After the way she scored her first international goal last night, it was a nickname for her that just came to me.
Kelley O'Hara sure has taken advantage of her playing time. Heath seems to be getting the nod over her, but I don't see it. How do the two players compare on speed, power, reading the game and technical ability?
Technical ability is a clear advantage to Tobin. Though she doesn't always harness it effectively. O'Hara has an advantage in the speed and power department (as well as fitness). Reading the game? I'd say Tobin is better at reading the game when she has the ball (she can multitask). But O'Hara is definitely better without the ball. She has better movement and better runs off the ball.
O hara has been great but she has not outplayed Heath or anyone for that matter. She has speed and power and is good on defense but she does not read the game better than Heath and technical ability is not even close. You have to have someone on the wing who can also get the ball to the forwards and create as well. If anything she should be a sub for Heath in 60-70 minute range.
True enough, but I run into enough young people who have no clue who the Beatles and Rollings Stones were in their time.
Ha, that was my first thought also - Kung Fu finish. I like O'Hara's game. I understand the appeal for Heath. She has excellent technique... has all the dribbling tricks down, has good vision and can provide a solid pass. I'd prefer O' Hara though at flank mid....I think her D is better, mentally always engaged in the game and she plays at a slightly higher clip...There are times when Heath hangs on to the ball too long and looks a little off the flow of the game, a little disengaged defensively..just don't like seeing her on the flank. They are both solid players.
I feel strongly that Heath would be best used as a central attacking player. She's got the moves to beat anyone, but not the speed to beat someone down the wing. She plays silky passes on the ground. Doesn't cross so well. I'll never understand how she got pigeon-holed as a winger.
Heath is not being played in the right spot but doing really good I think. There's a sense of calm about her. The split pass to Morgan was superb and that's what we will need vs. Japan. People tend to jump around want replacement with O'Hara with O'Hara (after screetching for HAO). O'Hara is who you want after the 60th minute.
I agree. In the last decade or so, I've not thought that we looked like our players had elite skill. Against China and Germany, we have. Having defenders with crazy skill on the ball like Kling (that pass to Lloyd!; and all match, she was scaring the poop out of the Germans), Johnston. Even Sauerbrunn danced away from Sasic under pressure. Brian. But, having Heath on the really stepped us up in our ability to hold and play build up soccer. Ya, that splitter pass was a thing of beauty. I feel like if she was played centrally, we'd see those a lot (I'm not just talking about on this team, this tournament. I'm talking about my mystification that the accepted wisdom that Heath is a wide player.) As a total random aside, I thought a huge element vs. Germany was our defenders' composure on the ball. When Germany pressured our mids, the mids just outletted to a defender. The defenders are so composed on the ball, Germany couldn't get enough plaers forward to put on more than token pressure. And, as we built our attack, we would knock it back to a CB at the circle. The fullbacks would be upfield, OM's pinched in - we'd have 8 players in the German end, 2 more within 10 yards of the their half. Because of our backline's ability to hold under pressure and intitiate the offense.
There is another compelling reason to start O'Hara. Japan's best player is Aya Miyama. She plays on the left in midfield. I like O'Hara to give her a more difficult time than Heath. Shut down Miyama and our lock-down defense will surely keep the sheet clean. The USA will come up with at least one goal to prevail in that situation.
I agree, stalemating their midfield will be key for us. I think O'Hara's work rate really helps in that regard...plus she fights like hell. I honestly don't know why Ellis has kept her out of the line up for so long...she's a great two way player.
All you do is switch Pinoe and Heath back to their regular sides and have Pinoe on Miyama. Our defense is good enough.