The Future USWNT

The problem right now, and that includes Ertz as well, is that for the kind of offensive attack Vlatko is trying to put together for the team going forward, really does require very good passing skills at the holding mid position.

There was a glimmer of hope at one time he might just have that player that would fit the bill, but she decided to become a member of the Netherlands NT. The American born Spanish player, Damaris Egurrola, is strong, has good size at 5’9” with excellent technical and tactical skills. Already she has made an impact with the Dutch team, scoring two goals in her 2nd game since joining the team.

 

This is likely why he holds K Mewis in high regard, and has experimented with her in a deeper role. She is an excellent passer.

 

Rodman(just turned 20/Challange Cup combined stats leader with 4 goals, 2 assists) at the very least, is part of the dynamics of the Spirit that’s been unbeaten now for 18 games(going back to last August). Take this is why Vlatko got 6 Spirit’s on his current squad, but notice 3 of them(Sanchez, Hatch,, Rodman) seem to be the subs that come later on to close out the game. Now if the Spirits begin to fade over the next year, I can Vlatko trying out either newbies or oldies. but now he's created his own dynamics in his staritng attackers(Lavelle, Smith, Macario Pugh), then uses the Spirit's chemistry to finish. Sullivan as well benefits form being an Spirit

could add though that both Morgan & Press benefit from being on those high profile expansion teams; San Diego & Angle City. AC already sold 15K season tickets(a few premium seats going for $36K!)/SD set up(with Jill Ellis managing & uber direct coach Casey Stoney is custom made to get Morgan on the scoreboard

so still very unpredictable what the future holds

 

Wouldnot it had been a problem she's not part of the way the USWNT is structured by being a European club player?
Interesting article on how Damaris Egurrola became an Orange Lioness.
Use google translate if interested.

https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/04/29/damaris-egurrola-in-spanje-kreeg-ik-geen-eerlijke-kans-a4119003

 

I understand that Rodman is young has done well in the NWSL, but I have not seen anything special from her at the WNT level. They are different levels of play, and the national team level requires more sophistication. Vlatko's job is to win the World Cup. If someone isn't ready, he needs to take those who are. I personally am not a Pugh fan, but I recognize she has done well of late with the WNT level and is deserving of a spot at this point. Sophia Smith has also impressed as a winger.

 

Horan & Macario play with her on the same team. NWSL play isn't mandatory. They might miss a friendly or two.

 

Smith 15 caps, 4 goals.
Purce 14 caps, 3 goals.
Hatch 8 caps, 4 goals.

The sample is still small, but Smith is like Pugh/Purce/Press. They use speed to find open space and take shots from distance. Hatch is different. Good in tight corners, a poacher.

 

Hatch is very interesting. She doesn't get enough playing time because they are so focused on intergrating Macario.

 

Vlatko is not trying to integrate Macario! It is quite the opposite. He is basically trying to integrate players that are capable of playing a new style of offense. A style, like or similar, in many ways, to the type Macario has had success at playing.

Now the question is? Who of the veterans still wanting to be a part of the the team, will be able to integrate, in some form or fashion, to a new style of play that could even involve a new role for them.

 

What a bizzare response. He is incorporating both a style of play and Macario is the focal point of his attack. She did not exactly perform well when she first joined the team. Everyone knew she was very talented though. So he kept giving her opportunities despite her average at best performances, and now he is putting a style in place that accentuates her strenghts.

 

Your right he is making her the focal point. He learned that trying to utilize her in what has been a traditional role as a midfielder with the NT, would be a complete waste of her talents. Absolutely lacked any creativity that allowed her the freedom of movement she now has. Didn’t take long for Lyon’s coaching staff to figure out that she needed to be the focal point in their offense as well. So I see a lot of similarity in what Vlatko is having her do in the 9 role as she does with Lyon. Vlatko needs a video library on how Lyon uses her as a false 9 or a false 10 when they use her in a 4-2-3-1 as CAM. In both cases it allows her creative free movement where she does her best work.

