Revs/MLS/Soccer MLS - NE Revolution / US National Team IV - Revolution move closer to new stadium in Everett

[Mione134]

*whispers*

The USWNT hasn't been that good for several years now. Their performance in the World Cup to this point shouldn't be a huge surprise.

Nobody is surprised per say, but it's definitely shocking when they look so disinterested. Other than a few players. Coach has no control of the team, nor are his decisions helping.

Carli Lloyd was 100% in her assessment of the team last night. And the fans who hate her for saying it are fooling themselves.

 

[GatorMike]

Not great.

 

[Mione134]

Not great.

Sigh.

 

[McGarnagle]

I'm curious as to what these "insensitive and inappropriate remarks" were

 

[GabeTravels]

Nobody is surprised per say, but it's definitely shocking when they look so disinterested. Other than a few players. Coach has no control of the team, nor are his decisions helping.

Carli Lloyd was 100% in her assessment of the team last night. And the fans who hate her for saying it are fooling themselves.

I'm definitely not surprised. Their Europe friendlies last year were a major eye opener that they can't play on cruise control any longer.


Regarding Lloyd's comments, eh... Yes and no. I don't think this team cares more about personal brand or whatever's going on off the pitch than winning. They wouldn't have won in 2019 if that were the case. Carli's never been in agreement with the majority of her teammates on a lot of political issues and was upset about her playing time in 2019. I personally think she's got an axe to grind. Criticizing players (and it was just O'Hara and Rodman, I was there) for signing autographs and taking selfies after the match is stupid. Thanking the fans that fly 8,000 miles and stuck around for 45 minutes after a 0-0 game is a good look, not a bad one. Plus she ignores the team huddle taking place immediately after the game where they clearly weren't happy with their play.

I think they're still, talent wise, 1-23, the best in the world...but the gap has shrunk considerably. Pair that with a key injury or two, along with some dreadful coaching (they REALLY miss Jill Ellis), and I'm not surprised. The writing has indeed been on the wall for a while now.

The team selection, lack of direction, lack of gameplan is appalling. I think that leads to the team looking disinterested. Are the players blameless? Hell no! Even with everything I've said they should've cruised through this group with at least 7 points. They should only be looking like this against the Japans, Englands, and Swedens of the world... And they were only the better team against Vietnam (and even then it was far closer than it should've been).

 

[Mione134]

I'm definitely not surprised. Their Europe friendlies last year were a major eye opener that they can't play on cruise control any longer.


Regarding Lloyd's comments, eh... Yes and no. I don't think this team cares more about personal brand or whatever's going on off the pitch than winning. They wouldn't have won in 2019 if that were the case. Carli's never been in agreement with the majority of her teammates on a lot of political issues and was upset about her playing time in 2019. I personally think she's got an axe to grind. Criticizing players (and it was just O'Hara and Rodman, I was there) for signing autographs and taking selfies after the match is stupid. Thanking the fans that fly 8,000 miles and stuck around for 45 minutes after a 0-0 game is a good look, not a bad one. Plus she ignores the team huddle taking place immediately after the game where they clearly weren't happy with their play.

I think they're still, talent wise, 1-23, the best in the world...but the gap has shrunk considerably. Pair that with a key injury or two, along with some dreadful coaching (they REALLY miss Jill Ellis), and I'm not surprised. The writing has indeed been on the wall for a while now.

The team selection, lack of direction, lack of gameplan is appalling. I think that leads to the team looking disinterested. Are the players blameless? Hell no! Even with everything I've said they should've cruised through this group with at least 7 points. They should only be looking like this against the Japans, Englands, and Swedens of the world... And they were only the better team against Vietnam (and even then it was far closer than it should've been).

