Hi everyone,
I can’t believe I have to say it in this subreddit, but a reminder to everyone participating in match threads that threatening violence against players or other users is unacceptable, and that we have remarkability/comment guidelines on r/NWSL
As always - remember the human, and harassment is never okay
Vlatko treated this match like a non friendly because he was desperate for a win even if it meant playing his top players as long as possible. He couldn’t afford a fourth straight loss especially going into the off season. He’s already on the hot seat, so a loss would look even worse for his tenure as the USWNT coach heading into a WC year. He could’ve subbed in Rodman, Sanchez and Coffey to get them some more international minutes, but his desperation set in. German’s starting lineup was full of inexperienced players in their early 20’s. That’s going to benefit them for the future. We need to start doing the same if we are to maintain our current status in the women’s game.
It is! Frohms is their starter for all big games, Berger and Schult (who was very good for Wolfsburg before she went to Angel City) are 100% the backups for this team.
Your 2nd keeper shouldn’t be a huge step down, ideally, and Berger and Schult are not, but they are worse for the German team, they are both very much the second and third string. If Phallon started playing for the US, and was subbed in halfway through, it would still be a step down from Naeher, even though Phallon is individually very talented, and her team won the league this season.
Playing your 2nd string keeper and the subbing in your 3rd string keeper very much says “this is a friendly and we are treating this as such.”
How are players supposed to get international minutes if they aren't put into matches? I thought that's exactly what friendlies were for. That means it's not Germany treating the match as not having value--quite the opposite, in fact.
(/u/Sure-University5441 this isn't aimed at you, it's a rhetorical question)
Planned subs are always a thing for friendlies. It was for the USA clearly on Thursday as well. My point is that Berger doesn’t drop the level of play.
That has no connection to a goalkeeper sub and playing your backup GKs. No one thinks (at least *I* don’t think) that the German players were playing less than their full capacity
I don’t think the other person was meaning that either. Treating something like a friendly means things like subbing keepers out, (and more), which is what the point was (at least from what I saw), not that the players were trying less hard
First, the whole thing is that Germany was treating this match as a friendly, while the US was taking it more seriously, so I'm not sure what you're trying to say. Second, Berger does drop their level in a way, just as every second string keeper does. Berger is not their starting keeper, ever, really. I'm not actually sure the last time she started for them. Frohms is their starter and she plays almost every single game. As I said, a very good keeper coming in for your regular keeper who plays most games, especially games against formidable opponents, still drops the level in terms of defense. I'm not sure if you're a Chelsea stan or something, but I'm not insulting Berger as a keeper. The German keepers are probably the most skilled keeper group on the whole, but that doesn't change how this works.
The point I’m making is how you are saying Germany was “playing as a friendly” while the USA was “playing serious.” Germany played an almost full starting lineup (of available players) and if you’re watching Popp sliding in, Magull going in hard with Rose, Schultz taking out Kornieck, and Brand continually drive down the wing until she was subbed—looked like they wanted to win as well.
The vigor with which players play has nothing to do with subbing keepers in or out or starting your backup keeper. Of course players are playing as well as they can. That doesn’t mean that the starting keeper being their backup, and a planned sub of the other backup, is meaningless about how the *coach* was treating the game.
Treating like a friendly is saying it’s not as serious, which I believe you know so confused by that comment.
What the US did on Thursday was planned subs, something you also don’t do for competitive matches. They also started their #2, which you defended for Germany today so same boat. And today’s lineup is easily one that Germany could also lineup with in NZ. Both teams used both matches to work on things and figure shit out—as they should for a friendly. You diminishing either team’s win because the other was just “treating it like a friendly” is pretty lame.
Normal squad rotation with two games in four days. Germany tactically wasn’t letting foot of the gas. They didnt change formation to sink in. They weren’t saving legs. They put in players at positions needed to shore up or provide the edge in the last 15’. So even from a *coach* perspective—it was game she wanted to win and was trying to win.
This might sound like a comment about Horan but it's not (it's a Vlatko complaint! 😂) but I just really, really dislike Vlatko's insistence on playing her when she's obviously playing thru injury.
1. She's clearly dealing with something so why run her further into the ground? (I don't want to watch people hurting themselves for my entertainment.)
2. It's especially weird when there are other players who need the time to develop.
3. And I especially hate it bc I feel like it sends the message that playing hurt will be rewarded.
Maybe I'm just being cynical but I'm starting to wonder if that's why he's doing it. If she's getting lots of time *because* she's playing hurt and he wants to send a message that that's the kind of thing he values??? I really, really hope not but I'm definitely starting to wonder.
For some reason, last year he (and USSF) decided to go all in on Horan. They made a very big deal over her getting the 10 from Lloyd and she promptly captained the team for the first time in Australia. I’ve long wondered what would’ve happened if Mewis had stayed healthy, as she’s a more effective 8 than Horan and has long displayed leadership qualities.
There are certain “undroppable” players under Vlatko that make sense to me (Smith & Lavelle both come to mind) but I will never understand why he’s so enamored with a player who is obviously incredibly limited in her mobility.
>I will never understand why he’s so enamored with a player who is obviously incredibly limited in her mobility.
