So much for the denials that the team isnt cloned in a secret lab under the Chicago Meat Packing district.
Well I do recall hearing the Outlaws chant in Dallas [to the tune of "Yellow Submarine"]: "We all dream of a team of Carli Lloyds, a team of Carli Lloyds, a team of Carli Lloyds We all dream of a team of Carli Lloyds, a team of Carli Lloyds, a team of Carli Lloyds Number 1 is Carli Lloyd, Number 2 is Carli Lloyd...[etc. etc.]"
solo harris o'hara, krieger, johnston, sauerbrunn, engen klingenberg heath, horan, lloyd, brian, mewis, Rapinoe pugh press, morgan, dunn A million dollars thats the roster. plain and simple.
...and since i'm trying to read the tea leaves myself, i'm changing my team to gks: solo, naeher defenders: o'hara, krieger, johnston, sauerbrunn, engen, klingenberg mids: heath, horan, lloyd, brian, rapinoe, long fwds: pugh, press, morgan, dunn alternates: harris, o'reilly, sonnet, mewis....[/QUOTE] ...altho i don't agree with taking a still recovering pinoe instead of mewis. especially when both brian and heath have gimpy hamstrings. pinoe just compounds that problem.
Getting my prediction in before the roster drops today: GK: Solo, Naeher D: Sauerbrunn, Johnston, Engen, Klingenberg, O'Hara, Krieger M: Lloyd, Horan, Brian, Heath, Long, Rapinoe F: Morgan, Press, Dunn, Pugh Alternates: O'Reilly, Sonnett, Harris, Mewis. But if it was up to me, I'd rather see HAO over Rapinoe and Mewis over Long, but at this point, I don't think that's what Ellis will do.
2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team Roster by Position: GOALKEEPERS (2): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC) DEFENDERS (6): Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City) MIDFIELDERS (6): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC) FORWARDS (4): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado) Alternates: Heather O’Reilly, Ashlyn Harris, Emily Sonnett, Samantha Mewis http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/201...llis-names-2016-us-olympic-womens-soccer-team
If Crystal Dunn hadn't of made this team I would have boycotted from watching the USWNT as long as Jill Ellis was the coach.
So no real surprises based on speculation after RSA friendly. Naeher vs Harris - this was obviously decided in practice as neither gets much game time. I dont really have a problem if either one had been selected as both r quality. I will note that this is another example of how NWSL play is completely meaningless in NT selection process. Engen vs Sonnett - I can see this both ways. Engen does offer experience to a position that thrives on it. Johnston is fairly new to CB and it might not be prudent to have a backup like Sonnett who has few pro or international caps at the position. On the other hand, if ur gifting a spot to Rapinoe, it does increase Sonnett's value as u can move her up to play the #6 role in an emergency. Long vs Mewis - Dont really like either player as the #6 but Ellis lives for square pegs. That said I do like the Long is getting rewarded for her efforts. Rapinoe vs HAO vs Mewis - I honestly think the 16th spot is a free spot so I dont have a problems with Pinoe. My concerns would be for Pinoe losing more time after a set back rushing herself and for this to give Ellis a false sense of security
It's going to be really interesting to see how she manages the midfield. Probably set in stone: -----------------------------Alex ---X------------------------Carli--------------------X --------------------Brian-----------X The Defense. For me, on the outside, I think I'd treat Tobin/Pinoe as group X and Pugh/Dunn as group Y, and have one from each group. If Pinoe is healthy, it would be hard for me to break up the amazing chemistry she and Kling had at the WC. But, if she's playing, I'd want Dunn or Pugh on the right, for team speed purposes. At any rate, we have a great opportunity to play matchups. Question: would you rate Horan and Long clearly ahead of Mewis? I'm not super impressed with Horan. Nothing against her. 2nd question: Are Horan/Long a big drop off from Holliday in that position? Clearly Holliday would be a better A-mid, or forward, but as a 6/8? Last question (I assume Holliday would have made this roster) would Sydney or ARod have made this roster? I don't think I'd take either one over Pugh or Dunn. Sydney vs. Press (who I really like) would have been an interesting choice. Sydney can play target, she would provide the addition of giving us someone to put in as an Abby if we were behind.
Sounds like you were really eager to boycott (may still be) and are disappointed that Ellis didn't give you the excuse to.
...or maybe your note is another example of how we put great value on the gk who has to make spectacular saves because she may have done subpar organizing, while we critique a coach who picks the better gk who is not often as spectacular because she organizes better.
I wonder what Heather O'Reilly, Emily Sonnett, and Samantha Mewis think of Megan Rapinoe's selection.
O'Reilly thought this was probably her last shot. She has had more tournaments than Pinoe. This was probably based on the last two tournament performances. Pugh probably beat her out. Sonnet is probably thinking the Next WC will be her first tournament. Rapinoe wasn't who she had to beat out. Mewis wishes she had Rapinoes talent, even hurt.she also wasn't an alternate choice for Rapinoe's slot. That would have been O'Reilly.
I thought both of them have done quite well in NWSL play. When play in the league is equal (opinion) then I don't mind the tiebreaker being found elsewhere. If anything NWSL play gets neglected when considering Solo....
Or, it could have just been an internet chatboard hyperbolic expression that Dunn really deserves to be on the team, and it would have been a shame if she didn't make it?
The interesting things for are: 1) things do change on the NT. I think Sonnett was leading the race and for some reason Ellis went another way. I also think Long sudden appearance r a sign things arent as cut and dried as I once thought. 2) I think the wild card in Mewis not making it might have been Press being used in a more central role recently. If Ellis is now thinking of Press as cover at a central mid instead of a wide mid it makes taking a chance on Rapinoe more attractive and an additional central mid less valuable.
True. As a whole, can't say I have any disagreements with the selections. I may probably have brought Mewis for more defensive cover but that wasn't even a strong conviction.
My other que No, not at all. I've been going to USWNT games all over the country religiously for over 20 years. Have no reason JUST to boycott. I just thought Dunn should have been on the WWC roster. What gave you the idea I wanted an excuse to boycott? And Andy reps this?