I think your assessment of Soccer Nerd’s comments is both rude and objectionable. While his analysis on the reason as to why Bunbury declined to take a penalty may not be accurate, yours is hardly more veritable. The decision came to down the coaching staff, who regarded Bunbury’s chances at a penalty as NOT in the best interests of the team. ” ‘The fact that he is not an exceptional player.’ -That is not a fact.” Are we disputing pure semantics here? The meaning of exceptional?! Really? By any standard or commonly held definition, exceptional refers to a quality of being particularly unique or outstanding in some manner. In one respect, Soccer Nerd has a point. All season long, Bunbury made a name for himself. Come College Cup, however, he squandered several opportunities and was shut down the entire weekend. A prolific season up to that point amounted to nothing… quite unexceptional. And yet, on the other hand, you, Zach, have a point. Bunbury, as just a nineteen year old sophomore, was a starter and leader on one of the best squads in college soccer history and led the nation in goals. No less, he is a Finalist for the Hermann. On this note, he is quite exceptional.

Here’s to a little more respect and accountability in debates on this page. After all, we’re all just trying to facilitate a healthy, cordial argument.

Cheers.

Statistics are facts. Your opinions are not.

Teal didn’t participate in the first PKs because his quads were cramping.

“The fact that he is not an exceptional player.” -That is not a fact.

In fact, one could say your comments are asinine in nature. Teal is a leading candidate for the Herman.

You are an idiot.

** Teal seems like a very nice young man and appears to have been well raised in Minnesota.

** He is fortunate to be “well-connected” in soccer circles thanks to his Dad and that has proved to be very useful indeed.

** In terms of pure soccer ability, I have always viewed Teal as a decent “front man”, no more, no less. He has always been able to “hold the ball up” pretty well and has for the most part been able to pass it OK (albeit mainly in the direction of his own goal).

** I never, ever thought of him as a natural striker as my experience was of him being put “clean thru” on numerous occasions only to miss the intended target by a big margin. That probably explains why he did not take any part in the two penalty shoot-outs in his last 2 games of the season (that is a little bit like Ronaldo or Beckham or Donovan saying they will sit in the stand and watch the shoot-out, and that troubles me a bit considering he is a sriker )!!!

** I was fortunate to be able to watch the last 2 games of Akron’s season, up to and including the final, and was not surprised with what I observed :
- Teal played like what I came to expect from him ……. OK !
- There were many, many better players on the field from both teams and it doesn’t seem that many of them are getting the same exposure as Mr Bunbury and that’s a pity.

** Teal Bunbury has always enjoyed great exposure thanks to his carefully choreographed PR machine (his Dad) and good luck to him, it’s not his fault and I hope he takes advantage of it as not many kids get that kind of advantage.

** Now here is my prediction of what will happen next :
- Teal will advance to the MLS and he will continue to be an OK player and dedicated to improving his game and that’s good.
- He will find that at the next level, it is a little different, and he will need to be at least a good finisher and will have to advance and pass in the other direction in order to be successful(not back toward his own goal).
- The fact that he is not an exceptional player will be a severe handicap in respect of the fact that he is a striker. In that position you have to be one of the best, not just a bit above average !

In summary, I really like the kid but I am seriously troubled that he is being built up into something much bigger than what he really is (remember Freddy Adu )? I just hope that he has the character to handle some of the disappointments that are surely headed his way, based on his lack of true natural ability.
Let’s hope he surprises us all, me included, as Minnesota needs a soccer success more than most (witness the last half dozen or so “Mr Soccer Minnesotas) and you will start to get the picture. Time will tell, but good luck Teal !
Yours in sport.

** Teal seems like a very nice young man and appears to have been well raised in Minnesota.

** He is fortunate to be “well-connected” in soccer circles thanks to his Dadand that has proved to be very useful indeed.

** In terms of pure soccer ability, I have always viewed Teal as a decent “front man”, no more, no less. He has always been able to “hold the ball up” pretty well and has for the most part been able to pass it OK (albeit mainly in the direction of his own goal).

** I never, ever thought of him as a natural striker as my experience was of him being put “clean thru” on numerous occasions only to miss the intended target by a big margin. That probably explains why he did not take any part in the two penalty shoot-outs in his last 2 games of the season (that isa little bit like

Dustin Corea
http://www.sounderatheart.com/2009/12/20/1210008/draft-profile-dustin-corea-if-he

he keeps showing up on the lists of people that could play, but not on the list of people that MLS wants.