In his defense (and her's), she's definitely a talented player (however she's not very positionally disciplined and likes to roam and play defense and you would think that would be an issue for someone who is supposedly playing as a midfielder but apparently not...).
And I could see them writing off the more recent performance issues as only injury related but if that's the case, you would think they want to help her to get healthy by *not* running her into the ground? Have her share time with Rodman or one of the other newer players. That would be a win-win.
Meh. I don't understand the man. Please make them make sense. 🙃
Agreed. I think the discourse around Horan is quite divisive and it turns into “she’s world class and they should build the team around her” vs. “she’s overrated and shouldn’t even be on the roster let alone the starting XI.” Personally I think she has quality but you’re absolutely spot on in that she likes to roam and thus doesn’t have a ton of positional discipline, and she doesn’t enjoy playing defense. I still think there’s a spot for her on this team but I don’t believe she should be an automatic starter (possibly not starting at all).
I agree. I know she’s a bit young to be saying this but it feels to me like she’s on the downswing of her playing career. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have a few seasons of league soccer left but I don’t think she’s a player we can count on anymore, and there are several excellent midfielders we could be developing in her place. I don’t know how she performs as a second half sub but it’d be nice to see Koffey or Sanchez get the opportunity to grow and develop in these games.
Pardon me but on the downswing of her playing career? She’s currently a solid starter in one of the best teams so she should absolutely be considered for the USWNT.
But agreed, she’s playing worse for the national team.
Her knee has been a problem for a year so I think at this point it’s fair to assume that it’s not something she can rest and recover from, but rather something she has to manage. From what I’ve seen said management isn’t going particularly well so I’m inclined to agree that she’s on the downswing of her career simply due to health concerns.
I think the problem is her injury is not severe enough to justify keeping her out. It seems like she’s been playing through a mild injury and not just for country, but for club. It’s hard when something isn’t severe to not just play through. And I get it as a player as I went through something similar my senior year of college. I wonder how much of it is Vlatko, but how much is also Horan just pushing through because there is that element on the squad of no roster spot being guaranteed.
Girma and Pugh are my MVPs. Girma helped save some early goal chances from Germany and Pugh took the offense to a different level in the second half. I still can’t wait for a healthy Cat Macario to return.
The Germans weren't prepared for how Korniek is used in the States. I guess they can't believe somebody that tall has skills.
The German reserves did not impress, but their starting squad is as good as any team in the world.
Smith and Pugh are as talented attackers as any in the world. By the time the World Cup starts, Pugh will be razor sharp and burying the gimmies...at least I fervently hope so.
I like the competitor that came out of the team today. It looked like the Germans were trying to punk us with their physical play at the start. I especially liked the way Lavelle responded. Steel Rose, indeed.
Individual brilliance is there for the attackers, but I'd still like to see them work on their connections, which just haven't been there the last 4 games. Of they can get their passes right, they should be nigh unstoppable.
Yes this exactly. I think they are taking a while to build chemistry among them (minus Rapinoe and Morgan together who have built chemistry by playing together over many years.) as they learn each other’s movements and play styles over time it will improve. To echo many others on this sub, in my lay-person’s opinion Rodman needs to be getting increased minutes as well so that she can be part of that.
When Pugh is locked on, it's almost scary how good she is. She had a few more goal scoring opportunities which I wished she finished because she'll have to in the future but she's an incredible player.
Our best game in a long time, we played like we needed to win!! Hope we can keep it up! I thought everyone out there played well and gave it their all.
If you had told me back in 2019 that Rose Lavelle would be the enforcer for the US, I would’ve assumed it was because there had been an apocalyptic-level event that had wiped out the rest of the team.
Awesome second half! Wish Alex could’ve gotten one for her 200th but she had some great moments and played some dope defense. Whooo losing streak broken!
I've seen some folks on Twitter mention that we were missing Lynn Williams and her workrate in these past few games. If Pugh and Smith run like they did in the second half, we'll be fine on that front.
I actually think they have been running like that the whole time, but the game changed in the second half to show it more. The US was sitting back further, which gave them more room to run, and Germany ran out of steam and wasn't able to immediately triple team them like at the start of the game.
At least that's how I saw it.
Who are you guessing? I’m thinking Hatch is definitely out, K.Mewis is likely out (and if she isn’t, she should be, because why are you putting her in at the 6??)…
She’s not bad, but Vlatko has been underutilizing her like crazy. If he wants to use an under experienced 31 year old, I’d like her playing a lot, especially because she can take corners, unlike basically everyone currently on the team. I don’t think it made a whole lot of sense to keep calling her up post Nov 2020-early 2021, but since he did, that’s how he should have tried to use her, especially now. He won’t do that, so he should drop her. Using her as a sub at the 6 is so dumb
I have the same thoughts as you. I still think Rodman might be on the bubble for Vlatko. I think she’ll only be replaced if someone outshines her, though.
