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

Smallchief · Nov 17, 2017

Patrick167 said: ↑

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.
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A good analysis -- most of which I agree with. My comments:

Naeher. I don't have much confidence in her as the number one goalie. Nor do I care much for Harris, and Campbell is unproven. Give Franch another try. She has been much better than those three in the NWSL.

Press: I just don't see her as a flank forward, unless she re-invents herself. Totally. Her future with the team is as a sub for Morgan at the center forward spot. That right forward position should be up for grabs, in my opinion, between Pugh, Dunn, and Williams. .

Smith: Yeah, she had a bad game. Like Williams, lots of speed with not much finesse. Give Huerta another shot at right back. That O'Hara-Rapinoe connection is working so well on the left flank that I would keep O'Hara there to compete with Short as a starter and try a number of combinations on the right flank. If none work out, move O'Hara back to the right.

Brunn and Dahlkemper: Ellis needs urgently to be looking for another center back. Sonnett maybe, Menges, maybe.. Somebody, hopefully with speed.

Patrick167 · Nov 17, 2017

Smallchief said: ↑

A good analysis -- most of which I agree with. My comments:

Naeher. I don't have much confidence in her as the number one goalie. Nor do I care much for Harris, and Campbell is unproven. Give Franch another try. She has been much better than those three in the NWSL.

Press: I just don't see her as a flank forward, unless she re-invents herself. Totally. Her future with the team is as a sub for Morgan at the center forward spot. That right forward position should be up for grabs, in my opinion, between Pugh, Dunn, and Williams. .

Smith: Yeah, she had a bad game. Like Williams, lots of speed with not much finesse. Give Huerta another shot at right back. That O'Hara-Rapinoe connection is working so well on the left flank that I would keep O'Hara there to compete with Short as a starter and try a number of combinations on the right flank. If none work out, move O'Hara back to the right.

Brunn and Dahlkemper: Ellis needs urgently to be looking for another center back. Sonnett maybe, Menges, maybe.. Somebody, hopefully with speed.
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I didn't mean to imply I think Naeher is #1. Just believe JE does. Neither Naeher or Ellis inspire confidence. Press is different than Morgan and has no natural position in JE's 4-3-3. I do think she can do things, like keep the ball and make a pass, that Pugh and Williams can't. Lavelle is probably best here. Press could probably back up all three spots and Morgan, Rapinoe, and Lavelle have all been hurt in the last 18 months. Totally agree with Huerta. Huerta and Press could at least pass to each other and come close to the O'Hara/Rapinoe partnership.

I think Jill is going to roll with the 11 we saw until Laura Harvey takes over.

Crazyhorse · Nov 17, 2017

@Patrick167, are you implying that Harvey will be the next head coach? Is this a forgone conclusion?

taosjohn · Nov 17, 2017

Patrick167 said: ↑

I think Jill is going to roll with the 11 we saw until Laura Harvey takes over.
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?? Keep in mind that three fairly important players were out with injury (which may have dictated Press' use on the wing) one wasn't released by her club (wasn't a FIFA window) and Sullivan wasn't full strength.

I don't think this is the preferred lineup even if there is one, and there will almost always be somebody out anyway-- even preferred lineups are fluid because God laughs at plans.

And no one is going to set a lineup in stone this far out, anyway, no matter how bored you are with the current group. We'll see at least one starter at the next WC who is not yet capped, maybe even a name we've not heard yet. And surely another CB will be moved on to the bus at some point-- Ertz is getting to be too valuable to the offense to continue to be the emergency answer if someone goes down, I think.