The Thorns try to keep their faint hopes for the Challenge Cup knockout rounds alive in LA! Come and chat through their match against Angel City in the thread.
WHO: Portland Thorns vs. Angel City FC
WHAT: UKG Challenge Cup, Matchday 5 of 6
WHERE: BMO Stadium | Los Angeles, CA
WHEN: 7:00 p.m. PT, streaming on Paramount +
Photo Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Thorns FC
Meanwhile, Morocco is dominating South Korea…wouldn't have guessed that. Amazing going from watching the Challenge Cup to watching the WC… Morocco looks miles better than our poor Thorns. They super gritty and fun. You can tell they really play for eachother.
You realize that if Jamaica gets a draw against Brazil, Kerolin will be back at NCC by the 20th. We could be the first NWSL team to lose a game by double digits.
Yeah! Though she looked very rusty and hesitant to get into any sort of physicality when she subbed in. Kinda made it more apparent that she wasn't quite ready, or at least wasn't mentally ready after coming back from a knee injury. Rocky is typically a get-stuck-into-tackles super physical player, and that isn't at all what I saw.
I think it will be telling how she is in their final game, and if she even starts. Even before her injury she wasn't really getting any minutes at the Thorns, so I imagine she isn't super game-fit. I'll absolutely love to have her back here, but I'm not sure if we'll be able to count on her to come back and make a huge difference, unfortunately. The consolation is that we won't have to count the turnovers of Porter if Rocky can slot back into midfield. Again though, Rocky can have similar derps when she isn't game-fit (and I don't really blame her- she needs minutes to build confidence esp after a knee injury.)
Speaking of unlikely exits, Germany are now at risk, too: they got beat by Colombia. While it's unlikely they'll drop points to a surprisingly bad South Korean side, in this WWC, it seems anything can happen.
The Ertz at CB thing (given the US's lack of midfield) makes no sense to be unless you're playing Vietnam or someone like that. Against the Netherlands? Madness!
Agreed. It comes down to who you want Ertz to displace: Alana Cook or Andi Sullivan...and I should think it's obvious it should be the completely ineffective Sullivan, where attacks out of the back go to die. But the number of obvious calls Vlatko _doesn't_ make is getting hard to keep track of.
It's amusing hearing the announcers talk about ACFC having a shot at best second. The final four is already locked in. With us not winning, no other team can be best second unless KCC lose and they win by a combined 9 goals. Ain't happening - the group stage is over.
Personally I'm fine with the result. We played our crappiest game yet and don't deserve better. This team has real problems in the lower half of the roster and management has no interest in fixing it. So we'll probably embarrass ourselves again next week and then a blessed break.
Speaking of which, did anybody watch Casey Kruger v KC FUBAR?
The announcing crew, including the wonderful Gary Bailey, were reduced to banter the likes of which I haven't heard since Skip Caray worked Braves games on the SuperStation. I mean, vintage mid-late 1980s, late-season, late-inning blowout, Braves already long since eliminated from contention type banter.
I swear they were actually talking about how keepers fit buddy-taped fingers into their gloves.
I'm guessing KK isn't planning on being here next year. I'm also guessing Merritt isn't authorizing any real expenditures right now. The only player news we've had all season is that Leon came here on loan and that Horan requested a permanent transfer. That's it.
You wouldn’t think so if you heard how much she talks about being the GM of the Thorns on every match broadcast I’ve seen her on…it’s happened I think literally every time I’ve seen her pregame/halftime/post match for each game.
But yeah, it’s a total bummer when I’m just watching other teams sign big new players and improve their roster, or, at the very least get contracts over the line for existing players…there are so many question marks on our roster as of now, and if those players aren’t here next year? They would require similar big names to maintain our baseline, and who is doing that scouting and recruiting right now?