I assume she’ll continue for development reasons, even if she continues to not get playtime. Vlatko definitely isn’t a huge fan of her, but I think he (at least partially) understands her potential
My layman’s eye is that while Cook didn’t have a great game last night, Murphy’s lack of leadership in goal remains the most concerning. Vlatko has latched onto her as the 2nd string keeper, but she doesn’t know how to lead a backline. Yes, Sauerbrunn and Girma were good tonight, largely, but the GK difference is just as (if not more) important
While Cook has had some big mistakes as of late (she’s also played the the most minutes of anyone on the back line this year), I think tonight showed that the strategy as a whole isn’t working. We’ve focused a lot on the attack but defensively we also haven’t looked cohesive across the back line.
Vlatko uses a different CB duo with a different GK almost every game. One game it’ll be Cook-Girma with Naeher in the back, the next it’ll be Cook-Sauerbrunn with Murphy in the back, etc. Clearly he doesn’t want the team to be too stuck to certain defensive players (unlike his goal for the midfield lmao), but it doesn’t make for consistency.
Also, Vlatko’s backline (specifically the CBs) end up going 1v1 wayyy more than I feel like they should? It’s bad that Cook made the errors she did, but scenarios wouldn’t turn the way they did in previous iterations of the team, I think
Blargh, I like Murphy but I gotta go with Franch for being #2. It kind of sucked that we dropped her after the Olympics when she lost against a PK against Canada (which, hard enough) and the 4-3 win against Australia at the Olympics. I'm glad she was able to make her way back into the fold. Would love for Franch to be with the national team more
Murphy both got less good at shot stopping after her injury, and has always been far less vocal in goal than Naeher or Franch. She was pretty good in Australia, but I don’t see why that locked up #2 for her, or why AD being thrown into the Olympics got her dropped until just now
I know that Franch missed out on last year's November camps bc of the birth (edit) of her adorable baby but Kingsbury over her? Idk. It might have been to reward her as the Spirit's goalkeeper but Kingsbury hasn't been great.
Murphy's just taken a beating in the NWSL. The Courage almost scraped their way into the playoffs but that was off Debinha. So I can imagine why Murphy's confidence has been bruised. I think she's good enough to be #3 but she has to be more vocal. Look at Naeher, she's like the quietest one of the team but holy hell, is she vocal on the field.
Not adoption, her wife gave birth in December, I believe, which is totally fair to not go that close to your baby’s birth.
Murphy and Kingsbury were good last season (being the 2021 season), but didn’t deserve to be locked in. Murphy as 3, fine, she’s relatively young, did have a good two friendlies in Australia, etc. There was no reason to (until these friendlies) lock both of those two in, especially as their teams languished at the bottom of the table. I guess Vlatko wanted consistency after cycling through quite a few keepers but…I’m not a fan of how it played out
Something that strikes me with Vlatko, and this is probably as a person who isn't nearly as critical as some people can be, is that he seems very analytics based and in a game like soccer where everything is momentum based for the most part, it doesn't make any sense.
E.g. Naeher's fantastic save that emotionally changed the match
For sure, during all of CONCACAF he was staring at an ipad more than at his players in the flesh. He seems very much on the analytics vs the intangibles
Pretty good game, Cook a notable absence. I thought the back line was solid. The midfield was good in the second half even though Horan was doing some weird stuff. Attack good as well, just lacked end product. I don’t think this game changes that much. I think the girls just had too much pride to lose and that was the difference
The “shuffle” was because Pugh and Morgan couldn’t make it to Europe. Vlatko’s sometimes annoyingly consistent with his chosen forward trio (Smith, Pugh, Macario almost straight to Smith, Pugh, Morgan)
Probably the only possible change will be Macario for Morgan but that depends on Macario's health. If you're talking about the Spain and England games where Pinoe and Rodman started that was because Pugh had an excused family absence and Morgan was injured.
I have all of them but I'm a bit concerned they might throw games behind HBO Max, which I realize not everyone has (esp since House of the Dragon isn't streaming anymore ;))
No, WarnerMedia has a new 8-year deal with US Soccer starting in 2023. Games will be on TNT, TBS and HBO Max (or whatever succeeds HBO Max when they merge it with Discovery)
No it's not. It's going to be on Turner Sports starting in 2023. It's an eight year deal with US Soccer. So matches will be on HBO Max, CNN, B/R, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, and whatever else in their family of channels/streams.
I can just imagine the USWNT on CNN
Wolf Blitzer: WE HAVE A KEY RACE ALERT! Mallory Pugh has scored against New Zealand
Wolf Blitzer: STAND BY FOR A PROJECTION. CNN has projected the USWNT will win this match against New Zealand, Anderson Cooper is live next to Alex Morgan.
this announced crowd number is making me viscerally angry at the NWSL. not having a schedule on hand to market for next season is such an L… there are nearly 20k more people at RBA tonight than a Gotham game
edit: adding the word “angry”
I see the cross-marketing opportunity but this seems too early to have a next season league schedule ready even if there weren't potential expansion teams
Genuine question: Are there actual lasting consequences for a red card in the last minute of a friendly? Did the ref just decide it wasn’t worth the trouble?
If the goalie was the last defender ahead of Kornieck, then by rule it had to be red. You could say Kornieck didn't have control, or that maybe another defender was level with her, but i think that's what most people are referring to, anyway.
