U.S. Soccer President Contiguglia " Heinrichs' done a fabulous job."

Discussion in 'USA Women: News and Analysis' started by Kqql, Oct 7, 2003.

  1. Kqql

    Kqql Member

    Sep 22, 2003
    " Heinrichs' done a fabulous job," U.S. Soccer President Contiguglia.

    http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/124015p-111329c.html

    This looks bad for future of USWNT, if the President of US Soccer thinks losing the 2000 Olympics final and 2003 WWC semifinal by a coach is a fabulous job.
    (USWNT is to Women's soccer what Brazil is to Men's soccer)

    Can anyone imagine the President of Brazilian Soccer saying that the Brazilian coach has done a fabulous job, if he had failed to win the
    last 2 major tournaments.

    Sounds like the US Soccer is path to become Argentina, win or lose the coach stays.

    Plus, I got news for the US Soccer, German WNT has become better than the USWNT and their win in the semifinal was not a one night fluke.

    Finally, USWNT lost because in this WWC they hardly scored from run of play, and the coaching
    decisions were bad: during the game, in selecting the roster, in subs for the game and for team
    game plans.

    A great team can score equally from run of play and from set pieces. (Germany WNT sure can)
     
  2. MichaelR

    MichaelR New Member

    Jun 12, 2003
    Philadelphia
    Either Dr. Bob doesn't know what he's talking about, or he's being very disingenuous. April's leadership has depreciated one of USSF's greatest assets, the USWNT.
     
  3. RevsRule

    RevsRule Member+

    NE Revs, LAFC
    Jun 9, 1999
    N. Eastern, Mass
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    quote:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    U.S. Soccer president Bob Contiguglia said that Heinrichs' "job is very secure." Her contract runs through next year's Olympics. "She's done a fabulous job," he added.

    But last night the Germans were better, taking a page out of the Americans' playbook to score off a set piece in the 15th minute .
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Give me one of what ever he's drinking. If they would start a collection from the fans to buy out her final year, I'll be the first in line to send in my money. How does taking the number 1 seed to the third place game amount to a fabulous job? I can't see anything but support coming out until after the final game though.

    We deserved to lose that game for trying to play a lame, high school kick and run game against Germany.

    April has blown it twice, has not developed enough young players to replace the oldest team in the tourney, and was clueless when things started going bad on what to do. Any experienced youth soccer coach could see that her game plan was bombing and yet she never switched gears.

    Yeah, give me some more of that! Let's extend her contract so we can go through another round of embarassment and prolong the pain. If she had any credibility, she'd resign and admit she failed but she won't. She's on to much of a power trip to do the right thing. I wonder if we'll even beat Canada at this point? If we choke on that one, will that be enough to send he walking?
     
  4. Adam Zebrowski

    Adam Zebrowski New Member

    May 28, 1999
    I agree fully the kick and run style needs to go..

    but the genesis of the kick and run style goes to andopn dorrance and all his success at unc and with the uswnt...

    it's a style which works...

    but it's a limited style...a style dependent on having better athletes than the other guys...

    so a fundamental change in THINKING is required...

    but USA and USSF won't do that......

    it'll take the rest of the world giving their female players the support which is generally lacking...and there'll be a day when this occurs...

    personally, I don't see those who run the ussf doing anything until the current system doens't work...

    The USWNT will be able to have success, win 95% of it's matches for a long period of time....

    but the needed phase change to a higher form of soccer will take a long time...

    and that's a true shame......

    the sad part is far too many people don't see anything wrong with how the USA women play...
     
  5. MichaelR

    MichaelR New Member

    Jun 12, 2003
    Philadelphia
    I agree that Germany's win was no fluke. I also agree with Adam that the US must adapt and evolve in its soocer to stay ahead of the rest of the world in the women's game.

    But the truth is that we have more depth than Germany, and we have the talent to play a more sophisticated brand of soccer.

