Calzada is so impressive

Our defense is really a problem.

We have dominated this game and given up 3 easy goals. Every time Georgia has had the most minimal possession, they have found the back of the net.

Goalie play is a big part of that

Aggies lose 3-2 in a game that Georgia had no business winning.

We have real problems giving up easy goals. Our defense really had an awful performance.

After watching last two years I think I've decided tonight Caldwell is at best an average goalie. Doesn't have good instincts.

That was tough to watch. Our passing was fair at best with so many missed targets. At times it was a real mess. As
Stated by others here, some of our defending was poor. The second goal was right out off the Three Stooges with Smith, Caldwell and Sample. Poor communication, coverage and decision making. The third goal was poor marking by both Caroll and Pounds. Either they weren't sufficiently aware what was happening or were lazy. When they review the film in that one, the coaches won't be happy.

The team appears to be working hard but they get in their own way far too often. Several of our star players do great things during each game and then mix in far too many bad decisions or poor plays.

Sample frequently rushes the ball up the field and the. Either corners herself with defenders or makes poor passes. Caldwell doesn't appear fully committed to complete sacrifice in goal. Pante is our most talented player but appears to be unsure of herself at times. Caroll needs to believe in her skills and speed more. She didn't do much tonight. McDonald has been a nice surprise this year but gets "happy feet" too often and loses the ball. Pounds is playing better this year than last but needs to win the ball in the midfield far more and clean up her passing. Hayes has a fantastic motor and wonderful skill but she has to learn to find the back of the net more.

We've got a talented bunch and a fine team but until they clean things up we will get more results like tonight.

Two of Georgia's goals where gifts. So frustrating.

Tonight felt somewhat similar to the TCU game with A&M dominating extended stretches of play, especially in the second half, only to have lapses on defense cost us the game. When you have two major breakdowns on the back line and mids who don't help to cover, in the SEC you are usually going to be picking the ball out of your own net. Georgia had 3 legitimate chances on goal tonight and they scored all three. A&M had about 5-6 great chances on goal and scored two. In the end it's the team that finishes its chances that win games in this sport.

It's frustrating because the passing and rhythm of play from A&M was quite good tonight. We were able to consistently swing the ball across both sides of the field, make good runs and crosses, and control tempo and the pace of play. But we continue to struggle to make good contact and put away chances in front of goal. And these are not difficult shots or finishes. Average forwards and attacking mids put these in the back of the net. Right now we are below average in this regard. And it's costing us a potentially good season. Sure, we hit the crossbar and missed just wide a few times and had some bad luck with clearances off the line and Georgia's GK making a couple of tremendous saves, but we have to be mentally tougher and more physical in the box to finish those chances.

The midfield and forwards are really starting to gel with the lineup that we found last week against TCU. All the pieces are in place and the chances are being created. We just need someone to step up and consistently score goals. However, we did score a couple of really nice goals. The first on a corner from Pante (whose work rate was great tonight) that found Pounds perfectly positioned to punch it into the back of the net, and the second on great buildup and cross from Jai Smith (another really good game from her as well) that was beautifully redirected on a first touch goal by Anderson Williams (so good to see her contribute now). Unfortunately, there were too many other chances at the PK spot or on rebounds in the box that we couldn't put away to win the match. One missed chance saw Pounds fall down at the PK spot when she had a point blank easy shot. Another saw Hayes hit the crossbar on shot that I thought was going in. And another corner that Pounds just missed with a rebound that Sample somehow sent wide of the goal from 2 feet away. And then a few just wide efforts from Jai and Pante sealed A&M's fate. To be fair, the Georgia GK had a couple of incredible touch saves that saved the game for them, but A&M should have scored 5 goals tonight.

I mentioned early in the season that I saw some real red flags on the backline, especially in the communication and silly turnovers that could hurt us once SEC play began. Well, we saw it tonight on full display. It's mind boggling how two defenders (both of whom have been considered elite and among the best in the country earlier in their careers) have completely regressed and continue to have meltdowns in coverage and communication. Sample and Smith are really struggling right now. They have become a liability on a unit that most thought could be stellar this season. We've seen what they are capable of when they completely shutdown Ohio St on the road. But too many times this season they've cost their team the game with the ill-timed errors. And it doesn't help that Sample continues to make too many poor passes forward that result in turnovers or missed opportunities in the attack. It's truly remarkable that our best defender by far is a true freshman that has little experience at this level. Calzada is such a smart player and extremely fast to snuff out advances. I can't imagine how poor this unit would be without her. Thank goodness we have her for at least a couple more seasons.

The first goal given up was a great shot off a long rollout rebound that we didn't close out in time. Caldwell had no chance. However, the second goal was just terrible noncommunication between Sample and Caldwell on a breakaway. It looked as though Sample might clear the ball on a long diagonal recovery run but somehow tripped or saw Caldwell charging the ball tentatively. Instead, the shot skirted between them with a slow roll into the far netting. And on the through ball pass, Smith was caught flat footed and allowed the Bulldog forward to slip past her for the 1v1 chance. I still believe our back line is playing too high up the field, which sets up many of these chances for opponents. The winning goal was a simple cross into the box that Pounds missed on a clearance and the Georgia forward was able to redirect it past Caldwell. The other closest defender was Carroll, who is not on the back line. Not sure where they were positioned but Georgia just ran by us and tapped it in. Just not good enough for A&M.

Caldwell might have had her worst game as an Aggie tonight. She seemed tentative and unsure of her positioning in the most critical moments of the match. If she is going to come out and challenge, she must come out much faster and stronger and make a real play for the ball instead of waiting for the attacking player to take a shot. Her lackluster play has been alarming lately and I'm sure Coach G has to be concerned at this point.

I know the coaches really like the three back line as it allows us to be more aggressive going forward, but at some point when do you concede defeat and go with four in the back (put Dumond in or move Cornog to the back line as the fourth) to shore up that unit? In soccer, defense is more important than offense in most games. You have to be able to stop opponents from scoring easy goals. Right now, this group is not capable of doing this consistently.

Coach G hasn't had much success against Keidane McAlpine, who also beat us a few times in the NCAA tournament while at USC, where he won a national title. He's a great coach and a big time hire for Georgia. The SEC is getting tougher every year and elite coaches are migrating here as well. The conference is deep and any team can beat you if you aren't at your best.

Finally, one of the more frustrating aspects of attending an Aggie game in person is the lack of sufficient replays on the video board. When the opponent scores or makes a good play, most people would like to see what went wrong or rewatch a good play. It's just silly that they don't replay good plays for the opponent. Also, many times they are really late in showing a replay, which they then play when the action on the field has started again and no one is watching it. They need to get their act together.

Hidden's analysis is well said.

One other thing I'd add: This Aggie team squanders its set piece opportunities. For some reason, either by coaches' decision or their own ambition, they vainly try to score directly from every free kick in the opponent's half. Heck, tonight, they brought Caldwell up from the GK position to take every one and waste every one by trying to score directly. Usually those shots go quite high or wide, or are easy saves. I cannot understand why this team wastes the 5 or 6 opportunities they get every game to set up their line, pressure the defense with numbers, and put a ball into a dangerous area in the box. It's mind-boggling to waste every one of them trying for the once-in-a-career goal.