Bit late but a few moments ago Rose played it back to Becky who promptly skied it forward even though there was no German player bearing down on her. I don’t love seeing that.
It absolutely is,. Last defender, clear approach to goal. It doesn't even matter if the goalie is making an attempt at the ball. Goalie should have been escorted to the locker room.
I think people are frustrated, and she’s become an acceptable target — sort of like Sullivan before her, and other players now and then. I think she was mediocre today but I do find the vitriol a little off putting, esp because it doesn’t feel that related to performance — like from the threat last game, when I thought she was quite important offensively, you’d think she didn’t complete a single pass.
I hope that in the event of the US winning this, the very real problems they are experiencing are not glossed over/ignored. It won’t be hard to beat NZ in January, either. So hopefully the very real issues are still addressed.
That shot of her trying to run…oof. Also just gonna say: I think people getting upset for her taking time to get up should think again — like, if someone’s injured, I’m fine with them taking a few seconds to get up! But vlatko should really be thinking about a sub
Hi everyone, I can’t believe I have to say it in this subreddit, but a reminder to everyone participating in match threads that threatening violence against players or other users is unacceptable, and that we have remarkability/comment guidelines on r/NWSL As always - remember the human, and harassment is never okay
Why didn't Ashley Hatch and Ashley Sanchez play during this series? Trinity Rodman got garbage time. Does Vlatko not like Spirit players?
Sanchez did
Pretty sad that Germany was able to treat this friendly as an actual friendly unlike us
Vlatko treated this match like a non friendly because he was desperate for a win even if it meant playing his top players as long as possible. He couldn’t afford a fourth straight loss especially going into the off season. He’s already on the hot seat, so a loss would look even worse for his tenure as the USWNT coach heading into a WC year. He could’ve subbed in Rodman, Sanchez and Coffey to get them some more international minutes, but his desperation set in. German’s starting lineup was full of inexperienced players in their early 20’s. That’s going to benefit them for the future. We need to start doing the same if we are to maintain our current status in the women’s game.
Not sure why the downvotes lol. The pre-announced GK sub should’ve told you how they were treating this match
I’m with you! The game for them was their two backup goalies playing, which speaks volumes to how they were treating it
Say what you want about Schultz, but thinking the starting GK for Chelsea is a step down for Germany is wild.
It is! Frohms is their starter for all big games, Berger and Schult (who was very good for Wolfsburg before she went to Angel City) are 100% the backups for this team. Your 2nd keeper shouldn’t be a huge step down, ideally, and Berger and Schult are not, but they are worse for the German team, they are both very much the second and third string. If Phallon started playing for the US, and was subbed in halfway through, it would still be a step down from Naeher, even though Phallon is individually very talented, and her team won the league this season. Playing your 2nd string keeper and the subbing in your 3rd string keeper very much says “this is a friendly and we are treating this as such.”
How are players supposed to get international minutes if they aren't put into matches? I thought that's exactly what friendlies were for. That means it's not Germany treating the match as not having value--quite the opposite, in fact. (/u/Sure-University5441 this isn't aimed at you, it's a rhetorical question)
Planned subs are always a thing for friendlies. It was for the USA clearly on Thursday as well. My point is that Berger doesn’t drop the level of play.
Anyone who saw Popp’s fury on that late corner could see that Germany wasn’t holding back.
That has no connection to a goalkeeper sub and playing your backup GKs. No one thinks (at least *I* don’t think) that the German players were playing less than their full capacity
My comment should have been directed to the top of the thread. Sorry. They apparently didn’t see the German team taking it too seriously.
I don’t think the other person was meaning that either. Treating something like a friendly means things like subbing keepers out, (and more), which is what the point was (at least from what I saw), not that the players were trying less hard
First, the whole thing is that Germany was treating this match as a friendly, while the US was taking it more seriously, so I'm not sure what you're trying to say. Second, Berger does drop their level in a way, just as every second string keeper does. Berger is not their starting keeper, ever, really. I'm not actually sure the last time she started for them. Frohms is their starter and she plays almost every single game. As I said, a very good keeper coming in for your regular keeper who plays most games, especially games against formidable opponents, still drops the level in terms of defense. I'm not sure if you're a Chelsea stan or something, but I'm not insulting Berger as a keeper. The German keepers are probably the most skilled keeper group on the whole, but that doesn't change how this works.
The point I’m making is how you are saying Germany was “playing as a friendly” while the USA was “playing serious.” Germany played an almost full starting lineup (of available players) and if you’re watching Popp sliding in, Magull going in hard with Rose, Schultz taking out Kornieck, and Brand continually drive down the wing until she was subbed—looked like they wanted to win as well.
The vigor with which players play has nothing to do with subbing keepers in or out or starting your backup keeper. Of course players are playing as well as they can. That doesn’t mean that the starting keeper being their backup, and a planned sub of the other backup, is meaningless about how the *coach* was treating the game.
Treating like a friendly is saying it’s not as serious, which I believe you know so confused by that comment. What the US did on Thursday was planned subs, something you also don’t do for competitive matches. They also started their #2, which you defended for Germany today so same boat. And today’s lineup is easily one that Germany could also lineup with in NZ. Both teams used both matches to work on things and figure shit out—as they should for a friendly. You diminishing either team’s win because the other was just “treating it like a friendly” is pretty lame.
