I fully admit i am not an expert on the women's game. The few times i have watched the USA women at the highest level recently (Olympics and WWC) I have been amazed by how quality Megan Rapinoe is as a player. I know generally forwards tend to win the player of the year, but I can help think that she has to be in the short list for the world's best player. Her passing (with both feet) is sublime, good pace, great shooters range and instinct and amazing ball skills and a touch of flair. Is she considered to be one of the best like Marta, etc.? Or is she more regarded as a complimentary player by experts in the womens game?
she definitely stepped it up in the Canadian match. I don't mind if she gets it. Of course, Morgan is a contender too.
Rapnioe had a great 2nd half today. Her first half was poor. That inconsistency is a trend w/ Rapinoe and why I wouldn't have her as world player of the year.
Canada played a 4-5-1 In the first half the USA played a 4-4-2, which gave a mismatch in the midfield, especially when one of those mids was Sinclair. In the second, the USA played a 3-4-3 and evened up the numbers. Canada had to drop a player deeper. I think that had more to do with what Megan could do than any " inconsistency" And I'm pretty sure the whole team got a lecture on playing wide. Didn't she score in the first?
It was 1-0 Canada after 45. And yes, Rapinoe is consistently inconsistent. Not just this game. I know you're a Portland homer but come on, you've got to admit that.
She tries stuff. Some works, some doesn't. Who else on the team creats like that? If you want creativity you have to admit that not everything will work. Even Marta fails more than she succeeds even on good days. But have it your way. She should have been benched. Then we would be playing for bronze.
Honestly, you are a case sometimes. She created two goals out of NOTHING and you won't give her credit. yourself.
Where did I not give her credit? I said she had a great 2nd half. She did. She also had a poor first half. You apparently don't like to acknowledge that part. But it's true. But the subject here in this thread is world player of the year. That is not an award that I believe she deserves for 2012. That's what I'm saying. She has a history of amazing fabulous play at some points and sub par play at others. The whole book about Rapinoe is her inconsistency--awesome some times and not others.
You also don't think the mismatch in the numbers is anything but choose to think it was Rapinoe's inconsistency. And you still won't acknowledge she scored in the first half. So you analysis in not all truth. The book is mostly yours. It's not kosher to write a book and then quote it as authoritative. The post is about your analysis of her first half, which is a crock. She had several services into the box the forwards just missed.
Haha, 55 minutes is close. then everyone had an inconsistent game. sinclair only score one She still got services to forwards in the box the idea that the mids not getting it done is still a crock. When we were in a 4-4-2 we sucked. When we went to a 3-4-3 the game changed.
I think she should definitely be on the shortlist. There aren't really any midfielders I can think of that are as skilled as she is on the ball. The only other player that I think would rival her in that is Aya Miyama. Sure, she is inconsistent. But I have to think that is mostly because of two things: she has had many injuries and health issues over the years and she is trying to be creative which means that her ideas don't always work. She has had a very good Olympics and remember, most coaches and captains vote based off of these big events in the women's game since all the marquee players are so spread out playing in the world and not everyone knows all the info and stats in these various leagues.
I love Megan and think she's been spectacular -- with creativity comes some attempts that don't work. But isn't Christine Sinclair the best player in the world? Think of it this way: How many goals would Abby have if she were on the Canadian team? How many would Sinc have if she were on the US team? Sinclair may be the best player ever.
Best player ever? Um... no. But great player, top striker, well deserved to be mentioned on the short list for FIFA's WPOY? Yep.
Megan has become my favorite player to watch. I think the thing I am most impressed with is the stuff she does that doesn't show up in the book. She pressures the opposition on their attempts to clear and creates turnovers giving the uswnt possessions, she throws her body around to break up opposition passing or win 50/50 balls, she puts balls into the box that create chaos and lead to goals. She is the type of player that the opposition has to deal with.... all game. Her technical skills are reaching an elite level, but it is her hustle and aggression that sets her apart. Over the coarse of 90, or 120 minutes, when you have someone in your face the whole time, that is incredibly difficult to deal with. That means the opponent can't relax, because a lapse in concentration can open a window for her to do damage, and when everyone on the field is exhausted in OT (Rapinoe included) she is still going at it with everything she has got. It is a joy to watch!! I hope young players are watching her and taking notes.
The inconsistency argument is weak as all hell. She sends balls into the box in every game. When her teammates make their runs and those crosses turn into goals she looks like a genius, if they don't connect she is still creating an opportunity, it just doesn't get taken advantage of. Any time you have a true playmaker, which is what Rapinoe is, that player is going to take chances and over a long enough timeline if those chances result in positive results then it would be foolish to dismiss the player whose creativity and aggression leads to those goals and goal scoring opportunities. Her defense, hustle and pressure are very consistent from what I am seeing. Not every cross is going to turn into a goal and not every shot is going to ping of the bar into the net, that applies to everyone. Rapinoe seems to me to be the most dangerous midfielder in the game right now. There are a few top notch forwards that are very effective at pure offense (some of them also put a lot of pressure on the back line in transition too, no doubt) but in terms of overall game-changing, "most valuable player" consideration, she'd have my vote. (I admit she's my favorite player and as such that it is a biased opinion)
Her long service and corners were not that great. But, her play in the field kicked arse. Great control on passes made to her. Plus absolute great passing from her. What ever possession game we had came from her. She was the women of the match in my eyes.
I love Megan with the ball at her feet. I also love Tobin Heath, b/c she has Japanese ball skills and American athleticism. I also love Alex Morgan. She is a FUTURE player of the year. Great runs and crosses create many dangerous opportunities. Even when she doesn't touch the ball, she influences the play.\ For example: On the final goal Carly Lloyd scored she had an influence. As Carly was coming up the middle, her closest defender was turning and pointing toward Alex Morgan to make sure another defender marks her. That gave Carly an extra second to get to where she launched her cannon shot. I really think Alex will be the next POTY from USA. That said, I would give the POTY to Kristine Sinclair. JMHO
I think Rapinoe has matured a lot over the past year. She used to be easily frustrated and often resorted to stupid fouls in her moments of frustration. She seems to be getting past that now. I think she is more consistent than she has been in the past. There was a period of time in 2009-10 when I thought she was the best 1 v. 1 player on the US team. Then she went through, for lack of not knowing what else to call it, a bit of a slump. She seems to be back in full force now. Her service using strong and accurate. As for world player of the year, I don't think there is a chance in hell. While she is a very good player, I don't think people around the world consider her to be an elite player. Morgan or Wambach would get it over her, as would Sinclair. There are not going to be that many players from North America on the short list. Sinclair's marvelous performance and hattrick against the US will help her following in Europe and around the world. I do think that Sinclair does have a legitimate chance to win it. As for the argument about how many goals Sinclair would have with the US or Wambach would have for Canada, I don't think Sinclair would have any more goals for the USWNT. Outside of a recent surge by Tancredi, Sinclair has been the only goal scorer for Canada for the most part. Against tough competition, that can be a problem because they can key on her, but against most of the competion she plays against, she is going to get a bulk of the scoring chances because she is their only go-to player. On the US, she would be sharing with Wambach, Morgan, Rapinoe, Lloyd, etc., etc. I do, however, agree that Wambach would not have as many on the Canadian team.
I wish but only the "big names" can get that award. Wambach or Morgan are most likely going to win it. I'm happy she is starting to get some global recognition though. She did tie for the lead in points with 10 (3 goals and 4 assists) with Wambach and Morgan. Considering she played less minutes than those two, she could be considered the most-productive USWNT player at the Olympics.