USWNT v Mexico, May 26. Pre/pbp/post

Discussion in 'USA Women: News and Analysis' started by Semblance17, May 18, 2019.

  1. Kevin625

    Kevin625 Member

    Jan 4, 2016
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    A) I'm not saying this as a criticism of Ellis, although it will surely sound that way... but isn't that always the tactics though? It's not like we were playing a different lineup or formation to counter Mexico.

    I would be more inclined to call it good execution on the ball movement and poor execution on the final pass/finishing. I thought Mewis and Lavelle had some great passes to get Rapinoe/Morgan/Heath into dangerous positions and they didn't do much with it. Mewis had a couple mistakes in there as well, but I thought her distribution was great overall.

    I think Ellis did a good job managing the minutes, especially for KO. I was wary of seeing KO play the full 90 and held my breath every time she went down over the past 3 games, but she looks to be 100% healthy, albeit a little rusty. KO went 45/60/90 minutes now in her last 3 games.

    I'll still give Ellis a 10/10 for this game. I think she gave the right people the right amount of minutes (except Heath at LB) and no one got injured... which were the two most important criteria for this game.

    B) Agreed. Lavelle really stood out again. Dunn was 2nd best.

    C) I think Morgan's a conundrum right now. Will Ellis really bench her? It took until the 5th game of the 2015 WC to finally bench Wambach, so maybe she will if Alex continues her poor form.

    She hasn't looked good for a very long time. I think what's most concerning is that she's been invisible most games and is making a lot of bad and/or poorly timed runs getting caught offside too often for at least the past 6-12 months. She had the 2 best chances all game and missed them both... one being the complete flub on the sitter. It would be one thing if her finishing was off, but she's barely getting the ball. Some have excused this as Ellis' tactics or poor service, but Lloyd isn't having these issues at all in the same position... and as I've already said... her runs have been very poor for a long time now. Blame it on whoever you want, but this team is playing better when she's on the bench. Hopefully, this will change next month, but I haven't really seen any signs of it yet.

    Rapinoe has always been inconsistent (on/off) her entire career. People used to always joke about it... Good-Pinoe and Bad-Pinoe. Oftentimes, she can look bad for most of a game, but have one or two moments of brilliance that make up for it and make everyone forget about the rest of it. She's also probably our best at taking corners/set pieces.

    I'm 100% with you. I don't think any of the front 3 should be guaranteed starters. I think you could argue that Lloyd, Press and Pugh are all playing as well or better than any of them collectively and maybe even individually. Morgan looks like the 6th best of the lot, right now.

    D) I feel the same about Heath for the most part.

    E) I think Krieger has lost 3 steps and can't put in anywhere near the work-rate O'Hara can for 60-90 minutes. Krieger looked noticeably slow in her recent games. Old Krieger was better than KO, but she's about to turn 35 and it's definitely showing.

    BONUS QUESTION) I don't think Morgan had much to do with the ball movement today since she was rarely involved in any of it from what I remember.

    I honestly question if this team wouldn't be better with someone like Press playing in Rapinoe's spot to give you the speed over the top with Horan playing up front in place of Morgan, maybe as a false 9. Horan is definitely better hold-up with back-to-goal than Morgan, but she's probably the slowest player on the team (excluding Naeher). It would also allow you to play Horan, Mewis and Lavelle, which I'd argue might be the 3 best players on the team at this point in time, along with Ertz.

    Press/Horan/Heath
    Mewis/Lavelle/Ertz
    Dunn/Brunn/Dahlkemper/KO
    Naeher
     
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  2. MiLLeNNiuM

    MiLLeNNiuM Member+

    Aug 28, 2016
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, I think this is the most concerning issue.
    We've given away way too many goals this year.
    Hopefully, the defense can solidify by the time we hit the knockout stage.
     
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  3. FanOfFutbol

    FanOfFutbol Member+

    The Mickey Mouse Club or The breakfast Club
    May 4, 2002
    Limbo
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Actually my biggest concern is defense BUT it is not so much the defensive field players but it is rather the anchor of the defense, namely the goalkeeper.

    There were no real tests in the run up matches and in all the matches for the last year there have been no cases where the keeper(s) have needed to save a match with a save or other action and then came through with that moment of needed brilliance. I am not saying that no keeper "could" save our bacon if needed but rather it is a huge question mark that has pretty much never existed before in the history of the USWNT.

    Naeher makes a number of small mistakes, like catching high balls at chest level, and poor choices on distribution. She also does not seem to be good at keeping the defense organized. It could be that she is not verbal enough or it could be that the current crop of defenders do not listen and react to her.

