Norway got A-ha who’s 80’s Take on Me was listed(on one youtube vid) as the 16 th most listened song ever! haven’t seen enough of Bennison, I think the one player that went under the radar was Angeldal, a 24 year old bruiser of an DM who I first saw tear up Austria’s mids in an earlier friendly. Didn’t start in the April game, so kept as an secret weapon for this match. But why? We got an coach that don’t care to scout out the opposition, or how else could you explain sending Dunn out on the attack when she Glas & Jacobsson to contend with coming up her flank so far this season Pugh got 2 goals/2 assists in 816 minutes of playing time for the Red Stars(a team that’s now currently in 2nd place despite your dreary write ups on them). Give Pugh credit for CRS recent success, but there’s way too many up & coming players who should be given chances as it’s really looking like an emergence of an new, golden generation in the NWSL. Just looking at the Portland Thorns, winning alk their games even though several of their personal are at the Olympics. They could make an stand alone NT with all their newbies; Webber, Hubly, Charley, Smith. Add from the Spirit; Sanchez, Rodman, Sullivan, as well as from other clubs; Balcar, Kornieck, Purce….and I can see whether it’s Pugh & Williams, their future chances will be severely hampered or limited in making future NT
The original point was that Sweden doesn’t celebrate excessively when indeed they have. Pickled herring is nothing compared to Lutefisk or some Alaska Native food I’ve had and the Native food was served by family members.
Results-wise this was the worst opening game ever. (The next worst is the opening 2008 Olympic game, which was a 2-0 loss to Norway. The team came back to win gold.) But, performance-wise, I'm not sure. The USWNT have often started tournaments slow, and we haven't always had to start against Sweden, which I think it should be said that this is the best version of Sweden that we've seen in awhile, possibly ever.
Smith and Pugh are wingers. If you don't bring carli, who is your CF? Because Carli has been better than Alex Morgan and should have started against Sweden. Sometimes you have to look beyond the age number and evaluate objectively. Carli is still very, very good and she is much better at dropping and connecting with the other players.
They would have to be on the gameday 18 though. It doesn't matter who plays, but who is on the 18, but that is also who you have to use to sub. So we can't put the alternates on the 18 if there is any worry it hurts our chances of winning because now we need the win. If we had beaten Sweden and NZ, they could have all been on the 18 for Australia because it didn't really matter because we were basically guaranteed to advance. Now that is not an option.
It be US vs Netherlands in the quarters if the current projection stands(US ends 2nd in group/NED 1st in theirs). How do you think that game will fair? you think he’ll hire Rudy for the job?
No clue, to be honest. The absence of Sherida Spitse will be felt, as she's a smart disruptor in the midfield and has a foot with laser guidance accuracy.
"...it didn't help that she (Dunn) wasn't getting any backup for the dual wide threats of Sofia Jakobsson and Hanna Glas..." As witness this clip where Megan Rapinoe, despite subbing on with fresh legs in the 64th minute, couldn't be bothered to track back. She entered in to play 26 minutes of soccer and had to conserve her energy pic.twitter.com/LpEXbmGsdf— Lisa Lubke (@LisaLubke) July 21, 2021
Maybe Lynn Williams could've used her speed to more quickly pick the ball out of our goal yesterday? Because that's about the only difference she would've made in that game...
It was quite evident that Vlad picked the wrong starting group in many spots in the game. Should have started Ertz and brought in Horan late for one and who knew Dunn would act like a wide eye'd rookie in her passing game? Guess that's always the gamble when you're coaching. People will have off nights.
The entire midfield was invisible defensively, and wasn't much better when Ertz came on. We also were completely clueless in the back on set plays and crosses. Part of the problem is the goalkeeper doesn't control her 6 yard box, but our marking was also pathetic. If you want to know what I seriously think about Lynn Williams? I think they need to Crystal Dunn her to eventually replace O'Hara on the right side.
Yea, I've openly wondered about that on this forum as well... Play Williams back on D ala Dunn. She is bigger, faster than O'Hara and wouldn't have gotten bumped to the ground as easily as O'Hara was. Now, does Williams want to play back on Defense, that is the million dollar question for another time. Moot at this point in this tournament. And I did see a difference in the holding Mid position with Ertz in there. She was notably faster than Horan, better at tackling the ball away and controlling her area. Yea, Sweden attacked round more, but not through the area like the had been doing with Horan playing. At least to my eyes.
I would prefer to find players who can pass, create space and retain possession better, thus reducing the need for a player like Ertz who is very good at breaking up play, but also contributes mightily to the poor passing/decision making in the middle third. Ertz is excellent at what she does, but i question the need for what she does on the right team as a DM. I think Dms HAVE to be able to dictate tempo and pass as well as defend space.
More articles on the game: https://www.espn.com/soccer/womens-...mpics-opener-as-sweden-end-their-unbeaten-run https://www.espn.com/soccer/womens-...apinoe-on-uswnts-olympics-hopes-its-do-or-die https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/21/sport/uswnt-sweden-olympics-football-spt-intl/index.html
In the future? Im not suggesting Petersen is the answer, but at her age, she should already be involved and would be on most International teams IF considered good enough.
Ertz definitely has the D portion of Dm locked down. Yea, the one criticism would be her passing ability on the attack. Often she isn't crisp on passes. She can control, has power and her old CB tackle ability is evident. Hard to find a better Defensive mid in the world. Any one better at the attack is playing a different spot in a midfield, my guess.
Why makes Howell good? Her YNTs were not particularly successful. FSU are a powerhouse with or without her. In the latter stages of the NCAAs, in recent years, she has not stood out to me. She seem like a player who has built a reputation, but I dont know what actual skill or performance it is based on. Hoping you can enlighten me
Very interesting comments earlier about how Sweden harassed Dahlkemper and kept her from getting the ball upfield -- with the objective of forcing Sauerbrunn, much less disposed to make long passes, to try to advance the ball. If that interpretation is correct, Sweden had really done its homework on how to deal with the U.S. centerbacks. I had interpreted Sauerbrunn getting forward more than usual as a sign of her frustration that the U.S. midfield wasn't able to keep possession or advance the ball to the forwards. When available (if ever), I'll rewatch the match and see what I think. I'd also be interested in opinions as to why Sweden targeted Dunn and the U.S. left flank. I previously opined that it was because Dunn's flank was where the Swedes were strongest. But maybe they saw a weakness there? Again, the Swedes seem to have done their homework.
This team as constructed needs a firefighter at DM. If you change the way they play, the need is reduced. She may be one of the best at what she does, but I am not into "best in the world" comments because in my opinion it is a function of how a player is used. For me, it's not about how she passes in attack. It's about how she passes all over the field. My DM must be able to drop deep, receive from the CBs and dictate play from there. Thats is not an Ertz strength. I have great respect for her game, but it does not fit my vision of soccer. Everyone is entitled to their own views there.