USA Women's Soccer

[BrewMaster]

So after Greg Ryan pissed away our chances at a World Cup final, what do you all think will happen to him and Hope Solo?

Will Hope quit? Will Greg Ryan be fired?

Hope is awesome and I hope she sticks around for the Olympics. Greg Ryan on the other hand... I would be happy to see him go. Who pulls a goalie who has 3 consecutive shutouts in the World Cup?!

[jeykllrider]

Curry is ok in her own right, but come on your in the semi-finals competing with Brazil. What about the bogus ref call against Boxx. One sweet play was the three step kick from Marta from Brazil.

[BrewMaster]

That call was totally bogus, but she already had one yellow that she got legitimately. I agree that Marta is phenomenal. Still, I think Hope was playing incredibly well and Greg totally ruined the mojo of hot team.

[jeykllrider]

Greg is a jerk for ruining their chances. he'll be kicking his head for the rest of his life. sucky coach calls can ruin careers quick. Hope did kick some but, the team was totally out played though.

[jeffj]

This was the perfect storm. The USA women have been heading for this disaster for the past several years with their far too direct style of play. They could hardly string three passes together the entire tournament. No possession, no build up, just kick a hopeful ball over the top and see if Super-Abby can run onto it. Over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over til I could throw a brick through the screen.

Do they collect a ball and build out of the back? No. they continually play the ball out even when not under any pressure or just kick it long. The first goal was a result of this tactic gone horribly wrong, but if Osborne just collects it and takes it wide (there was no real pressure on her) there's no problem.

Shannon Boxx got reamed on the second yellow, but even after the first yellow she was flirting with the second by way of persistent infringement as she was just continually fouling. We were already down 2 goals when she was sent off, so it's not like that was THE turning point.

Brazil were better in every way today. They were just as physical, faster, better on the ball (technically) and tactically. What makes this so significant and sad if you're a fan of the USA team is that the USA team has spent the past four years playing almost 50 matches and most of the past two years together with access to more resources than any other women's team and Brazil has had almost no time together since the women's game is little more than a novelty in otherwise soccer mad Brazil.

North Korea played a better game than us, but had no finishers. The writing has been on the wall for all to see for several years. Brazil took us to the woodshed today and tanned our hides bigtime.

I don't care the Greg Ryan built up a long win streak playing and beating up on the Icelands and finlands of the world. He wasn't hired to win a bunch of meaningless matches in between, he was hired to win the big one... the World Cup. This is the second time in a row we were bounced in the semi-finals.

Those Nike commercials are now pretty nauseating in retrospect. They were so assuming the world would just roll over for us.

I'm actually glad this happenned. If we had found our way into the final and somehow defeated Germany, we would have been stuck with many that believed this style of play was the best way to develop players.

Now, maybe the powers in charge will wake up and take notice that we are not the best any longer and it's actually getting worse.

Thank you and congratulations to Brazil
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And maybe Hope Solo can take some charm school courses. She may be pissed and Ryan really blew this situation for so many reasons, but you don't throw anyone from your own team under the bus like that. All she had to do was sit back and let nature take it's course, but she took the low road and got her pound of Ryan's flesh. No class
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I know, I'm such a fence sitter. Maybe I'll sleep on it and tell you how I really feel tomorrow
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EDIT: Here's a link to Hope Solo's post-match interview:

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3039111&categoryId=2378529

[tkblazer]

wtf you bubbs talkin about

[Pilas]

Wow! Nice to find out that there are other soccer fans on this board.

I think the problem with the womens soccer program is that the rest of the world is catching up.
A few years back, USA was basically the only country where women played soccer, hence the dominance.
While USA are still among the elite, other countries have evolved and play a more modern brand of soccer.
I think that the overall quality of coaching in the States is inferior to the rest of the world, both for men and women.
Also, the college system is hindering progress for the American soccer player. You can't field a competitive team with players that spend only four months playing soccer, and partying their way through college the rest of the year. This is most obvious in the mens programs. While all competitive 19 year olds in Europe are part of a highly professionalized soccer program, the college players in the States are playing in front of a couple hundred fans (mostly family and friends), and coached by coaches whose only qualifications are that they were the only ones willing to take the team when their soccer programs started 20 years ago.
OK. I maybe exaggerating a bit, but I really think that other countries have a little bit of a higher standing when it comes to soccer coaching.

