Algarve roster announced

the captain isn't going?

 

by captain are you talking about rampone or chalupny. unfortunate about chups, but it's best that she goes and takes care of it now before she does real damage to her brain.

 

The really interesting thing to me is that Faroe Islands has a team??

But it will also be interesting to see how the various combinations up front work out. At least, I would guess we won't just see Abby and A-rod over and over.

I'm not on the A-rod is worthless bandwagon (snakebit would be my take) but we do need to sort out some options there...

"See" being a figure of speech, of course.

 

Bummed and really crossing my fingers for Chalupny. I hope she can return soon to soccer (what a fantastic player), but of course the primarily concern is for her long-term health. Concussions are so tricky and difficult. I seem to remember a while back she had some problems with concussion, so it sounds like this has been ongoing.

 

Yay! A new thread for Algarve. Thanks RUfan

I think that there has to be some feasible and not expensive way for US Soccer to get the USA games uploaded to the web. The entire game not just 5 minute highlights. If Algarve stadia do not have internet capabilities for immediate (and live) webcasting, which is entirely possible, surely the US Soccer people have the ability to film and then upload the matches after the fact.

Perhaps if we all emailed them or posted the suggestion on facebook or twitter or some other new technological communication tool.

 

Now that I've had a day to think about it-- what's really going to be interesting about this roster is how slow it is. I'm not sure (if she's at the level of fitness she reached at the end of last year) that Whitehill isn't the fourth or fifth fastest player on this roster.

 

I don't know that I'd go quite as far as putting Whitehill so far up the "speedy players" list (I know the 4 forwards, Heath, HAO, Mitts, and Schnur can out sprint her.). But you raise a very good issue. I am concerned about the speed (or lack of same) along the backline and central midfield. A defense that holds a high line like we often do really needs at least one (preferably several) player with top level recovery speed. I do not see anyone on this roster with that level of speed.

 

I agree, if we CONCAF can air the U-20 matches, US soccer should be able to figure out how to give fans access to the entire matches. I will send an email also (I already sent an angry email about not publishing the Algarve roster).

 

What happened to Natasha Kai?

 

She's probably still recovering from shoulder surgery.

 

Yep. My guess is that if she returns healthy and starts scoring at a regular clip in WPS play she'll get a camp call up. Don't know what it'll take to get Dowling another camp call....

 

Maybe if she scores at a regular clip ?

 

Why isn't Rapinoe (Red Stars) on the roster? She was called up last year I recall.

 

she missed most of camp (or all of it?) for illness, so she's probably either still recovering or not caught up enough to go to portugal.

 

What kind of illness is it?

 

http://www.ussoccer.com/Social/WNT-...&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest
well the blog wasn't very specific and the roster release article on ussoccer.com just says "midfielder Megan Rapinoe is still recovering from an illness that kept her out of the January training camp" so i can't really answer your question, sorry...

 

I am interested to see how Meghan Schnur will do on the backline if she get's playing time.

 

Meghan is a decent player that works hard. She was the only player to start and play all 20 games for Sky Blue. Pia has her listed as a defender rather than a midfielder. She is versatile and has a good read of the game like LePeilbet.

 

I don't remember what her speed is like. Can you report on both her quickness and her speed? Thanks. I'm a bit concerned about the overall defensive speed on this roster.

 

Having watched Schnur a few times, I'd say she's better than decent, but I agree with your concept. I think Pia in general has a strong affinity for women who are good/decent but who work very hard and she rewards them. Lindsey, Schnur, Averbuch for me are all on this list. (so i Lloyd for that matter) I wouldn't want to pay a mid-field/defense with these players against any world class team.

 

I saw two games this summer with her. I thought she played well and was very consistant. From third party information she has the ingredients of a midfielder. I hope to see she does well in the Algarve Cup.

 

well, we're soon to find out aren't we ...

 

Chicago Red Stars player Megan Rapinoe has recovered enough from her illness to replace Atlanta Beat player Tobin Heath, who is ironically suffering from an illness.

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens...eplaces-Heath-on-2010-Algarve-Cup-Roster.aspx

 

hmmmm ironic indeed. I don't think this changes much, both are flank players with somewhat the same style...unless of course Pia was hoping to try Tobin as an attacking midfielder.