37 replies to this topic

[BSLMikeLowe]

Glad I didn’t stay up for that.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I could write a novel on how bad that was. Coaching, players, tactics, goalkeeping. Just suffice it to say that was maybe the worst match I have ever seen them play.

 

I thought after the second half of the Dutch match that they had figured out how to break down the 5 man midfield. Nope right back to the same thing. Pass the ball wide to Smith and she if she could go 1 v 2 and get to the end line. Time after time after time. 

 

Bottom line; The US may have the better players but they have stopped playing like a team and are trying to do it individually. That won't work at this level.

[JeremyStrain]

I have never come around on Vlatko at this level. Since he's taken over, the way he runs the game, the management of his roster...eh, I'm being nitpicky there, I wanted a change for youth, and it's been happening, just a little slower than I'd like. But the system has had failings. It has been lucky enough to scrape by on natural talent for a while now, but it's not the dominant team it was with Jill running things.

 

I'd like to see Vlatko out, bring in another strong female coach that will go back to using out strong midfield core like we used to instead of relying on dump and chase, and asking the forwards to do everything themselves.

[BSLChrisStoner]

CBS Sports: Three things USWNT's Vlatko Andonovski must address for World Cup dream to not end in nightmare

https://www.cbssport...ndin-nightmare/

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Woeful showing this far. 

 

1. Only the second time in history have they not won their group.

2. Fewest points scored in group play ever.

3. ZERO run of play goals in their last two matches.

4. Advancing because the best shot of the last match hit the post.

 

They have way more talent than they are showing. Wish I knew why (although I have some suspicions). The question now is can they turn it up a bunch facing a tough Sweden team on Sunday. I'll be thinking about a lineup and tactics I would switch to if I was the coach. More to come.

[Mashed Potatoes]

While the US' play has been crap, at least they advanced, unlike Germany and Brazil.

[JeremyStrain]

Woeful showing this far. 

 

1. Only the second time in history have they not won their group.

2. Fewest points scored in group play ever.

3. ZERO run of play goals in their last two matches.

4. Advancing because the best shot of the last match hit the post.

 

They have way more talent than they are showing. Wish I knew why (although I have some suspicions). The question now is can they turn it up a bunch facing a tough Sweden team on Sunday. I'll be thinking about a lineup and tactics I would switch to if I was the coach. More to come.

I can't see them getting by Sweden. Even in their dominant years they struggled with them.

 

I think Vlatko has too much ego to change his tactics, and expecting the forwards to create all the offense and score themselves is just stupid. Back when Jill was here the offense moved up the middle from Ertz, through the mids, and then they would get the forwards involved. Lots of headers off of crosses, and backside passes when they would carry into the box.

 

He's an NWSL coach pretending he can hang at the national level...and he can't.

 

They should just give Kelly O'Hara the job now.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

After some thought this is what I would do on Sunday.

 

Back 4: Fox, Girma, Cook, Ohara, Huerta whichever 4 look best in training and with the tactics you plan to use

DMid - Ertz (this is a must)

Midfield - Horan, Mewis, Sullivan

Forwards - Thompson/Smith/Williams pick 2

Thompson and Smith play as a two forward attack, play as one striker and the other drops to wing in the midfield, then the other plays as one striker and one drops to wing in the midfield.

4-1-3-2

4-1-4-1 (smith up top)

4-1-4-1 (Thompson up too)

Going to give them 3 different attacks the Swedes have to guard against. Going to use our speed to drive them nuts. And yes our ladies are tactically adept enough to make these transitions often throughout the first half. There are two main things that happen with this tactic. Ertz is moved up the field a bit and one forward is dropped a bit. This gives us 5 in the middle third of the pitch which is where we have been losing things. We have enough speed to quickly turn that 5 in the midfield into three or four in the attack without losing shape.

 

But the real key here is moving Ertz up. Two things happen:

1. She is forward to help the midfield stop the opposing attacks before they generate numbers and move into dangerous forward positions. Yes IF they get buy her then she's not there in the back line to solidify the defense. Its a tradeoff but Girma is playing very well and she can handle that.

2. Our weakness in transition has been finding the penetrating pass in the middle third. Whether that's a long diagonal ball over the top to a winger or a line breaker through the opposing teams midfield. Julie can do this and with no Lavelle we need her higher up the field. 

 

Overall this is a physically stronger lineup which will be important against the Swedes.

 

IF they play the way they are capable they can make this a match.

IF they continue to do crap like after the Portugal match then they will get run off the field. They need to play like they are pissed off. Show some fire for soccer for a change.

