I've seen a lot of people both glorifying and putting down Rapinoe's performance so far in the World Cup. She is one of the most frustrating members of the team because of her inconsistency issues. Yet, based on all the statistics, the team is much better when Rapinoe is on the field. All these statistics are via ESPN. Take this what you will, but I don't think she deserves all the negative comments I've seen about how she's only contributed one time with her cross to Wambach.
I don't think anyone's going to be knocking Rapinoe after the France and Brazil games. She was an obvious sparkplug who made an incredible cross to get the equalizer in the Brazil game and helped completely turn the momentum around in the France game, eventually assisting Morgan to put the dagger in Les Bleus.
Beautiful job twisting stats and only choosing the one's that make your case. You should be in the debt ceiling negotiations. You leave out the Sweden match, when she was less than effective and was subbed out in the 73rd minute. She has had some great moments and she has had some times when she couldn't make an accurate square pass. There is no denying she was a difference maker off the bench the last two games. Beyond that, I am not sure what the point of this thread is.
There are a bunch of anti-Rodriquez and anti-LePeilbet threads so I didn't see a problem in a pro-Rapinoe thread. Besides, I found these stats rather interesting and since they are hidden away on the ESPN site, I figured I'd put them on here. Didn't see much of an issue starting a new thread since stats like these would likely get lost in the 1000+ post long threads.
I'd love to see a heat map for the games and a ground covered/average speed stat table like the Castrol stats gave us for the men's WC. Those Castrol stat breakdowns were facinating.
Here's where a majority of the stats are. If you follow Paul Carr on Twitter he is always giving various stats. It's pretty interesting. http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/blog/_/name/five_aside http://twitter.com/#!/PCarrESPN
Funny thing about Megan Rapinoe, my relatives and friend are watching the games with me and they notice her really well because her hair stands out. They say she has "David Beckham" hair and call her " David Beckham" whenever they are talking about her. I usually correct them and tell them to learn her name but they never listen to me. I think people like Rapinoe because she seems to have a fun personality on and off the pitch.
How can you not love a woman who celebrates like this.... http://www.isiphotos.net/images/index.gallery.php?gid=1141&img=55 and this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxywlzPj93U&feature=youtu.be&t=5m6s I now call it "going into her special place" lol
In the youtube link I think she's practicing gut punching a Brazilian. I saw Rapinoe cut from the wing into open space once. I bet that lost her a lot of fans, especially fans who know that civilized soccer players don't do dirty things like that. Hmm. I'd call it Peter Pan hair myself.
I think somehow that combo makes her more attractive than Hope. But at the same time, with Morgan and Rapinoe coming off the bench, if it ain't broke...
Why do people feel that such player must be a starter? Do you even know what luxury we have for Rapinoe come off the bench?
Well the unstated obvious in my mind is that ideally you'd have 2 Rapinoes, or really 11 starting star players with 3 stars for subs.
She's done so well as a sub, I think that's probably how she should be used in the final too. If the US is down or it's level, we'll need her coming off the bench.
Personally, I want Rapinoe to start in place of Lloyd, with Cheney in the middle. That shift in the semifinal was the most effective change the US has made in any game so far this tournament. It's great to be able to bring Rapinoe off the bench, but if it makes the starting lineup weaker, it's better to start her. That said, her weakest game of the tournament was her one start against Sweden. I don't anticipate any changes to the starting lineup from last game (with the possible exception of Buehler returning from suspension). Honestly, I wouldn't have much of a problem with that, though I could do without Lloyd's constant long-range shooting.
It's only 30 minutes in, but Megan Rapinoe has been the best player for the US so far in the Final. Whether she should have started or come in as a sub will be seen in the second half. As for now, she has been the best player out there.
Rapinoe is the female Clint Mathis. She'll turn the ball over, turn the ball over, turn the ball over .... and then make a great play for a goal. Fantastic ball on the assist.
Agreed! Is Rapinoe a little erratic at times yes but she's vastly improved this year. Actually I think she was playing better soccer this world cup than she did leading up to it. I have been thoroughly impressed with her tournament and I think she will be a great player in the future. She just needs to learn a little more composure but she is on the right track in my opinion.
I want Rapinoe and Clint Mathis, our Lord, to make babies, preferably with a camcorder and a tripod too.