WWC23 group stage: USWNT vs Portugal, August 1 3 am ET

Regarding the stone face, I am tough look, during the anthem is disheartening. I lost friends fighting for our flag. My grandfather almost got killed multiple times by the Japanese, I wouldnt be here if not for his bravery. He was grateful for everything this country provides. The lack of respect of this new generation is sad. Besides that, this team is lost in the wilderness. Play the best lineup regardless of age or experience. I will be rooting for Sweden, Arnold I am.

 

Esmee Brugts was playing for PSV, but is now a free agent.

 

Well the men ain't gonna catch up with Gregg Berhalter.....I don't know enough about Vlatko but he seems to make similar mistakes. Over 30 years since 1990 WC and the US men are still calling in guys who had a father they met once who happened to be stationed in Germany or on vacation and had a fling in Europe, or whose mother happened to give birth in the US for some reason.

 

It's really simple, in my view:

A. The USWNT looks poor, because they've been getting killed in the possession battle in meaningful games.

B. The USWNT is getting killed in the possession battle, because they've been playing 3 MFers vs 5 or 4 for Netherlands, and Portugal, respectively.


Weve all played "monkey in the middle," or "rondos," or some other iteration of 3 v 4 or 3 v 5 in training. When you're in the side that has only 3 players, you get tired quickly, and it just basically sucks.


The whole world knows how to defeat the US' stupid 433 (both Berhalter's and Vlatko's):

1. Survive the first 5 minutes of the game as the US has fresh legs pressing your side.
2. Defeat the US' press.
3. Proceed to pass the tired and outnumbered US midfield to death, while they chase the game.


Its not "athletes vs skill," or anything more esoteric, IMO. Its that the US have morons for coaches that set up their midfield to fail. Get away from the 433, and go into a game with the plan to WIN POSSESSION.

Do that, and the USWNT will again look like championship contenders. Don't do it, and they can probably book early flights back home.

 

I think you're confusion lies in comparing the league models of American sports versus the league models of European sports.

In the US we try to foster competitiveness within ALL teams in a given league. So, we have drafts, limits on roster salaries per club, etc. This way no one team can dominate every single year. The bottom feeders have a chance to win a championship from time to time.

Whereas, in the euro leagues, you have the same big-money clubs buying all the best players and the bottom clubs always at the bottom of their respective leagues.

That is, the NWSL is more competitive within their league from top to bottom, but that also means that the best NWSL teams are not as good as the top euro clubs. And I'd venture to guess that the worst NWSL teams are probably better than the worst clubs in Europe.

If the NWSL were to, say, allow the Portland Thorns to sink a sh*t-load of money into their roster, they would be winning the NWSL championship every year, loading up on the best talent world-wide, and be easily on par with the top clubs in Europe.

 

Well, that is THE measure.....besides there have been other times when they have come up short. The Olympics are pretty high level for the women's team, as opposed to the U23 men's. So they have lost ground there as well. It's not like they are falling to 20th place. But even a casual observer can see the decline.

 

I don't know about the women, but the efforts to get the men to use the possession game have mostly failed. They end up passing the ball back and forth and never get a shot on goal off. They are much better when counterattacking, but we will have a few more years of Berhalter having players pass the ball around to no one, it seems.....

 

STOP IT. Alex and Rapinoe (as far as player personel) are huge contributing factors to why the US is where they are. I’ve said on this forum all the way back to the Olympics, they need to be dropped (or walk away like Carli did), but they just can’t let go. And the US companies keep throwing money at them to be the faces of this franchise (I mean, did I really just watch an ENTIRE Nike commercial for Rapinoe?!?!?!)…so even if Vlatko wanted to move on from them, I’m sure his hands are tied because of corporate sponsorship…..

 

I agree the current roster does not suit 4-3-3. I know when my kid played for the USA, the 4-3-3 mandate came from above, the powers that be had this notion that we should copy Barcelona. Minor detail they missed was the technical and tactical ability of the players!!

As constructed, A player like Sam Coffey would be a waste, but in a 4-3-3 with the right players, she could be very very good.

I don't think this roster has players suited to possession. We need to sit deep, invite pressure and counter.

