WPS on FSC schedule...

Auto Pilot wrote:Can't wait for Budgie to come back from Germany. She will be so much better.

She's back!

Budgie

I can't help notice her College numbers are better than Amy Rodriguez' (31 goals, 79 points).

It's been an interesting process to follow as they have allocated national team players, drafted college players, and moved through tryouts to finalize the teams. I was originally concerned that because of the depth of the teams right now that it would be difficult for new players to make the rosters for the next couple of years because it didn't seem like there would be much turnover. Now after watching several of the games it seems like the skill level of the older players is not on par with the top girls that will be graduating in the next 2 years. I think as these players graduate and move onto these teams the overall quality of play in the league is going to improve substantially.

Auto Pilot wrote:
I will agree with AFan's assessment of the Brazilians with the exception of Marta who seems to be bringing everything that was expected.

I think that might be an unfair statement, also. Marta is the most creative player in the world. Other players need to play with other players who can actually play the same style. If you are with a bunch of dump and run players, how are you going to see passing skill?

It's the same trap the WNT got into. they put a playmaker on a skills island with nobody to play WITH and then are shocked that playmaking doesn't happen. If a playmaker has nobody with the smarts to show themselves in passing lanes, you aren't going to see her passing skill, are you?

Maybe somebody should have put 4 Brasilians on the same team and see what happens....

I couldn't agree more. It seems as if the drafting of players was not done with the idea of putting together a roster of players that would complement each other, and I think Geezer hit exactly on the reason why - the separated draft system, which seems to have made it difficult if not impossible to put together a team to play any certain style.

I think you will see a large number of Portland players move into the league over the next two years, including a few that are ex UP players playing elsewhere right now. Without checking a roster, I can think of 3 seniors and 4 juniors who I think will play, and I am probably missing one or two.

I am wondering - are the pro players signed for multi year contracts? I wonder if there will be (can be) trades made after the season to get players onto teams on which they compliment each other better.

Speaking of Germany, am I right in thinking German players are not involved in WSL? Seems like they were stalwarts in WUSA -- Birgit Prinz and Maren Meinert et al -- and really established themselves in that league.

PilotPoser wrote:Now after watching several of the games it seems like the skill level of the older players is not on par with the top girls that will be graduating in the next 2 years.

Are you sure about that? Millbrett just had a game winner, and Kristine Lilly has not lost a step and can really still get behind defenses... Maybe I'm misunderstanding your comment, but, from what I can tell I disagree. (Not to nitpick, but, at the collegiate and pro levels I'd call the players women instead of girls...)

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On another note...

Marta has been pretty amazing in the games I've seen. Complaining about her is like noticing a one inch scratch in the Mercedes; I don't get it.

purple haze wrote:Speaking of Germany, am I right in thinking German players are not involved in WSL? Seems like they were stalwarts in WUSA -- Birgit Prinz and Maren Meinert et al -- and really established themselves in that league.

There are pro teams in Germany (and Sweden). The pay differential may not justify the move here. This new league isn't paying anything like the WUSA did.

athleticjames wrote:

PilotPoser wrote:Now after watching several of the games it seems like the skill level of the older players is not on par with the top girls that will be graduating in the next 2 years.

Are you sure about that? Millbrett just had a game winner, and Kristine Lilly has not lost a step and can really still get behind defenses... Maybe I'm misunderstanding your comment, but, from what I can tell I disagree.

Maybe he means players older only when compared to the players who will be coming up in a couple years. The gap I see is the age group that was frozen out of high level competition during "the lost years". If you weren't on the National Team, you sat on the couch and ate snack food. I'll admit some of the recent attacking players From the last 3 or 4 years haven't shown me much, and I still scratch my head that a couple of them made the WNT.

And I don't know that you can say Millie has hit her stride yet. She's only playing limited minutes, and don't forget how totally dominant she was just a few years ago. Her pace will pick up as she plays more high level games, then it will be pretty hard to keep her off the pitch.

I say it's too early to make those kinds of judgments yet. Let them play half a season first, after they get to know each other a little.

AJ evidently my comments on some of the older players were to general. Millbrett and Kristine Lilly (my all time favorite player) can definitely play in this league. Kristine has lost a step but her experience, focus, and level of commitment more than compensate. This is not the case for some of the other older players and I think they will cycle through the teams quickly as new younger players become available.

