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Ladies Man: WPS Has More Talent Than You Know
In the latest installment of the Ladies Man column, Goal.com's Giovanni Albanese Jr. discusses why Women's Professional Soccer shouldn't take a break during the month-long FIFA World Cup in 2011.
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Jul 15, 2010 1:07:00 AM
By Giovanni Albanese Jr.
We’re less than a year away from the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany. Leading into the World Cup, however, each nation needs to have several qualifiers and friendly matches to figure out not only who will play for soccer’s most prized trophy, but who will constitute the players on the rosters.
There in lies the problem. Women’s Professional Soccer is loaded with international world-class talent. Most recently, Pia Sundhage took 22 WPS players, and Sweden took four, which severely affected many teams last weekend.
While USA and Sweden were training for their two-game friendly tour, the Atlanta Beat were without Hope Solo and losing to the Boston Breakers (without Amy LePeilbet, Kristine Lilly, Stephanie Cox and Lauren Cheney) 3-1 on three second-half goals in five minutes; FC Gold Pride was without four players -- Rachel Buehler, Kelley O’Hara, Shannon Boxx and Nicole Barnhart -- but were able to outlast the Washington Freedom, without Abby Wambach, Sarah Huffman and Allie Long, 3-2; and Chicago, without Jillian Loyden, Kate Markgraf and Megan Rapinoe, as well as Kosovare Asllani playing with Sweden, staved off Sky Blue FC (missing Heather O’Reilly, Carli Lloyd, Christie Rampone and Meghan Schnur) 2-0.
Philadelphia will be without its stars too. After a bye week, the Independence have to take one FC Gold Pride on the road without Lori Lindsey, Amy Rodriguez and Heather Mitts, all with the USA, and Caroline Seger and Sara Larsson who are playing with Sweden.
It begs the question: With so many players missing, how does WPS manage to function -- and entertain -- without its stars?
The simple answer: Take a break. But that answer is too simple to accept. There has to be a way for WPS to continue on with its league while the players are off playing, qualifying, and competing in the 2011 FIFA World Cup.
A suggestion: Promote the up-and-coming talents. Look at Ella Masar of the Chicago Red Stars. On the pine, sitting around for most the season, Masar netted two goals in her first start, and then scored another two goals this week while leading her team into a fourth-place tie with the Washington Freedom.
FC Gold Pride has a number of entertaining and talented players. While the likes of Marta, Barnhart, Buehler, O’Hara and Boxx are off fighting for their countries next year, Ali Riley, Kandace Wilson, Carrie Dew and Candace Chapman will be holding it down for the Pride’s defense, and doing it well.
Philadelphia will most likely be without starting keeper Karina LeBlanc, playing with Canada. But the Independence backup is actually the first keeper they picked up. They fully expect Val Henderson to keep the team formidable.
Atlanta Beat, who will miss Hope Solo and Eniola Aluko will still have Tobin Heath (most likely, since she’s still recovering from her season-ending injury and won’t make the US team). Heath was the top overall pick for the Beat in the 2010 WPS Draft. She should be able to entertain the fans in Solo and Aluko’s likely absence.
And Washington will be without Erin McLeod, Abby Wambach, Lisa DeVanna and more. They still have a bevy of talent that can weather the storm, such as Rebecca Moros, Nikki Marshall and Christie Welsh.
Boston and Sky Blue FC, like every other team, will be missing their fair share of players, too. Lauren Cheney, Kristine Lilly, Stephanie Cox and Amy LePeilbet could all be out for Boston playing for USA next summer. But as you saw on Sunday, Jordan Angeli, Leslie Osborne, Lindsay Tarpley and Liz Bogus can team up and make things happen.
Karen Bardsley, Patrizia Panico, Christie Rampone and Heather O’Reilly could all be out from the girls from New Jersey. But Yael Averbuch, Tasha Kai, Jenni Branam (or Kristin Luckenbill in goal) and India Trotter, among others, can hold the fort.
