u-20 WWC

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Fair point

not really because the competition is charging just as much.

[Unregistered]

not really because the competition is charging just as much.

Fair point.

In the immortal words of Sam Malone, "I guess I could go either way on this one, Bob".

[Unregistered]

not really because the competition is charging just as much.

If the competition is charging just as much and the customers are choosing the competition, that means the customers want to buy what the competition is selling.

Compete with something better or cheaper or have a special offer with coupons. Figure out a way to get the customers.

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What I saw

Usa vs Spain
Usa outplayed most of game
Good job not giving up after being down 2-0 late in game
Bad coaching but even worse player identification
Other than Smith and Kim (who did not start), the team looked average all around

Player review
19 Gilroy couple good moves but couldn’t finish good speed though and has potential
9 Sophia smith by far the best player on the US team amazing speed
13 Kiara Pickett short, not enough speed was exposed by the Spanish and nothing special with ball no idea why she’s on this team and playing so much
18 Jaelin Howell willing to mix it up will be aggressive but her speed is only average and not really an offensive threat
2 Ashley Sanchez vastly overrated rarely steals the ball speed is average nothing special in fact loses the ball with bad passes and doesn’t contribute much on attack stands around too much
Laurel Ivory Goalie average play but wiffed on catching a ball right to her and passed ball to Spain in front of goal with one minute to play lucky didn’t give up another goal
4 Girma defender mostly solid
11 Villanova didn’t stand out made terrible corner kicks
6 Sam Hiatt decent defender but only average speed
10 Demelo opportunistic player decent instincts average speed
14 Rodriguez never did anything nothing special
19 Abigail Kim for Sanchez was an improvement. Kim has good speed but dribbling is wild. Should be starting.
8 Brianna Pinto for Howell
foot skills looked weak dribbling right to the other team good shot on one chance
6 Penelope Hocking for Rodriguez several fouls and bad passes deserves being on bench

[Unregistered]

if Smith is "by far the best player on the US team" then we have issues ..

[Unregistered]

Usa vs Spain
Usa outplayed most of game
Good job not giving up after being down 2-0 late in game
Bad coaching but even worse player identification
Other than Smith and Kim (who did not start), the team looked average all around

Player review
19 Gilroy couple good moves but couldn’t finish good speed though and has potential
9 Sophia smith by far the best player on the US team amazing speed
13 Kiara Pickett short, not enough speed was exposed by the Spanish and nothing special with ball no idea why she’s on this team and playing so much
18 Jaelin Howell willing to mix it up will be aggressive but her speed is only average and not really an offensive threat
2 Ashley Sanchez vastly overrated rarely steals the ball speed is average nothing special in fact loses the ball with bad passes and doesn’t contribute much on attack stands around too much
Laurel Ivory Goalie average play but wiffed on catching a ball right to her and passed ball to Spain in front of goal with one minute to play lucky didn’t give up another goal
4 Girma defender mostly solid
11 Villanova didn’t stand out made terrible corner kicks
6 Sam Hiatt decent defender but only average speed
10 Demelo opportunistic player decent instincts average speed
14 Rodriguez never did anything nothing special
19 Abigail Kim for Sanchez was an improvement. Kim has good speed but dribbling is wild. Should be starting.
8 Brianna Pinto for Howell
foot skills looked weak dribbling right to the other team good shot on one chance
6 Penelope Hocking for Rodriguez several fouls and bad passes deserves being on bench

Seems speed is your main focus. lot more to the game than that. Spain didnt have much and yet outplayed us for long stretches.

[Unregistered]

if Smith is "by far the best player on the US team" then we have issues ..

Agree, Smith plays like the selfish girl on my DU12 that doesn't know if she passes to other players they might actually pass it back.

[Unregistered]

Agree, Smith plays like the selfish girl on my DU12 that doesn't know if she passes to other players they might actually pass it back.

at times, I agree. she has talent, but too often she goes 1 vs 1,2 or 3 and loses the ball. Totally disconnects from teammates. An yet if it leads to a goal ( usually vs a poor team) we read how fantastic she is.

its a big part of the problem for me. We reward the outcome, not the process

[Unregistered]

Seems speed is your main focus. lot more to the game than that. Spain didnt have much and yet outplayed us for long stretches.

Agreed. Of course there is a lot more to the game. I hate that everyone thinks speed is not important. Other important aspects are team tactics, teamwork, team philosophy, and playing to your strengths. But Individually, speed helps cover a lot of problems. It would be great for USA players to have ALL the following skills...speed, footskills, anticipation, strength, vision, and heading ability. But sadly, very few do.