“As the GM of the Portland Thorns….” has been how she’s started many of her sentences…it’s been a little cringey for me, personally, but I’m very much not someone who feels remotely comfortable with self-promotion or “networking”. I guess it mostly feels cringey, because our club is a mess right now and has been for three years, and I am personally embarrassed by our club currently. She almost feels like a car saleswoman to me or something, trying to sell her product (the Thorns) to the masses…
I’ve been curious about what she talks about, so I’ve watched all her commentary (despite having to also hear Carli Lloyd and Alexi Lalas say words.) Maybe she’s able to rub shoulders with some agents…I guess that’s the best I can hope for. Angerer too. She’s been over there as well, so we have no GM or no GK coach currently…
I know it's late in the match and she's probably getting tired, but Hubs is doing a LOT of switching off, walking, ball-watching, lazy passing, lazy marking here in stoppage time.
'Brunn, even when available again, is probably in her last year. We have yet to find a proper long-term preplacement for Kling (also probably in her last year).
I think Menges has a bit more left in the tank. She's not what she was, but has been steadily - if not swiftly - rounding back in to decent form.
If Kuikka can start consistently playing at the level she's capable of, I have no issues there...but she has to fix the "sine wave" problem with her form.
I have, with no small regret, come to the conclusion that Hubly is more of a depth piece than a starter on a team that wants to be elite-tier. She has _most_ of the tools, but the two areas where she's lacking - not a quick first step and not a quick thinker - combine to create an exploitable problem: she gets caught out behind the play. That's a fatal flaw in a centerback, since it continually exposes the 'keeper.
The upshot? Our biggest defensive needs are at least one top-rank CB and a top-rank LB. We also need depth at RB and at the #6.
Yeah, I think you're right with Hubly. Her ceiling can be hit when she's playing with a high-level CB who can be the director, but with Brunn out and getting older, and Menges not quite what she was, Hubly has also backslid a lot. The last two seasons were up and down for her, but this one in particular has been pretty poor. Of course, I attribute some of that to coaching tactics, but she just doesn't look in it for 90 mins and isn't consistent enough to be counted upon. Also, as you mentioned with her fatal flaws...I think these are being exposed even more so because of how Norris plays his fullbacks. The perfect shitstorm for Hubs, unfortunately.
I'm curious how you rate Reyes...she's def got good tools, but she's a rookie and def makes rookie mistakes and she just doesn't have the wisdom and awareness experience brings. Should she be starting over Kling at LB? Or are you saying you think Reyes should be the first sub off the bench for either LB or RB? I'd agree I'd rather have an actual RB on the roster for depth.
And, I do think one of our other main targets needs to be an improvement at the 6. It has been so painful watching Porter out there. Her speed and reaction time is insanely slow, like paaainfully slow, and she usually has the most turnovers of any of the 22 players on the field. Generally always the obvious weakest point...not what you want at the 6. Also, it's very possible Coffey starts getting call-ups in the near future and there needs to be a better plan for that.
Lastly for personnel replacement, a new coach with some club/college HC experience. Norris ain't it.
I'm sorry, but did y'all just catch Hubs jogging into the corner and then walking and ballwatching in the 93rd minute? Did someone forget to tell her that there's 10 minutes of stoppage time tonight?
Boy, how bad are San Diego that they surrendered 4 goals to THIS Portland side? They have 1, count em on one finger, 1 win in their last 11 matches, regular season and CC. I think Stoney's about done here.
But I liked her shot on the next play. She shook off the disappointment quickly. That's a good sign. Also liked her pass into the center for that shot by Porter.
I've been pretty disappointed with Moultrie during this period. She's been invisible and/or poor for multiple games. Really was hoping to see a whole lot more from her....Sam hasn't been great during this period either. The Porter, Coffey, Moultrie midfield has been lackluster and messy with no bite.
When the big dogs are playing Moultrie gets a lot of time and space. Not now and she's still just 17 and she looks it. She'll look better after the WC.
I think Morris was willing to coach a team with ownership in flux, KK said she reached out to the other candidates from the Wilkinson hire to see if they were interested . I don't see the Thorns getting a top coach until the club is sold and a new owner cones in with vision and ambition.