 

As a soccer lover, its not for me. I want to watch NWSL games that have a level of tactical and technical sophistication they currently lack. I want to see our best players going to PSG, Lyon Arsenal etc and kicking butt. These are all measures of the USA leading the way. I totally understand why they may not be for you.

 

Why do you think VA got the job?

 

Im not confused. There are consequences to that. Thats all. Competitive balance does not have to equal quality.

 

I haven't read most of the thread. I will start with the good...They started on the front foot and showed passion. We created some early opportunities and liked Williams activity up front. We started Rose and the midfield which has been a problem was fairly even. The coach subbed out Smith who was ineffective with Megan...

Rapino was good awful with her only positive being less selfish from her prior game. We have a lot of good players, but no difference maker (Rose maybe). We had too many player who had average to poor performances: Dunn, Girma, Ertz, Smith, Lavelle and Horan. I only thought Fox, Sullivan, and Williams had good games, possibly Morgan. Effort was there, but decision making was poor. Also, I have never been impressed with Naeher. What was with her jumping into the post on a ball clearly over the cross bar?

The US was the better team overall and deserved to advance, but not by much. Sure, they can win the next game, but they won't make the final. They will miss Lavalle in the next game.

 

I'm not judging them on whether they win the WC. That's a great goal, but losing out is not necessarily failure. Two inches from going out at the group stage is failure. One set piece goal in the last two group games when qualification is on the line is failure. Getting comprehensively outplayed is failure. There is a huge gap between where this program is now and a program that might crash out in the semis this time around, but looked strong along the way.

So, I at least, am not complaining that they won't win the WC. I'm complaining that they look awful and don't seem to have a route to improving.

I think replacing Vlatko next month could help a lot. But NWSL may well need to improve or more US players go to Europe.

 

This makes sense, but against the Netherlands, it was difficult to tell where the players were playing. Not in the midfield, not defending and not on attack. Seems like the players are just worn out.
PS -- after watching how the Netherlands played getting few cards against the US, what did Rose Laville do to get 2 in 2 games? Decapitate 2 people?

 

Players are supposed to figure it out. That's why they are professionals. I agree with your comments on changing the formation, but has any of the players played at the club level in a 4-5-1. If not, then I don't think that you are changing...

Bottom line: Neither coach or players are performing to expectations. I don't think that they are not good, but may be the spot light is little too much for the younger players and the pressure of being of contending for a three straight WC is too much.

 

Perhaps some of the players should have spent more time the last year or two working on their game and less on their social warrior skills.

 

So you think that the USWNT is going to keep giving caps to Rapinoe after she retires in a few months. That will be interesting.

 

Simply changing the formation and the US will look like a totally different team???

This assumes that the US players have the required touch, positional / tactical awareness, ability to move without the ball, and ability to play one and two touch soccer. I no longer assume that is the case.

Who on the current team plays in that kind of system and has been successful doing it outside of Lindsey?

I think it is way more along the lines of athletes vs. Skill than just a simple formation adjustment.

 

Worked for my sons. One played D1 Football and another was in the US Soccer DA for a couple of years.

 

I don't watch the USWNT much at all outside of big tournaments, but it's clear that other nations have caught up. Even if you think the US has a 75% chance of winning each remaining game, that gives a 32% chance of winning the WC. Unlikely even in good circumstances.

The coach has to figure out the best dish for the ingredients at hand, and in the 4-3-3 the group just plays so helter skelter that it's hard to watch. It's difficult for them to get control of the game, probably because so lacking in midfield. The past two opponents dared the US to beat them with direct play and, guess what, they were right. This team won't win the WC playing beautiful attacking soccer, for sure.

So maybe go with 4-2-3-1? Lean on that defense, a little more control, a little more selective with direct play. Play smart, limit the chaotic and frenetic self-harm. This team can beat Sweden but the plan for victory better not include going a goal down.

 

Excellent post. Thanks

 

I was watching US vs Portugal on replay, so didn't see the whole game. What I did see was a corner where Smith had an open shot on goal and sent the ball about halfway down the end line. Alex Morgan's one shot that I saw had zero power behind it. Neither players were rushed.