How many programs do you think truly try and develop players? Most do not have the luxury of that because most programs are filled with kids for whom this is it.
I have no idea. I know Mark does and Swanson. I think Cromwell is the most overrated coach out there.
IF memory serves, it may have come off a corner kick or other set piece. They only very rarely came forward.
A couple of things I noticed. 1. Nesbeth again gets the start over Zhao or Nighswonger. In post game he praised LN/ “Her fitness, her discipline, her commitment to using her physicality is the difference,” said head coach Mark Krikorian. “Last year she came in as a young player and a big star with her national team but had not played at the speed and intensity here. She has quickly learned to adjust her play and demands that are going on here. I thought she played well and I am happy for her to see her knock in the goal but I thought she played well all game.” 2. Zipay got the start but only got 16 minutes. 3. Ran Iwai started the 2nd half and got 59 minutes 4. I give credit to KMac for helping create the one goal. A ball put forward into the box and KMac is barreling in like a runaway train; meanwhile the GK dives for it and it slips away. Nesbeth strikes it in between a defender's legs for the goal. 5. I thought the Ref was calling it tighter on us than he was on them. Just call it the same way on both sides. 6. Jodi Brown is going to have some feasting on high pressure teams IMO.
Here is a speculative question for Noles. When Heather Payne gets back, whose minutes will she steal? Or will she sit next to Newton? If I had to guess, I'd say she steals Zipay and Flynn's minutes. Just a guess.
I'm going to go with Zipay. Any idea of when she comes back? Here are the October matches for the UEFA qualifiers. https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/matches/2021/qualifying/#/mt/2020/10 Looks like Ireland only has one more game on October 23rd and one on December 1st.
Maybe some of Lynch’s minutes? She doesnt seems to impact the game much since coming back from injury. I wouldn’t be surprised if Iwai takes over for her too given the play we’ve seen from the two.
I still like Lynch a lot. She's not elite good, but she is good and she is aggressive. I too love Iwai although in the last game she took a few long shots, or crosses gone awry, that were lollipops. Flynn and Zipay have good potential, especially Zipay. I hope Mark continues to give them meaningful minutes, but that would mean going against his MO. We'll see. I don't recall HP being particularly quick. Am I remembering wrong?
Yeah, I am comfortable with Lynch up there. I dunno why we didn't see more of her over Newton last year unless we can chalk it up to lingering recovery. This roster is so deep, though. I am not sure where else minutes come from for some of the talented folks not starting. Between Roque, Carle, Madril, Berkely, Pavlisko, Howell that's 6 players taking a full 90 minutes. That leaves five spots for the 11 of Iwai, Brown, Payne, Nighswonger, Zhao, Lynch, McFarland, Robbins, Zipay, Nesbeth, Flynn to rotate through. Add in another if Bogren takes a spot on the backline and maybe Carle or Madril see minutes in mid. Whew. You better contribute in one of those five spots in the minutes you get or you've got six really talented young women sitting on the bench breathing down your neck. It's a nice problem to have as a fan. In the end, I have a lot of respect for Mark and trust his eyes much more than my own (and he gets to see way more in training and development). Happy for him to have so many options to mix around. It's a weird season obviously. I hope everyone stays healthy and team gets good time to gel and develop before what could be an exciting spring.
Does less I assume means win titles? She seems popular with her players and the ones who want to play on seem well prepared.
I can't speak for CH, but I think he is saying that UCLA recruits at the highest level domestically, with the occasional international stud (Fleming) thrown in. Given so many high level players, he would have expected more titles. Stanford is in the same position, but they have 3 titles to show for it and have been dominating the PAC for a few years. There is no way to prove this, but I truly believe Mark would have several nattys over the last 15 years if he had UCLAs talent year in and year out.
No measure is perfect. I would go first with graduation rate for those who stayed 4 years or transferred in and completed their 4. Going pro is only an OK metric, because for all but a very few, pro soccer doesn't pay very well. Many of these young women who don't have WNT aspirations may choose to skip, or have only a brief stint in pro soccer. They get on with their career of choice.
Quick update: As you know the team had the week off. Therefore the coaches had them scrimmage for a full 90 minutes on Saturday. Mark indicated that this would not be something that he would have done under non-covid conditions. For now, Zhao and Nighswonger will probably continue to come off the bench. The coaches like what they are getting from Nesbith and Robbins. It really seems like the coaches really like the talent that they have in the midfield and are basically comfortable about playing a number of players. Heather Payne has rejoined the team but no promises were made about her playing time. The only freshman that hasn't played so far is Linn Bogren but that is more to do with the fact that defenders usually play 90 so it's tougher to get her playing time with the talent ahead of her. FSU is only playing 8 games in the fall season. They would have liked to schedule more but geography prohibited it. Mark tried to schedule additional games against Miami and Clemson but it didn't work out.
We'll know more after Th and Sunday. I too look forward to where and how much HP plays. I want to see more of KZ. She has some pace to her.
Quote from Mark on what they have been working on for the last week: When we look at our opponents, some of them are going to take the approach that Louisville did and they are going to play a little bit lower on the field and take a lower line. And we know with those teams whether it's Barcelona or Manchester United men or anyone else in the world that sometimes it's really hard to break those teams down. So in the last 10 days we have been working some on breaking down opponents that are playing on a low block like they did. And we worked on the exact opposite, teams that are going to come a little bit higher, do a little bit more with the pressing trying to force us to play under pressure more and then it's about taking advantage of the space behind the back line. So in the first area we are working on patience and understanding when is the right space and when is the right moment to attack and the second one it was more about quick counter attacks and trying to exploit the space behind the back line when that moment is right.
Where are you getting this quote from? The Tallahassee Democrat? I would love to get any information I can. Mark runs such a tight lipped program, that information is hard to come by.