Women's Soccer Collectors

[YayNJ]

Originally Posted by HeyRelaxGuy

Let's see, in only three seasons she has scored 32 goals, won a championship, won the MVP and the Golden Boot. She scored two in the opener yesterday. If she doesn't get injured, then this is going to be a monster season for her. Maybe twenty goals? Smith is not good; she is the best, period.

Dude, it's perfectly fine to stan for your favourite players, but that second goal she scored while nice, had more to do with awful defending, and a comedy goalkeeper that pretty much jumped over the ball.

Her first goal was lovely.

Originally Posted by DonrussDean

Wait, do you think Smith is the best Women's player in the world?

I could see how someone might come to this conclusion if they only watched the NWSL.

Put her next to someone like Salma Paralluelo though, who's three years younger.. and reality sets in.

[HeyRelaxGuy]

Originally Posted by donrussdean

and she disappeared on the world stage at the world cup..

Wait, do you think smith is the best women's player in the world?

Originally Posted by yaynj

i could see how someone might come to this conclusion if they only watched the nwsl.

Put her next to someone like salma paralluelo though, who's three years younger.. And reality sets in.

Well, for me to call Smith the best in the world, I would have to watch the other top players (Kerr, Paralluelo, Bonmati, etc.) perform and then compare. But Spanish and English soccer is a joke and the same clubs keep winning every year, and that's why I don't bother. I only watch the NWSL - a very competitive league. Smith dominates the NWSL and so I consider her the best in the US.

And yes, she will need to do more at the international level if she wants to end up on the top-ten or top-five list of greatest US players. Mia Hamm won two WCs and two Olympic Golds and Alex Morgan two WCs and ... I think one Olympic Gold ??? So yeah, Smith has to work better at that.

[YayNJ]

That kind of US dominance will never happen again. US Women were so far ahead with funding and general set-up for years.

I think this past world cup was a wake up call for a lot of people (not you obviously ) when your view of Women's Soccer is so insular, you're still left thinking that the likes of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Alyssa Thompson are the next giants of the game, ready to conquer all, yet the reality is they are just very good players in a game the rest of the women's teams have caught up in, and in some cases, surpassed.

If you put together a top 40 list of female players, there'd probably be two, maybe three US players (Macario, Girma, Smith)

As for your 'winning each year' comment, Portland Thorns have won 30% of all the league titles in NWSL history so far.. Portland and Kansas combined have won 50% of all league titles in NWSL history..

Portland, Kansas and the Courage have won 70%..... throw in the cups, and Portland and Courage pretty much win everything between them every year.

[HeyRelaxGuy]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

As for your 'winning each year' comment, Portland Thorns have won 30% of all the league titles in NWSL history so far.. Portland and Kansas combined have won 50% of all league titles in NWSL history..

Portland, Kansas and the Courage have won 70%..... throw in the cups, and Portland and Courage pretty much win everything between them every year.

Haw haw haw !!!
European soccer is a joke !!!
Let's start with the WSL: in the last TEN years, Chelsea has gone to the Finals EIGHT freaking times (and won SIX of them!)
Man City has gone to the Finals SEVEN times!
Poor Arsenal is always in 3rd place!
And Liga F is even worse than this (Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona ... ZZzzzZzzz ... )
Seriously, how can anyone watch this crap ???

[YayNJ]

Barcelona have won 22% of the league titles (less than Portland Thorns), and Bilbao 14%, they are the most successful Spanish sides.

Over the last ten years, there's been three dominant teams, Barcelona, Bilbao and Atletico. Just like the NWSL with Portland, Kansas and Courage.

You're ignorant, and a child with it, and to be quite frank, come across xenophobic. Not worth the time.

[kraigmf]

I think a more important stat is that Barcelona has won La Liga the last 4 years, and will easily win a 5th. There is certainly more parody in the NWSL and has a lot more depth in talent. The top players are better in Europe as a whole, but the team play is much more competitive in the NWSL. I think this quote from Esther Gonzalez tells us all we need to know about the competition level:

“One of the biggest differences with the Spanish league, which is a great league, is that here (in the NWSL) all the games, absolutely all of them, are like a Champions League game at the highest level,” she said. “In Spain, there are some games that you can win four or five to zero, that your physical wear and tear is normal, that you have everything under control.

“Here every game is like playing against Barça, which is the best team in the Spanish League: Your level has to be the maximum, your physical demand is the maximum, and that happens weekend after weekend.”

