[DenverCard]

Some thoughts about the FSU game from afar:

In my opinion, the line-up that started against FSU is optimal in terms of both personnel and position.  While Kohler did a good job of filling in at right wing against Virginia, she provides so much more as a midfielder.  Whether by dint of fatigue or what they see as their role, some players who are behind the play as the opposition mounts an attack jog back, but Kohler repeatedly comes back to help the defense with speed and determination.  And she, like Klinger and Nguyen, isn't shy about advancing on goal and shooting the ball.  (Klinger sometimes channels Lumi Kostmayer and decides to shoot when she can't think of what else to do, but still, you only score on the shots you take.)  In years past, it drove me nuts that Ratcliffe so emphasized possession that players would sometimes have the ball 10-15 years into the offensive half with no one around them and would pass it backwards.  He seems to have loosened the reins on his players, as they seem much comfortable attacking directly, which I applaud.

While Montoya, with her you-know-it's-coming-but-I'm-going-to-do-it-anyway dash to the baseline and cross, plays more balls into the box, I think Klinger offers a bit more overall, such that if/when Montoya returns, I'd prefer to have her provide a spark off the bench.

In the midfield, I would be quick to bring on Nguyen to relieve either Harvey of Bhuta, as the former seems a bit inconsistent - some games when she's omnipresent and effective, and others when she is much less visible - and the latter is still rounding into game shape.  Nguyen tends to stir the drink when she's in.

I do hope Freer's injury is mild, as she is really solid at right back: good skills, good instincts, and tough.

As I've posted before, Boamah is my preference at left back, but against FSU she seemed to lose some confidence as a result of encountering equally good athletes who picked her pocket a few times.  In future years, I think she'd do better in a more offensive position, as she doesn't appear have the compulsive "you-aren't-getting-by-me" mentality that a defender needs.

Finally, there's the park-the-bus strategy of Ratcliffe that I freakin' abhor.  I recall a game against UCLA last year or the year before where it seemed like for about an entire half Stanford simply booted the ball away and let UCLA come at them, almost costing them the game.  Last week against Virginia, 10 or so minutes of the same.  And then last night against FSU, 15' or so.  Not only is it painful to watch as a fan, I believe the strategy is less effective than continuing to play the game straight up, a strategy that against FSU resulted in a 2-goal lead, which probably should have been 3 but for a missed header by Kitahata.

Virginia is good, and a rematch with them would be tough.  FSU, if they hit on all cylinders, is scary.

[DenverCard]

Some thoughts about the FSU game from afar:

In my opinion, the line-up that started against FSU is optimal in terms of both personnel and position.  While Kohler did a good job of filling in at right wing against Virginia, she provides so much more as a midfielder.  Whether by dint of fatigue or what they see as their role, some players who are behind the play as the opposition mounts an attack jog back, but Kohler repeatedly comes back to help the defense with speed and determination.  And she, like Klinger and Nguyen, isn't shy about advancing on goal and shooting the ball.  (Klinger sometimes channels Lumi Kostmayer and decides to shoot when she can't think of what else to do, but still, you only score on the shots you take.)  In years past, it drove me nuts that Ratcliffe so emphasized possession that players would sometimes have the ball 10-15 years into the offensive half with no one around them and would pass it backwards.  He seems to have loosened the reins on his players, as they seem much comfortable attacking directly, which I applaud.

While Montoya, with her you-know-it's-coming-but-I'm-going-to-do-it-anyway dash to the baseline and cross, plays more balls into the box, I think Klinger offers a bit more overall, such that if/when Montoya returns, I'd prefer to have her provide a spark off the bench.

In the midfield, I would be quick to bring on Nguyen to relieve either Harvey of Bhuta, as the former seems a bit inconsistent - some games when she's omnipresent and effective, and others when she is much less visible - and the latter is still rounding into game shape.  Nguyen tends to stir the drink when she's in.

I do hope Freer's injury is mild, as she is really solid at right back: good skills, good instincts, and tough.

As I've posted before, Boamah is my preference at left back, but against FSU she seemed to lose some confidence as a result of encountering equally good athletes who picked her pocket a few times.  In future years, I think she'd do better in a more offensive position, as she doesn't appear have the compulsive "you-aren't-getting-by-me" mentality that a defender needs.

Finally, there's the park-the-bus strategy of Ratcliffe that I freakin' abhor.  I recall a game against UCLA last year or the year before where it seemed like for about an entire half Stanford simply booted the ball away and let UCLA come at them, almost costing them the game.  Last week against Virginia, 10 or so minutes of the same.  And then last night against FSU, 15' or so.  Not only is it painful to watch as a fan, I believe the strategy is less effective than continuing to play the game straight up, a strategy that against FSU resulted in a 2-goal lead, which probably should have been 3 but for a missed header by Kitahata.

Virginia is good, and a rematch with them would be tough.  FSU, if they hit on all cylinders, is scary.