The USA is playing better than they did in the Nike friendlies, that is for sure. At least defensively. Maybe the Nike games showed our CBs can't defend the counter 1 v 1 or even 1 v 2. Our coach has played much more conservatively against these weaker opponents. The USA is sending far fewer players up in attack and playing very directly to their three forwards, plus sometimes a midfielder, who then go at the opponent. They are not capable really of possession through the midfield, so they don't try it much. The fullbacks are not pushing up like at the Nike's. Like the men's U20, they are winning with defense starting with superior athleticism in the midfield. This should continue to work for keeping Haiti to 0 or 1 goals. The crazy terrible finishing is doing enough to get 2 to 3 goals a game. I'd expect Canada to draw us 0-0 or 1-1 and it go to PKs. Though, Davidson is probably playing by then, we will have qualified, so maybe they play looser and send more numbers forward.
The drop off at CB in my opinion is steep. Adding Davidson into the mix will allow the team to be much more aggressive than they have been with the fullbacks.
I agree; especially since Howell seems decent in the DM role. Not sure they will change much for Haiti; but certainly if qualification is sewn up, I'd like to see them come out against whomever in the final.
Davidson wasn't there for the Nike Friendlies, if I remember correctly. She has been in senior camp this month. Has she ever trained or played with these players before?
Thanks. I didn't know with being at college how much she had played. Really no reason she couldn't step in.
Today, our United States young ladies will don the Red, White and Blue to do battle against Haiti in the Semi-finals. Some (well, for sure one guy in Dallas) have deemed this athletic event more important than the Super Bowl in 9 days. Youtube (link previous in this thread) has the coverage starting at 2:30 (ET). 11:30 on the West Coast. 97 minutes to Kick in Trinidad and Tobago my little soccer buddies.
Thank goodness we can take pks. Otherwise our finishing is worse than ever. Glad we won. But I don't see us beating Canada.
- So if Haiti won on PKs and Mexico won the other match how great would US vs Canada been for the last spot? - thru 4 matches US has something like a +4 GD. In CONCACAF! It's just very hard to believe. I remember Summer Green in the u17 CONCACAF tournament having something like 13 goals by herself. - maybe USSoccer should have taken over the Breakers and used it as a development program for their coaches.
What do you expect from recycled unsuccessful players from the previous cycle? A different result? Einstein would have something to say about that. Sadly the 17s looked better in Concacaf 2 years ago...what does that say about the YNT "development"?
I was about to say something like that. Obviously we've lost games before at the CONCACAF youth tournaments. However, even if we win the whole thing, I think based on the overall body of work this is probably the worst CONCACAF youth performance ever on the women's side.
It does seem like the player pool is so restricted for the women. The same girls are passed up through the youth teams, rosters don't change much. Then at the senior team you can't change much and any changes are from the limited youth teams. No where else is the thought that you can identify the best 15 year olds and you will have all the best 24 year olds.
Up until Mexico advanced, I believed that Canada was clearly the best team in the tournament and agree they would have beaten the US. IMO Carle and Huitema are better than anyone the USA has. Carle is a beast with brains and finesse. The way USA played and Mexico played, the game that doesn't matter is going to be a battle. I'm rooting for Canada in the game that does matter
They have already beaten Haiti by 4-0 at group stage, didn't they? I guess it would be a huge surprise if Haitians managed to reverse the score.
Well I would make one exception: the netminder. She was impressive. But when the best performance in a match against Haiti ends up being your keeper that's probably not a good sign.