Truly April *Fools* Day... And Pagliarulo... Are Ed Wade of the Phillies and April Heinrichs siamese twins, separated at birth? The same lack of commitment to winning, that is? Paul
Paul just one ? What is APE record as USWNT coach.She made the right move with me with Mitts and Benny
25-11-9 not counting this year's games (compare that with DiCicco's 103-8-8 from '95 until '99). Lauren Gregg would have been a better choice. And it's not just Melissa, it's Tietjen and Iverson as well who have proven beyond doubt they deserve a callup, too. Understand I'm not suggesting in the slightest that Ape should hand the starting goalie spot to Melissa; if I've come across that way, then I've badly miscalculated things. Only that she have the *opportunity* to prove whether or not she can sink or swim in the international arena. As do E-I and Jennifer. Paul
The only competitions which count are the Olympics or the World Cup. Looking at any record except performance in either is a fallacy. Teams have different agendas, and too many of the USA matches are in the friendly confines of the USA where an other team is subject to jetlag and weather and the odering of a schedule to benefit the home side. Just ask the Chinese in 1999, where they where traveling all over the place and subjected to less rest. Chinese get even next year. Problem with Heinrichs is she prefer athletic defenders whos ball skill are mediocre at best. Having Mitts and Benson included begins to address the outside backs. Teams like Norway and China have been willing to make the generational change. We shall see if Heinrichs does so next fall. And the only measuring stick will be performance next fall. For the 1st time ever the group phase of the finals will NOT be a cakewalk. Germany and China and Norway and Brazil can beat the USA, and there are a handful of other sides who can extend the USA. Unless the keeping situations get sorted, it could be an early exit. The big change is giving Aly Wagner control of the team, make it her team. She brings a subtle control needed at the elite level. And you'll also notice Milbrett wasn't called up neither. Paul , if you have comments about player selection, try... http://www.ussoccer.com/feedback/default.sps
Even though I'm a big Pags fan, I agree. Ape seems to assume that both Moore and Luckinbill simply couldn't handle the pressure of being in a US uniform. Why? Yes, I know international play is at a higher level that the WUSA, but WUSA is as close as it gets.Yes, the goalkeeper's position has more pressure than the field positions but that didn't stop Ape from starting a nervous 22 yr-old Mullinix in the Olympic final. When it comes to goalkeepers, Ape is really screwed up.
I think Phil Wheddon, who's the GK coach is the guy selecting who comes to camp. Luckenbill and Moore are less athletic than Scurry, Mullinix, and even Pags.. And to a certain extent the UNC philosophy of having better athletes became the philosophy of the national side too. A player like Sissi or Riise would really confuse USA soccer minds, the athletic mantra would get in the way?? Ultimately, I believe Scurry is the 1st and only choice for 2003, and everything else is who's the back-up. Moore deserves a shot and she may or may not get one. I still would maintain the January national camp should include her. And Iverson, who else with an American passport has played Prinz evenly?? Iverson can take on the big power players. Match her with Slaton centrally and you have a nice duo. But the UNC mantra continues on...interesting to see Reilly and Tarpley called up too.. who says UNC isn't the route to the nats?? nice recruiting edge isn't it??
Benson - yes, certainly. She's the rock that the Philly D is built on. Let's be honest: Iverson played her role perfectly this year in the D, surrounded by thre other backs who have much more talent than she does. She also benfits from the defensive midfielders in front of her. She does not deserve a national team call-up - though your point about Tietjen gets me thinking. Amswering your question: Sobrero, McCann, Boxx and Fettig all can play Prinz evenly in the physical game. But add the skill/speed of full international play in, and it's down to Sobrero & Slaton. Expect the center backs to be Slaton, Fawcett & Sobrero. All better choices than Iverson.
only Slaton is a better choice for centerback than Iverson... If you've watched Iverson all year, then perhaps you would not be misguided. Look how people play, not how they played in the past.
