Okay I started a thread with this title in the Beat forum, but have relented and decided to place one here under the same title so all can join in on the discussion. These are some of the players that we have heard rumor or official reports on concerning retirement: Liu Ailing (official) Meinert (not sure if official) Wang (unsure) Someone feel free to add more or correct me if I am wrong...I have a dinner date or I'd add more!!
Here is KGB's original thread: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=11982 ------------- From the WUSA Insider newsletter:
Does anyone have updates on official retirements? Also, when do teams start releasing players? I can't remember when they released them last year.
I guess you sorta figured who I was talking about eh? LOL So if Meinert retires, how bad will it be for Boston? I hope she comes back. With a new Coach, and the talent they have with here there, Boston could pull a Carolina next season... maybe. *smiles*
a semi relevant rumor but it has been widely touted that the Chinese football association is considering holding back all chinese NT players for the 2003 season, if thats true, let the allocation war begin the list of who should and who WILL retire are 2 different things. im not sure about minert...riise is another one on the fence apparently as for who should...overbeck for 1, ducar and webber for 3. also when are off season roster cuts due, i thought novemeber?
Ooooooh, good point about the Chinese! It sounds like something they would do. But it's not like the WUSA would have any choice in the matter, would they? I agree with you about Overbeck and Webber, but Ducar hasn't really had that big of a chance. And even if she had, she wouldn't. This is a very interesting subject. Do you think there will be any surprises with roster cuts? And with talk of relocation how would that all work concerning the draft? The league gave us too much to chew on this off season.
the only relocation i see is the power moving locally which really isnt much of a move but much needed. i do NOT buy oliver's charge to LA rumor. i think portland will get an expansion team if WWC goes over well and the league expands for 2004....and i think there will be some scheme to ensure millie will be playing there.
The only way LA will get a WUSA team is if San Diego chooses to move to Carson or expansion. (2 West Coast teams would be ideal at this stage to alleviate travel for the Rays and Spirit.) Expect all if not most of the Chinese WNT players to bail out for 2003 in prep for the WWC. The only ones who would be exempt, maybe, would be Sun Wen or anyone who isn't in the team pool. If Portland gets a team, besides Milbrett they could go for MacMillan, or even both. Some trade with picks or players in an expansion draft will be involved. Overbeck doesn't need anything now that she's got a FC Title under her belt. Riise for the same reason. Sun Wen could hang them up but playing for a title is enough to keep her for at least another year--she's been banged up for the past few years so that might be an incentive to slow down.
I think it's safe to say that New York is a pretty extraordinary case... We all saw how 'wasted' an international slot Gro Espeseth was in defense for NY...
You said it, Ron. NY's success last year was due in great part to the fantastic combination of Gro and Gao in the back. (and Millie practically doing all the scoring herself) They were two you could always count on. I feel incredibly bad for Gao that her injury affected her so badly this season. I'm really hoping, partly because SHE really wants it too, that she will be back next year. As for Gro, what can I say? She was simply the best. Was she "worth" it? Hell yeah!! Every damn penny and then some. This picture says it all: http://groups.msn.com/BwanasPlace/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=11
Hmmm. Ask the Boston Breakers about that. The story of Year 1 was the defense brought by Doris Fitschen to Philly and the forementioned Espeseth to New York. I would add the impact of Alagich in Bay Area to that list, until she got injured. Philly was able to compensate for the loss of Fitschen with some US talent, NYP was not. Maybe the lesson of Year 2 is that the foreign offensive players can light it up against American-born defenses. A point that I hope is not lost on April Heinrichs.
Sorry guys, didn't realize my group was restricted. I made it public so you can view the picture. Can someone tell me how I can just post the picture within the post? I'd rather do that than make you have to follow a link. thanks! Norma