Brianna Scurry isn't sending Xmas card to Hope Solo

The Bruce said that he still regrets not bringing in Kasey for the Germany match in 2002. But in that case, Keller was injured at the start of the tourney.

Here, despite the one gaffe in the first match, Solo had a decent tourney -- there wasn't that much for her to do in most of the games. (it's not like she was playing like Cech against Ghana or anything). But she did nothing would have led you to take her out.

A Bobby Valentine move.

 

I'd liken it to a manager going into a Game 7 and picking a starter who hasn't pitched in weeks because the guy has an excellent record against the opponent, rather than going with his usual ace on normal rest. Yeah, maybe he's playing the percentages, but he's also putting a rusty arm on the mound.

Meanwhile, the notion of using certain goalkeepers for certain opponents is practically unheard of in soccer. Maybe Ryan's at the forefront of some underground, Bill James-like movement (soccermetrics?) that thinks this way, but he's on an island. And the results speak for themselves.

Solo, however, needed to be a little more tactful regarding Scurry. Rip the coach if you want, but don't talk about how you'd have made the saves. Scurry's won a hell of a lot more than you have, and none of the goals she allowed today were nearly as bad as the howler that slipped through your hands vs. North Koreans.

 

If I were her, I wouldd't want to be in the locker room alone with Scurry right now. Scurry has that p.o'ed stare down.

 

Dusty Baker, 2002 World Series

 

Where's Anson Dorrance when you need him?

 

Women's soccer has truly arrived.
A legitimate draw-and-quarter-the-idiot-coach argument!
Hope's u.n.c.l.e. is not happy, either.

 

When they announced the move yesterday, I was like "What the fuck?"

And I'm sure the team felt the same way. You also have to wonder if Scurry lobbied for the start.

 

Too busy trying to figure out why he's not winning the Women's College Cup every year anymore.

(Psst ... parity tends to happen when not ALL the top talent is pipelined to Chapel Hill ... )

 

I thought he was her grandfather.



And how many young 'uns aren't getting our old-folks reference?

 

Exceedingly well played, sir.

 

No way Scurry lobbied. Ryan can't allow lobbying to influence his decisions, no matter how bad we may think they are. And if the players found out, the divide could be irreversible.

If your theory does check out, though, Ryan should be through. Can't allow the inmates to run the asylum.