The nice thing about the US holding the same scoreline in all of their group games is that it helps with assessing the lineup. Having watched all of the Group B games (missed one from Group A, sadly), I’ve got a sense of how the US opponents stack up against one another. Panama definitely looked better than the others, and they didn’t make things easy on the US in Tuesday’s game.
So let’s break things down.
1-Bryane Heaberlin; 17- Olivia Brannon, 3-Cari Roccaro, 5-Kassey Kallman (capt), 19-Stephanie Amack; 16-Sarah Killion (10-Mandy Laddish, 46), 12-Vanessa DiBernardo, 8-Julie Johnston (15-Samantha Mewis, 56); 13-Micaela Capelle, 11-Lindsey Horan (20-Maya Hayes, 46), 7-Kealia Ohai
Subs not used: 18-Abby Smith, ; 4-Crystal Dunn, 2-Mollie Pathman, 6-Morgan Brian, 14-Katie Stengel, 9-Chioma Ubogagu
More DiBernardo? Check. Less Brian? Check. Trying new things and playing better soccer? Check, check. Capelle? Oh man, check. Also, Amack happened. And Swanson left Pathman off, meaning we got to see someone else with the armband (Kallman, who’s been playing the full 90 all through everything this year).
The US played better against Panama than they did in their previous two games. They definitely brought a different energy to the field – perhaps in part as a response to Panama’s energy, but probably also owing to the lineup changes. There was sweet symmetry to the goalscoring, too:
USA – Micaela Capelle
USA – Vanessa DiBernardo
USA – Julie Johnston (Maya Hayes)
USA – Maya Hayes (Samantha Mewis)
USA – Samantha Mewis (Vanessa DiBernardo)
USA – Maya Hayes (Micaela Capelle)
And somehow, that’s made even better given how many shots golden girl Lindsey Horan botched in her 45 minutes of play. It was probably just an off night for her, but things definitely changed on the field once she wasn’t the go-to player. The Americans really pulled it together in the second half. The U-20s are making progress, something we didn’t really see from them last cycle.
Rather than make a wishlist or predictions for the game against Mexico, I’d like to look at an ideal lineup based off the current roster. Perhaps even with some potential subs (although that’s a tricky one, since I’m not a fan of stock subbing).
Bryane Heaberlin; Olivia Brannon, Cari Roccaro, Kassey Kallman (capt), Stephanie Amack; Mandy Laddish, Vanessa DiBernardo, Samantha Mewis; Julie Johnston, Micaela Capelle, Maya Hayes.
- I don’t really have a preference one way or another on my GK options, but building consistency is a good idea. It worked with Henninger and it worked with Naeher. If the US has any chance of facing PKs, I would want someone that I have seen be competent when facing that before.
- I’d like to see this defense handle another threat. Panama was a good start, so why not try them against Mexico? Pathman hasn’t been amazing this tournament, and the only time I notice Dunn is when she isn’t getting back on the defense after an attack.
- Rather than mess with the formation, I figured it’s time to relocate Johnston. Mewis looked good in the second half against Panama, and I think part of that was the change of energy and lineup–but Johnston also has her merits. And I would say let DiBernardo start again, because I’m convinced she brings something positive to the field that we aren’t getting from anyone else right now. So I pushed Johnston forward and left Laddish in. Killion didn’t make an impression on me, and Laddish is more consistent/stable than Brian.
- Ignoring the scorelines (because we can), I think the front line is where the US needs the most change. Especially since they’re going up against Mexico’s Santiago. Capelle was a good choice last game, clearly. Ohai was decent in the first half, but I do think Johnston should stay on the field (just somewhere different), and Hayes will give the US the speed to keep up with Mexico’s determination and energy.
- …which means that, yes, Ohai is on my subbing list, along with Stengel and Brian. Ohai and Stengel can change the attack if any of the starting trio run into finishing issues (like Horan had), and Brian… well, you can’t bench Brian forever. So I’m willing to see whether she’s got anything to add in the second half.
By the way, if it were at all an option, I’d have Dahlkemper in my lineup. And wearing the armband. But she’s not on the roster, so I’ll just have to deal.
@FromaLeftWing They are France because they show up and think a trophy is more like a participation medal. Gotta do more than say "present!"
Ruth – Great U20’s stuff here. Lots to respond to. But I’m not going to analyze the Panama game per se, just my reaction to what I’ve seen in group play, plus what you’ve written in this post, and other recent posts. [WARNING & APOLOGIES: LONG REPLY POST]
First, I have a formation: I want a 4-4-2, but really it’s like a 4-1-3-2, with Mewis as defensive center mid, and I’ll explain other players/positions below. This discussion goes in no particular order down the formation, but I start with forwards:
Forwards: I can’t agree with your idea to make Johnston forward in this particular match, not a semi-final of a WC qualifier. I may well agree that at the start of the next camp, Swanson figures out a better place for her, but not now, not when the team’s been playing for a month or so (6 matches?) with her not there. (Also, Johnston is my offensive center mid, so she would combine a lot with two forwards up top). Relatedly, I think you should give more credit to Stengel’s ability to receive passes facing away from goal and create her own shot while being defended. She does remarkably well in tight spaces. She has both size and quick turning and shooting ability. And she’s an accurate shooter.
