O'Sullivan fired with five games remaining Atlantica replace Gareth Southgate err O'Sullivan with Carli Lloyd's trainer.... haha! maybe we have a chance afterall....
Actually, I think this move makes ATL better and *more likely* to play well. But at no point since I read about ATL hiring O'Sullivan did I think it was a good hire. I was willing to be convinced otherwise but nothing I saw from him moved me past "dubious."
From the Breakers newsletter: Both teams are without key players due to National Team duty. Boston will be without defenders Ifeoma Dieke and Alex Scott and midfielder Kelly Smith. The Breakers will also be without midfielder and co-captain Leslie Osborne who suffered a season-ending broken collar bone as the result of a blindside foul inflicted by Sky Blue FC forward Patricia Panico in this past Sunday’s 4-0 victory over Sky Blue. The Beat will be likely be without forwards Eniola Aluko, Johanna Rasmussen and Ramona Bachmann.
you're quick Dan! Yea, if they are indeed without Rasmussen and Bachmann as well as Aluko I like our chances a bit better....
Don't get toooooo excited... if their replacements know how to shoot low to a corner instead of blasting it at the GK like the missing players seem to tend towards we could be in trouble lol.... in any case, it should be an interesting match! "HOPE" to see you there!
A few questions..... 1) Where in the stadium are you guys planning to set up the Dock? I would highly recommend having it on either corner of the side OPPOSITE the press box/bench areas. A better view and closer to the pitch. 2) When is your bus arriving and are you tailgating in the parking lot beforehand? 3) Is the Afro Brazil drum section coming?
I think Boston has some players hungry to get back on the field (Hemmings, Bogus, Igwe), so they'll be okay. And judging from all the tweets, they will be wanting to win this one for Osborne!
From the WPS roster report: Week 19: Aug. 16-22, 2010 ATLANTA BEAT UNAVAILABLE: Johanna Rasmussen (Denmark National Team duty) NOT ROSTERED: Amanda Cinalli, Mallori Lofton-Malachi, Rebecca Nolin, Lauren Sesselmann SEASON-ENDING INJURY LIST: Tobin Heath (ankle), Manya Makoski (knee) BOSTON BREAKERS UNAVAILABLE: Ifeoma Dieke (Scotland National Team duty), Alex Scott (England National Team duty), Kelly Smith (England National Team duty) 30-DAY INJURED LIST: Sarah Walsh (knee) SEASON-ENDING INJURY LIST: Cynthia Morote-Ariza (knee), Leslie Osborne (clavicle) Aluko wasn't called in for England? Doesn't seem fair........
From the BBC: "England squad: Brown (Everton), Chamberlain (Chelsea), Bassett (Birmingham City), Bradley (Lincoln), Johnson (Everton), Rafferty (Chelsea), A. Scott (Boston Breakers), Stoney (Chelsea), Susi (Chelsea), Unitt (Everton), F. White (Arsenal), Chapman (Chicago Red Stars), Houghton (Arsenal), J. Scott (Everton), Williams (Everton), Aluko (Atlanta Beat), Carney (Chicago Red Stars), Clarke (Lincoln) K. Smith (Boston Breakers), S. Smith (Lincoln), E. White (Arsenal), Yankey (Arsenal). " And, from the FA itself: Forwards Kelly Smith 29.10.78 Boston Breakers Eniola Aluko 21.02.87 Atlanta Beat Ellen White 09.05.89 Arsenal Theoretically, she's in Austria, but I guess we'll see tomorrow.
Dowie from Everton was called up late as a replacement, the day before the England squad flew to Austria. I guess it is to replace Aluko.
Aluko is not listed in England's 18 in the pregame lineups per the UEFA site. Looks like she'll be in New Britain.
last I heard Mundy was still recovering from her knee injury. She has been off crutches around 4 weeks or so.
I am surprised she allowed to play. If you pull out of your national team I am quite sure you are suspended for the next club game
Sure enough, them having Bachmann and Aluko was the difference. I also notice a trend that the Moore/Igwe back line collectively can't get it done. I think the contribution Dieke has made to this team since her signing has been the difference in the team's overall turnaround. Her/Scott together are that valuable. Great job by everyone in Riptide, although the crowd overall was smaller than I expected....some more advertising might have helped? Aluko taunting the crowd after the goal was funny...... Thanks again to all the Riptide folk for making the trip down. I'm sure Tony D. appreciated it.
If Igwe was on the back line she was horribly out of position all night, looked like was she the holding mid. She had a very tough night, late to the play, tough touches, porr passes, couldn't find her mark. Was surprised lctd left her the field as long as he did. Hemmings was at right back. Moore made some solid plays, looked like some miscommunicaion between her and Lepelbet a few times. Neither one had anything for Aluko's speed.
That's what makes Dieke such a good fit; she can catch up to players who break through the line and steer them over to where Amy is. That happened in the Sky Orange game for example.
Although the result was disappointing, kudos to Andy Crossley and the staff for doing a great job at their temporary home. From what I could see and what I experienced, a very smooth operation! The Dock sounded great and made a huge impact on the atmosphere, nice work by the Riptide!
All good calls, that is pretty much how it went down. Hemmings held her own IMHO. Igwe is not Osborne, that is for sure. That combined with the lack of speed at CB made the difference. I was surprised that Del Rio didn't get the start, I would have preferred to see her on the field and drop Angeli into Osborne's spot that she played earlier in the season. But that's just me Damn Powell for not calling Aluko in The last 5 minutes were pretty exciting, with Atlanta going into prevent mode and Boston throwing everyone forward. If the game lasted another 5 minutes (or if the Boston subs and tactics change had started 5 minutes earlier) they may have pulled out a totally undeserved result from this match.