I saw KK on the World Cup coverage & screamed "What are you doing there?!?!?!?" Your team is barely able to pass the ball and you are telling me that you get to watch Sophia Smith everyday in practice in Portland.
I think it's more that I'm unsure if she is good at her primary job as the Thorns GM. It isn't her working remotely for which many of us have adjusted to in our own work lives but it's taking a 2nd job when she is only in her 2nd year at her primary job and that isn't going great at the moment.
It's hard to judge her quality as a general manager. The circumstances are odd to say the least. Clearly there were limitations in having to quickly hire a coach last fall after Wilkinson's sudden departure, especially with the team supposedly up for sale. There also appears to have been a lack of aggressiveness is finding temporary players for during the WC. And we don't know what she's doing to push Norris to make improvements in the team. Nor do we know how much the publicly invisible CEO is involved, either limiting or helping what KK might be trying to accomplish.
I do believe one of KK's top priorities is keeping Sophie under contract, so I'm fine with her lavishing attention on her at the WC. And it would seem that hiring a better coach for next season would be a priority too, but if so how is that going to work if indeed a team sale is still going to happen (if ever)?
I was baffled by KK being gone for a month for a whole different job. I'd get it if she was there scouting for a couple weeks, but that's not what KK is doing.
I can't imagine Ned or Jack being gone for a month.
I'm so bummed at this situation: this is my last year in the stands (unless plans collapse at the last minute, I'm emigrating in September). Always a supporter, but I was hoping for a great final year here...and things need to turn around, even with the internationals back, for that to happen.
Hmmm...maybe I can try and get some more top players to head over to the the Thorns. Only instead of poaching from the team I support in the WE League (Beleza), I can focus on their main rivals, Uwara and Kobe. ;)
Ok, where does Aoba Fujino play and can we get her here?! I liked Ueki also, but she seems a little further behind than Fujino...though I admit that's just from the few games I've seen from Japan at the WC and SheBelieves. Fujino looks hungry and I love that in a forward.
She plays where Norris has got Sugita: left wing, with a tendency to slide centrally. Given my move, I'm not necessarily hoping she ends up in Portland (she plays for my Beleza, and they've been picked over too damn much!), but just imagine getting her here and moving Hina-san to the 10. With Soph. And Chaos Muppet out left. Best attack in WoSo? I coudl be convinced...
Riko Ueki is actually Beleza's leading scorer and is older than Fujino (although still young: 24). She's Beleza's starting #9.
I've noticed how aggressive Aoba looks, too. It's gonna mess me up at work tomorrow, but I can't wait to watch the match v Spain tonight (although with both teams through to the knockouts, the coaches may rotate heavily).
Yeah, I haven’t watched either for all that long (just a few tournaments). I’m surprised Ueki is 5 years older than Fujino, though, just based on their play and aggression. 19 years old and already that hungry and confident? I love it. Ueki looked a bit more more cautious and missed a few big shots she probably should’ve put away. Fujino just looks capable of some audacious goals and I love thest she’s only 19. You mentioned she played on the left wing…can she play on the right wing? Of course wouldn’t wanna displace Hina, but I’d really love to have a true winger/forward. I am biased though…I was a RW/LW/striker but prob predominantly a RW most often.
Gonna feel it tomorrow, but definitely staying up for Spain v Japan tonight as well. It’s been circled on my calendar since the schedule was released. Do you think Hina will start? I feel like she was a bit timid last game, and wonder if Endo showed a bit better in the first game because she got a goal. Hina is more crafty, though…could very well be useful against Spain.
C’mon coaches! We want a full strength Japan v Spain tactical showdown!
There was still a window where the Thorns could've gone through to the next round, and the game was tied at that point. But, yeah, his decision kinda cemented that he was not gonna shoot to win and possibly get that 4th spot. Just don't like his mentality...I'm sure the players still wanted a shot at a million bucks.
Possibly for development? Its painful, but for the Challenge Cup maybe Norris wants to give bench players more playing time to help during the regular season
We've gotta have the slowest midfield in the league currently lol. The fullback problem is still a problem. Def 10 seconds of focus after a full half of absolute mess. Maybe we can win ugly, but it sure doesn't inspire confidence with this coach or this group.
