Europeans Need Not Apply: All-Star Ballot

According to my trusty internet capabilities, I was able to deduce that the Euro 2009 championship group play will be in full swing during the WPS All-Star game.

It's pretty obvious that some of the best players in the league are those from Europe, so I get the feeling that there will be some empty roster spots at the conclusion of the voting. It would be nice to honor these players by giving them the first roster spot before giving it to the next runner up, but at the end of the day, I'm just going to avoid voting for any European players at all. This, unfortunately, is also coupled by the fact that we are playing a European club. I've never seen a roster for Umea, but I think I can reasonably conclude that Umea will be missing their best players due to Euro 2009. I think that the this move will actually make WPS comparable to MLS, which it doesn't need to be considering the quality of WPS compared to other clubs in the world. Especially when you consider the quality of MLS compared to other clubs in the world...I think you can see that WPS doesn't need it's leagues finest to beat one of the best clubs in the world, not when any club from our league could beat Umea. If you don't honestly believe that, then you must not be an avid supporter of the league.

I'm not even going to go into how frustrating the ballot itself makes me with its anticipated 3-5-2 formation and players put in the wrong position. Brittany Bock is nothing in comparison to Cristiane and Tiffeny Milbrett in the forward category, but would serve a fighting chance in the defender category, because, well, she doesn't play forward.

Shameless plug: Red Stars fans, please join my group High Above Chicago

Anyway, here are my picks:

Goalkeeper
Hope Solo: This league is filled with great goal-keeping talent, so it's impossible to pick just one. I went with Hope because she's my personal favorite and deserves to guard the pipes on her home turf. My second choice would have been Nicole Barnhart. The only thing I truly support on the US WNT are the quality goalkeepers.

Defenders
Cat Whitehill: I've been trying to figure out when Jim Gabarra is going to actually put Cat Whitehill up top for his squad. With 3 goals and 2 assists on the season, she's an assist away from being as productive as Abby Wambach. Washington's defense has been really shaky this season (4-3 win v FCGP & 4-4 draw v SBFC), but I attribute that to the overall system than the skill of one of the US WNT's defensive anchors.

Carrie Dew: Carrie Dew is one of the most underrated players in the league. She has great composure and rarely loses a tackle. I think that if FCGP had a more successful season, she may have earned a call-up to the national team. Like with Whitehill, the downfall of FCGP's defense is not in their center back but an overall failed system.

Allison Falk: She's been the anchor for the most successful team in the league. The stats say it all: in games where she plays, LA is undefeated. In games where she hasn't played, they've lost.

Midfielders
Megan Rapinoe: She is the kind of player that All-Star games were made for. She's flashy and she's got great vision. She's got one quality in common with Mia Hamm: when her confidence is low, so is her success. I feel that in the event of an All-Star game, this won't be a problem as its all in good fun.

Tiffany Weimer: I don't know why Montoya hasn't been playing her recently. She was once the team's leader in assists and when she stopped playing, FCGP went on their 7 game losing streak. Weimer's a fantastic talent and would be fun to watch in an All-Star game.

Kendall Fletcher: It's no easy feat to fill in the shoes of Brazilian playmaker, Daniela. When Daniela got taken out early in the season, StL made a great trade to obtain Fletcher who made an immediate impact for the Athletica. Along with my next pick, she's helped guide the team to second place in the standings where they're in the running for the league title.

Lori Chalupny: Aside from the fact that she's been totally owning this season, how can you not vote for the Ginger Princess to play in the All-Star game in her hometown?

Aly Wagner: Wagner's missed quite a few games this season due to an array of random injuries. (Seriously, people. Put the VooDoo doll away!) Aside from this fact, she's been very influential for the Sol this season. It's a tribute to the quality of the Sol that her absence hasn't been notable, but that shouldn't take away from Wagner.

Forwards
Cristiane: She was the first player to score a hat-trick in WPS history. On a team that went 2 months without a win and scored only 2 goals in those two months, she's managed to score 6 goals this season. I don't think I'm going to meet many people who will disagree with me here.

Tiffeny Milbrett: Sometimes I think that Milbrett should be playing for Chicago because given the number of fantastic opportunities she has had this season, she can not buy a freaking goal. Actually, this season has probably been one of the most unsuccessful in Milbrett's career in terms of opportunities versus converted goals. I realize that I should be justifying my pick, so let me start. Even when Milbrett isn't putting the ball in the back of the net, that doesn't mean she isn't creating opportunities for everyone else on the field. Her ability to create plays out of nothing is unmatched by any other player in this league, aside from Marta, whom I didn't vote for because, well, duh. I don't have to. (Kind of like living in Illinois during the 2008 election...)

