USWNT blanks SOUTH KOREA twice in Hayes' debut friendlies | Who makes the Olympic roster?!

The ISB crew reacts to new manager Emma Hayes' first two matches with the USWNT. The team recorded two convincing with victories over South Korea as the Hayes' era starts off in thrilling fashion. So which players make the squad for the Olympics after these strong performances?!
Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
#uswnt #nwsl #ussoccer

[@mdpius]

When Lilly Yohannes stepped into the game, the team became younger and more mature at the same time.

[@glarris1]

Her vision, pace and technical ability on the ball make her the perfect 8 for Emma. I think she makes the team ( unless you want the Netherlands to get her).

[@TheRumblewagon]

I'd say Alex Morgan may be best as an alternate just for her "veteraness". Morgan did start the sequence that led to Dunn's goal, but she's lost a step and she's coming off the injury.

[@joyluke10]

Lily Yohannes should be going to the Olympics, she knows Emma's euro game tactics very well and has also represented USA as a junior. This stage has been represented by other young american's in the past and this chance for Lily would be a great way to expose her overall talent and character for the future of the game in America.

[@kirstieb8025]

i mean we saw her play 20 minutes. she was great but we can’t jump to conclusions about olympic

[@ads2686]

​@@kirstieb8025she starts every game for Ajax who won the Dutch league, played in the champions league and also started the quarter final against chelsea.

[@malber2000]

In a WC roster, I would 100% agree. But in an Olympics roster, every person needs to play all the time and injuries can destroy your plans so quickly. If it's a question between, say, Sonnett and Yohannes, I think we have to take the person who can play 6 & 8 as well as CB (especially considering we're only likely to bring 2 dedicated centerbacks, both of whom have recent injury concerns). I don't think Sonnett is better, I just think flexibility is more important. Same with Albert (who again, I like less than Yohannes)... she can be 6 or 8, whereas Lily is just an 8. Just my opinion of course, and I'd love to see Lily there since her smoothness on the ball is so so exciting.

[@blackgrl71]

This is the best the team has looked in a while. They had moments when Kilgore took over. But I feel like Hayes took it next level

[@romeldias]

Mal, Trin and Smith up front with the likes of Shaw, and Lily in the middle and Nightswonger and Fox on the flanks? That is frightening pace and we saw how quickly they turned around from not having the ball to then getting to goal when they could make a successful tackle for the ball! Just madness!

[@user-gn4mq9wi4j]

Yohannes' passing and off ball movement was excellent - think she has a great future - but given the opponent, I didn't see her under a lot pressure or see her have to defend in her own end. For that reason, I probably wouldn't take her on the Olympic squad - but she is making the choice really difficult. Agree that Dunn & Sonnet's versability are too valuable to leave behind on a small squad. Staub played well - but do you need a 3rd CB on a 18 man roster? Kreuger didn't look great, but we are short on fullbacks. If Foxy goes down, who is the replacement? I guess Sonnet?

[@samgingrich2148]

I agree that Morgan should be left home;( it's sad but true. She hasn't even been playing in the NWSL and there are much more talented players available. She is always a step behind and has the right ideas of where to be but physically cannot get to where she wants/needs to be. The same thing happened to Rapinoe during the World Cup and I honestly think it hurt the team in the final overtime stretch against Sweden and I would prefer not to see that again. They are both AMAZING players but I think Rapinoe didn't know when to retire internationally and Morgan is making the same mistake. Apart from the criticism I do wanna acknowledge now much both of them did for the women's game they are both USWNT legends!

[@marcocortez5206]

YOHANNES shine star,the best thing ever happen to the USA team

[@pencilsandlight1318]

Mal Trinity and Smith will be unstoppable in combination with Rose Lavelle’s endless creativity. Rose can make things happen now that she is healthy again.

[@aageka8847]

After a very short period of time, new coach Emma Hayes has impacted USWNT play. The teamed demonstrated, at times, cohesive play connecting passes and threatening. Swanson, Smith & Rodman are a power front three that showed good pace and creativity. Dunn's versatility and vision for the game was clearly demonstrated. Morgan is entering the last phase of her international career, she is one dimensional and lacks the technical creativity needed for the level of woman's play today. Horan lacks pace but has proven technical ability and is a force on set plays. She is not a 10 but is a solid left or right midfielder. I have to say, I was very impressed with Yohannes. In 20 minutes her play and vision demonstrated a potential high ceiling for her future. Some difficult decisions for Emma to have to make for a final Olympic 18. If it was my choice, I would bring Yohannes to give her the experience, it will pay real dividends in the future. Go USWNT!

[@chrisradovan7642]

Did anyone actual think that South Korea had any chance in beating the USWNT. We know we are better than SK but the question remains where do stand against the top European teams.

[@ronniethomas8780]

Youre missing the entire point, it's not about who we played, it was more about getting our footing under a new manager and new tactics. But if you really want.to focus on opponents, we did just beat Japan and Brazil in She Believes, and not just that, but we also got to draws at the WC against 2 of the bigger nations in Portugal and Netherlands at our lowest point as a NT, and we're in a better situation right now so we'll see

[@richard6440]

@@ronniethomas8780 Agreed. , it was more about getting our footing under a new manager and new tactics. You are set for a complete change in ' how ' you play. And who plays on your team. The old school will leave, and a new generation will come through. If Emma can mold them into the team that ' she ' wants , then the Usa will be a force. If they continue to rely on speed and running at the other team, you'll struggle.

[@kirkanderson1353]

I think the next two years we will see a really good team emerge ‼️If we beat any really good teams that will be good , but it's going to be tuff 🤞

[@erl92]

Just stumbled on you guys. Great conversation, really appreciated the tactical analysis and unbiased analysis of certain players. Will be tuning in again!

