I figured now would be a good time to start our new coach thread and start the critical debates. Personally I don't know a whole lot about him so feel free to list some trivia and facts about him along the way...
I am in a state of SHOCK, when I first saw this, and I'm still in shock. I'm not saying he's a bad hire or anything. He could turn out to be a great hire in the end. Time will tell how good of a hire he really is. But I'm still shocked. Honestly, this is the most shocking off the field announcement I've seen in women's soccer in a long time. 20 to 30 days ago I would have said that he is one of the biggest underdogs to get this job, based on odds. I think he's a good coach and all. And is he better than Greg Ryan? Oh hell yes. Again, not saying he's not worthy. But I'm still shocked. Hopefully we'll add a little more international style to our game to blend in with the American patriotic physical style that we already possess. The team already has some Euro (old Norway and current Germany) type physicality. But they need more playmakers, with a skilled finesse game. This new coach might just be what the doctor ordered for the next generation of players (including playmakers like Morgan Brian). But I'm still shocked.
Initially I was surprised by the decision as well; my money was on DiCicco or Randy Waldrum. But on closer inspection it makes sense. Sermanni has plenty of international experience under his belt with Australia, and is familiar with American soccer from his WUSA stints. By all accounts he is a good tactician, motivator and personnel manager. One thing's for sure, Sermanni is not afraid to bring in young players. Australia's 2011 World Cup squad featured five teenagers. A whopping 18 of 21 players were age 25 or younger. I doubt he'll be as drastic with the U.S., but some changes will definitely be in the cards. Another positive sign: Sermanni almost always built his midfield around Collette McCallum, when healthy. Not very athletic, but a supremely talented distributor of the ball. Might he emphasize more players like her in the U.S. lineup?
Good call on McCallum. Vanessa DiBernardo is not the most athletic player with pace, but she's an outstanding creative facilitator with near flawless fundamentals who always serves the team on the pitch with smart play. She's a coach's dream. She also wins balls in the midfield, and knows how to attack toward goal when needed, and improvise by making the right decision. She's got a high ceiling in terms of her potential. I think if she demonstrates the passion for wanting that role, she could eventually be groomed into that role in the midfield by 2015. Then you have Morgan Brian. She's not as physical as DiBernardo, (as Brian is much more finesse), but that alone is also needed. Brian brings an innovative game that the U.S. doesn't have in the midfield. She is one of the smartest skilled young players in the world. Simply put, Brian is playing chess while her opponents are playing checkers. That's Morgan Brian's game. She's always one move ahead of you. And her vision is incredible. I think Sermanni will be able to get the best out of her. Sermanni is a glorified youth coach, at heart and soul. He likes working with 18-25 year olds. He likes to see progression, and development. He feels its his greatest passion in coaching, to get those players to get their game to the next level. I think we will see the most youth we've ever seen on the national team. It won't be as young as Australia's team, but certainly a lot younger than Pia's. If I'm the U-20 sorority girls right now (Ohai, Brian, DiBernardo, Hayes, Johnston, Dunn, etc.), then I'm happy right now. I'd be saying, "Hey, we might all get to play together again on the national team, and sooner than we could have imagined"). The past few months couldn't have gone any sweeter for our U-20 ladies.
As I said in the other thread, Sermanni used young girls in Australia because the small population yields a small talent pool. If all things r equal most coaches would prefer a team in the 22 to 32 age range. The wunderkind who makes it in her teens and the specimen who plays well into her thirties need to be the exceptions in the US. I really dont see any of U20s having a significant role in the WWC tho maybe by the next Olympics. I think the first wave comes from players U23 and beyond. Then, as the cup gets closer u may see a second wave filling gaps and replacing players who didnt make the grade. I think this is the way any coach wants it and more important, the way US Soccer prefers it.
Has anybody seen that Sermanni will have control of youth development and actually function as Technical Director? Pia, by her choice, was a senior team coach only. I haven't seen that Sermani has a greater role.
Sermanni has a Wednesday conference call with the media. Hopefully some of this get addressed more than vaguely. Every article Ive read surmises that US Soccer wants an active development role from the new coach and it was part of the reason he got the job. I havent heard him say much more than Thanks.
Can you point us to those things you have read? The thing is, I heard folks say the same thing when Klinnsman was hired, and the youth development side of things has been a disaster on the men's side ( worst youth team results in 2 decades). Everyone said he was the architect of the German youth movement, which turns out to be not so much the case. Now folks are crediting Sermanni with developing the Aussie young players. Did he? Or we're young players all he had to work with? From what I have read, some folks think Australia has a better youth program than ours that isn't based on pay to play. Was he the architect or beneficiary of that system? Anybody know?
I must say I am a bit surprised about the choice, he was hardlt mentione din the speculations although IIRC he was the third favorite (way after Greg and Pia) when Greg was selected and at least mentioned when Pia was.
http://wsocexpress.com/2012/10/18/uswnt-a-brief-history-of-the-teams-head-coaches/ Looks like USSF likes to interview coaches a couple times before actually hiring them... ... Yeah, okay. I'm fine with Sermanni as the coach out of this final group. Also looks like USSF was interested in picking a coach with senior international experience. Most of the American coaches didn't have the experience necessary IMO. There's a diff. between international and college or even pro scene and our college coaches, at least, haven't been pushing themselves out of their comfort zone. Swanson and Waldrum would be ones to keep an eye on fo the future ... IF they make sure to keep taking international assignments. (Also LOL@DiCicco's, um, somewhat backhanded compliment at Sermanni.) Guess more news is coming out in a day or so both on the coach and the impact of the new league on USWNT.
