Commentary

USA-Argentina SheBelieves Cup Player Ratings

1. David Ruder, February 24, 2021 at 11:02 p.m.

   International Women soccer is becoming more of a travesty for other Countries to compete with our super girls. There are some 3 million girls in all phases of competition, from recreational to travel teams, just about every HIgh School to some 3600 universities who must offer scholarships under title 9 to thousands of girls. I hate to guess how many millions of dollars are spent recruiting and training of woman's college teams. My point is that there isn't one country in the world that can promote and fund that kind of a large sports program. In comparison, not even Chelsea spends this much. This is one of the reasons I don't go gaga every time the US Woman's team wins 6-0 or 10-0.  

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2. beautiful game replied, February 25, 2021 at 11:19 p.m.

   Watched 20 minutes of the second half and that was enough time on "beating up' of another minnow NT. 

3. Bob Ashpole, February 25, 2021 at 2:04 a.m.

   It is difficult to judge a team and its coaching from a 6-0 victory over an overmatched side. 
   
   I have to reconsider what I have said about the new coach regarding the two prior games. It appears that, at least against overmatched sides, he has the team playing Dutch style as except that the attack is not positional play. When the team presses high and wins the ball back in the other team's half, the difference in style is not so noticeable. (I refer to the Dutch because I studied the game in the 1970s when the big influences were the Dutch and Brazil. It would be a long time before Cruyff blended the two influences at Barca.)
   
   Positional play is more important in advancing the ball through the defensive and middle thirds. So the new coach has them playing about 50% of a sophisticated style. One interesting observation. Per the commentators, the game plan against Argentina included a reliance on long balls behind the back line. What I observed was that the team seemed to play fewer long balls behind the backs than it had in the previous matches. I suspect that this was due to the high press working so well at winning the ball high up the field.

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4. frank schoon, February 25, 2021 at 9:41 a.m.

   After this game or rather this tournament, i'm asking myself, what are we suppose to learn from all of this when taking into account the total picture of US women soccer development and what is next. It hasn't gone anywhere with the last coach and previous coaches and neither is it going anywhere with this coach.  The women's soccer reminds me of Anson Dorrance ,North Carolina soccer, a bunch of athletic ,Turbo Bunnies.....This is not soccer, and I'm sorry to say, I feel bad for our young girls who don't know any better watching this garbage.  I could only take 45min. of this game and began to watch 'Big Foot' stories on Youtube.
   
   After interviewing a few Ajax players that watch the women's world cup a couple years ago, one of them stated, that the level of soccer played by the women is comparable to 5th division men's amateur ball.
   
   I would say,  if you have a daughter and you want her to learn how to play a better brand of soccer then keep emphasizing to her to watch LINDSEY HORAN, for she ACTUALLY plays soccer. Have a discussion with your daughter Study her. Ask your daughter these questions, the moment you see HORAN, stop the tape and look at the overal situation, then ask, WHY is she positioned there in relation to the ball or to her opponent. Allow your daughter to open her mind and let her think about the various options, and talk with her. Next, when HORAN receives the ball, again stop the tape and ask, WHY is HORAN positioned the way she is. Here is what you want to do and look at different components. One, does HORAN position herself in manner that her body is shielding the ball with an opponent behind her upon receiving it. Or does HORAN position in manner to make it easy for the next pass in the most functional manner. Or why is HORAN holding on to the ball, is there a reason for it,  Or why did she pass off so quickly, Or why did she switched the field, or should she have switched field. 
   
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frank schoon, February 25, 2021 at 10:03 a.m.
Why did she dribble in a certain direction ,why not there? Also stress why is she so effective without all that TURBO that other players display. You have to make it clear to your daughter that HORAN shields the ball while on the dribble and doesn't need to have TURBO. HORAN is one of the few who actually uses shielding while dribbling the others just try to run away from their defender as the only option. Also notice when HORAN does make a run, why now at this particular time. Let your daughter think about why HORAN made the a run now.(watch the game against Brazil, where HORAN actually made a run). Ask your daughter about how HORAN presents herself on the field, as leadership for instance. As you note in the Brazilian game, HORAN constantly point to where the ball should go ,then ask your daughter 'WHY' did she point in that direction...

