Beat vs Red Stars - 07/06/10

Discussion in 'Atlanta Beat' started by DemitriMaximoffX, Jul 6, 2010.

  1. DemitriMaximoffX

    Aug 19, 2006
    So...anybody have any thoughts as to how we might line up on Wednesday night? Injuries and suspensions all over the place, especially in attack and central defense. I fiddled around with the formation creator with some potential lineups. I went with Blank as Bishop's partner in central defense because I refuse to believe we'd go with Nolin and Bishop together again after the second half disaster on Saturday.

    [LINEUP-4-3-3]Rasmussen, Yamaguchi, Aluko, Chalupny, Miyama, Zerboni, Larkin, Bishop, Blank, Robinson, Solo[/LINEUP-4-3-3]

    An attacking option with Rasmussen joining Yamaguchi and Aluko up top. This might not be ideal for Zerboni, with her skills more suited to playing on the wing. Kerr could possibly replace her in this formation.

    [LINEUP-4-4-2]Yamaguchi, Aluko, Rasmussen, Chalupny, Miyama, Zerboni, Larkin, Bishop, Blank, Robinson, Solo[/LINEUP-4-4-2]

    Fairly stock 4-4-2.

    [LINEUP-4-5-1]Yamaguchi, Rasmussen, Zerboni, Miyama, Aluko, Chalupny, Larkin, Bishop, Blank, Robinson, Solo[/LINEUP-4-5-1]

    A more defensive variant of the top formation, with Zerboni coming wider and Aluko playing as a sort of shadow striker behind Yamaguchi.

    [LINEUP-3-5-2]Aluko, Yamaguchi, Chalupny, Rasmussen, Kerr, Miyama, Zerboni, Bishop, Robinson, Blank, Solo[/LINEUP-3-5-2]

    A formation with three central defenders and Chalupny and Zerboni defending high up the pitch against Red Star wingers. Larkin goes out of the defense and Kerr comes into the center of midfield.
     
  2. Snail_ATL

    Snail_ATL Member

    Jul 5, 2010
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    I prefer the 4-5-1 lineup, but I'd put Aluko up front with Mami behind her. The reason for the 4-5-1 lineup is that we concede way too many goals to go for an attacking lineup that would leave our two center-backs exposed. The first step to building a winning team is a strong defense -- not conceding goals. The reason for Mami in mid-field instead of Aluko is that, from what I've seen, Mami is much more active in playing box-to-box (she worked her socks of doing this for a period in the last home game, before Aluko was taken off and Mami took a more forward role), she's stronger defensively, and she's more creative in attack (she can supply Aluko). I think Aluko should be up front to simply put it in the back of the net when she gets the chance.

    My preferred formation to try out would actually be one that you don't have up there: a 4-2-3-1, with Aya and whoever is our strongest defensive midfielder in the middle (Chalupa or maybe Nolin? Aya to serve as playmaker and the other to serve as enforcer), the three in front of that being Rasmussen on the left and Mami in the middle and I suppose Zerboni on the right, and Aluko up front.

    Have we ever tried a formation like this?
     
  3. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm sorry but this team is a mess out on the field. A big hot mess. Some due to things beyond the team & managment's control (injuries) some self-inflicted. Has O'Sullivan lost the team? CRS is beatable but the team has to track runners, defend, and, you know, care. It sounds like ATL didn't do any of those three things on Sat.

    With the absence of the starting two central defenders and a midfield that already acts like a sieve, going w/ a 4-3-3 isn't going to help matters. Blank is likely going to have to be shifted back. Who is going to win a ball in central midfield? Chalu is going to have to suck it up and play on the backline this week.

    A 4-5-1 isn't ideal but Yamaguchi can sit in the hole behind Aluko but still defend a bit. Problem is this team just doesn't have the personnel right now to protect the fragile defense. Kerr is too soft for a holding mid. Miyama really should be on the outside and not the middle but this whole roster is put together with duct tape & silly string, without the MacGyver know-how.


    --------------Solo-------------
    Robinson---Blank---Bishop----Chalu
    --------------Larkin-------------
    Zerboni-------Miyama------Rasmussen
    --------Yamaguchi----------
    ----------------------Aluko--------


    Oh, and what is the deal w/ Chalu & her headaches/concussions that she continues to not be cleared by the USWNT but is cleared by ATL doctors? And why is no one reporting on this question/issue?
     
  4. DemitriMaximoffX

    Aug 19, 2006
    The Marietta Daily Journal says that Bishop and Nolin will be in central defense tonight. Am I going to have to beat the Carolyn Blank bandwagon drum until she gets some meaningful playing time? Come on.

