Getting ready for the 2024 Olympics

Not at all. It was a reference to your past foreign travels.

 

winger been traditionally the strongest part of the USWNT and still remains that, but since it’s only 16 field player roster would probably allow only three available spots(2 starters/1sub), of which we currently got vying to make the Olympic

left-winger……Swanson, Shaw, Thompson
right-winger….Smith. Rodman, Williams

to go along with just two strikers Morgan, Macario

problem is the way Emma Hayes currently coaches her club..,a low lying deep into her own territory 4-4-2(though it often reads on paper as an 5-3-1)that place the wingers at book ends, forcing them to even more yards upfront if they can manage an counter. It’s really the two upfront that have the best chance to score—-but unfortunately right now Morgan & Macario are too slow to take advantage of it.

Yesterday once again Macario starts at striker for Chelsea/ionce again Chelsea looses. This time against an unheralded Liverpool. Though big pre season favorites to win at least something. Hayes finds herself eliminated from all three Cup competitions & in 2nd place in league standings.

but let’s keep on reading what an great coach she is, lol

 

Well, we almost all agree, cutting the roster down to 18 is/was always going to be a challenge. There are serious concerns on leaving obviously qualified individuals off the roster, not because they are not great at their one position, but solely because they are not versatile enough to play a few.

I believe we are all looking forward to tearing apart the final 18 picked individuals by the coach, as we all LOVE playing coach on this forum.

 

I am sorry. I am so used to people choosing to attack me instead of ideas that I just jumped, awkwardly, to an erroneous conclusion. It is hard to understand what is really meant by statements on the internet.
I also seem to have become a bit thin skinned and assume an insult when none is intended.
Again, sorry for misinterpreting you innocent post.

 

Welp, Rose jumped in and scored a weird goal in 15 min of play time. 5 games to get in shape before the friendlies. Time and Emma will tell.

 

Hmm, just letting them heal up or do we begin to worry that the 3 center backs projected to be on the Olympic roster are all dealing with injuries and not playing at the moment?

 

All three CB’s are out with muscular, thigh problems. If injuries persist, mostly likely Sonnet will be switched back from her current Defensive Mid. Other options/possible call ups; Staab(Chicago) Gordon(Angel City) Mckeown(Spirit)Kurtz(KC)Berkeley(Courage). Hopefully not Sauerbrun anymore, she was a disaster vs Mexico; three times had the ball stripped right from under her feet .


Morgan(ankle) & Naeher(?) are both reported injured as well.

 

Olympic locks (9): Horan, Swanson, Girma, Coffey, Smith, Nighswonger, Rodman, Fox, Murphy.

Near locks (1): Davidson.

One or the other (1): Naeher/3rd GK. Depending on fitness.

That is both GKs and the entire XI minus the Macario/LaVelle/Shaw spot. Given the history between coach & player, I'd assume Macario is the favorite. But all 3 are coming off injury and are not real fast. I think 2 will certainly make it, while the 3rd is iffy.

It is difficult for me to think Sonnett's versatility does not get her on the 18.

GK: Naeher/Murphy
RB/RCB: Fox
CB/RCB: Girma
LCB/CB/LB: Davidson
LWB/LB: Nighswonger
CM/DM: Coffey
CM: Horan
RWB/RM/WF: Rodman
LWF/CF: Swanson
CF/WF: Smith
RWF/CAM: Macario/Lavelle/Shaw

Reserves (7):
GK: Murphy (Campbell if Naeher out)
CB/DM: Sonnett
LWB/LB/RM/RWF: Dunn

We have 4 spots left.

My lean would be to take 3 attackers (Shaw, Lavelle, Morgan) and another CM (Yohannes or Albert) But that leaves us thin behind Fox.

For some reason, I think Hayes leaves one of Morgan/Lavelle/Shaw/Macario off and takes another CM (Albert, Yohannes) or defender (Krueger, Staab, Dahlkemper). There is a lot of redundancy with those 3. On a 23 person roster, OK. On an 18? That is tough, though I think all 3 are in our top 18.

Me: Macario starts. Reserve 6 field players: Sonnett, Dunn, Yohannes, Shaw, Lavelle, Morgan.

Alternates: Campbell, Krueger, Staab, Albert.

 

Hard not to move Davidson up to CB lock... Who else back there, plus she started her USWNT playing defending wing. In a pinch. Also, can't see just going with two true CB's... She has to bring a third... So Dalkamper if healthy or maybe Staab... I like Sonnett but, boy if you're starting her at CB (baring injuries)... I like her versatility in defending mid & cb, even defensive wing...

Shaw was about as impressive as Morgan last night. But Morgan can only play 1 spot, and her old lacking in speed frame is showing. Put speed on both sides of her... ok... I just prefer speed across the board. Swanson, Smith & Rodman will keep defenses up at night.

