90 replies to this topic

[JeremyStrain]

On to the final!

Man that one was crazy.

 

Saw an absolutely fantastic interview with Emma that was talking about adjustments, and you can't just throw out "your style" and think you're just going to beat everyone. You have to look at who you are playing, what you run, what the weaknesses is are, what adjustments they may make looking at your video etc. and then adjust from there. The game is all about adjustment, not ego.

 

I was like man, tactically, she's a monster. She really does get it. When she subbed Albert in for Horan, and took the last of the older players out in extra time I was like oh man, there's a ballsy move. But it makes sense, fresh legs out there when everyone is dead on their feet, especially our older over 30 players that were already banged up (Rose). She added some vet back in the mix later when she went to the 5 back conservative look with Casey in after the goal, I wasn't mad at it, even with it Alyssa had to save us on that starfish save.

 

I was telling a friend I don't like the script being written for the finals though. Marta comes back from suspension just in time to play us, who has been struggling to score the past two games. Let's hope it goes well. Gotta get this train back on track.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I hope we kick Marta's butt back to Brazil in shame. She should have been suspended for the rest of the tournament. But that's what she does. She so good and so well known that she just can play dirty and get minimal penalty from it.

 

US will be ready but they need to bring their A game.

 

Dear Sophie,

 

If you get a breakaway please find the back of the net. 

 

TIA!

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Get this done ladies. Back on the tallest step on the podium.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Half time scoreless but Brazil has been the better team. US getting beat 1x1 way too often.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

GOLD!!!

And as a reminder keepers rule!!

[JeremyStrain]

GOLD!!!

And as a reminder keepers rule!!

Probably her last run with the team, and such a great way to end it if it was. Some of those saves were epic.

 

She's gonna be 39 for the next WC and 41 for the next olympics though, so gotta be shifting younger right? I figured Murphy would get the job, she'll be 29 and 31, and could probably go two rotations. They have a kid in Portland who is 23 and a monster too, used to play for UNC.

 

I'm interested to see what they do in goal, cause like Kingsbury would be next up for me, but she's 32, so same problem really, you MIGHT get one run out of her. Then Murphy, Campbell, and I can't remember her name, but the one playing in England now, just left Portland recently, hyphenated last name, they are all 27. Do you shoot for one of them and probably get 2 runs? Or look younger and try to get 3? I feel like all the big GK stars the last few decades have all been 3 run players.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Going younger is often the way to go but when it comes to keepers its a bit different. It really depends on two main factors.

 

1. How well is your current keeper aging?

2. How much experience and playing time are the younger keepers getting.

 

In regards to #1, I think we may well still see Naeher in the next WC. She was a beast and I saw no signs of her slowing down. Now much can change before then but I wouldn't put it past her to still be the #1.

 

And point #2 really becomes critical. IMO the only reason Matt Turner is still #1 for the men is because he's been the #1 and none of the younger keepers are getting much playing time either. Sort of like how boxing gets judged. You have to pummel the champ to win the title. If its even close the champ keeps the belt. Same thing here. I do not think Turner is our best keeper but since nobody else gets playing time with their clubs they can't supplant him when it comes to national team duty. Now its a bit different for the women's game because playing domestically is about as good as playing anywhere in the world. The NWSL is as good a quality as any other league. That doesn't work on the mens side. You can be starting and playing well in MLS but that is not near the level of play of any of the big 5 Euro leagues. MLS keepers just need to transfer to Europe (and this goes for field players too) but the problem is there are just so few keeper jobs that even when they do transfer they get stuck riding the bench or loaned out to some low level league that's not even as good as MLS.

[JeremyStrain]

Going younger is often the way to go but when it comes to keepers its a bit different. It really depends on two main factors.

 

1. How well is your current keeper aging?

2. How much experience and playing time are the younger keepers getting.

 

In regards to #1, I think we may well still see Naeher in the next WC. She was a beast and I saw no signs of her slowing down. Now much can change before then but I wouldn't put it past her to still be the #1.

 

And point #2 really becomes critical. IMO the only reason Matt Turner is still #1 for the men is because he's been the #1 and none of the younger keepers are getting much playing time either. Sort of like how boxing gets judged. You have to pummel the champ to win the title. If its even close the champ keeps the belt. Same thing here. I do not think Turner is our best keeper but since nobody else gets playing time with their clubs they can't supplant him when it comes to national team duty. Now its a bit different for the women's game because playing domestically is about as good as playing anywhere in the world. The NWSL is as good a quality as any other league. That doesn't work on the mens side. You can be starting and playing well in MLS but that is not near the level of play of any of the big 5 Euro leagues. MLS keepers just need to transfer to Europe (and this goes for field players too) but the problem is there are just so few keeper jobs that even when they do transfer they get stuck riding the bench or loaned out to some low level league that's not even as good as MLS.

To point #1, it's not like there's a glaring weakness and it's like there's the pasture...but she's getting up there, and 39 and the world cup just don't feel like a great match to me. I wanna compare to Solo, but she had all that drama and got kicked off the team before she naturally may have run her course, even then I think she was 35 when they kicked her off. That's a tough comparison though cause Hope was such a mess at the end.

 

To point #2, agreed. I know Campbell, and Murphy are NWSL starters. Claudia Dickey was the 23 year old I was thinking of, she's the starter in Portland now, and Phallon Tullis-Joyce is the one that just went overseas (giving Claudia the gig in Portland) I was thinking of. But I don't know if she's starting/playing much. I know what you mean about the men's side, saw that happen with Zack Steffen a little bit early on in his career.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Take a look at this. Pretty sure if you can play at 39 or 40 at the men's WC you can do it on the women's side.

https://www.sporting...2q14rmp1h18s0zf

Now at lot can happen between now and then but Naeher is so so good. We'll see.

[JeremyStrain]

Take a look at this. Pretty sure if you can play at 39 or 40 at the men's WC you can do it on the women's side.

https://www.sporting...2q14rmp1h18s0zf

Now at lot can happen between now and then but Naeher is so so good. We'll see.

I mean if anyone can do it, a GK would have an advantage I suppose. But i know when like some of this generation was washed and really ready to be replaced was between 34-38. Field vs GK though, I can understand that. And it comes down to having someone behind her better than her.

 

Just thinking that if Emma is on this youth kick and is building for the next 12 years, she already cleaned up the D, and has changed over a lot of the forwards. GK has to be on her mind...as a good coach you always want to kind of know in the back of your head who is next. I mean what if she was hurt and took the decision out of their hands you know?

 

Will be interesting to follow.

[DuffMan]

https://www.espn.com...up-olympic-gold