WNT v China, Dec. 13, 2015, pre/pbp/post

Yeah, I'm not sure where all the criticism of Morgan is coming from. In her last 3 matches she scored a goal against Brazil and had another called back even though she was even with the last defender. Against Haiti she scored and had another one called back, although in this case Carli was clearly offside. Then against China the goal was again wrongfully called back by the side judge.

As far as Press is concerned, I think she's certainly earned the right to start, even if Morgan or Lloyd have to be benched every now and then. However, I sometimes get the sense that as soon as Press scores a few goals, all of a sudden she's the best striker in the history of the sport. Again, she's earned the right to start at CF to see how things go, but once that happens she'll be made the focus of defenses and blamed if the USWNT does not perform well on offense. Just like Morgan and Lloyd if the US fails to score the blame can't be put on our midfielders not giving her the ball. For instance, in last night's match I saw Morgan come back several times to link up with the midfield when they struggled to get the ball to the forwards.

 

As to Brazil, I made a cap u can see the ball leaving Lloyd's foot and where Morgan is.


To me the defender at the top of the screen looks closer to the wear line in the turf than Morgan does but regardless, if it's that close why r they calling it. There is no advantage.

The problem with Press not playing is she brings something different. If this was a matter of Press being a better version of Morgan or Lloyd then it comes down to opinion and marketing. Press has a completely different game than either of the other two and getting her out there for significant minutes is going to be really hard to defend. They dont need to play all three together but they need to get all three time.

 

I would like to see Morgan and Press up top together. As for Press outperforming Morgan, I would argue that Press has had the benefit of coming in when the defense is gassed. I would also argue that she has the advantage of being a different type of player; I.e. the defense gets used to defending Morgan for 80 minutes, then they fail to adjust to Press so she is able to take advantage (I mean that as a compliment to her!). In fact, they are so different that it almost looks like they play different positions.

Side note: Morgan could have easily had three assists last night.

 

I also think it's really more of a Press vs Lloyd thing. Morgan plays out off the posts. Most of her shots r angled shots towards goal. Most of her runs r toward the by line so she can cross or cut back. Press and Lloyd like to live between the posts and most of their shots come straight thru the box. If u played Press and Lloyd together they might be fighting for the same turf and helping the defense fill space.

 

This game kind of reminded me of Sermanni's last game- a ton of chances created, but the end product was lacking.

I thought she was a bit too frantic to be really effective. She might be more useful right now as a second half sub to wreak havoc on a tiring backline.

That's not surprising, since one of the two primary set piece takers has retired and the other is injured. Hopefully working on that area becomes one of Ellis' top priorities starting next month.

Her WC heroics do not excuse that terrible performance. You might not complain, but I certainly will. Lloyd should have been yanked at halftime. The cherry on the crap sundae was when she shanked that shot that Heath set up with her filthy scoop pass.

 

I'm in the Press or Morgan school not the Press and Morgan school. Press doesn't seem like a natural partner for Morgan -- as Wambach was.

Press and Morgan haven't played together much so maybe I'm wrong about this. If you do play them together, you want Press in front of the goal and Morgan outside. Press doesn't mix it up in the box with head and feet like Wambach and Lloyd so she's less effective on crosses from Morgan. And Morgan is (maybe) less effective in the center; her inclination is to shoot or cross from outside the posts.

After diddling around with all sorts of weird formations, Ellis found the right one mid-WC. Three central midfielders (Lloyd, Brian, and X), 2 flank midfielders (Rapinoe and X), and one forward. I'd stick with that -- unless the Rapinoe loss dictates change because of weakness on the left. Heath did pretty well in the China game filling in for Rapinoe -- although I'd also look for other options at left mid.

 

Or at least someone to back Heath up on the left. For me Ellis has two big questions to answer before March: Who r the two paired DMs and who can play outside on the left. Everything else is minor adjustments. What worries me is Ellis tends to commit to an idea then only back off if she absolutely has to. When she had plenty of space to carry some young players on a 23 player roster she chose instead to only carry veterans, four of whom have now retired. Now that she is preparing to play with a much shorter 18 player roster she is suddenly interested in fast tracking young players into the mix. This may turn out to bite her. For me the only major adds I would do is Dunn and an experienced DM. Dunn is still learning the position but has so much natural talent that she can grab goals and assists while she learns. If u add a veteran DM u can use Brian as the #8. Then, after the Olympics, Ellis would have the time to go younger and give those players two years to grow into their roles.

 

Interesting how you and I have reversed positions from pre-WWC to pre-Olys. With the WWC win, I think the Olys should be the beginning of building towards the next WWC. I think it would be great to get a double with the Olys, but I more strongly think now is the time to ease out players who will not be in the next WWC in favor of some new blood, if the new blood is potential starters in the next WWC. I'd rather not wait until after the Olys to start doing that, especially since the Olys are the best opportunity that will be available to give new blood the highest level of competition (including competition pressure) before the next WWC. In fact, I think the Olys roster should be the best attempt of the core of the next WWC roster, knowing that some things inevitably will change between 2016 and 2019.

 

As there r only two Woman's events that mean a damn I dont think u can ignore one of them regardless. I also think the unfortunate short turn around between these two events make it tough to do an overhaul between them. That said, if u felt it had to be done the WC is certainly more important than the Olympics. I just think that with land in sight, it's no longer the time to be pushing people out of the boat.

If u r going to do it now u better be sure u do it right. With only about 6 months between the time she started bring trialists aboard and setting the OG roster u have to make ur choices, fit them in and hope it works. It's tough to hide players who dont fit in on a small roster. U also have to keep in mind that players make a lot of their bonus money based on those two tournaments and Im not sure the vets want that opportunity used for development.

 

That's why the committee takes the average of the Waldorf ranking and the Statler ranking

 

To take it a step further, even if only 2 new players wind up making the Olympics roster, I believe plenty of time should be given to the youngsters so that 4 of them wind up on the alternates list as well (especially if one of them is Ohai ). Last time Press and Klingenberg wound up making the list, and they've both been great additions to the full squad.

 

Now for some reason I'm imagining two muppets heckling a USWNT game from a balcony seat.

 

If somebody were to actually make that happen, it would win the internet for sure.

 

Better yet, have one of them be named the Colonel, who heckles Coach Ellis for her WNT coaching performance, and the other the Calculator, who heckles her for her UCLA coaching performance.