Pre-match: USWNT -- Upcoming Remaining Friendlies for 2024

It's too soon to object - in Hayes we trust - but it's never too soon to forecast/project (to 2027).

Naeher in goal comes first to mind. We need to identify a replacement (or two) and let her/them get some playing time ASAP. Certainly, let's not let Naeher suck up all the minutes played against decent opposition.

What do we know about Haught and Tullis-Joyce? Is either ready for prime time? Let's find out ... right now.

At the younger end of the spectrum, I would stretch to rope in another player or two. Yohannes is very promising, but I feel she's a known quantity. I would start scouting the U20's and top college players - identifying (likely) young pros who might blossom and fill a particular need, especially if we face the injury bug in 2027.

Edit: That was fast! Thank you, Alyssa.

 

i usually have mixed feelings when a USWNT regular retires and this time has little difference. However we need to solidify the GK position ASAP and the alternates need a LOT (or at least a great deal) of meaningful (or at least as meaningful as possible) playing time with the USWNT. This will not happen if Naeher plays even one half on the next road trip.

Of course Hayes is not ignorant of the need and she may not play Naeher at all but keep her on the roster for leadership in this set of friendlies. If there is a throwaway friendly upcoming then that should be a farewell match for Naeher but she should not play any more USWNT matches otherwise.

I think, given some regular playing time with the NT, we already have several GKs that are able to become #1 but we need to also look through the ranks of youth players and club teams to be sure we get the best we can.

Hayes has to do a mostly full rebuild anyway and Naeher's retirement makes that easier and less traumatic than it would be if Naeher was still in contention for her job.

I know there is sentiment otherwise but I really really hope Naeher does not play even one minute in these friendlies and her goodbye match is held off for a while.

 

OTOH We were already four deep in seasoned, quality keepers, with the presumptive new starter coming off a playoff shootout shutout (as if anybody ever imagined such a thing was even possible.) We're in great shape without any newbies; they're a luxury not a necessity.

 

None of the "seasoned" replacements yet have enough playing time with the USWNT but that is where I would first look and the ones on the current roster. The "replacements" as I said earlier need to play every minute in this road trip mainly because we rarely get friendlies against good teams.
This is a good time to test the replacements against quality opponents.

 

Naeher will start both games surely, as a farewell.

There's a ton of time to rearrange the depth chart, and the vets have had reasonable playing time except for Campbell.

For the thousandth time, game PT doesn't mean all that much with this team-- it's the practices and scrimmages that prove the pudding.

 

You are probably correct. But i hope you are wrong. Playing time in real matches, even friendlies, does matter a great deal. practice is more important for GKs than for field player but no "practice" is as good as a real match for seeing how things fit and how players interact with each other on the field. Also having a "farewell" match for Naeher in Europe is way outside of "normal" ways to say goodbye to regular players.

 

Sad to see her go. Very good goalie. Not sure where she sits in the Pantheon of great US Keepers, Solo and Scurry, but she is up there. Did not realize she was 36.

Not worried, I've liked the current back ups.

 

Just so it's clear that we're on a message board, quite possibly Naeher will start (both of these matches) - but she shouldn't. She just retired from international play, and she did that for a reason. Quite possibly that reason included a conversation with Hayes, making clear that Naeher would not be our 2027 WC GK. Naeher is going out on top, as a WC Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, but now it's best to make a clean break.

Anyway, let's look at (the point of) this article, current as of 2022.

https://everybodysoccer.com/even-the-goalkeepers-like-to/2017/5/29/uswnt-goalkeeping-eras

"The most exclusive position in all of US Soccer: the USWNT’s goalkeeper. Only 26 women have played goalkeeper for the national team in 37 years."

{There are some very nice graphics.}



1 in blue is the disappearing Solo; 3 is the current dominant force, Naeher.

Featured Goalkeepers

1. Hope Solo (2000-2016) - 202
3. Alyssa Naeher (2014-present) - 80 {now 113}
8. Ashlyn Harris (2013-present) - 25
14a. Adrianna Franch (2018-present) - 10
17. Jane Campbell (2017-present) - 7
21. Casey Murphy (2021-present) - 4
26. Aubrey Kingsbury (2022-present) - 1

A new era emerges with Alyssa Naeher taking a Solo-esque dominance in playing time, hovering right around 75% of goalkeeper caps for several years. Ashlyn Harris split the leftover minutes between Adrianna Franch and up-and-coming goalkeeper Jane Campbell."

Still as of today, "Naeher ranks third among USA goalkeepers for caps (113), starts (110), wins (88) and clean sheets (68), behind Solo and Briana Scurry."

So it seems Naeher has added 33 caps to her previous 80. Someone here will know who else has played in goal for the US these past two years.

We're looking for a dynamic young (not too young) candidate or two, someone who is ready to seize the position by the throat and make it hers for years to come, not just this cycle but (ideally) the next. It's not a position that we want to staff by committee.

Who have you got in mind?

 

Kingsbury is 33, Murphey 28.

Both are excellent IMO.

Keepers get better as they age, as a general rule.

 

up to a point. I guess she figures that she will feel better about herself if she just gracefully retires and thereby relieves some of the pressure that can overwhelm many professional athletes.
Many competitors try to hang on to the detriment of their "legend" status. It is rare that great players in any sport retire before they are forced to.
I wish her well even though I did not really like her play in goal most of the time. She never seemed to toot her own horn even when she made a great save.

This is good timing for the National team as there is plenty of time for a replacement to solidify her spot before anything really important happens in the National team setup.

It is entirely possible that she was not having much fun and she figures it is time to do something else. I wonder if she eventually gets into coaching. I "think" she might be a good one.

 

This seems the best place for this link:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c624j35lvyxo

As I read that article I became more and more impressed by the lady we have in charge.

Note: I reserve the right to criticize her later if she does something i consider wrong,

 

I think quite possibly in Naeher's case, it would be more likely that Naeher had thought for awhile about retiring, and was instead asked to stay on for longer than she originally planned. (She mentioned in one interview that she's been thinking of retiring from international play since 2020ish.) I certainly think she was asked to stay on for these final 2 games to give her a farewell instead of her just disappearing as she would probably prefer.

 

Neither of them are close to excellent. Murphey is pretty mediocre in goal stopping, and Kingsbury is inconsistent.

 

Who'm I to believe, you or my own eyes?

(And shot stopping is the least part of this team's needs at the position...)

 

Well, goal keepers do not need to stop goals but the ability to distribute is most important right? Very modern and very dumb understanding of soccer. Not surprising given you cannot tell attackers are overall more important and generally have higher talent level than defenders.

 

Yes, GK tend to have their best game about 28-33 but that means Kingsbury probably do not have much time left at her best.

 

jackdoggy and I will send her all your love and blessings !

 

Did I post this already?
If not... WATCH !

 

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Beachhead established-across the street from Wembley. Lucy on Sky Sports, Fish and chips for Lunch and paradise on earth in 24 hours and some change.

Christmas came a little early for the kid this year.