Graham Hays again..

He has a piece on his blog making a list of his top 5 Herman candidates for 2010.

A Pilot is on it. before click the link, make your guess, then tell me if you agree.


http://grahamhays.wordpress.com/2010/08/07/starting-the-season-with-a-list-seems-so-passe/

Missed on my guess. Great choice, though. I started to write who I picked, and why, but that would have ruined Geezer's challenge for everyone else.

And hard to argue with Hays' metaphor: aircraft carrier and fighter pilot. Although we have two carriers, IMHO.

For those of you who might have guessed incorrectly for the first link, don't feel too bad, he's not done. Another Pilot is on it. Same rules as before.
Good luck!

I figured it would be either Dani or Sophie, both are deserving. They would both undoubtedly prefer a national championship over any individual award.

And I don't think you should overlook the role that Keelin plays: she is the anchor that allows all the attacking to take place.

She is the Roy Keane or Patrick Vierra who is as vital to the way the team plays as they were to the great Man Utd and Arsenal teams of recent memory.

She might be overlooked by some because she does what she does in an understated way and it's all about closing things down before they become a problem and making it all easy: simple passes; winning every header in the middle of the field and starting the offense; her presence allows Jessica and Elli to get forward because she's always covering.

I'm old.

I had to look up Gibbard and Walla.

Harry Redknapp wrote:And I don't think you should overlook the role that Keelin plays: she is the anchor that allows all the attacking to take place.

She is the Roy Keane or Patrick Vierra who is as vital to the way the team plays as they were to the great Man Utd and Arsenal teams of recent memory.

She might be overlooked by some because she does what she does in an understated way and it's all about closing things down before they become a problem and making it all easy: simple passes; winning every header in the middle of the field and starting the offense; her presence allows Jessica and Elli to get forward because she's always covering.

Keelin was my guess. I still think she has the best chance to play on the national team of all the current players.

Yeah, Sophie has no chance.

Not much chance to play on THE national team, unless she changes citizenship

fan from afar wrote:Not much chance to play on THE national team, unless she changes citizenship

Maybe not, but she is the only player Hays mentioned who has Already started for her National team in both the World Cup and the Olympics. She will be playing in the Gold Cup in October helping Canada qualify for the next World Cup.

There isn't another player on either of Graham's lists with those Bonafides.

fan from afar wrote:

Harry Redknapp wrote:And I don't think you should overlook the role that Keelin plays: she is the anchor that allows all the attacking to take place.

She is the Roy Keane or Patrick Vierra who is as vital to the way the team plays as they were to the great Man Utd and Arsenal teams of recent memory.

She might be overlooked by some because she does what she does in an understated way and it's all about closing things down before they become a problem and making it all easy: simple passes; winning every header in the middle of the field and starting the offense; her presence allows Jessica and Elli to get forward because she's always covering.

Keelin was my guess. I still think she has the best chance to play on the national team of all the current players.

I think that Foxhoven and Keelin both have a great shot at the National Team. However, Sophie is as good of a choice as any of our Seniors for the award. I wouldn't be at all surprised to have more than one senior as a finalist for the award. Foxhoven will likely have her turn later...

My first guess was Sophie but there are many equally deserving. How can you NOT include Jessica? She controls the right side defensively and is always involved in the attack. Defensive players seldom get the recognition and respect they deserve.

Ahem? I read this a little late...but if my avatar's namesake had to make a guess on which Pilot would be Graham's 1st choice for the Hermann Trophy candidate....of course!!!....the HMCS Sophie Schmidt!!! That was the vessle that first came to my mind!

She's been the tip of our spear since she arrived on campus. She's such a strong, stabilizing, dependable, confident and quiet force on the pitch. She leads by example. She has the best all-around skills on the team, plays hard, plays smart and is unyielding. Aces know....it's Sophie who launches their butts into battle...and supports them when they need to catch a wire, refuel and re-arm for attacks! IMHO...there's no question who this year's team will look's to.

GO PILOTS!!!

Geezaldinho wrote:I'm old.

I had to look up Gibbard and Walla.

Good band, Death Cab. They're a NW group, from Bellingham. You know, the Decemberists are from Portland and they're playing Pioneer Courthouse Square next month...

Oh yes, football. I would have put Sophie on the list as well. She's my favorite among the scorers we have. She's so strong you're not getting the ball away from her once she gets it. Of course these lists always are heavy on goalscorers. One thing I think makes soccer hard for Americans to get into is that there aren't a lot of stats in soccer so you have to watch players to see how skilled they are.

Besides Sophie there are some others that are a joy to watch. I like the way Jessica's balance of shutting down the right side and getting forward to attack. My other favorite is Keelin because I like the high work rate players who set up the playmakers. Harry's right--in Europe a player like her would be getting mountains of praise for the way she makes the game run through her.