After Haunting Loss, U.S. Fires Women’s Soccer Coach

[Water Pony]

After Haunting Loss, U.S. Fires Women’s Coach

The decision by United States Coach Greg Ryan to start Briana Scurry in goal against Brazil in last month’s Women’s World Cup left him on a high wire with no safety net.

The United States seldom played in top form during the tournament and often seemed unable to control the ball. The switch of goalkeepers to Scurry from Hope Solo for the semifinals had to succeed, or Ryan undoubtedly would lose his job.

The decision failed, the Americans lost by 4-0 and Ryan was fired yesterday, even though that defeat was only his second during his two and a half years as coach of the national team.

[mustangbill67]

Even though he has SMU ties, I have no sympathy for him. What a stupid, thoughtless decision to replace the U.S. keeper under the circumstances.

[The XtC]

I have no idea how Greg got that job in the first place. It's mindboggling.

[giacfsp]

Greg Ryan coaching that team was about as logical as the idea of handing John Shumate the coaching job for the U.S. men's basketball national team.

That move with the goalies will go down as one of the dumbest substitutions - or coaching moves of any kind - in the history of sports.

[orsini for president]

The good news for Brent Erwin is that the last coach to ruin the women's program at SMU became National Team coach. Maybe Brent will be ready to take the position once the season is over.

[DallasDiehard]

You've got to be kidding.

Greg Ryan isn't a fraction of the coach Brent Erwin is. Brent has NOT "ruined" anything.

Schellas Hyndman has said Brent's a terrific coach - that's good enough for me.

He's teach his system to players who were recruited to play another.

Injuries (Krystal Bailey, Carley Phillips, etc.) have been big this year.

SMU played its last two games short-handed because half the team was out with some sort of stomach flu. They were so short-handed they had players at positions they've never played.

[Roach]

Good.
Greg Ryan is a complete moron who knows less about soccer than I know about neurosurgery.
He's an idiot, and US Soccer (and maybe the United States in general) is better off without him.