I know the "no reposting" rule for WUSA Insider, but this one had so much Charge related, it would be a pain to summerize. Sorry, Soccer America. "The Chinese national team also has secured loan agreements for midfielders Zhao Lihong of Philadelphia and Pu Wei of Washington. Zhao will play for Guangdong in China's top league and Pu will return to Shanghai TV. Both are expected to return to the WUSA in 2004, but what impact the Athens Olympics will play on the situation hasn't been determined." " IVERSON GONE? Erica Iverson's WUSA career may be finished. The Philadelphia central defender, Soccer America's WUSA Defensive Player of the Year last season, may have no other choice after trade talks between the Charge and Boston hit an impasse. Iverson, 26, a former University of Massachusetts standout who emerged in 2002 after playing just four games in the WUSA's inaugural season, is engaged and doesn't want to be away from her fiance, who is based in the Boston area. She's ready to retire if she can't play for the Breakers. Boston apparently hasn't offered anything Philadelphia considers a fair trade. "I spoke with Erica [Tuesday] and told her we'd done everything in our power to reach what we thought was a reasonable agreement, but it didn't seem as though it will be possible," Charge coach Mark Krikorian said. "So it seems to me, at this time, she's probably going to retire, unfortunately. It's too bad for the game. I feel bad for Erica. But it's part of the business of professional sport." Iverson would seem invaluable for the Breakers, who struggled in the back the first two seasons. New coach Pia Sundhage, Krikorian's assistant in Philly the first two seasons, certainly knows what Iverson could provide. Others who are retiring: Philadelphia's Rakel Karvelsson and New York's Katie Tracy and Emily Stauffer." "ANOTHER SURPRISE: The biggest surprise of the draft, hands down, was Philadelphia taking Dartmouth midfielder Mary McVeigh with the seventh selection. Many rated McVeigh highly, but nobody -- Charge coach Mark Krikorian aside -- saw her as a first-rounder. "Mary has caught my eye for years," said Krikorian, whose familiarity with New England talent dates to his days as coach at the University of Hartford and New Hampshire-based Division II power Franklin Pierce. "When I was at Hartford, I saw her for two years at Dartmouth, and I really thought she was a very good player. "I saw her three times this fall, and she showed versatility. One game I saw her, she played center back, and she was outstanding. The other two, she was in the middle of midfield, and she was dominating midfield. She's technical, she can read the game, she has a decent heading presence, she's tough and will get stuck in. She's well-coached and disciplined, and has the qualities to play in the middle of midfield, on the flank, at center back and wide in back. With that kind of versatility, I think she's a pretty valuable player." McVeigh's selection "surprised everybody," noted San Diego coach Omid Namazi, a sentiment offered by several other WUSA coaches. "It could be the situation of a good player who basically went unnoticed. If so, give Mark credit for taking her that high. It seemed like a big surprise." Krikorian seems to offer a stunner in each draft, and he possesses a different eye for talent than most of his colleagues. He also took Clemson's Deliah Arrington, an athletic if unpolished forward, with the No. 6 selection, higher than most scouts rated her. "We went into the draft looking for an attacking alternative," Krikorian said. "She provides something a little different. She's quite special -- her athletic qualities are as good as any player I've ever seen. I think she'll prove a headache to a lot of people."
So Zhao is gone... Thanks, John, for that. Now the priority of finding an international defender can finally begin since Makinen is a greenie and doesn't count against the limit of 4, that is (Pichon, Smith, Scasna). Our post-season chances took a bit of a hit, I fear. How can you lose both Lihong AND Iverson and still not miss a beat?? The margin for error has shrunk considerably. As for Erica, see what towing a hard line will get you, Boston? Squat. Maybe we should have tried to put in a claim for Latham; what's the worst that could've happened? Zhao staying and we would have had to withdraw it? But a blue-chip overseas defender is now a must. Paul
So, if Zhao is loaned for a year, I would assume this opens an international slot for a year. Now, the question is, is there an international defender on the horizon to pair with Tietjen? And is she French?? OK a little line-up look given Zhao's loss means the Charge really don't have a winger type to put on either side. So Benson and Mitts will give the Charge width going forward. starting 11... Keeper du jour Benson INTERNATIONAL DEFENDER Tietjen Mitts midfield sort of a skinny diamond Fair Monroe Tullock Smith Krikorian starts defensively all the time and brings offense off the bench... Scasna and Pichon up top Arrington is the sub off the bench to add a spark . The description of McVeigh infers she is the back-up at many positions. So, a limited roster size is expanded by a player who can play 4 or 5 slots. Not a bad move. Chicken game between Boston and Philadelphia, with all parties essentially losing soccer wise. Nothing is a must. again a nominalist statement without subtance... only must in existence is death.