Hayes has seemingly gotten better with each match in Panama, and has some confidence, and should start also. My third forward (as a sub) would be Capelle or Ubogagu. I don’t think Ohai has connected, combined well with others, and haven’t seen (or can’t recall) a finish from her yet. Lots of endline sprints, hopeful crosses, not much else. (Capelle & Obogagu both create dangerous stuff). Horan can sit, as I don’t like her game and I don’t like the way she carries herself — lazy, uninterested, big attitude, entitled. I actually think she negatively affects the whole team, or at least she did vs. Panama.
Outside Backs: Here’s the thing about Pathman, and drives me crazy: I read and hear over and over about how special she is, destined for “the next level” and “full national team” and pro success, etc. etc. And I hear a lot about the sweet left foot, and I’ll admit it is an above-average asset, probably better than lots of pro players now playing internationally. However, she’s just not athletic enough for me, and certainly not for outside back. She just isn’t quick or fast enough, I’m sorry. And is she going to out-jump anyone for a head ball, ever?? That matters when you’re marking forwards.
So there, I said it, I’m not in love with Pathman. But I’m not a Pathman “hater” at all. I actually like a lot of her qualities. There are just some missing ingredients, and their absence will become painfully apparent when she gets closer to the big leagues. Not sure she ever becomes more than a great collegiate player. And, for U20s, she’ll do fine against most squads. But if we hopefully face up against Germany in the U20WC, or the Nigerians, or some fast and strong as hell team, she will get dominated. Look what Cami Levin did to Pathman last December (before Stanford scored and bunkered in). So I think Pathman should be a reserve outside midfielder on this team, brought in late to provide good left footed service against a team that we are controlling, but still need a breakthrough against. Bring her in when we’re pressing for that last goal (remember Pathman’s last 25 mins vs. Stanford, all those crosses?)
Dunn is almost the complete opposite of Pathman. Dunn is really athletic. She can overwhelm most forwards who try to beat her one-v-one, and can get around lots of outside defenders. Dunn is far less impressive with the ball, or passing the ball. Sometimes a decent cross. Sometimes a speedy dribble, but not a lot of consistent quality comes off of her feet. So, I’m torn about starting Dunn.
I was pretty impressed by Amack, but haven’t seen her play enough. I really do like Cari Roccaro — strong, smart, athletic, probably dangerous in the box on set pieces. So, I guess Roccaro and Dunn, with a chance for Amack to sub in for Dunn.
Centerbacks: Kallman and Brannon. Not much to add. I guess Brannon sometimes plays right outside back, so maybe place her there, and switch Roccaro inside.
Center mids: I want Mewis playing a solid defensive mid, just winning balls, receiving from the backs and passing everywhere, all over the place. She is great, composed passer. She doesn’t just squander the ball often.
Johnston is super athletic, super fit and strong, and almost too excited to play. I want her at offensive center mid, but really, I want her running all around, being aggressive. My worry is that, like the 1st half against Panama, Johnston will just become too wild with passes and not play within herself and settle the ball down a bit more.
So, I can’t decide whether to start Johnston, or start Brian. Brian can unlock defenses with her playmaking, if she’s on her game, if she decides not to have the ball at her feet forever and ever. (She has “Bad Carli” within her at times). Brian can also score in different, creative ways. Anyway, I think Brian and Johnston should share time at offensive center mid, combining a lot with the two forwards up top.
Outside midfielders: I like a lot from DiBernardo, she creates and seems to make things happen and has good energy. She has an enthusiasm and decisiveness. I think Laddish is solid, probably the other starter. I don’t even know if Laddish is an “outside” player, per se, but I feel she doesn’t make a lot of stupid passes and decisions and should just be on the field, if possible. I hope that doesn’t sound too critical — I should say she often makes good decisions with the ball.
Also, everyone talks about Sarah Killion, but I don’t know where to place her. Maybe if Mewis is tired or is not doing well, Killion replaces her UCLA teammate at defensive center mid. I don’t see Killion as an aggressive, going-forward type of player. (Btw, is anyone else amused by how much different a player Sam Mewis is from her older sister? Way different players and soccer personalities, in my opinion).
Keeper — I have no idea. Haven’t seen enough to know.
Finally, going forward in future camps before Japan (hopefully), I would think about Ubogagu as outside left midfielder. Convert her there. I see her doing lots of good stuff on the outside, and her passing/crossing is under-appreciated, under used. I don’t see her finishing skills to be at a same level of Stengel or Hayes. For that matter, Capelle is also super speedy, crafty, nice crosses, so I would think about getting her minutes at outside mid, if there was a need to make changes, or if Swanson was trying to just get her on the field somehow.
All very good points. A great read. :)
Given a change in formation, I completely agree on the midfield–Johnston doesn’t need to be a forward, but she does need a solid role. A 4-4-2 would give her that, and it would help solidify the midfield. Locking up the midfield could make sorting out that forward position easier.
I like Pathman in a general sense, but to be honest, she is the first player I would drop for Dahlkemper. And I would drop Dunn to bring in Penn State’s Chapic.
I’m not sure if my reluctance to drop Horan is because I don’t want to get my hopes up (she’s obviously being groomed for the national team). Is Swanson ballsy enough to pull a DiCicco and cut a “proven” goalscorer?
Definitely got some stuff to mull over today. Mewises are a discussion for another time!