If one didn’t want to kick dirt on Vlatko Andonovski as he recedes from the USWNT manager job, and kicking dirt is kind of what we do around here, it would be wise to point out the size of the task he was faced with. He took over a team that had won two World Cups on the spin, so there was really nowhere to go but down, and also had to start turning the team over to the next crop of players. That’s tricky for anyone and any team, not to mention squads that are having to move on and progress from all-time greats as the USWNT was. Injuries and other absences only hastened the process, and maybe the players that were replacing the older ones just weren’t as good. Andi Sullivan is not what Julie Ertz was. Trinity Rodman is full of promise, but is she Tobin Heath or Christen Press? Alex Morgan is not…Alex Morgan of four years ago, as it worked out. Sophia Smith may win a Ballon d’Or one day, but Megan Rapinoe won one the same year the US won the last World Cup. Not there yet. Naomi Girma was ready to take the torch, but there was no one next to her ready to do so with no Becky Sauerbrunn around. So yeah, that’s a pretty shitty hand to be dealt. That doesn’t mean Vlatko played it well. What was so striking about Andonovski’s tenure as USWNT coach is just how turd-rific the actual soccer was. It’s not like the US played scintillating stuff under Jill Ellis, but they had a roster full of the best players in the world at their positions to make it OK. It wouldn’t have been that hard to improve on it. Encourage players to express themselves, take advantage of Lindsey Horan and the mobility of the front line. Add some dynamism. The US didn’t need to be Spain but it could have added new gears. Instead, the team went the other way. There’s being direct, and then there’s being one-dimensional. The Olympics should have been a wake-up call, where Sweden, the Dutch, and eventually the US’s executioners Canada found it so easy to cancel out the Americans. Press them, don’t be afraid, and they’ll cough up the ball as the front five waited for a direct pass or long ball that was just never coming as Ertz was stranded 40 yards from them. There was little cohesion, few links or triangles, and a lot of hit-and-hope. There was still time to remake how the US played after that mishegas in Tokyo. And yet it felt like Andonovski just doubled down. Once Mallory Swanson got on a hot streak, the only plan seemed to be, “Give Mal the ball and she’ll figure it out.” Same kind of thing went for Sophia Smith. Just long balls over the top that either could try to chase down. Or the ball humped up the sideline so they could take on one or two defenders all by themselves. It’s hard to build a cohesive passing unit with an international team, given the limited practice time, but other teams figure out a way. The US just never felt like they had anything more than the most basic plan. Perhaps Swanson’s injury was the real death knell, but it also should have been a signal to try something else. Andonovski just moved Smith into the role and kept hacking away with limited tactics and ideas. Andonovski was also far too loyal. Megan Rapinoe was always the first sub off the bench in New Zealand, and yet she continually proved she just wasn’t at this level anymore. The use of Lynn Williams or Alyssa Thompson was bewildering. He took only two actual centerbacks to the tournament, and only played one while stuffing Ertz into the other slot. Sophia Smith was never tried as the central striker even though that’s where she plays a lot for Portland as Morgan looked more and more off the boil. The player pool was short on holding midfielders for sure, but moving the only one he chose (Ertz) into central defense left the team bereft. Where was Sam Coffey? Sullivan had spent two years proving she wasn’t up to the task, and yet Andonovski kept tossing her out there. The next manager will have the new generation all to themselves, and will benefit from the growth of Smith, Thompson, Swanson, Macario, Girma, and others. They’ll have the opposite task of Andonovski, as there isn’t much direction to go but up, and any kind of improvement in the style of play will be warmly welcomed. It can’t get worse. If the US completes four consecutive passes twice in a match it’ll be an upgrade. It was a tough task, but Andonovski failed it. The USWNT will get a clean break, and it’ll need it. Follow Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @Felsgate.bsky.social Relatedpayout betting calculatorparlay payoutmoneyline odds calculatornfl half point calculationskelly criterion bet calculatorhedge calculatorwhat does spread mean in bettingover under betting explainedsports betting parlaysround robin betswhat does ev mean in bettinghow to hedge in sports betting
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Prediction: Match to end in 0-0 draw
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Club Atletico Huracan and Club Atletico Velez Sarsfield will lock horns with each other in the 2023 Argentine Primera Division this coming weekend. The match between Sebastián Battaglia’s side and Sebastián Méndez’s team will be held at Tomás A. Ducó in Buenos Aires and is scheduled to kick off at 9:30pm UK time on Sunday.
