Seem we have the April Hucles symbolism here. Marci of old, at that age you are usually put out to the pasture.
For all the talk of change by the new "regime", they seem to be following in the footsteps of previous administrations. They have their favorites and they're sticking to 'em. How do you evaluate new people if you don't allow them to play? Isn't that what friendlies are for?
Let's for the sake of argument he has one, Miller. But so did Dicicco, Dorrance and April. However, Ryan has tried out a lot of new players, more than what I saw with the other coaches in the last two years, especialy young ones and he has put some people out to pasture, chastain, Milbrett, it seems, etc.
1. Following in the footsteps of Anson and Tony might be smart (2 out of 3 in WWC's and 1 for 1 in the Oly's). 2. In evaluating people, you want them mixed into the "regular" line up to see how they play within the structure of the team. You can't do this with "B" teams and "throw the bums out" line up changes (a la Ape when she experimented). At this point, Ryan seems to be doing a solid job in allowing the team to evolve and putting pieces together. You're just not going to know what he's really thinking until the US plays in WWC qualifying because of the general lack of matches and the total lack of competitive events.
Plus of course Sweden's not really the caliber of team we need to be playing to get ready for WWC because they are not Germany or Brazil .
Looks like Scurry is getting replaced cuz she is still recovering from a concussion: http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_281142.html
If Brazil ever play clean you will imagine how soundly we will beat them. it the questionable tactics they use to try to stop the NATS. the NATS only play dirty when they are provoked. Brazil have the goods not the heart. I don't see why anyone should get so excited about all that flair and fancy play. it goals that win games not the other way around.
i enthusiastically disagree. brazil does play hard, but they also have speed and skill. the reason we should be able to beat them is because their federation pays little attention to developing them. it's all about the men's team.
It's interesting that they are bringing Lil as a forward. As for the questioning of bringing new people in, seems like a lot of newer faces to me. 6 out of the 18 have 10 or fewer caps. That's 1/3 if my math skills aren't out of whack. The core players have to get game time because you can't simulate that in practice. If these are the only games they are playing before WWC qualifying this fall, they need the work.
you're kidding right? ryan has given more time to players like lepeillbet (sp), osbourne, lloyd, kai, frimpong, et al. what are you talking about? plus he has done it while still sporting a great winning record - much of it away from home!! you evaluate new people by carefully incorporating them into a team that has other players that play well - in other words "your favorites". all coaches have their favorites. it's the players that play well for you. so ryan has incorporated these new players into a team that keeps lilly, wamabach, boxx etc. and if you think those players should be left out then you simply haven't been following the uswnt closely. you can't be a coach if you don't have your favorites!!!!
Let me ask a straightforward question how many times have Brazil beaten the NATS since the series between them began?
Noorwell - usually you're just incoherent but now you're just plain wrong. How can you say that Brazil has no heart when they achieve as much as they do without any support from their federation or their country. There's no serious league for the players to play in Brazil and the federation doesn't even care enough to schedule any games for the team between 2004 and 2006. If anything, I say they are all heart regardless of whether they play dirty or not. Except for a few players making some bucks in Europe, this team is made up of players that do it for the love.
I love it when someone says Brazil plays dirty and follows with...NATS only play dirty when they are provoked The NATS play just as "dirty" as every other team without being provoked. i have seen players shove opponents on the ground without getting a card or foul - it just mostly takes occurs away from the ball where tv does not pick it up - not as blatent as Zidane but it occurs NATS were very lucky both time they played Brazil recently I have been able to watch Formiga closely this year and i expected her to have many more fouls
Pfffft. USA was unlucky not to pound Brazil in to the ground at 3-0. Soccer is as much about tradition as anything else. The USA has it. The Brazilian women are pretenders. The only real rivals to the USA are the Germans, because the Chinese seem to be faltering as well.
She played at forward in Algarve and China? Were they playing a 4-3-3? Have you seen them play this year? This will be the first time I've seen them play since Charleston last fall. It's about time!
You are guess showing off.... you quote what you want, answer this question. how many times have Brazil beaten the Nats, since the series between them began. I don't want this couldda or shouldda been talk. your favorite Brazilian Marta according a lot fans is the most pretty and skilled player on the planet. she have been on the team almost 4 now and haven't lead them to a victory over the NATS. beside she doesn't know she have a right foot. I like soccer players who set up or score goals consistently. not fancy playing without much to show for it, goals and creating goals is what matters in the end. the result victory. I like that in teams who are achievers. USA, Germany and a resurgent Norway will dominate the big ones the next 20 years.
So if you don't score goals you don't have heart? Where does that leave Kate Sobrero? And why do you expect a 20-year-old to be able to lead a team to beat another team with the advantages of Title IX and a multi-million-dollar soccer federation behind when her team has none of those advantages? The Brazilian women deserve all kinds of credit for getting as far as they do with the minimal support they get.
In 1987 to the first WWC we had a multi-million soccer federation behind us ah. the Federation didn't give a fig about giving the girls enough money for they basic needs. why don't you study the NATS early days before you yap at me. we had half a dozen teens in the 1991ers. and we were beating the crap outta everybody except Norway and had some tough games with China. is Markgraf suppost to score goals. where did I say she have no Heart because of it. when did this Title IX business begin, what year. you forgot your own backyard, you must have been sleeping. PS every body likes to say I am incoherent... if you can't read a Doctor's prescription then you got a problem.