USWNT

LASTMAN14 said:
The experience of watching both teams was awesome. Funny but I found the warm-ups as interesting as the game. The warm-ups reflected each teams approach to the game. I liked how organized the USWNT were at the back. They were able to deter Japan room to be creative or get deep into their own half for most of the game. However, Japan was able to create some beautiful moments in front of the US goal. Overall Japan was not its productive self because of the US defense. Despite this Japan never deviated away from their game plan and I appreciated that. The US outside defenders also pushed deep into Japan's half and Julie Ertz (formerly Johnston) pushed up quite a bit in the first half. When the ball was pushed wide to either Pugh or Rapone they were able to spread Japan and create passing lanes directly to the goal, as well as dangerous opportunities. This was great because there was build up from the back to the forward line. Hope there is more of this kind of play. What I did not like was the long balls from the defense or the goalie deep into Japan's half. This happened far to many times. The US defenders would pass it around the back until a forward created space or a 1:1 situation and then the ball was sent forward. Yes, it did create one goal, but this will not work majority of the time. Overall fun game.
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A few long balls from the defense convinces the opponent that they must defend against that tactic.

And one goal is often enough to win at this level.
 
espola said:
A few long balls from the defense convinces the opponent that they must defend against that tactic.

And one goal is often enough to win at this level.
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Understand that but it was not one or two. It dominated there attack. Need to move away from that...
 
espola said:
Need to? Why?
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Stated that in my first post. Because it does not work. Example did not work against Australia and against Brazil. It's fine as an option, but not as the primary attack. Better example when the US lost to Sweden in the Olympics they tried to drop the ball over the Swedish defensive line.
 
NoGoal said:
The Japanese team is young and their style of soccer is built on rhythm. I saw glimpses of their superior passing in tight spaces trying to unlock the US defense. Give them 2 more years together.

IMO, if US WNT coaches were forming their team and if those Japanese players were US citizens. They wouldn't be called up...that's how different their player slection is compared to ours.
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NG I agree the Japanese team looked great in tight spaces and created chances in the first half such that the US 1-0 lead was fairly characterized as fragile. They are building towards a great team very young now but getting great experience that will pay off later.
 
NoGoal said:
It's the same line-up from the last 15 mins vs Brazil. Be nice, it's the direct soccer line-up. ;)
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Press and Rapinoe have combined for quite a number of goals in the last two games that they played together...I did not think of them as the kickball squad...I think they combined for at least 3 of the last 7 goals scored vs Brazil and Japan...and Rapinoe might have been involved in 4 or 5 of the last 7 goals.
 
LASTMAN14 said:
Stated that in my first post. Because it does not work. Example did not work against Australia and against Brazil. It's fine as an option, but not as the primary attack. Better example when the US lost to Sweden in the Olympics they tried to drop the ball over the Swedish defensive line.
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Two of the goals against Brazil were set up by long passes out of the back.
 
LASTMAN14 said:
What I did not like was the long balls from the defense or the goalie deep into Japan's half. This happened far to many times.
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This happened so many times with the keeper. I don't think she is a very good passer, thus tends to just use her leg and kick it far. On her line and diving she is top quality, coming out or playing sweeper keeper, I'd grade her very low. So often our defense would get a steal after about 10-15 passes by Japan, then they would clear it back to the keeper, who would just kick it deep and give Japan possession again. I think I yelled at the tv a few times over this.

I don't mind a few long balls from the defense or mids as I believe it opens up the middle of the field. Kind of like the deep pass in football opens up the short passing game. If Japan is pressing high, then going over the top can be a good thing. I seem to remember France beat the US 2-0 in Feb. due to balls over the top when the US was only using 3 backs.

OK, I was just thinking that 3 years ago I had never even watched a soccer game. WOW. So glad my daughter broke her arm and took up soccer. :)
 
socalkdg said:
This happened so many times with the keeper. I don't think she is a very good passer, thus tends to just use her leg and kick it far. On her line and diving she is top quality, coming out or playing sweeper keeper, I'd grade her very low. So often our defense would get a steal after about 10-15 passes by Japan, then they would clear it back to the keeper, who would just kick it deep and give Japan possession again. I think I yelled at the tv a few times over this.