Bottom line, Women’s Professional Soccer has more talent than you know. But you’ll be able to see that talent next summer. It won’t be easy. It should have a long ad campaign showing each team’s alternative stars. I’m not in marketing and PR, but the brass in the WPS league office has what it takes to let the fans know the depths of talent it has.
Starting in the beginning weeks of WPS 2011 season, it should begin a strong push for those young women. As much as leaving the non-international talents to keep your league afloat, it may be worse to take an all-out sabbatical -- one that may never have a return.
Goal of the Week
Jordan Angeli, Boston Breakers -- Talk about super sub. Angeli came in for the Breakers at the half with her club trailing at home by a goal to nil to the last-place Atlanta Beat and made an instant spark. Just four minutes into the second half, Angeli was running after a long ball sent in by Leslie Osborne. When she couldn’t beat Atlanta’s Carolyn Blank, she delayed her run. Blank tried heading the ball to safety but it went straight to Angeli who volleyed a shot in the upper 90 for the goal. (Angeli later went on to get an assist and lead her team to a 3-1 win.)
Have a look at the goal here:
Save of the Week
Erin McLeod, Washington Freedom - If not for McLeod, Marta could have been looking at a four-goal game. But, McLeod made two great saves on the four-time FIFA World Player of the Year.
It was McLeod’s first-half save on Marta that was for the highlight reels. Camille Abily played a ball into Christine Sinclair in the 43rd minute, who sent a square ball to Marta, leaving her one on one with the Canadian national keeper. Marta, who already beat McLeod on a penalty in the 13th minute, was going for a second but was robbed by a kick save.
Check that save here, along with a few others McLeod made in her team’s 3-2 loss at FC Gold Pride on Sunday:
Quote of the Week
“It was a crazy six or seven minutes,” courtesy of Atlanta Beat coach Gareth O’Sullivan after his team lost on the road this past Sunday to the Boston Breakers.
Actually, coach, it was five minutes. Jordan Angeli netted the goal in the 49th minute, and capped it off with an assist to Liz Bogus in the 54th minute (Kelly Smith had the middle goal). But, it’s been a crazy 13 weeks to the season overall for the Beat, who still, despite adding seven all stars to its team, thanks to St. Louis Athletica’s demise, still sits firmly in last place in the WPS table.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
There in lies the problem. Women’s Professional Soccer is loaded with international world-class talent. Most recently, Pia Sundhage took 22 WPS players, and Sweden took four, which severely affected many teams last weekend.
While USA and Sweden were training for their two-game friendly tour, the Atlanta Beat were without Hope Solo and losing to the Boston Breakers (without Amy LePeilbet, Kristine Lilly, Stephanie Cox and Lauren Cheney) 3-1 on three second-half goals in five minutes; FC Gold Pride was without four players -- Rachel Buehler, Kelley O’Hara, Shannon Boxx and Nicole Barnhart -- but were able to outlast the Washington Freedom, without Abby Wambach, Sarah Huffman and Allie Long, 3-2; and Chicago, without Jillian Loyden, Kate Markgraf and Megan Rapinoe, as well as Kosovare Asllani playing with Sweden, staved off Sky Blue FC (missing Heather O’Reilly, Carli Lloyd, Christie Rampone and Meghan Schnur) 2-0.
Philadelphia will be without its stars too. After a bye week, the Independence have to take one FC Gold Pride on the road without Lori Lindsey, Amy Rodriguez and Heather Mitts, all with the USA, and Caroline Seger and Sara Larsson who are playing with Sweden.
It begs the question: With so many players missing, how does WPS manage to function -- and entertain -- without its stars?
The simple answer: Take a break. But that answer is too simple to accept. There has to be a way for WPS to continue on with its league while the players are off playing, qualifying, and competing in the 2011 FIFA World Cup.
A suggestion: Promote the up-and-coming talents. Look at Ella Masar of the Chicago Red Stars. On the pine, sitting around for most the season, Masar netted two goals in her first start, and then scored another two goals this week while leading her team into a fourth-place tie with the Washington Freedom.
