2012 Roster changes

Blaze, what kind of cupcake are you getting Riley?

Great news about Cheney. An elite and versatile player who will bring more variety to our attack. So our presumed players (including draft picks) so far are:
F— Cheney, ARod, Kai, Hagen, Foxhaven, Spencer
M— Vero, Farrelly, Tina D, Bucz, Frida
D— Robinson, Nikki K, McNeill, Estelle, Goodson, Pressley
G— Barnie, Henninger

Did I miss anyone?

Riley did a post draft video interview, discussing his draft picks. He described Hagen as Casey Nogueira with more speed and hunger around the net. He said she should be here by late June. He also compared Goodson to Alison Falk and said both she and Pressley should make the team. Then he compared Foxhaven to Tina D with more speed.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports...alks-about-the-Independences-draft-picks.html

I have not seen Hagen play tons but found this youtube video and she is a terror in the air at 5-11. She scored 26 goals last year in college and half of them appear to be with her head.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m2YoLEkxHE"]Sarah Hagen 2011 Highlights - YouTube[/ame]

 

Philafan, I'm originally a Philly person, used to watch the semi-pro Ukranians (men). (You've got to be pretty old to have watched them.)

I'm betting they're looking at Foxhoven as a possible attacking mid-fielder.

 

looks like abby to me, a lot of balls off of her head, misses a lot with her feet and kind of big and slowish. well, we know philly isn't signing abby after the olympics.

 

I really wanna see Philly play this season. Things are looking really interesting with Philly and Flash.

 

Looks like you've got my on age. I remember the Philadelphia Atoms when I was a kid. Bob Rigby, a Philly native and the goalie on that team, does color commentary now for Union broadcasts.

 

Right those are the officially signed players. But I was looking at the presumed players, which include those who Riley said would be re-signing like ARod, Barnie, Nikki, Tina D etc. Also, I think you can add the draft picks to the roster because Philly officially owns their rights for the next year.

 

OK, but the rookies are officially property of the team until they are cut.

 

or traded.

and riley trusts fa's more than draft picks.

that sounds like 'rileyspeak' to me. i've never heard anyone accuse hagen of anything remotely having to do with speed. casey is a lazy player, but even on her slow days she seems faster than hagen to me.

hagen is undoubtedly a goalscorer supreme. but she might still be a bust at the next level. so when riley starts talking that way, other gm's who he might want to trade with should start clutching their pocket books.

 

Couldn't he trade vets just the same?

He's already said Hagen will be on the team, Henninger is his #2 keeper and Goodson and Pressley will probably be on the team. So I would be shocked if you did not see at least three rookies on this team. He'll have more rookies on the team for the simple fact that he drafted good players for the first time in three years. All I was saying is they are officially Independence players right now, so I'd include them on the roster.

 

What is the keeper situation, with Barnie slated for Olympic leave (U.S. should qualify), and Val being promoted to a full time starter for the Beat?

 

They drafted Bianca Henninger from Santa Clara— the best keeper in college soccer. Riley already said on draft day that she's #2. She's on the short side (5-6) but saw her play this year and she makes up for it with her athleticism. I think she might wind up being an upgrade over Val when everything's said and done. Many people think she'll be the ultimate successor to Solo on USWNT in a few years.

Here is more on her and the rest of the draft choices.
http://www.phillysoccernews.com/teams/independence2.php?article_id=8019

 

I had the opportunity to see Bianca play a number of times, since I'm a Portland fan. She's very, very good and has a tremendous presence on the field.

 

I didn't see her play much until this past year. I was a little skeptical due to her height but another Portlander poster, Cliveworshipper, told me he thought she was as good as anyone not named Solo in the US. After watching her a bit, I think he might be on to something. Still love Barnie but she's a great second option.

 

Just as I was learning how to spell Magnusdottir, the Independence have signed another Icelandic international, MF Katrin Omarsdottir. Looks like she played in the WPSL last season and played college soccer at Cal. So she's used to the US and soccer over here.

http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home.../120120-magnusdottir-omarsdottir-signing.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katrín_Ómarsdóttir

 

Cheney was asked about her WPS status and would not confirm or deny. But it's not a signed contract so.. But what I thought was cool in watching USWNT last night was that Cheney assisted on a few of ARod's goals. I bet they make a nice combo for the Independence once they both sign.

Looks like we are still waiting on Barnie, ARod, Tina D and Nikki K from last year's starting core.

 

if some of these girls havent committed to contracts, i'd see what dan has to offer with his 7-8 game schedule since they'll be playing a full schedule and camps with the national team. i guess a-rod back to philly because she is a bit of an icon on that team but the others can jump around including cheney. if i was her, i'd be on magicjack's roster this year.

last season was the first season in which a championship really mattered since wny is back and defending w/out marta.