USWNT v Canada, Nov 9 and 12, pre/pbp/post

Discussion in 'USA Women: News and Analysis' started by lil_one, Nov 1, 2017.

  1. Semblance17

    Semblance17 Member+

    United States
    Apr 27, 2013
    Lighthouse Point, FL
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    [waits 30 seconds]

    Is it 2018 yet?
     
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  2. McSkillz

    McSkillz Member+

    ANGEL CITY FC, UCLA BRUINS
    United States
    Nov 22, 2014
    Los Angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Congrats on USWnT ending on a high note. Glad Fleming made it
    Without injuries now she can morph back into a Bruin and do us proud!
     
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  3. WWC_Movement

    WWC_Movement Red Card

    Dec 10, 2014
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Papua New Guinea
    USA - 3
    Canada (U-17 team) - 1
     
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  4. kernel_thai

    kernel_thai Member+

    Oct 24, 2012
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    I get a kick out of Herdman logic. Doesn't think the best path for Canadian soccer players is thru the NCAA but of course old stars Sinclair and Matheson went that way as did new stars Buchanan and Lawrence as is pending star Fleming. So thanks for the theory, John.
     
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  5. kernel_thai

    kernel_thai Member+

    Oct 24, 2012
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Since Morgan returned from France and Ertz returned from exile they have combined to score 13 goals in 9 games.
     
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  6. kernel_thai

    kernel_thai Member+

    Oct 24, 2012
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Of course Horan got Budweiser PotM
     
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  7. Smallchief

    Smallchief Member+

    Oct 27, 2012
    Club:
    --other--
    That Rapinoe-O'Hara combination on the left flank was devastating against young Canadian defenders. Maybe O'Hara should play left fullback in the future? But that would leave Short without a job. And Smith as the de facto right fullback.

    I say de facto because Huerta was omitted from the squad for these two games. I thought she was good in the games she played and had looked forward to seeing her again. Smith had little opportunity and contributed little in this game -- so maybe Huerta will get another chance.

    As player of the year for the US, the candidates as I see them are Sauerbrunn, Mewis, Ertz, and Rapinoe. Mewis hasn't been quite good enough and Ertz and Rapinoe haven't played quite enough. Thus, Sauerbrunn.
     
  8. skybolt

    skybolt Member

    Dec 16, 2011
    Club:
    Barcelona Guayaquil
    Well she did almost have an assist on Sinclair's effort on goal.
     
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  9. Cannons

    Cannons Member+

    May 16, 2005
    #134 Cannons, Nov 13, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2017
    Everybody is focusing on the score not the play. The score in these games really doesnt matter. For much of this game, Canada outplayed us. Their short passing was much better than ours until the end of the game. We had some good thru balls that worked but Im talking about during the run of play, for maybe 60-70 minutes. This should be a concern to Ellis and company but I doubt it is. Canada had a much better short passing buildup then we did. We were mostly kick and run and thats what upsets me about Jill. This kind of attack wont wrok atainst better teams consistently and that seems to be all we have.

    Lloyd actually settled things down and made us look better at the end. Im not usually a fan of hers but I did like the results after she came in
     
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  10. WiminzSoccerRocks

    Jun 15, 2009
    MA
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I appreciate the reflections from Cannons. I thought the US was showing an unbecoming arrogance expecting calls and cards and a roughness that was unnecessary. I like seeing the youth playing against our long in the teeth you'll never get us off the roster preferred national team.

    It still feels to me like something is missing in the midfield. There's no apparent on field leader- Mewis and Horan both seem silent. Ertz is visible only when she's attempting to score (although that is aggravated by the announcers).

    I really like this Canadian team. I hope they can bring the youth along so that Sinclair can have a few victories vs. the US before she's done.
     
  11. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    It's reminiscent of the incredible partnership Pinoe and Klingenberg had in the WC.
     
  12. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    O'Hara has improved so much as a fullback. I used to say that she was where attacks went to die. No longer. She has turned herself into a real weapon. I don't know if this was the result of a lot of hard work, or if Ellis has unleashed her. But, something has changed.

    Klingenberg's remarkable world cup can't be overstated. However, I wonder if she's out, because she doesn't have the recovery speed to play the way Ellis wants the FB's to play now. In the world cup, when Kling overlapped, Pinoe would drop back and cover for her. Pinoe did a lot of defending in the WC. I don't think that's possible in the present 433.

    However, I'm a huge Kling fan. If she's in the form that she was in in the WC, I would give her a look in the midfield, if she can't play fullback anymore. Her ability to hold, dribble, and pass was incredible.
     
