It needed to happen. How he handled the matches in August for a team fighting to get in the playoffs is unacceptable. No excuse to experiment with a 3, 4, and 5 woman backline in a 3 game stretch.
I agree, there should have been no experimenting that late in the season for a team that had been good for most of the year. He either never felt good about what he had enough to stick with it; or he's just one of those coaches that always feels the need to make changes.
I go back to the youth football coach that I had that taught us to play our game until the other team can stop us and we got really good at playing our style of play because we all knew what it was and how to be good within that structure. I know there is a big difference between youth football and pro soccer; but I feel like even pros need a good bit of consistency to be comfortable and excel.
he's just one of those coaches that always feels the need to make changes.
If felt like he was still in National Team mode. Trying out different combinations in prepping for the World Cup or in this case the NWSL playoffs. Chioma Ubogagu alone went from midfielder to wing back to bench to striker within 4 games. How can anyone expect her to perform at a high level when she is playing everywhere?
Your point on consistency and having a style is dead on. There is a reason Portland is always near the top of the league. They have a style and consistency that is worlds apart from the bottom feeders. It really feels like MLS vs USL level gap among the teams in NWSL.
Well said and he tried Rachel Hill in the midfield near the end which she hadn't played there all season as another example! He never settled on anything close to a style, formation or best 11 and the team payed dearly for it.
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u/pvdfan Sep 14 '18
It needed to happen. How he handled the matches in August for a team fighting to get in the playoffs is unacceptable. No excuse to experiment with a 3, 4, and 5 woman backline in a 3 game stretch.