[Angus Con]

Originally Posted by HeyRelaxGuy

Haw haw haw !!!
European soccer is a joke !!!
Let's start with the WSL: in the last TEN years, Chelsea has gone to the Finals EIGHT freaking times (and won SIX of them!)
Man City has gone to the Finals SEVEN times!
Poor Arsenal is always in 3rd place!
And Liga F is even worse than this (Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona ... ZZzzzZzzz ... )
Seriously, how can anyone watch this crap ???

This is nonsense. If you don't want to watch Europe, that's your choice. But you're basically saying you'd rather watch MLS over La Liga or the Premier League, which is rather silly to the average football fan.

If you watch other countries and what they've been doing, you'll see they have surpassed the US technically by a lot. Even Mexico's domination of the US in the Gold Cup was in large part to better technical ability. The US was also fairly poor against Canada and Brazil, teams they have traditionally beaten somewhat comfortably (Brazil more than Canada).

The US (and often the NWSL) is a one-trick pony at this point. Long ball, run onto it, score. Rinse, repeat. Works great against weaker opponents and sometimes against top opponents. But it's hard to know because the US never seems to have a top opponent in a friendly any more. The US stopped doing the Algarve Cup and focused on the SheBelieves Cup, which was fine in the beginning because they brought over top European teams. But for years now (somewhat Covid's fault), the quality of opponent for the US has fallen pretty drastically. And I think that has been hurting them a lot.

The technical ability on the top European clubs is just far superior to watch. Dribbling ability, the one-touch passing, you name it and it's better.

One thing I'm impatiently waiting for is for the defenders and goalkeepers in the women's game to catch up to the attacking players. There are still way too many laughable goals in the women's game solely related to piss poor defending and/or goalkeeping. That, for me, is the only thing missing in the women's game at this point.

[yiguiri2002]

I think that might take a while, specially goalies. Height and wingspan have a very strong impact on performance IMO

I think things will get better just as the game turns more global. FIFA is finally committed (or acts like it) to the game and it's forcing local federations to have women's teams.

[YayNJ]

Goalkeeping will always be a bit of an issue in the women's game because like you said, the average hight of a female GK and their wingspan. Defending will come eventually, as I mentioned above, Girma is absolutely class, and Ertz was too.

[Angus Con]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I think that might take a while, specially goalies. Height and wingspan have a very strong impact on performance IMO

I think things will get better just as the game turns more global. FIFA is finally committed (or acts like it) to the game and it's forcing local federations to have women's teams.

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Goalkeeping will always be a bit of an issue in the women's game because like you said, the average hight of a female GK and their wingspan. Defending will come eventually, as I mentioned above, Girma is absolutely class, and Ertz was too.

I agree. I'm just impatient. haha I'm guessing also that the women with more height gravitate more towards basketball and track/field if I had to guess. I think more money will attract better talent in the long run too.

Agree on Girma and Ertz. Dunn was lights out in the 2019 WWC too (not so much the past few years, but she has been very strong playing out of position). There just aren't that many class defenders and definitely not enough to build a backline that is class from left to right imo (although Spain's recent stretch has shown their defense is pretty strong when combined with the possession).

[Ianhatcher]

If you took all the USWNT players and stuck them on 2-3 teams in the NWSL like England and Spain are doing instead of them all being spread out among 14 teams you'd see a much better team. The Spanish women's team is essentially Barcelona and Real Madrid weirdly similar to what happened with the men's team in 2010 that was so dominant for years. The English team is pretty much all current or former players for Manchester City, ManU, Chelsea and Aston Villa. By comparison the USWNT players played on 9-10 NWSL teams.

The US league's parity in club soccer will be their downfall. These other teams are playing together nearly 24/7/365. You aren't going to compete with that if your players are all spread out and not getting as much playing time together as other teams are.

[HeyRelaxGuy]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Barcelona have won 22% of the league titles (less than Portland Thorns), and Bilbao 14%, they are the most successful Spanish sides.

Over the last ten years, there's been three dominant teams, Barcelona, Bilbao and Atletico. Just like the NWSL with Portland, Kansas and Courage.

You're ignorant, and a child with it, and to be quite frank, come across xenophobic. Not worth the time.

