USWNT: The Pool

Sermanni has said that all 23 players will be needed to win the next WC. Perhaps at some point he will transition into a starting 14/15 player pool and use the rest for subs, but so far it seems like we're using the Team A / Team B approach to rest players during the 7 matches at the next WC.

 

I had heard that quote, but I'm not convinced that it means 2 completely different lineups. That would be ridiculous. I don't see it in the way he's naming line-ups. Certain players (Sauerbrunn, Krieger, Lloyd, HAO) have gotten significant playing time, regardless of who else is on the field. This is not AYSO. Everyone doesn't get equal playing time.

In short, I just really don't see it; there's no evidence for a Team A/Team B approach at this point. Coaches always say we need every player because otherwise you're going to have some pissed off bench players.

 

Wait, wait-- what?

LaRussa and Smith feuded because LaRussa would only play Ozzie against the guys he could still hit (which also rested him enough that his glove came back a little.) Ozzie was 41, and the vendetta itself was a product of LaRussa's willingness to recognize that his talents were badly eroded.

Karras' injury certainly affected his play, but it was a fact, not just an excuse-- I saw his last preseason game, and he clearly was outplayed by Dick Evey and Jerry Rush, both playing on borrowed time themselves, and also first and fourth round rookies Bob Bell and Larry Woods. His hands were slow, not just his feet. He bore no resemblance even to the journeymen he was competing against, let alone the Mad Duck of old. Whether better surgical care might have extended his career was irrelevant at that point...

Remember Schmidt was his close friend and cut him anyway rather than put him on the IR or the PUP. Karras was 35 at the time, about the same age of retirement as near-contemporaries at the position, such as Billy Ray Smith and Henry Jordan and Bob Lilly. Being essentially an alcoholic probably didn't help his case either.

And as for Chastain, it seems odd to criticize Ryan's correct judgement when under no pressure by pointing out his incorrect one when semi-desperate? He wasn't realist enough to cut Briana-- and he still was realist enough to cut Brandi.

Or so it seems to me...

 

So what will the player pool look like 12 months from now?

 

Well, some of the old guard will still be in the squad and I believe we will continue to bring in youngsters and develop them to continue the USSF / USSoccer tradition. It's just a matter of style of play, formation.

 

No real surprise here:

453213294992846848 is not a valid tweet id

 

On a side note I believe Alex Morgan is having an MRI on her ankle today. Let's hope for the best.

 

Barnhart has played quite a bit in the last year, and Loyden played last week?

Thanks for doing that though; actual facts

 

mew2?

i know you don't like her, but...

recently she's actually been called in and played more than some of those you've listed.

 

College players can't sign professional contracts.

 

i don't think the list was just contracts. brian was on it.

 

Yes and S. Mewis was too. That's why I thought you meant she should be listed as a player with contract.

 

oh, my bad then. i'm blind. doubly so. 'cause (unless someone did a quick edit) i scrolled back up twice before i posted, and didn't see mew2 in brian's section.

 

thanx. yes, lunatica pointed that out. didn't notice it. apologies.

good list btw.

 

With the NWSL season having already started will the team be called into camp just a few days before the May 8th Canada match?

 

My understanding is they will departing on May 2 and returning on May 9.