i know this isnt an official stat but its something that sold me on EI...she has about a 85-90% coverage rate on fly balls hit within her body's length in either direction. Or in english, if you sky one and EI is covering your target, its gonna be headed out of there or knocked down. She has saved moore from many tough spots than more likely than not would have been goals. she is the best airial coverage person ive seen in the womens game, shes won balls in the air against players up to 3 inches taller than her (wambach anyone) without getting a climbing foul...a skill like that cant be coached and should be reason alone to invite her to camp at least as a sub. BTW millbrett declined her invite so dont blame ape for that one. hopefully she is hurt...if millie is giving up on the nats, its gonna be a long 2-3 years. I agree with Z ditch mia and hand the team to Wagner.
I'm not saying ditch Mia, she has a role to play, but Wagner has far more creativity than any USA player, present or past, and her style of game gives USA a chance next year. I would expect Wambach and Milbrett to be forwards, I would play Hamm withdrawn, and have Wagner deeper. Lilly needs to play. Now a 4th mid is the big question. If players like Mitts or Benson play, then you get width in your game, and you probably want a more defensive minded mid, if your backs aren't as adventursome as Mitts and Benson, then a mid with some wide skills is needed. back to Iverson, she was voted 1st team due to her play. For a NON-name play to achieve that award, you clearly have to play very well. And I say Slaton and Iverson would be very complementary central defenders, and Iverson does have decent distribution skills. Heinrichs will need to inject new talent next year, otherwise I don't believe old legs can do the job.
when i said ditch mia i more meant dont make her the be all and end all of the team (if you are an akers fan you can argue she never was the be all and end all of the team.) and make wagner and millbrett your marketing focus...i dont want a john harkes situiation where you have the same players hanging around when better talent is doing most of the work. and truth be told mia really is only a 60 min player right now...use her in the role macmillian had in 99...as the supersub used to get a quick goal. that would get better results out of all parties IMHO
I'd still maintain the ESPN hype over the goal scoring record was the primary cause for Mia's fame. Akers is my best female player ever, great scorer early, then in 1999, her ability to totally change roles and dominate from deep midfield was a primary reason for the 99 success. Notice when she went out against China, USA lost control of that match, and barely hung on into PK. Lilly, Millbrett and Hamm still are critical pieces, but it's the Wagner and Wambach emergence which will provide difficulty for other nations. And I still think USA defense needs to be totally rehauled, long gone is the dau where USA dominated possession so much, where defending wasn't a key element. You need defenders now with other assests other than just being able to run fast. Personally, i think China is a lock next year. Only China wearing out their players keeps them from being a huge favorite. I believe they'll manage the draw to give their team extra rest, much like USA did in 99. Still I believe the entire tournament will be very competitive with greater balance than ever before, and that will only benefit the female game.
i hate to say this but given that the WUSA is the top league for the womens game, and therefore the best way to delevop both foreign and domestic talent (who heard of pichon before 02?)...the only way that i see WWC helping the game is if the US goes far...at least the finals. but i think it will be the most competitive of all WWCs...no more mexico looking like lois lane the time superman wasnt in time to stop the train against brazil. no more squads made mostly of american duals. this will be a very solid tourney, just so ESPN gives them good coverage it will be enjoyable and will help the game globally but is global support enough given the low preception womens sports are given outside of the US?
I'm thinking global success, USA is always interested when our sides win... It's places like England and France and Germany where a nurturing interest can blossom. These are soccer cultures, and when women in these countries in large numbers are given the vehicles to develop their skills, then the game will be more than a handful of nations dominating play. I believe people rise to the level of a competition, and I think the female game is about to reach a critical mass in some Euro countries. Still much of the 3rd world has really a naive approach to thr female game, but these cultural mores will gradually change. And FIFA needs to be given a big hand in this. WUSA cannot possibly soak up all the good foreign talent, but it becomes a role model for what other places can also strive to create.
