The Collector's Corner: A Look At The Rest Of My WPS Card Collection

My set started out with these. This is the full set of WPS Stars, which are the base cards of most of the All-Star picks from the 2009 season.


Above you will see the WPS Stars set. Each is a base/serial card of a player who was picked for last season's All-Star game played against Umea IK. My WPS collection started out with these, and it makes sense, since these are typically easier to find, more so than the jersey cards and autos, and forget about the premium patches and dual, triple, and quad cards. These are ideal for starting out your collection. The best way to go about buying these is to acquire the bunch in one shot from a buyer who is offering the whole set. Its usually cheaper that way. Plus buying individually is a hassle. Typically these range from about 1-3 dollars individually, but I'd steer clear of the 3 dollar ones if you can. It'll definitely add up. With this set, its easier to buy in bulk, since these are the cheapest and easiest cards to obtain in the entire WPS set.

Remember, if you have any WPS cards that you are willing to part with, I'd be happy to take 'em off your hands.

Hope you enjoyed the post!

Denise

The Collector's Corner: A Look At Some Of The Gems In My Current Collection

These are the "Gems" I currently have in my growing WPS collection. Pretty awesome, huh?


Welcome to my first post regarding my WPS memorabilia/cards collection. I promised I'd show you my "Gems" according to the title, so here they are! Some of the greatest cards in my collection. The way I look at the whole "best for last" philosophy depends on my mood, but I figured I'd save the best for first today, and show you these gems before I show you my others. The top 3 are the jersey cards I currently own. There are a limited number of these, and I was quite happy to nab them, since, as most people collecting these first edition WPS cards know, they sell like hotcakes on ebay. Even more to a collector's dismay, the prices can be unbelievably high. Typically, the jersey cards can run from 5-12 buckaroos. I got most of these for around 8-9 bucks, a reasonable price for a jersey card of a WPS player if you ask me. This is the first ever edition of WPS cards made, and since the league is a breakthrough in itself (and is still fairly new), so is the WPS set of cards. This is the first time a company has taken women's soccer and made a near-full league set of cards, with jerseys, autos, and the whole nine yards. These cards are very collectible, and honestly, pretty rare, so its understandable that the prices are sometimes quite high. I figured out early on that getting a full set of the WPS cards is going to be extremely hard, maybe even impossible, so I decided to stick with getting my favorite players first, and then if I had some extra cash, I'd shell out on the rest of the set, little by little. Since Sinclair, LePeilbet, and DeVanna are some of my top favorites, they were top priority in my jersey card hunt.


Now onto those mouth-watering WPS Marks auto cards. Typically, auto cards go for a Buy it Now on ebay (since they are more expensive), but there will be a few up for bids (be prepared to get into a fierce bidding-war should you go for one that has the bid option only). Normally, they will run anywhere from $25 and on, depending on the player. Of course there are some exceptions, but this is pretty much the norm when it comes to the autographed cards. Also, note that certain players are more rare than others. Each is numbered to 100 (meaning there are only 100 signed cards of each player included in the WPS Marks sub-set). These 2 were not easy to get. In fact, I didn't even get them at all. A friend of mine who is also on a mission to collect the WPS set, picked them up for me as a gift. I didn't ask how much they spent, but I know it must have been quite a pretty penny. Wambach's auto never goes for less than 50 (and you're lucky if you find a 50!) on ebay, and rightfully so. DeVanna's can range from about 20-35, but it all depends on the seller. Honestly, I only dreamed of having Wambach's autograph; I never thought I'd actually get my hands on one. I still can't believe I have it in my possession. I'm beyond happy to have this world-class, living legend's autograph in my collection. Same with DeVanna. I'm super happy to have her auto. Who wouldn't love an autograph from the lightning-fast socceroo?


Here are some tips should you want to start a collection of your own, or if yours is still growing:

- Go for your favorite players first. Its going to be very difficult to acquire a full set, so Top players = Top priority.

- Bargain hunt. Don't just jump on the first one you see. Look around and go for the cheapest one you find (especially with Buy it Nows).

- Avoid bidding only auctions. This is my personal approach. WPS cards are pretty popular right now, and due to the rarity and the high collectible appeal of the set, people are going for them like crazy. Most people want the more attractive looking start price on a bidding auction, and will jump for those right away. But the reality is, if you get the same card for a Buy it Now price, you will probably have paid the same amount you would have had you fought and won the bidding war. Bidding War prices often end up being higher than what a Buy It Now asks, so I would say Buy it Nows are the best option. In the case that there are no other cards like it on ebay, (for example, if its a premium patch, or if its the only card there of your favorite player) then try for the bid. Otherwise, stick to Buy it Nows.