Club Atletico Huracan
Club Atletico Huracan are a well-known club who have been successful in the past. Huracan have clinched the Primera Division title as many as five times, although their last came way back in 1983.
Sebastián Battaglia’s side are second from bottom in the 2023 Argentine Primera Division table at the moment. Huracan have picked up 22 po…
Marco Veratti is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain and join Al-Arabi in the Qatari Stars League, according to Fabrizio Romano. A verbal agreement over the transfer has apparently been reached, and the Italian midfielder is scheduled to travel to Doha in the next 24 hours to complete the move. The Ligue 1 champions will receive a fee of €45 million for his services.
Veratti joined PSG from Pescara in 2012 for €12 million, and over his 11-year spell in the French capital, the 55-cap Italy international made a total of 416 appearances for the club in all competitions, finding the back of the opposition net on 11 occasions and providing 47 assists for his teammates. He also helped PSG win nine Ligue 1 titles in that time, along with six French Cups and as many French League Cups…
Darren Eales has switched Atlanta United for Newcastle United to join as chief executive officer as the Magpies continue to assemble their boardroom staff.
Newcastle managed to convince Dan Ashworth to leave Brighton and Hove Albion to become their sporting director in May, seven months after their controversial Saudi-backed takeover.
Ashworth will now be joined by Eales, who he worked alongside at West Brom between 2006 and 2010, with the 49-year-old leaving MLS side Atlanta, where he was president and chief executive officer (CEO).
Eales heads to Tyneside with sizeable boardroom experience, having been named the MLS Executive of the Year on two occasions and the World Football Summit Executive of the Year in 2019.
Newcastle United is both a giant of a …
Mikel Arteta is confident new signing Riccardo Calafiori will improve Arsenal this season to end their 10-year wait for a Premier League title.
Calafiori, who joined the Gunners from Bologna in a reported £42million move, made his Arsenal debut in their 2-0 win over Lyon at the Emirates on Sunday.
The 22-year-old impressed on his first outing for his new club, replacing Oleksandr Zinchenko just after the hour mark for his first minutes since Euro 2024.
Arsenal have improved defensively during Arteta s tenure, boasting the best record for goals conceded in the Premier League last season (29).
And while Calafiori offers another solid option at the back for Arteta to call upon, the Spaniard is confident he will also improve his side going forward.
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Sean Dyche is demanding maximum effort as the minimum requirement from Everton when they host already relegated Sheffield United this weekend.
Despite another nervy season at Goodison Park, during which they were deducted six points following a breach of Profitability and Sustainability Rules, the Toffees have secured their top-flight status for another year at least.
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I want us to perform and at least give everything, as we did at Luton, he said.
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Oscar Bobb has described his Manchester City and Norway team-mate Erling Haaland as an inspiration.
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It was Haaland’s 17th goal of the season despite missing two months of the campaign with a foot injury, and took him to 53 in 55 league appearances since joining City in the summer of 2022. A goal against the Bees meant he has scored against all 21 Premier League opponents he has faced.
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
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Florian Wirtz will stay at Bayer Leverkusen next season despite interest from Europe s elite clubs, says Die Werkself s managing director Simon Rolfes.
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Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie has joined Leeds United on an initial loan deal.
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McKennie s transfer was c…
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Looking to book their FA Cup quarter-final ticket on Tuesday night, Leicester will welcome Championship outfit Blackburn to the King Power.
Leicester
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The versatile forward, who has spent his whole career at Athletic, won his sole Spain cap in 2012.
The club confirmed Muniain s new deal does not include any release clause.
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