PBP: USWNT WWC '11 Final Roster

It is an interesting idea...I wouldn't mind if Coach Pia tried that.

But, I don't think she will ever try that idea.

Maybe Coach Pia's decision to pick Heather M is understandable...
US lost to Panama in Gold Cup competition...US defense consisted of 3 veterans and 1 rookie...Defense was not great in general...Tim Ream, the rookie, did commit a foul which led to a PK. Commentators mentioned his lack of experience.
Coach Bob Bradley did take a chance by picking a rookie to be a CB...

Let's hope that Heather M. is experienced enough not to make an "error" leading to a PK for the opposition.

 

haha, that onion story is pretty funny.

Long, I don't think you can legitimize/de-legitimize Pia's decisions on what's happening with different team in a different tournament. It's apples and oranges.

 

Agreed.

You can't compare the situation the MNT is having with the WNT. The MNT is extremely thin at centerback and nobody that is healthy really has enough experience.

The WNT, on the other hand, have a plethora of quality center backs. Mitts is (*should) hardly play in the WWC so the experience she is bringing is mostly gonna be used for moral support.


Although, since you do bring up the MNT, isn't it ironic that places both teams are thin at, the other team has a plethora of players? Center mids in the case of the MNT and center backs in the case of the WNT.

 

ForeverLOST108, Mitts is on the team because she is a good defender and is not there just for moral support. And IMO, should get plenty of playing time an/or start.

 

She hasnt started a game in months. She should not start in a world cup game.

 

I think Coach Pia will give her a plenty of playing time...She prefers to stick with veterans most of time. (Although she is not the only coach who ever does that.)

 

It's garbage.

 

+1 to that.

You'd think ESPN would have the resources to allow their authors to research topics that they admittedly have very little knowledge about.

 

Remember it is ESPN.

 

I'm not sure about this. I'm not denying that Mitts will get playing time, but I do think that Krieger has (hopefully) won the starting spot. Mitts is a good defender but her fitness and health are of question and Krieger has looked very strong recently.

I personally would have taken Engen because I have a feeling Mitts, if she sees much time in the games, will be injured again by the end of the tournament. I'm not knocking her as a player, because she's a solid defender, but I do question her health. And I do think and hope that Krieger will be taking a majority of minutes at right back. Just make take on it.

 

A nice article on Heather Mitts:

http://www.nj.com/soccer-news/index.ssf/2011/06/giase_heather_mitts_breaks_wor.html#postComment

Jeff Kassouf on Equalizersoccer.com (http://www.equalizersoccer.com/2011/06/14/the-weekly-june-13-2011/) says enough about Mitts' looks. Well Jeff, that's part of the story. And I for one can't get enough of the Heather Mitts story. And yes, I do believe Pia made the right decision.
And, no I do not think it's sexism if a media wants to write about Mitts' accomplishments, including her sexiest female athlete awards.
That's part of her story. It's all good.

Heather Mitts deserves everything life is giving her. She is a hard-core athlete. A very good defender. A nice person. And yes, great looking.
As a long time, avid USWNT fan and follower, I am thrilled she is on this years US World Cup roster.

 

Mitts not being on the roster in 2003 and 2007 is probably the reason we didn't win!!! TIC

 

I just don't think Mitts should get minutes over Krieger. Krieger has played that position solidly and just because Mitts played 45 minutes in one match (against a Mexican team that threatened the US defense only 2-3 times) does not prove she is match ready.

Besides, I'd feel much more comfortable, if the US were to play Germany, to have Krieger try and contain Bajramaj since Krieger sees her a lot more than any other defender.

We don't want this to happen again..



[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSFKgqbQnmE&feature=related"]YouTube - ‪Germany vs. USA | Friendly‬‏[/ame]


Bajramaj is too good now and Germany won't miss that many opportunities again.

 

Wow!

Their finishing looked worse than us against Mexico. Did they put nothing on frame?

I look at that video and think we have a good chance against a central defender who can't play the ball at her feet.....

And their defender was lucky to not be sent off for the push in the box from behind.

 

That was a year and a half ago. Since then Germany has gotten progressively better and the U.S. has gotten increasingly inconsistent.

I guarantee you that if we give Germany that many chances in this World Cup they will cruise to an easy victory.

 

This is true. However, nobody knows how they will perform in the big dance...but this was when popp and kulig were just starting to play for the Germany nat team. The German team will have an upgraded feel.

wow, this was when Mitts was "healthy" ahahaha.
mrad: did you watch this?

wait a second. Could you imagine if we had a backline of this:
Mitts Rampone Bhuhler Amy L.

This very well could happen!.
That fact that this is even a possibility is not right. scary shit!!!!

 

I more noticed Chalupney and Averbush as players they were working against, and not in roles that seemed to particularly favor their skill sets. neither will be in Germany. But honestly, those German players have a very long way to go from the point in tHat video.

Abby was only a short time back from her injury, wasn't she?


If that was intended to scare us, it failed.

 

yes i saw that too! One of Yael first call ups and she's forced to play winger, against Germany! More squares into holes for Pia.
Fail.
Unfortunately, she set Yael up for failure as well.

Awh, I miss the Chupa.

Yes though, I expect the US team to play better than above in a few weeks. i just hope to god that old slow back line doesn't get on the field together.

 

The point was Germany clearly ran over Mitts and Chalupny. As BrooklynSoccer said, can you imagine what they will do if we line up Mitts-Rampone-Beuhler-LePeilbet across the backline?

 

While I read (spy ) a lot here I usually don`t post but for that particular player some words need to be said. Saskia Bartusiak is the German case of Lloyd. A player who probably shouldn`t be on the roster mind you in the starting squad and even if this nightmare is going to happen ... not in a crucial position. Yet the reality of national team coaches is a different world it seems. Should both teams play against each other during the tournament we will have plenty of delight to enjoy Lloyd causing turnovers and Sassi "creating" chances for the opposition.

 

I respect all your positions on this matter, although I may flip-flop on a position once in a while (like my stance on DB), my opinion on the Heather Mitts subject is written in stone for me. There is nothing that can be said that will change my mind. It is what it is and I will leave it at that. We can revisit this at the end of the WWC, but even then, no matter what happens, I will still think the same, that she belongs on this team and I am thrilled she is on it.

 

Will have a link of Norway vs Germany preworld cup game today. Close friend who works with the team said theyll send the link later, the game is at 8pm so probs 2pmEST.

Should give a decent look at 2 quality teams, Ill post it on here later

 

that's great. thanks pwolf.