    I hope that poor goalkeeping does not prove to be our downfall but it does seem to be a real weakness and it has not really been proactively addressed.

    The backups have shown flaws in their limited action in the last year and that does not bode well for what happens with injuries or cards a the GK position.

    These are questions/concerns that nothing in the last year gives any clue to. We can only hope that Naeher either rises to the occasion or she never gets tested in a way that matters.
     
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  4. Glove Stinks

    Glove Stinks Member+

    Jan 20, 2014
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    The defense question gets murkier. Why would JE shuttle Heath to LB the last game of the send off. To my knowledge she has never played there with Club or Country. So why now? She must have zero confidence in the players she called in for that spot
     
  5. Plxix

    Plxix BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Mar 13, 2006
    Good send off game to that no one got hurt.

    Anyone know why Naeher is in goal? I lack confidence in her. Harris is better. Not by much but she can get those weird, reflex saves.

    Heath at LWB will be insane. That bit is for when we're in dire need of a goal. Right foot on the left means her drift will be either way to the top. Kick ass.

    Morgan didn't do well but I'll bet she'll get the golden boot at this WC.
     
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  6. Kevin625

    Kevin625 Member

    Jan 4, 2016
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    I think you're going to be in the minority with that opinion about Harris being the better keeper from the general consensus I've seen over the past few years.

    Yes, Harris is more athletic and can make some saves that Naeher can't, but she also makes a lot of bad decisions and unforced errors.

    I think most people are lacking confidence in Naeher. We've been spoiled with two of the best GK's in WoSo history for over 2 decades prior to Naeher. She's a huge downgrade from Scurry and Solo, but I think she (and the others) are definitely good enough.

    I think the best keeper is the one you didn't mention... Franch.
     
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  7. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Heath plays on the left for the Thorns, in front of Klingenberg. She goes with either foot, and she doesn't drift to the middle. She and Klinger overlap, so she's also used to having to provide defensive cover on the left side.
     
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  8. taosjohn

    taosjohn Member+

    Dec 23, 2004
    taos,nm
    And she has played OB for a few minutes for club at least once -- I saw the game...
     
  9. jnielsen

    jnielsen Member+

    May 12, 2012
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    The difference between Mewis and Horan was immediately apparent in the second half - passing. Mewis tried the right passes, but was not able to execute. Horan comes on, and Boom: the right weight, the right angle, amazing. If Mewis could learn from Horan, our midfield would be much improved.

    I thought the midfield of Mewis, Horan and Long was interesting. Wish Ellis had played around with that these last months.
     
  10. Kevin625

    Kevin625 Member

    Jan 4, 2016
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Actually, Mewis had quite a few good through balls in the first half, but also had a couple bad passes the were missed opportunities.
     
  11. FanOfFutbol

    FanOfFutbol Member+

    The Mickey Mouse Club or The breakfast Club
    May 4, 2002
    Limbo
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Actually I think there may have been good method to the madness.
    My guess is that Heath had shown some ability to play there in practice and they wanted to hold a sub for a little while. That is she had subs planed and she wanted to take some additional time to decide on the final one and she felt that Heath might have to go back into the offense if the decision was made to make one of the possible subs.

    There may also have been a little knock to someone that could require a different sub than was initially planed and Ellis wanted to see how that player responded at the first of the second half.

    There are a number of quite good reasons that the sub pattern used would be followed and, even though I had questions at the time, nothing bad happened and the sub was "fixed" after a fairly short time.

    There was also the fact that this was a friendly and Ellis may have wanted to see what would happen if she got forced into unusual situations by injuries or cards. Remember in the Cup matches we only have three subs and sometimes really weird things happen. Remember Mia Hamn playing goalkeeper?
     
  12. blissett

    blissett Member+

    Aug 20, 2011
    Italy
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    No, I don't! :p Wasn't following women's football back then: when did it happen?
     
  13. FanOfFutbol

    FanOfFutbol Member+

    The Mickey Mouse Club or The breakfast Club
    May 4, 2002
    Limbo
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    I actually tend to agree but she hurt her chances by one really bonehead mistake. What people, including coaches as well as fans, tend to forget about keepers is that they mus, and will, make every mistake possible at least once in a match situation. What you hope is that the mistakes are covered for, come in a non-important match and are never repeated. To my knowledge that is the first time Franch picked up a back pass and she played well enough after the mistake but she has not seen the field at all in a match since.

