1) No Hege Riise (injury) 2) No Carla Overbeck (maternity leave) 3) No Kristen Luckenbill (injury) 4) No Danielle Slaton (US WNT) 5) No Tiffany Roberts (US WNT) and now 6) No Breanna Boyd (Canada WNT) Exactly how deep is our roster? When was the last time McDermott played? Any chance Kim Montgomery could suit up at halftime?
I guess Unni will have to run the offense. I would almost opt for a 4-5-1 in attempt to find a way to get the ball up top. We stayed in a 3-5-2/4-4-2 last July in Philly with Hega and Unni out and Birgit and Fotop never saw the ball. With those six out we've only got 12 field players and two keepers left.
It is tempting to use Birgit as the playmaker. If she's going to have to track back into midfield to get the ball anyway, why not slot her behind two forwards sort of like Scholes for Man U (of course I'd compare her more to Ruud but if we can't get her the ball...). I wouldn't have her taking corners, either. We need her in the box. keeper burt fetig baxter borgman O'hannley lehn james prinz gordon fotop
Well I just found this out. As it stands the Courage have 15 roster/reserver/development players available for Saturday. Two are injured, one is on maternity leave, and two have been called up by the USA. Teams below 16 players can bring in "supplemental" players to get up to 16 dressed players. As it stands now, Kim Yankowski-Montgomery has been practicing with the team, and may well dress this weekend. Two things affect that scenario. Against it -> Both Slaton and Roberts will be returning from Washington in time for the game in Cary. Whether they dress or not will depend on playing time in the US game, and fatigue. The last thing we want is one of our remaining marquee players going down with an injury because they tried to push themselves to hard. For it -> Breanna Boyd is one of the 15 players. Canada has yet to request her for the game, but I suspect they will. That will put her on the same plane back from DC as Roberts, Slaton and the Power callups. No word on who will be doing color commentary if Yankowski dresses - or who the next "Supplemental" player might be should Boyd, Slaton, and Roberts all miss the Power game.
well, given that Slaton is still recovering match fitness from the injury, I definitely wouldn't play her for this game after playing with the Nats. I don't think Roberts will go the whole 90 with the Nats and she has always been able to run all day. However, she REALLY isn't a playmaker. With Yank, at least we'd get some decent service from the wings. Would the Courage refuse to let Boyd go (ala Boston) for the game? keeper burt fetig baxter borgman roberts lehn james prinz gordon fotop
Only three games into the season? I doubt it. Letting her go might earn Entlich a favor he can cash in at a more important time of the season. Plus, her playing on national TV helps the Courage out with marketing, etc... It also likely helps out Boyd in several different ways. I would expect her to go. Of course the Osieck may very well be able to count up the Courage injuries and just not call her in.
Thanks for the info Andy. Do you have any ideas about formation/players? I'm intrigued by the thought of Burt in the midfield but that won't happen. Great news that Boyd will play for Carolina this weekend. What do folks think is the best way to get the ball to Birgit's feet? My guess/realistic suggestion for line-up keeper burt fetig boyd borgman baxter roberts lehn prinz james fotop
From another large group of threads: It does not seem that Pellerud is expecting any WUSA players except, maybe, the Atlanta ones.
Jury is still out From the Courage site.... "In addition to Riise, Carolina may also be missing another midfielder, captain Tiffany Roberts, as well as defender Danielle Slaton. The two members of the U.S. national team pool will be returning that day from a 12:00 p.m. ET game between the U.S. and Canadian national teams in Washington D.C. No decision has been reached yet on whether defender Breanna Boyd will join the Canadians. Decisions on the national team players’ availability will be made just prior to Carolina’s game time Saturday evening." http://www.carolinacourage.com/355934.html
Speaking of Danielle Slaton, what is her state of health? She has not been up to her usual standards so far this season. Does she still have knee problems?
Is this the "pre-match" thread? anyway... http://www.wusa.com/press_room/356131.html NY has new injury prolems, too. In addition to the two known ACLs, no Salisbury & Orlandos. Raivia is questionable b/c of the collarbone. Jackie so should have gotten red but I digress...