I agree. I also think that the goal scoring part is the last portion to get sharp in the team dynamic.
From the philly inquirer: Five years after her World Cup debut, Tierna Davidson is finally a locked-in USWNT starter The steely centerback tore an ACL in 2022, then narrowly missed the World Cup last year after returning to action. Now she's set for a big role at the Olympics next to longtime friend Naomi Girma.
I'm glad to see a good conversation on women's soccer even as we are going through extraordinary times when our democracy in America is under extraordinary threat. I have to hope we'll make it through and someday soon we'll be able to continue these conversations without the constant specter of authoritarianism (I do wish that one poster would refrain from constantly putting down and belittling others but fortunately @Reccossu and others have been carrying on in a good-natured way and refusing to be bullied out of the Forum) I'm glad, too, that some people haven't fully succumbed to the temptation to bash some players like Horan and Dunn, just so people reading the Forum don't get the impression of universal agreement condemnation of their play. While I think her play has slipped a lot since the last Olympics and having a baby, I think the criticisms of her play in the match against Costa Rica are wildly off-the-mark and I may need to comment on it more fully since I think it's indicative of a much larger problem. I find myself thinking a lot of @cpthomas and the distinction he often makes between prioritizing the Olympics vs preparing for the next World Cup; and I think, at least for this cycle, the Federation has clearly made the next World Cup the priority. BigSoccer has also been an important repository for the study and practice of the Dark Arts of Jinxes and Reverse-Jinxes; and this, too, I hope will survive the turmoil of these troubled times. Though my heart can't be fully in it right now, I feel some obligation to try to continue that tradition with an attempt to Reverse-Jinx the possibility of a Trinity Rodman red-card at the Olympics (or suspension through yellow-card accumulation) The US has to have a Plan A Starting XI without Rodman in it. I'm afraid Emma Hayes hasn't grasped the urgency of it, even if victory at the next World Cup and not this Olympics is the primary goal. For all of Julie Foudy's faults as a TV analyst (and I'm tired of almost all of them), at least she mentioned the danger during the Costa Rica game, which is more than I've heard from any other "expert"
Yup. I purposely stopped a back and forth over opinion v fact as it was moving away from the purpose of this forum.. let's keep it Soccer centric.
I finally got around to watching the 2nd half against Costa Rica and, boy-oh-boy, do I think those criticisms of Crystal Dunn are off-base. I no longer argue for Dunn to play a more attacking role because I don't think she's been the same player since the last Olympics and having a baby, but, wow, what a game for her critics to bash her. She had a very good game, the best I've seen since the last Olympics. Crosses? Weak left-foot? She had the one cross sail onto the top of the net around the 66th minute, but she won 3 corners by driving to the endline and had the one cross late in the game setting up Rodman for a good opportunity on a header. Dunn had the early ball parallel to the touchline which sprang the US on the attack and combined on some short passes to penetrate into the penalty area, something rarely seen with Nighswonger. You don't have to take my word for it. A lot of it is in the highlights video. Exactly. Just how does anyone call it a disastrous performance when Costa Rica had almost zero threats of any kind? I like Nighswonger and I'm okay with her as the US #1 left back, but the double standards used to judge Dunn and Nighswonger is maddening. How can we single out Dunn for not providing width, providing crosses, or driving endline when that is something Nighswonger very notably never does because her style is to cut into towards the front of the 18-yard box? I can point out one time when a pass came in behind Dunn around the 70th minute that Davidson cleaned up near the corner, but no one wants to point out the number of times Nighswonger gets caught up the pitch requiring a center back to cover her mark? *** on the whole, I thought it was an entertaining game. I agree with those who thought there was a lot of creativity and fluidity to the US attack. xG was around 1.8 and there were a number of near misses on passes which led to no shots (and thus 0.0 xG on those opportunities) *** From highlights video 0'24 — pass on the outside channel 1'29 — tight passing / combination play 4'40 — combination play in and around the 18-yard box 9'23 — cross to Rodman
The issue I had was perhaps a coaching call. Dunn played a LOT of passes to her back. Trinity on the other side would more consistently turn and attack with the ball at her feet. Which really made me question, where was Mal? Technically, Mal was the opposite of Trinity, left v right, but Dunn always seemed to receive and pass back. >shrug<
My prediction is that this is not a team which will be eliminated in any shootouts. Albert might be the weakest shooter on the team...
