07-07-2019, 06:13 PM
I have no problem with Megan as best player.
Alex scored most of her 6 goals against Thailand, so hard to claim she was more deserving of the tournament award.
BTW - Megan was not just the golden boot winner, she also was the USA's captain on the pitch so someone would need amazing contributions to bump out Megan.
Beyond goals and the armband, early in the final it was Megan's runs down the edge that exhausted the Netherlands back line. Most of those services were hopelessly out of reach, but she was attacking them with enough credibility that the defenders had to run them down. Then in the last 15 minutes of the first half and the majority of the second half the Dutch back line was just too tired to properly mark attacks by most of the USA attackers. So Megan should get credit for softening that defense.
Megan was captain of the winning team, golden boot winner (even with others getting a number of meaningless goals against Thailand), scored go ahead goal in final, and was largely responsible for exhausting the opponent's back line early in the final. That player will get the best player award for the tournament most of the time.
Remember, the silver award went to England's Lucy Bronze. No way she was more deserving than Megan.
Next up with the bronze award was Rose Lavelle. Her goal in the final game was nice, but early in the tournament she struggled a touch in round robin play and two or her three goals were against Thailand. Very hard to see how she gets the honor over Megan.
So given the available options....Megan, Lucy, Rose and Alex. Megan is a rather easy choice.
O BTW - Like in many sports the best player awards are normally given to scorers. Just the way it is. Given the options Megan was the only choice.
Alex scored most of her 6 goals against Thailand, so hard to claim she was more deserving of the tournament award.
BTW - Megan was not just the golden boot winner, she also was the USA's captain on the pitch so someone would need amazing contributions to bump out Megan.
Beyond goals and the armband, early in the final it was Megan's runs down the edge that exhausted the Netherlands back line. Most of those services were hopelessly out of reach, but she was attacking them with enough credibility that the defenders had to run them down. Then in the last 15 minutes of the first half and the majority of the second half the Dutch back line was just too tired to properly mark attacks by most of the USA attackers. So Megan should get credit for softening that defense.
Megan was captain of the winning team, golden boot winner (even with others getting a number of meaningless goals against Thailand), scored go ahead goal in final, and was largely responsible for exhausting the opponent's back line early in the final. That player will get the best player award for the tournament most of the time.
Remember, the silver award went to England's Lucy Bronze. No way she was more deserving than Megan.
Next up with the bronze award was Rose Lavelle. Her goal in the final game was nice, but early in the tournament she struggled a touch in round robin play and two or her three goals were against Thailand. Very hard to see how she gets the honor over Megan.
So given the available options....Megan, Lucy, Rose and Alex. Megan is a rather easy choice.
O BTW - Like in many sports the best player awards are normally given to scorers. Just the way it is. Given the options Megan was the only choice.