Nearly every person bold enough to make predictions for the 2010 WPS season forecasted that the Chicago Red Stars would finish towards the bottom of the table. (Guilty as charged, by the way). They were generally lumped into the same tier as the expansion teams Atlanta Beat and the Philadelphia Independence. And why was that? Because the Red Stars of 2010 is essentially a new team.

Coach Emma Hayes has demolished the team credo that led the Red Stars to a disappointing sixth place finish last year. A philosophy that didn’t serve a side that never seemed to click as a unit, went winless for nine matches last year and led the leagues in yellow cards. The team shed some of its marquee names and opted to bring in players who were big on promise but thin on much professional experience. Players like Casey Nogueira, Jessica McDonald, Kosovare Asllani and Whitney Engen come to mind.

Would this team forge an identity? Would this be a cohesive unit or just a team of individually-talented players? Would the Red Stars scrap and fight and show heart? With Katie Chapman occupying the center of midfield, the answers appear to all be in the affirmative.

Hayes’ m.o. is fairly clear: create a fluid midfield that can outpass, outwit and outrun teams with the likes of Brittany Klein, Cristiane and Julianne Sitch. Utilize the flanks and then get the ball into the box where one of practically eight players can score.

For an ambitious, attacking philosophy like this to work there’s one piece that absolutely must be fulfilled: a holding midfielder. A player who can scrap for loose balls, cut off opposing passing channels, doggedly break up play, tackle when necessary, avoid cluttered spaces by passing the ball out wide and can take a shot at goal if the opportunity arrives. Fortunately, Katie Chapman appears to be just the woman for the job.

Hayes and Chapman have worked together previously with Arsenal Ladies. Chapman has seemed keen to fulfill a similar role she had with the Gunners and with the English National Team (where she recently scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Spain in World Cup Qualifying). Every team needs a player willing to do the mop-up work that gives its offense a canvas to flourish.

If last Sunday’s match is any indication, Coach Hayes seems to have found the player that can tip the scale towards a more balanced team, which was a problem that bedeviled the Red Stars last year. If Chapman can continue to provide the defensive work in midfield it will allow Kosovare Asllani to make incisive runs, give Brittany Klein more space to make long-range efforts from outside the box, grant Julianne Sitch and/or Karen Carney and/or Megan Rapinoe more options on the wings, and can provide the stage for Cristiane to perform her tricks. Chapman also seemed eager to run into the box and link-up play with Ella Masar. The creative firepower of youngsters Casey Nogueira and Jessica McDonald will also only be augmented as they find more space to operate in.

This obviously doesn’t really solve the problem of goal scoring, which Chicago seemed incapable of doing on Sunday. But Ella Masar could ease her into a boots as the season goes on and find herself in better positions. It’s also really only a matter of time before Cristiane finds her old ways again. And both Nogueira and McDonald certainly appear to be capable of replicating the form that served them so well at UNC. And with the work rate and industry of Chapman, opportunities will arise.

Will the Red Stars really do as poorly as was previously expected? Not if Katie Chapman has a say in the matter.

View Original Post at allwhitekit.wordpress.com

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• Soccer, Sports, WPS

This post is related to the following ongoing stories:

• 2010 WPS Season