Write-In**
Ella Masar: She only has one assist on the season, but Ella is the fan-favorite from Chicago who wins people over with her tenacity and spirit. All of us in Chicago <3 Ella and would love for nothing more than to see her in the All-Star game.

I can't wait to hear who the rest of you voted for.

**I didn't actually write Ella in b/c that would mean I would have to pick one less forward, but the sentiment is there nonetheless.

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Comment by snipoppers16 on July 28, 2009 at 1:57pm: "Any other player WOULDN'T be back on the field yet."

Women's soccer is littered with fierce, determined athletes who overcome horrific injuries in a manner that far exceeds the expectations of anyone else. Shannon Mac playing in the '03 World Cup, 4 months after an ACL tear. Leslie Gaston playing for the Atlanta Beat with no ACL and after 19 knee surgeries. I know there are more. Don't give Abby special credit because she broke her leg 12 months ago. She isn't the first to do so.

We're talking about Abby in WPS, which until recently, she hadn't been producing. Her national team statistics don't apply in a league, where she consistently faces more talent than she does in US friendlies scheduled against teams that have a lower quality. If you want to impress me with Abby's stats, let's see how she does in games against Germany, Norway, and Brazil, etc... The only credit I will give her is for her beautiful header against Brazil in the 2004 Olympics because of its importance. But where was her skill in the WWC 2007 Semi-final?

It's not how many goals she scores, its how important they are.

Comment by Lauren McLelland on July 21, 2009 at 12:40pm: I can't believe you guys are dishing on Wambach so bad. She's the best player the US has seen since Michelle Akers, her stats have proven it time & time again. She's raw talent, & tough as nails. I'd like to see any other player overcome the struggles she's had in the past year & play half as well as she has this season. Any other player WOULDN'T be back on the field yet. She busted her a$$ to get back after a broken leg & I'd probably look for all the breaks I could get with the way she is singled out in EVERY match. It takes a lot to do what she does, statistically speaking she has earned a goal in every match that she has seen playing time. I'm not saying that some of the girls haven't been better than her in this season but who just won the National game against Canada the other day? Abby. Her 100th & the only other player to accomplish that in as many games was Akers. I don't see how you can judge so harshly someone who mass produces perfected finishes.

Comment by Ashley on July 21, 2009 at 11:08am: Snipoppers16, I never thought of Marta and Milbrett together for some reason, but that sure would be fun! Two of the fastest and best dribblers in the league (possibly ever), there's no way they could be stopped. Nice thought, I like!

Comment by Ashley on July 21, 2009 at 11:03am: I agree about Abby (and Sinclair, who unfortunately seems to be perpetually stuck on losing teams despite her enormous talent). I voted for Sinclair and Cristiane for my forwards. I used to be an avid follower of the US WNT and watched games on TV if I had the chance, but I'm really not impressed with Sundhage's choices lately. I too refused to vote for Abby because I'm sick of her recklessness. Some are saying "no, she just works hard and refuses to give up on a ball." Someone of her size and strength who has played professionally for awhile should, by now, know how to take the ball away without delivering injuries so serious they end that player's season. Also, both Mitts and Lloyd are overrated, at least what I've seen for this WPS season, yet they both had National Team call-ups. Weimer definitely deserves more attention, and I'm glad Cat Whitehill got her WNT spot, she has been super for the Freedom.

Comment by StarCityFan on July 21, 2009 at 10:25am: I don't know that there's a huge difference in the way Wambach and Whitehill have been treated - Cat may have been left off just that once to leave space to look at a younger defender. As for Wambach, she's one of the best goal-scorers the US has ever had - the only clearly more successful players are Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm. She's earned the benefit of the doubt and then some.

That being said, her performance so far this year in WPS does not merit her being on the All-Star squad, and that's coming from a huge Abby fan.

Milbrett's had a great season for a miserable team and deserves some consideration.

I've been trying to like Natasha Kai, but she lost me when after scoring a goal during last Thursday's game, she was posturing with the fans while our goalkeeper was being tended to by our medical staff.

Comment by StarCityFan on July 21, 2009 at 10:21am: I don't know that there's a huge difference in the way Wambach and Whitehill have been treated - Cat may have been left off just that once to leave space to look at a younger defender. As for Wambach, she's one of the best goal-scorers the US has ever had - the only clearly more successful players are Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm. She's earned the benefit of the doubt and then some.

That being said, her performance so far this year in WPS does not merit her being on the All-Star squad, and that's coming from a huge Abby fan.