- Don't wait too long on snatching a card. Like I said earlier, these seem to be flying like hotcakes, so if you see a good deal, go for it! Also, if its a rare player/card, take the plunge if you want. Make sure you don't wait too long, or it might be gone when you've finally made up your mind!

Also, before I sign off for this post, I'd like to just put it out there that I am still on the hunt for WPS cards, and that I am willing to do business with anyone who reads the blog and is interested. If you should have any WPS cards, ANY at all, that you are willing to sell/ are not interested in keeping, I will happily take them off your hands. My good friend had a blog where he would post his collection of cards and put up a wish list. He often did business with some of his readers, who gave him the players/teams he was looking for. Or, he would sometimes make trades. So, if you are reading this and have some WPS cards that you don't want/ are willing to sell, I'd be more than happy to give those cards a home. Shoot me a comment, or just contact me at my email: dclobelle@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments, or are looking to do business. Also, feel free to email me about your collection if you have one, I'd definitely be interested in checking it out. Below is a wish list of my most desired cards as of right now:

-WPS Marks (auto card) Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride)

-WPS Marks (auto card) Natasha Kai (Sky Blue FC)

-WPS Marks (auto card) Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers)

These are my biggest priority, so if you have any of these, let me know. Also, note that this is just my wish list, I am interested in any and all cards in the WPS set.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the post.

Happy Collecting!

Denise

Coming Soon...

I realized that lately I've been pretty behind on my WPS Weekly Reviews. I've been so busy doing a lot of nothing lately that I've fallen behind on my reviews and such. I'll be back on track here at Just Another Soccer Fan in no time though, so expect to see things flowing once again. Actually, I've gotten my hands on some pretty awesome WPS Upper Deck cards in my off-time, which I'll be scanning and writing about on here, so look forward to the new Collector's posts! Also, the Reviews will be back on track. I know things have been slow, but I'm aiming to have stuff moving smoothly again.


Hope to be writing soon,


Denise

The USWNT continues to barrel down the opposition, as they beat Sweden 3-0.

The USWNT continues to do excellently in international friendlies. The USWNT beat Sweden 3-0 in the second match of their double header on Saturday. Two of the game's goals came from on-form star striker Abby Wambach, marking her at 109 international career goals.




The USWNT are looking better than ever as they recently won another international friendly. They beat Sweden 3-0 in the second match of their double header.


It was a typical USWNT show, with the US playing well and stringing together passes and plays. There was a short delay from play in about the 6th minute due to looming thunderstorms, which passed in about a half hour's time. The game resumed, and play restarted. The scoring opened up in the 1st half, as a cross came in from the left. It just missed the feet of Wambach who was most likely to latch onto it. Wambach slid into the net as her attempt at a shot had just missed, and Rapinoe, who was waiting on the right, capitalized on the opportunity and sent the ball straight into the net. Rapinoe, who started both matches in the double header against Sweden, has done excellently in midfield. She creates plays, helps with defense, and even poses an offensive threat. I'd like to see her start even more frequently. Afterwards, the game became the USWNT show. They dominated play and created many chances. The Swedes were offside a few times, but at least these linesmen knew what they were doing, as they accurately called offsides throughout the match. The 2nd goal came later, as a corner kick was delivered from the right side. Wambach gained momentum and jumped to meet the ball with her head. It was on target and it sailed into the net. Halftime followed and both teams went to the lockerooms.

The 2nd half began and it was the same game. Play slowed a little, but then later in the 2nd half, Wambach would once again sink a header into the net. An excellent service from Buehler on the left flank was delivered into the 18. Wambach, who was being marked, stretched out and jumped. This effort would pay off, as the ball dipped right into the net for the USA's 3rd and final goal of the night. A chance at a fourth goal would come later, as Wambach would deliver and excellent service into the 18 off of her left foot, and straight to the head of Lilly. It looked like it might sneak in near the far post, but the Sweden GK just got a hand to it.


The USWNT once again dominated an opponent with accurate and creative plays, and also with plentiful, dangerous offensive efforts. The USWNT is looking unbelievably strong, and right now I think we're practically unbeatable. Sweden needed some bad refereeing just to tie us in the first match. The USWNT is looking very promising for the CONCACAF Gold Cup come October.


Denise

The 2010 World Cup sets a new trend...absolutely poor refereeing mars the USWNT vs. Sweden WNT match too.

Yesterday was the first game of the USWNT's double header against Sweden. To make a long story short, it was a great game...yet the refereeing left a lot to be desired. Poor refereeing continues, even after the World Cup 2010 is over. Let's get to the highlights and breakdown of the match now, shall we?


