On the Road Again

In one of the few home games this year, and even fewer televised matches, the WNT took on Australia in Birmingham this weekend. I had heard good things about the changes being implemented by new coach (does "new" still apply?), Pia Sundhage. The weekend's game was my first chance to see it.

And I like it.

It's not quite to where I expect they would want it to be (rather obvious with a 5-4 final tally) but what I'd heard appears to be true. Once again, there is a transition in American women's soccer. It's not a direct attack strategy but something that requires possession and a bit of (dare I say it?) finesse. And, at least for the first half, that game plan looked quite good. Midfielder Carly Loyd controlled the game and everything seemed to flow through her feet. The players switched the field often and took chances to pass the ball when traditional thought would say shoot. It caught the defense off-guard and caught several balls in the back of the Aussie net, two belonging to my favorite player, Lindsey Tarpley.

The defense obviously had some holes, which I attribute to more than just the defensive line but the combination of the middle and back lines. The change in team dynamics towards a more progressive offense hasn't fully developed in its defense. So far, it has left it rather vulnerable.

Things are looking good. They're not perfect; they're not even great. But there is time yet to improve and correct in the next three months. I think it's safe to say, "The team is in good hands."

The Great Return????

Most people might argue that "return" is the improper term when describing the possible status of the Women's National Team. Afterall, they did finish 3rd in last year's World Cup. However, under the reign of Head Coach Greg Ryan, the traditional possession style of the team seemed to shatter in favor of the 'get it to Abby/Lily and let them score' mentality--one which I must admit I was never a fan of....perhaps that is partly because my favorite all-time player is Julie Foudy....perhaps it's because, as a former player myself, I was a midfielder often in charge of transitioning from the defensive to the attack with creative playmaking. It doesn't much matter because it appears that with the (well-deserved) ousting of Coach Ryan, so went the style. Might it be possible that the possessive game has returned to elite women's soccer? And just in time for the new women's league???

I'll have to wait and witness it to be 100% positive but I'm definitely leaning. Thank you, Pia. I have to admit I was not completely on board when US Soccer announced the former Swedish player, Pia Sundhage, would be replacing Ryan. Glad for the replacing; not the replacement. She is the first international to coach the team and I prefer to keep things purebred, if possible. But I may be wrong here.

In the Algarve Cup, admittedly not as high-profile as the World Cup, the US has defeated China, 4-0. The article at ussoccer.com describes the US play as possessive. What huh? My critical eye is somewhat assuaged and I remain rather convinced of the possibility of possession soccer having occurred by the score sheet. For the past couple years, the team has relied heavily on their star frontrunners---and possibly just frontrunner, in Abby Wambach. But the score sheet reads as follows:

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 3 4
CHN 0 0 0

USA – Lindsay Tarpley (Carli Lloyd) 5th minute
USA – Tobin Heath (unassisted) 47.
USA – Abby Wambach (Shannon Boxx) 64.
USA – Carli Lloyd (Natasha Kai) 69.


Translation: Four goals; four different players; 3 different assisters and one unassisted. That's incredible! In order for that to occur there had to be decent ball movement.

The final judgment remains for the first few live matches I see but I'm liking the things I hear and the evidence I read. This is good stuff for the Olympics, ladies!!!


Picture by Paulo Cordeiro / isiphotos.com