read kelly's bio on the FA's role model page and you'll see what i mean with the WUSA's role in the global delevopment of the game. since no foreign league really does anything half the scale of the WUSA and with the exception of WEPL rumors very little attempts to grow beyond a small national league with little support exists...Z your point is that a good WWC will grow a true WEPL or a stronger damabundasleauga or a Sirie W, mine is that there must be a premier league still in existance through the time from China to the formation of these leagues. and that league is WUSA and as much as i hate it, a strong WUSA showing (not nesscarily a win mind you, i think weve built fan support to the point where a WWC win isnt needed) but a strong showing would help WUSA keep going for years to come...and that would in turn bring about overseas competition which would bring about great delevopment of the womens game. Think of it in terms of how MLS and the J and K leagues were grown in the mens game, they saw the success of their players in a superleague (most likely EPL or serie A) they wanted a similar league to keep in their talent and grow new talent, and now as we saw in korea, those leagues are just a cut belot the superleagues and their countries can hang with the big boys. but it first takes that superleague, especally when the sport itself isnt established as is the case in womens soccer in the soccer hotbeds. Most womens soccer countries are ones that couldnt hand with the big boys in the mens game so looked for the women (with the glaring exception of brazil) now its time for the womens game to branch back out to the soccer powers, and seeing succesful club soccer (both on and off the pitch) is something that will bring better success to growing the womens game overseas than just internation competition
I think you have to look at womens soccer without having the EYES of being American. How is the game growing in other places OTHER than USA... WUSA is the upper echelon, however my focus is upon the cultural acceptance of womens PROFESSIONAL soccer in other countries. We already have leagues in many nations, but I'm more interested in the SERIOUSNESS of the play, where there's significant CARING about league results and UEFA competition. That's the area I see blooming very soon in Europe. And yes, Pichon success in WUSA will hasten the day this happens in France. I'm talking about places where the SOCCER culture is the DOMINANT culture. And about how this CULTURE will become INCLUSIVE to women. And it's happening whether or not WUSA is here or not here.
i guess you are taking the brazillian model on how soccer can be taken seriously in a country...fair enough, although womens soccer in brazil isnt at the point their NT may make it look to be. I think germany is better at delevopment, and its starting to show. Ill make this wager too...the first league to start to make any type of threat to the WUSA's hold as the superleague will be germany, not a WEPL. however i think that a strong WUSA will help bring about a stronger concious of womens soccer in traditional powers. The key would be to move away from the soccer mom athlete of the UNC/USWNT mold or the Gooning girl mold of Nigeria, Canada, North Korea, and even to a lesser degree China and into the more true Female Footballer mold which can be seen in Sissi, Prinz, Riise, Smith, Pichon, Sinclair and Wagner (yes the US doesnt have to fade into oblivion as the soccer clutures pick up the womens game) This goes into WUSA marketing, and why not marketing foreigners is a disirvice to themselves, since most foreigners are the best and in some cases the only capible players from their countries, it would be helpful for the WUSA to show how well recieved the popularity of the WUSA is reflected on the foreign players, this would build intrest overseas and probley help establish better club football overseas. I still say if europe sees a succesful WUSA, it will jump start the delevopment of womens soccer another 4 years from its natural curve of delevopment, which is what Z is talking about. i will say that with or without WUSA, womens soccer will be a global niche market in 15 years, however i would say a strong WUSA would probley bolster that number from 15 years to 10 years since the best players would have a place of their own to play and not just be workers out for a workout like many internationals are today.
The one huge advantage USA has is youth level to High school to college systems creating an environment for large numbers of girls to play. And via selection of the fittest, a fairly large number of good players emerge. This system does not exist elsewhere. The CLUB system is the dominant force GLOBALLY. It's all a question of numbers and priority. Some national federations are creating more emphasis on the female game. But the key is engaging increasing numbers of girls into some active system. And fitting this into the EXISTING CLUB systems. Once the rest of the world really makes this committment, then the female game will erupt. All of this is independent of WUSA. The huge advantage in the se other countries if the existence of a SOCCER CULTURE, which is very minimal here