U-20 WNT: 2014 Campaign

How is Michelle French a YNT coach? How is BJ Snow still a YNT coach after not qualifying the U17s? When is the Full NT coach going to be involved in YNT coaching selections and integrating programs like Klinsmann is doing with the Men? Why do Jill Ellis and April Heinrichs continue to be allowed to get jobs and make decisions? The YNT program is a joke right now.

Oh wait, answers just in: Michelle French is part of the female whatever, BJ Snow is Jill Ellis' lifetime assistant in everything and Sunil Gulati/USSF don't give a crap.

 

Whatever is the female whatever?

 

Well, French among many other accolades was a DI All American, a USWNT Olympian, a successful club coach an ODP coach, and the very successful coach of the Seattle Sounders women. She played for one of the greatest women's soccer coaches ever, in a system that matches what the USFS professes to want the USWNT to move to. She also is one of the most respected people, among players in the women's soccer world. Exactly what else do you have in mind?

 

Overall slow team on fast surfaces is not a good thing. But they do have a lot of brand names.

 

Mamalia, by "whatever" I couldn't think of an appropriate term for the act of forcing female coaches into coaching positions they shouldn't be in. Lunatica, I don't dislike females at all and there are definitely very good female coaches. CP, sounds like a great player, a great club coach and a great person….never said she wasn't any of them and Clive Charles is a coaching legend for sure. But she's not him and nothing in that bio, to me, supports she should be coaching a YNT yet….and I feel the same way about the other gender's coach (BJ Snow) I mentioned.

 

Fair enough. What are your criteria, and who do you think fits them that wants the job for however much they're willing to pay?

 

That's a whole another issue. Why we have two, full-time non-head coaching persons I don't understand.

No need for U23s. Make U15, U17 and U20 coaches full time, with higher salaries, and make them part of the Full staff and lead the newly formed Full B team (which would be predominantly what U23s are now). The full time U15, U17 and U20 coaches would fill their staffs with qualified youth coaches (there are plenty as good as college coaches) and get college coaches out of it. If college coaches want these positions, then give up the college job and coach full time with USSF if you've got the chance.

It would align the programs in terms of tactics, structure, etc and develop coaches in the meantime. Again, the biggest issue is Sunil Gulati/USSF don't care about the female game or have the vision to improve and develop it……that's if they even realize it's struggling at the youth levels.

 

Savannah Jordan (far left in middle row), has very large shoulder mass.
She could maybe bulk into a Ronda Rousey one day.

 

Some of what you say I agree with, but as a first point I don't think it's right to criticize French's credentials and then respond to my question by saying that the real problem is with the whole women's YNT approach and structure and by declining to say who would be better given the current approach and structure. If your real issue is with the overall approach and structure, it would be more helpful just to say so and why.

I do absolutely agree with you that the part-timeness of the situation is an issue, and believe me it doesn't make me happy with April and Jillian more or less running the show. In particular, I agree that college coaches should not be U coaches. It taints both the UNT side and the college side of things.

 

Apologies. While typing what I believe is a bigger issue, I forgot to go back and mention again that I was criticizing French's credentials to be a YNT coach right now and do disagree with the appointment.

 

Yes, I know that, but what you haven't done -- I understand, due to being distracted by the bigger issue -- is indicate what you think the credentials should be to be a YNT coach right now (in the current system) and who else there is who you think would have taken the job (with its current limitations) that would have met your credentials. The job was open with whatever limitations went with it, maybe there weren't applicants who met your credentials because they didn't like the job description, pay, etc.?

 

Which is why I've been pushing for them to include Darian Jenkins.
She's faster than anyone selected to this team, and probably by far.
She is a young Sydney Leroux, without the heading ability.
Leroux also had some struggles with her first touch when she was younger.
But it was developed as time went by. They need to do the same for Jenkins.

 

Thanks for explaining your comment. You have some strong and not superficial thoughts on this issue which could not be discerned from the kind of 'throw away' remarks in your original post. Sounded kind of misogynistic, but clearly that is not where you are coming from with this... perils of electronic "communication".

 

Maybe they can sneak Sydney Leroux on the team, and have her wear a red wig.
Cynthia LeFlew. U-20 player from Area 51 - Nevada. That way FIFA can't do their research on her.

Give her a wig like this, and no one will know.

 

Leroux is very determined and feisty. She plays defense. As much as I want Jenkins to play, she doesn't possess that quality. She runs when she wants to run.

 

Any predictions for starting lineup on Thursday?

 

That's an awfully "anglo" looking team...so much diversity....not

 

Yay for more Osborne. I thought she did a good job with the U-17 games.

 

They do have a lot of diversity among their hairstyles and hair color.

 

Blame it on Pia. They're keeping it real Nordic.

Not my main problem with the squad but they won't look good on fast surfaces in Canada. But they do have alot of brand name players who arent necessarily the best selections.