    There should not be an "either-or" switch in the US coach's head that dictates we play an all-out power game, or a pure finesse game, with no shifts between gears. In this WWC, for instance, Abby Wambach was a revelation because of April's smart choice to focus the offense on her, but the great playmaker, Aly Wagner, was largely wasted in an offensive scheme that did not take full advantage of her talents. Great teams, and the USWNT is potentially a great team, are fluent in more than one style of play, and can change to suit the opponent or game situation. April doesn't seem to understand that. She overcommits to one style at the beginning of a tournament (Olympics 2000 and WWC 2003) and can't seem to fine tune the machine.
     
  6. MarioKempes

    MarioKempes Member+

    Real Madrid, DC United, anywhere Pulisic plays
    Aug 3, 2000
    Proxima Centauri
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Dr. Bob: "We're gonna party like it's 1966."

    Dr. Bob: "April has succeeded in bringing 'kick and run' back to the US National Team. I wish Bruce would follow suit."
     
  7. Awe-Inspiring

    Awe-Inspiring New Member

    Jan 18, 2000
    I respectfully disagree. In the beginning of the tournament, Lilly and Hamm were the focus of the offense. It shifted to Wambach because against Nigeria and North Korea she was overpowering and against Norway she was utterly dominant. How could Heinrichs not have kept Wambach in there?

    The rest of the players did not adjust well -- they sent every ball Wambach's way, which Wambach admirably tried to handle, but it made the USA too predictable -- and the Germans had the horses to handle that. Ultimately, too often Wambach had to try to finish herself because nobody else was available to help her up front.

    Heinrichs didn't take advantage of Wagner because on the pitch there was nothing of her of which to take advantage. She played like a deer caught in headlights. She didn't make plays to take the ball from others, she didn't get herself open and she didn't handle the ball well when it came her way. I'm sorry, but it's not the coach's fault every time a player chokes or disappears in crunch time. Heinrichs did everything to work Wagner back in, but she was absent against Nigeria, not too effective against North Korea and rightfully on the pine against Norway.
     
  8. FanOfFutbol

    FanOfFutbol Member+

    The Mickey Mouse Club or The breakfast Club
    May 4, 2002
    Limbo
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    I "Hope" this is like the president stating the he has full confidence in someone just before they are forced/asked to resign.

    A statement like that is often the kiss of death in politics and there are few organizations more political than the USSF.
     
  9. Adam Zebrowski

    Adam Zebrowski New Member

    May 28, 1999
    wambach was effective because she could over power certain players...

    unfortunately...in a game where athletes are comparable, this overpowering trait isn't all that effective....

    this direct soccer, only works aaginst inferior talent...

    the problem was USA was getting by by NOT playing a more tactical diverse game...

    largely due to the absence of Mamillian and O'reilly due to injury, and bad form from Millbrett...

    Foudy was a mere shadow of her former play...

    The basic question is style of play...

    Aly Wagner style is far more creative, would fit much better into how the swedes play...

    and her style does NOT fit into how Heinrichs decided to go with Parlow and Wambach...

    Wagner needs players similar to her style, for success...

    the direct style of parlow and wambach to NOT fit into hiow Wagner best plays...

    The HUGE problem is, USA can get away with this DIRECT style, simply because they have BETRTER ATHLETES...

    the kick and run approach has proven successful...

    but it is FLAWED.
     
  10. RevsRule

    RevsRule Member+

    NE Revs, LAFC
    Jun 9, 1999
    N. Eastern, Mass
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have to disagree with part of this. The Sweden game was the first time I really watched Abby play and I thought she was unstoppable. I thought she was the next big thing in womens's soccer. I was partially right in that she was unstoppable .... by Sweden. In watching her against Germany, I've changed my mind about her. I now feel that she's all hustle and heart and not too much in the skill department. In fact, I think she's the ultimate product of a failed system. When the hustle thing didn’t work (Germany), she did not have the skill to fall back on. I will need to see her again to be sure but my gut feeling is that she’s not the answer and unless she has other aspects in her game that she’s hiding, she could be a victim when the big broom cleans house
     
  11. Bora Fan

    Bora Fan Member

    Dec 14, 1998
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What I don't understand is why Heinrich's contract doesn't have options tied to results after each tournament?

    You know - first option comes up at WCQ - second option after the WWC.