Your arguments are flawed. Barcelona have 22% of the league titles? How far back are we going here? The 70s? 80s? The NWSL was formed only in 2012. So we have to look at the Primera Division here (which started around the same time as the NWSL). And since the formation of the Primera Division, Barcelona played in the finals every single year. They won eight times and lost four. They have won the last four. Let's look at the last four NWSL winners:

2023 - Gotham
2022 - Thorns
2021 - Spirit
2020 - Cancelled (pandemic)
2019 - Courage

And finally, what kraigmf posted (thank you!) pretty much supports what I have written above. And these are the words that came out of Esther Gonzalez's own mouth.

Run along now ...

[703dispensary]

Originally Posted by HeyRelaxGuy

Run along now ...

Spain is the same size as Texas.... I'm sure the reference point from YayNJ was the Champions League which I'm not really certain but feel like that would be a more fair comparison to the NWSL - as Esther Gonzalez also stated

[703dispensary]

I forgot a photo of a recent hit to cheer this thread up a bit too ;-)

[DonrussDean]

Originally Posted by 703dispensary

I forgot a photo of a recent hit to cheer this thread up a bit too ;-)

That is sweet

[YayNJ]

Catarina Macario is off to a good start at Chelsea now she's back from her long term injury. Coming on as a sub so far this season to close out games as she gets back to match fitness.

1 goal, 1 assist in 3 games (only around 65mins of game time in total)

[HeyRelaxGuy]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Catarina Macario is off to a good start at Chelsea now she's back from her long term injury. Coming on as a sub so far this season to close out games as she gets back to match fitness.

1 goal, 1 assist in 3 games (only around 65mins of game time in total)

Does that really matter? Isn't Chelsea going to win anyhow?

Smith is now the highest paid player in the NWSL, but the financial terms were not disclosed. Why? Maybe she doesn't want to make other players jealous? Hard to say!

She was pretty much carrying the team again last game, but both of her goals were disallowed. I just don't understand this stupid VAR system the NWSL uses! The other players just need to step up and join Smith on the attack (this will give her passing options instead of always having to shoot herself). And where the HELL has Morgan Weaver been the past two games? She is supposed to be the second-best player on the squad! Come on, girl!!

[yiguiri2002]

Semifinals set. Looks like we are getting a Barcelona-Lyon final, although Chelsea or PSG can upset either of them. Should be fun either way.

[Angus Con]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Semifinals set. Looks like we are getting a Barcelona-Lyon final, although Chelsea or PSG can upset either of them. Should be fun either way.

PSG has been tough against Lyon this season and Katoto being back in form should make it a competitive match. Chawinga is a lot of fun to watch.

Chelsea without Kerr doesn't seem like they will match up well with Barca though, but lowly SK Brann gave Barca a very hard time playing super defensively. I'd like to see Chelsea win, but I wouldn't put money on it. haha

[Angus Con]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Semifinals set. Looks like we are getting a Barcelona-Lyon final, although Chelsea or PSG can upset either of them. Should be fun either way.

Just bought tickets to Chelsea hosting Barca at Stamford Bridge. Here's hoping for a very competitive semi-final.

[BabaORiley]

Not sure how many of you read Defector but they're one of my few regular go-tos for sports that manages to cover Women's Soccer in a fun way. Billy Haisley had a good piece on Caroline Graham Hansen a couple days ago. While a fan, I admittedly don't follow as closely as most of you and had no idea she was having the season she's having.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by Angus Con

Just bought tickets to Chelsea hosting Barca at Stamford Bridge. Here's hoping for a very competitive semi-final.

Damn, that sounds great. How much were those btw?

[cardtrader22]

Was in England with my daughter for ODP trip...got to see Chelsea-Ajax game; super light crowd but I'm guessing that was because Chelsea already won 3-0 in first leg and it was a cold Wednesday night. Girls from the team had a blast though and loved seeing Cat come in.

[YayNJ]

Chelsea women always get dismal attendances outside of big games with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham.

Much like the men’s team used to be really before Ken Bates almost bankrupted them and they were saved laundering Vladimir Putins cash through Roman via Chelsea fans from Sussex. You have to remember that Chelsea are an inorganic “big” club.

[Gin&Juice]

Admittedly, I do not watch many NWSL games, but I do watch most of the US’s competitive games, and I am consistently underwhelmed by Sophia Smith. From what I have seen, she is miles away from the elite women playing in Europe. Makes me miss Tobin Heath.