OT: USWNT is through to the knockout rounds
A few general thoughts in the lead up to the game against Sweden.
The USWNT has not looked good in group play. They finished second to the Netherlands and only scored 4 goals. They very nearly exited the tournament in the 91st minute of their final game of the group stage against Portugal but were saved by the post.
Overall the team does not look organized and is giving off major 2015 vibes. Both the Netherlands and Portugal dominated play in the midfield which has people grumbling and asking lots of questions. Julie Ertz is a great midfielder who is being played as a central defender. To this point the USWNT has given up one shot on goal (that shot off the post doesn't count as a shot on goal) so the defense led by Ertz and Naomi Girma is great, but many question whether moving Ertz to the midfield would improve overall play?
There is a lot of talent at forward, yet Sophia Smith is the only forward to have scored a goal at this point. As Bill Connelly (yes that Bill Connelly) has pointed out, it is almost comical how big the gap is between expected goals and actual goals:
Part of the problem may be that players who are strikers or central forwards are being used on the right and left side, leading to an ineffective use of width that results in not being able to stretch the defense out.
The other big criticism was only using one substitute in the game against the Netherlands. The USWNT was on the front foot for the entire second half, so bringing in additional substitutes may have helped the team score the winning goal rather than settle for a draw. The starters have been playing big minutes so fatigue may become an issue - assuming the women can go on a run in this tournament.
To this point it has not been a great tournament for head coach Vlatko Andonovski. While no one questions the talent on the team - key players are certainly injured - the lack of cohesion is being placed at his feet.
One suggestion I liked was to go with a 3-5-2. This was suggested by Jeff Kassouf.
You can play three center backs to continue your strong defensive play, but address your biggest weaknesses in two ways:
- Use 5 midfielders, perhaps use 2 as double pivots to bolster that defense while letting Crystal Dunn, Lindsey Horan and Emily Fox (or other attacking midfielders) create wide attack angles, rather than forcing your forwards to play a game that hasn't suited them thus far.
- Use 2 strikers so you can use your deep group of forwards in a manner that allows them to play at their best.
Based on group play I don't have high hopes for this squad, but I will be cheering them on. The talent is there, the big question is whether Vlatko Andonovski can get them to play together as a team? To be fair to him, many of his starters do not have much time playing together. However this has been a recurring problem since the Olympics so the fact there has been no plan b up to this point is not a great sign. No one questions the depth of this team, so the lack of substitutions against the Netherlands and generally disorganized play is a real concern.
Anyone have any other thoughts?
It's the bandwagon opinion, but it's true..."We have subs...it's crazy!"
Seriously though, with the depth of this team, if Plan A isn't working by the 60th minute, inject some energy with a more significant overhaul. Players like Alyssa Thompson and Trinity Rodman are faster than anyone else out there. Megan Rapinoe injects the emotional energy, and our defensive depth on the bench should be sufficient to sub in and bump Ertz up to the midfield to shake things up. These players got in, but it was far too late when they did. I just don't see how Andonovski has seemed content not making more significant changes.
One suggestion I found interesting was to park the bus and play more of a countering game. On the one hand no one wants to watch the USWNT with all that talent pull a Jose Mourinho, but with that speed at forward you could hold your nose and see how far you could go.
Even if they make it past Sweden like that, Japan will run them off the pitch.
Japan played a possession/attacking game, then switched up the next game and obliterated Spain on the counter.
That was pretty amazing how Japan, which normally has a lot of possession, ceded that to Spain, and then scored on the few opportunities they had.
Has this been an issue for him in the past? I only watch the Olympics and World Cup and don't follow much else... but his teams have looked outmatched against lesser talent at both tournaments.
Yeah, he puts together lineups that look good on paper but do not mesh well as a team. Many people do not like him because unlike Gregg Berhalter, he has the best talent in the world to work with. Now the rest of the world is definitely catching up, but the USWNT shouldn't look this bad.
Rapinoe is completely washed, she has been terrible so far in her sub appearances. Over the years she has been one of my favorite players to watch, but even in the last World Cup she was clearly past it, save for her clinical spot kicks leading her to the golden boot.
While the US has more depth than anyone, it is still a major challenge when so many key players are out, including several who likely would have started matches. Mallory Swanson, Catarina Macario, Sam Mewis, Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper, Christen Press. That is a lot of talent and a lot of experience unavailable.
Keep Rapinoe off the pitch. I watched that game and every one of her passes were either off target leading to a turnover or were forced into a crowded front line, on a prayer, with little chance of being successful.
I’d trade a prime carli Lloyd for any version of Rapinoe. Carli would be a leader in the locker room too.
I think it's hard to continue to dominate the way the USWNT has over the last decade or so. Seems like the fire is gone especially now that Carli retired. I also think some of the off-the-field distractions may have crept onto the pitch.
All of that aside - they still have the talent for a deep run and I'll be rooting for them.
That, and Julie Ertz is still hot.
She sure is hot, she's married to an NFL TE.
Also, Carli Lloyd should be the Team Manager.
People have a short memory of Carli Lloyd. She is getting a lot of attention for her comments, attention she surely loves.
