Roster

Discussion in 'Western New York Flash' started by Eleanor, Dec 1, 2010.

  1. StarCityFan

    StarCityFan BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 2, 2001
    Greenbelt, MD
    Club:
    Washington Freedom
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    [​IMG]

    My, what big teeth you have!

    Actually, that's a high school image. She looks more like this now:

    [​IMG]
     
  2. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Any word on whether that Becky Edwards signing was just rumor or actually true?
     
  3. DemitriMaximoffX

    Aug 19, 2006
    It's official and now up on the WPS website.
     
  4. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    I would date her .... if I were like in high school still. :)
    She looks so young.
     
  5. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks. I really do see Edwards's playing well enough to force Lines to start her. That's what she did last year as a rookie.

    There's an interesting duplication in midfield players w/ Averbuch, Seger, Edwards, Bock, and Goebel. The availability (or lack thereof) of international players will also provide more PT for the midfield.

    What formation/style did Lines prefer to use last year in the WLeague?
     
  6. DazzRef

    DazzRef Member

    Jul 13, 2009
    Buffalo NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Lines primarily used a 4-4-2 alignment in W-League Play. The big difference is that both central midfielders were attacking players, so it was hard for many of the Great Lakes division defenses to handle the additional attacking player. I think the key here is that as the ball moves through midfield, you have both centers able to play a "hold and switch" kind of style - both can attack, both can hold, or in some instances, both can attack at the same time. I think that the mentality created a lot of havoc up the middle, which led to a lot of defensive breakdowns for opponents.

    Based on the current roster, I have a feeling that he might try to do the same thing again. WNY can create a lot of havoc by running Sinclair and Morgan up front, and then having 2 attack-minded center mids (Edwards and Averbuch?) to back them up. I think the defense is sound enough that having that alignment makes sense - and it would definitely be a duplication of the scheme used the last 2 years here in Buffalo. :D

    Aaron
     
  7. QUICK AS A FLASH

    Dec 8, 2010
    Style of play

    Aaran will surely use his speedy wide backs in the final third. They created havoc last year playing for FCGP. Becky Edwards was very good at covering when one went forward.

    Go Flash!
     
  8. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If I understand this correctly, it may explain why WNY drafted Elli Reed. The Portland system calls for the wide backs to play the length of the field, being ready at all times to overlap the outside mids. That being the case, the wide backs are the players who cover the most field in the game: they must be ready to run all day from one end of the field to the other. Also, they must be able to recover very quickly and must be aware of what is happening on the other side of the field so they can appropriately provide defensive coverage when their counterpart across the field is overlapping. Elli does this all really well.
     
  9. DazzRef

    DazzRef Member

    Jul 13, 2009
    Buffalo NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    CP - it's a good point, but I don't think that Eli will need to run the entire length of the field. 3/4's maybe, but not the full thing. If Coach Lines' scheme works like it has in the W-League, we'll see a lot of control through the backline and through central midfield. I don't think that the outside backs will need to do as much pushing as they would controlling and looking for movement. Granted, having the vision to smartly move the ball upfield is something we should take for granted at this level, but I think that overall the backs will look to spring the offensive rush rather that to get involved in it.

    Then again, if what you say about Eli is true, and she's used in that capacity, we could see some more push coming out of the back. That'll definitely be different....we'll have to see! :cool:

    Aaron
     
  10. QUICK AS A FLASH

    Dec 8, 2010
    The Final Third

    Kandace and Ali are among the best wide backs in the world at getting into the final third. This will be critical if we are to have enough fire power up top, to break defenses down. WPS is not like other leagues or even International football. The speed of the defenders makes scoring really hard.

    If Elli can play this role when Ali is with the Football Ferns that will be really good.
     
  11. ForeverLOST108

    ForeverLOST108 Member+

    Jan 23, 2010
    Orlando
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Agreed and with both Chapman and Engen anchoring the defense we should be in very good shape defensively.


    My biggest concern is in the midfield because I think we're thin. Especially at wing mid. I'd love to hear an international signing thats a wing mid or even a forward. It's really unfortunate we couldnt get Boquete.
     
  12. FutbolMoe

    FutbolMoe New Member

    Dec 9, 2010
    I think you will find that Elli Reed is very experienced at both outside mid and outside back positions playing in both a 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 on both sides. Her left foot is as strong as her right.
    Hope fully this will allow the coaches more options and flexibility.
     
  13. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Agreed. She easily could play outside mid. In fact, in my previous post, I almost mentioned a game in which she was named the outstanding defensive player and I thought she should have been the outstanding offensive player also since she scored three goals.
     
  14. Druid Squirrel

    Dec 15, 2000
    A hollow tree
    With Marta on board, WNYF is starting to look a lot like last year's FCGP. They're going to so much fun to watch.

    Here's how the cores compare:

    Code:
    [B]OLD        NEW[/B]
    Marta       Marta
    Sinclair    Sinclair
    O'Hara      Morgan
    Abily       Seger
    Edwards     Edwards
    Boxx        Averbuch (?)
    Riley       Riley
    Wilson      Wilson
    Chapman     Chapman
    Buehler     Engen
    Barnhart    Harris
    Dew         Bock
    Milbrett    ??????
    
     
  15. ForeverLOST108

    ForeverLOST108 Member+

    Jan 23, 2010
    Orlando
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Is the Marta signing official?
     
  16. Druid Squirrel

    Dec 15, 2000
    A hollow tree
    Not official, but it is now being reported by reputable sources.