I just rolled it back and I don't think Kling's mark wasn't involved. Spencer was being marked by Betford. McCaskill looked to be Hubly's mark, and Kelli got caught on the wrong side of her.
Yeah, I love Kling. She's been dreadful today and it's been a pretty poor season for her, unfortunately. Part of that is the coaching, I think, but so so many individual errors on her part that have directly led to goals (and games lost.)
44 minutes of dreck and then 30 seconds of magic. That's what makes this a great sport. Lots of dreck though. I particular am impressed by the blob defense. Everybody find a place and stand there.
Nice little pass from Betfort. Kuikka's ball wasn't fantastic, but Weaver recovered well, composed herself, and supplied a beautiful curling shot. Betfort has been quieter thus far, but I still like what I am seeing from her in terms of touch, movement, speed, passing. She's on her way.
To me, it looks like a 442 with Reyes in the midfield, and Weaver and Betfort up top. Porter/Coffey double pivot, hopefully....worked much better last game. Kuikka back in action, hope she's not too rusty. LFG gals.
Seems like I picked a good game to miss.
You did. I didn’t. Think along the lines of staring into the sun.
Why you gotta do the Sun like that, @Thornando?
Meanwhile, Morocco is dominating South Korea…wouldn't have guessed that. Amazing going from watching the Challenge Cup to watching the WC… Morocco looks miles better than our poor Thorns. They super gritty and fun. You can tell they really play for eachother.
Ok, who’s looking forward to OL Reign and then NCC? Lol. Can we go for all losses but one in this window?
You realize that if Jamaica gets a draw against Brazil, Kerolin will be back at NCC by the 20th. We could be the first NWSL team to lose a game by double digits.
We'll have Rocky! (Sort of... Hopefully she can start contributing real minutes when she gets back)
Yeah! Though she looked very rusty and hesitant to get into any sort of physicality when she subbed in. Kinda made it more apparent that she wasn't quite ready, or at least wasn't mentally ready after coming back from a knee injury. Rocky is typically a get-stuck-into-tackles super physical player, and that isn't at all what I saw.
I think it will be telling how she is in their final game, and if she even starts. Even before her injury she wasn't really getting any minutes at the Thorns, so I imagine she isn't super game-fit. I'll absolutely love to have her back here, but I'm not sure if we'll be able to count on her to come back and make a huge difference, unfortunately. The consolation is that we won't have to count the turnovers of Porter if Rocky can slot back into midfield. Again though, Rocky can have similar derps when she isn't game-fit (and I don't really blame her- she needs minutes to build confidence esp after a knee injury.)
Yeah, and they should be getting O’Sullivan back by then…a huge player to get back. Also could get their Danish striker back by then. Feels bleak…
At least we didn’t have to see Mandy on the other side of the field today for her debut when we lost.
If USWNT face Sweden in the knockouts they might be coming back early as well.
Speaking of unlikely exits, Germany are now at risk, too: they got beat by Colombia. While it's unlikely they'll drop points to a surprisingly bad South Korean side, in this WWC, it seems anything can happen.
Vlatko will start Rose Lavelle and we'll ride the 11 Iron Women. What could go wrong?
Well, if Horan's knee holds up I'll be shocked.
I seriously thought van de Donk had ended her WWC for her.
And speaking of which, I was impressed and surprised to see Horan and van de Donk patch it up at the end.
I guess it's easier to do (1) after you've scored a Fury Equalizer and (2) when your frenemy is wearing a swim cap to control scalp bleeding.
Prior to that, I just kept thinking "Preseason's gonna be a blast for you two! Good luck playing together in the same midfield!"
They better move Julie to the 6 if they want a chance at that match. Maybe they score a bunch of golazos next match and avoid them.
The Ertz at CB thing (given the US's lack of midfield) makes no sense to be unless you're playing Vietnam or someone like that. Against the Netherlands? Madness!