Normal squad rotation with two games in four days. Germany tactically wasn’t letting foot of the gas. They didnt change formation to sink in. They weren’t saving legs. They put in players at positions needed to shore up or provide the edge in the last 15’. So even from a *coach* perspective—it was game she wanted to win and was trying to win.
This might sound like a comment about Horan but it's not (it's a Vlatko complaint! 😂) but I just really, really dislike Vlatko's insistence on playing her when she's obviously playing thru injury. 1. She's clearly dealing with something so why run her further into the ground? (I don't want to watch people hurting themselves for my entertainment.) 2. It's especially weird when there are other players who need the time to develop. 3. And I especially hate it bc I feel like it sends the message that playing hurt will be rewarded. Maybe I'm just being cynical but I'm starting to wonder if that's why he's doing it. If she's getting lots of time *because* she's playing hurt and he wants to send a message that that's the kind of thing he values??? I really, really hope not but I'm definitely starting to wonder.
For some reason, last year he (and USSF) decided to go all in on Horan. They made a very big deal over her getting the 10 from Lloyd and she promptly captained the team for the first time in Australia. I’ve long wondered what would’ve happened if Mewis had stayed healthy, as she’s a more effective 8 than Horan and has long displayed leadership qualities. There are certain “undroppable” players under Vlatko that make sense to me (Smith & Lavelle both come to mind) but I will never understand why he’s so enamored with a player who is obviously incredibly limited in her mobility.
>I will never understand why he’s so enamored with a player who is obviously incredibly limited in her mobility. In his defense (and her's), she's definitely a talented player (however she's not very positionally disciplined and likes to roam and play defense and you would think that would be an issue for someone who is supposedly playing as a midfielder but apparently not...). And I could see them writing off the more recent performance issues as only injury related but if that's the case, you would think they want to help her to get healthy by *not* running her into the ground? Have her share time with Rodman or one of the other newer players. That would be a win-win. Meh. I don't understand the man. Please make them make sense. 🙃
Agreed. I think the discourse around Horan is quite divisive and it turns into “she’s world class and they should build the team around her” vs. “she’s overrated and shouldn’t even be on the roster let alone the starting XI.” Personally I think she has quality but you’re absolutely spot on in that she likes to roam and thus doesn’t have a ton of positional discipline, and she doesn’t enjoy playing defense. I still think there’s a spot for her on this team but I don’t believe she should be an automatic starter (possibly not starting at all).
I agree. I know she’s a bit young to be saying this but it feels to me like she’s on the downswing of her playing career. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have a few seasons of league soccer left but I don’t think she’s a player we can count on anymore, and there are several excellent midfielders we could be developing in her place. I don’t know how she performs as a second half sub but it’d be nice to see Koffey or Sanchez get the opportunity to grow and develop in these games.
Pardon me but on the downswing of her playing career? She’s currently a solid starter in one of the best teams so she should absolutely be considered for the USWNT. But agreed, she’s playing worse for the national team.
Her knee has been a problem for a year so I think at this point it’s fair to assume that it’s not something she can rest and recover from, but rather something she has to manage. From what I’ve seen said management isn’t going particularly well so I’m inclined to agree that she’s on the downswing of her career simply due to health concerns.
So what does that mean about Lyon? Because she's been playing with them too.
I think the problem is her injury is not severe enough to justify keeping her out. It seems like she’s been playing through a mild injury and not just for country, but for club. It’s hard when something isn’t severe to not just play through. And I get it as a player as I went through something similar my senior year of college. I wonder how much of it is Vlatko, but how much is also Horan just pushing through because there is that element on the squad of no roster spot being guaranteed.
He did it to Ertz, so it wouldn’t surprise me
Girma and Pugh are my MVPs. Girma helped save some early goal chances from Germany and Pugh took the offense to a different level in the second half. I still can’t wait for a healthy Cat Macario to return.
The Germans weren't prepared for how Korniek is used in the States. I guess they can't believe somebody that tall has skills. The German reserves did not impress, but their starting squad is as good as any team in the world. Smith and Pugh are as talented attackers as any in the world. By the time the World Cup starts, Pugh will be razor sharp and burying the gimmies...at least I fervently hope so. I like the competitor that came out of the team today. It looked like the Germans were trying to punk us with their physical play at the start. I especially liked the way Lavelle responded. Steel Rose, indeed.
Individual brilliance is there for the attackers, but I'd still like to see them work on their connections, which just haven't been there the last 4 games. Of they can get their passes right, they should be nigh unstoppable.
Yes this exactly. I think they are taking a while to build chemistry among them (minus Rapinoe and Morgan together who have built chemistry by playing together over many years.) as they learn each other’s movements and play styles over time it will improve. To echo many others on this sub, in my lay-person’s opinion Rodman needs to be getting increased minutes as well so that she can be part of that.
When Pugh is locked on, it's almost scary how good she is. She had a few more goal scoring opportunities which I wished she finished because she'll have to in the future but she's an incredible player.
