I thought Canada looked awful last night. They couldn't string two passes together.
Playing strikers (Lang and Wilkinson) as outside midfielders just doesn't work. They're used to playing against one layer not two. It's even worse when the two of them are really wingers. They like to run down the sidelines and cross the ball into space. A midfielder has to be a link. They're not doing that so Latham and especially Sinclair almost never get the ball at their feet.
It's interesting to see that even World Class coaches "fall in love" with a particular player and never see the weaknesses. Matheson looks lost in the midfield. Never in position and not big enough to win balls either on the ground or in the air. She came out of nowhere from a selection process on the basis of a strong showing against very weak competition in the summer.
How can you play kickball when your two central midfielders are 5'0" (Matheson) and 5'3" (Kiss). Granted Neil was hurt but would she have played anyways?
If they play the same way against Japan I think they'll look silly.
If I was God I would abandon the Hooper-sweeper experiment. She doesn't look comfortable back there and keeps doing things that should only be done in the 6 yard box at the other end. She's still their best forward. Let her play it.
Play Sasha Andrews in the middle of the back. That lets Hooper play Striker.
Assuming they're still going to play kickball put bigger people in the middle. Moscato (5'9"), Burtini (5'8"), and Neil (5'8").
Play 2.5 upfront. One of the front three acts as a link and has more defensive responsibilities. Creatively it should be Sinclair but I don't think she's 100% recovered from her mono. If she is fit she links otherwise use Latham
Lineup 4-3-1-2
GK Leblanc
Defenders Dennis, Nonen, Andrews, Timko
Midfield Burtini, Moscato, Neil
Forwards Hooper, Latham, Sinclair
Playing strikers (Lang and Wilkinson) as outside midfielders just doesn't work. They're used to playing against one layer not two. It's even worse when the two of them are really wingers. They like to run down the sidelines and cross the ball into space. A midfielder has to be a link. They're not doing that so Latham and especially Sinclair almost never get the ball at their feet.
It's interesting to see that even World Class coaches "fall in love" with a particular player and never see the weaknesses. Matheson looks lost in the midfield. Never in position and not big enough to win balls either on the ground or in the air. She came out of nowhere from a selection process on the basis of a strong showing against very weak competition in the summer.
How can you play kickball when your two central midfielders are 5'0" (Matheson) and 5'3" (Kiss). Granted Neil was hurt but would she have played anyways?
If they play the same way against Japan I think they'll look silly.
If I was God I would abandon the Hooper-sweeper experiment. She doesn't look comfortable back there and keeps doing things that should only be done in the 6 yard box at the other end. She's still their best forward. Let her play it.
Play Sasha Andrews in the middle of the back. That lets Hooper play Striker.
Assuming they're still going to play kickball put bigger people in the middle. Moscato (5'9"), Burtini (5'8"), and Neil (5'8").
Play 2.5 upfront. One of the front three acts as a link and has more defensive responsibilities. Creatively it should be Sinclair but I don't think she's 100% recovered from her mono. If she is fit she links otherwise use Latham
Lineup 4-3-1-2
GK Leblanc
Defenders Dennis, Nonen, Andrews, Timko
Midfield Burtini, Moscato, Neil
Forwards Hooper, Latham, Sinclair