Vlatko Steps Down as HC USWNT
This has been rumored for some time now, hardly unexpected, most do step down, given the US is always expected to compete for if not take the trophy, this was truly a point of no return.
To those who have been speaking out against him, 6 loses, half a dozen yes, worthy of being fired, not, which he was not as per the press release we distributed a short time ago. Unqualified is he cry from many claiming to be in he know, you don’t know. A Pro Lic. From USSF, NWSL & MISL titles in the same season, MISL MVP, Defender of the Year, Most Improved Player, All Star 2x, 2nd NWSL title, MASL Coach of the year, same in NWSL 2x over. Yes not qualified in any way shape or form. In knowing one of his pro coaches for decades and a past teammate for a few years, and both speaking glowingly of him, further takes away from those making such statements, who would know neither if they passed in the street.
What happened Down Under? Yes suspect subs, yes older players on roster at the expense of youth, it did not pay off, we will never know if the young ones would have. I give no value to the thought of his being pressured to make these decisions. The real issue player wise may not have been player selection so much as injury. Among other Pugh, Macario, Heath, Press, even the captain was out due to injury. So you have older, younger and players in between, all out with injury, good luck, all starters. I would love to have them on my team healthy and then build out a team around them. Ertz made a great return, Sonnet was a revelation in the last game, when they finally got it all together, a bit too late. Had they played the first games as the last, they face South Africa, a far weaker side. Does he leave the program in a better place than he got it, no, they were coming off a WC title, took Bronze in the Olympics. There is literally no wining with this position, you are expected to win it all, that is the expectation, he history, truly 2nd is first loser. So run the table in a tourney, yawn outscore big time your opponents, what else is new, all but shut out the opposition, ala this Cup, may be gone anyway, lack of scoring. Yes, the defense was stellar, the offense was anemic at best. So many shots off target, not taken preferring to pass and passes lost without pressure, just errant passes. Did the players off field activism play a part, commercialism, social media?, I am not in their locker room, the dancing etc. after a game, no good, dealing with fans however, I am all for it.
Who will come in? I would not recommend WOSO in this nation to anyone, particularly a man. There have been too many issues, most caused by men, not the fault of the players, team members, or the game itself, but on those who did not do the bare minimum upon knowing such atrocities were being done to the players. Those at the top, one who has had her name brought in, yet is alleged to have known of the misdeeds and sat on her hands like the rest, again in the know? This is at all levels, youth to adult, pro all the way to grassroots. Hayes knows the players here having coached in the NWSL and on LI with the Rough Riders. At an NSCAA convention, I was lucky enough to sit in on a round table with her, she does know what she is doing. Harvey, not me. Waldrum, why not he has had unmitigated successes at the highest of levels, would he leave Pitt for this? Those deriding Vlatko also seem to know if you are not in the St. Louis/Chicago/NY&NJ “mafias” you have no chance, unlikely, they offer up proof of GGG returning as such? Vlatko, out of KC? There are a handful of foreign coaches who I would say qualify, but may not want to come here. Not really a sinking ship, but one under distress at this time, yes, ego would come into play it is a plum of a job, lots of exposure great expectations weigh heavily but will this next generation of players be able to right this ship?
Mentioned in the presser are the USSF plans to revamp the women’s game, until those plans are put forth, the search should not even begin, as one would not know what changes are coming down the road. With the Olympics on the not so distant horizon, the time is now, I would want a new coach in place by the end of the NWSL season.