In this case I think players like Ella Masar, Melissa Henderson and potential Internationals Kyah Simon and Lisa De Vanna are going to be so valuable to teams. As Charlie Naimo said, the free agents will be the difference.
The question is whether or not under this financial structure the top internationals will be as keen to come over.
I guess that makes Tiffany Cameron a valuable draft choice. Maybe Herdman was thinking that when he left her off the allocation list.
The names may not be as sexy, but here's where you go through the WPSLE, WPSL, W-League rosters and see who is there from last year. Boston got great results last year from Katie Schoepfer and Simon. Probably some WPS players who are still around as well. The teams that have been keeping in contact with the free agent pool and scouting will come out ahead (where the already existing teams have an advantage).
In baseball, everyone plays short stop until they arent good enough and have to move to another position. In the US there will always be forwards to pick from for the same reason. Rodriguez will do fine in this league. The problem with the lack of forwards is it will keep a lot of players who should be playing midfield toiling away on the front line. If this league is truly about development, then I rather see 4-5-1 than playing players out of position to fill the formation.
Not worried about "Forward" depth in this league at all. It'll be a strength before you know it. Forwards Galore (Quality and Quantity) Abby Wambach (USA) Alex Morgan (USA) Sydney Leroux III (USA) Amy Rodriguez (USA) ----------------------------- Christine Sinclair (CAN) Adriana Leon (CAN) (she can play) ----------------------------- Veronica Perez (MEX) Maribel Dominguez (MEX) (has scored in World Cups before) Monica Ocampo (MEX) (has also scored in World Cups before) Renae Cuellar (MEX) (bright young player) Anisa Raquel Guajardo Braff (MEX) ----------------------------- Kristen Mewis (Rookie) (forward or attacking midfielder) Victoria DiMartino (Rookie) Caroline Miller (Rookie) Tiffany McCarty (Rookie) Carlee Payne Holmoe (Rookie) Megan Jurado (Rookie) Tiffany Cameron (Rookie) Colleen Williams (Rookie) Jessica Price (Rookie) Tishia Jewell (Rookie) Brandi Vega (Rookie) ----------------------------- Melissa Henderson Lindsay Taylor Stephanie Ochs Sarah Hagen? (if not 2013, then 2014) Laura Heyboer Krista Lopez Courtney Jones Merritt Mathias Kayla Grimsley Blake Miller Danielle Foxhoven ---------------------------- Danesha Adams Kiki Bosio Michelle Enyeart Ella Masar Christie Welch Kerri Hanks Tasha Kai Tiffany Weimer Casey Nogueira Megan Lenczyk Amanda Cinalli Rebecca Moros Jess Luscinski ---------------------------- Lianne Sanderson? Johanna Rasmussen? Veronica "Vero" Boquete? Laura Del Rio? Laura Kalmari? Lisa De Vanna? Samantha Kerr? Kyah Simon? Sarah Walsh? (retired from the Matildas, but still may play in leagues) Holmfridur Magnusdottir? Sarah Gregorius? Kelly Parker? Depending on how many internationals do play in this league (in 2013, or at least by 2014), I am comfortable with 12 teams in this league, with this much forward talent out there. There are some great players out there still, and some very underrated talent.
Tiffany Cameron reminds me of a younger Eniola Aluko. Didn't Aluko lead WPS in goals scored one year? (because Marta missed a few matches). Cameron scored 21 goals last year (9 of those goals were game-winning goals): http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/113012aaa.html
Way off... It went Marta - Marta - Vero; the closest Eni got to top scorer was a tie for fourth in year one.
Ok, but she was leading in the first year for much of that year. I remember when she was leading the league in goals scoring deep into the year. She must have tapered off at the end. Aluko finished that year tied for the #3 goal scorer. And maybe I was thinking she was leading in "total points" for awhile that year instead from memory. She finished tied for #3 in goals scored that year, and tied for #3 in assists that year, and was the only player in the league to finish in the Top 3 in both categories (and actually was the only player in the league to finish in the Top 5 in both categories too).
Yeah, here are the stats again in 2009. I remember Marta having a killer end of year that year in the regular season to pull away from Abily, Wambach, Sinclair, Aluko, etc. They were all in the hunt that year. This brings back memories. I forgot Abily had such a great year that year, and at one point in mid-season, I believe she was also leading the league in goals. Her 1st half of 2009 in WPS was unbelievable (and her whole year overall was still phenomenal in her all-around game then with the Sol). 2009 - Leading Goalscorers Marta Los Angeles Sol 9 Camille Abily Los Angeles Sol 8 Cristiane Chicago Red Stars 6 Abby Wambach Washington Freedom 6 Christine Sinclair FC Gold Pride 6 Eniola Aluko Saint Louis Athletica 6 Lisa De Vanna Washington Freedom 5 Natasha Kai Sky Blue FC 5 Kelly Smith Boston Breakers 5 Sonia Bompastor Washington Freedom 4 Tiffany Milbrett FC Gold Pride 4 Lindsay Tarpley Chicago Red Stars 4