  13. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    Prescient.
     
  14. CoachJon

    CoachJon Member+

    Feb 1, 2006
    Rochester, NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    +1 for today's vocabulary word!
     
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  15. McSkillz

    McSkillz Member+

    ANGEL CITY FC, UCLA BRUINS
    United States
    Nov 22, 2014
    Los Angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I stopped taking Herdman seriously years ago when he claimed we cheated because we were so good at set pieces during the World Cup.
     
  16. MRAD12

    MRAD12 Member+

    Jun 10, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Soccer is evolving. What was a couple of years ago is not now anymore. Maybe he likes the way the Europeans go about developing players. Morgan, Horan, Heath have all praised European style of training with emphasis of skill on the ball. Maybe that's what Herdman wants for his players.

    IMO, the European style soccer of skills first and winning will come may be more attractive than our youth system and college philosophy of win first with speed and toughness and if any of you learn some actual foot skills along the way, good for you.

    IMO, Horan learned more playing in France for a few years than she would have at UNC skill-wise and decision-making. Dorrance would have subbed her in and out making her do high pressure all game and she would never have developed the skills she has now.
     
  17. MRAD12

    MRAD12 Member+

    Jun 10, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    When did he say this?
     
  18. FawcettFan14

    FawcettFan14 Member+

    Mar 19, 2004
    Colorado
    Ellis is foolish for putting all her eggs in the Sauerbrunn-Dahlkemper basket. Becky is the captain and her instincts are still superb, but struggles for pace and the World Cup is 1.5 years away. A lot can deteriorate in that span for a defender in her 30s.

    And Dahlkemper is not head and shoulders above other top NWSL defenders to exclusively deserve the other CB spot. Sonnett got unceremoniously kicked to the curb last year after making similar mistakes to Dahlkemper now. It is kind of a jerk move to call up Sonnett, make her travel across the world, have her dress for both games, then give her 0 minutes.

    Plus the elephant in the room is that Ellis continues to overlook Menges, who arguably is better than both Dahlkemper or Sonnett, and certainly faster than all three center backs mentioned above.
     
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  19. luvdagame

    luvdagame Member+

    Jul 6, 2000
    is she?

    thorns fans?

    i thought sonnet was the fastest back in the league this year. if menges is faster than her...wow!!

    (i'd like to see this pair as uswnt cbs next year)
     
  20. Patrick167

    Patrick167 Member+

    Dortmund
    United States
    May 4, 2017
    Ellis seems very close to picking a style, formation and starting 11. Much like a Tab Ramos U-20 team, it is high octane all the time. Would like to see less home run passes to nowhere and maybe the midfield recycling possession when things aren't on. It is frenetic all the time and there are too many turn overs. But better than the last 12 months where they slowly played it around then turned it over I guess.

    Have to give Ellis credit, she has rotated some popular veterans out of the starting 11. Morgan has come back in with a vengeance; Llyod will either do so too or not play, which is correct.

    Naeher: Great when she doesn't have to think. Makes the wrong decision many times when she has to think though. Hard to believe she is the best; but there is probably nobody clearly better.

    Short: She has really improved from She Believes. Women's club soccer doesn't really get players ready for USWNT yet. They seem to need 10-20 caps to get comfortable. Short seems to be one that will stick.

    Saurbraunn: Really seemed to be working on taking space against Canada. Did it alright. Was a big reason the US left side dominated at times. Still sometimes dribbled into oblivion. She will also get beat once a game; still refuses to commit the tactical foul, and lets a speedy opponent in on goal. It ended the US Olympic tournament. Her defensive partner must always expect her to win that they typically don't back her up and just ball watch. World Class but losing a step or two.

    Dahlkemper: See Short; getting better. Took just a terrible angle on the one a game Saurbraunn mistake that led to the equalizer. Hard to assess her build up play; as she was working with the human turnover machine, Smith.

    Smith: I don't know if she completed a pass all game. Maybe she was rusty coming off injury. Surprised she started over Huerta.

    O'Hara: While not the best on defense, she is the only US player that moved the ball with purpose into dangerous areas. She seems to be playing on a different level than all our midfielders who can't seem to keep up. Luckily, Rapinoe and Morgan were there and can comprehend what she is trying to do. She is also good for one or two deep crosses right to a USWNT head per game. World Class.

    Horan: She needs to demand the ball more. Is not afraid of the physicality and works hard box to box. Her well timed counter press led to the second goal.

