http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=20879 along with Mitts, Fair and Benson... What doesn't April see in Iverson?
At some point Moore and Iverson should be brought into a camp. Seeing the names of the central defenders on that roster, makes me wonder. If it's next October and USA is playing Germany Iverson is the player I want out there against Prinz. But Heinrichs did call in Mitts and Benson along with Tullock. Iverson deserves a look far more than Mitts. As long as EI gets a look, I'll be satisfied. But one wonders about USSF and their marriage to college and youth level play. Watch the WUSA matches and ignore the politics.
You aren't kiddin'...Pearce, Bryan, Whalen; and to bring Scurry and Beene in the mix frankly really makes me wonder about a commitment to winning instead of playing favorites. They're on Pax; that's an oxymoron, I think Not enough people in the places that matter watch. Paul
Congratulations to Stacey Tullock. The national side is in dire need of effective holding mids, and this is a good audition for Tullock to state her case. Hope she makes the final 18. About Iverson. Team USA's central defender pool consists of Slaton, Sobrero, Fawcett, Chastain, among others. With the exception of Slaton, Iverson's better than the rest of them. About Melissa. I can't fault Ape for not calling her up because Team USA already has Beene, Scurry, and Mullinix. Those three, at one time or another, have been #1, and deserve to be at the camp. While Woosa is a competitive league, the international game is more tense and intense. The three have seen their share of scrapes in the international scene, and that's why they've been called up. Solo's in there because while she may never see action in '03, Ape needs to build for the future, beyond '03. Solo's called up because she needs to be immersed in the intense competitive environment that camp provides, something she won't ever see in college. In order for Melissa to get a call-up, she needs to: 1) lead the league in save percentage, 2) improve her footwork, and 3) snag every ball that comes inside the 6 instead of punching it away. If Melissa gets all three, she gets a call-up. Congratulations to Fair, Benson, and Mitts. I hope the outside backs make the final 18.
The save percentage gap between her and Mullinix was just .025 or so; second in the entire league. Is it that much of a difference? Her footwork seems to be OK, and she was in the bottom rung when it came to catches and punches in the regular season. Scurry (95!), Beene (93) and Mullinix (57) had more than Melissa did (54). Scurry and Beene did have more losses, but that's rubbing it in a bit...How do you find out if somebody has what it takes unless you give them a chance to see what they're made of in the international venue? The league won't start up again until April, and by then the coach's mind will probably be made up. I don't think DiCicco would have any problem with Melissa in trainingcamp. The wrong woman is coaching the national team - it should be Lauren Gregg, not Heinrichs, but that's another topic for down the road. I just think Scurry is on the downside, and I don't want Mullinix anywhere near a major competition after what happened in Sydney. Beene was watching the playoffs on TV. Paul
O, no! She won't be able to play for England now. We have to spread the talent around. I wish Iverson would be called up. What about Tietjen too?
GKs are a different breed. Int'l GKs and GK play is much more intense and more competitive than league play. One may have an off-season in league play, but when int'l tournaments come along, the ones who have already been there get the call. Cases in point - Oliver Kahn, David Seaman. In international GKing, coaches will favor the ones with international experience, regardless of their league performance. Coaches may bring innovative and unorthodox changes to field tactics and formations, but when it comes to GKing, they will revert to making the conservative choice(s). A little-discussed point in international futbol is that when you're only third-best in your position, chances are good that you'll get bumped off in favor of a U-21, even if his/her skills are not as high as yours. That's the nature of the beast in international coaching. Always has been. Always will be. So in camp rosters and international tournaments, unless you're the best or 2nd-best in your position, you're on the outside looking in. I wish Moore got called up. But unless Moore (or Luckenbill) is/are the undisputed best at her position, and with other GKs with international experience, neither one will get a call-up from Ape.
Adam i am so tired of everytime mitts get call up someone should get a look at in stead of her.Iverson is not compeating with mitts she has to talk to joy or kate.Mitts belongs on the team. lets go down on the outside d and tell who should be there.
So far as I can tell, April doesn't see... I think Iverson and Moore should both get a look, but no one cares what I think.