I think this current team definitely cares more about appearances than play. There WAS a shift in 2020 with the players. Carli was always cocky, but she backed her shit up. This team dressing up doing photoshoots, dancing, etc is whatever. But they need to be in business mode. I don't care about taking pictures with fans. She's been right about this team and Vladko. She was practically holding her true feelings about him, but we already know he sucks. Rodman should of been in earlier. This team looks uninterested. Rapinoe is cooked.

I don't care what politics each teammate believes in. It divided the locker room. But they still played as a team. That's the point. This team looks like a bunch of individuals playing. It looked that way in 2019 too. Jill Ellis had a way to bring the team together. Vladko, not even close. O'Hara took over after the game. Not Vladko. It's embarrassing to everyone that stayed up to watch that pathetic effort. I am appalled at what I watched.

 

[GabeTravels]

Oh I think she's absolutely right about Vladko. 100% with you there.

 

[Mione134]

Oh I think she's absolutely right about Vladko. 100% with you there.

I am glad you had a great time though. You are living the dream!

 

[EvilDead]

I'm curious as to what these "insensitive and inappropriate remarks" were

Probably either calling out MLS on their bs or saying something highly inappropriate. I'm leaning towards the former, if only because I hope that Arena is smart enough to not say something completely stupid and asinine to blow a good gig.

*whispers*

The USWNT hasn't been that good for several years now. Their performance in the World Cup to this point shouldn't be a huge surprise.

Hot take: the USWNT was only dominant because they had a 20 year head start on all the other major soccer nations. Now the lack of proper facilities, training, and so on has finally caught up with the USSF on the women's side and hurting them like it has with the men's side.

 

[GabeTravels]

Hot take: the USWNT was only dominant because they had a 20 year head start on all the other major soccer nations. Now the lack of proper facilities, training, and so on has finally caught up with the USSF on the women's side and hurting them like it has with the men's side.

I saw someone describe the USWNT as a modern day Uruguay, and it's not a bad take.

I don't think it'll be quite as extreme, because women's players all over the world still come stateside to play college soccer. But it's definitely going to be a big change going forward. Obviously it's for the better for the women's game, but will certainly make things more challenging for the US.

 

[EvilDead]

I saw someone describe the USWNT as a modern day Uruguay, and it's not a bad take.

I don't think it'll be quite as extreme, because women's players all over the world still come stateside to play college soccer. But it's definitely going to be a big change going forward. Obviously it's for the better for the women's game, but will certainly make things more challenging for the US.

I have a bold prediction that this team isn't gonna win another women's world cup after this group is finished and retired. This is their last feasible opportunity in this window to raw athletic ability their way to another championship, because other teams are getting sharper tactically while the USSF as a whole lags behind in producing real quality coaches.

 

[Terrier]

Tom Brady becomes minority owner of Birmingham City FC on his 46th birthday

Brady, who retired from professional football in February after 23 seasons, has announced he will become the minority owner of English football club Birmingham City FC.

nypost.com

 

[GatorMike]

Revs knock Mexican giants Atlas out of the Leagues Cup, winning a penalty shootout 8-7 after the two teams finished 90 minutes deadlocked 2-2.

Gustavo Bou scored both goals for New England.

Revs will face Queretaro in the Round of 16.

 

[RoccoF14]

Nobody is surprised per say, but it's definitely shocking when they look so disinterested. Other than a few players. Coach has no control of the team, nor are his decisions helping.

Carli Lloyd was 100% in her assessment of the team last night. And the fans who hate her for saying it are fooling themselves.

The backlash against Carli Lloyd's comments are ridiculous. Her 2015 Women's WC Final performance is the greatest performance by an American footballer (male or female) in an international competition......ever. She knows what she's talking about, and if it was Charles Barkley making these comments about an NBA team, it wouldn't even be an issue. Complete double standard....Commentators make comments about all teams, in all sports, all of the time based on what they know and observe. This is what we do in sports. Yet for some reason, one of the greatest American footballers who ever played, FAIRLY criticizing the USWNT is out of bounds?