FC Gold Pride has a number of entertaining and talented players. While the likes of Marta, Barnhart, Buehler, O’Hara and Boxx are off fighting for their countries next year, Ali Riley, Kandace Wilson, Carrie Dew and Candace Chapman will be holding it down for the Pride’s defense, and doing it well.
Philadelphia will most likely be without starting keeper Karina LeBlanc, playing with Canada. But the Independence backup is actually the first keeper they picked up. They fully expect Val Henderson to keep the team formidable.
Atlanta Beat, who will miss Hope Solo and Eniola Aluko will still have Tobin Heath (most likely, since she’s still recovering from her season-ending injury and won’t make the US team). Heath was the top overall pick for the Beat in the 2010 WPS Draft. She should be able to entertain the fans in Solo and Aluko’s likely absence.
And Washington will be without Erin McLeod, Abby Wambach, Lisa DeVanna and more. They still have a bevy of talent that can weather the storm, such as Rebecca Moros, Nikki Marshall and Christie Welsh.
Boston and Sky Blue FC, like every other team, will be missing their fair share of players, too. Lauren Cheney, Kristine Lilly, Stephanie Cox and Amy LePeilbet could all be out for Boston playing for USA next summer. But as you saw on Sunday, Jordan Angeli, Leslie Osborne, Lindsay Tarpley and Liz Bogus can team up and make things happen.
Karen Bardsley, Patrizia Panico, Christie Rampone and Heather O’Reilly could all be out from the girls from New Jersey. But Yael Averbuch, Tasha Kai, Jenni Branam (or Kristin Luckenbill in goal) and India Trotter, among others, can hold the fort.
Bottom line, Women’s Professional Soccer has more talent than you know. But you’ll be able to see that talent next summer. It won’t be easy. It should have a long ad campaign showing each team’s alternative stars. I’m not in marketing and PR, but the brass in the WPS league office has what it takes to let the fans know the depths of talent it has.
Starting in the beginning weeks of WPS 2011 season, it should begin a strong push for those young women. As much as leaving the non-international talents to keep your league afloat, it may be worse to take an all-out sabbatical -- one that may never have a return.
Goal of the Week
Jordan Angeli, Boston Breakers -- Talk about super sub. Angeli came in for the Breakers at the half with her club trailing at home by a goal to nil to the last-place Atlanta Beat and made an instant spark. Just four minutes into the second half, Angeli was running after a long ball sent in by Leslie Osborne. When she couldn’t beat Atlanta’s Carolyn Blank, she delayed her run. Blank tried heading the ball to safety but it went straight to Angeli who volleyed a shot in the upper 90 for the goal. (Angeli later went on to get an assist and lead her team to a 3-1 win.)
Have a look at the goal here:
Save of the Week
Erin McLeod, Washington Freedom - If not for McLeod, Marta could have been looking at a four-goal game. But, McLeod made two great saves on the four-time FIFA World Player of the Year.
It was McLeod’s first-half save on Marta that was for the highlight reels. Camille Abily played a ball into Christine Sinclair in the 43rd minute, who sent a square ball to Marta, leaving her one on one with the Canadian national keeper. Marta, who already beat McLeod on a penalty in the 13th minute, was going for a second but was robbed by a kick save.
Check that save here, along with a few others McLeod made in her team’s 3-2 loss at FC Gold Pride on Sunday:
Quote of the Week
“It was a crazy six or seven minutes,” courtesy of Atlanta Beat coach Gareth O’Sullivan after his team lost on the road this past Sunday to the Boston Breakers.
Actually, coach, it was five minutes. Jordan Angeli netted the goal in the 49th minute, and capped it off with an assist to Liz Bogus in the 54th minute (Kelly Smith had the middle goal). But, it’s been a crazy 13 weeks to the season overall for the Beat, who still, despite adding seven all stars to its team, thanks to St. Louis Athletica’s demise, still sits firmly in last place in the WPS table.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
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