 

What were you expecting Rodman to do in her 3 sub appearances. Show me another 19 year old USWNT player doing better. So who do you think should be there in her place?

 

Washington Spirit's entire starting front line specially Hatch, Sanchez, and Rodman would not be bad at all for the National team right now. What a great combo. Also, where does Lynn Williams fit in once she's back from her injury?

 

I did not say I was expecting better. I was saying that she has not earned a roster spot as others were saying. Go back and read. She may earn one eventually, but so far I have seen nothing from her to merit inclusion. She has notably missed some opportunties in front of the goal in her few appearances. That is the only critique I have made.

Remember that Vlatko did not even take her into the first camp. She made it after someone was injured. He said at the time that he wanted to bring her along slowly. Clearly he did not think she was ready yet.

Also, why prepare her and Pugh if they refused to be vaccinated? Australia is as strict as anyone on that.

 

at first I was skeptic too, but Macario proven to be the real deal this season at Lyon; she’s led that stacked team in scoring in both the French & Champions League, and she don’t even play the #9, rather she gets posted at left or central mid. She’s only 22, but I think she’s already one of top five players in the world! Her club will be playing later this month Barcelona for top dawgs of Europe. She’ll be going up directly against Alexis Putellas(another high scoring mid who FIFA awarded the Balon D’Or), so if she wins that battle, who do say she’s not the best player in the world?

 

When contemplating the Supernova-like future of the USWNT by pondering and gazing forward to the upcoming rosters and events…………I first suggest that you don a pair of the Yeswelder True Color Auto Darkening Welding Googles TM.

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How do you rationalize Mace when she has received zero camp invites under Vlatko.

Tierna is out with an ACL,Those are nine month injuries plus it takes time to get their game fully back, She will be trickier than Ertz coming back from pregnancy.

And in the same breath you omit K Mewis who is in every camp, plays a lot of minutes and was on the Olympic team. While you put Howell on who not only missed out on a camp invite, she also barely gets in the games when she is brought in.

Also, how do you plan to get Rodman and Pugh into Australia?

 

Besides hoping the pandemic be gone by next year/you would think Rodman & Pugh would change their minds about taking shots as they would loose out on an lot of bonus money if they miss out on the WC

it used to be just 9 months to recover from an ACL, but now in today’s more competitive it’s recommended a lot longer, so Davidson might have an uphill battle getting back her USWNT(especially versus all the newbies that be vying in her place while she’s gone)

Dunno what position Mace plays, what I would pick last year’s NWSL 2nd top scorer, Margaret Purce instead: she’s very versatile/can play winger & FB

if a bunch of division 2 college players masquerading as the Filipino NT can make it all the to the Asian Cup semis(considered the 2nd most competitive continent in woso), can’t imagine what an all star Div 1 squad would do?

 

If Sauerbrunn comes back well from her surgery (miniscus repair), which we probably should start seeing pretty soon, it is hard for me to imagine that she will not be on the team.

 

I know what your thoughts are on Becky, but she is making the WC roster if SHE wishes to. Vlatko has been playing her.

 

I'm kind of her fan, but I think the notion is that she brings mostly the same things as Press only not as much of them...

 

Well then. Vlatko has a problem. So far, he has yet to try anyone at that position with the technical passing abilities. Would have loved to have seen Fox tried there. She may not have the toughness of an Ertz but she is fast.

 

The problem is he may not really have anyone with the toughness as well as the tactical and technical skills to choose from. . So does he stay with an established player that does not compliment the new type of offense he is trying to install, for the sake of defense, or does he take the risk that by adding a more technical and tactical kind of player that can add to the offense, and by doing so, hope that the best defense can be a strong offense.

I don’t think he is firmly set on the No. 6 holding mid position like some of the other positions, so it will be interesting to see what he does.