[BSLChrisStoner]

The Ringer: The Women’s World Cup Round of 16 Primer

[BSLChrisStoner]

CBS Sports: Women's World Cup Power Rankings: Japan surge to top, struggling USWNT drop to fourth ahead of knockout stage

https://www.cbssport...knockout-stage/

[BSLChrisStoner]

• USWNT exits WWC after penalty loss to Sweden

[DuffMan]

Dang, that game winning kick. Maybe an inch over the line

[JeremyStrain]

Dang, that game winning kick. Maybe an inch over the line

We called them losing. They hung tough defensively but as long as Vlako is running this, offense is going to be a problem. Need a change there.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

We called them losing. They hung tough defensively but as long as Vlako is running this, offense is going to be a problem. Need a change there

 

The US totally outplayed the Swedes with two exceptions. The lineup and tactical approach were terrific. Especially the ball switching in the midfield. So good. But at the end of the day we simply just didn't find the back of the net. There were two factors that led to the result.

 

1. The Swede keeper kept them in the game.

2. Vlatko made one huge tactical error Subbed in Rapinoe. She was once again awful. Her legs are gone and she should not have been taking free kicks or corners. But she did and they were poor. I thought taking Morgan off was correct but I would have probably gone with Thompson.

 

Nonetheless it is the worst showing by the US ever so no doubt the coach is gone.

[JeremyStrain]

The US totally outplayed the Swedes with two exceptions. The lineup and tactical approach were terrific. Especially the ball switching in the midfield. So good. But at the end of the day we simply just didn't find the back of the net. There were two factors that led to the result.

1. The Swede keeper kept them in the game.
2. Vlatko made one huge tactical error Subbed in Rapinoe. She was once again awful. Her legs are gone and she should not have been taking free kicks or corners. But she did and they were poor. I thought taking Morgan off was correct but I would have probably gone with Thompson.

Nonetheless it is the worst showing by the US ever so no doubt the coach is gone.

Agree overall with the last point particularly, but I think if they weren’t running this crazy forwards create all the offense alone system they would have scored. Hell Rodman almost really did score and did it herself, she was dominating for a while out there.

Don’t disagree about Rapinoe, I wouldn’t have even had her on the roster myself, but Press being out still left him that opening. Smith, Rodman, Thompson are all electric and should be relied on. Hell Penelope Hocking is one of the best scorers in the country and hasn’t gotten an invite yet.

I feel like with Jill the Mids did more than just switch and pass thru, they brought the ball up and really played point guard. Crosses from Mewis/Horan to Rapinoe/Morgan and Press were the bread and butter of this team. Or Rose carrying thru mid and some crazy miraculous pass to catch a forward darting thru the box.

I guess the analogy is like they are playing a half court offense but they want the point guard to run the play and do the scoring where they used to have the PG distribute to the SG or the SF on the go.

Since day one I just haven’t been a fan or his roster choices or his style of play. Worked in NWSL didn’t work on the big stage.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Well its over. The coach will get let go.....his contract expires this year anyway.

 

Rapinoe is gone. Morgan is highly unlikely to be much in the Nats picture in the future.

 

Too bad Sauerbraunn and Swanson were hurt. Every country has to deal with injuries. Just part of the game. But missing Mallory really hurt.

 

Now if they would just fix the Olympics to be like the men's side......stupid.....

[ivanbalt]

The US totally outplayed the Swedes with two exceptions. The lineup and tactical approach were terrific. Especially the ball switching in the midfield. So good. But at the end of the day we simply just didn't find the back of the net. There were two factors that led to the result.

 

1. The Swede keeper kept them in the game.

2. Vlatko made one huge tactical error Subbed in Rapinoe. She was once again awful. Her legs are gone and she should not have been taking free kicks or corners. But she did and they were poor. I thought taking Morgan off was correct but I would have probably gone with Thompson.

 

Nonetheless it is the worst showing by the US ever so no doubt the coach is gone.

Felt like a hockey playoff game where a team encounters a hot keeper and can't score no matter what they do.  And yeah, after that first corner, should have been no more for Rapinoe.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Felt like a hockey playoff game where a team encounters a hot keeper and can't score no matter what they do.  And yeah, after that first corner, should have been no more for Rapinoe.

Its why keepers are the most important player in a tournament. Even a hot forward can't not totally dictate the outcome. But a hot keeper can get a team a W that they have been totally outplayed in as was the case yesterday.

 

And you are spot on with Rapinoe taking free kicks. Its the #1 reason I did not want her on the roster. Her legs are gone but if she's on the field she's was going to take all those kicks which was a mistake, US corners had been very dangerous balls into the 6 yard area till she got on the field. Just poor coaching. And no player was going to go over and take the ball and say "I got this."  Oh well its over and Europe starts soon!!!