USA Women vs Columbia

[love4ffc]

First congrats to the English Women for their remarkable comeback.  Great strike on goal for the winner.   

I feel underwhelmed by the USA Women in this World Cup and really unimpressed by Coach Jill Ellis.  The only thing really impressing me with the USA Women's team is the defense.  They have played extremely well and have been solid in the back.  We might need them to teach Kit and our back four how its done. 

It seems to me all the USA Women are only playing route one ball.  Constantly looking for Wombach and the other forwards.  Way too many turnovers and not enough creativity.  Really would like to see more wide and overlapping runs putting more crosses in the box. 

So next game we won't have Holiday or Rapinoe.  With that in mind I would like to see more speed and creativity in our next game.  Would really like to see something like the following lineup. 

                                 Solo

Krieger     SAUERBRUNN     JOHNSTON      KLINGENBERG

HEATH                       Lloyd                          O'REILLY                     

MORGAN                 Wambach                       PRESS         

We change to a 4-3-3 and become more attacking minded.  Don't let the back four sit so deep.  Get Lloyd to take more people on 1v1 in the midfield and shots off that maybe create a spill by the keeper in the box.  Also want to see Heath and O'Reily making lots of outside runs with more crosses going in the box. 

Really hope things change against China. 

[Forever Fulham]

Rapinoe out is a big loss.  She's a force.  She's creative.  The talent is superior on this team.  But the chemistry seems off.  Wambach is 35.  She can't go 90.  Even 45 at full out is asking a bit much.  But Rodriguez could step in to replace her.  She can flat out fly.  A real speed merchant.  Run them into the ground.

[love4ffc]

Agree about Rodriguez.  The depth of the team is the one great thing for this tournament.  They just seem to be holding on to the ball to much and coughing it up way too much. 

I really want to see a faster paced team against China.  Put them on their heels for the entire 90. 

[YankeeJim]

The team seems to be in transition from Wambach to the next stage. Wambach always seemed to get got service which is something this midfield isn't doing. With Rapinoe out, I think then girls will struggle. If china scores early, look for them to bunker and likely win the match.

[love4ffc]

The team seems to be in transition from Wambach to the next stage. Wambach always seemed to get got service which is something this midfield isn't doing. With Rapinoe out, I think then girls will struggle. If china scores early, look for them to bunker and likely win the match.

This is what I'm worried about

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[HatterDon]

The midfield is the problem. The defense plus Hope Solo is magnificent. I'm also worried about the loss of Rapinoe. Like Dempsey, she has the guts of a burglar and will try anything.

I'm sick and tired of the male "color announcer." I have never heard such negative second guessing in my life. Jill can't pick the right XI, can't pick the right formation, can't decide tactics, can't substitute ... and yet we're undefeated with only one goal against. And his criticism is always what he would do in her place.

Thankfully, I always delay the matches about 15-20 minutes so I can fast forward past anything that Alexei Lalas has to say. What a friggin maroon.

COYRW&B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Forever Fulham]

There is something about Alexi Lalas that I simply can't stand.  Smarmy know it all.  I think he's a Detroit Country Day private school product.  Rich kid.  No, that's not it.  Plenty of rich kids turn out likable enough.  It's.. it's...what the hell is it? 

And will someone please tell that Foudy woman to shut up?  She takes swing after swing at the current women's team and its manager.  Sometimes a team just goes into a lull, like a giant sailboat at sea in dead calm.  You can huff and puff all you want.  It's a funny game and there are aspects that are seemingly inexplainable.  A mood.  A sentiment.  Something that keeps the creative spark and flair from appearing.  Quick!  Sacrifice something!  Plenty bad mojo.  The China game is an opportunity to try other players, mix it up a little.  Find yourself.  Get air in those sails.  No way the U.S. loses to China.  Not since 2003, I think.  Won't happen on Friday.  So get substitutions in there.  Put Rodriguez in there!  I want to see her in a 40 yard sprint against Raheem Sterling.  My money is on Rodriguez.  There are subs on that team that would start for any of the top 5 teams in the world.  The China game would be a nice opportunity to play them.

[btings]

As others have said, this midfield is a catastrophe.  Everyone is playing in places that minimize their effectiveness -- Rapinoe way out on the wing, Lloyd too deep, etc.  There are miles and miles of space between the MF and the forwards -- no wonder they end up playing the long ball.

Julie Johnston is an absolute beast.

[Forever Fulham]

I love Julie Johnston. Terrific player. 

[andersons11]

The midfield is the problem. The defense plus Hope Solo is magnificent. I'm also worried about the loss of Rapinoe. Like Dempsey, she has the guts of a burglar and will try anything.

I'm sick and tired of the male "color announcer." I have never heard such negative second guessing in my life. Jill can't pick the right XI, can't pick the right formation, can't decide tactics, can't substitute ... and yet we're undefeated with only one goal against. And his criticism is always what he would do in her place.

Thankfully, I always delay the matches about 15-20 minutes so I can fast forward past anything that Alexei Lalas has to say. What a friggin maroon.

COYRW&B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amen to that. His commentary has always been negative. I can recall many times when I have either muted the television or switched to the Spanish broadcast in order to get away. Before the Men's edition he said that there was 0 chance of anything positive coming from the USMNT, ie we wouldn't win it. While the chances of us winning it were slim, that's not something you expect a very public figure to say about your own team. I don't know why we have to go with one commentator and one "expert of the game" it works to some degree if they are both courteous of the teams on the field, but in Lalas' case.........

I would love to see Stuart Holden playing again, but he is cut out for broadcasting.

I forget what game it was, probably during the World Cup but Keller, McBride and Holden were analyzing and it was probably one of the most enjoyable broadcasts Ive experienced.

[btings]

I'm personally partial to Twellman, personally.  Lalas is basically openly a troll, which I tolerate more for the US than I would for, say, English football, because it's ok if we have one dedicated troll.

Holden has improved a lot over the past year, and I'm glad for him, because he seemed awfully nervous for a while.

I think Clint Irwin (GK for the Rapids) might be good in the booth someday -- at least, he's very clever on twitter, which may or may not translate.

[Logicalman]

I'm personally partial to Twellman, personally.  Lalas is basically openly a troll, which I tolerate more for the US than I would for, say, English football, because it's ok if we have one dedicated troll.

Got to agree with this, and add into the mix Kyle Martino. He might be OK, but in the presence of many of the English ex-players, he often appears out of his depth and makes some silly comments that appear to be trying too hard.

As for lala, the guy sets back US footie decades when he appears on any English footie program, he is the Warren Barton equivalent, pumps his own self-worth up more than his skill level can support.

[Forever Fulham]

I like Kyle Martino's commentaries.  Sometimes, they are surprising deep and wise.  He keeps it pleasant, too, even when tackling something unpleasant.  Not such an easy thing to do.