played four less matches than the Battery.The match will also be the second match in the 2011 Southern Derby Cup. The first match up saw the Battery defeat the Charlotte Eagles 2-1. The remaining Southern Derby dates will be Wilmington @ Charlotte on June 11, Wilmington @ Charleston July 14, Charlotte @ Wilmington July 23, and Charlotte @ Charleston August 12.
The Regiment and other Battery supporters will be taking a bus to the match to support the boys. Tickets for the bus start at $25 and include the match ticket and bus ride. More details if you want to get on the bus HERE. Currently there looks to more than 40 supporters making their way up Highway 17.
The match will be shown live and free Saturday night on USLlive with kick off at 7:30pm EST.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
July 16...who will the Battery play?
Earlier this year, Andrew Bell and Coach Mike Anhaueser met with the Regiment to discuss the 2011 season and pointed out that Saturday, July 16 was open on the schedule. The next sentence was that the Battery enjoyed the match with Bolton last season and we like to do something similar this season. Without saying it directly, it looked like we could look forward to another great exhibition match at Blackbaud Stadium this summer.
Since then, there have been rumors floating around about various clubs that might fill the date. The one that seems to have the most legs is Portsmouth as we mention in this article. Since that was written, Portsmouth continue to talk about a trip to Orlando and Charleston, but neither USL Pro club has publicly announced anything.
As expected, the Battery are keeping pretty quite about it.
"We are still looking at several possibilities for a summer exhibition; we enjoyed hosting Bolton Wanderers last July and would love to do something similar again." said Andrew Bell when asked about the potential match. "At the moment, there is nothing definite planned."
Between negotiating fees, making sure everything is taken care of and the standard of not announcing anything until it is a signed contract, you can't blame them.
As of now six EPL teams have announces US summer tours. Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion, with a good chance that other clubs will announce tours of the US soon.
So are any of those teams potential candidates?
Manchester United is out too big and already have five cities on their schedule.
Bolton already has a pretty full schedule as well.
Man City might be too big of a fish too and they are playing Vancouver on July 18 and said they will announce two other clubs later but the logistics with the date would be tough.
Newcastle have announce a date against Sporting KC on July 20 and the word is that they will also play Orlando in July so that could be a possibility.
Everton is another team that have announce two matches but have heard their name from more than one person about a possible match here in Charleston. They currently have matches against DC United and Philadelphia scheduled for the last part of July.
West Brom look to be heading to the West Coast as well with a match scheduled against San Jose on July 17 so they are out.
There could be a few that havent been mentioned as well. Stoke, recent runners up in the FA Cup, have mutual owners with Orlando City and it would seem very likely if they do a tour of the US, they will be in the South East.
So who would you like to see? Are you happy with the English teams or would you like to see someone from Italy or Germany?
It looks good that the Battery will face an international opponent this season and whoever it is I'm sure the Baud will be full and a good time will be had by all!
Since then, there have been rumors floating around about various clubs that might fill the date. The one that seems to have the most legs is Portsmouth as we mention in this article. Since that was written, Portsmouth continue to talk about a trip to Orlando and Charleston, but neither USL Pro club has publicly announced anything.
As expected, the Battery are keeping pretty quite about it.
"We are still looking at several possibilities for a summer exhibition; we enjoyed hosting Bolton Wanderers last July and would love to do something similar again." said Andrew Bell when asked about the potential match. "At the moment, there is nothing definite planned."
Between negotiating fees, making sure everything is taken care of and the standard of not announcing anything until it is a signed contract, you can't blame them.
As of now six EPL teams have announces US summer tours. Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion, with a good chance that other clubs will announce tours of the US soon.
So are any of those teams potential candidates?
Manchester United is out too big and already have five cities on their schedule.
Bolton already has a pretty full schedule as well.
Man City might be too big of a fish too and they are playing Vancouver on July 18 and said they will announce two other clubs later but the logistics with the date would be tough.
Newcastle have announce a date against Sporting KC on July 20 and the word is that they will also play Orlando in July so that could be a possibility.
Everton is another team that have announce two matches but have heard their name from more than one person about a possible match here in Charleston. They currently have matches against DC United and Philadelphia scheduled for the last part of July.
West Brom look to be heading to the West Coast as well with a match scheduled against San Jose on July 17 so they are out.
There could be a few that havent been mentioned as well. Stoke, recent runners up in the FA Cup, have mutual owners with Orlando City and it would seem very likely if they do a tour of the US, they will be in the South East.
So who would you like to see? Are you happy with the English teams or would you like to see someone from Italy or Germany?
It looks good that the Battery will face an international opponent this season and whoever it is I'm sure the Baud will be full and a good time will be had by all!
Monday, May 16, 2011
FC New York post match.
A busy weekend for No Quarter outside of soccer this weekend. so Im going to bring you the match review from SC Soccer's site. Overall, I think the boys will tell you they wont feel like that match was their best and that finding the back of the net will have to start soon. But don't count them out, they have the personnel. They have the talent. They just need the regain the confidence that is so fragile with young strikers.
Can we bring in someone on loan? Sigi Schmid (Seattle) or Robert Warzycha (Columbus), please pick up the courtesy phone!
check out SC Soccer's article below.
SC Soccer Blog: Battery's Scorless Streak Stretches to 405 Minutes...: "Last night, the Battery faced the expansion FC New York in front of 3,328. Up to that point New York had earned two points in 4 matches, had..."
Can we bring in someone on loan? Sigi Schmid (Seattle) or Robert Warzycha (Columbus), please pick up the courtesy phone!
check out SC Soccer's article below.
SC Soccer Blog: Battery's Scorless Streak Stretches to 405 Minutes...: "Last night, the Battery faced the expansion FC New York in front of 3,328. Up to that point New York had earned two points in 4 matches, had..."
Friday, May 13, 2011
Battery take on FC New York
FC New York started out in 2010 but didn't begin competition until the 2011 USL PRO season. Currently without a win in four games (0-2-2), FCNY will be looking for its first win at Blackbaud Stadium.
Charleston will be looking to spoil their fun as Charleston also looks to get the win. With the realignment of teams since the withdrawal of the three Puerto Rican teams last week, Antigua Barracudas joined the American league and found itself in tied for first place in the standings with 18 points although they have played two more matches the Richmond Kickers, also at 18 points. Charleston finds itself in fourth spot with 11 points. A win Friday could leap frog the club over Orlando City who have 13 points.
Charleston will likely start a strong line-up, especially since this is their sole match of the weekend. FCNY will get its first taste of back-to-back matches this season, as they travel to take on the Hammerheads in Wilmington on Saturday night.
the Battery press release is reporting that neither Dykstra (foot) or Dugoni (back) will be available for the match tonight although Dykstra has had his walking cast removed and is running. It was also reported in Andrew Miller's blog in the Post and Courier that Dane Kelly would not be available tonight due to a thigh injury.
with that in mind, here is No Quarter's prediction to the line up:
Wiggins
Marples, Falvey, Wilson, Zaher
Paterson, Peverley, Jackson, Armstrong
Coleman, Bah
There is no Regiment tailgate planned prior to the match but there will be several members gathering in the parking lot near the East Stand Entrance for a pre-match beverage or two.
For those that can't attend the match, it will be available live (and free) on www.USLlive.com. Kickoff at 7:30pm EST
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