Agreed. It comes down to who you want Ertz to displace: Alana Cook or Andi Sullivan...and I should think it's obvious it should be the completely ineffective Sullivan, where attacks out of the back go to die. But the number of obvious calls Vlatko _doesn't_ make is getting hard to keep track of.
It's amusing hearing the announcers talk about ACFC having a shot at best second. The final four is already locked in. With us not winning, no other team can be best second unless KCC lose and they win by a combined 9 goals. Ain't happening - the group stage is over.
Personally I'm fine with the result. We played our crappiest game yet and don't deserve better. This team has real problems in the lower half of the roster and management has no interest in fixing it. So we'll probably embarrass ourselves again next week and then a blessed break.
Speaking of which, did anybody watch Casey Kruger v KC FUBAR?
The announcing crew, including the wonderful Gary Bailey, were reduced to banter the likes of which I haven't heard since Skip Caray worked Braves games on the SuperStation. I mean, vintage mid-late 1980s, late-season, late-inning blowout, Braves already long since eliminated from contention type banter.
I swear they were actually talking about how keepers fit buddy-taped fingers into their gloves.
Skip Caray... What a legend!
Well Gary Bailey is a gem too. He is a rare treat on the NWSL viewing menu.
Time to roll out the same old excuses.
It's good that this team didn't somehow luck into the knockouts. I'm sick of watching them and I think they are sick of playing.
Moultrie seen crying at the end there....tough night for her.
Use it as fuel, kiddo. That's all you can do. And take care of that split lip.
I feel for her. Only 17.
I read that, and I can't help thinking of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57kJNWNL-UA
I feel for her, she's been asked to do a lot during this world cup period but its a lot to ask a 17 year old to basically lead a team.
Yeah, KK also didn't really set the team up well during the break either. Part of this mess of a break has been the missing FO.
I'm guessing KK isn't planning on being here next year. I'm also guessing Merritt isn't authorizing any real expenditures right now. The only player news we've had all season is that Leon came here on loan and that Horan requested a permanent transfer. That's it.
You wouldn’t think so if you heard how much she talks about being the GM of the Thorns on every match broadcast I’ve seen her on…it’s happened I think literally every time I’ve seen her pregame/halftime/post match for each game.
But yeah, it’s a total bummer when I’m just watching other teams sign big new players and improve their roster, or, at the very least get contracts over the line for existing players…there are so many question marks on our roster as of now, and if those players aren’t here next year? They would require similar big names to maintain our baseline, and who is doing that scouting and recruiting right now?
Oh god, it's even worse then. She's using it as a platform to recruit. I mean, "recruit."
“As the GM of the Portland Thorns….” has been how she’s started many of her sentences…it’s been a little cringey for me, personally, but I’m very much not someone who feels remotely comfortable with self-promotion or “networking”. I guess it mostly feels cringey, because our club is a mess right now and has been for three years, and I am personally embarrassed by our club currently. She almost feels like a car saleswoman to me or something, trying to sell her product (the Thorns) to the masses…
I’ve been curious about what she talks about, so I’ve watched all her commentary (despite having to also hear Carli Lloyd and Alexi Lalas say words.) Maybe she’s able to rub shoulders with some agents…I guess that’s the best I can hope for. Angerer too. She’s been over there as well, so we have no GM or no GK coach currently…
Even before the corner came in, I said to myself "Bixby is getting a header here." Sure enough!
No deja vu here
I know it's late in the match and she's probably getting tired, but Hubs is doing a LOT of switching off, walking, ball-watching, lazy passing, lazy marking here in stoppage time.
The entire backline needs to be reworked. It's gotten old and stale.
'Brunn, even when available again, is probably in her last year. We have yet to find a proper long-term preplacement for Kling (also probably in her last year).
I think Menges has a bit more left in the tank. She's not what she was, but has been steadily - if not swiftly - rounding back in to decent form.
If Kuikka can start consistently playing at the level she's capable of, I have no issues there...but she has to fix the "sine wave" problem with her form.
