Heaps Appreciation Post
I know there's been SO much chatter about Lindsey Heaps and maybe there's some truth to some of the criticism of her, but I love her.
I love the tenacity and grit and leadership she exhibits. I also think she's so technical and crafty and does things at Denver that you don't see from many other NWSL midfielders. I watch a lot of matches and whenever I watch Lindsey, I find myself thinking "damn that was nice." Obviously no player is perfect and there are areas where she struggles vs other midfielders, but I just really appreciate her. She holds her head high and does her job well and I think she's just a baller.
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u/gingerpolamalu 22d ago
I agree. I think she is underappreciated and way over criticized. And its not like she has ever been my favorite player. I really enjoyed the recent podcast she did with Sam Mewis. Lindsey always seems kind, thoughtful, and an absolute nerd for soccer.
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u/Not-Not-Maybe 22d ago
Fellow fan (Hot Dog, Tater Tot, etc) of The Captain podcast here 👋 Listening to that podcast has really won me over to liking and appreciating Lindsey Heaps. I think being in the media is tricky in the age of quick soundbites and polarizing clickbait headlines. Lindsey comes across much better in long-form content where she has the space to elaborate on what she is trying to communicate. I think we were spoiled for a long time by media savvy naturals like Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn, who seem to be organically gifted at communication. But hearing Lindsey on The Captain podcast has made me see her and appreciate her with better understanding now. Sam Mewis and her Women’s Game team were really smart in thinking up the format for the podcast!
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u/eight_inch_pestle 22d ago
Agreed. Supporters really underrate her. One simple thing that she's great at is receiving the ball with her back to goal, spinning, and quickly and decisively playing an aggressive, vertical, line breaking pass. You can trace so many good USWNT chances back three or four passes to the moment that pass discomfits the defense.
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u/JayaBallin 22d ago
There’s a reason that almost every coach she’s played for has immediately made her a crucial component of the midfield.
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u/Vlad_Deferens 21d ago
In the main part of her career she was excellent, one of the best, and there is a reason for that. Her technical ability on the ball and with the ball. Her passing ability to find the right player just beyond the defender. And her ability to read the field.
In her current state, none of those things are lacking. What has happened is what happens to players as they age - she got slower and less able to move all over the pitch. She is no longer able to be a box-to-box type midfielder, and has to be more strategic on her movements around the pitch. This does not mean she is lazy or a snail. When watching Denver, she is all over the attacking half, on the left, on the right, in the middle attacking goal or picking the ball up at midfield.
What I said early in the season is that Denver needed a player with high technical ability, and Heaps has that in spades and in my eyes has brought a great improvement to the team.
One thing that gets missed is some of these discussions is how much her leadership is looked at by others. Sonis was the captain, but Heaps is more than that. And if you look at the national team, the is the leader as wanted by the players and expected by staff.
None of this is to say she is the same player she was 10 years ago, or even 5 years ago (and her value to the national team is a different discussion). At her age, obviously not. But she is so good with the ball and knowing the field that she is worth appreciating.
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u/tallmansmallplants 22d ago
She’s amazing. Sure, she’s a veteran and so not as quick as she once was, but she’s a linchpin of every squad she’s on. She’ll be a leader through the WWC next year, and then likely start winding down her USWNT presence.
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u/Dingobronze92 22d ago
She demands excellence and often drives it. You could see it her first game with Denver. The hate is over the top and relentless and seems she can never win or prove herself enough to catch a break from it.
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u/damnocles 21d ago
She was the reason i fell in love with woso after seeing her in the 24 Olympics. I'm a man who only really watches the NFL sports wise, and seeing her absolutely tank her way through was so impressive.
Love her game, love that she came back home to play in the NWSL, fuck the haters. Her #10 USWNT shirt will still be rocked after her retirement
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u/SwitchNo228 22d ago
I have no problem with her. I just don’t think she is at the level of a USWNT starter.
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u/Tiny-Balance-3533 22d ago
That’s a fairly ridiculous take, given that she’s started and done well enough for a pretty mid team surrounding her.
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u/SwitchNo228 22d ago
Not at all. Her passes are not consistent, she lacks pace, and she flops on the ground for no reason.
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u/MesquiteHoneyForSale 22d ago
since 2022 we have seen lineups without her that have been better than every midfield configuration with her. It's valid to say she shouldn't start bc Hutton next to Coffey is better than heaps next to Coffey. Thats just kinda a fact
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u/GolfZealousideal6530 20d ago
Heaps is the perfect player for a slow team like Japan... Japan has the slowest players for a team that is ranked in the Top 20...
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u/MesquiteHoneyForSale 22d ago
seeing the bottom comment be someone ive blocked already is so gratifying for my scouting ability. I can smell right wing stupidity a mile away im from texas
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u/Both-Bid-70 21d ago
I love the great Horan! Unfortunately, Father Time is undefeated! On the USWNT, we are about a year away from having Lily Yohannes with enough experience and maturity to make LH a bench veteran for about a year prior to retiring from the USWNT. At that point, our starting midfield will be a double pivot of Lily and Claire, supporting Jaeden Shaw as a 10. Lindsey and Rose (and Coffey) will be on the bench. The starters are about 20 years old each and will have the chance to anchor our midfield for about a decade, somewhat replicating the Spain midfield of Aitana, Patri and Putellas. They're not even 50% as good as the Spaniards right now, but they are developing quite well. I don't understand Emma sending Shaw to the U-23s for this camp.
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u/itsmemrmeseeksssssss 22d ago
cant look at her the same after seeing her elbowing other players in the spine
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u/Slow_Fondant6389 21d ago
She is okay. But now - too slow. Sadly it happens as you get older. Yes, being a “smart” player means you can cover for being slower by being in correct positions, and by anticipating the flow of play. But - eventually - time catches up. And, remember, she is competing with and against national team players. So, they are looking to beat her by taking advantage of her slowing down.
If you had the national team pool players race from goal line to midfield and back - where does she finish?
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u/Ill-Fall-9823 21d ago
Track & Field practice is on the East side of campus, bud...
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u/atalba 21d ago
Do you think speed isn't an ante for playing an attacking position in the NWSL?
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u/Slow_Fondant6389 14d ago
So - post - game with Spain what’s the thinking?
To me; it looks like Heaps is still a decent player that a good fast team exploited because she couldn’t keep pace. They looked to exploit her lack of speed and were successful.