The match was pretty good, a lot of back and forth soccer, and plenty of great plays to feast your soccer eyes on. However, it was the ugly refereeing that ruined a decent game. The USWNT were the clear aggressors early on, releasing quite a few shots on goal in the first half. There were plenty of chances, and some pretty nice looking accurate through passes. The Swedes had their attacks too however, and one of the scariest moments of the match was when a Swede was bearing down on Barnhart, right outside the 6 yard area. Barnie came up with the foot save though to keep the USWNT from going down a goal. The USWNT would go ahead just before the half time break. Wambach released a perfect through pass to the feet of A-Rod who had beaten her marker. A-Rod latched onto it and released a first-time chip shot over the charging Swedish keeper that bounced in. The half would end with the USWNT up by a goal. However, the game would begin to change from here. Very early into the 2nd half, Wambach received a ball inside the 18 and smashed it right into the net, past the Swedish keeper, but it was disallowed. The linesman called Wambach offsides, but when instant replay showed the play once more, it was clear that Wambach was onsides, as the defender to the far left was even with her, maybe even a little in front of her. A-Rod would experience a heartbreaker, as a cross would come in from the right flank. A-Rod dove to get her head to it, but instead of the ball going into the top of the net, it bounced off the crossbar and could not be recovered. It would have been a beautiful goal, if not for the Goal Keeper's best friend getting in the way. However, even though the USWNT was looking dangerous and persistent at this moment, the tide of the game would change in an instant. On the counterattack to A-Rod's missed header, the Swedes would bear down the field. A Swede released the ball to send her teammate off to the races. The USWNT defenders could not catch up as their offside trap was ineffective (the linesman did not call for offsides). The Swede ran a clear path towards Barnhart on a clear breakaway run from the right flank, and as Barnhart charged she went down a little too early, causing the Swede to chip a shot and send it home. This looked fair at first, but on instant replay, the USWNT's offside trap did work. The Swede who was sent on the breakaway was in a clear offsides position. And when I say clear, I mean clear. It wasn't even disputable. She was offsides for sure. I hate to say it, but this was the one game in pretty much forever since I started following the U.S. Women's Team, where I was actually nervous and afraid that we might lose. After the tie, the USWNT became frantic and unorganized. We did not hold onto the ball in midfield, and our plays lost precision. The USWNT became scattered and panicky, and I hated seeing that. I figured the USWNT would come out and smash their opponents, but I'm telling you, despite the bad refereeing, the Swedes were no joke. They gave us quite the scare. Since the USWNT failed to settle down, there were more scary Sweden breakaways that had practically given me a heart attack. One of the best chances for the Swedes was when, inside the 18, Landstrom, or whoever it was, I don't know who these players are (or how to pronounce their names) passed the ball over to Seger (only player I know besides Landstrom) who JUST missed the easy put away chance from about 6 yards out. I thought that was the game winner. Thankfully though, Seger missed the pass and it would never go in the net. The game would end 1-1, with each team looking quite even throughout the match.

Like I said, this match got me scared. I have never seen the USWNT get so lost. They became panicky, frantic, erratic, unorganized and scattered. They could not settle down. That goal shook them up a bit, and they weren't really able to regroup I think. That's something they're going to need to work on. They need to keep their heads high and settle down if they ever go level, or worse, go down a goal. Their mentality is extremely strong when they're up a goal, but they showed weakness I think after they went level. I am hoping that the USWNT works on that problem, and I hope that they get revenge for the win that they really should have had. Had Wambach gotten credit for that goal (which was ONSIDES), the tide of the game would have been completely different. The refereeing was poor and inexcusable. However, in the words of Sepp Blatter, these things happen, and human error is a factor of the game ( should it be? No. Do I agree with him? Absolutely not.)but, until instant replay is issued for all facets of soccer, these teams will have to deal with it. So, its important that the USWNT learns how to deal with an unfavorable situation, whether its legit or not.


We'll see how the USWNT reacts to this one on Saturday, July 17th. It'll be on FSC, starting at 7:30pm. Go USA!


Denise

WPS Week 12 Breakdown

Lilly watches as her 84th minute strike rolls into the back of the net, completing Boston's come-from-behind win against 2nd place powerhouses Philly. This win was Boston's first since their season opener, in which they defeated the Washington Freedom, 2-1.



Hold onto your hats everyone, because its time to talk about WPS week 12, and there is a ton of business to attend to. There is quite a lot to discuss, and as always there are quite a few surprises. In the midst of World Cup, its been hard to diligently keep up on the World of WPS, since it has unfortunately taken somewhat of a backseat. However, I'll always stay in touch with what's going on, no matter what other things are happening. Here is the WPS Week 12 breakdown, only about a day late.

Our first game to talk about here involves first place FC Gold Pride, who, you guessed it, have moved up even further in the standings. The match-up was FCGP vs. Atlanta, and the result was the most convincing win we've seen so far this season. FCGP completely crushed the Beat, 4-0, with a goal from Sinclair (hers being the fastest goal in WPS history, scored in the 31st second of play), a brace from Marta, and a goal by rookie Kelley O'Hara.


