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Philadelphia Independence

Cohesion - The Independence have something of a spoils of riches. Talent was supposedly scarce on the team last year. That certainly can’t be the case this season, as national team players, promising internationals, and blue chip rookies have all arrived in Philadelphia. The team has serious depth, which could actually work to undermine it. It’s difficult to find a solid starting XI when each player can make a compelling case to start. Compound that with the load of injuries that have hit the club (Allison Falk and Danesha Adams for starters) and it makes it even more difficult to draw up a settled squad. The Independence played significantly better on Sunday when Amy Rodriguez and Lori Lindsey entered the match. They’re two players who are well-versed with Riley’s system and understand the culture of it. Not so for the majority of players on the field that day. It takes time to bring everyone on the same page, particularly given the in-and-out nature of this season. Perhaps true team cohesion will prove to be more elusive than a roster of decent players.

Leadership – Riley demonstrated he has a certain charm that can work to get each of his players singing from his hymn book. Call it charisma, call it excellent man management, call it an X factor. Riley may not have brought all the puzzle pieces to the table last season, but he certainly figured out the best fit for each and put them together. It may take some time (weeks, even) but Riley should settle upon the formation that will best suit the players he has, and vice versa. He’s done it before with so much less.

Sky Blue FC

Change - A tremendous amount of upheaval has been afoot at Sky Blue FC this offseason. From the coach to the G.M. to most of the players, Piscataway is a new environment and most of the people mentioned will be tasked with new challenges. Many players who were with the team in prior seasons will be splitting their allegiances between club and country. The team will have to find common ground quickly, and create a new club culture. Sky Blue’s 2010 season was disappointing on almost every level. A system overhaul was ordered at the club. It mustn’t take too long to get everything up and running.

Adaptability - Sky Blue’s first half on Saturday should work to allay anyone’s concerns about the team. Jim Gabarra showed his tactical flexibility in that first half by assembling a squad that was tailored around the players he had at his disposal, much like he did with the Freedom. Abby Wambach was always the center of the attack, and why wouldn’t she be? Not so in New Jersey. Casey Nogueira was given a free role in attack, Allie Long marshaled play in midfield, Eniola Aluko used her tenacity to get in behind the back lime, Brittany Taylor and Kendall Fletcher bombed forward when needed to. Sky Blue played a possession, pass-oriented, ground game that had perhaps never been seen at Yurcak Field. And they made it work immediately. The team admittedly fell apart in the second half, but it works to show what this team in capable of. Imagine what just a little bit more time together can do for a club that suddenly doesn’t look so new anymore.

WNY Flash

Expectation - Tons of expectation. A front line that boasts the likes of Marta, Christine Sinclair, and Alex Morgan will get you that. A squad that features seven holdovers from the supposed best women’s club team in the world will too. A franchise that got big too big for its britches in the W-League and spent large on some of the best free agents on the market? You get the point by now. The team would be prohibitive favorites for the title in any ordinary year. But that’s just it, this is not an ordinary year. A good core of the team’s players will be missing for a large chunk of the season. The team’s reinforcements (particularly in attack) are a bit worrying, particularly after Rose Augustin and Mele French were tossed for seemingly nothing in return. WPS newcomer head coach Aaran Lines will have to deal with the pressure of making an A-list squad click, and then forming a quality squad that can step in and be their stand-in’s.

Pragmatism - The WNY Flash may be new to WPS, but they certainly aren’t new to championships or dealing with heightened expectations. The team experienced success in keeping the organization a family affair whilst ushering in grade-A talent and doing it without much pomposity. Joe Sahlen, Aaran Lines, and Alex Sahlen have all constructed winning teams before. There’s little reason to think they won’t do it again, particularly with a squad this good, even if it isn’t a permanent one. The Flash are clearly interested in making a run for the Championship. They’ve gone about their business in a very pragmatic, methodical way but not just spending big, but spending. The signings of non-WWC bound players like Whitney Engen, Kandace Wilson, and Gina Lewandowski bear that out. And it could pay off just like it has before.

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