Soccer America's (April 8-12) report on US Women Abroad UEFA semifinal, Swedish League start highlight schedule
because they are training with USA for the Olympics and will not be "available" during the European season. I know for a fact last year when two Canadians played in Norge that it was a BRUTAL commute for the players back and forth during the spring/summer for Canada's WWC preperation. I doubt Americans will subject themselves to that ... next year could be another story if the WUSA is not back. Elaine
a player, man that is, will be getting better after they play in Europe, will this be the case for woman ?
Like everything else, it depends on where you play.... Sweeden and Germany have strong club systems, not on par with the WUSA, but not bad. However for the player that has problems with training regimens, then this keeps your skills sharp and them fit. WUSA, made many foreign players better. A lot of times it is being exposed to different tactics and if a coach can correct some flaws in mechanics that make a difference. For Example , in Solo's case, hopefully she will continue to read the field better (Mellissa Moore was increadible at this) and continue being the great physical GK that she was for the charge BTW USWNT is a Paid spot, they do not have to worry about how to pay bills while training. Most soccer players go overseas to be put up by the team and get a small stipend. this allows them to keep playing.
UEFA Women's Cup semi-final Former Rutgers University standout Denise Reddy and her Swedish Club Malmo fell to advance to the final after a 4-1 loss by Germany's FFC Frankfurt. http://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562134459
Soccer America on The US Women Abroad April 12, 2004 Former Philadelphia Charge goalkeeper Hope Solo turned in a clean sheet in her Swedish League debut as Kopparbergs/Goteborg toppled host Sunnana SK, 1-0, in a Damallsvenskan opener Monday. Solo Act (Photo by http://www.nc-soccer.com/)
Well, yes and no. "It depends..." The "system" (i.e. league) is different. Unlike the WUSA, where teams are designed to be more or less equal, at least competetive to each other, the European club system has grown over many years. For the German Bundesliga (very similar to the Swedish Damallsvenskan): We got some top clubs (with top budgets, top conditions, and: top players), some clubs trying to become "top" with more or less success and some that are struggeling to be competitive and often fail. As from what the former WUSA players from Germany have said, the top teams (FFC Frankfurt and Turbine Potsdam) can be seen as "WUSA-fit". But (and there your're right): The league as a whole cannot be compared to the former WUSA for several reasons besides crowds, TV coverage and players' income: - The difference between the top-5 and the bottom-5 is tremendous, so there are only few chellenging opponents in regular league play. - Due to the amateur/semi-pro conditions, the training focusses mainly on technical issues, not on physical ones. As Conny Pohlers' new/old coach said about her WUSA time: She very much improved physically, but from a technical point of view, it was a step backwards... Please, don't get me wrong! I don't want to question the technical quality of the WUSA. But I think, the (at most) semi-pro Europeans leagues with their very limited training time simply have to concentrate on the technical side of playing, while the WUSA pro-teams had the chance to cover all elements. - Budgets are very very low compared to WUSA. So, only few top teams can earnestly think of hiring players from overseas. That's the point: You can hire some "1B"-players (i.e. not-NT) for more than reasonable fares, but the top-shots are simply too expensive, given that they are expected to play NT every now and then. Even for those clubs that have the money to compete with the US-NT wages: Buying e.g. Abby Wambach would spoil the salery structure of every team. You cannot give Abby let's say 50k bucks and tell Birgit Prinz, Sandra Minnert and Steffi Jones you're low on budget... My 2ct.
Soccer America report on U.S. WOMEN ABROAD (April 29-May 2): Hope Solo's shutout streak stopped. Jenny Benson, opens at home against Rossiyanka of Moscow. More... http://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562134513
Maite Zabala And of couse, here's the Idaho statesmen report on Maite Zabala. Zabalas' zeal for sport crosses oceans
May 4, 2004 - Soccer America Update on The Yanks Abroad: Jenny Benson gets an assist in FC Energy rout GK Hope Solo headed for USWNT Olympic Residency http://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562134529
Re: Yanks Abroad thread [R] From SoccerAmerica (May 8-9) Hope Solo posts third Swedish shutout; Nancy Augustyniak joins U.S. Residency
May 17, 2004: SoccerAmerica Update on the US Women Abroad. Another clean sheet for Hope Solo, a debut goal for Venus James....more
Venus James scored again Tuesday, but Djurgarden/Alvsjo fell off the Swedish League lead thanks to a strike from Malmo FF's American, defender Denise Reddy. http://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562134588
From The Roanoke Times Beedle takes game to new land Meg Beedle plays in one last tournament for the Roanoke Star before heading to Germany. By Jeff Wood
The 2004 German Cup Champions Turbine are now within two points of Frauen-Bundesliga leader FFC Frankfurt. Turbine (18-1-1) can overtake FFC Frankfurt (18-0-3) for first place with a victory Sunday at home against FCR 2001 Duisburg In the Swedish League Damallsvenskan: Goalkeeper Hope Solo returns to Kopparbergs/Goteborg's lineup for Sunday's clash against Karlslunds IF DFF.
Nancy Agustiniak played 90 minutes helpingTurbine Postdam to claim the lead in the German League with a 3-0 win over visiting FCR 2001 Duisburg Turbine need only a tie in the June 13 season finale at FFC Frankfurt to add the Frauen-Bundesliga (German Women's League) title to its German Cup crown.
Danica Carey debuted Wednesday for Russian champion FC Energy Voronezh, teaming with former University of Nebraska teammate Jenny Benson on the backline during a 2-0 victory over Chertanovo.
Former Atlanta Beat striker Conny Pohlers scored a hat trick and Petra Wimbersky added two goals as visiting FFC Turbine Potsdam routed FFC Frankurt, 7-2, Sunday to capture its first German League women's title. Augustyniaks win another trophy Iceland Cup: Americans tangle in Iceland; Alison Jarrow scores twice in Cup game
We do have leauges, the W-league and the WSPL. If there is a team in your area, you should check it out. We do not have a fully professional league which is what the WUSA was. Let's hope it can return but don't forget to support the teams that toil under most folks' radars.