Supporters Section presale happening now. $29 per ticket: http://www.theamericanoutlaws.com/uncategorized/uswnt-v-russia-part-2-atlanta-ga-2122014
Based on her Twitter post it seems that Alex Morgan is out for both the Canada and Russia matches due to her ankle injury. At this point there's a significant possibility that she may miss the Algarve Cup as well. It's really a shame that injuries have crept up on her after av ery successful 2012 season.
It really is a shame players like her, Heath, and O'Hara have missed so much time. However, it's also an opportunity for other players to stake their claim on team. Here's hoping to see some real variety of lineups over the next 3 weeks.
A couple players coming home for this one are O'Hara and Brian. Maybe TS will have them both in the starting line-up.
So what will be the line-up for the first match against Russia? Lloyden, Dunn, K. Mewis, Rampone, Buehler (are O'Hara and Barnhart still injured?). Tymrak, Johnston, Lloyd, Rapinoe? Wambach, Press I know that I haven't been Arod's biggest fan, but it would be interesting to start her alongside Leroux in the following match.
This could be a line-up for saturday game for sure. O'Hara said in a interview lately that there is a chance she'll play in the upcoming game(s). Barnhart should be fine if not for feb. 8th then for 12th. But I'd rather see Press alongside Leroux than Wambach. Rodriguez will probably get a chance too. Not sure if she'll start. Although against Russia everything's possible.
I'd actually prefer Press with Leroux as well. However, I'd rather not see a Wambach / Arod connection in the following match.
I'd love to see Press and Syd play a good 75 minutes together. I do not need to see Arod and Abby play up front together again. while she only played 10 minutes, did anyone notice Arod's defensive position and aggression? I was very impressed. I wouldn't mind seeing Arod play left mid or leftback though.
The one thing that ARod does possess is a good cross into the box. She typically puts a nice curvature to the ball. With 23 players being called up for the WC she could be someone that's not necessarily the best at any given position, but may be able to cover well up and down the left flank late in games. She's also a very opportunistic type scorer. If ball is lurking around the penalty area she's usually there to finish the tap ins.
yes, I had a huge problem with her and still would have a problem with Arod starting at forward for the NT. However, she does have many skills that could be an asset to this team. She has world class speed, good crosses, smart players, very good on defense. I'd like to see her get a shot at left back. She's also one of the few US players who can collect a ball in the back or midfield, turn, and run past a defender while dribbling. It's something that is common in the men's game but much more rare in the women's game.
My biggest concern with the Algarve Cup is that if Morgan is still injured Sermani may choose to start Wambach in every match against the tougher opponents. At this point I'd like to see what a Leroux/Press combination can do against the Swedens / Japans / Germanys of the world in a tournament match. If this combination can pull out a win against these teams then we may have a winning combination no matter what for the WC. If they struggle then at least we 'll know that either Wambach or Morgan has to be there for these matches.
I have at least as bad a record at predicting this as everyone else here, but here's what I think we might see: LeRoux, Press (or Holiday) Pinoe, Brian, Lloyd, A-Rod Cox, Engen, Brunn, Dunn Solo He's not gonna want to jack around too long with A-Rod; if she can't do a workmanlike job on the wing, she really can't make the WC roster, so I imagine he might throw her right in. If he's thinking that Engen and Sauerbrunn are the most likely centerback combo for the WC, he's going to want to play them together a lot, and not with two new outside backs each time, but he's also going to want them to have plenty of time with each of the outside people. He has to assess Cox, whom he has hardly seen. After Abby's game against Canada he has to develop a sense of whether he might want to use Holiday up top again and whether Press and LeRoux can complement each other. A lot of that can be determined in practices, especially as relates to starters. But the bottom of the roster is probably going to play against the worst group opponent and the worst knockout opponent, and those decisions can be hard to make in practice, simply because our team is so good. A game against a Russia (or Colombia or Portugal) could be more telling. Of course if Morgan is fully healthy, she'll start...
So how would people rank My only problem with Holiday up top is that she hasn't shown that killer instinct inside the box with the NT. I can't see Sermanni testing her at forward again if Leroux (or even Hagen) are the target forwards of the future (once Abby retires). We may criticize Wambach/Morgan/Leroux/Press at times, but each of those players has a killer instinct in front of goal.
Back in 2009 and 10 she was pretty much a forward only, wasn't she? Through 2010 she had scored about once every three games. I don't care whether it was with killer instinct or Buddhist detachment myself; if she can do it that often I'll take it; one can't really expect the kinds of rates we have seen recently to go on forever...
I agree with your lineup though I think we might see Johnston instead of Holiday and its a toss up between HAO/Pinoe/Arod
Agreed. Press and Leroux are a must see pairing in at least one of these next 2 friendlies. Also, thanks for not trashing Arod, bc it happens a lot around here. She's not as good at being a pure forward as Wambach/Leroux/Morgan/Press but she could be looked at as a utility type role. It would be a long shot for her to beat Mewis for that role but honestly more likely beating out the current forwards. Who knows.... Also, I am dying to see Julie Johnston significant time at d-mid.
I never seem to know what TS is thinking line-up wise but here's what I want to see... Barnhart Kriegs-Brunn-Engen-Dunn Tymrak-Johnston-Lloyd-Arod Leroux-Press And I'm hoping to see more of Morgan Brian in Atlanta/Oharas comeback. Exciting times.
well, i know morgan wasn't injured. but in last year's final against germany, wambach barely played at all (she came in towards the end of the game). he went with the morgan, leroux, press triumvirate. so maybe he'll try a leroux, press, arod version in one of the games this time around.
if you want to scout Russia, then here's the full game videos of their 9-0 loss to Germany last September in a wc qualifier 1st half 2nd half
Like you mentioned, Morgan was playing in that match and had both goals. Press was playing out of position in midfield and was not a factor, while even though Leroux hustled as usual and put pressure on German defenders, she just didn't link up with Morgan that well. her hustle play did result in the first goal, but her cross was right to the defender's head. I really think that if TS wants both Leroux and Press to be an integral part of this team during the WC then he should test them against strong opponents. If they can pull out a victory against Japan, Sweden or Germany, tha'll build up their confidence moving forward. If not, then at least we'll know that the forwards aren't interchangeable.
I'd be ok with seeing this. I'd def would like to see Brian at Amid with either LLoyd or JJ behind her though. For the record, I am not sold that JJ can perform well at this level. her prior NT game experiences I thought was were very average. after watching her in the U20 teams, i know she has the intelligence and leadership to be on this team, but i'm not sure she has the athleticism.