You wanna make arrogant commercials (that Sophia Smith, Nike add in particular) prior to the tournament, then you better be prepared to back that shit up on the pitch. Hell, go full 1980s Miami Hurricane Football mode if you want. Just be prepared to take a little heat when the walk doesn't match the talk.

 

[RoccoF14]

Hot take: the USWNT was only dominant because they had a 20 year head start on all the other major soccer nations. Now the lack of proper facilities, training, and so on has finally caught up with the USSF on the women's side and hurting them like it has with the men's side.

Hopefully the same thing will happen with Women's International Hockey one day as well.........but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[GabeTravels]

The backlash against Carli Lloyd's comments are ridiculous. Her 2015 Women's WC Final performance is the greatest performance by an American footballer (male or female) in an international competition......ever. She knows what she's talking about, and if it was Charles Barkley making these comments about an NBA team, it wouldn't even be an issue. Complete double standard....Commentators make comments about all teams, in all sports, all of the time based on what they know and observe. This is what we do in sports. Yet for some reason, one of the greatest American footballers who ever played, FAIRLY criticizing the USWNT is out of bounds?

You wanna make arrogant commercials (that Sophia Smith, Nike add in particular) prior to the tournament, then you better be prepared to back that shit up on the pitch. Hell, go full 1980s Miami Hurricane Football mode if you want. Just be prepared to take a little heat when the walk doesn't match the talk.

She's one of the best players to ever play the sport. No arguments here. She's clearly qualified to commentate and critique. And her technical analysis is something I don't think anyone is questioning.

I absolutely think it's fair to question if her non-technical comments are personally motivated. She clashed with the team due to political differences between the '15 and '19 World Cups. Being careful not to wade into those...but I can understand her feeling alienated/excluded because she was the only one on the team not participating in protests/statements. I can also understand her feeling that the off-field causes/issues were distracting from the play on the pitch. But...they won in 2019, which was arguably at the HEIGHT of those off-field "distractions." And they didn't just win, they dominated. 26 GF, 3 GA, and they beat Spain, France (on home soil), England, and the Netherlands to do it. So I don't really think that argument holds much water, and she (to me anyways) comes across as bitter when she's still complaining about it, despite those not being anywhere near in the forefront now.

So maybe her arguments about personal branding being more important than on the field ring more true. Again...I can see that argument (and even agree with it to an extent)! Though to act like Sophie Smith or any of these other players have a lot of input on what Nike wants to do in their ad campaigns is kinda dumb.

But Lloyd also focused a hell of a lot on personal branding too, including a season-long retirement tour from the NWSL. I'm not arguing she didn't earn/deserve it (she ABSOLUTELY did), but her criticisms come across as hypocritical.

So I guess where I come down is her comments are warranted and fair (even if I don't fully agree with them)...but she's probably not the right messenger. Like when Ronaldo came out with the scathing comments about Manchester United...there was some truth to his comments, but you also can't separate his personal greivences from them.

 

[Terrier]

They're underway in Scotland, live on CBSSN.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/66200171

 

[GabeTravels]

20 minutes in and they're looking a lot better. 4-2-3-1 is giving them options in the middle of the pitch and they're not forcing the ball down the left nearly as much.

 

[Terrier]

Squeaky bum time.

Extra time.

 

[GabeTravels]

To Pens we go.

 

[Terrier]

That was CLOSE, no wonder that took a minute.

 

[KrejciMVP]

did Toronto rule on that Sweden PK winner?

 

[Johnnyduke]

Never thought they would win a 3rd straight WC, almost impossible. But this was a pathetic performance overall. Easy decision to move on from Andonovski and purge some older players.

 

[GatorMike]

Disappointing.

Not unexpected.

Obviously need a new coach, but furthermore, new blood is desperately needed. There were players on this roster who were selected based on reputation more than performance.

 

[EvilDead]

Welp...there goes the last chance for the USWNT has to win it for a while.