I have, with no small regret, come to the conclusion that Hubly is more of a depth piece than a starter on a team that wants to be elite-tier. She has _most_ of the tools, but the two areas where she's lacking - not a quick first step and not a quick thinker - combine to create an exploitable problem: she gets caught out behind the play. That's a fatal flaw in a centerback, since it continually exposes the 'keeper.
The upshot? Our biggest defensive needs are at least one top-rank CB and a top-rank LB. We also need depth at RB and at the #6.
Yeah, I think you're right with Hubly. Her ceiling can be hit when she's playing with a high-level CB who can be the director, but with Brunn out and getting older, and Menges not quite what she was, Hubly has also backslid a lot. The last two seasons were up and down for her, but this one in particular has been pretty poor. Of course, I attribute some of that to coaching tactics, but she just doesn't look in it for 90 mins and isn't consistent enough to be counted upon. Also, as you mentioned with her fatal flaws...I think these are being exposed even more so because of how Norris plays his fullbacks. The perfect shitstorm for Hubs, unfortunately.
I'm curious how you rate Reyes...she's def got good tools, but she's a rookie and def makes rookie mistakes and she just doesn't have the wisdom and awareness experience brings. Should she be starting over Kling at LB? Or are you saying you think Reyes should be the first sub off the bench for either LB or RB? I'd agree I'd rather have an actual RB on the roster for depth.
And, I do think one of our other main targets needs to be an improvement at the 6. It has been so painful watching Porter out there. Her speed and reaction time is insanely slow, like paaainfully slow, and she usually has the most turnovers of any of the 22 players on the field. Generally always the obvious weakest point...not what you want at the 6. Also, it's very possible Coffey starts getting call-ups in the near future and there needs to be a better plan for that.
Lastly for personnel replacement, a new coach with some club/college HC experience. Norris ain't it.
Somebody buy this flippin team already!
Yeah she seems like she DGAF anymore. This whole backline has looked that way most of the season, though, tbf...
I'm sorry, but did y'all just catch Hubs jogging into the corner and then walking and ballwatching in the 93rd minute? Did someone forget to tell her that there's 10 minutes of stoppage time tonight?
Ballwatching? Well...why change a game-long pattern?
Jeezus, we have to watch 10 more minutes of this match???
10 minutes helps
Boy, how bad are San Diego that they surrendered 4 goals to THIS Portland side? They have 1, count em on one finger, 1 win in their last 11 matches, regular season and CC. I think Stoney's about done here.
Girma and Sheridan make a big difference.
True, but the shitslide began long before Girma and Sheridan left. It's actually just 1 win in 11 matches.... Ooof.
Since May 20 (a 3-0 win), SD Champipple are 1-3-7 in all competitions and 0-1-4 since they lost Girma, Sheridan, and Co.
Oof, pretty well sums up the Thorns game tonight right there.
That may be the worst penalty I've ever seen.
Wasn't a confident attempt, that's for sure. Damn.
Maybe not the worst, but it was a very poor attempt.
Did she catch her foot on the ground?
Not that I saw
Can't we fib and say that she did?
Just hoping for some late game drama now.
Love the effort to draw the penalty. Let's see what happens here...
And boy was that a soft attempt. See what I said below about struggling with the mental game right now.
Welp
But I liked her shot on the next play. She shook off the disappointment quickly. That's a good sign. Also liked her pass into the center for that shot by Porter.
Yeah, that was a very good attempt. Anderson had to get down _fast_ to save that one.
Question: Why is Becki Tweed dressed on the sideline like she just finished leading a 1:1 training session?
I've been pretty disappointed with Moultrie during this period. She's been invisible and/or poor for multiple games. Really was hoping to see a whole lot more from her....Sam hasn't been great during this period either. The Porter, Coffey, Moultrie midfield has been lackluster and messy with no bite.
I was just thinking the same thing. Neither have stepped up like I expected them to.
And just as I post this, she earns a penalty...and I do mean earned. That was slick.
And then chokes on the pk...terrible shot.
Yep. Looked to me like she got the yips.
