Canada vs Brazil, Tuesday June 7th - OTTAWA

[rkomar]

2 minutes ago, dsqpr said:

Well, that is a ridiculous response. You don't even need half a brain to read my post and see that I have not demanded anything!

Yes, you're right, it was ridiculous.  I've seen enough demands for Tancredi's forced retirement that it got under my skin.  Sorry.

Still, I stand by my statement that she should only be sidelined when someone better comes along.

[rkomar]

39 minutes ago, BearcatSA said:

Finally, maybe it's just me but Scott doesn't seem as dominant as she once was.  In London, she was an ever present and indispensable midfield piece but in last year's tourney and now these matches she hasn't been the same player and quite often has been subbed, with Schmidt dropping into a deeper role.  Your thoughts?  

I've been wondering the same myself.  Watching her play for K.C., she makes plenty of quality plays, so it's a mystery why she's more hesitant playing for CWNT.  Perhaps she's just mellowing with age and lost some of that hard edge?  Or maybe she feels more comfortable in K.C.'s system?

[rkomar]

17 minutes ago, dsqpr said:

Yes, my apologies too for my acerbic reply. I agree with your point but in my opinion she has been poor enough that I find it hard to believe we don't have any youngster who is at least as good. Of course that is just speculation as I can't give you a name.

No need to apologize, I deserved that reply.

I've some hope in Janine Beckie, but she seems more of a finisher than a playmaker to me.  Tancredi is better at setting goals up, and I don't see any obvious replacement for her among the young forwards.  Still, you never know what young players will amount to.  Scott used to be a forward and Zadorsky was a midfielder, after all.

[red card]

20 hours ago, dsqpr said:

Yes. One of our best midfielders at the World Cup and had a strong impact against Brazil when moved up into midfield. We are wasting her talent at full back.

 

If you watched Lawrence play FB against Holland earlier this year, it was probably her best match as a national team player. As a FB, she got the ball way more than she was in midfield and paired up nicely with Sinclair who was playing more of a midfield role.

Against Brasil, none of the FBs went up and down the flanks as we normally have seen with Canada, so the downside of her playing this position was seen. 

If Fleming continues to progress as seen in the 2 matches against Brasil, her and Lawrence should be a dynamic duo in midfield. If not, I see Lawrence better off for the team at FB. 

[BearcatSA]

2 hours ago, dsqpr said:

I did not see that match but I have no doubt that Lawrence can be effective at full back. However, from what I have seen our midfield is quite a bit stronger with her in it and that is where she can have the biggest impact on a match. In the meantime, we do have at least one very capable alternative at full back.

I agree.  I think against the likes of Germany, Australia, and hopefully beyond, I think the team needs to have it's midfield at its very best.

[BearcatSA]

On June 12, 2016 at 11:51 PM, dsqpr said:

I think Scott is still at the top of her game. I don't think Schmidt is anywhere near as strong a tackler and so not as effective as Scott in that DM role. Also, Scott reads the game well, a valuable skill at DM. I see Schmidt as a more versatile player who can be used in a number of different roles. But Scott is a specialist DM and very good at it.

She's still a very important player in her particular role with the team but I didn't think she was at the same level at the WWC last year as she was in London four years ago. I wonder how this tourney will play out for her.

[MrsC]

On 6/15/2016 at 1:28 AM, BearcatSA said:

She's still a very important player in her particular role with the team but I didn't think she was at the same level at the WWC last year as she was in London four years ago. I wonder how this tourney will play out for her.

I don't think Scott has been the same player since she left FC Kansas City to play in the FAWSL. I like her so I would like to see her return to form now that she has returned to the NWSL but I suppose it will take some time.