If I picked it today my WC team today it would be GK: (3) Naeher, Harris, Franch DF: (7) Sauerbrunn, Dahlkemper, Davidson, O'Hara, Short, Huerta, Dunn MF: (6) Horan, Mewis, Ertz, Zerboni, Brian, Lloyd FW: (7) Morgan, Press, Rapinoe, Heath, Pugh, Leroux, Ohai Notes: Cant figure out what Franch does at NT practice that negates the way she plays in NWSL. Having Dunn & Huerta in with defenders gives them cover farther up. If ur gonna play Ertz as DM it only makes since to have another quality DM (Zerboni) to back her up. Left off Lavelle because she hasn't convinced me she can play an extended period of time. Threw in Leroux and Ohai because they both bring something different to the table coming off the bench. Leroux adds toughness and a heading presence on the front line. Ohai adds anarchy that might help a usually predictable team grab late goals.
I could go with that team, although Brian is a "maybe" depending upon how well she plays in the next few months. Possibly Long instead. I'd give Hinkle another try also.
Long has played great as a defensive mid this year for Seattle. She reads games beautifully and is rarely out of position. Brian is the best distributor of the ball the NT has, I think. Will be interesting to see how the midfield shakes out. Bledsoe has arguably been the best goalie in the NWSL this year, IMO--made big saves all year.
I took a look back at the last 3 U20 WWC rosters(2012, 2014, 2016) and was surprised how few are in the current full national team player pool. I guess it just shows how difficult it is to make the squad!
I personally think that the youth system fails at identifying quality and tends to stick to the same core players they liked at u14. Those players get exposed in the college and pro game while many who were overlooked shine
I think if ur carrying Ertz and Zerboni in the system they play u have DM covered. I think Brian or McCaskill gives u better cover at the two attacking mid spots. Im a little down on McCaskill after her start against China. Now its certainly fair if u wanted Long over Zerboni.
McCaskill is not a wide player. Ellis had her playing very wide against China. I personally think she could add a lot more to the midfield than does Brian.
Another interesting corollary is related to Stinks' comment above: How many in the current pool were not included (or even regularly included) in YNT programming before they were college age?
I did some research but didn't look everyone up. Hatch, Mckaskill, Williams, Menges not included until college, u23s or later Ertz was in one u14 camp, one u18 camp and then was added to the u20s because of college performance late in the cycle the year of the u20 WC. Not completely unknown but not a pre college youth regular. Lavelle is similar to Ertz one u18 camp after she went to college and then added at u20 where the u20 wc was her break out with the golden ball if I remember correctly. Huerta was at a single u20 camp (no younger camps) but was not selected to the u20 WC roster. She then switched her affiliation to Mexico and scored 3 goals for mexico at that WC. Davidson has no youth camps listed before u18 She was part of a really hot norcal ECNL youth team called Deanza Force. Andres Deza was the coach and they had a bunch of videos for her '98 team showing possession soccer. Several of her teammates including Deza's daughter Luca (Berkely) and Davidson's Stanford teammate (Fong) were more regularly invited to younger youth events. Hinkle was in the u17 pool and was chosen for CONCACAF qualifying. I think her year they did not qualify for the u17 wc. Was invited to a single u20 camp and then 2 caps for the u23s. Sonnett not included until u18 camp and then no u20 call ups. Included again at u23 Seems there is a slight trend perhaps, but of course I did not do any statistical analyses: The older field players seem to have been more regularly included in younger YNT programming. The younger ones seem to be more variable in their trajectory. At the same time some of the younger players who were anointed early have seemed to fizzle.
I agree. I have seen Smith play with her club team, and with various aged YNTs. She scores most of her goals unassisted. She is really great at exploiting defensive mistakes: a loose touch, a bad pass, too much time, and finishing 1vgoal. There are a lot of defensive mistakes to exploit, even at the highest levels, in women's soccer. She has the separation speed to get free once she pounces, like Pugh, and that goes a long way. I think she could make a career out of this tactic. She does not have the touch, finesse, unexpectedness(yet?) of a Kerr, but she is really outstanding at what she does do and that means she scores ALOT of goals. If she were male, I would say she has to add more to her game, but I am not sure that the women's game is progressing fast enough to diminish the success of this type of player.
Which is why the U20 WC stage is perfect for her. If she can exploit good U20 teams and create goals then there is no reason to believe that wouldn't translate to the NT coming off the bench. If she doesn't have a good U20 WC then u have to assume she is only able to exploit bad players and defenses and probably wouldn't be a factor at WC at this point in her career.
she has habitually scored against germany, france and brazil, but if she has a bad world cup u have to assume she is only able to exploit bad players and defenses? (not calling for her to be on the team, btw).
Smith will have plenty of time to make her mark on the national team, when she is ready. There is no need to push her onto it prematurely, as I would contend that Pugh was. Pugh is only now coming into her own and didn't really deserve to be made a starter two years ago, IMO.
they're probably dealing with objections from club owners re the release of (especially unallocated) players. riley stirred up a hornet's nest. ... may be a while. oops. shows you what I know.... https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...ng-camp-roster-for-2018-tournament-of-nations
ohai!!! hope she survives the cut. she scares defenders, gets good crosses in all the time, and scores! she needs to be tried in that pugh slot where mckaskill did so poorly last time.
She has scored in like 9 straight matches so she has scored against all comers but the WC is different from friendly competition or CONCACAF. If she plays well against teams like Japan and Spain in real matches then it tells me something about her. If she doesn't then I don't see what u gain giving her a roster spot over a pro player.
I hope Ohai gets some time on the left side. After she scored that goal against Switzerland (from the left) Ellis immediately moved her to the right side where she is less dangerous. And the thing about Ohai, if ur playing her a lot like in the league u can get a handle on what she is doing, but if u haven't played her before like in a tournament, she's got to be a load to defend.
Or Heath with Pinoe taking Pugh's spot. Ohai's best chance with this group is impact sub. Put her in at 75 against tired defenders and let her drive them nuts.
ok. i've been thinking lately that press needs to be replaced on the team. probably with mcdonald, who brings more of a scoring punch, and who gives the opposition another scary player to deal with re headers in the box both on offence AND defence. .... waits for fire to rain down....
Without actual saying anything about ur Press vs McDonald opinion I offer this. Barring injury not sure Press, McDonald or whoever figures in much at this point. Sure ud see them get time in mop up roles against the CONCACAF weak sisters but when u get to the few matches that matter and only have three subs not sure either one sees the pitch enough to matter.