Sure, if she could only play half. It was obvious that attack as he had it was toothless. I thought for sure she'd come in at half, or at least he'd put on a forward who could run with Weaver. What's the point in having Weaver's strength and speed if Sinc is playing a central forward, but jogging behind the play?! Just like, the most mismatched pairing I've watched in a while....
Fluky is one game, but, this has been multiple games. At some point you can't call it fluky anymore if they keep showing up the same way...it's been 4 games they haven't played well. HOU/SD/LOU/AC. They've gotten points in some of these because of so much individual talent and a lot of luck.
I know things are changing now, but my old-school brain cant accept Smith not being available bc she had to go visit her boyfriend. If that really is the reason she didnтАЩt play, then shame on either her or Norris or both, depending on whose call it was. Voluntarily Letting your team down like that should be a fineable offense. I still love watching her play, but if IтАЩm honest I respect her as a player a little less. Yeah I know- end of old man rant.
Soph trained in Portland Friday morning was back before 10am Saturday morning. I donтАЩt think people realize the sacrifices these players make. They have families and lives outside of soccer.
I gotta old man rant a little with Stefan though. Can you imagine the opposite happening? How many NFL games will the boyfriend miss because Smith has an important Nats game he would rather be at? My guess is zero.
Look, maybe she had the full support of every teammate and coach, it wasn't really important to them whether the best striker in the league was available for the game because she had other family stuff to do and they figure they are good enough to drop a couple of points along the way and it not matter for shield or playoff positioning.
It is also extremely generational. While I commend the younger generation for not letting their work define them, control them, the reality is that life is full of conflicts and choices, conflicting responsibilities. I have missed a ton of family things over the years because of work responsibilities, but try to make the most of the time that I do have. I am always annoyed when my equals come to me and expect a last minute schedule change because they personally want to do something other than work (which creates a ton of work for everyone else to cover for them) but some of them wouldn't help out others with the same request and would not be willing to be inconvenienced themselves to pay it back. Professional soccer is a bit different because there is no opportunity to pay it back.
She didnтАЩt miss anything, she was there and ready to play. It was 100% the coaches decision. IтАЩm sure her SO would not miss an NFL game to attend a family event but to be fair she did not miss a game either.
You are right (or at least consistent with what others have said, that she was only out of town for an overnight trip, back well before kickoff). I have to admit I don't follow her whereabouts on social media or as paparazzi, etc ;).
I was never a professional player, but in college the rule on my team was always no parties or substances the night before, in bed on time, stay completely on routine. San Diego is a short flight (I read elsewhere that is where Boyfriend's family is) but it is still 5 hours on a plane round trip, not sleeping in your own bed, nothing routine about it. Timing was not ideal for a finely tuned athlete to be in airports/traveling for 8-9 hours for a congratulatory together moment, quick sleep over and home. That said, this wasn't the reason we drew and nearly lost. That was on defensive blunder minded moments.
I remember reading a story about Marta, when Brazil got eliminated from some WWC or Olympic competition , showing up at Orlando Pride practice early the next week. Her coach essentially said donтАЩt you want to take some time off? (Coach probably being used to many of the USWNT players who basically disappear with тАЬknocksтАЭ after international play is done). She said no, youтАЩre paying me to play soccer right? Well letтАЩs play soccer. (As a disclaimer, This is all paraphrased and from memory) . That kind of baller attitude made me a fan immediately.
Still think not starting SS9 was the right call. I would of put her in at the start of second half though.
Yeah, have to hope it was a weird fluky game like the entire NWSL slate this week. Seems like there were upsets and weird results everywhere.
Team will have to rebound, clean up a few things, and get back to playing the soccer they are good at. They'll be back!
Sure, if she could only play half. It was obvious that attack as he had it was toothless. I thought for sure she'd come in at half, or at least he'd put on a forward who could run with Weaver. What's the point in having Weaver's strength and speed if Sinc is playing a central forward, but jogging behind the play?! Just like, the most mismatched pairing I've watched in a while....
Fluky is one game, but, this has been multiple games. At some point you can't call it fluky anymore if they keep showing up the same way...it's been 4 games they haven't played well. HOU/SD/LOU/AC. They've gotten points in some of these because of so much individual talent and a lot of luck.
I know things are changing now, but my old-school brain cant accept Smith not being available bc she had to go visit her boyfriend. If that really is the reason she didnтАЩt play, then shame on either her or Norris or both, depending on whose call it was. Voluntarily Letting your team down like that should be a fineable offense. I still love watching her play, but if IтАЩm honest I respect her as a player a little less. Yeah I know- end of old man rant.
Soph trained in Portland Friday morning was back before 10am Saturday morning. I donтАЩt think people realize the sacrifices these players make. They have families and lives outside of soccer.
I gotta old man rant a little with Stefan though. Can you imagine the opposite happening? How many NFL games will the boyfriend miss because Smith has an important Nats game he would rather be at? My guess is zero.
Look, maybe she had the full support of every teammate and coach, it wasn't really important to them whether the best striker in the league was available for the game because she had other family stuff to do and they figure they are good enough to drop a couple of points along the way and it not matter for shield or playoff positioning.
It is also extremely generational. While I commend the younger generation for not letting their work define them, control them, the reality is that life is full of conflicts and choices, conflicting responsibilities. I have missed a ton of family things over the years because of work responsibilities, but try to make the most of the time that I do have. I am always annoyed when my equals come to me and expect a last minute schedule change because they personally want to do something other than work (which creates a ton of work for everyone else to cover for them) but some of them wouldn't help out others with the same request and would not be willing to be inconvenienced themselves to pay it back. Professional soccer is a bit different because there is no opportunity to pay it back.
She didnтАЩt miss anything, she was there and ready to play. It was 100% the coaches decision. IтАЩm sure her SO would not miss an NFL game to attend a family event but to be fair she did not miss a game either.
You are right (or at least consistent with what others have said, that she was only out of town for an overnight trip, back well before kickoff). I have to admit I don't follow her whereabouts on social media or as paparazzi, etc ;).
I was never a professional player, but in college the rule on my team was always no parties or substances the night before, in bed on time, stay completely on routine. San Diego is a short flight (I read elsewhere that is where Boyfriend's family is) but it is still 5 hours on a plane round trip, not sleeping in your own bed, nothing routine about it. Timing was not ideal for a finely tuned athlete to be in airports/traveling for 8-9 hours for a congratulatory together moment, quick sleep over and home. That said, this wasn't the reason we drew and nearly lost. That was on defensive blunder minded moments.
I remember reading a story about Marta, when Brazil got eliminated from some WWC or Olympic competition , showing up at Orlando Pride practice early the next week. Her coach essentially said donтАЩt you want to take some time off? (Coach probably being used to many of the USWNT players who basically disappear with тАЬknocksтАЭ after international play is done). She said no, youтАЩre paying me to play soccer right? Well letтАЩs play soccer. (As a disclaimer, This is all paraphrased and from memory) . That kind of baller attitude made me a fan immediately.