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Tuesday Throw-Ins: From A Strength To A Weakness?
Women's Professional Soccer has a handful of strong players. Do they really have enough to add two more teams next season?
Jun 23, 2009 5:50:50 PM
While out on my journey into the wilds of New Hampshire (and they are wild), I received the news that the Atlanta Beat was back. I am happy to see Women’s Professional Soccer expanding to nine, potentially ten teams in 2010, but a small part of me wonders if the expansion will dilute the product on the field.
The on-field play is one of the league’s strongest selling points. Women’s Professional Soccer boasts the world’s best collection of talent. Marta, Kelly Smith, Abby Wambach, Christine Sinclair, and Sonia Bompastor are but a few of the league’s top stars.
Who will be the marquee names to join Atlanta and Philadelphia? If the league can’t bring in more of the game’s elite via allocations, then it must take from within. Would the Sol be so dominant without Camille Abily or Aya Miyama missing?
Just something that dawned on me as I was traipsing through the wilderness with my wife and three dogs.
Quote From The Weekend
“If you don’t score sooner or later the other team will.”
-- Athletica’s head coach Jorge Barcellos after the team’s home 1-0 loss to the Washington Freedom this past Sunday. This quote wonderfully sums up what is turning into an interesting playoff battle spots two through four.
Stat Of Interest
The Los Angeles Sol has conceded just four goals in 13 games!
The Back Four
Four players I would like to see in Atlanta or Philadelphia next spring.
1) Caroline Seger, a 24-year-old Swedish midfielder who plays for Linköping in the Damallsvenskan. She already has over 40 caps for her country.
2) Cynthia Uwak, a 22-year-old Nigerian forward. When will WPS begin to explore the talent pool in Africa?
3) Ragnhild Gulbrands, the 33-year-old Norwegian forward already has played on the continent with the Breakers during the days of WUSA.
4) Rebecca Smith, the 28-year-old captain of the Football Ferns (New Zealand women’s national team) was a collegiate star at Duke University.
Sean Grybos, Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's women's soccer page.
The on-field play is one of the league’s strongest selling points. Women’s Professional Soccer boasts the world’s best collection of talent. Marta, Kelly Smith, Abby Wambach, Christine Sinclair, and Sonia Bompastor are but a few of the league’s top stars.
Who will be the marquee names to join Atlanta and Philadelphia? If the league can’t bring in more of the game’s elite via allocations, then it must take from within. Would the Sol be so dominant without Camille Abily or Aya Miyama missing?
Just something that dawned on me as I was traipsing through the wilderness with my wife and three dogs.
Quote From The Weekend
“If you don’t score sooner or later the other team will.”
-- Athletica’s head coach Jorge Barcellos after the team’s home 1-0 loss to the Washington Freedom this past Sunday. This quote wonderfully sums up what is turning into an interesting playoff battle spots two through four.
Stat Of Interest
The Los Angeles Sol has conceded just four goals in 13 games!
The Back Four
Four players I would like to see in Atlanta or Philadelphia next spring.
1) Caroline Seger, a 24-year-old Swedish midfielder who plays for Linköping in the Damallsvenskan. She already has over 40 caps for her country.
2) Cynthia Uwak, a 22-year-old Nigerian forward. When will WPS begin to explore the talent pool in Africa?
3) Ragnhild Gulbrands, the 33-year-old Norwegian forward already has played on the continent with the Breakers during the days of WUSA.
4) Rebecca Smith, the 28-year-old captain of the Football Ferns (New Zealand women’s national team) was a collegiate star at Duke University.
Sean Grybos, Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's women's soccer page.
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