Damb, the Spirit folk beat us to it this time, pre-match thread-wise. Let's hope this is the only time they win out here Charge cannot look past this game or think this is a gimme. See Eagles, PHL vs. Buccaneers, Tampa Bay for people's exhibit 1. Thing is, do you root for Lorrie to go to SLC or to be left home? Hobson's choice deluxe. Revenge game for SD, even with all the absentees, and Fleeting joins the party. Charge can win the season series with the hosts of FCIII with a win; let's just get the three points and deal with the girl we could have drafted but let get away in Atlanta. Paul
"let's just get the three points and deal with the girl we could have drafted but let get away in Atlanta." Sorry, who did we let get away to Atlanta??
Callie Withers, first-team NSCAA All-American at Stanford, and a close to runaway choice on the board here as who we should have picked in the February draft. But (IMO), we got rattled by Atlanta, who Cachundo suggested were going to draft Arrington with the #5 pick. Because of that, again OIMO, we panicked and selected Hope Solo, when she probably would have been available at 6 or 7, and the Beat got the player *they wanted all along*. We then chose Arrington at 6 (which basically turned into a throw-away pick when she tore her ACL) and McVeigh at 7. I was of the belief then that the league has only one season left in it, and you couldn't draft for the future since the league's future is so murky at the moment. My mock draft had us taking Withers, Lauren Orlandos (defender and maybe the heart of the defense from the U. of Portland national college championship team last December) and Solo at 4, 6 and 7. I think Solo would have still been available at 7 and was not the best player available; the coaches didn't, obviously. I thought there was zero downside to taking Withers with the first pick; the coaches thought otherwise. Time will tell which school of thought was right. http://gostanford.ocsn.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/withers_callie00.html for a recap of her college career... Paul
Have you read on the Beat forum how Withers just arrived after finishing school and how overweight and out of shape she is?
Orlandos was good at college level, but she doesn't have the mobility to play in the WUSA. She's not even been a regular starter for the Power.
Don't spread this around too much.... Scasna: Probable Paul (even with all the rain and lightning, this day can't get better, can it??)
Never mind Orlandos and Withers. If you really want to play the second guessing game you should have grabbed Boyd when you had the chance. She's started every game on the back line for Carolina and now she's playing in the All Star Game. Not too shabby for a rookie.
I anticipated this reply, actually (OK, only somewhat...) Isn't it more due to the funky setup of the game itself (US v. World), and/or just plain ol' virtual ballot box stuffing by Carolinians?? (just kidding there, she *was* good in the first half of the game here before Slaton was subbed in for her, I believe (?)) Paul
The Charge lacked an international allocation to get Boyd... we say Boyd play Yale in the NCAAs... Latham was clearly dominant... Boyd was the player I targetted... she played the 1st half of PHL-CAR and when Salton came on she went to the bench... nice player, better than orlandos, but again the international allocations were used up... between Hoffmann and Boyd, it's clearly Hoffmann, particularly given the injuries to scasna, arrington and smith... the weather has turned humid, so huge edge against SD, given their current depletion to uswnt... match of the season is in Atlanta...that's where we know the truth and consequences.
Boyd counts as a foreign player, right? I thought that was one of the main reasons the Charge didn't go for her, they didn't want to use the slot.
yes, Boyd is a foreign player.... for Nebraska, she swept ... Very good stepping up and creating off-side... remember the charge were offside about 10 times the 1st half, and only 2 the 2nd half... Boyd sitting accounted for some of the decrease
Even with a depleted lineup, SD are still very dangerous with Fleeting and Latham. Denying them service will be the key.
yesterday the dew point was 75, the temperature was 85, making the heat index 95...... weather today is similar... tomorrrow the same... so it's samba time.... scasna is back, and minute 65, scasna on for misaki.. san diego can NO where be acclimated to this tropical weather... all the edges favor the charge... alfiler might start?? and conners.... no foudy..no wagner... charge should dominate midfield
The tides have shifted. Charge have a real opportunity to take another step in the right direction. In fact, NY, Carolina and Philly are all looking like teams that can move up into playoff contention. No time to sit back and admire recent performances though. Lots of determination and hard work still required. Good luck.
I think a lot of the off season speculation said the entire league was far more competitive... carolina and the charge poor starts are largely due to big weapons being missed... the charge are not affected too much by national call-ups, and a returning scasna and smith would add some offensive punch... winning against a depleted san diego is a must...and then let's see the quality of play at atlanta... i think kelly smith gets back june 28 against boston.. basically getting to 30 points puts you in a position to make the playoffs... 8 to 30 is quite a long way, with no margin for error...passing 4 teams is a tough task
Latham is coming from a match in Mexico, so who knows how banged up she got playing in that game, plus it was played Thursday night. She could still be in the air, and will have no time to practice with the Spirit until game day.
The biggest surprise(or most unheralded surprise. But I saw her play in college but nobody else brought her up) offensively this season for an American rookie has been Sarah Popper for the Breakers. A good shot combined with good marking and the ability to frustrate midfielders makes for a good player. Anyway, tomorrow. Who knows what the weather will be. I just want 75 with 10 mile per hour winds. We should win the midfield. Deny them service indeed and watch out for Daniela. She makes some nice runs and a good tackler. Boyd is playing well for the time that they give her. She's the Francis Jeffers of the WUSA but she will get her place in due time.
did latham pick up any montezuma's revenge while south of the border?? Simon Elliot played 90 minutes for LA galaxy, took the red eye from LA to Ricmond Va, and the enxt afternnon played 85 minutes against the USA... I wouldn't recommend it, but he showed it can be done... ..but in the current weather conditions, residue fatigue from Thursday in Mexico is tough... I would use Latham in the 2nd half, play her 45 minutes... Scasna is the big key, she gives the Charge an extra offensive spark
daniela will feel at home weather wise... but still, acclimitization is a huge factor... go away from the weather for a few months, and you lose the acclimitization affect... An interesting move with Fair gone would be Misaki at right back, and Scasna as right mid..with Mitts in the middle
Welcome back, McV... Lorrie made the roster just announced tonight for the Ireland game tomorrow. Along with Scurry, Pearce, Reddick, Roberts, Chastain, O’Reilly, Mia, Aly, Foudy, Parlow, Lilly, Fawcett, Sobrero, Millie, Slaton, Hucles, Bryan, Wambach (should be Fotopolous since she's a bit less of a loose cannon than Abigail) and Beene. So we will see Pags tomorrow, then. Paul
For those so inclined... Who are showing up at the game in person, check out the sign above the Charge locker room today; equal parts glee - and an olive branch, cause we've been on their case... Paul