One of the best women's soccer coaches in the world, Brian Boswell of Women's Premier Soccer League team Ajax America Women, provided expert analysis for 100 percent Soccer throughout the Women's World Cup.

Does his take on the U.S. Women's National Team coaching debacle sound like 1998 all over again?


Greg Ryan needs to go.

He did a good job with the team in playing 51 games without a loss, but they are the U.S.

It’s expected.

The Scurry/Solo episode brought his job stability to the fore, but that's only a part of the story.

The World Cup showed that the U.S. style of soccer is no longer good enough to keep us on top of the world. The day has gone when we had the fittest, strongest, fastest athletes who, if they have good soccer ability, would beat everyone.

Anson Dorrance's philosophy of win every individual battle, get the ball up front and run harder and faster than the other team worked in the early years. Add that to the skill of the likes of Carin Gabarra et al and the U.S. were unbeatable.

Unfortunately, Ryan followed in that mode, coaching the women in a men's long ball style with a big target player and power soccer.

But, the Brazilians showed what individual talent, flair and the ability to keep the ball could do. Then Germany showed that discipline, good possession, teamwork and individual skill is even better.

Possession was key to both teams' success.

The U.S. could not possess the ball, meaning we had to do something wonderful with it when we had it and were always fighting to get it back.

Moreover, on listening to some of the U.S. players, Ryan was not an easy person to approach.

Players said if you had a question over some part of playing time, position etc., you did not go to the coach for an explanation.

That's perhaps acceptable in the men's game. But it does not work with the women.

They need answers - good or bad - they need to know where they stand and what they need to do.

That's why the head coaches in England's professional ranks are called a managers; it's all about player management. Keep the players happy and amazing things can happen.

Tactically Ryan followed his playing philosophy and emphasis on the long ball, which will work and did against most teams in the world. You don't need to be too tactically aware.

But in the semifinal, when under the biggest coaching pressure of his career, his subbing and tactics left some questions, especially when 2-0 down and replacing defenders when we needed to score twice to tie.

I also question the long residential camps.

Neither Brazil or Germany had extended camps.

Their players were playing in the European leagues during the spring and early summer.

This kept them game fit and had them playing in many instances against club teams who were as good as many national teams. They were able to play against different styles and systems and hone their individual talent.

Then as the men's national teams do, they were brought into camp for training, bonding and games. The players come in fresh and had something to prove. I've got to believe that constantly being in camp around the same players takes the edge off and can make you stale.

Who could do the job as Ryan's successor?

Tony DiCicco has been suggested as a get-us-through-the-Olympics coach. He's been there, knows the ropes and could do the job.

But, I think we need someone fresh whose first priority is the Olympics, but also the years beyond.

There's Jerry Smith (Brandi Chastain's husband) if you could pry him away from Santa Clara.

Ian Sawyers (Julie Foudy's husband) did a very good job with San Jose in the WUSA,.

Jim Gabarra (husband of the former Carin Jennings) did a good job with Washington in the WUSA and has continued to do it this year in the W-League.

From outside the U.S., Australian coach Tom Sermanni performed a good job with the Australian National Team and New York in the WUSA.