Moultrie isn't ready to carry the load. She needs more quality around her. Not sure exactly why that might be. But it's apparent.
When the big dogs are playing Moultrie gets a lot of time and space. Not now and she's still just 17 and she looks it. She'll look better after the WC.
emotional/mental/psychological development comes after physical development. she just seems to be struggling.
Moultrie having a rough game. She's getting tossed around, which is surprising given that she's at least as big as most players on the pitch.
0.29 xG says it all.
I think Morris was willing to coach a team with ownership in flux, KK said she reached out to the other candidates from the Wilkinson hire to see if they were interested . I don't see the Thorns getting a top coach until the club is sold and a new owner cones in with vision and ambition.
If the team is sold. I’m increasingly skeptical.
I saw KK on the World Cup coverage & screamed "What are you doing there?!?!?!?" Your team is barely able to pass the ball and you are telling me that you get to watch Sophia Smith everyday in practice in Portland.
None of this is helping my mood
Why do you assume a GM can’t do her job remotely? It’s also a chance to network, identify prospects, and more.
I think it's more that I'm unsure if she is good at her primary job as the Thorns GM. It isn't her working remotely for which many of us have adjusted to in our own work lives but it's taking a 2nd job when she is only in her 2nd year at her primary job and that isn't going great at the moment.
It's hard to judge her quality as a general manager. The circumstances are odd to say the least. Clearly there were limitations in having to quickly hire a coach last fall after Wilkinson's sudden departure, especially with the team supposedly up for sale. There also appears to have been a lack of aggressiveness is finding temporary players for during the WC. And we don't know what she's doing to push Norris to make improvements in the team. Nor do we know how much the publicly invisible CEO is involved, either limiting or helping what KK might be trying to accomplish.
I do believe one of KK's top priorities is keeping Sophie under contract, so I'm fine with her lavishing attention on her at the WC. And it would seem that hiring a better coach for next season would be a priority too, but if so how is that going to work if indeed a team sale is still going to happen (if ever)?
It all adds up to a mess.
'Cause she's straight up doing a different job for a different company for a month... https://www.foxsports.com/presspass/bios/on-air/karina-leblanc/
That is bush league as hell, especially since the Thorns FO is like 2 people.
I was baffled by KK being gone for a month for a whole different job. I'd get it if she was there scouting for a couple weeks, but that's not what KK is doing.
I can't imagine Ned or Jack being gone for a month.
It's almost like when Parsons was allowed to coach the Oranje while he was still on the job here. We know how that turned out!
I'm so bummed at this situation: this is my last year in the stands (unless plans collapse at the last minute, I'm emigrating in September). Always a supporter, but I was hoping for a great final year here...and things need to turn around, even with the internationals back, for that to happen.
Emigrate if you must, but don't take Hina with you.
Hmmm...maybe I can try and get some more top players to head over to the the Thorns. Only instead of poaching from the team I support in the WE League (Beleza), I can focus on their main rivals, Uwara and Kobe. ;)
Ok, where does Aoba Fujino play and can we get her here?! I liked Ueki also, but she seems a little further behind than Fujino...though I admit that's just from the few games I've seen from Japan at the WC and SheBelieves. Fujino looks hungry and I love that in a forward.
She plays where Norris has got Sugita: left wing, with a tendency to slide centrally. Given my move, I'm not necessarily hoping she ends up in Portland (she plays for my Beleza, and they've been picked over too damn much!), but just imagine getting her here and moving Hina-san to the 10. With Soph. And Chaos Muppet out left. Best attack in WoSo? I coudl be convinced...
Riko Ueki is actually Beleza's leading scorer and is older than Fujino (although still young: 24). She's Beleza's starting #9.
I've noticed how aggressive Aoba looks, too. It's gonna mess me up at work tomorrow, but I can't wait to watch the match v Spain tonight (although with both teams through to the knockouts, the coaches may rotate heavily).
