Author: RD Welch

USWNT: Thoughts on the Optimal Player Pool Size and Structure

This week in obscure USWNT topics: A discussion of the optimal size of the United States Women’s National Team player pool.

The main prompt for this discussion was the inclusion of Christen Press in the last camp roster, which highlighted a problem in the management of the team’s main player pool: The number of experienced true forwards was dwindling due to the use of Lauren Cheney and Amy Rodriguez as midfielders, while the need for true forwards was increasing due to the switch back to the 4-4-2 formation, from the 4-2-3-1 formation.

This is also relevant since the USWNT players’ collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of the year (USSoccer.com article announcing the current agreement back in 2006).

Continue reading “USWNT: Thoughts on the Optimal Player Pool Size and Structure”

CONCACAF WU-17: A Preview Wrap-Up

On Wednesday, May 2nd, the 2012 CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship kicks off in Guatemala City, Guatemala, with eight teams hoping to claim one of three spots for the 2012 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup (U-17 WWC)  in Azerbaijan. The three teams to claim those spots will likely be the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, one of the other five teams in the tournament could play the role of spoiler. Continue reading “CONCACAF WU-17: A Preview Wrap-Up”

CONCACAF WU-17: Group B Preview – USA, Mexico, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago

This year, the United States finds itself grouped with a North American opponent for the first time at a CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship. That opponent, Mexico, features eleven players who live in the United States, including two players, Jenny Chiu and Cynthia Pineda, who have been in USWNT youth camps.

The third team in the group is Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), who have a few veterans returning from the 2010 Under-17 Women’s World Cup, which T&T hosted. The Bahamas is the final team in the group and are the lone debutantes at this tournament. In fact, this is the first time that this small Caribbean nation has qualified for any final phase of a CONCACAF tournament, men’s or women’s. Continue reading “CONCACAF WU-17: Group B Preview – USA, Mexico, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago”

CONCACAF WU-17: Group A Preview – Canada, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama

Should the USA advance to the knock-out stage of the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, they will face at least of one of the four teams from Group A, which are Canada, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Panama. If the USA wins their group, then they will face the second-place team from the above four, which will probably be the hosts Guatemala. Although Panama, who have a number of players who competed in the recent CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, which it hosted, and Jamaica, which has recently bolstered its roster with six foreign based players (five from Canada and one from the US), could also claim the second spot. Continue reading “CONCACAF WU-17: Group A Preview – Canada, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama”

U-17 USWNT: Regarding the Probable Starting Line-Up

In a previous post on the U-17 USWNT’s final roster for the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, I summarized the team’s likely preferred line-up in their normal 4-3-3 formation. This current post is a more in-depth discussion of that line-up, along with some background on how the line-up has evolved over the current cycle. Continue reading “U-17 USWNT: Regarding the Probable Starting Line-Up”

CONCACAF WU-17: Team Rosters (Will Be Updated)

As rosters for the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship become available, they will be added to this post.

Known final rosters: USA, Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala.

Final rosters not yet available: Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago.

For the United States Under-17 Women’s National Team’s roster, see this older post, which links to detailed player profiles. For Mexico’s roster, see this post.

Continue reading “CONCACAF WU-17: Team Rosters (Will Be Updated)”

CONCACAF WU-17: Mexico’s Final Roster (2012)

Earlier today (Friday, April 27th), the USA’s final group stage opponent, Mexico, released its final roster for the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, which begins on May 2nd. Of the 20 players rostered, 11 play for American club teams, including 10 who were born in the United States.

From the previous roster, six player were cut, including five who played for American club teams. The six players cut were Elisa Martin (goalkeeper), Stephanie Alcazar (defender), Maria Solis (defender), Paola Urbieta (defender), Anahie Duran (midfielder), and Micaela Estrada (midfielder). Continue reading “CONCACAF WU-17: Mexico’s Final Roster (2012)”

Olympics: Women’s Soccer Tournament Groups, With Schedule

The draw for the soccer tournaments at the 2012 London Olympics was held earlier today. The groups are as follows:

Group E: Great Britain (E1), New Zealand (E2), Cameroon (E3), Brazil (E4)
Group F: Japan (F1), Canada (F2), Sweden (F3), South Africa (F4)
Group G: USA (G1), France (G2), Colombia (G3), North Korea (G4)

For the USA, this means that they will play France first, then Colombia, and finally North Korea.

Continue reading “Olympics: Women’s Soccer Tournament Groups, With Schedule”

Women’s Olympic Soccer: Tournament Draw Procedure Announced

Earlier today, FIFA posted the draw procedure for the soccer tournaments at the 2012 Olympics. On the women’s side, there are no real surprises, as the draw procedure echoes the structure of the 2008 draw procedures. Continue reading “Women’s Olympic Soccer: Tournament Draw Procedure Announced”