Now that I am in my 50's and have kids in their 20's I guess maybe I need some clarification on when girls become women. And since we are nitpicking maybe you can clarify this for me so that I don't make the same mistake in the future...

Maybe you could name the players who you are talking about in order to clarify then, PilotPoser. Isn't it just natural that some younger players would surpass older players over time though? The talent level is better than the WUSA though if that's what you meant.

I think Milbrett is doing very well for a 38-year-old player, PGeezer. I'm assuming she's about 38 now; she was a classmate of mine. She's a good 15 years older than players like Rapinoe taken at the top of the draft, and yet she still knows how to convert better than most players. It would be a treat to see her on the field at the same time as Chastain and Sinclair more often, but, there's a fair amount of talent on that team. Penn State's Wiemer could continue to improve a lot with just a little bit of coaching...

The main difference in women's soccer that I've noticed over the years is that other countries like Brazil and Germany have clearly caught up with the US. The women's sport has become more international. Unfortunately, the average fans don't pay enough attention and still just talk about Mia Hamm as if she's still the face of the sport. She was a great spokesperson, but, was always given more credit than she deserved in my opinion...

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Sorry, there's no particular age when girls become women. It's a subjective thing. I tend to start using the word when people go to college though, but, that's just me. I'm working on having more respect for people older than me in my posts. (Ashamed avatar...)

Tiff is going to be mad at you. you aged her 2 years -- tsk, Tsk.


USSoccer makes the distinction to adulthood at u17. - probably as good an age as any. FIFA doesn't make a distinction, but there is no World Cup play before u16.

At that age boys become men and girls become women in the soccer world.

And in much of the world that's true in fact, also. AJ put up a video of the Superclásico. One of the River Stars of the game was Falcao, who's only 17 and just came from some u17 competition. Bounonotte is only 18, I think, and he's been on the River first squad for a couple of years.
Maradona was on a World Cup team at 17, as was Messi.

Wayne Rooney was 17 when he exploded for Everton (and a year later for England at the WC), and I think Michael Owen was 18 for his first sensational cup... Haha Pele wasn't even 18 when he was playing in his first Final...

And Manchester United just had an Italian player debut at 17 (Fredrico Macheda), haha he had 2 game winners in his first 2 matches!

And I think you can't officially sign an pro contract until you turn 18 internationally (that may even be a fifa rule, but I'm not sure), you can be on the youth squad but I'm fairly certain those contracts aren't official paid pro contracts.... I mean unless you are Freddy Adu making your 16 year old MLS debut (and THAT was a huge success )

WPS standings:

http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/standings/standings.aspx

Marta's team...or should we say Stephanie Cox's team sits in first...

Nice photo of Rapinoe by the standings too...

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WPS promotions on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/womensprosoccer

PilotPoser wrote:It's been an interesting process to follow as they have allocated national team players, drafted college players, and moved through tryouts to finalize the teams. I was originally concerned that because of the depth of the teams right now that it would be difficult for new players to make the rosters for the next couple of years because it didn't seem like there would be much turnover. Now after watching several of the games it seems like the skill level of the older players is not on par with the top girls that will be graduating in the next 2 years. I think as these players graduate and move onto these teams the overall quality of play in the league is going to improve substantially.

Since this is the first year of the league we are only getting a snapshot of the talent that is currently the right age age and skill level for this league. As more talented younger players come out of college expect to see the cream rise to the top and some less skilled players be surpassed.

I am hoping that next years draft will not compartmentalize the National Team, Internationals and "other" players and let each team draft according to its needs. I also hope trades might be allowed so that teams can get the right players for the system they want to play. All in all though I think the skill level I have been watching every Sunday is pretty high. By the way I take back what I have said about the Brazilians. They have been fantastic. I have also been impressed with the international stars from other countries. To me this says the winner of the next world cup will be the country with the deepest team skill level. I think Pia realizes this and wants to make sure she has a look at every potential player in the U.S that might be ready to step up in 2011.

[quote="Auto Pilot"]

PilotPoser wrote:
I am hoping that next years draft will not compartmentalize the National Team, Internationals and "other" players and let each team draft according to its needs.

I would be shocked if they do a similar thing next year, and unless 75% of the players leave the league next year it really won't be necessary. The purpose of this was to create a relatively balanced league for the first year and to fill out the rosters. They won't need to conduct such a draft in the future since the core of each team will already be established...