Women’s World Cup 2019

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many Chicken Littles.

Their defense has been great the entire tournament, other than that one bad touch by Saurbraun.

In a bad match up for the US today, a young, quick, up and coming team with a lot of rest playing against an older team with very little rest, they managed to come out with a gutsy win.

And now we're exactly where we thought we'd be...playing France, which had a really hard time against Brazil.

The US clearly haven't played their best yet, but hopefully they'll be ready.

France had a hard time against Brazil because Brazil played well. France is very good a team. Thankfully France went to OT so their extra day of rest, hopefully, is negated by that. I hope we win but it could go either way - I think France is going to give us a hell of a game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many Chicken Littles.

Their defense has been great the entire tournament, other than that one bad touch by Saurbraun.

In a bad match up for the US today, a young, quick, up and coming team with a lot of rest playing against an older team with very little rest, they managed to come out with a gutsy win.

And now we're exactly where we thought we'd be...playing France, which had a really hard time against Brazil.

The US clearly haven't played their best yet, but hopefully they'll be ready.

France had a hard time against Brazil because Brazil played well. France is very good a team. Thankfully France went to OT so their extra day of rest, hopefully, is negated by that. I hope we win but it could go either way - I think France is going to give us a hell of a game.

Exactly...and the US had a hard time because Spain played well...and tired legs.
It's sad that the two pre-tournament favorites are playing so soon, and I think as the home team you have to give France the edge.
But as for the tournament as a whole, I think Norway and Germany have been the best teams. England's looked solid, but haven't had much of a challenge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many Chicken Littles.

Their defense has been great the entire tournament, other than that one bad touch by Saurbraun.

In a bad match up for the US today, a young, quick, up and coming team with a lot of rest playing against an older team with very little rest, they managed to come out with a gutsy win.

And now we're exactly where we thought we'd be...playing France, which had a really hard time against Brazil.

The US clearly haven't played their best yet, but hopefully they'll be ready.

France had a hard time against Brazil because Brazil played well. France is very good a team. Thankfully France went to OT so their extra day of rest, hopefully, is negated by that. I hope we win but it could go either way - I think France is going to give us a hell of a game.

Exactly...and the US had a hard time because Spain played well...and tired legs.
It's sad that the two pre-tournament favorites are playing so soon, and I think as the home team you have to give France the edge.
But as for the tournament as a whole, I think Norway and Germany have been the best teams. England's looked solid, but haven't had much of a challenge.

Norway has looked really good, and they're playing without the FIFA player of the year.
Imagine how good they'd be if she didn't decide to sit the tournament out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many people losing faith in everyone after one tough game.
Chill out folks.

They should be beating them by 3 goals. The US is underperforming. Dunn is not a fullback...lots of players playing out of position and bad chemistry. It’s hard to tell if it’s bad chemistry or just players in the wrong position.

How do you calculate that they "should" and by 3??? Underperforming? Nonsense.

We beat Spain 1-0 in January with almost the exact same lineups for both teams, Spain had more possession, and we fouled them 16-8.
This game was always going to be a grind game.

Give Spain credit for grinding today. And the US as well. Ellis smartly kept her grinders in and tried to sub off some time at the end. Professional coaching = for the win.
And she tuck to her 4-3-3 instead of dropping a forward into midfield. Play the way you're designed!!

The game against Thailand was a joke. We beat Sweden 2-0. In 2019 Spain lost only to ENG 2-1 and Germany 1-0. No one beat them by more than 1 goal.
The Tournament started today for the USWNT.

Game against France will be more of the same - a grind. The book is out on the USWNT and how to play them: contact, deny corners, counter. . Kudos to Ellis for keeping them in and not rewarding Spain by taking out our starters. Make no mistake France is good, possibly a faster more fluid team than US. Lavalle will be critical with her speed and playmaking and Ertz getting forward from her defensive mid. Morgan gets the press, Rapinoe takes the glory, but this tournament comes down to Lavalle and Ertz.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many people losing faith in everyone after one tough game.
Chill out folks.

They should be beating them by 3 goals. The US is underperforming. Dunn is not a fullback...lots of players playing out of position and bad chemistry. It’s hard to tell if it’s bad chemistry or just players in the wrong position.

