yeah… she’s kind of a sundhage favorite… e.g. bornstein/bradley. it’s disappointing. i really like sundhage… but the staleness is starting to show itself.
she changed formations to “freshen” things up. and it did… but a player change or two (Lloyd in same boat, who is average) would be the right move.
But still plenty of time… and these games were more a celebration, i guess, of this past summer.
happy heath is starting to show the promise everyone keeps talking about. she could still go the way of Wagner… lots of talk little pay out at national level.
I was with you until the small field part…do not see that as advantageous for the USMNT and see it as quite the opposite actually. still, the USMNT must figure out how to capitalize on the atmosphere there…and it’s close to home for me, too 🙂
Yeah, US Soccer really needs to consider having a few qualifiers in Portland and/or Seattle next summer (when our Europe-based players will all be back in the USA, therefore long travel times to the West Coast won’t be an issue). And we need to be dramatically more Machiavellian about who gets tickets, which would be easy if you only sell ’em to Timbers and Sounders season ticket holders. Sell the absolute smallest number allowed to the opponent’s fans. We might as well experiment and see if a true home field crowd advantage pays off, and if so, use it for future games when we need it.
Get off your high horse. A turf field will always be better than a poor, muddy, water-logged pitch which is very possible in Portland given that it is a civic-owned stadium.
turf is turf and its still sh!t. No a small field would help not help the NT. Condensing the field would take away the space for our wingers to run and would force us to use a technical skill that we lack at the moment
Yeah, Amy just runs fast but didn’t do much else last night. But I think with their new 4-2-3-1 formation they need the speed up on the wings. It’s all about servicing Wambach. I’m just wondering if their attack is one dimensional.
Our “horrible turf” has the highest FIFA rating that a turf field can get. It was good enough for Ajax, West Brom, Independiente, Club America and now the USWNT. There has not been one “turf related injury” all season. As for the stadium, well, not everyone can appreciate a little history and culture I suppose and if the USMNT wants to continue playing in front of dull crowds or other supporters that’s their business.
As for the “small field”, did you ever consider the possibility that our inept USMNT might actually play better on it?
Portland is VERY white for a population of its size. Rural areas, yes. But then again, that’s the rural areas.
Tie tickets to who holds Timbers season tickets for first dibs. You’ll have no problem getting the crowd to be pro-US. Back in 1997 against Costa Rica, there were only two sections of Costa Rican fans…
Have you guys actually ever been to Portland and the surrounding communities? This idea that the USMNT would have a huge home field advantage there against Mexico is pure fantasy.
USWMT has lots of weapons, but Rodriguez and Rapinoe really have trouble finishing – something we’ve seen now for years. I think time has come for Morgan to start up there with Wambach – they are both clinical finishers.
Yeah let the Men play in the corner of the country as far as possible for where they all play and lets convince the other team to add an extra 500 miles to the travel during the european season to play in a sh!tty satdium on a small @ss field with horrible turf
totally fearless. great goal
yeah… she’s kind of a sundhage favorite… e.g. bornstein/bradley. it’s disappointing. i really like sundhage… but the staleness is starting to show itself.
she changed formations to “freshen” things up. and it did… but a player change or two (Lloyd in same boat, who is average) would be the right move.
But still plenty of time… and these games were more a celebration, i guess, of this past summer.
happy heath is starting to show the promise everyone keeps talking about. she could still go the way of Wagner… lots of talk little pay out at national level.
My Rapinoe love is ridiculous. Would that the men could play on their fields like she does on hers.
and natural turf will always be better imho.
I was with you until the small field part…do not see that as advantageous for the USMNT and see it as quite the opposite actually. still, the USMNT must figure out how to capitalize on the atmosphere there…and it’s close to home for me, too 🙂
+1
They’ve been in the World Cup, no?
and she plays tough, too. she’s beautiful, she’s rugged, and she’s one heck of a player
are you really trying to compare to costa rica?
Great job last night, ladies!
Yeah, US Soccer really needs to consider having a few qualifiers in Portland and/or Seattle next summer (when our Europe-based players will all be back in the USA, therefore long travel times to the West Coast won’t be an issue). And we need to be dramatically more Machiavellian about who gets tickets, which would be easy if you only sell ’em to Timbers and Sounders season ticket holders. Sell the absolute smallest number allowed to the opponent’s fans. We might as well experiment and see if a true home field crowd advantage pays off, and if so, use it for future games when we need it.
I remember the 1997 USA vs Costa Rica game in Portland like it was yesterday. Show us how it’s done, Mr. Ramos! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9tCj_bux0Q
Get off your high horse. A turf field will always be better than a poor, muddy, water-logged pitch which is very possible in Portland given that it is a civic-owned stadium.
Costa Rica plays on “horrible turf” for World Cup qualifier matches in a new stadium [financed by China].
turf is turf and its still sh!t. No a small field would help not help the NT. Condensing the field would take away the space for our wingers to run and would force us to use a technical skill that we lack at the moment
Que?
Yeah, Amy just runs fast but didn’t do much else last night. But I think with their new 4-2-3-1 formation they need the speed up on the wings. It’s all about servicing Wambach. I’m just wondering if their attack is one dimensional.
The JW pitch is within FIFA International guidelines. I know the trend is “big fields” but not every single game has to be played that way.
Our “horrible turf” has the highest FIFA rating that a turf field can get. It was good enough for Ajax, West Brom, Independiente, Club America and now the USWNT. There has not been one “turf related injury” all season. As for the stadium, well, not everyone can appreciate a little history and culture I suppose and if the USMNT wants to continue playing in front of dull crowds or other supporters that’s their business.
As for the “small field”, did you ever consider the possibility that our inept USMNT might actually play better on it?
Like Costa Rica’s, right?
Portland is VERY white for a population of its size. Rural areas, yes. But then again, that’s the rural areas.
Tie tickets to who holds Timbers season tickets for first dibs. You’ll have no problem getting the crowd to be pro-US. Back in 1997 against Costa Rica, there were only two sections of Costa Rican fans…
Yes
Have you guys actually ever been to Portland and the surrounding communities? This idea that the USMNT would have a huge home field advantage there against Mexico is pure fantasy.
Abby’s 2nd goal was sick! At first glance, I thought it was an own goal but she literally dove over the shoulder to get her head on it…
can’t understand why Morgan doesn’t start, all she does is score goals and she is by far the hottest looking girl on the team, a leathal combination.
I know A-Rod is fast, but the girl couldn’t hit water falling out of a boat.
USWMT has lots of weapons, but Rodriguez and Rapinoe really have trouble finishing – something we’ve seen now for years. I think time has come for Morgan to start up there with Wambach – they are both clinical finishers.
CITY OF PORTLAND: widen your field, and you’ll have the new home of US Soccer, men’s and women’s team. Simple as that.
USSF would be insane to not have a game at JW in 2012.
Alex Morgan is just to hot for words.
Sorry, to start off comments for a women’s game with one about men.
Looks like they were out to break the goal posts.
Yeah let the Men play in the corner of the country as far as possible for where they all play and lets convince the other team to add an extra 500 miles to the travel during the european season to play in a sh!tty satdium on a small @ss field with horrible turf
Or maybe the men should actually do something and be successful to draw a crowd?
Awesome stuff. I was there for it. The US men should definitely play there… maybe even against Mexico.
+1: I was thinking the exact same thing.
A pro-american crowd!
Maybe the men should play here.