I cringe when I think of what a Jill Ellis "A-Team" would look like against Denmark in Europe. The score wouldn't have been 5-3. It would have been 5-1.
It would be funny to see one of the goalkeepers who were on the bench for US to step up to a media mike and say about Marta's goals, "There is no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves"
I'm getting less and less confident in Hope. Since her domestic violence case started she's been making costly (or near costly) errors she didn't make before. Remember those passes straight to the T&T forwards? And the near post goal today. Stuff like that.
It's safe to say now that 2014 is the worst year in the history of the USWNT, and it's not even close. With zero wins at the Algarve Cup (last place in their group), including giving up 5 goals to Denmark, a loss to Pia, a draw against the de-facto Canadian U-20 team earlier in the year, only beating Trinidad & Tobago by a score of 1-0, plus the draw against China, and the loss against Brazil (Marta Hat Trick), this is the momentum that Gulati and Ellis have pictured together in their vision of the USWNT heading in to the next World Cup. When looking back on it, Wambach, Rampone, Boxx, should have been blown up after winning the Olympic Gold Medal, and the youth should have been developed "exclusively" in preparation for 2015 (Alex Morgan, Leroux, Press, Hagen, Horan, Ohai, Brian, Tymrak, DiBernardo, S. Mewis, Johnston, Dunn, O'Hara, Engen, Roccaro, Franch, Jane Campbell, etc).
I agree with this. People tend to blow one loss out of proportion. If this game was it, I would caution against drawing too many conclusions. But your recap of 2014 shows the truth, the bigger picture. That this team has plenty of talent but the foundation is creaky and can be exploited.
Equalizer is going to have a field day with this. The China story has 560 comments. Imagine what a loss to Brazil will do...
Marta isn't invincible. The USWNT that played back in CONCACAF back in October wouldn't have allowed even a player as good as her to single-handedly dismantle its defense like that on three different occasions. Conceding three unanswered goals is bad. Doing so after gaining a two-goal lead in the first ten minutes is absolutely unacceptable. And doing so by allowing any player, even a player as skilled as Marta, to get hat-trick is simply ludicrous. If they want to put a third star above their crest, the USWNT can't allow any player, as good as she is, to plow through their defense like that time and time again. It was a miracle they survived the Sinclair hat-trick fiasco against Canada in the 2012 Olympics. It's just not something that a World Cup contender lets happen. And the fact that we've let it happen less than six months before the tournament starts scares the hell out of me.
I like Buchanan as a defender for Canada. The USWNT does not have a youthful up and comer like her with that type of athleticism at center back. It's too late to experiment with that right now, but immediately after the 2015 WWC, it's time to convert some faster players to that center back role and experiment. Maya Hayes perhaps? Not sure if she even has that type of desire in her DNA to defend like a vicious lion, but she does bring enough pace. Cheyna Williams or Jamia Fields from Florida State? Maybe even call in Jessica Price from the FSU 2012 team, she was about as athletic as a player that I've ever seen at the college level. Maybe Satara Murray from UNC should get a look.
Exactly. I don't understand why no one fouled her like the Brazilian defender fouled Heath late in the game. Just get a body on her and take the foul/card but perhaps prevent a goal.
LOL. This is exactly why I mentioned we need to develop some young center backs, and with speed and hunger.
OK...here where I was disappointed (the most) 1. When I saw the video today where Ellis made the excuse of lack of fitness for the China tie. All those players expet Brian & Mewis were out of season and when they came back was on Ellis and USSoccer. Totally lame excuse. What sh needed to say is the head coach didnt properly prepare for this tournament. 2. Ellis is an awful bench coach. I no way of knowing how constructive her practices r and the players seem to like her as a leader but I do get to observe her during matches and she is awful. Her starting line up was ill conceived, her subs came too late and after the subs her line-up was still wrong. 3. Apparently Gustavsson is running the defense. has he ever heard of Marta? Oh wait, he coached her. How he can allow a player whose game he knows so well tear him apart, and she did is pathetic. 4. The team with all those veterans out there panicked! As soon as they got behind it was long ball after long ball instead of trying to build good opportunities. Or perhaps they still arent fit enough to play tournament soccer.
No. It didn't escape me that he listed five players, all of them African American, only one of which is actually a defender. The others are attacking midfielders or forwards. It was deliberate and obnoxious. In other words, he's baaaaack.
LOL actually they still have a chance if they get enough goals against Argentina and Brazil doesnt lay down against China.
Having Wambach lumber around for 90+ minutes was a great display of her belief in playing fit players, eh?
No. She didn't start Sept 18th vs Mexico or Oct 17th vs Guatemala (you know, the game in Chicago where Press' club team is based...).
I just got done listening to the Jill Ellis post game show. She said the reason why they lost was because the Brazil team gave them Spam and Reese's before the match. That was her excuse. Too much chocolate, and too much spam.
If I was Brasil's coach I'd play the young players and let China have a chance to win. no matter what happens, it's still a win.
I heard that stat onFOX...I would have looked it up but didnt want to waste a week lumbering randomly about the USSoccer site.