    It is not like the mistake the Naeher keeps making of catching high balls at chest level. That mistake will cost a goal if she keeps doing it, as she has.
     
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  14. FanOfFutbol

    FanOfFutbol Member+

    The Mickey Mouse Club or The breakfast Club
    May 4, 2002
    Limbo
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
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  15. taosjohn

    taosjohn Member+

    Dec 23, 2004
    taos,nm
    '95 WWC. Denmark? Scurry was always a little careless about dropping the ball before the line on punts, and she got called for it after we'd used all our subs, and somebody had to go in goal for the last five minutes... so Mia volunteered.

    What else would one ever expect?
     
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  16. blissett

    blissett Member+

    Aug 20, 2011
    Italy
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Thanks. :thumbsup:

    Why in the caption of the video Hamm appears as Mariel Hamm? Wasn't Mia her real name? Here's another one I wasn't aware of.
     
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  17. FanOfFutbol

    FanOfFutbol Member+

    The Mickey Mouse Club or The breakfast Club
    May 4, 2002
    Limbo
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Nope. Her full name is: Mariel Margaret Hamm but I think that even then she was usually called "Mia" but I am not sure.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mia_Hamm
     
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  18. Kevin625

    Kevin625 Member

    Jan 4, 2016
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    I don't think it was a scheduled start. Naeher picked up an injury (hand/finger i think) and missed the last two games of the SBC. I doubt anything would have changed even if Franch didn't make that bonehead mistake being this close to the World Cup, but it may have hurt her chances at being the first backup.

    I didn't think picking up the back pass was that big of a deal. It was a bad mistake, but probably one that she'll never repeat again for the rest of her career. On the contrary, I thought the Campbell mistake where she retreated 2 yards into the back of the net on the corner kick sent up a huge red flag. Maybe that's being harsh or unfair though.

    Hopefully, AD will get another chance after the WC, but with the OG right around the corner she might not get more than a game or two until after Japan 2020.
     
  19. Semblance17

    Semblance17 Member+

    United States
    Apr 27, 2013
    Lighthouse Point, FL
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Do we get an after-action report this time, @jackdoggy ?
     
  20. lil_one

    lil_one Member+

    Nov 26, 2013
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I would say playing Lloyd for Morgan does change the game and the tactics of the team. Lloyd's strengths are not Morgan's and vice versa. And people really underestimate Morgan's holdup play and movement.

    As for Morgan being out of form, from what I see its some hesitation or doubt and overthinking things in the final third from not having scored as much as she's used to. She's one who seems to need to be regularly scoring goals to build momentum and have confidence so that she plays "in flow", and she's only scored 3 goals this year in 10 games. She's also probably the member of the team with the most pressure on her from media and outside sources to perform. I think she can handle that pressure, but if you're already doubting yourself, extra pressure is going to play into that.
     
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  21. jackdoggy

    jackdoggy Member+

    May 16, 2014
    Big D
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What better place for the final send-off Match than the media capital of the world. Seemed like the Team was anywhere and everywhere over the week-end. Lots of media types have a lot riding on the next month and a half and you have to feed that Beast and strike while the iron is hot.

    Amidst all the special ceremonies they did manage to play a Match. Red Bull had a good sustained buzz throughout the game. A few players stuck around to sign post-match - - Allie and Becky on my side but not near me. A few others looked like they were conversing with family and friends or giving interviews. Nothing like KC before the Olympics when they all seemed to sign. I heard the Team got on a plane today for across the pond…time to get down to serious business.

    A quick review of my WWC predictions:
    • We will get sweet REVENGE on Sweden
    • Princess Kate and I will be in attendance at the USA vs. England Final
    • ATG is your Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner
    • Carli Lloyd will leave her blood, sweat and tears of joy on the Pitches in France
    Time to take this GLORIOUS Journey on the Road

    21,071 minutes to Reims.
     
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  22. MiLLeNNiuM

    MiLLeNNiuM Member+

    Aug 28, 2016
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    She should consider doing less magazine covers. I'm sure the money is good and life as an athlete is short, but still, I would rather play with less stress/pressure.
     
  23. MiLLeNNiuM

    MiLLeNNiuM Member+

    Aug 28, 2016
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Who is ATG?
     
  24. Kevin625

    Kevin625 Member

    Jan 4, 2016
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Alex the Great
     
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  25. Plxix

    Plxix BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Mar 13, 2006
    Ya but we open against Thailand and Chile. She will score and do that streak thing :D
     
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