    Unless this is a deliberate hoax, she's actually signed. See for example here which contains this tweet:

    So unless someone is blatantly making stuff up, this isn't just a rumor. Marta has signed.

    Wow.
     
  17. Druid Squirrel

    Dec 15, 2000
    A hollow tree
  18. ForeverLOST108

    ForeverLOST108 Member+

    Jan 23, 2010
    Orlando
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wow is right. I had a feeling she would sign with the Flash.


    This team should very exciting to watch. Hopefully the level of play doesn't dissipate too much when the World Cup comes.
     
  19. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Depends a bit on who makes the WWC squads. The forward line and goal production is going to be a challenge when the WWC takes players away.

    I actually think the midfield should be ok, all things considered. Yes, Seger will be gone and very likely Averbuch. But Edwards is top shelf and (imo) should be getting USWNT camp looks right now. If Bock is healthy, she can slot in for midfield or maybe up top since I think all the forwards will be @ the WWC. Goebel's play last season makes me think she's solid enough for fill in at midfield.

    Reed can step in for Riley (unless she has more trouble making the next step than many anticipate).

    Even without Marta, WNY had a *really* nice roster and seemed to have their ducks in a row. The biggest worry for me is whether Sahlen is keeping the costs under enough control that he doesn't burn through cash too quickly. The financial track record of clubs who've had Marta on their books isn't auspicious.
     
  20. Druid Squirrel

    Dec 15, 2000
    A hollow tree
    Gee I kind of had Bock mentally penciled in as Chapman's replacement in central defense. My idea was:

    Riley-Engen-Chapman-Wilson

    when everyone is there and then:

    Reed-Engen-Bock-Wilson

    when the WWC players are gone. But am I maybe overlooking another strong candidate for central d? They'll need replacements for Chapman and Riley. Any chance Reed can play central defense? And then maybe Fountain at left back?

    On another note, I still think they should sign Milbrett. She thinks as fast as Marta and Sinclair, and the three always seem to be on the same wavelength. Plus, WNYF needs to concentrate on bringing in players who will not be away for the WWC.
     
  21. ForeverLOST108

    ForeverLOST108 Member+

    Jan 23, 2010
    Orlando
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Well right now I'd assume they will lose Marta, Sinclair, Morgan, Seger, Averbuch, Riley, Chapman, and possibly Harris.


    That's potentially 8 of the starting 11. That worries me no matter how much depth we have. But still, I'm making no complaints about the lineup. Very excited for the season to come.
     
  22. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, I'd originally written "midfield or central defense" but then I couldn't think of any forwards other than Marta, Sinclair, and Morgan on the roster. I'd forgotten about Fountain. she is a forward that can play some defense whereas Reed is a defender that can play further forward (imo). And if you're trying to stabilize things from the back first once the WWC folks leave, I'd put Reed at left back and have Fountain fill in. But that's just b/c right now (not having seen Fountain play for a long-ish time) on paper Reed is the better player to me.
     
  23. QUICK AS A FLASH

    Dec 8, 2010
    We have already won the title!

    Well not quite but it is exciting to think about the FCGP comparison offered by Druid Squirrel (see below). In the first part of the season the key players were really figuring how how to play with each other. By the end of the season FCGP was an awesome machine running smoothly in all 6 gears.

    Marta the magnificent was having so much fun that she played the full 90 rather than the 60 she played with the Sol when she had no one worth passing to except Abily and Bock. Expect more of the same. The Pride were very close and with such a large Pride core the Flash will be as well. They will play for each other not for themselves.

    Sinclair had to learn how to be a passer as well as a finisher and she really came though.

    O'Hara had a very good season for a rookie forward (tough assignment) and if Morgan can match her it will be a great achievement. Both are true strikers. I am cautiously optimistic and very optimistic if the USWNT makes a strong showing in the World Cup.

    Abily was very skillful but never fully fit. Seger is a star of international football. Big trade up.

    Edwards is a work horse and covers very well when defenders go forward. She was a much stronger player by the end of the season. Another big +

    Boxx was a mighty defender but never had great passing/finishing skills. We give up defensively but gain a scorer from outside the box.

    Riley continued to grow all season and should be a force down the line next year. By the end of the season the Ali/Marta/Sinc trio struck fear in all opponents and we should expect a higher level this year.

    Wilson began the season as a great athlete but her skills needed working on. She made a lot of progress and the Championship game showed her true potential. Expect a lot more this year.

    Chappie is rock solid and sees the game well. She will be crucial as central defender and will come through.

    Engen cannot replace Buehler but she has proved herself in her first year. She has played with Riley on the W-League Champion Pali Blues so will be comfortable from the start. A great athlete looking to break into the National team. Expect a very strong season.

    I am a Barnie fan but Harris made a believer out of me in the playoffs. Both are outstanding keepers.

    Dew was an excellent sub. Bock is a proven starter. She was a force on the Sol and if healthy will bring a lot to the Flash.

    As I said, on paper.......

    OLD NEW
    Marta Marta
    Sinclair Sinclair
    O'Hara Morgan
    Abily Seger
    Edwards Edwards
    Boxx Averbuch (?)
    Riley Riley
    Wilson Wilson
    Chapman Chapman
    Buehler Engen
    Barnhart Harris
    Dew Bock
    Milbrett ??????
     
  24. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In response to the question whether Elli Reed could play central defender, that seems like a "No." She doesn't have the size. On other hand, she could play defender or midfield, actually on either side, although she normally plays left because there are not as many left side players.
     

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