Yep, I know I'm doing this - , and I know that absolutely nothing I say is going to change the fact unless there is a sea change in thinking on the part of the coaching staff, Jennifer Garner (of ABC's Alias) will divorce her hubby and marry me before Melissa has to bone up on her Chinese . We won't *know* if she's any good or not unless she actually gets a chance to show her stuff in the NT training camp. Like I've said countless times before, there's no way she should be the #1 goalie unless she *earns* it through her play. But being the backup to whomever is in there is certainly worth looking into. And with all due props, Adam, that scrimmage could have been played on the tarmac at San Diego International Airport right after the Japanese team's plane landed from Asia, and it wouldn't change the fact that Moore stood on her head and kept a national team whose roster probably will not differ much from what you'll see tomorrow afternoon from scoring any goals whatsoever. Hereby the great work of BS's witness to yesterday's San Diego WFC-Japan scrimmage at UCSD re: the Soccer America radio show mentioned in that thread: There will be a clear-cut outcome to this discussion on October 10, 2003, the day of the WWC final, of course. One line of thinking or the other will be proven right by the ultimate result. In a roundabout way, Heinrichs' troika of netminders got a can of whoop-a$$ opened up on 'em by Fox Sports' website, which gave this pull-no-punches assessment of the goalie situation: "The big question is in goal as Heinrichs searches for a credible backup to the aging Bri Scurry. Siri Mullinx has been inconsistent and injury-plagued since the 2000 Olympics and LaKeysia Beene has not lived up to all expectations." And for Adam, who has rightfully harped on the D which is in place now, this even more candid opinion: "Heinrichs must also look to shore up a defense that has looked shaky when tested. Chastain is fighting to maintain her spot, now alongside Joy Fawcett at center. With those two players - who will be 35 this year - anchoring the back, it remains to be seen how far Heinrichs can ride their experience before younger, quicker legs must be called in." URL: http://foxsports.lycos.com/content/view?contentId=849958 Paul
I'll opt to say.... ....watching that scrimmage today between the US and Japan redefined the word 'difficult' Any opinions welcomed. Paul
The idea of quicker legs condemns the philosophy of American soccer. quicker legs are Slaton and Reddick.. the concept ultimately boils down to system. Defensively adding a Mitts or Benson defines a signicant alteration in how outside backs get used in the American system . Right now, Mitts and Benson are being evalutated in how they fit into the current system, not how their respective talents are best utilized. Back to the keeper matter. Henrichs is married to having the old guard shine one final time. and back to making a critical mistake, just look at Brazil-England.. the best of keepers sometiem blunder Players like Wagner and Reddick and Slaton will be blended into the mix, but I don't believe a new keeper will be given a chance. Experience is very important and making a mistake can eliminate you from the tournament. While we know Moore's strength is NOT making foolish errors, it's the past record on the national side which will determine who gets the call next autumn. Scurry and Mullinix play in WUSA needs to prove they can't handle the load. And Beene is option #3. I don't beleive we get past option #3.
Excerpt From Heinrichs Interview Here's the question I asked Coach April Heinrichs on "Inside Soccer" last Satureday: I had a chance this past week, to watch Melissa Moore play in a scrimmage against Japan, and was really impressed with how well she played, and was wondering if there was a chance for a player like her to still get consideration for the World Cup squad, even though she's not with the current squad? April Heinrichs: Yeah, very familiar with Melissa. She's had a very good career, it was a dubious start, but it was certainly a wonderful two years at Philadelphia, she's the starter for them. And as we all know, Philadelphia has made to the final four of the pro league every year, and I think a lot of that rests on the shoulders of Melissa. She's performed extremely well, uhm, she's on the radar screen for the World Cup team, it would be very difficult for her make the team right now, because we feel that we have five goal keepers and then I would Melissa Moore and Kristin Luckenbill from Carolina are two other goal keepers in the league and in the country that we're keeping our eye on. Thanks so much to Say_What for providing a transcript of the entire interview with Heinrichs. Great job! Heinrichs Transcript
Benson and Hawkins make the 20 player squad, along with Pearce. http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=26487&itype=
[R], for all intent... As much as others outside of the Charge forum don't think much of Melissa, at least I've never heard about nor seen her give up a goal from midfield like Beene did this morning in our 2-0 loss to China in the 4NT. But it's understood that the goalie troika in place now is bulletproof in April's eyes, so this result doesn't matter, nor will Algaarve in March. Baying at the moon, you could call this Paul
I'd be more concerned about Benson palying the 1st half and the Chinese dominating the 45 minutes of play, with Pearce getting the 2nd half. I wonder what Heinrichs thinks of the play of Pearce versus Benson. It's the play by the field players which counts. Apparently Been made an extraordinary save on Zhao who was in on her alone. Zhao, was the player of the match, based on reports I've read. I wonder if Zhao was right sided or left sided, if on the right, she would have been attacking Benson's side. And finally, I wonder if Jenny spke to Zhao about this year, here with the Charge, after the match
I don't think you can fault the defense on a circumstance like that. I just don't see, with as much time as a goalie has seeing a ball kicked from midfield that you can be scored on, unless Beene pulled a Chilavert and tried to move too far out of the box on a counterattack and got caught, or if it was something else. Maybe the weather had something to do with it. That sounded to me Wen put up a 'WTF? I'll kick it down there and see what happens' shot. Paul
My recollection was Cindy Parlow for Atlanta scored from 30 yards out on Moore last season. And you kindly ignored the goal Beene saved when Zhao was in alone on her.
