When All Hope Is Lost…

There has been a lot said about Hope Solo’s (the US woman’s national goalkeeper) dismissal from the national team, and there are a few things to point out about professional conduct both on Solo’s end and with coach Greg Ryan’s decisions.

• Voted Off The Island By Team Mates & The Boss: Now, I’m certain that if Hope Solo kept goals for most of the tournament, she has the goods to don the number one jersey. On the other hand, to be voted off by the whole team and the coach, it seems to me that there had to be some harsh “words” said by Hope in having to hand over her spot to veteran Scurry. It points to maturity in the team dynamic. Something I learned a long while ago, was to question decisions made by people above you, but do so in a mature manner, shut up, and if you are right about the convictions in your own ability, they will show in the results of the team without you between the sticks.

• The Boss Got It Wrong Too: Decisions, no matter how hard to contemplate by the team, should be adhered to whether wrong or right. But I do question coach Greg Ryan’s decision. If Solo had been number one choice throughout the tournament, she should not have been replaced before such a large clash with Brazil. Two things to note here from a goalkeepers perspective. 1) It damages the goalkeepers faith in their own ability, being replaced for no other reason than to give Scurry a chance to shine one last time in what could possibly be her final World Cup appearance. 2) Scurry had not played in three months, and it showed in the 4-0 loss to Brazil, if it ain’t broke, why try to fix it?

Well, it seems that coach Ryan’s decision ultimately helped break a winning streak that spanned 51 games for the US women’s national team. On the other hand, Solo would have done well to have showed some maturity, and approaching the decision without letting “emotion” run its course. I know, it’s a hard thing to not be emotional as a goalkeeper (we are a different breed), but in this case, Solo would have won the war by letting the results without her prove her own ability to her team mates and coach.

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