It was interesting that Pugh had a spell of success during a switch to the left...then went right back to the right.
I thought I would post impressions and random observations from my Nissan Stadium experience. First: out of 25,000 plus fans, there must have been 10,000+ Alex Morgan shirts, followed by Wambach at a ratio of about 50:1. I looked for and was disappointed to see only 3 Rapinoe shirts. I took a deep breath and told myself “whatever gets them to buy tickets and come to the game is good.” Aside from a couple of folks in Red stars gear and my Flash stuff, I saw no other NWSL teams represented by the fans. NWSL did get some video screen time before the game and at the half. During the ‘free play’ part of pre-game warmups, Jae Hinkle paired up with Lauren Barnes. The two giant video screens, on at each end of the field were impressive. They were helpful to follow action on the near sideline and near corners, especially when people stood up. I caught myself watching the video and not the field a few times. I have only been to a couple of Bills games, but no other NFL games (or MLS), so the size and video quality were awesome to me. Player introductions were done before they paraded onto the field with big individual photos of each player on all four teams on the video boards, which I liked. During the walk-on, Carli Lloyd was smiling and chatting with her mascot, a big difference from the game where her mascot cried. A woman opera singer did the national anthems for US and France – in French - and another women did them for England and Germany (in German, apparently better than the effort in Tampa). I liked the first singer better. After the game, Heath and Horan spent time with their PSG teammates. Lindsey was with them a long time – I don’t remember that she joined the US team in their post-game lap around the field. I felt that Morgan’s pure joy for scoring the goal was more expansive than it has been for any of her goals since 2012 The American Outlaws also impressed me, this was the largest number of them I have personally witnessed. I found the food and drink vendors to be very friendly, and the service to be good. They had Beer guys in the stands, who are a staple at baseball games and I miss at Sahlen’s, where not even hot dog or cotton candy guys work the stands.
You are correct, I did go back to watch the tape and she did start on the right. What must have stuck in my mind is most of her good plays came from on the left side.
Funny story, during the Germany-England game, the score board near the gate were we met had a bit of malfunction and apparently people were not happy so each time it looked like it was coming on again, there was a huge cheer which took on a life of it's own. As for NWSL gear, I actually wore my Reign training shirt to the Tampa game but know one would have notice as it was so cold that I had my jacket on.
But in the play that resulted in the goal, didn't she come from the right, go diagonally forward and to the left with the ball, and drop it off for Morgan?
For whatever it's worth in Ellis' free flowing offensive structure, it was interesting that when Dunn came in she went to the left flank instead of moving Pugh to the left
It seemed to me (not having re-watched the game, so could be wrong) that when Press and Dunn came on, Pugh went central and Lloyd dropped back a bit (to replace Horan who went out for Dunn and to cover because I think we switched to a 3 back until Engen came on...again could be wrong). Pugh, imo, was playing AM for the last few minutes of the game when she made that assist.
I thought they went 3-5-2 as well but on re-watch it seemed Heath played a pretty traditional FB role instead of a wing back. From the way they defended I assume Press went to CAM as she was on top with Morgan while Dunn and Pugh defended the flanks.
When I said "maybe wrong," I should have said, "probably wrong." Now I need to go back and watch it. Has anyone posted the full match yet?
@WWC_Movement had a really good quality match posted earlier in the thread, but I noticed that Youtube just put a geoblock on it because of some French Channel's copyright claims. So, I posted another copy and removed the 28 seconds of copyright material they were complaining about. Here you go.
It seems when everyone knows what to do in this system, they can be very effective (as A. Morgan stated in her post-match interview). The problem is that sometimes the players are not in sync, which causes confusion and leads to turnovers.
Wouldn't this be something . . . Pugh playing as a central attacking midfielder against Germany & the US proceeds to tear them up. I've always believed in teams using their best playmakers (not their best scorers) right smack dab in the middle of the formation because it helps everybody else around them. Pugh at the 10 would fit that narrative, because she's made more plays than anybody since joining the team.
As perfect a pass as it was it only worked because Morgan and Press made their runs immediately on seeing Pugh get control of the ball (Also props to Press who caused the turnover). If they dont immediately start moving towards goal and drawing all the defenders with them, not only doesnt she have someone to pass to but the defense likely forces her to hold up the attack.
Just re-watched. Heath did drop to RB, but I think it was Press who was playing on the RM and Dunn LM. Pugh is central. However, when the goal was scored, Pugh was out on the right side (covering for Press who had ended up making a run centrally up the field when the US is coming out of their defensive shape from France's free kick). Pugh had moved out to that side to cover. However, after the kickoff, she's back central and Press outside so I think that was their assigned positions, but in the "free-flowing" offense Pugh was coming from a more RM position when she made the assist. So does that make us both right?
Well, as I said, I cant really tell what their position in attack is based on such a short time period (pointed statement). But when they defended Press was on top not on the right flank. The standard US defense has Lloyd (CAM) and Morgan paired on top.
We have a solid back line for now.... and a few more years. From now moving forward, we should build the team around Brian and Pugh.