But these are not new comments from her. She has made the exact same comments about culture over the last few years every time she had the chance. And why does that seem to be her only point of view since retiring when there are far bigger problems like Vlatko’s 1990s american soccer style tactics
And don’t forget how much Lloyd complained in 2019 when Morgan, Rapinoe, and Heath started over her in the last World Cup. Now isn’t it a surprise she is calling for Morgan to be benched.
She is also not a fan of Rapinoe and her politics. Lloyd was the only player on the team to refuse to kneel for the anthem.
She has plenty of axes to grind.
Bottom line, if you’ve followed Lloyd during her career she has always been about Carli Lloyd. And she once again is getting the attention she desires.
“Bottom line, if you’ve followed Lloyd during her career she has always been about Carli Lloyd.”
You misspelled Rapinoe.
August 2nd, 2023 at 10:18 PM ^
Logged in to upvote
August 2nd, 2023 at 11:01 PM ^
Maybe the two best US players (relative to the competition of their peak times).
Sort of like Michael Jordan.
Zoltan, despite their other issues, Carli was far better than Rapinoe.
Agree, I was a big fan of both of their overall games (don't really care now about the off field stuff or how hot they are). Totally subjective, but from just my observations of their overall games, I'd put Mia Hamm as #1 of all time top 10 US greats, Lloyd would be in the next tier, and Rapinoe (not the current version) would be in the lower half of the top 10.
August 3rd, 2023 at 10:06 PM ^
Love Mia Hamm
August 2nd, 2023 at 11:50 PM ^
Thank you mGrow, god forbid being patriotic when you're wearing your country's jersey.
I hate that kneeling shit, talk about attention seeking in a misplaced way.
I'm an immigrant who loves and appreciates the greatest country in the history of the world, too many people have no idea how shitty so many countries are, maybe we need to appreciate ours more.
My great grandparents came here when their country decided on yet another round of ethnic cleansing. I know America isn't perfect, but I'm still proud to live here. Proud people strive to build something even better.
I don't understand the kneeling - how does making us feel bad to be Americans inspire us to be better? I don't think there's another country in the world that would give an athlete the freedom to kneel to their anthem on the world's stage, over and over.
Doesn't really change how I feel about the match once it's started. I think this team is close - a little more of the youth and more tactical focus on controlling the midfield. I watched Sweden last night. Sure, the gap between the US and the world is smaller now, but I think the US can win this one.
Kneeling during the anthem was started by Kap as a way to bring attention to human rights and social justice. To bring attention to the fact that all men (and women), though created equal according to the declaration of independence, are not viewed as or treated as equals in today’s America. The American flag more than anything else is supposed to stand for equality and human rights. Democracy, if it works right is about human rights. This should be an issue that all Americans support. It is as American as mom and apple pie. Kneeling is and was about human rights. There was nothing wrong with it and it was done in consultation with the armed services. You can kneel and feel good because you support the meaning of America, you support the meaning of the flag, and you support human rights and equality. The armed services fight wars to ensure that we have an america and a functioning democracy that makes sure we all have the the right to equal access to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To make sure we are not subjected to a dictatorship or any similar kind of takeover
The fact that political operatives, one in particular, spun it and successfully connected it to a disrespect for the flag and for america, and that people should feel bad, or that Kap and other athletes support flag burning, which they don’t, is absurd. Those simply are not the facts. The bigger tragedy is that so many decided to believe this political crap rather than the facts.
In the words of Cyrano, “no thank you”.
Good explanation, thank you.
As for me, a white man who's experienced a fair amount of privilege in my life and spent time in the military, I will unabashedly say that Kap's kneeling protest is one of the purest forms of protest I've ever seen. It does no damage to people or property; it does not interfere in daily life or activity of anyone not participating; it does not impede business or government activity. Despite any of that, it is a fantastic way to draw attention to its purpose while allowing people to completely ignore it without impact.
The fact that some people turned it political and misrepresent it to be something it isn't says more about them than it does the reason for the protest itself. They do nothing more than try to redirect attention away from their racist beliefs.
The MGoMAGAs have entered the chat!
MGoOld
I’m not a fan of Rapinoe either but your response is the same BS as a Trumper saying “what about Hillary”. Why not defend Lloyd. Because there is no defense.
Lloyd is the one with the stupid attention grabbing self serving, and especially veiled political, complaints. Not Rapinoe.
Lloyd has always been about Lloyd. She is well known on the team as a complainer. She is well known to put herself above all the other teammates, even well past her prime.
Press, Heath, and many other former teammates have called out how thin and uninformed her comments are, when the real issue is the coaching.
Rapinoe doesn't complain? You're either out of your mind or lying to make a point, give me a fucking break!
She claims biological males should be able to compete with females yet she conveniently forgets how her squad lost a match against a team of teenage boys. That's just one thing she spouted about.
Mick, why are you misdirecting? We are talking about the team, the culture of the team, the problems with the team (which is the coaching), and the fact that Carli’s complaints are self serving and really fucking stupid (according to every one of her former teammates who know her).