 

Here's who I would take. (of course I haven't seen them in practice or anything)

GK - Naeher and Murphy (Campbell if Naeher isn't available)

CB - Girma/Davidson/Sonnett
RB - Fox/Sonnett/Dunn
LB - Nighswonger/Fox/Dunn
6 - Coffey/Albert/Sonnett/Horan
8 - Horan/Albert/Yohannes
10 - Macario/Shaw/Lavelle
RW - Rodman/Lavelle/Dunn
LW - Swanson/Shaw/Smith
CF - Smith/Rodman/Macario

So starting (11)
Naeher
Fox/Girma/Davidson/Nighswonger
Coffey/Horan/Macario
Rodman/Smith/Swanson

Subs (7)
Murphy (or Campbell)
Sonnett
Dunn
Albert
Yohannes
Lavelle
Shaw

If Dahlkamper became available, I'd probably drop Dunn. Davidson could be depth at LB also.

I think that 18 gives the most versatility.

 

Posted this before the last match. Hasn't changed.

--------------------Swanson ------- Smith
Nighswonger-----------Shaw---------------Trinity
-------------------Horan
------------------------------Coffey
------Tierna-------------Girma-----------Fox

Dunn - Swiss Army Knife
Lavelle - 10
Krueger - defender
Sonnett - 6/defender
Macario - versatile attacker
Future - Yohannes

 

Did we ever find out what would happen if Zambia were suspended? Would another team take their place? Does it count as a forfeit? Do we play a team of OAZ (Olympic Athletes from Zambia) a la Olympic Athletes from Russia?

 

Ugh... now Coffey has a foot in a boot, subbed out in 36th min in game v. NC.

 

I wonder if the players think their club play or their national team play is the most important for them?
I know the coaches of the clubs believe the club is most important and the national team coaches think their team is most important but what do the players actually think?
From some statements I believe there are a few players that are openly pro club and others that are openly pro national team. But it seems most, if not all the rest, are not on record as to which is more important.
I have seen clubs, needing results, both on the men's and women's sides playing injured players before they are truly ready and that implies that clubs prioritize their play over national team play and I cannot really blame them for that.

I personally believe that clubs are much more important than country because, after all, they are the ones that pay the bills. Of course most players at or near the international levels pay strong lip service to the national team but they seem unconvincing.

I understand if players do not wish to play for country if they are slightly injured but many, I think, get browbeaten into playing even if injured for club or country.
You cannot believe what the clubs say.
You cannot believe what the national organizations say.
You cannot believe what the players say.
They all have their own agendas and will lie, hide or exaggerate as needed to protect themselves and whatever organizations are involved.

Fear of losing playing time motivates the players and fear of losing money motivates the clubs and fear of losing prestige and money motivates the national teams. None of those are good motivators for proper recovery from injury.

It is just that there have been a LOT of various injuries to national team players when playing for both club and country and I wonder who really controls their return. The safety of the player should be the number one concern but i am unconvinced that is really the case for a lot of the injuries we have seen.

I know this is not an easy question to answer but it seems, at least for me, that it has never really been answered.

 

Along the lines of that club vs NT argument above… I also been noticing an “obligatory absence” from club play on some NT players—- a few games before a major tourney. I chalk it up to aging bones for a few players (like Morgan and Rapinoe) and injury recovery (Lavelle). There might have been couple more but I’m too lazy to look back at data. And this is usually from the roster locked players.
I remember it peeved me off a little coz if you’re neither fit or driven enough to keep your edge sharp on club play, even in limited minutes…your NT roster spot should open up for players who are.

 

The midfield is thin. Oft-injured Lavelle and coming-back-from-injury Macario leaves only three midfielders -- Horan, Coffey, and Albert -- who are reliably fit. Albert is unproven in my opinion.

Suppose Lavelle and/or Macario gets injured in the first match of the Olympics. I assume they can be replaced by one of the alternates. Is that correct?

 

In fact, looking from outside, I was a little surprised that Crystal Dunn is considered a FW, these days.

 

They can. But midfield isn't the place I'm worried about. Besides the players you mentioned, Sonnett, Shaw, and even Swanson could also move into the midfield if needed.

To me, the biggest worry is winger, and right wing to be specific. Rodman is good, but it seems like the only backup there is Dunn. I like having Dunn on the roster for flexibility, but I am worried about her having to step in for Rodman if we're forced to lose her to yellow card accumulation, which seems kind of likely to happen.

But I guess if with an 18 player roster I only have real concerns about the right wing position, then we probably have a pretty solid team. First world problems.

 

Sonnett is most certainly a CM/DM option. You left her out. Shaw can certainly play CAM as well.

With roster's at 18, you really only get 1 sub at FB, CB, DM/CM, CM/CAM, WF, and CF each.

FWIW, we have:

Krueger: FB/CB
Sonnett: CB/CM
Dunn: FB/WF
Albert: CM
Lavelle: CM/CAM/WF
Shaw: CAM/WF

I don't think there is another CF on this roster. Everything else is covered.

Morgan has not been great, for sure. And I guess Williams can play CF amongst the alternates.

The Krueger/Morgan choice would be my only gripe, and a very minor one at that.

I'd have brought Yohannes, but she not be ready to make that decision.