From yesterdays USSOCCER.COM article, I really liked this quote from Sermanni: "After coaching against many of these players for years, I am looking forward to working with an accomplished group of veterans while integrating the numerous talented young players who are itching for a chance to prove themselves. It will be an exciting few years for the U.S. team and for all the great fans as we work toward the highest goals at the 2015 Women’s World Cup" Although I'm all for the youth movement, I do believe that a balanced approach would work best for this team. I certainly hope that 6 or 7 players from the under 20 squad are called up to training camps, but my gut tells me that only 2 will make the 21 person 2015 WC roster. The rest of the team will still be comprised of current USWNT squad members and other players in their mid 20's that weren't given a real shot by Pia. If members from the youth team are chosen for the full squad, then the coach has to believe that they can be impact players for the 2015 WC, and will bring something unique to the team. For instance, Maya Hayes is a fast, strong forward that finishes her chances, but we already have someone like this on the current team (Leroux). What we need is a future Abby replacement (Hagen) or someone that has succeeded at every stage of her career (Press). On the other hand, Ohai may be that instant impact player we need on this team moving forward. As far as the most recent Olympic squad is concerned, IMO Solo, Morgan, Rapinoe, Heath, Sauerbrun and probably Cheney will remain on the team as starters for the 2015 WC. Wambach, Lloyd, Leroux, O'Hara and O'Reilly will remain as instant impact subs in the second half against stronger opponents. Barnhart, A-Rod, Mitts, Rampone, Buehler, LePeilbet, and Boxx will probably be let go at the end of this year. This will leave open 5 starting spots to be filled in by Krieger, Engen, and either Press or Hagen, and 2 others. If Cheney can improve at the holding mid position and Heath transitions to attacking mid, then perhaps Ohai can take O'Reilly's starting right wing position. I'm still not sure who our starting left back will be since I don't believe O'Hara is a natural starter at that position. The remaining bench players could be Klingenberg, Johnston, (Hagen or Press), Harris and Hennenger. Again, there are a lot of other players like Mews sisters, Lindsay Horan, Crystal Dunn or Morgan Brian that could make the team. However, I do like Sermanni's approach of having a little of everything. Heck, even the Brazilian men's team finally decided to call back a veteran like Kaka, since an all youth team lacks the experience to play in big matches against the powerhouses in the world.
I always thought it would come down to Swanson and Sermanni as the most logical candidates. Sermanni's hire resembles Pia's: international experience, deep familiarity with the US soccer culture. He's gotten good results with a national team in a country with less than 1/10 our population and therefore far less talent than the States can draw upon.
They go out of their way to have the same gender as the players officiate the games, but I guess having the same nationality as the players’ coach the team is something the USA does not have the resources to do. Simply - Should have been a US Citizen coach. Just does not feel like a pure USA win when it was not put together by pure USA.
I was a little surprised as well. But... the more I read and think about this, the more I'm beginning to understand. - Experienced international coach - Multiple World Cup experience - Experience coaching women in US - Experience in developing youth (IMO this was huge for USSF. Pia was horrible at this) - Can introduce US players to more technical style of play rather then typical US kick and run - Players coach - Has calming affect with players (Very important in women's game, especially, IMO) - Established former European pro player (Shouldn't matter, but a big +)
We really don't. And until our esteemed US citizens who want to be USWNT coaches get out of their comfort zone and actually plan a career that would gain them the experience they would need to be a good USWNT coach, we won't. I'm not sure why we'd choose someone simply because of nationality for the coach, esp. if that someone isn't the best available. Blather and stupidity. The best coach who gives us the best chance to win should be the coach. It's senior international, not u-12. Some of the US coaches have dipped their toes in by taking YNT stints (and either found they could adjust or couldn't in some cases), but so few of them - that is, ONLY ONE in that final list of names that we've seen thus far and he's already been the USWNT coach! - has a resume in professional, senior international, and the US scene. If they were really interested in actually pursuing a career as an international coach, they'd pursue: 1. Getting involved with the US women's 'pro' scene - such as it is - and maybe take a couple seasons as HC 2. Getting involved with the USSF - take a 2 year cycle as a dedicated (i.e. sole job) USYNT coach 3. Opportunities to become a senior international coach (!!!) at a team that has a good chance of making it to the WWC Oh yeah - and do a good job / getting good results. Australia has opened up... Who wants to bet on whether these candidates give up their current job (assuming they even get through the interviews to get the job), fly over to Australia - a top 10 team - and lead them through a WWC cycle, attempting and hopefully succeeding at getting them to the next level? I think getting Australia to a WWC / Olympics SF would be a massive achievement / improvement on Sermanni's results and it would be a step up on the competition for USWNT job. I'd be really impressed if someone did this... but I don't really think the US coaches in the released pool will. I think they stay where they are at.
It's not popular, but the short answer to your question is, why not? I don't like excluding candidates simply to prove a point that women can do it if given the opportunity. Some women look up to men's leagues as the top of their profession. By the numbers there is a much larger pool of male officials and they are likely as qualified or more qualified simply because there are more and they are officiating at high levels. Those qualified officials don't have the opportunities to officiate for women although the reverse is true. Off-topic, I have a huge crush on Brenda Pantoja.