Comment by snipoppers16 on July 20, 2009 at 1:34am: Well the purpose behind my selection that excludes European players is that the European players won't be at the All-Star game regardless of their selection. So I chose to recognize the talents of other players in the absence of the dominant European ones.

I didn't include any Asian players because, in my opinion Sawa, Miyama, and Arokawa have been incredibly underwhelming in terms of their potential.
Additionally, I think the only Brazilians that have made any significant mark have been Marta, Cristiane, and Rosana. The others have been solid, sure, but I watched FC Gold Pride last week and 3 of their 4 midfielders were Brazilian players. They were not at all impressive.

On general principle I do not like Kai. I've seen her act less than professional towards fans of another team (Yes they were heckling her in fun of the sport, but the pro thing to do would be to ignore them. Not antagonize them.) After her less than stellar performance today, she proved why she didn't get a call-up to the national team for this pair of friendlies.

Maybe I'm bias but I firmly stand by my selection of Milbrett. She has not had any luck at all this season, as I stated in my original post, but has done such a wonderful job of creating dangerous opportunities for her team. The only other player in the league that I've seen attack with that kind of skill and intelligence is Marta. I would most definitely pay (this statement shouldn't be negated by the fact that I'm already going to the All-Star game. lol) to see those 2 work together. My head is exploding at the possibility.

Comment by Winner on July 19, 2009 at 7:48pm: I enjoyed your comments and opinions snipoppers16 and Milan.
I just wanted to add, that fans seem to understandably and emotionally vote for their favourites. I thiink the biggest oversight, is that this is NOT a USA vs UMEA game.
This is a WPS vs versus elite Swedish club Umeå IK !
(When the USA wishes to play them, - they will arrange it like they did with Canada today).
Hopefullly, the WPS ALL*STARS will showcase the BEST of the WPS, by choosing the players that show their ability THIS SEASON!
I voted to show not only an International balance of STARS, but also who I think will be able to pull off a great game without having played together as a team. This means everything. The elite Swedish club Umeå IK has BEEN a team! We will be throwing one together, and then the critics will have a hayday! "We should've ......"
For this reason, I sacrificed some of my favourites too, for the best outcome of the game.
Here is my can of worms! I know USA fans would like to see all 11 from the USA, but NOT on the starting line.
My votes for best 11 are from Canada, USA, Scotland, France, Brazil, Japan and England:
1 Goalkeeper :Karina LeBlanc (LA Sol) -Canada)
3 Defenders : Allison Falk (LA) -USA, Ifeoma Dieke (CHI) - Scotland, Sonia Bompastor (WSH)-France
5 Midfielders: Camille Abily (LA) - France, Formiga (BAY)- Brazil, Aya Miyama (LA)- Japan,
Angela Hucles (BOS)- USA, Kelly Smith (BOS)- England
2 Forwards: Marta (LA) - Brazil, Natasha Kai (NJ) USA-Hawaii

I know who my next eleven would be too, but I await feedback.

Comment by Winner on July 19, 2009 at 7:02pm: Gosh snipoppers16 and Milan I love your comments and opinions.
Voting for he ALL Star team should be the players who have STARRED or shown their worth in the WPS 2009 only. There was a balance of the top players on each team in each category.
Emotionally, I would vote for the entire group from the LA SOL. But that would not present the balance of the entire league.
First and foremost, this is NOT a USA vs Umea game. It is two ALL STAR leagues playing each other.
Therefore, the players with the best show of flexibility to play a game for the first time together on Aug 30
should be the ultimate choice. The other team may have played together, many times.
For that reason, I have included in my choice, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Japan, and of course USA!
6 countries who have dominated the headlines often for 18 weeks!
My picks are narrowed down to who will make a workable instant team.
And now to open my can of worms! lol!

My votes are:
1 Goalkeeper :Karina LeBlanc (LA Sol)
3 Defenders : Carrie Dew (BAY) Allison Falk (LA), Cat Whitehill (WSH) ;
5 Midfielders:Camille Abily (LA), Lori Chalupny (STL) Aya Miyama (LA), Angela Hucles (BOS)
Kelly Smith (BOS)
2 Forwards: Marta (LA), Natasha Kai (NJ)

I sacrificed some of my favourites. You may choose others everywhere, (except for the GK of course) LOL!

Comment by Shannon Nicole;; on July 19, 2009 at 4:11pm: I agree with Lauren, Kristine Lilly does make things happen. She's an unbelievable playmaker.
Even though Abby scored her 100th first, I would of liked Sinclair to come right back and score hers at the other end. That would of been awesome :) Sinclair is only 26 years old with 99 international goals and as Julie and that one commentator said, I think she has a real chance to reach Mia Hamm's goal scoring record.