KC Current
Where does the USWNT go from here?
USWNT eliminated from World Cup, Sporting KC eliminated from Nations League, thankfully the KC Current gives us something to be happy about.
The Shades of Blue Soccer Show kicks off this week talking about the US Women’s National Team’s early exit from the World Cup. They played what was perhaps the best they played all tournament against Sweden, bossing most of the match. But they fell apart when it came time for penalty kicks. So, where do they go from here? Was this a wake-up call the Americans needed?
And what’s next for Vlatko?
After that goal-line technology heartbreak, we decided penalties are stupid and look for alternatives. It might be time for the triumphant return of old school MLS shootouts, or even using set pieces to decide matches.
The KC Current finished their group of the Challenge Cup with the top spot. Kristen “Hammy” Hamilton bagged a brace in the 3-0 win over Racing Louisville. Don’t mess around with Ruth Langmore.
We listen to a story from the BSI Podcast about our new favorite coach, Veljko Paunović, who gave us the soundbite of the year last week. Sporting KC were hammered by Toluca 4-1. They now get a three-week break to prepare for a battle to make the playoffs.
*Heads up this episode has the explicit label due to Alan Gordan’s story (via The BSI Podcast). But it’s worth it.
1st Segment – USWNT & Fixing PKs
2nd Segment – KC Current win group (27mins)
3rd Segment – Sporting KC eliminated (38mins)
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Where do they go? To the coach store to return one Vlatko. Maybe buy a new model that comes with better health outcomes for the players. Hopefully Sporting KC shops at the same store soon.
Can you imagine how much different this tournament would’ve been with Swanson, Sauerbrunn, Purce, Dahlkemper, S Mewis, and Macario and a coach who would’ve been astute enough to actually use them?
I saw the loss to Toluca as a mental game. The team became thrown off with inconsistent calls and then Toluca pounced. As soon as we lost our mental game they thrived and took possession of the game.
Rosero’s header sucked – but if not him then their striker was wide open on a beaten Davis at the back post.
Our midfield faltered mentally and the back line was overwhelmed time and time again. The gap between our midfield and defense kept increasing as the game progressed.
Sadly we had great opportunities and movement early on, the absence of a star striker meant we had no one to truly pounce on them to put ourselves ahead.
Pulido’s actions cost us dearly. Great to see Agada back and to have him score. Great to see Pierre hit the field too!
Good pod, y’all. Yes, I was at Table Rock, bound by fun on the water and gagged by no Wifi and a limited data plan and loving it!
Hammy is a bad ass. Vlatko is a wise man who adjusted for this match and will have more flexibility to adjust for the future. Sporting, once again, should be on the search for center backs, a young DMF for the future, and a young attacker who can play across the frontline. Lastly, David, you’re calling for Benny to be the next SKC manager, yet he coaches in a league where the matches aren’t even truly being played… Question mark?? 🙂
I don’t know how to “fix” the USWNT beyond getting their players healthy and moving on from the older generation.
My main gripe about the tournament is that there are so many women that ought to be calling games and giving commentary before JP Dellcamera or Alexi Lalas. Both have no business commenting on the women’s game. I would love to see women only broadcast come next World Cup.
Agree, especially about Lalas. It’s bad enough we have to put up with him in men’s games.
I look at this tournament, they’ve allowed 1 goal in 4 games, 2 shots on goal (and a post hit) in 4 games… it is pretty clear the D wasn’t the problem. Horan looked like the female Zidane out there, absolutely no excuse for not being able to build a championship team around her. But Smith was out on an island on the wing and never seemed to connect well with the rest of the forward line, Morgan at this point seems to be reduced to a poacher who spent the entire tournament offside, and Rodman looked uncreative and I can’t help but think of her as a player who gets by on athleticism and seems to be a USWNT starter mostly because her last name makes her marketable, she seemed very predictable beating the d to the endline and delivering hopeful crosses that Morgan is no longer athletic enough to connect with. And then off the bench is already retired Rapinoe who was bad all tournament but they just kept going to her. They hardly played Lynn Williams, even less Alyssa Thompson, the general mindset seemed to be that the forward line was just going to fix itself so trying anything would be over-coaching (and if I’m honest without the benefit of hindsight I’m not sure how much differently I would have done things.) They left in form goal-creating players like Hatch and Coffey at home, they really could have used Hatch as it became clear that Morgan just wasn’t working out and I can’t help but wonder if Hatch and Rodman’s existing chemistry would have made Rodman more effective, similarly the existing chemistry between Coffey and Smith might have unlocked Smith’s potential and involved her more in the games. Which is all to say they really were never bad at any point in the tournament, really unlucky to exit so early.
Well, the first half against the Netherlands was awful, but your general points are solid. They needed something up top, but the coaching consensus seemed to be, these guys will be fine.