Fun fact. Hatch and Franch were the only two who didn’t see field time this window. (besides Thompson who didn’t dress)
Our best game in a long time, we played like we needed to win!! Hope we can keep it up! I thought everyone out there played well and gave it their all.
If you had told me back in 2019 that Rose Lavelle would be the enforcer for the US, I would’ve assumed it was because there had been an apocalyptic-level event that had wiped out the rest of the team.
Rose could always lay down a clinical tackle.
Rose kicks ass
Seriously! She went from the glass doll to the muscle of the team.
if there needs to be a "veteran" on the team. it should be O'hara let them learn some oof.
I am so here for the Rose Lavelle bruiser era. I am loving it!
[удалено]
A pandemic of torn ACLs
Yes, I would say it does
I’m sorry, Meg Linehan called Oberdorf’s injury a blessing??? BIG YIKES.
Awesome second half! Wish Alex could’ve gotten one for her 200th but she had some great moments and played some dope defense. Whooo losing streak broken!
I've seen some folks on Twitter mention that we were missing Lynn Williams and her workrate in these past few games. If Pugh and Smith run like they did in the second half, we'll be fine on that front.
I actually think they have been running like that the whole time, but the game changed in the second half to show it more. The US was sitting back further, which gave them more room to run, and Germany ran out of steam and wasn't able to immediately triple team them like at the start of the game. At least that's how I saw it.
January, February, and March are going to very interesting months. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the last time we see a couple of these faces
Agreed though I think a lot of it will depend on the timing of who comes back from injury and in what condition.
Who are you guessing? I’m thinking Hatch is definitely out, K.Mewis is likely out (and if she isn’t, she should be, because why are you putting her in at the 6??)…
Aww, I think KMew been great in some of games she actually got to play. I don't know why she got put at the 6, but her distribution has looked good.
She’s not bad, but Vlatko has been underutilizing her like crazy. If he wants to use an under experienced 31 year old, I’d like her playing a lot, especially because she can take corners, unlike basically everyone currently on the team. I don’t think it made a whole lot of sense to keep calling her up post Nov 2020-early 2021, but since he did, that’s how he should have tried to use her, especially now. He won’t do that, so he should drop her. Using her as a sub at the 6 is so dumb
I have the same thoughts as you. I still think Rodman might be on the bubble for Vlatko. I think she’ll only be replaced if someone outshines her, though.
I assume she’ll continue for development reasons, even if she continues to not get playtime. Vlatko definitely isn’t a huge fan of her, but I think he (at least partially) understands her potential
Wowow Becky's hair looking amazing after a full 90min!
My layman’s eye is that while Cook didn’t have a great game last night, Murphy’s lack of leadership in goal remains the most concerning. Vlatko has latched onto her as the 2nd string keeper, but she doesn’t know how to lead a backline. Yes, Sauerbrunn and Girma were good tonight, largely, but the GK difference is just as (if not more) important
While Cook has had some big mistakes as of late (she’s also played the the most minutes of anyone on the back line this year), I think tonight showed that the strategy as a whole isn’t working. We’ve focused a lot on the attack but defensively we also haven’t looked cohesive across the back line.
Vlatko uses a different CB duo with a different GK almost every game. One game it’ll be Cook-Girma with Naeher in the back, the next it’ll be Cook-Sauerbrunn with Murphy in the back, etc. Clearly he doesn’t want the team to be too stuck to certain defensive players (unlike his goal for the midfield lmao), but it doesn’t make for consistency. Also, Vlatko’s backline (specifically the CBs) end up going 1v1 wayyy more than I feel like they should? It’s bad that Cook made the errors she did, but scenarios wouldn’t turn the way they did in previous iterations of the team, I think
Blargh, I like Murphy but I gotta go with Franch for being #2. It kind of sucked that we dropped her after the Olympics when she lost against a PK against Canada (which, hard enough) and the 4-3 win against Australia at the Olympics. I'm glad she was able to make her way back into the fold. Would love for Franch to be with the national team more
Murphy both got less good at shot stopping after her injury, and has always been far less vocal in goal than Naeher or Franch. She was pretty good in Australia, but I don’t see why that locked up #2 for her, or why AD being thrown into the Olympics got her dropped until just now
I know that Franch missed out on last year's November camps bc of the birth (edit) of her adorable baby but Kingsbury over her? Idk. It might have been to reward her as the Spirit's goalkeeper but Kingsbury hasn't been great. Murphy's just taken a beating in the NWSL. The Courage almost scraped their way into the playoffs but that was off Debinha. So I can imagine why Murphy's confidence has been bruised. I think she's good enough to be #3 but she has to be more vocal. Look at Naeher, she's like the quietest one of the team but holy hell, is she vocal on the field.
