Whether they are, or are not, this really isn't a good discussion topic for a public forum. So hopefully people will refrain from comment on it. What *IS* ironic is that they look almost like sisters!
Ok. I'll live with the flames. Why shouldn't this be discussed? IF (and it's a big if - I have no idea) they have a relationship that effects team or coach selections it ought to be fair game. Sven shagged a secretary at the FA and it's turning into a major row - and there's NO discussion that there was any impact on him or the national team. I think it's a disservice to everyone to walk on eggshells around this topic when it can impact the success of the team. Also, we ought to be confident enough in Ape to feel she picked Pia because of her knowledge of the international game rather than any other factor - and with no information to the contrary why not give Ape the benefit of the doubt?
What's wrong with falling in love with someone in the administration ? I think the English FA just trying to make a mountain out of a mole....So, i think it will be ok too if indeed, AH & Pia is having some kind of relationship ?
From Mike Silvers SI column And while we're still in a bad mood April Heinrichs, be sure to make the most of your Olympic experience. Were you the coach of any other national soccer squad, let alone the most talented and experienced women's team in the world, you would have been fired after the U.S.'s confounding performance in a World Cup semifinal defeat to Germany last summer -- if not before. My advice: Get out of the way and let Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett, Kristine Lilly and company bail you out one last time. Also, don't feel compelled to play anyone who might have been especially (and illogically) complimentary towards you while serving as a World Cup TV analyst.
Actually, if I can reply to myself here; coming back and reading the SI comment again, well, it's not so funny if I really think about it. It's depressing. Silvers says nationally what many 'BS' posters have said for months (including Mitts bashing, which doesn't really seem fair.) I was ok with all the gripping about April here in 'BS', but it's different when a national columnist does it. I don't want an affermation that we are right--that April sucks.
Pia Sundhage is a very observent coach who sees players for what they are and doesn't try to mold them into something different. Her tenure with the Breakers was a pleasure to watch. She took a group of talented players that underacheived with Jay Hoffman and turned them into a consistent winner. The lineup and style changed game to game as the demands of the opponent and player availability dictated. Money changes everything. Pia enjoyed her time in the USA and I am sure that scouting for the USWNT pays more than coaching in Sweden.
But, do we really need to hire forign coach when there're bunch of coaches and experience veteran players here in US ?
If that foreign coach is better than the others, I'd say, "YES !!!". Sundhage was a top flight international player through the '95 WWC. She has experience coaching professional teams and international youth teams. There aren't too many folks with that kind of resume.
After 2006, why don't they just hire Bruce Arena. Unless he wins the cup, he will more then likely be replaced by Bradley. It would be new blood and he would have any attachments.
Again, How about Chris Petrucelli? He is a proven college coach with a NCAA Championship with Notre Dame, has done very well with Texas, is a good judge of talent as you can tell by his former players who have gone further like Boxx, Grubb, Mcgraff, Beene, etc. and he has lots of connections and now a Nordic Cup Championship. What do you think?
From today's USA Today: Heinrichs' work draws praise By Kelly Whiteside SWEET!!!! Enter stage right the never ending parade of Heinrichs haters.
(Cue Poachin_Goalz entry from stage right) P_G : "To fire Heinrichs or not to fire Heinrichs, that is the question." (Poachin_Goalz picks up USAToday and reads Heinrichs article to a stunned and disbelieving audience) (Poachin_Goalz gags) (Audience laughs hysterically until they consider the fact that Heinrichs may be back after the Olympics at which time mass sobbing ensues. The curtain descends...)
Ape: I base success on trophies. Not "process". I can't believe this Bob Contiguglia knob... We're doomed.
Also from the article: I'm an April fan. I don't feel some of the criticism she's gotten is warranted." Contiguglia, who has known Heinrichs since she was 15 when she was a standout player in Littleton, Colo., and he was the president of the Colorado State Youth Association, says Heinrichs has improved the technical level of the women's program at every age level and helped identify and develop younger players such as forward Abby Wambach, the USA's 2003 player of the year, and midfielder Shannon Boxx, who shined in last fall's World Cup in her first stint with the team. That is funny because April did not want Wambach and the WUSA coaches told her to pick up Boxx. Some evaluator of talent!
From the USToday Article: "If you look at the videos of the '99 team, there's no question this (2004 Olympic) team is a better team. Back then we won on athleticism. Now we're winning with skill, with tactics, we're able to shift formations, we can attack from the wings, use wall passes. We couldn't do these things in '99." This is a horrible article. Only a person who knows absolutely nothing about soccer would write something like this. April has completly removed all the creativity out of the women's game. The outside backs rarely come up to attack They are center backs. The outside backs should be Slaton (healthy) and Reddick - cuz she can do wonderful crossing and outside shooting. This puts a lot of pressure on the midfielders to stretch the game. Lilly is still great, but Foudy can't stretch the field or do much attacking. The attacking Mid should break people down 1 v 1 and look for short passes. Thats not Wagner's game, its actually Mia's. Not that she should be moved out of position. Wambach is a force every game, but it was evident in the world cup that you have a good defender that is good in the air you can stop her. Glad to see he has increased her footskills a bit.
The outside backs should have speed and the willingness to recover. That would be Rampone and Bivens. Slaton if healthy should be on the left side but I am afraid her career is over. I agree, that article is written by a plant.
Rampone- very good defender, but speed-I don't think so. Bivens- Not bad either. I've never seen her zoom down the line. And recover quickly- sometimes questionable. Mitts- Not saying she should start, but very fast and able to recover quickly.
Rampone and Bivens are perhaps the two fastest on the back line. Rampone is very fast and Bivens never gives up so you don't have to worry about her covering the field. Mitts has been so out of position, especially in the Australia game, it is hard to determine what she can do.