End of season review

Again, very well put Harry. It seems the possibilities with this group are endless. Talent, size, technical prowess and pace should be had in abundance. We can sub in fresh legs and not have a huge drop off at almost every position.

We do have the whole off-season to ponder it, take it apart and put it back together and so on and so forth. We also will find more stories and info about the incoming class. One thing I seem to recall as we were discussing these recruits when we first heard about them, was a general feeling that we were recruiting size, speed, flexibility and good people that fit in well with the current team.

Mark it down: Harry, one of the best soccer minds we have around here, has said what we've been dancing around: the "C" word next season.

Harry, you hit my lineup exactly, except I had Kassie instead of Cloee (whom I haven't seen play).

I guess that settles it.

I haven't seen Cloee play either, but I made the assumption I described in my post, i.e. the national team players that have come to Merlo in the past several years haver shown themselves good enough to start as freshmen.

There are no guarantees that Cloee will start. But every time I have read a review of one of her YNT's games, she not only starts and plays the whole game, but seems to regularly be singled out by one coach or another for her stellar play.

Kassi and Michelle at center back and Keelin at defensive mid is a formidable center back end. But when you recruit a player of Cloee's caliber, I can't envision her coming to Portland to sit on the bench.

I think Garrett is building quality depth for when some of these players leave for national team duty again. In the meantime, who sits? We'll probably speculate on this for months, but I kinda like the idea of Cloee and Michelle in the middle, and Kassi and Jessica on the outside.
But then what about Elli at outside back, behind Michelle E.? (Twin jets overlapping each other.)

I swear, the possibilities are endless if we are whole. But when injuries happen, and national call-ups happen, we will be much more prepared than in the past.

I kind of liken 2009 to 2005. I don't believe the national teams will be a problem next fall, (fingers crossed), and if we stay healthy, we will have a championship caliber team from back to front. No question.

And I guarantee if you listen to Garrett before next season, he'll say anything less than a 3rd championship will be a disappointment.

Another interesting option would be to play Keelin on the wing, Sophie at defensive mid, and Michelle E. up front. It would give Keelin a chance to get in the offense more.

I think if Keelin plays anywhere but holding mid, she'll do time as attacking mid. She played attacking mid/striker as a high schooler.

We old guys agree - I can't imagine Keelin anywhere except in the middle. She has that toughness you need there - It's almost impossible to dispossess her. Also, she seems to be good in the air, which we seemed to be lacking this year, especially on goal kicks, maybe partly because of Charney's lack of height?

Kind of interesting to have the two best defensive midfielders in the country, and another one who actually played it during the playoffs (and did a darn good job).

Yup. If we didn't have two of the best young central defenders in the country as well it might be tempting to go to three defenders and put both into the midfield.

That brings up a question. Have the Pilots always used the 4-4-2 or have they tried other formations to fit their personnel? I've been watching Pilot games for a few years now, and it seems like they've always used the 4-4-2 with attacking and holding midfielders.

Given their team depth next season, it would be interesting (and a BIG surprise) if Garrett went with a different formation.

My memory is fading, but I seem to recall that Christine was sometimes up top by herself in the middle with two fast players on the wings. I'm not sure whether they were technically forwards or midfielders, but they played in an attacking role. Am I remembering this correctly?

Poopdeck Pappy wrote:That brings up a question. Have the Pilots always used the 4-4-2 or have they tried other formations to fit their personnel? I've been watching Pilot games for a few years now, and it seems like they've always used the 4-4-2 with attacking and holding midfielders.

Given their team depth next season, it would be interesting (and a BIG surprise) if Garrett went with a different formation.

Before 10 or 11 years ago, Clive used a three defender formation. They switched to a four defender formation in perhaps 1997? I do recall that by the time Frenchie finished up her career 99? they had four defenders in the back. She was one of them.
Early in Sinclair's career they experimented a bit with what I think was a 4-3-3, but found better success with the diamond 4-4-2 and stuck with it ever since. The key to using it is how they push people forward, and few teams do it as well as Portland.

You have to think that with the defenders we will have next year it would be tempting to try a 3-4-3, but Garrett probably won't. They just play the 4-4-2 so well.

"PurplegeezerYou have to think that with the defenders we will have next year it would be tempting to try a 3-4-3, but Garrett probably won't. They just play the 4-4-2 so well."

I agree, it is better to send defenders forward than to try and back track midfielders. The 3-4-3 can end up with the mids doing a lot of running at our goal, which Bill hates to see us do. Also, against a good team like Stanford you need the extra defender. Jessica was busy all night and only was able to get up on the attack a few times.

The 4-4-2 that the Pilots play is a great formation; and they have the right people to exploit it expertly next season. Keys for me:

Outside defenders with pace who can join the attack and play like wingers on offense: Jessica and Elli are brilliant for that. And with both of them strong going forward the other team can't overload on either side.

Holding mid who can control the game and "quarterback" everything else: Keelin is almost perfect (I'd love to see her develop a shot from 20 yards because she will get lots of chances next year). In this system the "quarterback" puts up great numbers with handoffs and short passes.

Pace on the outside mids so that you can have 4 forwards on offense but also get 8 people behind the ball quickly: again Michelle E and Kendra fit the bill.

Attacking mid: tough defender, good outside shot, able to read the angles and control the ball in a crowd and thread the needle for others in a tight space: Charney.

Forwards who can hold it up and make use of the flyers from behind: Sophie and, increasingly, Danielle.

The formation with the diamond in midfield is very flexible and it allows the team to look like they have extra players, because of the movement. That's how it looks when the Pilots are firing on all cylinders, they overwhelm the opposition and dominate possession because it seems like they have extra players. One other key is that it works best if the defenders have enough skill to control the ball and retain possession out of defense: that's what buys the time for the forward movement.

That's one of the places that the game broke down against Stanford. Not enough time for our players to get control out of defense so the ball came back quickly and the Pilots never got forward momentum. It takes defenders who can not only win the ball and stop the other team, but do so in a way that allows them to emerge with the ball under control and to play it out to a team mate and not just whack it downfield.

I think that having Elli and Michelle O back there will change that dimension of the game against tough teams.