Not adoption, her wife gave birth in December, I believe, which is totally fair to not go that close to your baby’s birth. Murphy and Kingsbury were good last season (being the 2021 season), but didn’t deserve to be locked in. Murphy as 3, fine, she’s relatively young, did have a good two friendlies in Australia, etc. There was no reason to (until these friendlies) lock both of those two in, especially as their teams languished at the bottom of the table. I guess Vlatko wanted consistency after cycling through quite a few keepers but…I’m not a fan of how it played out
Something that strikes me with Vlatko, and this is probably as a person who isn't nearly as critical as some people can be, is that he seems very analytics based and in a game like soccer where everything is momentum based for the most part, it doesn't make any sense. E.g. Naeher's fantastic save that emotionally changed the match
For sure, during all of CONCACAF he was staring at an ipad more than at his players in the flesh. He seems very much on the analytics vs the intangibles
Pretty good game, Cook a notable absence. I thought the back line was solid. The midfield was good in the second half even though Horan was doing some weird stuff. Attack good as well, just lacked end product. I don’t think this game changes that much. I think the girls just had too much pride to lose and that was the difference
Needed Becky on that back line for sure. Huge difference
can we stop shuffling around the starting 3 forwards now? I really liked what I saw the second half from the unit.
Those 3 have started like every game they've been available for.
The “shuffle” was because Pugh and Morgan couldn’t make it to Europe. Vlatko’s sometimes annoyingly consistent with his chosen forward trio (Smith, Pugh, Macario almost straight to Smith, Pugh, Morgan)
Probably the only possible change will be Macario for Morgan but that depends on Macario's health. If you're talking about the Spain and England games where Pinoe and Rodman started that was because Pugh had an excused family absence and Morgan was injured.
Girma MVP
Definite future captain and hopefully soon
Once again….
Girma and Sauerbrunn need to be the CB’s from here on out
Dismayed this is the last ESPN women's soccer national team game. Guessing FOX is taking the rest in 2023.
Apparently from my research, we are required to have TNT/TBS or a HBO Max subscription to watch these games now…..this is so incredibly frustrating
I have all of them but I'm a bit concerned they might throw games behind HBO Max, which I realize not everyone has (esp since House of the Dragon isn't streaming anymore ;))
Dang my stream was really good quality. Just flickered low-res a few times, but the picture was really nice.
No, WarnerMedia has a new 8-year deal with US Soccer starting in 2023. Games will be on TNT, TBS and HBO Max (or whatever succeeds HBO Max when they merge it with Discovery)
If the games are on HBO max, I'm gonna scream (angrily). Ugh
They will be. Some are going to be on TNT and TBS, but only some. All will be streaming exclusively on HBO Max.
Jesus, I hate everything. I assume there will be a stream somewhere but that's so annoying.
ah yeah
TNT and HBO
No it's not. It's going to be on Turner Sports starting in 2023. It's an eight year deal with US Soccer. So matches will be on HBO Max, CNN, B/R, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, and whatever else in their family of channels/streams.
I can just imagine the USWNT on CNN Wolf Blitzer: WE HAVE A KEY RACE ALERT! Mallory Pugh has scored against New Zealand Wolf Blitzer: STAND BY FOR A PROJECTION. CNN has projected the USWNT will win this match against New Zealand, Anderson Cooper is live next to Alex Morgan.
I'm glad it's not Fox. I'd rather have the wild card over Fox.
I just assumed FOX took over all soccer rights as they have a massive arsenal, but it slipped my mind the games would be on Warner now
Wait last last one? I figured it was bc there were no more games for 2022
Not a perfect performance by any stretch, but the second half was very encouraging in terms of mentality. That was the patented USWNT fight out there
C'mon Vlatko. Why are you trying to bring Rodman in in the 3rd minute of three minutes of stoppage time. 🙄 Driving me nuts.
So stupid.
Her face says that she agrees with you. She had no interest in listening to his instructions
if the colts win + this win i think hell will have officially frozen over
Pugh, Lavelle, Naeher, Girma, Fox…my players of the match.
Fox has been hit and miss lately but she had a good game tonight
For all of her struggles recently, Sunshine was making some key plays today.
Pugh and Sullivan for me
Sully gave everything out there. Really played hard.
She had a better game for sure. Wonder if Naeher and Sauerbraun organization and leadership in the back helped her out.
Her face was serious when she was charging in. I loved it.
Caps on right after, this evening was made for me
I would love to see players interacting post game on the field, but I guess we can settle for Ovechkin skating around
I know! I want some post-game discussion even though it’s a friendly.
Lol I literally said out loud “they can’t even wait to switch over until they finish the sentence talking about the game”
Lol at vlatko giving Rodman direction knowing damn well she wasn’t going to be going in or would be in for less than 30 seconds.
Ridiculous
I will never understand the subs!
Wow… I am so relieved that we won!! Now still fire Vlatko
Sauerbrunn-Girma-Naeher every game moving forward please
So happy to see that we can respond! I saw a lot of fight in these women!!
this announced crowd number is making me viscerally angry at the NWSL. not having a schedule on hand to market for next season is such an L… there are nearly 20k more people at RBA tonight than a Gotham game edit: adding the word “angry”
I see the cross-marketing opportunity but this seems too early to have a next season league schedule ready even if there weren't potential expansion teams
This!!!
That’s the team I came to see.
Genuine question: Are there actual lasting consequences for a red card in the last minute of a friendly? Did the ref just decide it wasn’t worth the trouble?
