Graham Hays again..

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote: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.

A quick perusal of FIFA's Player of the Year Awards shows that the obsession with goal scorers in awards like this isn't uniquely American:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Player_of_the_Year

Other than Cannavaro in 2006 (which he won because Italy won the World Cup), there isn't a single non striker or high-scoring midfielder on the list.

the herman an all other awards usually go to offensive players, those who score lots of goals an have a considerable amount of assists. that right there rules out keelin [no matter how deserving she may be] an to some degree sophie because she is so balanced as far as scoring an assisting goes. it has always seemed to me that it's all about how many goals you score!! so, with that being said, i think dani has the best shot at winning the herman.

also, i agree whole heartedly that keelin has a very good chance to make the national team once her career is finished on the bluff as long as pia is the coach. boxx will be nearing the end of her career an i havent seen anyone nearly as good as keelin in any phase of the skills required to play defensive holding mid!!

i also think dani has a very good chance to advancing to the natl team. jess is a long shot i think, mainly because of her height, not because of her skill or talent. as with most world class atheletes, the taller, the better, an i am a huge jess fan an would like nothing better to see her on the natl team for many, many years.

fozziewozzie wrote:also, i agree whole heartedly that keelin has a very good chance to make the national team once her career is finished on the bluff as long as pia is the coach. boxx will be nearing the end of her career an i havent seen anyone nearly as good as keelin in any phase of the skills required to play defensive holding mid!!

i also think dani has a very good chance to advancing to the natl team. jess is a long shot i think, mainly because of her height, not because of her skill or talent. as with most world class atheletes, the taller, the better, an i am a huge jess fan an would like nothing better to see her on the natl team for many, many years.

Good thoughts - One thing we tend to not take into account when considering which Pilots might go on to the national team is - who is on the national team now. Keelin, for example, could be coming along at the right time to replace Boxx, as you said. Meghan might be coming along at the right time to replace Lily. Danielle, on the other hand, will have to compete with current young nat. teamers Rodriguez, Cheney, and Kelly O'Hara, not to mention Alex Morgan and La Roux. That may be a tougher road for her.

Jess doesn't seem to get her due, does she - especially away from Portland.

Will Sophie still qualify for the Hermann if misses up to 4 games...when she leaves to play for the Canadian National Team in Oct?

GO PILOTS!!!

Probably depends on how many games she misses, what her numbers are for the season and how she/we do in the playoffs. If she is the hub of a championship winning team then being gone in October will not be a problem, I'm guessing.

Regarding Jess....

I too am confused why she does not get her due outside of Portland. It could be because she doesn't play with a lot of flash....she just plays perfectly.

She makes no mistakes either on defense or when she brings the ball up the field.

She reminds me of how Hank AAron played baseball...... effortlessly.

Purplepet... Jessica is my and my wifes favorite player, just because she plays the way you described it. She has been for the last 2 years. She is rock solid... I don't understand why she does not get more attention outside the area also...

But you know something Penn State/UP fan.... I bet Jess will get a ton of attention when she graduates from UP and applies for medical or grad school.

That kid is as smart as she is good at playing soccer!

Agreed. That is another thing that makes her special. She is very intelligent...

Sign me up for the Jessica fan club. She plays with understated elegance every game and is a scoring threat every time she goes forward.

my vote: