2012 Olympics Match #5: Canada v. USA

**Vic** · 08-05-2012, 09:03 PM

Thanks, it oversimplifies Japan's soft skills but c'est la vie...

I'm watching the Prefontaine movie and there's a great quote. "Faster, higher, stronger has been the motto of the games for 2500 years. But it doesn't say faster, higher, stronger than your competitors. It just say's faster, higher, stronger."

**BearcatSA** · 08-05-2012, 09:47 PM

Vic, how do you feel about our match ups at fullback vs their flank pace?

**Vic** · 08-05-2012, 11:41 PM

Good question. It depends who's out there. They've been mixing it up. If it's Rapinoe or Heath again they're certainly not slow but they're more technical than athletic players. Heath is dangerous off the dribble so you have to be patient and wait her out. Rapinoe has great spatial awareness and vision, so you have to get on her to take away her service.

O'Reilly is a slasher and likes to hit the inside gaps with speed to go to net so again playing her tight to take it away. She also likes round you wide and bolt to the baseline for service.

The US supporters are keying on Nault and saying she'll be obliterated, but their memory is short-lived and they don't have any idea what she's capable of. Both Wilkinson and Nault if they're dialed in can do their part. I imagine we'll play 4-4 tight in the back so who plays our left side in front of her and their ability to help out shallow will weigh in. Same for the other side and conversely as well. They're both going to need to support our centrebacks.

If Wambach drifts she's not the type to 1v1 you or beat you with speed. When Morgan gets served wide though she certainly does and you need to be 100% in the moment to contain her until then cavalry comes.

**Trillium** · 08-06-2012, 12:23 AM

I have to believe that winning this one is going to go down to the coach having a plan, transmitting it to the players and having them show the intelligence to commit fully to the plan.

No long ball whacking it out of fear, no one person shows, solid communication, trust in your playing partners, mental toughness.

I do not think a 4-4-2 line up will hold the United States, nor can we line up ten behind the ball thats just going to make it a shooting gallery.

Herdman has to go into this with the players prepared to alter tactics to make the U.S. have to think and change tactics to succeed as we change our defensive formation or attacking formation, this game to be won had to have been prepared for over the past eight months, tactically prepared, testing the US when we played them finding what works then pulling back till its meaningfull and can be used to win a critical game.

The players need to have been taught what works, the tendancys the full book on the US and who they might meet one on one and in the various combinations.

This is a game a coach wins. Its a game the players execute, lets hope if we fail tomorrow, Herdman will identify what failed and adjust for next time, be it player replacements or tactical changes. He has three years to find players ...to execute as we prepare for 2015 and the goal in the program has to be ruthless to win the World Cup at home.

Its not time to have tourists anymore in this program, at any level ...coach, trainer, manager, player.

Lets hope Herdman spends September to November scouting in the universitys .... finding the next generation of young Turks to take over the mantle and to become winners.

**mtlfan** · 08-06-2012, 09:21 AM

Oddsmakers are offering USA 1.40 X 4.33 CAN 8.50

**terpfan68** · 08-06-2012, 10:32 AM

Don't know if it was a good idea to do so but Herdman has said that U.S. players commonly use"illegal tactics" and are "very good at it" in an article in USA Today. Does anyone know what he means? Was this a old idea? He describes the play as a "pick play" and says that Abby's goal against France in the WC is an example. Is he just setting up the refs to watch for this?

Also on CBS sports line

http://www.cbssports.com/olympics/st...llegal-tactics

**Joe MacCarthy** · 08-06-2012, 11:15 AM

Flash. We interrupt this American love-in thread to bring you some Canadian content...

This group came close a month ago, will the next group get over the hump.

Feel free to not edit with the Reply with Quote option so we can see this image 20 times like we did the American images.

**BearcatSA** · 08-06-2012, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by Joe MacCarthy

Feel free to not edit with the Reply with Quote option so we can see this image 20 times like we did the American images.

lol

**Vic** · 08-06-2012, 11:17 AM

I can't find any good camera angles because Youtube has shut down all coverage, but if you have an American IP the NBC site has the highlights.

You'll need the full image size and not a shrunken-to-fit one. Open the image in a new tab and click on it to make it full-size.

Frame 1: blurry because it's fading in from the previous France goal. You can see Renard covering Wambach and LePeilbet moving in a position that makes no sense to run in on a corner towards Renard.

Frame 2: Now you can see LePeilbet making contact with Renard. Delie is clear of LePeilbet and has no contact with her.

Frame 3: LePeilbet is now down and Wambach is three steps ahead of Renard.

Frame 4: Wambach is now four steps ahead and continues to head home.

Immediately following the goal both Renard and Delie lift their hands toward the referee.