As the deadline for the 18-player roster is approaching, I think it may get a little interesting who Pia will decide to leave off the roster going to London. Also here is an article that discusses the USA's history of roster changes between the WWC and the Olympics: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens...s-Common-in-World-Cup-and-Olympics-Cycle.aspx I think this one will have the least amount of change (obviously) because we have the same coach going into the Olympics... My roster predictions: GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart, Hope Solo DEFENDERS (6): Rachel Buehler, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Kelley O’Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez, Lauren Cheney FORWARDS (3): Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach Alternates: Jill Loyden, Stephanie Cox, Tobin Heath I think that last midfield spot is the only thing really up in the air between ARod, Heath, and Lori Lindsey. Plus Harris may beat out Loyden for the 3rd GK this time. Who do you think will be left off?
I hope Harris makes it over Barnhart and Cox over Mitts (if she makes it, it'll be a sympathy spot). Also hoping Winters makes it over Lindsey, but that'll never happen. Other than those, I agree with CANAmerican.
Why is it that every time Mitts makes the team, whether it be World Cup or Olympics, someone calls it a sympathy spot? This talk has beeen going on for a decade. I get tired of it. There must be something that the coaches see in her (and not just her looks) that they keep bringing her in camp. And not just Pia but Ryan and April Heinrichs as well. If Mitts gets chosen to represent her country, it will be because she deserves to be there and not because of sympathy.
Whom I wonder who Pia will select. Same players she always picks. Same ones that start every game. WNT is a buddy system, it has been since April was hired. Take care of the veterans on the team. HEO, Abby, Lloyd, Arod, Boxx, Bueler can play like chit but they will always get a spot!
WNT is so who has most caps, not so much who is best player at that position. Tell me Carli Lloyd is the best attacking midfielder in the world for USA. Can you honestly say that Rachel Buehler is one of the best center defenders in the world?
pia seems to think so. and she is the coach who sees them every day, and who i'm sure wants to win as much or more than you or i want to. ditto.
Or Pia drops Leroux and takes both Arod and Heath with the idea that either Arod or Cheney can double up and play back-up to Morgan and Wambach. What's the chance of that happening?
I've always been a Mitts fan, but her last few appearances left much to be desired. At some point it's not the same criticism that she faced when in her prime.
The "big" decision is if/which one of the midfielders get cut. I agree it's between Heath, Rodriguez, and Lindsey. Heath has an injury right now, so if she doesn't make the China roster, it might not mean she's out for the Olympics. I think Sundhage rates all 3 quite highly, so it will probably come down to tactics and versatility and depth. I think Lindsey might be in simply as the back-up to Boxx. Sundhage speaks of Heath's creativity, but I wonder if Cheney's emergence has in some way made Heath less valuable. On the other hand, do Morgan and Leroux make Rodriguez's speed less valuable? A year ago, I would have said Heath would get the slot, but I've been impressed by Rodriguez' play as a winger so it's a toss-up really. If she takes all three, both Cox and Mitts don't go and Sundhage gambles that the defenders will stay injury-free. I can actually see this scenario because I think Sundhage rates those midfielders more highly than either Cox or Mitts. Between Mitts vs. Cox, my impression is that Sundhage doesn't find either especially compelling. Cox has seen more minutes than Mitts in the past year. Mitts didn't get any playing time in the WWC, but I suspect she wasn't 100% and she is fully fit right now. I bet Mitts is good for the locker room and there is some logic to her getting the slot because of Krieger's injury. But, as we've seen from history, LePeilbet will always play before either Cox or Mitts (so Mitts actually really never was Krieger's back-up) and I actually think LePeilbet does better on the right than on the left. O'Hara can play either side so does that mean that right-sided Mitts doesn't really gain an advantage over Cox? Am I remembering that in one the last games, Cox came in on the right for a bit? Cox can also play in the middle effectively. Whatever, neither will get significant minutes unless there's an injury. It's sad for whichever gets cut.
Correction: US Soccer just announced that they will be streaming the match live on their website. Kickoff at 7 PM EST.
Given there are only 2 months left before the Olys, here is who I would take: GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart, Hope Solo DEFENDERS (6):, Heather Mitts, Kelley O’Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn Stephanie Cox, Whitney Engen MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx, Lori Lindsey, Tobin Heath, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez, Lauren Cheney FORWARDS (3): Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach Alternates: Ashlyn Harris, Carli Lloyd, Rachel Buehler I just watched highlights from the two Kirin Cup games and thought some more about what happened in the World Cup. Buehler panics and makes poor decisions in unsettled situations – her poor play inside the 6 yard box lead directly to goals for Japan in Germany and the Kirin Cup. LePielbet is just too slow. Engen should start, Mitts is still fit and has the experience, and if it weren’t for O'Hara, I would start Cox on the left.
Here are the 18 that will suit up against China tomorrow, per U.S. Soccer: G: Solo, Barnhardt D: Beuhler, LePeilbet, Mitts, Rampone, Sauerbrunn, O'Hara, Klingenberg M: Boxx, Lloyd, O'Reilly, Rapinoe, Rodriguez F: Cheney, Leroux, Morgan, Wambach Those left out: G: Loyden, Harris D: Cox, Engen M: Heath, Lindsey, Mewis, Winters F: Press Make of this what you will. Is it just me, or does the U.S. central midfield look awfully thin. I suppose they're counting on Cheney and Rapinoe being able to fill in there should (God forbid) Boxx and Lloyd leave the field ever. Also, I assume they'll be using Klingenberg more as a midfielder than a defender. There's no need for 7 defenders on a roster of 18.
I have a question regarding the 4 alternate players for the Olympics. Can the 18 player roster (11 starters, 7 reserves) be changed per each game to inlcude one of the alternates, or will they only be included if a player is injured and listed permanently off the roster?
It seems likely that after the Olympics Christen Press will become our 4th Forward in addition to Abby, Morgan and Leroux, especially with ARod and Cheney transitioning to midfield. With Morgan and Wambach having solidified the starting positions for now, it seems that Leroux would need make a significant impact during the Olympics to become our first option off the bench, and ultimately become a starter. Her job will be a lot tougher since the starting forwards have already been solidified, and Press is waiting in the wings to make an impact. Unlike Morgan's situation where the starting forward position was up for grabs this year, Leroux will have to score or assist off the bench with less than 15 minutes of play to make an impact in the Olympics. Even though she's scored 7 goals in 14 matches thus far, she hasn't had an assist yet or scored a really meaningful goal. The ones she scored against Guatemala, Denmark and Norway were unfortunately all in garbage time with game put away. On the other hand, Morgan gained her bench spot by scoring goals against China late to tie a game, another critical one against Italy to help put us into the WC, and the of course the 2 against France and Japan in the WC.
Its the latter; my only question is- is the roster frozen once the Games begin? ie No alternate even if an injury occurs, once the Games begin?
That's what the alternates are for. They can add a player if the organizing committee accepts that a player has a debilitating injury. But the committee has to ok it before the player is added, and they can have their own doctors check it out.
