ot. pia sundhage

what does anyone know about our new national team coach? an how does our new coach enable our girls in being members of the new national team?
does this hiring make it more likely angie an megan have a chance of making the team? lets face it, if heather mitts hadnt torn her acl prior to the world cup, stephanie would have been on the bench.
what does everyone think? i wud like to think that steph would have beaten out heather. steph is just solid!
we all know our friend graham hayes from espn thinks that what this national team is missing is creativety in the mid field an he specifically mentioned angie along with the ucla center mid

I think that Sundhage Is certainly a better choice than Greg Ryan. She comes from a European background (duh), which I thinks means you will see more creativity. I thinks than everyone hopes the WNT brand of boom-ball is gone, and the team will play smarter soccer.

expect that some of the better play makers will get a chance to do their stuff. Aly Wagner will see more time than Shannon Boxx. Angie might get in the mix if she gets a chance (she's in the pool). I bet Megan is champing at the bit for a shot, probably why Garrett was quoted as saying she may not come back.

The Central defenders will be taught how to do more with the ball than just boom it, or they will be replaced. Her style is made for Steph. and some of the Santa Clara defenders already on the team.

You might see midfielders actually passing to each other and the forwards, and the game will be more than "get it in the box in the air or try for a set piece". I hope it will be less predictable.

She'll be able to organize a team that does more than just put better athletes on the field . I thinks she can teach a better brand of soccer.

There are other coaches who could do it. We have one here, but he's still under Clive's shadow and probably considered too young. (thank goodness)

Jerry Smith would have been a great choice, but probably couldn't be enticed to leave SC, especially after this year. He might have done it if he could have kept the SC job, but I think the days you could do that are over. Also, he woudn't have considered it until the season was over, and I think the WNT needed a coach right away.

Other than that, the list was pretty short. Some of the other ones mentioned have never won anything yet. All the previous coaches were ACC derived, so they emphasized ACC ball, (pound you with talent, not particularly pretty).

I'm glad we broke that pattern.

Well done, Geezer. Your soccer knowledge is very impressive. I agree with what you are saying.

The WNT will eventually have a better, more entertaining brand to watch, and hopefully will give the Olympics a good shot. Definitely by the 2011 WC they should be a completely different team.

Megan, Angie and Stephanie will definitely have a great chance to strut their stuff to the new coach. Also, don't rule out Michelle Enyeart or other future Pilot greats.