Not sure why you see Boston as getting nothing. Seems to me that the CheeseSteaks are the ones that have come up with nothing in return for Iverson leaving. Boston used all of their draft picks and have a talented corp of players coming into camp. It's a simple matter of each team having a different idea of what is "reasonable". Boston's GM has first-hand experience with Erica Iverson from his time as the GM of Mass Pro Soccer, operators of the Boston Renegades, Iverson's team before the WUSA. I'm not sure how these waiver things work, but at some point won't Philly have to release Iverson or place her on waivers if she isn't on the team? Seems to me that Iverson would be free for the picking at that point, right? Life is a game. Soccer is serious.
Whether Karvellson and Iverson are listed on the coming waiver lists or not, I'd think their status is somewhat akin to Fitschen and Enos. They say they will retire, and I assume there's some paperwork where they place their signature on the dotted line, and get placed into a new category, where they can't play for two years. On the whole, I can't see where anyone wins in the scenario where Iverson retires. Boston, with Iverson, and existing personnel, I'd place clearly in the top4, without some other defender emerging, they'll be fighting for the top 4. Charge are back yo where we were last winter, wondering who would step up to replace Fitschen. Losing Zhao, I believe means the Charge go from a clear top 4 team, to a team fighting for the top 4. Interesting Bai Jie will be in Washington until August, then say goodbye, effectively meaning she's gone for the end of the season an play-offs. Personally, I believe the Chinese are using Bai Jie to spy on the health and performance of Mia Hamm.
I wonder how unreasonable BOS really are. For all you know, he could be asking for the world for Iverson. It must have been a year ago when someone posted [I don't recall who], that in a case of 2+ teams laying claim to an international, the team with the worse record gets to claim her. Probably not. Krikorian had a chance to draft Boyd, and passed. And the deal for Kraus wouldn't have made sense either.
In regards to Iverson, it's probably a case of not wanting to help another team become stronger than keeping our team from losing a quality player. If the Charge were to trade Iverson simply to gain something in return, that hurts the Charge more than it helps. If they don't get equal value in return, they just helped Boston's defense improve while weakening our team. As silly as it may sound, taking two steps back is better than taking one step back and helping the other team take two forward. It's a shame Iverson won't get to play anymore, but from the Charge's point of view, they did what's best for the team and that's their first priority. People have said they should try to help her out and make a deal, but you can't run at pro team like that.
I agree with John T perspective, taking one step back is better than taking a step back and letting the competition take a step forward. My view is losing Zhao has more impact on the team than losing Iverson. Zhao is a totally unique player, able to play both left and right sides with extreme competence. And it'll change how the Charge play, more than losing Iverson would change how the Charge play. Personally I'd like a midfield with Tullock at d-mid, and have FAir on a wing, we'll probably see Monroe at her pesky defensive best, and Misaki being an offensive sub in midfield for Monroe. Smith is an attacking mid. Scasna and Pichon up top. Basically Krikorian starts defense, and if needed brings offense off the bench, offense being Arrington and Misaki, with Misaki being a porr womans Liu. Still with Zhao gone, an allocation for 2003 is available The choice is a central defender, or again another offensive weapon. With San Diego having too many internationals, I wonder if Fan will be coming this way?
Taking your earlier "spy on Mia" theory a step further, if I were China, I'd rather keep Fan in SD to learn everything they can about Wagner. If the WNT continues to struggle with finishing, it would make sense to do whatever you can to limit the number of scoring chances. That starts with limiting Wagner. Just a theory.
Zhang and Fan are both in San Diego. And I guess this is Namazi's call which he wants, but with Latham and Fleeting,it would appear Zhang wouldn't have a starters postion, unless he goes 4-3-3, which might happen. San Diego is looking for an international defender, so I'd find it odd for them to get rid of Fan too. When it comes to the Chinese, there is a hidden agenda for a lot of there moves. The thing about finishing is, the more competitive matches you play, the more likely the knack to regain it. Back to Bai Jie, right now, Carolina and DC are my top 2 sides, particularly with Boyd going to Carolina, strengthens them in the back, and Minnert going to DC, does the same. Ultimately, I think it's the teams who play the best defense which will emerge to make the play-off. Bu the Bai Jie matter will be reminiscent of Pichon, who would have missed FC2 to play for France, this time Bai Jie will be out of the play-offs for China. Thinking of Wagner, she played a full college year, with a lot of internationals, and will continue this spring with internationals and a full WUSA season. My only concern with her is staleness. At some point you need a rest. I wonder which coach will be smart enough to rest her, Namazi or Heinrichs. It's one of the things with the mens world cup, where star players play 9 months of 2 matches per week, then get to the big event all worn out.