Back to the important stuff....

[DallasDog]

Even in the heyday they would still drop an Algrave cup etc.. every once and a while. I am fine with that especially if she is looking at players with an eye towards the future. All I care about on the women's side is World Cups and then to lesser degree Olympics. I think that by the next WC 90% of this old guard that was in the last cup will be done. We need to start identifying and playing the next group. The young ones currently on this team and the ones still to come, with the few holdover veterans shoring up the team.

[dawg80]

Emma Hayes did an interview with Sky News (Australia) and gave credit to the previous coaches, the players themselves, and to the general "we win" tradition of USWNT soccer. I made a casual post on a blog citing Hayes' own words, and actually complementing her for it, and whoa! have I ever caught grief. Some fans think USWNT was non-existent or "dead in the water" two months ago, no players, no prior history of success, nothing! and along comes Hayes and invents US Women's Soccer from dirt.

I was intrigued by the press conference held by Emma Hayes and Lindsey Horan. Hayes gives Horan a ton of credit for being a true team captain, and "coach on the field" and even more importantly, off the field. Says Horan was like a big sister to the young players, monitoring their activity away from official team meetings/practices, making sure they didn't "stay out late on school nights." Well, great, if Horan provided that kind of leadership, because her play ON THE FIELD left a lot to be desired. I figure Hayes will replace Horan as team captain and more importantly, as that #10 position. As previously mentioned, Horan has the dubious task of trying to replace Carli LLoyd, the GOAT, as both team captain and #10. No, it's not fair to compare them, but that is the nature of sports. Besides, in order for the USWNT to truly return to the #1 ranking in the world, and stay there for a while, we need better replacements for Lloyd #10 and Julie Ertz in the #6 position. It's no real surprise that we're playing dual #6s as it takes two players to replace Ertz. I bet Hayes sees what I see.

[DallasDog]

I saw where she said she personally expects to win wherever she goes and that's why she wanted the US job, because it's an expectation we win. I think she understands this group better than most US soccer fans think she does, and I think she already has an idea of who she wants to see stay and who she wants to move on. She has her work cut out for her to find 1 for 1 replacements for Lloyd and Ertz, and I think she will fill those shoes by committee right now. It's not ideal, but their replacements aren't on this current roster. If they are they are one of the young ones that will have to grow into it over time. There are some great ladies out there that USWNT hasn't tapped on the shoulder yet, but I think Hayes now has a little time to do just that.

Berhalter did it when he came in in his first cycle and I was fine with it, it's part of the process. I do think she is going to improve the program in some areas.

[dawg80]

"Poch" to be named as USMNT coach. At least, that's the rumor.

[dawg80]

"Poch" to be named as USMNT coach. At least, that's the rumor.

Yep, Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino ("Poch") has been named head coach of the USMNT. Okie doke. Maybe he'll bring some imagination and flair to our lackluster attack.

And the USWNT is back to #1 in FIFA rankings. Just a tad bit premature, as Spain and England are still lurking out there, but it's good to see the US back in its rightful place, after it is truly earned, that is.

[dawg80]

Those close to USWNT are saying Alex Morgan is effectively done with the national team. Being reported Hayes does not have Morgan's name on the list for potential players for WC 2027. That is understandable because Morgan will have a birthday in the middle of WC '27 when she will turn 39. Also reported that Hayes left Morgan off the Olympic roster because Morgan is nursing a nasty ankle injury right now, has not scored a goal in the last 8 games of her club team, due largely because of the ankle issue. So, Morgan will get a spot on the 23-player USWNT roster for friendlies over the next couple of years and be allowed to retire gracefully, with some deserved fanfare. But, NO CHANCE of being on the 2027 WC roster according to sources.

[DallasDog]

At least with Poch everyone will have to prove themselves and word is he has already told the player pool if you aren't playing regularly for your club come January then you are going to have a hard time making any of his rosters. Also, some of the things former players are starting to say about how Berhalter ran the team now that there is someone named and they aren't as afraid to poison the well, makes me even happier he is gone.

I am ok with that. She wasn't fit, don't waste a roster spot. Especially with the shortened Olympic rosters. She has past her prime and we really need to let the next generation take steps to being the leaders going forward.

[dawg80]

Alysa Naeher, usually very quiet, released a statement which I find interesting. Says when Hayes made the final decision to exclude Alex Morgan from the Olympic roster, the team said among themselves, oh, oh, now we have only each other to depend on, and at that moment the team grew together. Naeher, also a veteran herself, as is Dunn, Sonnett, Horan, and Lavelle had never won an Olympic gold medal. Naeher went on to say that Morgan, whom she admires and thinks the world of, is one of those "players from the past" like Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe who, in the past, would always step up and deliver that crucial goal, that game-winning play and on whom the whole team would depend on. Well, when Morgan (due to her nagging ankle injury) was left off the roster, the team knew someone else, one of them, would have to step up now.

As I posted, there are plans for Morgan to play again for the USWNT in upcoming friendlies and then be allowed to retire gracefully from the US national team. This is appropriate, Morgan has earned the right to depart in style and really in a time of her choosing (as long as it is before the final push for World Cup 2027).

Which brings me to this, Becky Sauerbrunn has not had an official send-off, retirement match to honor her days as "the rock on defense." Yes, Naomi Girma has filled those shoes very well. But, Sauerbrunn was a crucial part of two World Cup titles and her seven matches in 2015, where she played all 90 minutes in all of them, are said to have been "perfection." Only, it wasn't. I rewatched every one of those matches, WC 2015, and in one of them Sauerbrunn was trying to hit Tobin Heath up the line with a 45-yard outlet pass and it sailed over Heath's head. That was the only "oops" I could find in her 630 minutes, but hey, she missed Heath, so no "perfection." Sauerbrunn deserves a proper send off too.

[sportdawg]

Mexico to face Valencia? USA needs to copy Mexico's playbook (msn.com)
. This might be a good option for the US next September/October, however Asian teams will be available in September & Conmebol in October.

In September, we could play Japan in Europe and then play a top club team. In October, I'd like us to play a couple IN South America. In March of 2026, I'd like us to go to Europe an play some top quality UEFA opponents.

I know we won't do this because we want home games, but we need to play good opponents.

[DallasDog]

If it is good for the program, don't expect USSF to do it, without being publicly embarrassed into it. The one thing about Pochettino is that he is only here to coach us through the WC, and I don't think he will have a problem speaking publicly about any issues he sees in support, competition, etc.

[dawg80]

Alex Morgan announces retirement from soccer. She will play her final game this weekend for her club, San Diego Wave, and that'll be it. No formal farewell game from the USWNT. She is pregnant with her second child, she is 35, and says she needs to focus on her pregnancy. She leaves the game as the third highest goal-scorer, with 123 goals, in USWNT history, behind Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach.

[DallasDog]

I think she is making the right call and stopping at the right point in her career. I hope they do something for her on the other side of the pregnancy, but before they induct her into the hall of fame in Frisco.

[dawg80]

USMNT 1 Canada 2 same ole same ole, and Jeff Marsh loving it.

[DallasDog]

Yep.

[dawg80]

USMNT 1 New Zealand 1

The new coach can't get here soon enough.