Mark Bushman over at www.onthesidelines.org talks about Fahey being waived. I agree with him, she's definately good enough to be playing in this league.
I don't think there's any reason to defend her because absolutely no one anywhere has opined that she can't play well at this level. She's simply the odd-person out when you have the likes of a Siri and Hong available. I think Fahey could start in Boston or New York, I'm surprised NY in particular didn't pick her on waivers.
Then maybe I should rephrase what I said. I don't think the writer was defending her either, just saying that a lot of pretty good players have lost their jobs because the competition is so tight. I agree w/ you, DCU, I think she could start for 2 or 3 teams in this league easily.
Fahey, to me, is one of the only Freedom players to understand the role that fans play in the once-and-future WUSA. Community-wise, she was second-to-none.
Has it occured to anyone that the reason Erin Fahey ("her natural ability makes the difficult look easy.......she can be a starter for other teams") is being shipped-out so suddenly and ungracefully could be that Gabarra lacks the gut to make the continued difficult decision to pick the calm and collected Erin over the "spectacular", sometimes erratic and often injured Siri? Jimbo's excuse about "team chemistry at the goalkeeper position, Gao can probably offer a different type of push for Siri" doesn't wash and sounds like she (Siri) is set for some serious pampering. This truly worries me. I sincerely hope it doesn't back-fire. I hope Erin gets a chance to prove how really ridiculous this decision was.
All I can say is I predict that Jim will be a pretty unhappy guy when Siri is playing for the national team and Gao Hong is not back in top form.
A one-post-wonder, got to be a relative of Erin's or has something bitter against Siri. Did you actually watch the 2002 season? Siri had as spectacular and consistent a season as one could ask and was my pick for keeper of the year - and I say that having been a critic of hers in 2001. As for oft-injured, did you forget that Erin was about a week away from being waived last May because of the hip-flexor problem that wouldn't heal? Gabarra has had no problem starting Fahey or Greathouse ahead of Siri when the situation calls for it. I like Erin, she is a good keeper, but I can't argue Siri being the #1 keeper after her performances last year. Gao Hong at her best is better than Fahey as well, the gamble is whether Gao can still reach that level - she was there in 2001 and never really got the opportunity to come back in 2002. Since Erin wasn't picked in the waiver draft, she will be back in camp and competing for a spot, if Gao shows in camp she doesn't have it anymore Erin will be back in the 16. It's OK to support Erin, she's worthy of it, but some of the knocking I've seen Siri and particularly Gao take over this is ridiculous.
I pretty much agree with you. Siri had an awesome season in 2002 and she easily could have been awarded with WUSA goalkeeper of the year. I am not judging Gao at this point. I am worried though just because she might not be very strong after her injuries. However Siri has suffered some injuries and she has come back stronger. So I do not want to count Gao out. I just thought Erin was a very good keeper and I am not quite sure of the reason for getting rid of her.
erin was my personal trainer i was very sad to see her go and it was really odd to see gao step in and take her place
Erin played the full 35 minutes of the first and third periods of today's game against the U-21 team. she shut them out in the first period and gave up 1 goal in the third (on a semi-breakaway.) Shelley Finger was the keeper in the second period. Neither Pags or Jenni Branam played.