If Greg Ryan was still the coach, as of today, what would this program have done over the past six years, since the end of the 2007 WWC? Predict their level of success, since the 2007 WWC .......... What would they have done in the 2008 Olympics? What would they have done in the 2011 WWC? Would would they have done in the 2012 Olympics? What would they do this year in 2013? Would Hope Solo still be on the team? What would the national team roster look like today? Would there be a women's professional league, ran by U.S. soccer? The Man, The Myth, the Legend - Greg Ryan:
In hell. Seriously, I can't say I ever had a problem with Ryan until I saw the ground the team had clearly lost to the rest of the world at the 2007 WC, particularly in our midfield play. Before then I was mesmerized by his perfect record. That's not to say he started the problems. Even though the USA won the 2004 Olympics, the matches were painful to watch as team after team dominated possession. Predictions? Hard to say. I'll assume Hope stays with the team for these: 2008 - 2nd. I'd say 4th, but I'll assume we took the same route to the finals (ie, no Germany). 2011 - Lose in QF. 2012 - 4th. But there would probably be no Solo, the team problems would have festered, and I think no pro league. So my predictions are probably optimistic.
Now, what kind of question is this? Ryan had the best winning percentage of any coach for a while. He was going fine. Then he did what the only thing he will be remembered for, benching Hope Solo. And for that one incident alone he somehow is marked as a bad coach. These questions, in my opinion are stupid. Your looking for negative speculation here and fight. Why not also ask the same questions about April or Tony? Pia had most of the players Ryan had. What else? I'm sure a Ryan haters will jump on this thread. So why even ask this stuff?
Depends if u think there is another GK out there as good as Solo. I personally dont and considering the defense isnt as good as it was in 2007 I doubt they do as well. Tactically, Ryan prolly has the team farther along but Sundhage gets a ton of credit for managing the personalities and keeping the ship on an even keel.
I see your point and agree somewhat, but I do think in the final analysis that with his focus on high pressure, bypassing the midfield, and turnover-focused offense, he completely misread the direction women's soccer was headed in. It's becoming very difficult to compete at the highest level without at least some ability to possess the ball. But you can certainly argue he didn't have the players to do that (and the ones who were possibly available were repeatedly injured, like Rapinoe).
She was exactly what the team needed in 2008. To go from the fractured mess that was the NT after the WC, to the tight-knit group we've seen the last couple years is no small feat. That was her biggest strength as coach.
Ryan has under performed at Michigan since leaving the USWNT. No Big Ten titles and a pair of NCAA appearances in 5 years. I think his college record is a better measure of his true coaching ability.
Ryan had the best record because he chiefly played teams way below the US in ranking. He was living in a fantasy world with the team Heinrichs left him and did little to improve it. Pia was not"exactly" what the team needed, but she did a good job getting back to the basics and fomenting a solid team.
Wouldn't it be fair to say that Pia led the US women to re-establish themselves as the clear #1 team in the world.
Yes, that would be fair. Hopefully, Sermanni will be the coach to take the USWNT to its full potential
The issue I have with Ryan, other than of course, he divided the team to save his own ass, was the style of play he was trying to play. For a reminder, here is the gist of an article that came out before the Brasil game. Well the USA got stuffed playing his style, which if you recall, was the back line blasting the ball over the midfield and the opposing end line. And as it turned out they were a one trick pony. And while Ryan was touting his genius, opponents saw opportunity.
Yup, one trick pony describes it. That efficient, direct play can work brilliantly, but as the core of your strategy it fails miserably. Funny how that article seems to expose the narrowness of his vision - hard to tell from one article in hindsight, but it's a valid observation.
His ultimate failure, however, was personal arrogance. He thought it was all about himself and his brilliant decision-making about who should be the goalkeeper. He made it about himself rather than about he players. This can happen under stress, to those who don't have ridiculous mental and psychological strength, which is a requirement for top NT coaches. He did not pass the test.