[.8down]

I saw an interview with Hope Solo and she was pissed. basically said she would have done better and the coach was an idiot for not letting her play...she did not take the high road at all. Put like everyone on blast.

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by Pilas

Wow! Nice to find out that there are other soccer fans on this board.

I think the problem with the womens soccer program is that the rest of the world is catching up.
A few years back, USA was basically the only country where women played soccer, hence the dominance.
While USA are still among the elite, other countries have evolved and play a more modern brand of soccer.
I think that the overall quality of coaching in the States is inferior to the rest of the world, both for men and women.
Also, the college system is hindering progress for the American soccer player. You can't field a competitive team with players that spend only four months playing soccer, and partying their way through college the rest of the year. This is most obvious in the mens programs. While all competitive 19 year olds in Europe are part of a highly professionalized soccer program, the college players in the States are playing in front of a couple hundred fans (mostly family and friends), and coached by coaches whose only qualifications are that they were the only ones willing to take the team when their soccer programs started 20 years ago.
OK. I maybe exaggerating a bit, but I really think that other countries have a little bit of a higher standing when it comes to soccer coaching.

I have to disagree simply because the men's collegiate programs are in pretty much the same situation. There are major collegiate women's programs that are outstanding. Think Standford, UCLA, and UNC. Our men's national team has been steadily improving, while our women's national team has been declining. I don't think it's the collegiate system at fault.

I do agree that women's coaching seems to be more of an afterthought at most programs. Many programs have throw away men's coaches who couldn't cut it.

Still, I don't think this is the reason the US Women struggled. We have heavily funded the US Women's national team, moreso than any country, and we got spanked by a team that was disbanded for almost 2 years.

I agree with jeffj. The style and skill is just not there. That goes back to coaching.

And again, who the hell benches a goalie who has 3 straight shut outs. I know it seems classless, but I don't blame Hope for lashing out. That was a dumb ass decision and someone needed to say it.

[jeffj]

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

I have to disagree simply because the men's collegiate programs are in pretty much the same situation. There are major collegiate women's programs that are outstanding. Think Standford, UCLA, and UNC. Our men's national team has been steadily improving, while our women's national team has been declining. I don't think it's the collegiate system at fault.

I do agree that women's coaching seems to be more of an afterthought at most programs. Many programs have throw away men's coaches who couldn't cut it.

Still, I don't think this is the reason the US Women struggled. We have heavily funded the US Women's national team, moreso than any country, and we got spanked by a team that was disbanded for almost 2 years.

I agree with jeffj. The style and skill is just not there. That goes back to coaching.

And again, who the hell benches a goalie who has 3 straight shut outs. I know it seems classless, but I don't blame Hope for lashing out. That was a dumb ass decision and someone needed to say it.

Brew, I would have to say that it seems like Greg Ryan is trying to follow in the footsteps of Anson Dorrance (of UNC and US National team fame) with the ultra direct style that has made him so famous. It's apparent that they are not aware that this style has been figured out by the opposition. Honestly, I think China are guilty of the same thing.

Now that many other parts of the world are paying more attention to the women's game, simply bringing the most fit athletic players no longer carries the day.

We lived by the sword when the sword was the best weapon going and now we are dying by sticking with the sword.

Indeed, we brought a (cheap imitation of Anson's) knife to what has now become more of a gunfight.

[Fired Yo Momma]

I used to call soccer commie ball. Then I started playing rugby and running like soccer except we get hit with no pads on, and now I have the most respect for soccer because you really have to be fit to play that game.

[Edog]

of a serious professional leauge for women in US there is really not going to be much of a future & that is the big difference between & 5 years ago. The MLS is slowly getting better, but it's going to take years for the league to get the kind of following football has in Europe.

There was with out doubt some bad choices made by the management of this world cup squad.

I agree that college could have better programs, however you will find that 95% of the professional players outside of the US barely finished high school & had been enrolled in professional clubs. Beckham started at Manchester United when he was 15 as an apprentice & played his first game at 17. In fact Mancheater United home grew all their greatest players including Ryan Giggs.
So in my mind winning the world cup was really lost back when the leauge ended 2004!
I think Brazil should have easily scored another 2 goals towards the end.

