Same old Notre Dame

Same old Notre Dame
by Nigeltufnel (2017-11-18 11:15:57)
Edited on 2017-11-18 11:18:48

In reply to: Best post season win in the Romagnola era. posted by hibernianangst

With the homage to Nick Hornby. That is the typical rubbish that I've grown to expect from this team. This year's team can beat every team in the country yet has 11 blemishes on its record. 11, Not one of those teams has more talent than ND. Not one.

There is a lack of mental toughness that has permeated this team since 2011 (one of the worst performances from a defending national champion in history) and it is not going away anytime soon. More often than not, they act like they can just toss the boots on the pitch and get a result. They can't. Beat NC St 4-0 in September/lose to NC St 4-1 in November. I've never seen something like that ever. They give up goals to lose (or tie) in the last two mins of game (again last night) or right after scoring themselves (also last night). I think they have won like 1 game in overtime in 5 years. 1 game vs. double digit losse in OT. School boy (girl) howler goals against. The offenses are legion.

I've been following this team steadfastly since 1992 and am shocked at how the last seven editions of this team underachieves. When they beat FSU earlier this year a number of FSU fans observed how could this ND team possibly have the shitty record that they do? The FSU fans noted that ND has talent across and up and down the pitch. They were correct.

I applaud the gumption in getting the result last night but let's not fool ourselves that last night was a performance to behold. You can't give up goals in the final 2 mins of a game when you are preserving a lead.

This team should be a final four team. Sadly they will not.

You are accurate, they have talent but no killer instinct.

They also have never built the team from the defense first so they are less effective in close matches, losing leads and giving up easy chances. When you realize we lost Morgan Andrews to a USC team that she helped lead to take the national championship last year your criticism is warranted. Though some argued that transfer was education related, it could have been all about the competitiveness of ND.

That said I am hoping they get an epiphany and the players lead them to the promised land this year. Beat Baylor then take care of business against Duke or Texas to get to the cup.

Last year's team conceded very

infrequently and was good defensively. IMO they overachieved given the personnel but when you have no goal scoring at all you are prone to the PK defeat (NCAA) or the shocker loss to an inferior team that catches a break, gets a lucky strike.

It takes balance IMO. That said, the game requires some grit and guile--none of which is in overabundance on the ND squad. This is not your suburban country club game of 20 years past. We need some players that grew up playing in their bare feet under the streetlight with a rolled up newspaper ball. A criticism often used to explain the atrocious results of English international football I might add.