I don't mind a few long balls from the defense or mids as I believe it opens up the middle of the field. Kind of like the deep pass in football opens up the short passing game. If Japan is pressing high, then going over the top can be a good thing. I seem to remember France beat the US 2-0 in Feb. due to balls over the top when the US was only using 3 backs.

OK, I was just thinking that 3 years ago I had never even watched a soccer game. WOW. So glad my daughter broke her arm and took up soccer. :)
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SCDG you make a great point...to build on your point, did you see the prior game US vs Brazil? On several occasions our dbacks would pass it back to our GK and she would blast it--out of bounds...
 
soccerobserver said:
SCDG you make a great point...to build on your point, did you see the prior game US vs Brazil? On several occasions our dbacks would pass it back to our GK and she would blast it--out of bounds...
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The keeper was horrid in that respect. It looked like she was rattled.
 
socalkdg said:
I don't mind a few long balls from the defense or mids as I believe it opens up the middle of the field. Kind of like the deep pass in football opens up the short passing game. If Japan is pressing high, then going over the top can be a good thing. I seem to remember France beat the US 2-0 in Feb. due to balls over the top when the US was only using 3 backs.
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You need to remove the "if." Japan was not just pressing high, there was often only 10-20 yards from their forwards to their back line, which was playing flat and as close to the halfway line as they could. Talk about compact. When the US tried to move the ball on the ground through this Japanese wall, they were quickly surrounded by 3-4 players and very susceptible to turning it over (which they did). We actually did a decent job at the start and the end of switching the field and playing balls through and over them (and up the line), which in the end is one of the better ways to deal with this defensive strategy.

It is a mystery why we did not play more long diagonal balls over and through them, becasue both Press and Pugh were blowing by the defense whenever we put a ball behind them.

Now our goalie play -- never thought I would miss Hope Solo so much.
 
I am watching the DEN vs NED final and it's already more energy, technical, pressing than anything I saw from USWNT. It's shocking
 
I agree- maybe I haven't had coffee but the pace just seems quicker. The USWNT walks and lumbers a lot- and their style has translated down to our girls. These teams don't stop- the pace is incredible
 
Striker17 said:
I am watching the DEN vs NED final and it's already more energy, technical, pressing than anything I saw from USWNT. It's shocking
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I just woke up and turned it on, so I haven't seen t he whole thing, but the first few minutes looked stodgy to me.
 
Striker17 said:
I am watching the DEN vs NED final and it's already more energy, technical, pressing than anything I saw from USWNT. It's shocking
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Is definately a good game. Interesting how they are both using a combination of build up and more direct, longer balls to create opportunities (i.e. 2nd and almost 3rd goal by DEN).

In defense of the US, Ellis was addmittedly in "tinker" mode with the line up. Definately would like to see an improvement in our ability to build up plays but if you look at the 3rd goal against Japan, there were a few gems in that build up that were encouraging to see.
 
Kicker4Life said:
Is definately a good game. Interesting how they are both using a combination of build up and more direct, longer balls to create opportunities (i.e. 2nd and almost 3rd goal by DEN).

In defense of the US, Ellis was addmittedly in "tinker" mode with the line up. Definately would like to see an improvement in our ability to build up plays but if you look at the 3rd goal against Japan, there were a few gems in that build up that were encouraging to see.
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Agree I mean let's get real without Heath and Lavelle their creativity is Rapinoe (who I love). The rest are not at that level
 
Striker17 said:
Agree I mean let's get real without Heath and Lavelle their creativity is Rapinoe (who I love). The rest are not at that level
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Don't forget about Kling. Nobody has outplayed her or shown they can replace her creativity and energy. We need Lavelle, Heath, Kling and Kreiger back on the pitch and this team plays completely different IMO.
 
Striker17 said:
Agree I mean let's get real without Heath and Lavelle their creativity is Rapinoe (who I love). The rest are not at that level
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I thought Press placed great balls to Rapinoe for two of Rapinoe's goals...Press was creative and smart the way she placed those balls for Rapinoe to finish...
 
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