Guess who's back?

Well, that didn't last long.

U.S. Women's national team goalkeeper Hope Solo has seen her banishment from the team cut short. She has been named to the U.S. women's team roster for its upcoming series of friendlies against Mexico.

So what gives? Did all the wounds really heal that quickly? Did her teammates really decide to take her back after spending the past two weeks bashing her? Did Greg Ryan wake up one day and realize it all really was his fault?

Call me a cynic but I think it has more to do with ticket sales than anything else. The vibe surrounding the U.S. women's team following the World Cup wasn't exactly a positive one and I have to believe that U.S. Soccer officials were at least a little concerned about how the public would respond to this three-game series in the wake of all that bad blood. I know there were plenty of fans either ready to ignore the series out of disgust with the whole goalkeeper fiasco while others were ready to go to these games with home-made signs that would express their unhappiness.

I'm sure the U.S. women will try to sell the story of reconciliation but color me skeptical. If everyone really has kissed and made up then that would be something, but I think the whole World Cup fiasco showed us that we probably shouldn't believe everything we're told about the U.S. women's soccer team.

Comments

[paul]

I believe she's was already "signed" for the next 3 games. Whether she plays or is still suspended is another thing. All the fanfare aside, she's still the better keeper. Play her.

[Tony M]

THe fact that Ryan hasn't been fired is truly pathetic.

[MattC]

Ives. Spot on. This is silly. Did anyone at US Soccer actually sit down and think this through?

Why is Ryan still the coach? This question now ranks more as more difficult to answer than "what is the meaning of life".

[Lawrence]

I could care less anymore about Womens soccer. Their retainment of Ryan has pretty much lost all my support. I hope our ladies stay healthy. But outside of that I don't care. I don't root for fools like Ryan. Or Hackworth, Rongen, or Gulati for that matter. Bradley may not be world class, but at least he continues to be a student of the game, tries to make decisions based on things intellecutually processed (wether they be right or wrong) than just trying to rely on the players USSF want to be their stars.

Sorry, but I am in hate USSF mode. And I thought this Hope Solo thing would get Ryan removed, and shine light on the fact that the team didn't play good the whole time. But now it seems more a soap opera than being a window into seeing the changes must be made.

[EastLAChiva]

I hope she blasts Ryan again. This team is a fallacy and a shell of its former self. Ryan could coach colleege soccer, much less this team of overpaid, brats.

Hope solo por vida!!

[tyson]

i cant believe ryan hasnt been sacked yet. what gives? as posted above, that really shows something of what is going on in US womens soccer.
lame.

[A.S.]

Yeah, what gives? There is a 2-part process here:

1. Fire Ryan
2. Get Solo back on the team

They inexplicably skipped #1.

[kpugs]

She's the best at the moment--I like to think that's why she was put back in the team.

I mean come on...a couple of fluke goals in the world cup opener followed by over THREE HUNDRED scoreless minutes that led to a benching? I think Ryan realized how cartoonish this whole fiasco was AND that he was a total idiot who could have been out-coached by a child.

[zhatso]

Perhaps USSF lawyers realized Solo has a contract?

Perhaps they are trying to save Ryan's tail by giving the fans "what they want"?

Well they are obviously not listening carefully...we clearly want Ryan removed.

ussoccer.com.......find "contact us" at the bottom right ....then call or email....OFF WITH HIS HEAD.

Let's keep the heat on....

[Dave]

I agree with zhatso above. If the USSF isn't going to fire him, then this is the first installment of "Saving Ryan's Privates".

[Tim]

I, too, cannot believe all this time has passed since the WWC, and the USSF hasn't gotten rid of Ryan. He's an awful tactician, and an even worse player manager.

Secondly, I hope they do start Scurry and she gets nailed for about 4-5 goals, then maybe SOMEBODY will realize who needs to be in goal, and who needs to be given the USSF Rolex and told it's time to retire. I would normally never wish bad on someone, but unfortunately the Mexicans putting a few in the back of the net may be what it takes here.

As far as the players, they've had to play politics, for fear of the same treatment Solo got for being honest. I can't fault them too much, though they certainly seem disingenuous.

[mbrose]

I think the signs of this coming were already there in the press conference after the Norway game. Ryan opened the door he had previously closed for her to come back. And since I never expected US Soccer to do anything, there is very little to be surprised about here.

While I am ready to see Ryan go, either way I'm just glad Solo is back. We need her for the Olympics.

[Longshoe]

I don't think they had a choice since she was already signed to a contract for these games. No roster changes were made from the World Cup team, this tour was part of the contract they signed for the World Cup. Two players aren't able to appear due to other commitments, but no one was called in to replace them.

Now let's see if she actually plays...

[Richie]

Nobody cares about these games, especially after the crap showing in the WWC, so what does it matter who is on the roster?

Ticket sales are going to be laughable.

[eastlachiva]

I think Solo should come in the second half. She deserves better. Forget about the looks, SHE IS OUR BEST BET. She's the only one willing to fight the system and stand against what's been done to Milbrett, Chastain, and McMillan in the past.
I hope ESPN covers one these games, I'd like to hear what Queen Foudy has to say. Hypocrite.

[truth]

Why hasn't Greg Ryan been fired yet?

[Roehl]

Did Solo even formally receive any sort of long-term suspension/banishment (the latter, as Ives puts it)? I thought it was just one and done after the WWC third-place game; OF COURSE Solo gets her spot back, there really is not much of a future developed at goalkeeper beyond her.

Speaking out was probably not a wise move in the first place, but she got thrown under the bus and one game off the bench was more than enough. It seems to me that a longer exile would blow everything out of proportion, when the best action is just to move on.

[smokeminside]

I'm with Roehl....

[John]

Saving Ryan's Privates? Best line of the year.

I started following the women after watching the 99 WC and realizing that they didn't dive or go nuts with the ref. How refreshing, a bunch of good athletes who just get on with playing the game. I assumed that that was true of the entire operation. Now I find that maybe its more like little league or the WWF, or some mean sorority, where maybe the lineup depends on who has the best political pull with the coach or the sponsors.

This team has proved itself a massive fraud but I guess I was expecting too much, thinking they could escape being tainted by their association with the USSF, an even more fraudulent body.

[zhatso]

Is there any possible chance that the Federation, specifically Gulati and Flynn have not noticed the public furor has not subsided? Are these dudes holed with some champagne and caviar until the seige is over?
This fiasco cost no less than $20 - $30 million. And the toll to the women's game is incalculable. Especially after all the Jim Mike commercials.

What are the sponsors thinking? Anyone heard anything about Nike's response?

Give um a wake up call at USSF headquaters in Chicago.

[Hank]

Completely agree with John. And since when does anyone give a crap about winning the 3rd place game in any major tournament? Since a few weeks ago I guess . . . We're Number 3! We're number 3!!! yippee

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=471814&cc=5901

[Tim]

Looks like Scurry gets the start on Saturday, according to SI.com. We'll see what the result is. I think Solo should and will play it smart this time around, and just let Ryan hang himself.

[Tim]

Big U.S. win, 5-1, albeit over the Mexicans, who are far from a strong opponent. Won't help Solo's case, and will only bolster that moron, Ryan.

I also understand Solo apologized to the team and Ryan AGAIN, and sat at the end of the bench in street clothes. What's up with that?? She already apologized before the game with Norway. Ryan and these other U.S. women need to grwo the hell up and move on.

[Tim]

Sorry, g-r-o-w up. I hate typo's.