I figured that FCGP would win this one. They're quite strong right now, and there is no denying it. The Beat are still developing, and although they have been doing much better recently, I didn't think they would be anywhere near ready to come up and win against a team like FCGP. The Pride are continuing to do well, as their players are constantly delivering, and the team as a whole is on form. Atlanta might be able to get wins against some of the other troubled teams in the league, but to squeak out a win against FCGP? I think not. FCGP trampled them and showed exactly how good of a team they really are. If FCGP continue the way they're going, they will without a doubt clinch a play-off berth. An interesting match-up to see will be this Sunday's game of Washington Freedom vs. FCGP. The last time these 2 met, they tied. Will one edge out the win over the other? As 2 of the best teams in this league, both boasting prolific offenses, go head to head, an interesting match is sure to be the result. As for Atlanta, its apparent that they still need plenty of work. Even some of the best teams in the league have major difficulties against FCGP, so a win was almost out of the question for ATL. FCGP pretty much put Atlanta in their place and ripped them to bits. Atlanta is improving, but they aren't going to pull out any wins over the top contenders...yet. They'll have their chance at 3 points as they rematch against Chicago on Wednesday, a team who has struggled, yet shown signs of strength throughout this season.






The next fixture to discuss, yielded a result that I was rather surprised to see. It was the match of Washington Freedom vs. Chicago Red Stars. Considering Chicago's inconsistency and further lack of scoring, and Washington's strong presence as of late (save for one or two mishaps...such as giving away the win to Philly last week), I figured Washington, who boasts a rather prolific offense, would have this one down. However, I was wrong. Both teams played to a scoreless draw.

As in most scoreless draws, there were many chances on goal, its just that none of them were finished off. Chicago had more shots on goal during the game, and Goal Keeper Erin McLeod came up with quite the big saves to keep Washington in it. It seems like Washington hasn't been having a good last few games. Last week they lost to Philly after giving up the lead and then the win, and this week they've had a scoreless draw against Chicago. When speaking of Washington, you don't usually think of a scoreless game as a likely result, especially since they have one of the best offenses in the league. Washington is having a small slump I think, but they'll have the chance to come out and gain some confidence against Sky Blue FC during midweek, and then on the weekend, as they play first place FCGP. Washington needs to go back to scoring and winning, and I don't think they'll have a problem with doing so. Chicago has been showing some signs of life. They held Washington to a scoreless match (not an easy feat considering their offensive prowess), and have come up with some shining moments during the season. Chicago out-shot Washington in this match as well. But to be quite frank, their finishing is just horrible. They cannot score for anything. They need to turn it around, the mid-way mark of the season has already passed, and Chicago needs to start improving and winning now, or it'll be too little too late, as was the case with them last season. Scoring seems to be the major issue, as it has been all season up to this point. The dreadful finishing has got to go. Chicago has the chance to start turning it around (for real) on Wednesday against Atlanta, who just came off of an embarrassing spanking. Chicago gave the Beat their first ever win of the season, and has the chance to get revenge in midweek. Overall, Washington needs to wake up, and Chicago needs to start finishing, as they usually play well, yet can't seem to put the ball in the net.


One of the biggest surprises this week came from our last match-up to discuss. Boston upset Philly in a 2-1 come-from-behind win. It was Boston's first ever win since their season opener against the Washington Freedom, and it came surprisingly against powerhouses Philly.

It was the 2nd come from behind win so far this season. Philly took the lead early on, with A-Rod scoring the first of the match, and the 7th of her season. But, Boston would fight back in the 2nd half, with Cheney scoring her first goal since the season opener. Lilly would notch her first goal of the season, in the 84th minute of the game, winning the match for Boston. I would have expected Philly to have taken the win, since Boston haven't been doing well (especially considering the fact that they haven't won a game since their season opener), and also taking into consideration how well Philly has been doing all season long. But once again, surprises are plentiful in the WPS, and Boston came out of nowhere, to not only win, but to do so in a come-from-behind fashion, which is not very common in the league's history. Boston with this win has probably gained confidence, as Lilly has scored her first, Cheney has ended her scoring drought for now, and also because the team has gotten their 2nd win, which was way overdue. This might help them in future matches, to know that they have the ability to come out and win. For Philly this loss isn't a huge deal, since they remain safely in 2nd place. However, just like Washington got complacent against Philly last week after going ahead, Philly got complacent with Boston after taking the lead. Complacency is never good. Two wins were given up in the past 2 game weeks. This means that teams have gotta fight until that last whistle. It isn't necessary to let games slip from your hands.


That's all for this week. See you next time when we review Week 13.


Denise