Potential Coaches?

Where's that other thread about US coaching lacking tactical nuance or well, knowledge. oh, the men's forum Seriously, after the games so far, I agree. Ryan is out of his depth. For those that think the poor play is all b/c of the players (and yes, they should bare some of the responsibility) they can't sub themselves in/out.

Does the WNT get the best women's soccer coaches? The last two aren't convincing me that we do. I can sort of see how a coach w/ a really nice gig cough...Jerry...cough wouldn't want to quit it for a 4 yr or so run w/ the nats. And w/ soccer, you can't really do what the women's bball folks do and have the head coach take a yr sabatical for the cup/Olympics.

AndyMeade made an excellent point about much needed game time for players. I think the same thing can be said for coaches.

 

well played.

 

Hey they won

But, when and if they make a change it would help if they get someone who has worked with men with a history of success.

Also someone who has a UEFA A license and not just a USSF A licence.

Also some little things that were not done today in total can make a big difference on how the team plays as a whole.

 

I agree w/ the last two things you said. I do not think the next coach needs/should have experience coaching men. player management wise and motivational styles are very different for men vs women. Also, I don't think women's soccer (or women's sports in general) should try to be "just like the men." Women are not men. They can't/shouldn't try to replicate something else. They should develop/approach the women's game on its own terms and for its own value.

 

He should have an assistant or two that are women with coaching experience.

 

We played much better after the second goal because we stopped worrying about losing the ball and about not taking any risks.

Play like that the whole game that should be our game.

 

Why? Just curious as to your reasons.

 

I don't think the coaches we have expect enough out of their game.

They get in trouble they take the easy way out and give up the ball.

Also they try to bypass are mids because if they lose the ball at least it is in the opponents defensive third of the field.

You trust their game you won't want them to play like that.

 

I don't think your statement automatically support your argument of a coach from the men's game. I don't think the last 2 nat'l team coaches are the cream of the crop of women's soccer coaches in the USA (or world). I think a coach w/ a high level of success before coaching the nat's would set high expectations for level of play (and a different style)

I agree that the current bypass the midfield "style" is not working nor does it really use the players on the team to their best advantage.

 

I think it's obvious. The new coach should be Lilly. She knows everything and everyone and has leadership abilities.

The current coach of Brazil's men national team, Dunga, has never coached anything before taking the top male team in the world.

And with Lilly we got the extra benefit of getting her out of the field for the Olympics and give a deserved chance to many others.

 

I agree. I think coaching licenses are overrated. A good coach is a good coach, especially at that level.

I think Dorrance and Clive Charles, who coached both men and women, had different styles with each. I do not think coaching men necessarily helps. Back when I captained a co-ed team, I even found that things that worked with the male palyers (basically yelling and getting them mad) did not work with the women (as a goalkeeper, I once had a new female teammate in tears after a game).

It is the same with youth v. senior team coaches. Often good youth coaches are not good senior team coaches.

I was not against Heinrichs initially as she was a great player, and I thought would be a good mentor to the younger players. I think he ego got into the way. Which is why when looking at recent retirees, I cannot see Foudy as the coach -- I think her ego might get in the way. I could see Sobrero (sorry, I always think of her that way) as the coach someday.

 

Except that Foudy went through the Heinrichs era as a player. I'd say lesson learned, w/ respect to player management, anyway. And no, I'm not advocating Foudy as coach. If we were going to look at former players, who's got the coaching bug and is getting experience? I do think US coaches need to get outside the US for some experience/learning--ie UEFA licensing or maybe just Sweden/Bundeliga coaching expreince...

 

I'm repeating myself, but I'd like to see Ryan replaced by Australian coach, Tom Sermani. Then we'd have a coach that not only believes a team consists of more than one player, but also a coach who is willing to use his bench!

 

Someone posted earlier that none of the WUSA coaches had distinguished themselves enough to emerge as National Team coach candidates. That's obviously not the case with Tom Sermanni, who moved from CyberRays assistant coach to NY Power head coach to Australian head coach. He has rebuilt the Matildas in most impressive fashion, starting with a core of former Power and CyberRays players (Alagich, Salisbury, Peters) and developing new talent (De Vanna, Walsh). His coaching skill is obvious in the strategic improvement and discipline the Aussies showed throughout the tournament. I don't think anyone doubts the Matildas will only get better in years ahead; it's a shame we won't get to see them at the 2008 Olympics. In any case, I don't think Tom will be abandoning them for the US anytime soon.

Back before Ryan was appointed, two other WUSA coaches were mentioned as top candidates: Pia Sundhage and (as jd6885 has suggested) Mark Krikorian. I prefer Sundhage, who coached in the Swedish league post-WUSA, and is now China's assistant coach under head coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors. But Krikorian is also doing a fine job coaching Florida State, and both he and Sundhage favor a possession style that is in clear contrast to the direct approach Ryan is taking. My top choice to replace Heinrichs, and now Ryan, is still Jerry Smith, who has both the tactical skill and experience to keep the US competitive. In 05, Brandi's presence on the team was seen as a liability; that would no longer be an issue. But as kool-aide mentions above, who knows if he'd leave a secure job at SCU, which is off to a stellar start to the season, despite the loss of many starters to injury. Smith sure knows how to get the best out of his players.

All this is pretty academic, though. The US Fed didn't replace Heinrichs when she was clearly out of her depth at the 03 WWC. Even if the US loses to Brazil in the semis or Germany in the final, it's extremely unlikely we'll see a coaching change before the Olympics. More's the pity.

 

All federations like the status quo but usually don't have that luxury because the public would lynch them. The only scenario here would be a humiliating defeat in the Semis or Final, but that's not very likely.

 

HEY!! HE HASN'T LOST A GAME YET!! I can't believe I'm reading this stuff. I agree we should be doing more technical play especially in the midfield, but Ryan's job isn't to entertain us with beautiful passes and feet trickery. He has been doing the job that he was hired to do. Win games. We'll see Thursday, but for right now, I think he has done a good job of coaching this team and win or loose I hope he stays through the Olympics. That's how this team is made up, play solid D, push the ball up field and feed the big girl. I don't see the Germans playing any different.
Come on, talk of changing a coach when he hasn't lost a game yet since he's taken over is obsurd.
Now Charlie Weis, he should be fired not Greg Ryan.

 

Right on target here. Talking about this firing is insane. Until the team fails to meet its objectives - WC title and Olympic Gold - how can you fire the guy? We can complain about his style and coaching methods, but not the results thus far.

 

No it's not -- we are soccer fans. Hell, I want to fire coaches before they are even hired!

 

Sermanni's New York Power went 7-9-5 and missed the playoffs. Hardly distinguishing. It was a step up from the prior year but New York had a winning season their first year. Sermanni also coached the 1995 WWC Australia team that lost 5-0 to Denmark, 4-2 to China, and 4-1 to the USA. Again not too impressive. But he obviously didn't emerge onto the international scene by his accomplishments in the WUSA, he had already been a WWC coach.

While Sermanni might be a great coach, he is not American. I would like to see some American coaches rise to the fore.

 

Because of their great support and understanding of the women's game? Sorry. I know what you were trying to say about a particular playing style that you'd like to see. I am just pretty certain that (in the women's game) a Brazilian coach won't lead us to be all that we can be.

 

Jim Mike.

 

as long as the team will just kick the ball into the net-box!