    Mewis: A double horror show. Too many times, the US midfield would make one pass then boot the ball long. Many times this was Mewis. Was like Ellis was doing some practice game where you had to score with only three players touching the ball. Mewis gets the ball from a CB, then boots it to nowhere. She is better. Lost Sinclair in the box in the first game for their goal when clearly all she was suppose to do was mark Sinclair. She is better than Lloyd and more athletic, but she can't boot the ball to the opponents keeper every time it comes to her and expect to stay on the field.

    Ertz: Did her job and scored again on that glancing header. Getting crazy. Becoming World Class as a #6. Dove in in the opponents half and didn't get the ball or woman which started the move for the Canada goal. Something to learn from.

    Rapinoe: She is slowing up; turns the ball over too much into the middle of the field, doesn't always make the correct decision in the final third, but is dangerous every time she gets the ball. Even with all the turnovers, she is creating so much she is a big net positive. Also, don't overlook her service for these Ertz set piece goals. World Class but has lost a step.

    Morgan: Her hold up game has taken serious leaps. With Mewis a TO machine, and the right side not effective because of Smith, many times it was balls from O'Hara or Saurbraunn to Morgan that got the US out of pressure and into the attack. Another new part of her game was her counter press which was tremendous. World Class.

    Press: Was hard pressed to get the ball since every time it went to Smith or Mewis it went to Canada. When she did get it she usually did well enough. She can take space, keep the ball, and pass which is better than most players played on the right wing lately. But clearly not comfortable when not taking the ball to the middle of the field.

    Williams: Just doesn't have the technical ability to play with this team. Maybe a late sub when defending as she works hard and can beat a pressing team on the counter. Her trampoline first touch makes it hard for her to play the pass and move game it seems like Ellis is trying to play.
     
  21. taosjohn

    taosjohn Member+

    Dec 23, 2004
    taos,nm
    Horan played very well other than the obvious. I understand the production of "Our American Cousin" was right up Abe's alley. too...

    It's a toss up whether the ref or Smith had the worst game; my SO and I are rarely at similar levels of harshness in our criticism (she was born just a scosh to soon to have a career of her own beyond being a rec league superstar, and the envy colors her view) but this game we were pretty much in the same ballpark. Smith was awful. And as far as O'Hara getting caught up on the goal, that was because she was up where Ellis wants her-- its gonna happen, and most of our goals against are going to look like that-- in some ways Ellis is the new Hugh Sampson. But it was Smith that was running along splitting the difference between two players not really aware of where either really was when one of them scored...

    Pinoe played great, Brunn was even better than usual, O'Hara was great, Ertz great, Morgan very good Mewis very good, Press didn't get many chances, the ref was awful, the AR's didn't show up at all as far as I could tell.
     
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  22. hotjam2

    hotjam2 Member+

    Nov 23, 2012
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    sorry about the belated post, but take a look at the lineup of France's last friendly, and it's like they started an even newer, newer generation of young & unknown players, and it was good enough to beat am solid, veteran squad like England(who have a win vs the US last time they met). France just had a wave retire(Abily, Thomis, Delie). But even so, they didn't even play vets like Henry & Bussaglia, Nor more heralded/hyped newbies like Cascarino, Leger, Lavogez, Karchaoui, M'Bock & Toletti. Yet still come up with an impressive win.

    So giving that she's got a way way bigger pool of players to choose from, why on earth can't Ellis do the same???
     
  23. MiLLeNNiuM

    MiLLeNNiuM Member+

    Aug 28, 2016
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This post belongs on the "Fire Jill Ellis" thread.
     
  24. Patrick167

    Patrick167 Member+

    Dortmund
    United States
    May 4, 2017
    I'm not sure Ellis is any good at all. I think she played these friendlies like her job depended on the results. With Laura Harvey waiting in the wings, literally, it might have. There can be no other reason she starts Naeher twice for 180 minutes.

    But, the USWNT is unique in that they have players on permanent contract; getting paid a lot of money, and a CBA that limits how many non-contract players can be called in at any time. This is why, in a friendly, Carli Lloyd enters for the USA in the 75' and Canada is subbing in a 17 yr old.

    So Ellis has her hands tied. That she got Lloyd to not start, eased out players like Kling and Krieger, booted Solo; is the kind of slow change possible. But Sunil is not going to pay Lindsay Horan $130K a year and let her sit home while then having to pay Sarah Killion $5K per game to take her place. Cuts into the profits you see.
     
  25. TimB4Last

    TimB4Last Member+

    May 5, 2006
    Dystopia
    FYP :cool:

    Hands tied, or not ...
     
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