for the first time in a long time I believe the USWNT has the potential to go all the way in a tournament that is not CONCACAF. But I also recognize that being under a new coach could adversely impact their performance, no matter how good the new coach is. I think a solid semi-final appearance is reasonable baring some (as in more than one) serious injury or red card. Of course this group has not played even one meaningful match under Hayse so we really know nothing. I know i will be surprised and a bit disappointed if we do not reach the semis but, at this point, just about anything is possible.
Well, the offense tilted to the left and was more effective when Nighswonger instead of Dunn was starting. Hayes did not intentionally tilt offense to the right but personnel limit forced her hands. Nighswonger's left foot is very able and could make great delivery into the box in the wide area and provide much needed width to the offense. Dunn stayed very high, she could only play inverted and cut into flank because her left foot is not as strong as Nighswonger's, her inability to provide width is the reason why the left lane attack does not function well when she plays because she and other attackers all stayed in the left flank area and are easy to defend.
Well done. If ever in doubt, you should follow and agree with the most reasonable and O.B.J.E.C.T.I.V.E. poster on this Board who is - - - - - - - - mmmMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 10 days ago in Jersey, I was simultaneously within 15 feet of Carla Overbeck and, and, and, The Great Joy Fawcett. To this day, it’s somewhat dangerous for them to stand in such close proximity due to the overwhelming concentration of awesomeness. Oh dear Lord in Heaven above please take me now because it will NOT get any better than that on this Earth. Match vs. Zambia Thursday then leaving for France on Friday for the Marseille Matches. Au revoir my little soccer buddies.
This team can win gold, will they, who knows. FSU fan that I am absolutely loves to see Casey Krueger finally getting her shine, one of the best defenders around for over a decade.
Nighswonger, we all agree, has an excellent left foot but I pointed out what is obvious to all — Nighswonger often doesn't provide width because her style is to cut in towards the front of the box. I realize many of you don't bother to read what I say ("too many notes", like the Emperor said to Mozart!) but for those who do, your eyes aren't deceiving you — the highlights refuted this entire argument >>> Then again, by universal agreement, I am not "the most reasonable and O.B.J.E.C.T.I.V.E. poster on this Board...!!! (tee-hee!)
Out of context but for those who are in France today : Men Rugby à 7 : if u like this spectacular sport, France - USA on tv channel "france 2" 16h30 Men Football : France - USA (Marseille) on tv channel "france 2" 21h
since you did mentioned jinxes; Spain might be heavily favored , but so far, no team that won the previous World Cup, went on to win the next Olympics we don’t have Sweden ‘to kick us around anymore’. For some reason Sweden sorta become the Soviet Union of woso as far as being our arch nemesis as we’ve either lost or eliminated by them in several of our last major tournament encounters so odds noticeably improved for us, but be aware, that an rather unassuming Canadian squad won gold the last time starting around, so it could still be anybody’s up for grabs
[ Perhaps moving Dunn back to RB is the end of the 'twin 6' or deeper playing Horan experiment we've seen with Nighswonger in the lineup?
It's more like an experiment for the alternative game plan when Nighswonger being unavailable due to load management.
ahh yes…. NOW I feel ready for this tournament. There’s lots to be happy about. jackdoggy on his way. Emma solid behind the wheel already. Best possible team selection. (Don’t @ me on this one) I have all the matches on my TV (discovery+) No work commitments till after the Olympics I could go on…
according to this one popular woso website, Spain should be overwhelming favorites with maybe France & US battling for 2nd spot based on this market value bracket. But keep also in mind becuase of the curse that nobody that won the previous World Cup ended up winning the next Olympics and wh @blissett looks like Smith finally did make an top ten list! @Lohmann where's Lohmann?