These are some examples of how you can stimulate your daughter's 'thinking' about the game. If you continually do this ,she'll learn much more about the game and its nuances then what any coach with an 'A" license can give your daughter.  This is how I ,as a kid, during my street soccer days in Amsterdam days learned about the game. We would talk 'shop' after playing about 4hours on saturday along the canal by 'skinny' bridge with the older players. Where do you see today any  kids after playing pickup soccer ( I wish) ,sit down, and talk the game, instead they go home and watch 'scooby doo' or whatever. You realize that pro-players today are so dumb and they need the coach to tell them where to go ,what to do. During a substitution, you see the assistant coach with an Ipad or note book telling the player what to do, where the go, INCREDIBLE. The players today were not stimulated when they were young, that's the problem...

Also for example , ask what makes Lavelle a good player as evading her opponent, notice what particular move she make (the turn away move). 



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frank schoon, February 25, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.
On a higher level, when watching LINDEY HORAN, here is where she could even improve her game. And that is she needs to take into account the 3rd man off the ball movement. That, I think is the next step. In other words ,whenever she receives the ball with her back facing downfield, who is open  that can make a run and one-touch it to. That is so difficult to defensively guard against because you don't know who the 3rd man could be... Of course that requires her teammates to think third man off the ball runs as well. A good centerforward needs to have that 3rd man thinking abilities as well, just study Van Persie when he played.

I would be embarrassed as a coach of the WNT to win games like they are doing. It is on the lowest common denominator of soccer. Our level of play can be so much better,  for right now it is comparable to those cheap Elvis Presley's paintings on black velour canvas. As a player, I couldn't be happy beating a team 6-0 or it could have been even 10-0.  Our women are whooping it up after every goal against lousy teams. I would rather have seen a 1-0 or a even tie with Argentina because we're working on improving the level of play, diminishing our Turbo, play with more thinking, employing 3rd man. Allow the Argentinians to come at us and thereby take advantage of the space they leave behind. But instead we just took it to them, high pressure, all Turbo and just get the goals.....I don't know about you guys, but I'm very disappointed in the further development of our women's team as far as improving our level
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Bob Ashpole replied, February 26, 2021 at 2:35 a.m.
Frank, on the celebrations and high scores, that is directly due to the players thinking that performance in these matches will determine who makes the 18-player Olympic roster. So nobody takes their foot off the gas. Unfortuneately that is the circumstance with most WNT game when substitues come on who want to win a starting job or even win another call up. The competition for minutes is so intense.

That is pretty good advice about watching Horan play. It would also work for coaches wanting to make the points with their players. The things you mention that she does right are fundamentals of the game which every field player needs to raise their level of play, not just midfielders.
R2 Dad replied, February 26, 2021 at 2:51 a.m.
Argentina is exactly the type of side where the USWNT should be practicing different strategies and tactics instead of running up the score. Yes, I'm disappointed with Vlatkos "new ideas" and "systems". I've been thinking the USMNT needs a South American coach. That would be a good idea for the ladies as well. The world is catching up.Once Spain/NL/Sweden grows a real striker who can finish, we will be wondering how come we're 4th looking up the table at these other nations.
frank schoon replied, February 26, 2021 at 9:53 a.m.
Bob, your contention is that performance is important factor in being picked for Olympic team is true. But performance in the US is usually measured, unfortunately, by the amount of sweat one produces when playing. That's is the problem, for a good soccer player like Horan's performance does not entail, the amount sweat, nor Turbo, but good, smart soccer. A good coach, you be capable knowing what good soccer is, the subtle intricate details produced by the player's involvement in the game. 

And it is true that subs like will not take their foot off the gas to be noticed, but that's has nothing to do with playing better soccer. I think the coach should have talked to the team as a whole and explain to his player what I sort of stated.




frank schoon replied, February 26, 2021 at 10:01 a.m.
R2, you're absolutely right.....We need to get a South American coach for our soccer and likewise for our girls. No, slight on the two present coaches but if we're going to change our approach to how to play our game , away from how we play, then it starts from the top. Wouldn't it be nice to hire Zico of Brazil ,lets say, and he brings along his technical staff from Brazil. Would that be better what we currently have, a coach who palyed second division ball as a centerfullback,obviously not a creative backround, along with his staff of laptop coaches and their Ipads....And same for the girls.  If we're going to change this is the first step...




