[teejers1]

Still no guarantee that Smith makes the USWNT Olympic roster, of course. (Man, if she were just one year older, I would've said she's a shoo-in for the World Cup roster, but with the roster shrinking from 23 to 18, and with forward already the hardest position at which to make this team? Uff da.)

She's obviously not going to root for someone ahead of her to get injured, but I think that's what it'll take to make the team. Heck, if it's me? I roll with Rapinoe, Heath, Press, and Pugh, with Smith being the last forward on the roster, in an effort to start building that Pugh-Smith strike partnership for the future. I'd leave off McDonald, Williams, and yes, Carli Lloyd, but I'm unsentimental like that. The "She Believes Cup" is in early March, though, so we'll see soon enough whether Vlatko sees Lloyd as an indispensable center forward with Morgan out, or if Smith is getting significant minutes and has a real shot to make it. 

Having Lloyd on the team is the easy thing to do, and you wouldn't get criticized for it. She's demonstrated she can score goals as a sub, so the fact that she's lost a step doesn't matter as much when she still puts the ball in the back of the net when called upon. If he leaves Lloyd off and the U.S. doesn't bring home Gold, I think Vlatko gets more criticism than if he takes Lloyd but doesn't bring home Gold.

Is Rapinoe all that, or a little long in the tooth?  
When watching the WC last time, I thought Press looked better - more speed, pushed the action more, etc. - throughout the tourney.

Give me the Youth Movement and Smith (and yes, I'm biased pro-Stanford).  

P.S.  For same reason, I agree with you re: Lloyd, though she might be the definition of "gamer."

[teejers1]

Still no guarantee that Smith makes the USWNT Olympic roster, of course. (Man, if she were just one year older, I would've said she's a shoo-in for the World Cup roster, but with the roster shrinking from 23 to 18, and with forward already the hardest position at which to make this team? Uff da.)

She's obviously not going to root for someone ahead of her to get injured, but I think that's what it'll take to make the team. Heck, if it's me? I roll with Rapinoe, Heath, Press, and Pugh, with Smith being the last forward on the roster, in an effort to start building that Pugh-Smith strike partnership for the future. I'd leave off McDonald, Williams, and yes, Carli Lloyd, but I'm unsentimental like that. The "She Believes Cup" is in early March, though, so we'll see soon enough whether Vlatko sees Lloyd as an indispensable center forward with Morgan out, or if Smith is getting significant minutes and has a real shot to make it. 

Having Lloyd on the team is the easy thing to do, and you wouldn't get criticized for it. She's demonstrated she can score goals as a sub, so the fact that she's lost a step doesn't matter as much when she still puts the ball in the back of the net when called upon. If he leaves Lloyd off and the U.S. doesn't bring home Gold, I think Vlatko gets more criticism than if he takes Lloyd but doesn't bring home Gold.

Is Rapinoe all that, or a little long in the tooth?  
When watching the WC last time, I thought Press looked better - more speed, pushed the action more, etc. - throughout the tourney.

Give me the Youth Movement and Smith (and yes, I'm biased pro-Stanford).  

P.S.  For same reason, I agree with you re: Lloyd, though she might be the definition of "gamer."