Not a fullback? Looks like a heckuva left back to me. Shut down Sweden's right side time and again. I'd take midfielder ability and speed every day and put them at back with the right mindset. She has it. Stop insulting yourself by knocking on her. Go have another beer with Hope Solo. But be careful to duck after that 3rd beer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many people losing faith in everyone after one tough game.
Chill out folks.

They should be beating them by 3 goals. The US is underperforming. Dunn is not a fullback...lots of players playing out of position and bad chemistry. It’s hard to tell if it’s bad chemistry or just players in the wrong position.

How do you calculate that they "should" and by 3??? Underperforming? Nonsense.

We beat Spain 1-0 in January with almost the exact same lineups for both teams, Spain had more possession, and we fouled them 16-8.
This game was always going to be a grind game.

Give Spain credit for grinding today. And the US as well. Ellis smartly kept her grinders in and tried to sub off some time at the end. Professional coaching = for the win.
And she tuck to her 4-3-3 instead of dropping a forward into midfield. Play the way you're designed!!

The game against Thailand was a joke. We beat Sweden 2-0. In 2019 Spain lost only to ENG 2-1 and Germany 1-0. No one beat them by more than 1 goal.
The Tournament started today for the USWNT.

Game against France will be more of the same - a grind. The book is out on the USWNT and how to play them: contact, deny corners, counter. . Kudos to Ellis for keeping them in and not rewarding Spain by taking out our starters. Make no mistake France is good, possibly a faster more fluid team than US. Lavalle will be critical with her speed and playmaking and Ertz getting forward from her defensive mid. Morgan gets the press, Rapinoe takes the glory, but this tournament comes down to Lavalle and Ertz.

Exactly. People seem to think the US should crush every team...doesn't work like that.
Spain will be one of favorites in four years, if not the best team in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many people losing faith in everyone after one tough game.
Chill out folks.

They should be beating them by 3 goals. The US is underperforming. Dunn is not a fullback...lots of players playing out of position and bad chemistry. It’s hard to tell if it’s bad chemistry or just players in the wrong position.

How do you calculate that they "should" and by 3??? Underperforming? Nonsense.

We beat Spain 1-0 in January with almost the exact same lineups for both teams, Spain had more possession, and we fouled them 16-8.
This game was always going to be a grind game.

Give Spain credit for grinding today. And the US as well. Ellis smartly kept her grinders in and tried to sub off some time at the end. Professional coaching = for the win.
And she tuck to her 4-3-3 instead of dropping a forward into midfield. Play the way you're designed!!

The game against Thailand was a joke. We beat Sweden 2-0. In 2019 Spain lost only to ENG 2-1 and Germany 1-0. No one beat them by more than 1 goal.
The Tournament started today for the USWNT.

Game against France will be more of the same - a grind. The book is out on the USWNT and how to play them: contact, deny corners, counter. . Kudos to Ellis for keeping them in and not rewarding Spain by taking out our starters. Make no mistake France is good, possibly a faster more fluid team than US. Lavalle will be critical with her speed and playmaking and Ertz getting forward from her defensive mid. Morgan gets the press, Rapinoe takes the glory, but this tournament comes down to Lavalle and Ertz.

Exactly. People seem to think the US should crush every team...doesn't work like that.
Spain will be one of favorites in four years, if not the best team in the world.

This was a great game if you love competition. I feel sorry for people that love winning or their country(as far as sports go) more than the game, and can't appreciate a grind gutsy win. Would a 3 goal margin get a bye into the final?? So many little things too appreciate in this game. I'd love to know Lavalle's work rate and distance covered in this game, on a short turnaround and still doing so many things right to create and deny space and chances.

[Anonymous]

I do think it would be nice if Rapinoe pointed to her team after penalty kick goals. Lavalle earned 1 for her and Heath earned 1 for her.

The goal was a bad breakdown by Naeher: 4 backs, 3 open, and she plays it to the inside of the 1 back under pressure. Only place the ball could go was back to Naeher.
Expect a Mid to drop into the defense and a back to drop into the box for Naeher from now on if she is making that kind of mistake on buildout.
Really inexcusable by the keeper.