Bob Ashpole replied, February 26, 2021 at 11:19 a.m.
Guys no way USSF is going to hire the type of coach you want or allow any coach to change the style of play for either US national team. The style of play is now dictated to the head coach by the USSF middle management. USSF doesn't want change, and works actively to prevent any change.

Vlatko A. was specifically picked to replace Jill Ellis because the players liked him and he was viewed as someone who would continue with the existing style of play. Meaning in Frank's words "turbo" soccer where the greatest praise of a player is "hard worker", not great skills and smart decison making.

What a sea change is going to require is one or more MLS teams to establish a winning reputation and fans by playing smart soccer. Arguably we have one: Atlanta. Or at least had one there. When someone dominates MLS through good soccer, only then will USSF and the rest of MLS pay attention. 

The soccer nations known for good soccer, are not uniform in the quality of soccer at all its clubs. If you look for it, you will find some not so good soccer too. The problem with the US is we don't have many examples of good soccer like the best soccer nations do.
Santiago 1314, February 25, 2021 at 10:25 p.m.
Oh Frank, You "Killing" The Thread With toooooooooo Long Posts... 
MHO; From other Thread;
"When I heard that the USwnt was Not Going to Kneel during USA National Anthem, I decided to "Tune Back IN"...  Only got to see from when it was 4-0... RUTHLESS.!!! ... I LOVED IT ... The Women Just kept POURING IT ON, Tackling HARD on Every Ball, until the Final Whistle Blew... USMNT.!?!?!? ... ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION.???? ... That's "American Exceptionalism" ... I don't care What they wear or say or Color their hair ... "JUST WIN BABY, WIN" ... and STAND AT ATTENTION FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.!!!"
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beautiful game replied, February 25, 2021 at 11:30 p.m.
Why are you so obsessed about "kneeling" at every posting.
As for ...ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION.???? ... That's "American Exceptionalism" ... I don't care What they wear or say or Color their hair ... "JUST WIN BABY, WIN" and STAND AT ATTENTION FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.!!!"  The word exceptionalism is defined as "OUTSTANDING".  What was so exceptional in beating up a minnow...get a grip amigo. 
frank schoon replied, February 26, 2021 at 9:40 a.m.
Santiago, Amigo, You're right about the lengths. I don't have your expressive skills in English and therefore my posts can be a little longer  :) Bake away from it what you find interesting. 
Santiago 1314 replied, February 26, 2021 at 4:01 p.m.


1. @Beautiful Game... "Obsessed about Knelling " Because THE FLAG and The National Anthem ARE the Only Unifying THINGS Left in this Disjointed and Disintegrating Country,... Because; I Stood with my Hand Over my Heart during the Playing Of that Anthem, for USSF,  In Foreign Countries, where we were Warned; "There are People Out there, WHO WANT TO KILL YOU.!!!",... (Tanks on the Tarmac, Guardian National on your Hotel Floor, Bonfires in the Stadium, Pitch Invasion, Pissed On in the Banquillo, Food Poisoned in 2 Countries.. I could go On.!!!),,, But, Mainly Because, So Many Soldiers have DIED defending That Flag, INCLUDING MY SON, who was VERY Close in The Middle East, When those Missiles Landed on our Base in Iraq Recently...If you cant Stand because you don't Believe in the Country anymore, at LEAST do it for The Dead.!!!


Santiago 1314 replied, February 26, 2021 at 4:05 p.m.
Clarification... My Son did NOT Die, Ran that sentence together, but He is Willing to do that, So others can Kneel If they want.!!! ( That's LOVE for your Country.!!!)
Santiago 1314 replied, February 26, 2021 at 4:15 p.m.
Dear Frank... Hup Holland Hup.!!! Clockwork Orange '74 and Cruijff, Still The Standard against what we Measure soccer today 47 years Later.!!! Either we just a Couple of Old Farts, or The Rest Just Don't Get it.!!!
Santiago 1314 replied, February 26, 2021 at 4:18 p.m.
@Beautiful... Do you Know, HOW HARD IT IS, to. Play with such INTENSITY against a Weak Opponent for 90+ minutes.???  ... YES, I Call that EXCEPTIONAL and OUTSTANDING.!!!
frank schoon, February 26, 2021 at 4:59 p.m.
Santiago, Good answer, 'The rest just don't get it'!!!!
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