Olympic Roster
The Olympics are less than 100 days away and Pia Sundhage has her work cut out for her. Of course there is plenty to do with training and the two domestic matches and two matches in Sweden before heading to London. However, one of the biggest tasks for Pia is going to be selecting an 18 member roster.
Which players do you think will make the cut? Which ones do you think will be staying home?
Right now, here is my 18:
1. Barnhadt (GK)
2. Boxx (M)
3. Buehler (D)
4. Cheney (F)
5. Heath (M)
6. LePeilbet (D)
7. Lloyd (M)
8. Mitts (D)
9. Morgan (F)
10. O’Hara (D)
11. O’Reilly (M)
12. Rampone (D)
13. Rapinoe (M)
14. Rodriguez (F)
15. Sauerbrunn (D)
16. Solo (GK)
17. Wambach (F)
18. Leroux (F)
Ashley
becca4kicks
Chris
An
Scott
I think the selections here are pretty spot-on. With only 16 outfield players on the roster, flexibility and the ability for a player to serve in multiple positions is key. The two players on this list I question slightly are Mitts and Rodriguez. Will Cox be preferred to Mitts as the outside back reserve? As for Rodriguez, I think she MIGHT be pipped in favor of a center midfield reserve (Lori Lindsay is my guess) unless Pia thinks she can use Cheney in that role if necessary.
Becca, I have to say that I can see Pia going with this lineup. I don’t see much changes from World Cup roster except Pia adding Leroux and dropping Cox, Lindsey, Loyden, and others. Personally, I will disappointed if she does not add Leroux to the roster, only because Leroux can be a sub for Morgan or Wambach as needed. She is also aggressive with and without the ball.
I admit that I still worry about our midfielders and defenders. I hope to see improvements in passing and defending because our forwards, such as Morgan, benefit so much from these things on the field.
As Scott said, versatility is the key for this tournament. No matter who Pia pick for the roster, our bench will be deep.
Your list is almost exactly what I was thinking but I see stephanie cox on place of mitts. Leroux might be replaced by Lori lindsey. In Japan arod played her natural position of forward. Leroux isn’t the best outside mid meaning she can only play 1 position with 18 spots that’s not a risk to have.
My roster
01. Solo (GK)
02. O’Hara (D)
03. Buehler (D)
04. Rampone (D)
05. LePeilbet (D)
06. Boxx (M)
07. Cheney (F) (M) for me
08. Lloyd (M)
09. O’Reilly (M)
10. Morgan (F)
11. Wambach (F)
12. Barnhart (GK)
13. Mitts (D)
14. Sauerbrunn (D)
15. Rapinoe (M)
16. Heath (M)
17. Rodriguez (F)
18. Leroux (F) /Lindsey (M)
still hesitate between Leroux (F) and Lindsey (M) due to Boxx. Unfortunately, as she said sometime she feels so tired so… if she’s not in great shape at that moment, I would have Lindsey in back up.
My 4 medicals sub will be :
01. Harris (GK)
02. Cox (D)
03. Engen (D)
04. Leroux (F) / Lindsey (M)