Actually, that was Webber who got torched by Parlow; Moore was on the shelf with the broken hand. And when I posted my original note, didn't know of the save on Lihong. Paul
If anyone has the date when Parlow scored the 30 yard goal, it would be appreciated. 2002 material no longer is available at wusa.con of charge site, so I can't confirm or deny the year Parlow naided the long shot. Still Paul will look at any negative trait of Beene or Muillinix or Scurry to lay claim to his favorite keeper. The basic premise is you need to evaluate in a TOTALITY to derive any conclusion. Examining one piece of data is far too reductionist and doesn't provide a global picture. While Sun Wen may have nailed a long shot goal, the other evieence is Beene made an outstaning save on Zhao who was in all alone on Beene. So one great save versus a long shot goal. What else went on to evaluate Beene??
I believe the date was May 24, 2001 and it was Webber who was in goal. Atlanta Beat tied with New York Power at top of WUSA league after away win
Missile away I remember the 8/10 game against the Beat. Jen cleared the ball into the mid-field, and one of the Beat players launched a missile that sailed into the net untouched!!!
Thanks to Nordby1 and #2fairfan. The goal described by #2fairfan was the goal I was thinking. Memory mixed it with the Parlow goal. Just because a ball is stricken from 30 yards out doesn't mean the keeper is at error. I have tapes of the 1970 World Cup, and in one Pele tries s shot from 60 yards out which missed the net by a yard. No one would have faulted the keeper. It's the brilliance of the player which should be applauded. In my instance, Pele, and on Sunday, Sun Wen. Why does this have a BEat angle to all this idscussion?? One wonders if Sun Wen knee woes are finally over?
i think the important thing is that you cannot look at any one particular instance to judge anyone. you have to look at the totality of their body of work - and any trends that might develop, to judge a player. one goal allowed by beene doesn't make her a bad keeper. if that were true, melissa would have to be considered a bad keeper because i have seen her make a mistake (yes, its true, she has let in goals she should not have let it. she is, after all, only human!) but there is your mistake paul. you always judge others by their one worst mistake. siri mullinix is a very good keeper, but not as consistent as she should be. against the charge on 8/17, she was as good as she had to be. maybe she'll have a game like that in the wc. who knows? the thing is, on any given day, any of the top five or six or seven goalkeepers could do a fine job. or they could screw up and let in soft goals. its just the way it goes.
Judymd is seeing the keeper matter is the same perspective I do. The other aspect which Moore totally lacks is INTERNATIONAL experience WHEN the matches do count. Scurry and Mullinix have experienced ELITE tournaments. Unless their WUSA play is subpar, they make the team. Beene is getting some vital experience in China. If healthy Scurry or Mullinix would be #1 in CHINA is the autumn with Beene being thrid string. And citing another example for a WORLD CLASS keeper who's last INTERNATIONAL moment was a huge blunder. England-Brazil in June.... Any one want to recall the Brazil winning goal?? Can we say keeper error!!! But would Sven Ericksson ever have played a different keeper!!! No!!! Even in hindsight... And Ericksson is proably the top 2 or 3 managers on the planet.