GOAAAAAAAAL!!!!!!!!!
- Thread starter Michael.Felli
- Start date
nice to get a win, but it wasn't pretty.
the 2 yellow cards to Holliday and Rapino will hurt, as they are the 2nd that each has gotten in the WC, and as such each will have to sit in the next game. (FWIW, I thought Rapino's card was questionable.)
Wambach missing the PK was a surprise. Just bad technique, which you don't expect from a veteran (and the all-time leader in international goals).
The offense had some nice movement after Columbia's goalie got the red card, but even being up a player the USA offense did not look as crisp or as formidable as a fan would hope. (FWIW, the red card was legit. The positioning on the foul -- whether it warranted a PK or a DK just outside the box -- could be argued either way. The AR was shielded on the play, and as such could not provide input. The Center was trailing on the play, and as such not in great position to determine whether the foul occurred inside the penalty area or just outside of it. I watched it a bunch of times on replay, and could see it being called either way.)
There are some legitimate questions about the US's formation. Tony DiCicco mentioned several times during the broadcast (and in earlier broadcasts) that he felt the US should be playing a 4-3-3, instead of the 4-4-2 they have played throughout the World Cup. It will be interesting to see if they make such a switch with their missing 2 of their starting middies in Friday's match against China.
the 2 yellow cards to Holliday and Rapino will hurt, as they are the 2nd that each has gotten in the WC, and as such each will have to sit in the next game. (FWIW, I thought Rapino's card was questionable.)
Wambach missing the PK was a surprise. Just bad technique, which you don't expect from a veteran (and the all-time leader in international goals).
The offense had some nice movement after Columbia's goalie got the red card, but even being up a player the USA offense did not look as crisp or as formidable as a fan would hope. (FWIW, the red card was legit. The positioning on the foul -- whether it warranted a PK or a DK just outside the box -- could be argued either way. The AR was shielded on the play, and as such could not provide input. The Center was trailing on the play, and as such not in great position to determine whether the foul occurred inside the penalty area or just outside of it. I watched it a bunch of times on replay, and could see it being called either way.)
There are some legitimate questions about the US's formation. Tony DiCicco mentioned several times during the broadcast (and in earlier broadcasts) that he felt the US should be playing a 4-3-3, instead of the 4-4-2 they have played throughout the World Cup. It will be interesting to see if they make such a switch with their missing 2 of their starting middies in Friday's match against China.
The ref was terrible.
The announcer must have mentioned the 4-3-3 ten times in the second half alone
The announcer must have mentioned the 4-3-3 ten times in the second half alone
The announcer, Tony DiCicco, is one of the greatest women's soccer coaches of all time. He knows what he is taking about. He did not advocate for a 4-3-3 but rather a 3 front. DiCicco's favored formation was a 3-4-3.
The U.S. is totally suited to play a 3 front with all of the speed we have on the roster. However, Ellis has no tactical clue and feels the need to pander to a 35 year old Wambach. If something doesn't radically change we are going to get waffled by Germany.
He was right too as outside of Megan R the midfield play shows no real creativity at all.
I've watched all of the USA games and several others and there are at least three teams (Germany, Japan and France) that would have no problem beating the US women. Their defense has played very well, but their opponents have scored a combined 17 goals in 15 games. Not exactly offensive juggernauts. They should squeeze by China (maybe), but with their pea-shooter offense never out score Germany (or even France if they pull a big upset).
Agree with all of that. This kick it long to Abby's head offense isn't working out right now. Rapinoe seems like the only midfielder that is will to try and create even though she forces that sometimes. When you second most creative player is your left back over the course of 4 games, there are some issues. DiCicco is annoying as hell, but I think he too is frustrated with the play of this team so far. Johnston and the other back 3 have been great, but nothing in front of them outside of Rapinoe have played even slightly above average.
