need more from Nayler, she needed to give Moore a call to leave it - Keeper had it well covered. second goal, and Nayler just stood there and waved a hand.
Big challenge now to not let US run away with this match. Could get ugly if we let them keep running at us. A result for us would be at least scoring a goal from open play.
too much space allowed for the US, 3 own goals from one player is ridiculous, no composure, Moore even looed behind her before that last one to see if she had to touch it, probably did as US player was right there just wrong footed herself.
write that one off as a "flush the dunny and move on" game. Learned very little, gained little. Need to work on communication at the back, Nayler does not appear to be that vocal or good at commanding the box. Theback four looked like they were unsure about where they needed to be or where the keeper was going to be a lot of the time. Gave the US ladies way too much space out wide which really hurt us.
A question for someone who knows more about football than me, and inparticular who watches more womens football...
Are there Nix players you'd have in the team ahead of this lot? From the small sample size I've seen I wouldn't rate Nayler ahead of Alfeld for example (I haven't seen the keeper Spoonley mentioned as his top pick).
I get the vibe (and may be completely wrong, I haven't watched enough womens matches to be confident) that there are quite a few players in the team who have been around for a while, and the selectors are afraid to make any hard calls on trying someone else? I find it hard to compare though when the opposition is obviously well above A-League level.
Even if they aren't better now, I'd hope by 2023 at least some of the Nix players can make this team better.
I am not sure the W League is a particularly high standard and you will find the difference between W League and international footbal to be quite massive. Although yes, need to start bleeding jn the younger girls now that they have had some exposure siac
A question for someone who knows more about football than me, and inparticular who watches more womens football...
Are there Nix players you'd have in the team ahead of this lot? From the small sample size I've seen I wouldn't rate Nayler ahead of Alfeld for example (I haven't seen the keeper Spoonley mentioned as his top pick).
I get the vibe (and may be completely wrong, I haven't watched enough womens matches to be confident) that there are quite a few players in the team who have been around for a while, and the selectors are afraid to make any hard calls on trying someone else? I find it hard to compare though when the opposition is obviously well above A-League level.
Even if they aren't better now, I'd hope by 2023 at least some of the Nix players can make this team better.
write that one off as a "flush the dunny and move on" game. Learned very little, gained little. Need to work on communication at the back, Nayler does not appear to be that vocal or good at commanding the box. Theback four looked like they were unsure about where they needed to be or where the keeper was going to be a lot of the time. Gave the US ladies way too much space out wide which really hurt us.
"Learned very little, gained little." This can be applied to virtually every time the Ferns play against decent opposition. We know they are nowhere near the level, and they never get any better despite all the opportunities afforded them.
A question for someone who knows more about football than me, and inparticular who watches more womens football...
Are there Nix players you'd have in the team ahead of this lot? From the small sample size I've seen I wouldn't rate Nayler ahead of Alfeld for example (I haven't seen the keeper Spoonley mentioned as his top pick).
I get the vibe (and may be completely wrong, I haven't watched enough womens matches to be confident) that there are quite a few players in the team who have been around for a while, and the selectors are afraid to make any hard calls on trying someone else? I find it hard to compare though when the opposition is obviously well above A-League level.
Even if they aren't better now, I'd hope by 2023 at least some of the Nix players can make this team better.
We have been slowly blending in quite a lot of younger girls of late. But this takes time. The older players that are there, are there on merit I think. The Nix players are mostly still teenagers and it would be a massive step up to this level (playing USA). Jale probably the one that is putting her hand up for NT selection. and Whinham showing great promise for one so young. Most of these girls probably need another season of pro football, be that overseas or another season in the A league before they are ready. Alfeld as good as she has been, also struggles clearing crosses into the box at times. But Nayler just hasn't played club football for so long. She's a surprise selection for me in the Ferns team. This team is not at the level of USA. (No 1 team in the world). That is pretty clear to see, but we are building on being a lot more competitive against the next tier of teams. As shown by our win over South Korea, who went on to beat Aus and make the final of the Asian Womens comp. Edit. The young Nix girls have other international opportunities to aim for this year. With the U20 womens world cup in August.
Well that was a tough watch. A couple of players already mentioned here have put their 2023 WC chances in jeopardy so at least Klimkova has better info as to who can cope at this level. Sadly the A-League is just too far removed from international level, even a standout there like Bunge looked gassed for pace in their final goal and Wilkinson has had it tough playing such a lone striker role with any ball she wins getting picked off with her teammates too far away to assist. Just 3 shots on goal and all from right back Bott speaks to the opposition quality in marking and tracking and intercepting crosses and through balls from our midfield/attack. Our set pieces against top internationals not a point of difference. On to final game vs Czech Republic, this Thursday noon.
Just note that it wasn't the Meikayla Moore we are fimiliar with who scored the own goals. The US broadcaster's graphics had someone called "Meiayla Moore" as the scorer. (Clearly a dodgy relative of Meikayla Moore) They couldn't even get her name right so everything about that match was jinxed for poor Meikayla!
Media around the world and football stats obsessives are having a field day with poor Meikayla's exploits. Previously, the only well-known non-intentional hat-trick of own goals by a professional was by Stan van den Buys when the veteran (and previously reliable) Germinal Ekeren defender scored all three of Anderlecht's goals in a 3-2 win in Belgian's top tier: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_van_den_Buys That page has already been updated by football anoraks to include Meikayla's feat: "Meikayla Moore is the second footballer believed to have recorded a hat-trick of own goals which were not deliberate, after Stan van den Buys."
Gonna be hard to expect some of those players to go another 90 minutes. 3rd game in 6 days. Percival for example who then needs to go back to Spurs who have FA cup game on Sat.. Bowen and Bott who aren't even in season. Really hope Erceg is good to go and Stott gets a start. Will be very disappointed if Esson doesn't get a start at GK.
In fairness to her, she showed a fantastic Strikers nouse and I'd be very tempted to play her up front. The finese she had with those three finishes was better than a lot of men.