[jeffj]

Originally Posted by Edog

of a serious professional leauge for women in US there is really not going to be much of a future & that is the big difference between & 5 years ago. The MLS is slowly getting better, but it's going to take years for the league to get the kind of following football has in Europe.

There was with out doubt some bad choices made by the management of this world cup squad.

I agree that college could have better programs, however you will find that 95% of the professional players outside of the US barely finished high school & had been enrolled in professional clubs. Beckham started at Manchester United when he was 15 as an apprentice & played his first game at 17. In fact Mancheater United home grew all their greatest players including Ryan Giggs.
So in my mind winning the world cup was really lost back when the leauge ended 2004!
I think Brazil should have easily scored another 2 goals towards the end.

It is at the college age and up that the rest of the soccer playing world really separates themselves from us. Up to that point, we compete fairly well as there are plenty of opportunities to play year round.

That said, the college game is not really meant to develop players for the professional ranks, however, the opportunity to obtain a college degree via a scholarship is very attractive and (quite frankly) it should be for a great majority of athletes as finding gainful employment in the soccer world in the USA for all but a relative few is not even as lucrative as an Engineering degree.

And to pass up a scholarship to try to become a soccer pro is also a poor choice for all but a relative handful of candidates. The best chance we have for that to change is to have the game become much more popular here so that it becomes a more lucrative opportunity for more than just a few.

I think you made a good point about the WUSA on the ladies side too. I think it was important for the diversity of styles that the players were exposed to by playing in such a league and that it expanded the opportunities for development.

If only it could have sustained itself enough to survive. The financial drain it put upon the MLS was simply too much for the fledgling league to bear.

Maybe our WMNT members should seek some opportunites to play abroad like many of the men's side does. The opportunities do exist, but the financial incentive may not be enough to lure them to do so.

"I think Brazil should have easily scored another 2 goals towards the end"

I agree. And Marta's second goal was probably the finest goal I have ever seen on the women's side. Simply a thing of beauty and she's only 21.

[Fired Yo Momma]

Originally Posted by Edog

of a serious professional leauge for women in US there is really not going to be much of a future & that is the big difference between & 5 years ago. The MLS is slowly getting better, but it's going to take years for the league to get the kind of following football has in Europe.

There was with out doubt some bad choices made by the management of this world cup squad.

I agree that college could have better programs, however you will find that 95% of the professional players outside of the US barely finished high school & had been enrolled in professional clubs. Beckham started at Manchester United when he was 15 as an apprentice & played his first game at 17. In fact Mancheater United home grew all their greatest players including Ryan Giggs.
So in my mind winning the world cup was really lost back when the leauge ended 2004!
I think Brazil should have easily scored another 2 goals towards the end.

Professional soccer will never take off in the US. It just won't, not enough scoring and brutality. I think US rugby if marketed right can make it in the US for a professional team. Americans as a whole are somewhat close minded to other cultures and sports. As a example US professional hockey took off due to the fact that its a fast paced game and its very physical

[Edog]

"I agree. And Marta's second goal was probably the finest goal I have ever seen on the women's side. Simply a thing of beauty and she's only 21."

You don't see that level of skill, even on mens teams, I just caught that goal before I left for work. My wife played at college so she was glued to the TV

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by jeffj

Maybe our WMNT members should seek some opportunites to play abroad like many of the men's side does. The opportunities do exist, but the financial incentive may not be enough to lure them to do so.

I thought that some of our Women's National team players do play overseas in Europe, though I couldn't tell you who plays where.

[jeffj]

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

I thought that some of our Women's National team players do play overseas in Europe, though I couldn't tell you who plays where.

There were a few that played some matches in 2005 and only one that saw any pro action in 2006. They have mostly been just with the national team.

You can click on their names from the roster and link to their full bio:

http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/womens...index.jsp.html

BTW: Abby is apparently a mountain biker.

[OTHRIDER]

Soccer, shmoccer........


It's time to flee the commie / euro ghey game and pledge your loyalty to [SIZE=4]WATER POLO[/SIZE] !!

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by OTHRIDER

Soccer, shmoccer........


It's time to flee the commie / euro ghey game and pledge your loyalty to [SIZE=4]WATER POLO[/SIZE] !!

wet men in Speedos playing with balls while wearing rubber caps on their heads? and you're calling soccer ghey?

Ain't nothin' ghey about this:




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