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Counterattack: Better In WPS, Marta Or Sonia Bompastor?
Women's Professional Soccer has seen certain players step up as stellar performers and editors Kathryn Knapp and Andrea Canales compare two of the top candidates.
May 7, 2009 3:39:36 AM
Who has shown herself to be the better player in Women's Professional Soccer - Sonia Bompastor, or Marta?
Kathryn Knapp: Well that's a tough question. And quite honestly the answer could go either way. But I'm going to have to go with Bompastor. I know she doesn't lead the league in goals. But she's a special player. She's defensive minded, stopping some of the top players in the league. But at the end of the day... she can sneak up front and tally a goal or two as well.
Andrea Canales: I'll allow that Bompastor is a versatile player, but this comparison is like that of a Mini versus a Ferrari. Marta may not play much defense, but she's such an amazing offensive player and so exciting to watch. There's a reason why the league wouldn't be complete without a showcase player like her.
Knapp: Fair enough... but the one thing that puts an enormous amount of pressure on Marta is that... well, she's Marta. At the end of the day, her face is everywhere. It's a lot to live up to for a 23-year-old. Bompastor isn't too well-known. Sure, she's known in France, but a lot of the players will be the first to tell you that Bompastor has impressed them on the field. She's kind of flying under the radar. Or, she was somewhat until last weekend.
Canales: Marta sets up expectations, sure, but she then lives up to them. That's what great players do. Of course, soccer isn't a one-person game, but special players make the game thrilling. Marta is a big part of the reason why the Los Angeles Sol are off to a nice start in WPS action. Marta is scoring, she's getting assists, she's getting the job done for her team.
Knapp: That's true. Los Angeles is off to a good start. Great players make great things happen. You're right. But Bompastor is making a name for herself every game. With every game, she's earning a little bit more respect from her fellow players and those watching the game. She's a special player. Special players become just as big if not bigger than some star players. Besides, she's a defender with two goals in four games (technically both scored in one game). Marta's job is to score goals.
Canales: Well, I was once a defender, and I have a soft spot for good ones, but to say that Marta is just doing her job by scoring doesn't do justice to the skill she brings to the field. There's a reason why Kobe Bryant is bringing his kids to watch her matches in L.A. Marta's bag of tricks and movement with the ball is amazing - she's the Mia Hamm of her generation with a dash of samba magic thrown in for good measure. Can you honestly tell me that if you were a coach putting together your dream WPS team, you would pick Bompastor over Marta?
Knapp: Well I guess it depends on how you want to build your team. If you want to build a team around one player - such as you know David Beckham - then sure, Marta makes perfect sense. But at the end of the day, can the team stand without her? Los Angeles has six total goals, she's scored half. So while she's a star... is that the best decision? I believe that defense wins championships. And a defender who can score - well, that's going to only help build the depth of the team.
Canales: Well, the problem with Beckham is partly that he's a set-up guy; he's not really going to score a lot. Marta is, and eventually, that's going to open up space for other players to shine. Aya Miyama, for one, is going to get extra room and looks at goal playing with Marta. They say defense wins championships, but in soccer, goals win games.
Knapp: The bottom line is - Marta is good. I'm not knocking her. She deserves all the attention and then some. But at the end of the day, it's a lot of pressure for everyone. She'll make things happen, I have no doubt. But Bompastor, I'd pick her any day of the week to start in a backline. She knows how to stop the opponents. She's strong. She's smart. And if opponents turn their backs for a second, she can sneak in there and score goals. Bompastor is the real deal and a treat to watch.
Canales: Bompastor is the unexpected player who is having a nice performance on the main stage, but yes, Marta is very, very good. She's the main star that is actually living up to her billing in the U.S. league - unlike a certain Englishman. Sure, she may be less of a surprise than Bompastor, but if women's soccer is going to succeed, the big names have to live up to expectations, and Marta deserves all the credit for doing just that.
Counterattack runs every Thursday on Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer or the U.S. Women's National Team, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer page.
Kathryn Knapp: Well that's a tough question. And quite honestly the answer could go either way. But I'm going to have to go with Bompastor. I know she doesn't lead the league in goals. But she's a special player. She's defensive minded, stopping some of the top players in the league. But at the end of the day... she can sneak up front and tally a goal or two as well.
Andrea Canales: I'll allow that Bompastor is a versatile player, but this comparison is like that of a Mini versus a Ferrari. Marta may not play much defense, but she's such an amazing offensive player and so exciting to watch. There's a reason why the league wouldn't be complete without a showcase player like her.
Knapp: Fair enough... but the one thing that puts an enormous amount of pressure on Marta is that... well, she's Marta. At the end of the day, her face is everywhere. It's a lot to live up to for a 23-year-old. Bompastor isn't too well-known. Sure, she's known in France, but a lot of the players will be the first to tell you that Bompastor has impressed them on the field. She's kind of flying under the radar. Or, she was somewhat until last weekend.
Canales: Marta sets up expectations, sure, but she then lives up to them. That's what great players do. Of course, soccer isn't a one-person game, but special players make the game thrilling. Marta is a big part of the reason why the Los Angeles Sol are off to a nice start in WPS action. Marta is scoring, she's getting assists, she's getting the job done for her team.
Knapp: That's true. Los Angeles is off to a good start. Great players make great things happen. You're right. But Bompastor is making a name for herself every game. With every game, she's earning a little bit more respect from her fellow players and those watching the game. She's a special player. Special players become just as big if not bigger than some star players. Besides, she's a defender with two goals in four games (technically both scored in one game). Marta's job is to score goals.
Canales: Well, I was once a defender, and I have a soft spot for good ones, but to say that Marta is just doing her job by scoring doesn't do justice to the skill she brings to the field. There's a reason why Kobe Bryant is bringing his kids to watch her matches in L.A. Marta's bag of tricks and movement with the ball is amazing - she's the Mia Hamm of her generation with a dash of samba magic thrown in for good measure. Can you honestly tell me that if you were a coach putting together your dream WPS team, you would pick Bompastor over Marta?
Knapp: Well I guess it depends on how you want to build your team. If you want to build a team around one player - such as you know David Beckham - then sure, Marta makes perfect sense. But at the end of the day, can the team stand without her? Los Angeles has six total goals, she's scored half. So while she's a star... is that the best decision? I believe that defense wins championships. And a defender who can score - well, that's going to only help build the depth of the team.
Canales: Well, the problem with Beckham is partly that he's a set-up guy; he's not really going to score a lot. Marta is, and eventually, that's going to open up space for other players to shine. Aya Miyama, for one, is going to get extra room and looks at goal playing with Marta. They say defense wins championships, but in soccer, goals win games.
Knapp: The bottom line is - Marta is good. I'm not knocking her. She deserves all the attention and then some. But at the end of the day, it's a lot of pressure for everyone. She'll make things happen, I have no doubt. But Bompastor, I'd pick her any day of the week to start in a backline. She knows how to stop the opponents. She's strong. She's smart. And if opponents turn their backs for a second, she can sneak in there and score goals. Bompastor is the real deal and a treat to watch.
Canales: Bompastor is the unexpected player who is having a nice performance on the main stage, but yes, Marta is very, very good. She's the main star that is actually living up to her billing in the U.S. league - unlike a certain Englishman. Sure, she may be less of a surprise than Bompastor, but if women's soccer is going to succeed, the big names have to live up to expectations, and Marta deserves all the credit for doing just that.
Counterattack runs every Thursday on Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer or the U.S. Women's National Team, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer page.
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