Mitts got called into the Norway camp, then got hurt. My point is bring in Iverson for the Scotland camp, and give her a shot. The big camp is the Nike Cup camp. I'm NOT demeaning Mitts, but I'm saying Iverson deserves a look. Put Mitts Iverson Slaton and Benson out there, and you won't find a better back 4. I assume the infatutation with foot speed is what's blinding Heinrich's. As to Moore and experience, Seaman's little mistake against Ronaldihno show you even the most experienced screw up. My belief is Scotland and US Cup camps should invite those who have proven themselves in WUSA. You don't seriously believe USA won't qualify for China do we? Next spring leading into Algarve Cup, the 20-25 roster candidates should be determined. I don't know if Heinrichs can make the generational change needed at the international level or whether her friendships with certain players blind her to their lowering skill levels. She has a very diffucult job, and I wouldn't want to be in her shoes.
Adam all i know is when it comes to outsided D Mitts belongs there.Slaton and Benny and for the the fact that Brandi bring so much to the table with guts and class can play as long as she wants.give me another outside D who should be there besides Mitts.
I think we all agree, playing well in WUSA should give you a shot at the national side. French has deserved a look. C Moore has deserved a look. And so does Iverson. Mitts and Benson are getting a 2nd look. And ever since I saw Tullock at a scrimmage in March, I was impressed. Her composure on the ball is so unAmerican, she has the ability to use her body and not lose it, and to make the linking pass forward. I believe Tullock has played for U-20 or U-19 or U-17, so can't play for England anyway. If Tullock could, I'm sure she'd be there against Iceland.
French,Sorry don't remember much of her this year.Might have seen her on the bench one or two games.C.Moore is outside D?
Don't get the CyberRays fans started on the wisdom of benching Frenchie. C. Moore has played mostly central D for the Freedom this year - I guess her man-marking role is considered central D.
Too bad you didn't bother to pay attention during the other games. Frenchie finished the season second in the WUSA in scoring for true defenders (right behind Danielle Slaton), and had a very solid year defensively as well. She sat for a couple of games while Sawyers tinkered with lineup combinations (and the fans all got ready to kill him), and then she was back in the starting lineup for the games that were critical if the 'Rays were to make the playoffs (after Ian got his head out of the sand and realized that it was pretty stupid to have her on the bench). French deserves another look for the NT.
So you are saying she had a better season then everybody but Slaton and it was just Ian playing with the team that is why she sat.The only reason Mitts sat was becase of a hip pointer.She one of the few player who played every min. last year.
I am saying she had a better season offensively than anyone but Slaton among true defenders (those who played only as defenders all season). As to her sitting only because Ian was playing with the line-up, yes, that is exactly what I am saying. And, obviously, he decided the team was better with her in the line-up because the experiment only lasted a few games. Perhaps you didn't notice that so did French, except for one WUSA game she missed because of a National team call-up. Otherwise, she played every minute she was available.
Sorry did Mitts not play D all year.Look up sats for this year French had two more points then Mitts and the rays D was rank 1 2 or maybe 3 this season
Uh...Where do you think I said Mitts didn't play D all year? Also, French had 3 more points in the regular season. French had 7, 1 goal and 5 assists. Mitts had 4, all assists. You wanted me to look at some stats? Ok, fine. Here are some numbers to ponder. Please note that French has played approximately 200 minutes more than Mitts in her WUSA career (since that seems to mean something to you), and in those 200 minutes French has 9 more points to show for it: French career stats: GP GS MIN G A PTS SHT SOG B FC FS C E 40 38 3335 2 11 15 26 18 2 30 30 5 0 Mitts career stats: GP GS MIN G A PTS SHT SOG B FC FS C E 36 36 3137 0 6 6 4 1 1 43 29 4 0 Look, you seem to be totally misunderstanding my point. I have not been ripping Mitts. I am simply saying French should get a look at the NT if Mitts is getting a look. You asked who else besides Mitts deserved a look at the Nats, to which I responded French. I was not taking "besides" to mean "instead of", but "in addition to" (both definitions are correct). French ALSO deserves a look at the NT, that is my point. However, since all you want to do is rip French, I've decided my participation in this conversation is over. My apologies to the Charge faithful for littering your forum with this argument, but uneccessary French-ripping is something I'm just not good about letting go. edited to add: sorry about the stats looking sloppy--I can't get them for format right! They're spaced correctly when I'm typing, but they aren't posting that way. Just go the the links and sroll down to the bottom!