None, or maybe very few of us, know April personally or have even seen her coach a practice. We are not privy to all of the politics that go on behind the scenes (OK, save one SI article, which is hearsay). Good results in international football are hard to come by. I don't have any problem with the results that the team has achieved thus far except for the Germany match last WC. My problem has always been with the way that the team plays, the strategies and tactics employed to win matches. The style has not been entertaining, the tactics are sometimes bewildering, and sometimes the results have not been what one might expect, win or lose. In yesterdays Olympic final, Brazil could very well have won the game, and probably should have in regulation. A bit of luck was on the side of the US side, but in the overtime the US had the will and determination to pull out the victory. One might hypothesize that if the US had had more technical ability, a more coherent gameplan, and a greater commitment to the short passing game, the US might have won in style. Despite the criticism, there is a lot that April has done right. This latest victory was simply amazing. The players are very fit and they obviously play hard for one another. The set plays seem well orchestrated (as witnessed yesterday), and the use of Tarpley in place of the slower Wagner paid off handsomely. You don't reach WC and Olympic finals living on utter incompetence, but with the great personnel at her disposal, one should expect this team to do great things. The glass is neither full nor empty, but the question is, is it half full or half empty? On balance, I would say the latter, and expect to see a coaching change at the end of the year.
Good post. To be fair, Heinrich's tenure has been more about negotiating what the Fab 5 would let her do than about her calling the shots for the team on her own (which I'm not really sure she could do in the 1st place). It's one thing to consider the players' input when it comes to making decisions, but quite another to manage as best you can around the "block veto" power of the team's senior members. While I credit the squad greatly for their resolve in getting the Brazil result yesterday, Heinrich's stock sunk several levels in my eyes yesterday when she risked a game of poker over starting Foudy, and she shouldn't have by any professional standards. Foudy was beaten time after time after time in the 1st half, so much so that even Hamm had resorted to giving deep defensive cover to make up for Foudy's deficiencies. We got away with it in the end, thanks to the determination of the remaining squad, but just as easily could have been punished and been 2 goals or more down. This is either a coach who wasn't thinking clearly, or a coach who's hands were tied on the starting roster selections. That she was even willing to risk the loss going into the final match confirmed my suspicions that she isn't the coach the team needs going forward, but apparently is the coach the current senior players could best keep under control. Good win nonetheless and congrats to the team.
many good points here. but because april has never coached the nats w/out this unnatural fab5 cabal, one has to ask how it's so clear she's incapable of taking on what promises to be a very different dynamic?
From a Mark Zeigler article in the San Deigo Union-Tribune: Quote: There's also speculation that coach April Heinrichs, who won her first major title after losing the 2000 Olympics and 2003 World Cup, could be gone as well. Asked to discuss her future, all she said was: "I feel a little bit as if you asked a pregnant woman if she wants another child. Now is not the time. Where is David Crosby when you need him?
So the new cabal becomes Lilly, Chastain, Wambach, Foudy (pulling strings from behind) and who knows who else, and we're right back to the same thing. In my mind, once you've shown that you're willing to compromise common professional standards, you can be made to compromise them over and over again, so that you're no longer an effective professional.
assuming there still would be an intimidating alliance (far from certain), i'm not convinced any new coach would have an easier time, unless he/she was specifically hired to counter that influence. not defending ape, but i think we're wandering into conspiratorial murk here.
Well, if April gets fired or resigns, I hope all the wannabes on Big Soccer who have been critical of her coaching are getting their resumes ready. It'll be good to see what they can do.
It's a lot easier to Monday-morning quaterback, isn't it. I don't mean that in mean way...just joshing with you.
I think this may be the winner. However, philly coach (kirk....), may be Tom Stone (hope not), Petro - don't believe that AD would be interested - not that he doesn't make me sick. I'd be ok with Pia - or what about Tony taking another turn if the WUSA2 doesn't take off. I don't believe that APE maximizes the individuals contributors enabling the whole to exceed the sum of the parts. The team wins despite her not because of her. I question her ability to manage a tourney player selection - not only who she picks, but how she manages her bench. The US played more minutes in the Olympics but APE did not spread out the minutes to ensure that players would be fresh later in the tourney. Technique is lacking. Speed and endurance while always a cornerstone is insufficient if the US is to continue to be successful. Putting players in positions in which they are unlikely to succeed. Julie Foudy should never be a RM - she lacks the speed to get up and down the line and is a detriminate for both offense and defense. While I acknowledge that she has leadership skills that are an asset for the team, APE must not leave her in an OT game after she suffered the severe ankle injury days before.
Can someone provide me with some links or commentary about Heinrichs' dynamics with the team? Who did she visibly clash with besides Milbrett? Anything about her relationship with the veterans & also US Soccer, making the various rosters, her hiring and who else was considered for the job...the particulars of DiCiccio's exit, etc. I'm catching up on my soccer gossip. Thanks.
I think it'll be just fine if USSF gives her another contract as long as she has good people around her ( Leone, Pia etc etc )