    That would give the Federation the "option" of firing her and bringing someone else for the Olympics.

    The fact that she's got a contract through 04 tells me that they guaranteed the entire 4 years - which for someone like Heinrich with zero international coaching experience seems unnecessary.

    I mean - Arena had to push for his guaranteed contract - but he had the leverage of being the best/only man for the job.

    Heinrich could be replaced by a number of coaches including Dicicco.
     
  12. Bobplayed

    Bobplayed New Member

    Dec 23, 2002
    Granville, Ohio
    wow in two games someone can go from being the future of American soccer to being a symbol of a failed system! chicken little much? Could it be that Wambach although she is a good soccer player, is also somewhat human? Could it be that all soccer players have their limitations, that they all play better and worse depending on the style of the team playing against them!? Nah that makes no sense whatsoever...
     
  13. Awe-Inspiring

    Awe-Inspiring New Member

    Jan 18, 2000
    I respectfully dissent.

    She was unstoppable against Sweden, Nigeria, North Korea and Norway.

    She was more than brute force, too. Examples: (a) the opening goal against Sweden; (b) repeated head flicks, chest traps, turns and starts of lead passes and runs against Nigeria; (c) heel-flick goal and blowing past Nigerian defender; (d) beautiful finish in the run of play against North Korea; (e) several times flat-out beating Norway defenders (who are not chumps) (including late-game ball control and beating a defender in no space down the right sideline). These were skill plays.

    I'll reserve judgment as to the Germany game (still awaiting the tape), but anyone who would rush to clean house based on one game when she electrified fans with the other four games is foolish.

    Besides, she's (a) 23; (b) still developing skills; and (c) capable of getting even better.

    Let's be real. She's the only American player ever even to evoke thoughts of comparisons to Michelle Akers. Clean house? Get real.

    P.S. In the 1998 men's final, there was a Brazilian forward who helped get the team to the final game, in which he stunk up the joint worse than a roomful of people plagued with "turista." Oh, yeah, his name was Ronaldo. Good thing for Brazil they didn't clean house based on one game.
     
  14. Bleacherbutt

    Bleacherbutt New Member

    May 1, 2001
    Rochester, NY
    Sorry, I am going to hafta pile on here.

    Abby is much more versatile than we saw during WWC. Ape pretty much used her as a blunt instrument. While at Florida, she played both striker and the 10. She has vision and skills we didn't even get to see yet. Abby was a US bright spot in the WWC (Cat was the other), let's hope that April's leadership doesn't turn this bright spot into a grease spot.
     
  15. denver_mugwamp

    denver_mugwamp New Member

    Feb 9, 2003
    Denver, Colorado
    You can forget about winning...

    If you go to this thread...
    http://soccernet.espn.go.com/wwc/headlinenews?id=279802
    ...you'll see that April has no intention of replacing her long-in-the-tooth players with younger ones.

    "With the Olympics just 10 months away, if you believe that we need to get rid of some of these older players, clean house and go younger, then I think it's a mistake,'' U.S. coach April Heinrichs said Tuesday. "It's really a mistake.''

    And if you go to this thread...
    http://www.lacancha.com/news_020100.html
    ...you'll see why.

    "In addition to continuing to make the U.S. Women's National Team the highest paid women's soccer team in the world, the historic new partnership also guarantees continued payroll parity with the U.S. Men's National Team. That includes paying the women $2,000 per appearance (which is identical to the men's fee) and balancing the U.S. Women's expected bonus compensation with that of the U.S. Men for appearances in major tournaments and victories against top opponents."

    This team is no longer about finding the best players to compete with the rest of the world. It's about financially rewarding an aging clique of over-the-hill veterans. The USWNT stands to split hundreds of thousands dollars in both the WC and the Olympics. Do you think they want to share this windfall with the tounger players?
     
  16. RevsRule

    RevsRule Member+

    NE Revs, LAFC
    Jun 9, 1999
    N. Eastern, Mass
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: You can forget about winning...

    RIP April, you'll go down with the ship you built
     
  17. Kqql

    Kqql Member

    Sep 22, 2003
    Great Analysis by Merrill of Cybersoccernews.com

     

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