USWNT Plays 2 Biggies

[meyers7]

Strange that more was not made of Abby Dahlkemper's last minute scratch. Abby plays on the back right side where Kelley O'Hara was playing last night. She played the most minutes of any team member last season and is regarded by many (inc, me) as one of the best defensive backs in the world. Abby also has an amazing long ball, which she generally delivers right on target--a real offensive weapon.
You have to calculate Dahlkemper's absence when citing breakdowns on the back line. O'Hara could be and was beaten by the Swedes. Kelley isn't the player she was (age+injuries), and stalwart Becky Sauerbrunn is also nearing the end of her career.
Coach Valtko was experimenting last night; he didn't start all of his best players. France on Tuesday will be interesting, too.

Ummm Dahlkemper doesn't normally play RB. I don't remember her ever playing there. She plays CB. Davidson was her replacement.

O'Hara is still probably the best RB we have. Although they have been trying to convert Purce to RB for the NT.

 

[huskyd]

Ummm Dahlkemper doesn't normally play RB. I don't remember her ever playing there. She plays CB. Davidson was her replacement.

O'Hara is still probably the best RB we have. Although they have been trying to convert Purce to RB for the NT.

You're correct that Abby is designated as the CB. If memory holds (and it frequently abandons me at critical moments like these), Dahl is right footed and has played mostly on the right side at the back. O'Hara also plays on the right side, but advances into the offense; Abby stays back for the most part, distributing with long balls.
Designations have changed since I played soccer in the 60's. I was, for example, a "right wing"; right side defenders were "fullbacks." We're talking leather helmet days.
Anyway, my point was that a key defender was absent vs the Swedes. Didn't help.

 

[meyers7]

You're correct that Abby is designated as the CB. If memory holds (and it frequently abandons me at critical moments like these), Dahl is right footed and has played mostly on the right side at the back. O'Hara also plays on the right side, but advances into the offense; Abby stays back for the most part, distributing with long balls.
Designations have changed since I played soccer in the 60's. I was, for example, a "right wing"; right side defenders were "fullbacks." We're talking leather helmet days.
Anyway, my point was that a key defender was absent vs the Swedes. Didn't help.

True. Dahlkemper usually plays RCB with Sauerbrunn as LCB. When Davidson comes in (she's predominately left footed - can back up Dunn at LB), Sauerbrunn moves over to RCB while Davidson plays LCB. I don't think you lose a lot defensively with Sauerbrunn vs Dahlkemper at the RCB position. I do think you lose a bit more defensively with Davidson at LCB than Sauerbrunn. Offensively I think Dahlkemper and Davidson are better passers than Sauerbrunn. They will eventually be the CB pairing when Sauerbrunn steps down. But she's probably got a couple more years left. (Although Pierce/Rampone played til she was 40)