WWC 2015 Group stage: US vs Sweden pre/pbp/post, June 12

True! - 2013 for club and nat team - was her best year and most consistent.
WPS, she was very average to bad.

 

Not sure if this has already been brought up, but

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/fif...coach-pia-sundhage-rips-us-players/ar-BBkTygO

 

It's been making the rounds on social media. This was Lloyd's response:

Got a message from Carli Lloyd on SWE coach Pia Sundhage's critical comments on her ahead of USA-Sweden: "I plan to respond on the field."

— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) June 10, 2015

 

How dare Pia tell the truth about players she coached for years! The nerve of that woman!

Strange, I thought Carli was "off the grid" for this World Cup.

What's funny is Abby might actually have been a sub for this game but now she'll insist on starting just to prove Pia wrong. And since Ellis is a doormat who owes Abby her job....

 

Take from this what you will...

Jill Ellis on whether Abby Wambach can go 90 minutes again against Sweden: "Oh, for sure."

— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) June 10, 2015

I don't think we'll see many changes to up front from the first game.

 

I don't have any problems with Pia's comments.

I also don't have a problem if they help motivate those players (they really shouldn't need motivation, but anyway...)

 

I don't see the actual NYT article posted. Interesting read, take a look:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/10/s...s-itinerant-coach-its-old-home-week.html?_r=0


“Carli Lloyd was a challenge to coach, by the way,” Sundhage said offhandedly at one point, her fork dangling as she considered Lloyd, who is a top midfielder for the United States. “When she felt that we had faith in her, she could be one of the best players. But if she began to question that faith, she could be one of the worst.”

She took a bite of salad. “It was so delicate, so, so delicate,” she said.

ALSO:

While many coaches want to develop close relationships with their players, Sundhage said bluntly that she had found little upside in doing so.

“You know, I talk to them about their mom, their dad, their boyfriend, their girlfriend or whatever, and you know what? It goes in one ear and out the other,” she said. “I try. I really try. I remember I sat with Amy Rodriguez for a long time once, talking and talking, and still I don’t know her family.”

Sundhage wrinkled her forehead as she thought for a moment about Rodriguez, the American forward. “She’s married. ... I think?” she said. “I read about it maybe.

 

Sweden plays a high line defense. Wouldn't it be cool for us to switch to the 4-3-3? Lloyd Holiday & Pinoe can handle Sweden's aging mids, and with a well placed pass; Morgan, Leroux & Press could use their speed to get behind the Swedes back line

 

why not! i'd rather have Brian in the midfield, to help connect some passes.

 

Who said she read it. Wahl covers the WWC and has access to the players. He may have shared the comment with her, and she gave a simple reply........

 

That sounds like a good game plan. I doubt we'll see it implemented.

re: Morgan playing...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...d-of-sweden-match/?postshare=2931433980714186
"Asked how Morgan’s increasing availability changes her options, Ellis said coyly: 'It’s another option.'"

 

It doesn't seem very wise of Pia to criticize U.S. players -- but could it be that she's engaging in psychological warfare?

Get Carli Lloyd and Hope Solo riled up -- because she thinks they don't play well when they're mad.
Stimulate Wambach to insist that she should start the game with Sweden to prove Pia wrong.

I realize that sounds too Machiavellian for plain-speaking Swedes -- who gave their name to a large, sturdy, root vegetable.

 

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Finger touching nose!!!

 

Pia must be desperate if she's going for the douchey John Herdman route. I never thought she would stoop so low as to say these things about her former team. I'm not sure if this approach will help much if she wants to take the trash talk route. I don't think the USWNT gets affected by what others say about them.

 

I think Yamagishi is an excellent referee. This is going to be a high-pressure, difficult match to referee, though, so let's hope she has a good game.

add- at the 2012 Olympics, she was the referee for the group stage match between the USA and France as well as the quarterfinal match between Canada and Great Britain.

 

Hey fellas, a couple of snippets from the local Winnipeg paper since Monday...
one dude called Winnipeg the 51st state.....OK, pretty cool
another guy called the Outlaws...the American "Mothers-in" Law........rut roh
Off days at the WC suuu stink.
From what I hear Pia sure is making things interesting, as if #2 vs. #5 needed anymore hype.

 

True, but she was interviewed months ago. Maybe under the stipulation it would be released during the WC or...maybe not?

 

Funny, Pia's comments don't look like "ripping" to me. That is mild criticism at most. If she wanted to rip, she could talk about players choking in the shoot-out against Japan.

 

Not only were Pia's statements mild criticism at best, the reporter put his own spin on it to embellish a 3 month old article.

 

It's the american media screwing with stupid people once more. She didn't criticize anyone on any scale. She was simply answering questions and remembering how things were with the girls. Nothing more.

And this interview was friggin months ago for ******** sake.

 

I would put in the speedy types against Sweden and rest Wambach for the Nigeria game as she will have a lot of chances against their defense.

 

This game screams Wambach as a sub. Wear out the slow Swedish defense with a combination of Leroux/Press/Rodriguez and then have Wambach and Morgan available as subs.

 

Over the last year or so, when has Jill Ellis made the logical choice?

I'm hoping Friday will be the first time.