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0-0 draw
Missed the Trio Express (Swanson, Smith, Rodman) but still had enough talent up front to get a goal, just always that last pass...and two really good saves by Earps, the UK keeper.
On to The Netherlands, and Naeher's final start for the USWNT.
Didn't have a chance to see the England game. I hope Naeher gets to go out on a high.
We enjoyed the run of play. Ended up with about 55% of the possession, had 6 shots on goal, to their one, which was from the 18 and absolutely no problem for Naeher, easy save. Mostly our midfield stymied theirs, which is supposed to be England's strength, and led by Girma our back line DOMINATED! It was, as usual, in the attacking 1/3 where our issues were. Lavelle showed why she is still one of the very best attacking midfielders in the world. She created chance after chance for the US, one time Lavelle dribbled through 3 England defenders and made a perfect cross at the 6...no one was there. Horan is sloooooooooow. I have watched Horan for years and have always harbored my doubts. Here's the issue, she is simply too slow afoot. Not her fault, it is what it is, but attacks break down when either Horan is on the ball, or she is the next person in the sequence. She cannot get to the spot she is needed to be, not because she doesn't know what to do, but rather she is just too slow. Sam Coffey and Emily Fox, while recognized as starters, are under-rated. They are a HUGE part of the team's success. I also like Korbin Albert, she is dynamite on defense in the midfield and creates offensive opportunities.Quote:
Originally Posted by DallasDog
The US is much better than England. We're ranked #1, England is ranked #2, but the gap between the two is very obvious.
I think Hayes has us going back in the right direction. I think there was a back log of good young players sitting behind some veterans that should have moved on a little earlier, and I think it will take a little time to identify them, get them some PT, and figure out which one's mesh with the current talent etc.
US 2 Netherlands 1
Out-played for about 85 of the 90 minutes. TOP for the Dutch 57%, out-shot the US 23-5, 9 corners for them, 0 for the US, etc. But, we had Naeher in goal and she made several great saves to keep us in it, until an own-goal, and a very fine goal by Lynn Williams turned it around. Had no business winning this match. Should have lost 5-1 or something like that.
The Dutch played essentially a 2-6-2 formation, which was in constant flux, and Hayes never switched from the 4-3-3, moving to a 4-4-2 in the 2nd half (in the 70th minute), and because of that the Dutch RULED the midfield.
Rather be lucky than good...that was the case today.
Sometimes the better team that day still loses. I will take one of those wins every so often.
Julie Foudy and Demarcus Beasley were guests on a blog, and they speculate that Emma Hayes saw what was going on, the mismatch in the midfield, sometimes 6 v. 3, and purposely did nothing (until the second half) just to see how her players would handle the situation. Unless Hayes confirms this notion, that is surely pure speculation. But, it is consistent with everything folks say about Hayes.Quote:
Originally Posted by DallasDog
As it was Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, and Rose Lavelle were often surrounded by Dutch players. Albert in particular, whom I really like, looked like a deer in headlights. She would win the ball and then Bam! 2 or 3 orange-clad Dutchers would be on her like that! I was screaming at the TV for Hayes to switch her formation because it was so obvious we were getting killed in the midfield. Hayes finally did switch to a 4-4-2 in the 70th minute. Williams scored the game-winner in the 71st minute, Hello!
And yep, the Dutch were definitely the better team that day. There's a great saying, "Sometimes you win...sometimes you learn." Could be the USWNT changed that to "Sometimes you learn...and sometimes you still win."
I do feel that Hayes is still in the experiment with the players and tactics phase, so it could be easily true. I also feel that the days of the U.S. even running our best team out there and just blowing people away is over. There are some good countries out there that can beat us even on a good day now. So, I will take the freebie now and again :)
The single biggest job right now is to find a new keeper. There are about 6 candidates listed by various sources. Combined, all 6 of these have a grand total of 29 caps, with Casey Murphy holding 20 of those. Naeher retired with 115 caps.
USMNT 3 Venezuela 1
We had seven guys earned their very first caps, 6 started this match. No, none, zilch from the FIRST TEAM started, and Walker Zimmerman got in very late, after the matter had been settled, to spell an injured defender, Campbell. Meanwhile Venezuela started 7 of their "A" team, along with four youngsters. So, our "B" team, one might say really it was in large part our "C" team and we enjoyed the run of play and won the match.
Jack McGlynn was most impressive, and I also like Aygemang (Sp?) and a few others looked good. Mostly l like how Coach Ponch handles the team, his scheme, and the way it appears the players trust him and respond to him.
I was glad some of those guys got some PT. Even happier they played well against a decent squad.
Same squad plays Costa Rica tonight.
I find it strange that none of the bots post on the soccer thread...
They are more into cricketQuote:
Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden
Shhh...Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden
please don't let them botholes ruin this thread too