Thoughts on the WWC? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Thoughts on the WWC?

Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
4,072
Reaction Score
7,943
Not arguing. You have supplied some data that I accept. But you should know that the piece notes back at that time it would have been unlikely that the WWC starters were on the pitch for much time if at all and their intensity likely lacked that of a meaningful match. The boys most likely played their tails off.

Nonetheless, we are in full agreement on this topic. But I am hoping that the WWC standard of play will pick up once the weak teams are eliminated and the real competition starts. Guessing that both Netherlands and the USA will look much sharper on Wednesday. That should be a pretty decent match.
 

shizzle787

King Shizzle DCCLXXXVII of the Cesspool
Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Messages
11,991
Reaction Score
18,510
Not arguing. You have supplied some data that I accept. But you should know that the piece notes back at that time it would have been unlikely that the WWC starters were on the pitch for much time if at all and their intensity likely lacked that of a meaningful match. The boys most likely played their tails off.

Nonetheless, we are in full agreement on this topic. But I am hoping that the WWC standard of play will pick up once the weak teams are eliminated and the real competition starts. Guessing that both Netherlands and the USA will look much sharper on Wednesday. That should be a pretty decent match.
If anything the boys took it easy.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
26,231
Reaction Score
31,835
Not arguing. You have supplied some data that I accept. But you should know that the piece notes back at that time it would have been unlikely that the WWC starters were on the pitch for much time if at all and their intensity likely lacked that of a meaningful match. The boys most likely played their tails off.

Nonetheless, we are in full agreement on this topic. But I am hoping that the WWC standard of play will pick up once the weak teams are eliminated and the real competition starts. Guessing that both Netherlands and the USA will look much sharper on Wednesday. That should be a pretty decent match.

It’s not even like this is a one off. The play U-15 teams fairly regularly.

It doesn’t even discredit the Women. It’s just biology.
 
Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
4,072
Reaction Score
7,943
It’s not even like this is a one off. The play U-15 teams fairly regularly.

It doesn’t even discredit the Women. It’s just biology.
The point is, that if the EPL is what you watch from time to time, if you don't even like MLS for various reasons, the standard of play in WWC drives you up the wall. I get that the pace and physicality cannot be high, but the skill level could be so much higher than it is. I see progress in quality of shots when not under pressure or not having to deal with awkward balls. But not much in other skills of the game. Maybe it will get better when the competition improves. Wednesday should be a yardstick.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
26,231
Reaction Score
31,835
The point is, that if the EPL is what you watch from time to time, if you don't even like MLS for various reasons, the standard of play in WWC drives you up the wall. I get that the pace and physicality cannot be high, but the skill level could be so much higher than it is. I see progress in quality of shots when not under pressure or not having to deal with awkward balls. But not much in other skills of the game. Maybe it will get better when the competition improves. Wednesday should be a yardstick.

The women are nicer to look at and their teamwork and technical ability is good too. It’s not really apples to apples.
 
Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
4,072
Reaction Score
7,943
The women are nicer to look at and their teamwork and technical ability is good too. It’s not really apples to apples.
Their teamwork needs a lot of work -- a lot of standing around and way too little one touch passing as a result. Their first touches need work, and they are unskilled in their dribbling. In general their work rate needs to increase. Other than that I would agree with you.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
29,349
Reaction Score
46,669
Their teamwork needs a lot of work -- a lot of standing around and way too little one touch passing as a result. Their first touches need work, and they are unskilled in their dribbling. In general their work rate needs to increase. Other than that I would agree with you.
I watched a highly skilled team of women play a bunch of athletes who played direct, long balls like the old English style, but they weren't very skilled. They easily mucked up the game with speed, athleticism and aggression.

This is the problem with the women's game. Not all these players are in highly competitive women's leagues. Why? Because the money is not there. They are not honing their skills the way the men do.

That's why when you get to the World Cup you might be shocked to see Jamaica or Haiti going toe-to-toe with France and England. They can still muck up a game, whereas the men's sides will counteract it easily.

So, I do see players who can drive in the women's game, highly skilled players who can do it effortlessly, but there are few women's teams out there who are complete enough to have sound tactics through the 11. Mallory Swanson, Rodman, Sophia Smith and Macario can all drive. But you see some deficiencies in their teammates, and the play breaks down.

I still think the US Women are on an upward trajectory. Some of the old guard like Rapinoe, O'Hara, Ertz and Morgan will be phased out for better players. Tobin Heath already has.

You can already see the improvement with players like Girma in the back. She is already the most talented CB I've ever seen for the USA. She is unseasoned and may make mistakes, but long term she is the best CB they've ever had.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
29,349
Reaction Score
46,669
If Spain didn't have so much controversy, I would pick them to win it all. They are the most talented team out there.
 
Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
4,072
Reaction Score
7,943
With one of their best players not on the squad,
I'll have to look it up. In a recent NYT article on all the turmoil in their program. Many of the top players signed a letter of no confidence in the coach. Everone was reinstated except her if I recall.

There is a later article than this.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
29,349
Reaction Score
46,669
I'll have to look it up. In a recent NYT article on all the turmoil in their program. Many of the top players signed a letter of no confidence in the coach. Everone was reinstated except her if I recall.

There is a later article than this.
I just read 3 of the top players were reinstated, while many of the 15 who were part of the strike, well, they were frozen out. They taught them a lesson. Apparently, there's a rift now between Barca and Real Madrid as most of the Real Madrid players are back on the team.
 
Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
4,072
Reaction Score
7,943
I just read 3 of the top players were reinstated, while many of the 15 who were part of the strike, well, they were frozen out. They taught them a lesson. Apparently, there's a rift now between Barca and Real Madrid as most of the Real Madrid players are back on the team.
This is the best I can do for now.
 
Joined
May 30, 2018
Messages
2,131
Reaction Score
5,972
Japan and Spain won easily today and advanced. I enjoy watching the WWC although many of you don't. Looking forward to the match tonight vs The Netherlands. I love watching the young talent on the squad especially Sophia Smith and Alyssa Thompson. Hopeful that Lavelle gets more time today as the team needs her.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
26,231
Reaction Score
31,835
Wow the USA is baaad. Nowhere near as talented as they used to be.

Oh well, maybe they will stop pounding us with Rapinoe commercials when Sweden pounds this team 6-0 in the round of 16.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
29,349
Reaction Score
46,669
Wow the USA is baaad. Nowhere near as talented as they used to be.

Oh well, maybe they will stop pounding us with Rapinoe commercials when Sweden pounds this team 6-0 in the round of 16.
The old players have lost their skills.

But the young players are super talented.

Girma is excellent. Demelo is the best with the ball at her feet, maybe better than Tobin Heath.

Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman are fast but they need a lot of seasoning.

When Macario and Swanson come back, this will be a very potent team. Fox, Huerta, Sanchez, and Thompson are young and up and coming.

I'd say they have the potential to be better than the team of the last several years.
 
Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
4,072
Reaction Score
7,943
Well, possession isn't everything. Lots of teams deliberately do not want to possess the ball. But USA was trying to possess the ball and could not. They were in a midfield block and got dominated there.
 
Joined
Mar 25, 2013
Messages
943
Reaction Score
3,348
horrible coaching last night - fresh legs could have made the difference I cannot understand why he only used the 1 sub. big questions on the starting XI as well - hopefully we see Rose start over DeMelo here on out. may want to play Ertz in her preferred position - sulli has not been up to speed
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
29,349
Reaction Score
46,669
Well, possession isn't everything. Lots of teams deliberately do not want to possess the ball. But USA was trying to possess the ball and could not. They were in a midfield block and got dominated there.
Hmm, I didn't see it this way. I thought they were just playing direct. I mean, I know Dunn and Sullivan had a horrible time making passes (and O'Hara and Rapinoe looked even worse last week). But mostly I saw people like Ertz and even Girma just sending it back in the air blindly.

Clearly, their strategy was to play direct.

I thought Rodman and Smith were poor making plays, but you could easily see how dangerous they are as Netherlands gave them plenty of room. They were just waiting for the mistake (smart).

I'm also wondering whether Smith has a left foot. She turned down easy crosses from the left, and on her break she took the ball inside as though she wanted to take the shot with her right. We might not have a LW on this team.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
29,349
Reaction Score
46,669
horrible coaching last night - fresh legs could have made the difference I cannot understand why he only used the 1 sub. big questions on the starting XI as well - hopefully we see Rose start over DeMelo here on out. may want to play Ertz in her preferred position - sulli has not been up to speed
I loved what Demelo gave us. I thought she was fantastic. I want to see her out there more. Maybe not at Lavelle's expense but Demelo is impressing me a lot.
 
Joined
May 27, 2014
Messages
2,837
Reaction Score
13,922
With the tie, it means last game vs Portugal and Netherlands’ game with Vietnam will be about who can score the most goals.

Netherlands needs to make up 3 but against Vietnam that shouldn’t be too hard. USA needs to beat Portugal by at least 2, imo, to win the group.
 

Online statistics

Members online
134
Guests online
2,000
Total visitors
2,134

Forum statistics

Threads
157,255
Messages
4,090,030
Members
9,983
Latest member
Darkbloom


Top Bottom