    My main rationale for putting Mami up front instead of Aluko is that I think Yamaguchi can do a better job in holding up the ball to let midfielders get into the attack which is necessary for a single striker system to work. Neither are ideal for the role, to be honest, but I think Yamaguchi is a little better at it. I could certainly understand putting Aluko up top so Yamaguchi could make more of an impact box-to-box though.

    I would've put a 4-2-3-1 up above, but the code isn't in place for it. The problem with a formation with two holding midfielders is that I'm not sure we even have one appropriate player on the roster for such a role. Kerr certainly isn't going to hold that role down. Miyama is a OK stopgap option but is wasting her talents there, as would be the case with Chalupny. I actually think Bishop would be worth trying at the spot if she wasn't needed on the backline.

    I think it's very harsh to say that the team doesn't care any more. Zerboni, Chalupny, Mami, etc. all ran their socks off on Saturday from whistle-to-whistle. The problem in my mind is down to tactics in large part. The substitutions on Saturday were well off the mark. Why was the offense after Kia was sent off largely a matter of hitting long balls towards Aluko (and later Mami) who was one-on-three with three central defenders for the Pride. What was with the switch to 4-4-1 after the red card, a basic admission of trying to not get beaten too badly? Why were the Beat playing such a suicidally high line down to ten players and facing Marta?

    There has to be improvement over the next two games against what should in theory be the other two weakest teams in the league. If the dismal form of Saturday continues, it may be time for a change at the top.
     
  5. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks for the info on media report about the starting CDs. If that report is true, then (one hopes) Blank would do very nicely as the holding mid sitting on top of the back 4. Aluko is an out and out striker and nothing else. It would be a massive waste of her abilities to put her anywhere but up top. She can play alone or w/ a partner. Miyama & Yamaguchi are more suited to the sort of possession work you describe. And Miyama has an engine (or at least did last I saw of her).

    --------------Solo-------------
    Robinson---Nolin---Bishop----Chalu
    --------------Blank-------------
    Zerboni-------Miyama------Rasmussen
    --------Yamaguchi----------
    ----------------------Aluko--------

    As to the care factor vs FCGP, the (scant) reports I read may have been mistaken about that and if so, I apologize to the team. A high line vs FCGP isn't a horrid idea since Ellertson & McNeill have recovery speed (as long as the mids do their job tracking/defending). Once those two were out, yeah, it makes zero sense. As for the rest of it, yeah, I think the coach's seat is getting hot.
     
  6. MRAD12

    MRAD12 Member+

    Jun 10, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Whe I first saw Carolyn Blank with Athletica when they played the Red Stars in Chicago, I liked the way she played and the fluidity of her game.
    Excellent player.

    Maybe not as a CRS fan but as a fan of the league, glad to see her elevated to the Beat's first team. Hope she doesn't do too much damage to us tonight.
     
  7. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't know if it's been posted elsewhere, but McNeill received an additional two game suspension added on to the automatic one gamer she was serving tonight. So she will miss the Chicago game, the Boston game, and the Sky Blue match next week.

    http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/news/league-discipline.aspx

    Edit: And judging from Hope's tweets, she is pretty unhappy about that decision to put it mildly.
     
  8. DemitriMaximoffX

    Aug 19, 2006
    Can't really complain. I wonder how much scrutiny Milbrett's challenge on Ellertson was given by the league.

    Also, LOL at the community service being tacked on to the punishment. What is this, high school?
     
  9. MRAD12

    MRAD12 Member+

    Jun 10, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    It's raining and thunderstorm outside now here in Chicago. I hope it does it's thing and goes bye. I don't want rain throught the game tonight.
     
  10. Snail_ATL

    Snail_ATL Member

    Jul 5, 2010
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    If there were reports saying that the Beat players didn't care last Saturday, then I'd disagree. After going 2-0 down and a player down, we played well and really fought to get a goal back. I was really impressed by the work-rate of some of the players, especially Mami. And when the ref blew the final whistle, Miyama collapsed on the pitch right away. I'd say most of them worked their socks off!

    I think with the number of goals we've been conceding, we definitely need to play some variation of 4-5-1, with at least one holding midfielder who stays deep. My preference would be to have another alongside her who can play as a deep-lying playmaker (a kind of Pirlo or Xabi Alonso kind of player -- Xabi Alonso's playing that role right now for Spain, alongside Busquets). That second player doesn't need to be all that strong defensively, which is why I think Miyama would be good there. She has the vision and the passing ability to be the creative spark from deep in midfield. Mami can provide the creativity up front, behind Aluko.

