Defender Tanaka unretires, returns to the Spirit, by Mark Zeigler http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/wed/sports/news_1s21soccer.html Finally, some good news!
If Tanaka is committed to playing and if her team is supportive of her decision, then I guess I'm okay with her return. However, I think there might be some friction and I hope Namazi has discussed it with some of the team leaders. My major problem is with releasing Sauer. Why does it seem as if Andrea Alfiler has nine lives? She played horribly in the season opener, has not played since and she's on the roster and Sauer's not? What is up!?! Sauer is young, yet still has starting experience. Alfiler has yet to prove anything during her time in the league. Please, somebody, tell me there were other reasons for Sauer's release.
heres why sauer was released...because she sucks! bottom line. i went to about 8 spirit games last season and saw about another 5 on tv, and in none of them was she any good, she sucks, good to have Rhi back! Amen!
Great news! Foudy said she was going to keep working on her at the beginning of the season. It sounds like she really misses it and really wanted to come back.
Yeah, but what about Alfiler...is she really going to help this team EVER? I mean we have Fair, Tanaka, Alfiler and Palmer all waiting in the wings. How many defenders do we need? Sherice Anders had a great preseason and was cut...why? She plays the midfield...we don't have any midfielders. I just don't understand the math. Also, do we get to sign someone for MacMillan's spot? If so, who?
I've followed Sauer's career at Stanford. I thought she's OK, nothing great. Sad to say but with the quality of the current Stanford defenders, Sauer wouldn't be able to crack that lineup. Tanaka back is obviously good news.
Link to the Spirit's story... Tanaka "Un-RHI-tires" to return to Spirit Rugged Marker Started 32 of 35 Games Before Stepping Away Before Pre-Season http://www.sandiegospirit.com/362608.html
wow. lets hope she can go back there to shore things up and release kerry from the backline because honestly, connors is just not a defender.
Hmmm. Maybe someone should put in a call to Jen Mascaro . It's great to hear Tanaka's lacing 'em up again.
it's a strange story actually. they say she unretired because of her passion for soccer, but then they make no mention of what happened to her boyfriend or her schooling. i guess she put off both for another 4 months.
In this league, depth in defense is everything. At the beginning of the year, when Joy went down, I think Omid knew that the back line was the Achillies (sp) heel of this team. Neither Fair nor Conners are out and out defenders. They are versatile players who have filled in admirably. With Fawcett, Pickup, Krzykowski and Tanaka, he has four veteran backs. Alfiler and Palmer need to mature (plus they are developmental players, not on the roster of 18), and Sauer wasn't the big fast defender Omid was looking for. As far as midfielders go, we are loaded in the middle with Daniela, Foudy, Wagner and Nielsen coming off the bench. On the flanks we now have Conners, Zhang, Bush, Latham and Sullivan, although one of those (Zhang, Latham or Sullivan) will need to partner Fleeting up top. This is a balanced roster with loads of versatility and athleticism. I agree that Anders had a solid if not spectacular pre-season, and as a personal friend I would have loved to see her on this roster, returning to her hometown club like Sullivan and Nielsen. Omid drafted Bush, a similar player, and stuck with her instead. It will be interesting to see what the Spirit can do about Mac's roster spot. They can't go get a foreign international (roster limits) and there is no US international that is available. New York is in a similar situation with Sara Whalen listed as inactive for the season. I noticed they have an extra reserve player on their roster, but that's it. I hope US Soccer got a hell of a lot of money from ESPN for the England game on Saturday because Shannon and San Diego got f***** on Sunday!
Another 'Spotlight On' Tanaka Anticipates Her Return to Action, by John Philip Wyllie http://sandiegospirit.com/press_room/spotlight_on/366224.html Some of Rhi's comments: “It is going to take a little while obviously (to develop game fitness) having not played and being three months behind everybody else,” she said. “I’m playing as much as possible and just trying to get as many touches on the ball as I can. We are taking it day by day and trying to get it all back.” “It will be up to the coaches in terms of when I return (to the field). I’m willing to do whatever they ask of me,” Tanaka said. “It’s a day by day thing and we will see how it goes. Right now, I am still a reserve."