As an example, I don't think anyone got a head on a corner kick or cross the entire game... so I'd love to see players do that more. I saw a few corner kicks land behind the goalie, what a waste. I watched Spain burn past our right back at least 10 times so speed helps when you have it...or hurts when you don't.

Maybe all the players are the best the USA has and we just aren't as good as Spain in the "more to the game" department. Might as well give up then. But IMO, when Kim replaced Sanchez, at least we had a few chances to score. Watching this team flounder in possession was frustrating.

[Unregistered]

at times, I agree. she has talent, but too often she goes 1 vs 1,2 or 3 and loses the ball. Totally disconnects from teammates. An yet if it leads to a goal ( usually vs a poor team) we read how fantastic she is.

its a big part of the problem for me. We reward the outcome, not the process

I think coaching could be the problem. Forwards and Mids need to work together and take advantage of their combined skills. I watched Sanchez stand around the whole first half contributing nothing...no shots, steals, crosses, whatever. So either Sanchez doesn't want to hustle because she thinks Smith won't pass to her or Smith doesn't pass to her because Sanchez isn't hustling to open spots. Either way, they aren't working well together.

[Unregistered]

I think coaching could be the problem. Forwards and Mids need to work together and take advantage of their combined skills. I watched Sanchez stand around the whole first half contributing nothing...no shots, steals, crosses, whatever. So either Sanchez doesn't want to hustle because she thinks Smith won't pass to her or Smith doesn't pass to her because Sanchez isn't hustling to open spots. Either way, they aren't working well together.

You just described what happens on my D's U12 team. The rest of the girls stand around because they know the one player won't pass the ball to them. They make 4 or 5 runs and never receive the ball they eventually stop making those runs. It's 100% the coaches fault for allowing this to happen. The coach continues to reward ball hog because in practice she looks great dribbling and shooting when not contested. So surprised this can happen at the U20 NT level.

[Unregistered]

at times, I agree. she has talent, but too often she goes 1 vs 1,2 or 3 and loses the ball. Totally disconnects from teammates. An yet if it leads to a goal ( usually vs a poor team) we read how fantastic she is.

its a big part of the problem for me. We reward the outcome, not the process

What country do you live in?
US in all things applauds the finish...ends justify the means

Bigger part of the problem is the denigration of players-have you coached or played at these levels?

There are entire threads devoted on the 1 v numbers part of the game.
She was taught to do that. You are correct.
Game should be played with zero dribbling, except in open space.
Everyone disagrees

[Unregistered]

What country do you live in?
US in all things applauds the finish...ends justify the means

Bigger part of the problem is the denigration of players-have you coached or played at these levels?

There are entire threads devoted on the 1 v numbers part of the game.
She was taught to do that. You are correct.
Game should be played with zero dribbling, except in open space.
Everyone disagrees

"zero dribbling" is the dumbest thing I ever heard. Have you ever watched women play? Receiving a pass in close quarters is not that easy. Making a accurate pass when closely guarded is tough. Passing the ball in the air requires the head and chest to control the ball. Face it, most women avoid headers and many reluctantly head just to head in any random direction. This isn't the men's premier league here. VERY very few women head the ball with purpose. There aren't many Wambachs around. It is MUCH easier for a woman to beat an opponent 1on1 than to accurately pass to a covered teammate who can receive the pass and then beat her defender...which is still a 1v1 play...

Pass to an open teammate not a covered teammate and beat your defender 1v1 drawing a second defender and then passing to an open teammate is the best play. Not easy but 1v1 dribbling skills are crucial to create the 1v2 open pass.

[Unregistered]

What country do you live in?
US in all things applauds the finish...ends justify the means

Bigger part of the problem is the denigration of players-have you coached or played at these levels?

There are entire threads devoted on the 1 v numbers part of the game.
She was taught to do that. You are correct.
Game should be played with zero dribbling, except in open space.
Everyone disagrees

I dont really understand you reply ...sorry. the following I just dont get

1.Bigger part of the problem is the denigration of players
2.There are entire threads devoted on the 1 v numbers part of the game.
3.Everyone disagrees

[Unregistered]

If you want a real NT, then make it a competition. Coach A has first crack at assembling a team. Coach B is next in line and can use players cut from the pool or recruit from the outside. Coach C selects from remaining cut from player pool or outside.

Coach B plays coach C, winner moves on to play NT A for National Team rights at that age group.

Winner of National Team A and B = NT for that age group.

Why this is a better system
1. NT decision do not rest on 1 coach.
2. Players cut from national pool still have a chance to earn NT rights.
3. Politics is severely limited
4. There is accountability for coach's selections and performance
5. Soccer is about team, not individuals. Best team moves on.