    Anyway, we definitely need some rethinking tactically, because the results are not going our way despite having some real quality players. Wish I could watch the game tonight but it doesn't seem to be televised.
     
  11. Longtimesub

    Longtimesub Member

    May 18, 2009
    Community service part sounds silly...I think missing games because of suspension is good enough...
     
  12. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The community service has pretty much been common on the suspensions. I think Tony D. even had some last year when he was suspended for comments on the refs. When you think about, most of these players do so much community service anyhow, it's really not that big of a deal.

    Having not seen the play, I can't really comment about Milbrett's challenge on Ellertson, but I'd like to see the play. Unless Ellertson fell in front of Milbrett as she was kicking the ball, one would think it was a pretty dangerous play considering Ellertson's face is swollen up and she has a concussion.
     
  13. ForeverLOST108

    ForeverLOST108 Member+

    Jan 23, 2010
    Orlando
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It will be webcast.
     
  14. AAGunner3

    AAGunner3 Member

    Feb 14, 2002
    Atlanta, GA
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Tina Ellertson (sp?) suffered her injury in a slide tackle on the Beat's goal line... iirc to keep the ball from going out for a corner / deny Milbrett penetration closer to the net via the goal line. Don't know how 'boot' ended up in 'face' but I gather since no foul was called (or seen by the out of position CR) it wasn't reviewed at all.

    Despite the 4-0 result last week, I like the improvement in midfield play that I witnessed and the never quit attitude. We still lack good midfield transition many times (getting forward in support on the attack / picking up attackers and defending) and I wish there was a bit more 'blue collar work ethic' on the field but I felt the they did alright last week.

    Seems we tied CRS last night. 1-1
     
  15. Snail_ATL

    Snail_ATL Member

    Jul 5, 2010
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    I managed to watch most of the game on Chicago's webcast (Do we have our games webcast if they're home games? It's a nice feature), apart from the first 20 minutes and a 20 minute spell at the end when they had some technical difficulties and we lost the feed. I thought we looked better, and obviously the result is better. To be fair, Chicago will feel that they should have got all 3 points, but Hope made some decent saves and kept it at 1-1. I think they out-shot us by 16-6 or something like that. Rasmussen (the goalscorer) had a good game.

    From what I could tell, we were playing 4-5-1, with Mami behind Aluko. We still don't have the fluidity in midfield passing that other teams have, and we also resort to a lot of long balls forward, which is not really the type of football I like (also, our two frontmen -- frontladies? -- are short, so we have no target woman up front). Still, I'd say there are signs of improvement?

    Anyone get to watch the game straight through? I'd have a better sense if I could have watched it uninterrupted, but I was also trying to get some work done at the same time. (Not a good way to watch football.)
     
  16. futbolreal

    futbolreal Member

    Oct 31, 2009
    Something has been lost in transition from the old Beat to the new Beat. In their games on 5/9 and 5/16 the Beat against Sky Blue and Washington had a fast paced, fun game to watch with a lot of shots and excitement. This quick moment, accurate passes, fluid movement and possession hasn't been as evident since the post Memorial Day infusion of new players.
     
  17. AAGunner3

    AAGunner3 Member

    Feb 14, 2002
    Atlanta, GA
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, I roll my eyes and groan when I see yet another pointless, desperation long ball unless the defense is playing high...

    yeah, the new talent is needed and welcomed but ruined what team chemistry/telepathy we previously had... it'll come back eventually (I hope) but we'll be disappointed for a bit longer in the meantime.
     
  18. Longtimesub

    Longtimesub Member

    May 18, 2009

    Atlanta has one victory so far...Tina E, a former Athletica player, scored the winning goal...

    Yes, chemistry is important...But, I don't think its importance should be exaggerated...

    I remember what a former Dodger Eric Karros once said. One year, he played for a Dodger team which didn't play well. But, according to Karros, that Dodger baseball team had an excellent chemistry...
     
  19. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was thinking something similar but didn't want to say it...
     
  20. AAGunner3

    AAGunner3 Member

    Feb 14, 2002
    Atlanta, GA
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Was not trying to overstate it's importance... BUT - on field chemistry - that ability (and experience) to know where your team mate likes to receive that ball (at feet, leading to space, high, low, etc...), what runs to expect your team mate to make, what body queues/mannerisms clue you in to their decision making process/timing so that you can better anticipate their next move - is more what I was referring to. I don't think you can understate the advantage in good on-field chemistry.

    I couldn't really care less about how much they laugh at each other's jokes, how often they watch movies together and do each other's nails and hair.
     

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