[Anonymous]

shyt coaching

[Anonymous]

Rapinoe is fine. Morgan was clearly not okay. How Horan isn’t on the field is criminal. We’re very good, but it’s clear Ellis wants them to play a style or is utilizing tactics that just don’t fit the pieces she has at her disposal. Just like people are complaining that Rapinoe can’t chase those balls down, you can argue that we’re not playing to her strengths and giving it to feet. This in particular would allow Dunn to maximize her skill set by hitting overlaps like a second winger, but nope, long/through balls to death.

We should still have enough to win the whole thing, but if we don’t, it will be due to Naeher. She is shaky and doesn’t inspire much confidence. Still no reason to act like the world is ending since France didn’t look that great either. Norway put in the best performance of the knockout rounds thus far.

[Anonymous]

Tobin Heath is the best player on the team.
They need to flip the distro from 75% Rapinoe to 75% heath.

[Anonymous]

Heath and Lavelle have been colossal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rapinoe is fine. Morgan was clearly not okay. How Horan isn’t on the field is criminal. We’re very good, but it’s clear Ellis wants them to play a style or is utilizing tactics that just don’t fit the pieces she has at her disposal. Just like people are complaining that Rapinoe can’t chase those balls down, you can argue that we’re not playing to her strengths and giving it to feet. This in particular would allow Dunn to maximize her skill set by hitting overlaps like a second winger, but nope, long/through balls to death.

We should still have enough to win the whole thing, but if we don’t, it will be due to Naeher. She is shaky and doesn’t inspire much confidence. Still no reason to act like the world is ending since France didn’t look that great either. Norway put in the best performance of the knockout rounds thus far.

Criminal? Try smart: this was going to be a chippy game and Horan already has a yellow. Save her for France. Mewis plays today.

Only decision I did not like is I would have subbed Rapinoe after her yellow as a second would mean a player down for rest of game.

Tactically long-term the switch to 4-3-3 has been positive by Ellis.
Not sure I want to be in a shootout with France, I/d be tempted to run a 4-3-3 false 9 really a 4-4-2/4-3-1-2 vs France:

Lloyd Heath
Lavalle -false9
Horan Ertz Mewis
Dunn Sauerbrunn Dahlkemper O'Hara
Naeher

I think those are our best players right now. I don't think Rapinoe or Morgan create enough for other players on the ground.
I'd love to see Lloyd and heath with Lavalle creating for each other. That's a dangerous triangle.

And yes I know I'm benching Morgan and Rapinoe in that lineup - they earned it today.

[Anonymous]

Mcdonald for Morgan should have occurred today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rapinoe is fine. Morgan was clearly not okay. How Horan isn’t on the field is criminal. We’re very good, but it’s clear Ellis wants them to play a style or is utilizing tactics that just don’t fit the pieces she has at her disposal. Just like people are complaining that Rapinoe can’t chase those balls down, you can argue that we’re not playing to her strengths and giving it to feet. This in particular would allow Dunn to maximize her skill set by hitting overlaps like a second winger, but nope, long/through balls to death.

We should still have enough to win the whole thing, but if we don’t, it will be due to Naeher. She is shaky and doesn’t inspire much confidence. Still no reason to act like the world is ending since France didn’t look that great either. Norway put in the best performance of the knockout rounds thus far.

Criminal? Try smart: this was going to be a chippy game and Horan already has a yellow. Save her for France. Mewis plays today.

Only decision I did not like is I would have subbed Rapinoe after her yellow as a second would mean a player down for rest of game.

Tactically long-term the switch to 4-3-3 has been positive by Ellis.
Not sure I want to be in a shootout with France, I/d be tempted to run a 4-3-3 false 9 really a 4-4-2/4-3-1-2 vs France:

Lloyd Heath
Lavalle -false9
Horan Ertz Mewis
Dunn Sauerbrunn Dahlkemper O'Hara
Naeher

I think those are our best players right now. I don't think Rapinoe or Morgan create enough for other players on the ground.
I'd love to see Lloyd and heath with Lavalle creating for each other. That's a dangerous triangle.

And yes I know I'm benching Morgan and Rapinoe in that lineup - they earned it today.

Agree with the above. Bring Morgan in off the bench later in game to run at tired defenders. Consider Press or Pugh off bench later in match for Lavelle too. Maybe consider the other keeper if she's better with her feet, but don't know too much about her. Also - while I like some of the direct play today, a little too much at times. Need to be smarter and posses more than today. Horan should help with that. She is the best player on the team, and Ellis gambled and it went ok today. Must have her v. France.