10.) Sky Blue FC Could Never Get Their Title Defense Going

This was the team picked by most commentators to win the 2010 WPS Championship. But what with the coaching change in the middle of the season, the injuries (broken collarbones and busted ankles immediately come to mind), constant player transactions (Asante, Landstrom, Snell, Schoepfer, Luckenbill out, Fletcher, Pacino, Parker, Grubb in), the revolving door back four and the AWOL status of one Hawaiian strilker, SBFC could never seem to find their rhythm. That also might apply to the team’s style of play as well. Pauliina Miettinen’s fairly defensive, 4-5-1 with a packed midfield wasn’t exactly creative and it wasn’t intended to be. The team hit its stride late, thanks in part to an in form Tasha Kai who was nowhere to be found after scoring that lovely goal in SBFC’s first game of the 2010 season. The team bucked up in August and cruised in September, with three consecutive draws. It wasn’t enough though. Hopefully the team will have more consistency next year.

9.) Twitter Can Be Used For Both Good and Evil

http://seventeenletters.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/66/

8.) Being A Goalkeeper Is A Hazardous Job

Just ask Karen Bardsley, Jenni Branam or Erin McLeod. Moreover, goalkeepers provided a provided an interesting narrative all season long. A few rookies really erm, saved the day, last season’s best GK’s (Solo and LeBlanc) had lucklustre seasons and a few unknowns performed wonders (Meghann Burke, that’s you.)

7.) The 2010 Draft Class Really Was That Good

Tobin Heath, Nikki Washington and Kierstan Dallstream were all victims of injury, but the other eight players selected in the First Round really came through. Nogueira is debatable but what about Cheney, O’Hara, Engen, Taylor, Marshall, Riley and Naeher? The going gets rough beyond the First Round as Jordan Angeli, Ashlyn Harris and Becky Edwards are really the only notables names drafted in the Second Round. Beverly Goebel, Estelle Johnson and Kiki Bosio came good from the Third Round. And then Kristi Eveland, Taryn Hemmings and Carolyn Blank were gems selected in the final four rounds. Regardless, the depth and quality of this draft probably won’t be seen again for awhile.

6.) Amy Rodriguez Is a Fantastic Player

Everything has already been said on this subject, but what an incredible year. Rodriguez was at the heart of Philadelphia’s attack and led her team to an unlikely playoff position with her 12 goals. Paul Riley tailored his system around her. Rodriguez played as an isolated striker and could either burst in from midfield with the ball at the feet or run on to balls served in from the middle of the park. Her blazing pace is the cornerstone of her game. And it looks like she’s improved other technical areas of her game like her first touch, close control and finishing from range. With confidence and the right system in place, Rodriguez could be the USWNT’s finest striker when Wambach hangs up her boots.

5.) Abby Wambach Is the Best American Player

This isn’t particularly contentious, but Wambach is simply one of a kind. She saved the Freedom’s season and fittingly scored the goal that sealed their return to the playoffs. Wambach has finished second this season in both goals scored (13) and assists (8). That’s marked improvement from the eight goals and five assists she put forth last season (although she was still recuperating from a broken leg). Regardless of whether it’s for club or country, Abby Wambach is one of the most consistent, complete and clinical strikers in the women’s game. If not the most.

4.) European Players Are Physical

There seems to be this misguided thought amongst American coaches that suggest that European players are technically and tactically superior but can’t cope with the physicality of the American game. Wrong. It’s no fluke that four of the most physical players in the league – Holmfridur Magnusdottir, Caroline Seger, Sonia Bompastor and Katie Chapman – are all European. There are exceptions to the rule of course, like Jessica Landstrom and Ramona Bachmann but Bachmann is (hopefully) adapting. The thought that European players lack a physical edge is a myth.

3.) FC Gold Pride Are A Good Freaking Team

The best women’s club team in the world, perhaps? It’s impossible to know but it’s a fun thought. Marta and Christine Sinclair have combined for 29 goals this year which is better than the total goals scored by three other WPS teams. FCGP were a well-oiled machine. After the team’s insipid run with three goalless draws, FCGP went back to its destructive ways taking 14 of a possible 15 points and scoring 16 goals.

2.) The Boston Breakers Deserve Some Kind of Trophy

Seriously. Even if they don’t win the 2010 WPS Championship, they at least deserve a medal for their extraordinary second half comeback. The team’s management and coaching staff should be praised for riding out a nine game winless streak and not panicking. Tony DiCicco wasn’t released, nor were under-performing players. Since then the team has won nine, drawn twice and lost twice. Every player (including bit part players like Ifeoma Dieke and Liz Bogus) put in outstanding second half performances. Now the team is in second place and has the right to face either Washington or Philadelphia at home. No doubt Harvard’s soccer stadium will be rocking. Perhaps the team’s fans will be rewarded for the self-belief and persistence they’ve fed into the club, and vice versa.

1.) The 2011 WPS Regular Season Is Going To Look Very Different

With this morning’s news that Commissioner Tonya Antonucci will indeed be stepping down at the end of the season, one can ask where this leave the league. The answer isn’t new: in a time of transition. WPS General Counsel Anne-Marie Eileraas will step in as CEO. Eileraas will now head up business and orgazinational offices aspects of the league office (yes, there will be a league office) while on-field responsibilities will be assigned to the newly-appointed Manager of League Operations Melanie Fitzgerald. The Board (read: the owners) will guide the strategic direction of the league which, as last night’s New York Times blog post reported last night, suggests that WPS will become a league run by the owners, moreso than it is now. Power will emanate from the team owners now, creating more of an oligarchy than a republic headed by a single person. With no centralized marketing arm, it’s hard to imagine there will be many (if any) national marketing campaigns. Perhaps the scariest bit is this line taken from The Washington Post’s Soccer Insider:

“Some investors, sources told the Insider, have yet to commit to financing the league next year.”

Although some investors may still be on the fence about 2011, other franchises have already committed to next season. Philadelphia is on board, as is Atlanta and the new Buffalo/Rochester franchise. The league sits at a crossroad, not at the edge of a cliff. Tonya Antonucci must be recognized for her efforts and her vision. Without her leadership, it’s difficult to imagine any league at all. She helped launch WPS in an unforgiving economy and seems okay with handing over the reins, particularly if it’s for the good of the league. As Antonucci’s statement from this morning’s press release reads:

“I’m leaving this in the hands of some incredibly passionate people who are doing everything they can to grow the league and ensure its success. But we absolutely need support from grassroots soccer fans and young female players. I’ll continue to do my part to support the league, by staying involved to assist the owners through the WSII’s seat on the WPS board, and perhaps equally as important, as an avid fan who buys tickets to WPS matches.”

View Original Post at allwhitekit.wordpress.com

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• Soccer, Sports, WPS

This post is related to the following ongoing stories:

• Tonya Antonucci Stepping Down as WPS Commissioner