[@internationalsoccerbreak]

Thanks for watching and welcome!

[@glarris1]

Yohanes is special. She is already at 16 the most technically gifted 8 in US history. Her making the team ( probably as an alternate) sends a helluva message ( and is also a vote for European ball).

[@malber2000]

I don't think you can argue that Yohannes is better than Sam Mewis was. Just my opinion, as I do love what Lily represents on this team.

[@ronniethomas8780]

Here is my 18 GK: A Naeher C Murphy Defense: E Fox N Girma T Davidson E Sonnett J Nighswonger C Dunn Midfielders: L Horan S Coffey R Lavelle J Shaw L Yohannes K Albert Forwards: S Smith T Rodman M Swanson C Macario Versatility is key, and this roster gives us that in spades with several players able to fill multiple roles

[@mikewahtabi5658]

Like this list. Except Staab in defense for Dunn. We don’t need to push that ‘ flexibility ‘ argument that far.

[@ronniethomas8780]

@mikewahtabi5658 Dunn is going and deserves to imo. Staab is a good player but with only an 18 man roster, and considering how quickly the turn around is from game to game, you need players that can play multiple positions and thats a fact.....Staab could still make it as one of the 3 CB's that will go, but you absolutely need 3 FB's, 2 ain't gonna cut it

[@mikewahtabi5658]

@@ronniethomas8780 Well Sonnet has played right FB for USWNT on many occasions for years and occasionally on the left side too IIRC. Staab would be spare specialist 3rd CB in case of injury or suspension. And she would also complement Horan and Davidson nicely on set pieces. Dunn is good of course; but Staab is at her prime - good for another 3-5 more years, there’s strong potential for future improvements under Hayes, and she’s been overlooked for far too long IMO.

[@ronniethomas8780]

@mikewahtabi5658 I would love to see Staab go, I like her game, I just don't think she is threatening Dunn's place bc of lack of versatility, which you need at an Olympics. Staab's battle for a roster spot is with Sonnett, DahlKamper and maybe Krueger

[@stevebiology6210]

Let me say this, experience is the best teacher. US should look back at the last Olympic and see the error they made by relying on veterans. If Alex Morgan is not fit don't take her and deprive a young talented player the opportunity going. The US should take the very best talented players. Lily should go.

[@Mvivija]

Drop Alex Morgan

[@kirstieb8025]

i’m not sold on sonnett, dunno or morgan

[@PaulKRedd]

Morgan has had almost two years to voluntarily retire from the USWNT with class, and has chosen not to. She put herself in the position of being dropped.

[@paulbrown2422]

Yeah, kinda thought that Alex Morgan would retire from the national team after the World Cup...

[@samgingrich2148]

I agree... Ertz went out with class and she was still playing incredibly well. Rapinoe did the same thing and chose not to retire and it actually hurt the team when she was subbed in during overtime of the Sweden match... Would prefer not to see that mistake happen again. Emma has said she's not afraid to make drastic changes and I hope this means cutting Morgan!

[@coachesalot]

Alex Morgan knows she is not in game form. Lindsey Horan is not the #10 this team needs. She is not quick with the ball and plays it negative and sideways when we need positive (not impatient) okay. She lost the ball several times……and this is Korea not Spain!

[@davidsprenkle2641]

Horan does slow things down compared to Shaw, Macario or Lavelle, but there will be plenty of games against the best teams where more solidity will be needed in the midfield. I can see her play lots of double pivot with Coffey. Also, Horan is an aerial threat on set pieces.

[@PaulKRedd]

Well that's good, since she wasn't playing in the 10 in either game. Nor does she play 10 for her club, historically the best team in Europe. There is a reason she started both games (only 3 did this) with Emma Hayes, one of the top coaches in the world. There's a reason she has played 90 minutes in two Champion's league finals. There's a reason she was made captain and #10 for the #1 ranked USWNT. There's a reason she was involved in every goal in the last World Cup. There's a reason she has the best resume on the team by a mile. Why don't you go watch enough football to figure out what those reasons are, then come back and comment after that.

[@TheRumblewagon]

You clearly don't see that Horan is an obvious favorite of Hayes given that Horan's had experience in the Champion's League. Horan's a lock for team captain.

[@user-gn4mq9wi4j]

@@PaulKRedd I think Horan should play and start. But she has played like a 10 in the past for USWNT - she was ball dominant in the WC, and it has slowed the US attack at times. Definitely like her in more of a double pivot role and allowing Lavelle, Macario or Shaw playing the playmaker role.

[@RJ420NL]

Rodman doesn’t score or complete passes. Morgan hasn’t been effective for nearly two years. Drop them.

[@kalmenbarkin5708]

She does complete passes though. She was involved in both of the goals when she was on the field yesterday including the direct assist to Yohaness. And she’s also very effective in stretching the defense. She didn’t look as good as Mal/Smith but looked better than Shaw

[@davidsprenkle2641]

Rodman presses well and breaks people down on the wing. Korea had to foul her over and over to stop her in the 1st game. And then she came in late and sliced up folks again in the 2nd game. Yes, she and Swanson/Smith need to keep working on their chemistry, but surely Rodman is a locked in starter.

[@coachesalot]

Keep Rodman. Drop Morgan. Drop Horan. Drop Rose.

[@StephenGagliardi-px8xo]

Fact, Korea went to a two back beginning one goal down thus opening up the game at the 60 min mark, get real Alex haters

[@kalmenbarkin5708]

@@StephenGagliardi-px8xo she’s a striker who doesn’t strike.