Do you agree or disagree with the columnist? Freedom doesn't reign in the WUSA In a mid-season review, the foundation looks shaky by Craig Stouffer I am siding with him on this. In the past four weeks or so the Freedom have looked like pretenders instead of contenders. I am not too happy with the funk the team is currently in. I'd like to see what Golebiowski could do with more playing time.
I agree completely. The Freedom seem to win more by accident than on purpose. I think what he needs to do is move Skate to right mid and put Stoeck higher up in the middle. Then move Kelly G. outside. Now if only he had a potent goal scorer who combines well with Abby to put up top... I think this formation would work nicely: Mullinix Little, Grubb, Moore, Barr Golebiowski,Stoecker,Jones, Noftsinger Hamm, Wambach I also wouldn't mind seeing him try a 4-3-3: Mullinix Little, Grubb, Stoecker, Moore Golebiowski, Jones, Noftsinger Hamm, Little, Wambach That formation, I think would work quite nicely. But hey, what the hell do I know?
Oh yeah, I totally agree. I've said it a hundred times - they win in spite of Gabarra, not because of him. Questionable tactics all over the place and yet, somehow they have managed a number of wins. I know it's totally homerish, but I truly believe that Mia's intensity and drive pushes the rest of the team a lot of the time. She's certainly not all of it, but it's definitely a big factor. She DOES need to be in the middle, not the wings, to be a true playmaker, if he insists on playing her in mid. It's why she seems to disappear during games sometimes. She can't do something with the ball if she ain't getting it. And she's often so busy tracking back on defense, which she really shouldn't have to do so much but does, that she can't get up in time to be effective. I HAVE seen her absolutely fly from all the way back to catch up to a midfielder. The biggest problem is that they really don't work as a team, with a plan. It's a lot of individual effort - players that really want it. Jaqui Little for instance. The game against NY for instance, where she cleaned Raveia's clock. I know she didn't mean to do that, she just "wanted it". And then she goes and gets two goals. Grubb. What can you say? Simply solid. Abby. Again, what can you say but driven? I could go on... He's got great players, but isn't playing them effectively. They need a REAL coach.
They've been looking like pretenders all season, despite their early season record. We can't figure out how they started 3-0-0, now the results are starting to show it. Hopefully, they can right the ship against 'we can't even score against NY' San Jose.
Need to have Meinert in there in the back. I would replace Moore. I like watching Skate play, but she isn't my first 11. Without a creative attacking mid, we need to play Mia in the MF. The more she touches the ball in the attacking half the more opportunities the entire team has.
I was being sarcastic. They already have a potent goal scorer who combines well with Abby. However, she is spending all of her time out in the baren wasteland that is right midfield. When is Meinert supposed to show up anyways? I agree that she is needed in the back. I would replace Barr before I replaced Moore though. And play Moore on the wing. Or either Meinert on the wing. But I personally think that Moore works harder than Barr. I also agree with Mia playing attacking mid, but when she's in the mid, Jim plays her outside, which I think is ludicrous. If he feels that they need that many players in the center of the midfield I think they should play a 3-front with Mia in the middle serving as a "sagging forward." That way she could be a playmaker and a finisher. I also think that Steffi Jones could make a great playmaking midfielder if she got a little more practice time.
Meinert has been available for the last 2 games. In her 1st game against Boston, she came off the bench in the 2nd half when Jones got hurt. In her 2nd game at Carolina, she played right back replacing Skylar who was ineligible due to a red card. Moore may work harder - she just hasn't been as effective staying close to her mark this year. I think our lack of speed in the middle back (Grubb, Moore) needs to be corrected.
Just a nit: it's "Minnert," not "Meinert." Meinert is that chick who's doing pretty well for Boston this year. I wish we had her, but we don't....
I like this idea and formation a lot. When I played soccer our team tried this and called the "sagging forward" the "withdrawn forward." This person is still considered a forward with the primary job of getting goals scored but the idea is to link the midfield with the front runnners. The withdrawn forward plays slightly behind two forwards where they can easily collect great passes that are easy to score. If Mia played this position she would be in the middle of the field (the middle of all the action), could still make her few defensive plays to help the team, connect the not as tight midfield, and give some great services to Abby and Jackie or whoever is up there. But she would also be able to get plenty of goals because she would still be mainly offensive. I think the withdrawn forward is a nice compromise without having to put Mia directly into the midfield yet still getting the middle of the field in better shape.
"Does Goobera read these boards?!" I doubt it. Remember, his credentials come from his stint as coach of the Washington Warthogs. He's THE prime example of the saying, "Just because you played the game doesn't mean you can coach." The Freedom could do just as well with Alicia Silverstone "Clueless" coaching. It's unfortunate that he's now in his third year. You can't blame the players for his idiotic draft choices and for the way he places the players on the field. I agree wholeheartedly with the observation that the Freedom has won despite "Goobera." Of course, if you give much credence to the "Gloom and Domm" thread, then it may be a moot point to want his butt out of that job. There may not be a job next year.
Potent Goal scorer Soccermonkey you may have said you were being sarcasric about this but it sounds like wisdom after this weekend. We need help up top and it can be anyone willing to put it in the net. Mia would be great and Schott would be an attribute and work well w/ Abby. I'm thinkin this has got to be hard to watch for Schott, she's a striker playing Def. Mid. You know what strikers like to do! They like to score. I would just like to see her get the opportunity to play her position. I may end up eating my words but I'd to see her get the nod at least once.