I don’t like Rapinoe either. But the only thing Rapinoe has done wrong this week is the bad passing. So why are you giving us this “what about Rapinoe” shit.
Bo, you brought up Rapinoe as if you were exalting her in comparison to Lloyd. Yes, her passing was bad but better than others so I'll say that for her.
She is good and should have played more minutes but the coach is stupid.
August 3rd, 2023 at 10:04 PM ^
+1 “the coach is stupid”
Amen!!!!! Rapinoe wishes she was half as good as Lloyd. Lloyd is and has been 100% right about this team. Unfortunately, they need leaders, not activists.
How did this thread go off track? Have to agree on the most important part, Julie Ertz is hot! One of the very few that I like and cheer for on this team. Thinking of getting up early, make a Bloody Mary and watch the game with Sweden. Maybe use Absolute???
Use Absolut? Absolutely!
Andonovski looks clueless to me, the team plays in a fragmented manner, passes in the offensive zone look very weak and the shots on goal are soft and very badly placed.
I think they're going to get smoked by a very competent Sweden Squad.
He is a joke. How he became the coach is a mystery. He had no international experience. He had up and down seasons in the NWSL. He is not known for tactics. When he did win, it was from a talent advantage. And since he has taken over the national team they have always under performed. His deficiencies are are now exposed on the big stage. If he doesnt make any of the adjustments so many commentators see as obvious he will be the sole reason for failure.
Even without adjustments in formation or tactics the team is clearly rushing their shots and passes in the front third. They need to be more patient. They are missing too many opportunities. That is also a coaching issue.
August 2nd, 2023 at 10:39 PM ^
Press and Heath in their show after that game talk about how bad Vlatko is. No tactical adjustments at half time. None in previous games. None in the last two years. They say soccer is all about tactical adjustments. They basically call him an idiot without directly blaming him.
Yes. I love soccer and watch a lot of it but I'm not an expert. But the poor coaching seems apparent to me. I don't really think this dude knows what he's doing.
I think that one of the hardest things to do in soccer is to transition gracefully from one set of players to another. As the last group of stars has aged out, they've plugged in talented replacements, but even in a system, nobody is a like-for-like replacement, especially offensively. Sometimes you need to experience some failure to have space to go back and figure out it's going to work in the future to win with the talent they have.
Yeah, well put. There's something weird and difficult about building a team and there's no surefire way to do it successfully. It seems like they might actually be as talented as previous teams but they're definitely not nearly as good. I hope they can figure it out and the coach can put together the best lineup. If they can pull it together they can still win. But it will be difficult.
We landed on the moon!
August 3rd, 2023 at 12:44 AM ^
Are you sure that's where you landed?
They had a really rough time against Portugal. My wife played collegiate soccer and commented just how off they looked, not flowing well as a team and simply out of sync. I don’t see that getting any easier with Sweden up next. Still, go USA!
If there is anything zestier than college football hot takes it is probably USWNT hot takes.
fire everybody!
It is a combination of bad chemistry between the new stars and the veterans of '15/'19, and injuries, as much as anything else. They are capable of playing well enough to win the tournament, as they did the second half against the Dutch. It's better they play the Swedes first and get it over with.
Yes, it's not like they haven't had several strong stretches yet in the tournament. But I'm not convinced that they're the most talented group, let alone the most clever or coherent. They're kind of reaping what they sowed: They excited the world about women's soccer, and a full generation later (see Brandi Chastain's sports bra) others have caught up. I love the U.S. team, but am also okay with that.
If this causes the federation to take a (possible) necessary few down years and invest in the rising youth, that might be what it takes. The days when we assume we're headed to the finals of any such tournament are over.
I don't know if it was so much that these other countries were inspired by Chastain or the U.S. team, as just that men's soccer was already the world's most popular sport, so it was probably inevitable that some of these soccer-mad countries would start to invest in the women's game, too.
August 2nd, 2023 at 10:52 PM ^
Also the UEFA women's club league with very good squads such as Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Olympique Lyonnais has given the top talent from many countries to compete at the highest levels .Like the WNBA it has lifted the level of play in many national teams.
Bring in Coach Lasso?
You joke but they’re actually using his goldfish coaching!
Jess Fishlock was a guest on The Re-Cap Show with Tobin Heath & Christen Press on their re-inc YouTube channel. She suggested a 4-2-3-1. Interesting tactical analysis. Abby Dahlkemper was another guest this episode.
I'm skeptical about Vlatko being able to put our players in a position to succeed. Haven't seen a lot of tactical adjustments in his tenure. Ari Hingst has mentioned how there doesn't seem to be a plan and how our midfield isn't linking up with the forwards.
Still hoping they can find a way to win. Survive and advance.
August 2nd, 2023 at 10:34 PM ^
The team has used a 4-2-3-1 in the past so that could work. It’s shocking it hasn’t been rolled out given the struggles.
August 2nd, 2023 at 11:37 PM ^
Heath and Press spent a lot of time taking about how bad the lack of tactical adjustments were. That and other comments were basically condemning the coach without directly condemning him (probably because of the risk that he may be retained and he currently controls their future). If they were retired and had the personality of a Lalas they would have just said the coach sucks!