I'm actually not surprised at all. Also, here is the game that everyone has wanted for a long time - Morgan & Press paired together.
Ellis is always surprising me with her picks. Perhaps the wording your looking for is "pleasantly surprising." #USWNT lineup: Harris; Klingenberg, Engen, Sauerbrunn, Chalupny; Heath, Brian, Holiday, Lloyd (c); Press, Morgan pic.twitter.com/YVoBQ2AIJP— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 8, 2015
Morgan and Press on the field at the same time. That should be interesting. Klingenberg and Chalupny on the field at the same time. I don't think that's happened before. Chalupny at right back? What about Krieger? The French look like they will be putting the U.S. to the test with Thomis's speed early on.
I'm OK with the people on the field. Where they're likely playing on the field? Probably less enthusiastic. Regardless of who plays and where they play this French line-up is going to be very difficult. I expect the French to have much more possession. We'll see if that translates into more quality opportunities for them.
Well the 4-4-2 is a relief, especially against France. We'll see if it actually operates as a 4-4-2. The US is going to need numbers in the middle.
Mixed feelings. I like the idea of the 442, and if I may be honest, it kind of looks like Tom Sermanni's double pivot on the 6 line, which worked well. It seems they are abandoning the concept of having someone at 10 and are looking for Brian and Holiday to go forward. Holiday and Brian in the middle, pivoting in who goes forward, is how it should be, and I'm very, very excited about this game for it. But no 10? I dunno about that. They have two forwards so maybe they expect Press to play slightly underneath Morgan like Sinclair does at Portland. I also like the personnel, but I'm just a little odded out by how they are lined up. I have personally always felt Lloyd drifts into the right seam and plays better attacking towards the right post, so it will be interesting to see how she plays wide, not in the seam, and on the left. Same with Heath, she did so well both in the center on on the left wing, so to see her being forced to the right again is odd. I thought that was something that had been established. With Heath's apparent return, she does very well on the left and attacking centrally.
One think I will say is most of the US players are confident in the 4-4-2 so that should help. Now let's see if they ca actually go out there with the belief that they can win
Jill Ellis apparently wants to focus on "penetration" and getting behind their defense whether that be via on the ground or over the top. I just hope that doesn't mean they focus on long-ball.
In my fantasy world of 21st century soccer, the attacking 6 will play interchangeably when in possession. The game should be completely fluid. Heath should find herself on the left as well as right, and Carli vice versa. And if someone "cough" Carli drifts to the middle, someone needs to leave the middle and occupy space vacated.
With this lineup and this formation I would have started HAO on the right. And I would have preferred Krieger or Dunn instead of Klingenberg.
And which one of the middies do you drop? HAO plays that means Abby is starting. I really don't want to see HAO lobbing crosses to Press and Morgan.
I hope Heath can withstand Thomis, this will be a real test for her and Kling. Our right side may be exposed.
01' 0-0 USA dribble-probe up box left, pass to Lloyd(?) at 20m wide left. She bends out to left touch, crosses from 8m -- blocked out. 02' 0-0 All USA possession, France yet to cross midfield. No scoreboard clock graphic? Probe up right, backpass. Necib fouled at circle back left. 02' 0-0 France pass to midfield circle left ...
~04' 0-0 France pass to Thomis(?) at 24m box right, pass wide, Chalupny(?) pings it square. Ball bounces at 19m mid-right at four USA feet -- nobody touches it, backspins into Le Sommer's stride to 16m 6-right, quick shot -- drifts high wide right. New backline, first error 06' 0-0 Clock graphic at 05'42", sheesh. France ping quick short passes from 30m to 20m centerline, overhit the last pass. Sauerbrunn(?) has angle, Harris slides out to 10m and smothers.