5.) Sky Blue FC: It’s Complicated Part II

SBFC are 3/4s of a great team without ‘tasha Kai in the starting line-up. Bardsley just might be the best goalkeeper employed in WPS right now, Daphne Koster and Brittany Taylor are making a lot progress in the development of their relationship in the center of defense and then there’s the midfield. It’s a midfield that’s defensively stout and is fully capable of prying back possession but can it create? The link-up play between the midfield and forward Jessica Landstrom was just not there at all on Saturday, despite the best efforts of Kacey White, Heather O’Reilly and Laura Kalmari. It looks like ‘tasha Kai may be out for longer than previously expected. Maybe young’uns Kierstan Dallstream or Katie Schoepfer can step up in Kai’s absence. This may take a re-figuration of the system from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 with another forward (or perhaps O’Reilly) coming up to provide more assistance to Landstrom. If that happens then Sky Blue will be one step closer to being a complete team.

4.) Abby Wambach Is Absolutely Critical to the Freedom’s Plans

Not that this isn’t obvious. Is there another play in WPS that means more to her respective team than Abby Wambach? Maybe Lori Lindsey, but Lindsey is just beginning a streak of consistency that Wambach’s been on since fully recovering from a broken leg last year. Wambach added another assist to a record that has seen goal activity in every WPS match thus far. Yesterday proved that she’s surrounded by a solid squad. You don’t beat Hope Solo three times if you aren’t worth your salt. But Wambach’s consistency and killer instinct are absolutely integral if the Freedom want to continue this success.

3.) Marta Can Only Be As Effective As Her Forward Line Is

Ok, so Marta was fairly brilliant for much of that match against Sky Blue FC. She brought everything that was advertised and more (except for the goals). In the first half she ran the Sky Blue defense ragged and kept them frustrated and constantly challenged as she merrily swapped flanks, burst from behind the center line and wreaked havoc inside the box. It wasn’t just the tricks and stunts that she pulled off to an artist’s precision it was also that work rate. She’s probably always had it, but it was nice to be reminded of it. She frequently tracked back to the retrieve the ball, way back to FC Gold Pride’s back four almost and then sprang an attack from there. She looked almost maniacal when trying to get the ball back. She’s almost incomplete without the ball. She can only operate at full capacity when she’s got that thing beneath her small feet. But she was much quieter in the second half. Why? Because Christine Sinclair and Kelley O’Hara didn’t look as threatening, as perhaps they had been figured out by the Sky Blue defense. Thus, Marta was left without a partner to tango with. She needs that player who she can play off of and who can reward her for all her wonderful work (which is why her partnership with Sinclair is going to be so fruitful). Sometimes it looks like she’s doing it all by herself, but that only occurs when her teammates are doing exactly what they need to be doing.

2.) The United States Finally Has A Flair Player in Casey Nogueira

There was a bit of skepticism regarding Casey Nogueria pre-WPS Draft time in January. Questions about her work ethic abounded for whatever reason. She was entering the next phase after a very decorated career at UNC. Now, this could draw some ire but she never really played like an American, particularly an American collegiate player. She had swagger, style and a bag of tricks that aren’t really taught in U-10 AYSO club soccer. Coach Anson Dorrance dubbed her and Tobin Heath his ‘American Brazilians’. Who knows where they learned to play football like that but thank goodness they have and judging by Nogueira’s contribution to the Red Stars, it looks like she’s fully capable of bringing that style to the professional game. Now she’s Chicago’s leading scorer and it’s come at a time when the Red Stars absolutely need goals. Moreover, Casey Nogueira could genuinely be the WNT’s flashiest player, which is not something that the program has really had. And not only does she bring the tricks, she also brings the goals. Hopefully the 21 year-old gets another run-out with the WNT and Coach Sundhage can find a system that suits her unique talents. If this happens, Nogueira will be a star.

1.) There Are No Classes In This league

There’s typically several levels of class in a soccer league. The top two or three spots are typically occupied by the elite teams, then the next four or five are usually contenders, the following four are decidedly mediocre clubs and then the final positions are for teams that are just awful. No such thing in WPS. We’re still waiting for Atlanta to break out (they will and they must with their new stadium opening next week) but every team from seventh up look like a play-off team. With Boston and Saint Louis losing to a combined score line of 5-1 to Chicago and Washington respectively, any team can take points off of any other. This is a league built on parity and competitive balance but did anyone think it would be this even so quickly out of the gate? Doesn’t it look like seventh-place team Chicago can threaten league-leaders FC Gold Pride? (They’ll have their chance next weekend). You’re never going to get the 10-0 thumping of clubs here like you would in any other women’s league around the world. Each team is just too good for that. It makes for some exciting stuff.

View Original Post at allwhitekit.wordpress.com

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This post is related to the following ongoing stories:

• 2010 WPS Season