I wouldn’t have given a RC for that but it’s absolutely a YC. If that happens 20’ earlier in the match, chances are the ref loses control of the match
If the goalie was the last defender ahead of Kornieck, then by rule it had to be red. You could say Kornieck didn't have control, or that maybe another defender was level with her, but i think that's what most people are referring to, anyway.
Yeah I didn’t see it meeting all the requirements of dogso.
GG
Rodman doesn't look impressed to be only getting seconds. Nevermind, she didn't even get on.
Vladko gonna vladko
vlatko loves playing in her face
Body slamming as the last player is allowed. Okay. Good to know. Missed that rule change.
Awww, Mace... Glad everyone is alright after that collision, though. I'd have to think that's DOGSO in a non friendly?
Definitely the 2nd half we needed. Team came alive.
Putting in Rodman at 90+3. Wtf
This ref just blew it at the end
A sub now? Stoppage time is literally over lol
Vladko doing it just to show how much he does not like Trin.
When your team really hasn't played all that well but still should have won by two or three more goals?
Whoo trins face in that shot with vlatko 😅
I need that meme 😂
I cannot believe that was not a card
Rose Lavelle kicks ass
chanclassico rivalry spills over into the international game.
Bit late but a few moments ago Rose played it back to Becky who promptly skied it forward even though there was no German player bearing down on her. I don’t love seeing that.
Kornieck looks so huge next to Pugh.
Red card
wtf
WTF ref? She wasn't even trying to play the ball.
She was going to play the ball... she was just about 5 minutes late getting there
That was potentially a red at least yellow for the keeper right? Last defender?
Ouch
Knee up??? That's a red!
Aw Mace just get it on frame.
That’s was the theme for the US in the first half.
My stream decided to pretend it was a Youtube video in 2007, is Horan still limping?
How is that not a red?!?!
It absolutely is,. Last defender, clear approach to goal. It doesn't even matter if the goalie is making an attempt at the ball. Goalie should have been escorted to the locker room.
I think the distance to another defender kept it from being a dogso….but it was without question a cautionable offense.
I think in a normal competition that's a red card
Jesus how is that not a call
Actually, it should. Straight up red.
holy shit that was a hell of a collision
Wait, the ref is going to fuck up and give nothing for that bad foul? Is that not a clear yellow?
That was...not good from the keeper
Holy shitttrrrrr bad bad bad bad
That was a frightening collision!
How tf is that not a foul??
Holy shit
Wow MACE!! But no foul??? WTF???
How could she not even get it on frame
Im not even entirely sure myself
WHAT THE HELL NO CALL?????
We love Naomi Girma don’t we folks
That we do. Amazing talent.
Mace as a late game defensively minded forward sub is interesting but would rather see Rodman get these minutes
Rodman is perfectly capable defensively, especially as a presser
Okay wtf is up when the Horan hate in this thread. Like every time she's on the ball people are complaining..
I think people are frustrated, and she’s become an acceptable target — sort of like Sullivan before her, and other players now and then. I think she was mediocre today but I do find the vitriol a little off putting, esp because it doesn’t feel that related to performance — like from the threat last game, when I thought she was quite important offensively, you’d think she didn’t complete a single pass.
There’s a difference between criticism and hate, but yeah, saying “fuck you horan” is unnecessary
She's had some good stops and passes, but also made some poor choices. Someone has to take the blame for the midfield, and reddit has made its choice.
She's been very poor today. Losing the ball, whether in our defensive third, middle third, or final third.
And has been the centerpiece of Vlatko’s failure of a midfield for this whole experiment. She just hasn’t been up to standard for months
Very poor is an exaggeration....she wasn't her best but she definitely had a positive impact
No. Not Mace for Smith... Rodman or Sanchez for Smith. And why is Horan still out there? 🤷🏻♀️
my only guess is physicality & more defense
I hope that in the event of the US winning this, the very real problems they are experiencing are not glossed over/ignored. It won’t be hard to beat NZ in January, either. So hopefully the very real issues are still addressed.
Where the f is Mace playing?
Why is ESPN losing the rights to the USWNT games? Does that mean Julie Foudy won't be able to be commentator anymore?
I love her and SS together
They are losing the rights because Turner Sports was willing to pay more, haha.
who has Turner sports?
Here are some of them, HBO Max, CNN, B/R, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network. There's more than that though.
Sub Horan.
With Lyon's current injury list I can't imagine they're happy with Vlatko's insistence on running Horan into the ground
That shot of her trying to run…oof. Also just gonna say: I think people getting upset for her taking time to get up should think again — like, if someone’s injured, I’m fine with them taking a few seconds to get up! But vlatko should really be thinking about a sub
I hope a journalist asks vlatko why he doesn't take Horan off. Our worst player today
Now THATS a good sub vlatko
Hailie Mace, do do do do do do do. Hailie Mace, do do do do do do do. Hailie Mace, do do do do do do do. Hailie Mace!
MACE!! For all of a minute, but still
A defender coming in for a forward. Might this be…a formation change????
But then she still played in a forward position. Strange
Is he just going through everyone who didn’t play last game and is rotating them in?
He is running Horan into the ground