Yeah, I haven’t watched either for all that long (just a few tournaments). I’m surprised Ueki is 5 years older than Fujino, though, just based on their play and aggression. 19 years old and already that hungry and confident? I love it. Ueki looked a bit more more cautious and missed a few big shots she probably should’ve put away. Fujino just looks capable of some audacious goals and I love thest she’s only 19. You mentioned she played on the left wing…can she play on the right wing? Of course wouldn’t wanna displace Hina, but I’d really love to have a true winger/forward. I am biased though…I was a RW/LW/striker but prob predominantly a RW most often.
Gonna feel it tomorrow, but definitely staying up for Spain v Japan tonight as well. It’s been circled on my calendar since the schedule was released. Do you think Hina will start? I feel like she was a bit timid last game, and wonder if Endo showed a bit better in the first game because she got a goal. Hina is more crafty, though…could very well be useful against Spain.
C’mon coaches! We want a full strength Japan v Spain tactical showdown!
If Fujino has even one more goal in her that's comparable to the one she dropped on Costa Rica, she's worth an NWSL contract!
Becki Tweed: The only person able to stop McCaskill tonight.
In an aside...
I have Timbers/Thorns stadium beverage cups from 2023 and from 2021.
You know, the kind used for holding those ungodly expensive on-tap beers and ciders.
You will NOT be surprised to learn that the 2021 cups hold 2 oz more fluid than do the 2023 cups.
So, yes, we were getting 2 oz more beverage, and at a lower price, in 2021 than we are in 2023.
Thanks, Merritt!
BTW, SELL THE TEAM.
Why would we take off Weaver and Natu?
Yah, in a tied (well, down now) game? Beckman and D'Aquila, with 0 goals between them. Just, not even a quiet quit lol...
McCaskill off too. At this point, it's a meaningless game for both sides. No sense having your best players risk getting injured?
There was still a window where the Thorns could've gone through to the next round, and the game was tied at that point. But, yeah, his decision kinda cemented that he was not gonna shoot to win and possibly get that 4th spot. Just don't like his mentality...I'm sure the players still wanted a shot at a million bucks.
Possibly for development? Its painful, but for the Challenge Cup maybe Norris wants to give bench players more playing time to help during the regular season
I'm thinking they've basically given up on advancing, even though they're not mathematically out of it.
Why Weaver out for D'Aquila? Is she hurt?
You know it's gonna be a long night when McCaskill has a brace.
Hate it here. Literally my least favorite player in the league lol, pretty pretty hard to watch...no hat trick at least, please!
Fortunately, she got subbed off!
There’s a formula for beating the Thorns, and Norris keeps letting it work.
We've gotta have the slowest midfield in the league currently lol. The fullback problem is still a problem. Def 10 seconds of focus after a full half of absolute mess. Maybe we can win ugly, but it sure doesn't inspire confidence with this coach or this group.
We need to be looking for high-end players at both fullback and centerback, imo.
Agreed.
Despite loving her to pieces this better be Klingenberg's last season. Their goal came because she was 15 yards from her mark.
I just rolled it back and I don't think Kling's mark wasn't involved. Spencer was being marked by Betford. McCaskill looked to be Hubly's mark, and Kelli got caught on the wrong side of her.
But yeah...Kling is way out of position a lot tonight.
Yeah, I love Kling. She's been dreadful today and it's been a pretty poor season for her, unfortunately. Part of that is the coaching, I think, but so so many individual errors on her part that have directly led to goals (and games lost.)
44 minutes of dreck and then 30 seconds of magic. That's what makes this a great sport. Lots of dreck though. I particular am impressed by the blob defense. Everybody find a place and stand there.
Finally, great shot by Weaver
Morgan Weaver, despite it all! Hopefully that lights a fire....
Yes Weaver!
Now that was a pretty team goal!
Nice little pass from Betfort. Kuikka's ball wasn't fantastic, but Weaver recovered well, composed herself, and supplied a beautiful curling shot. Betfort has been quieter thus far, but I still like what I am seeing from her in terms of touch, movement, speed, passing. She's on her way.
This team is poorly coached and the individual errors are numerous, whew....would like to know if anyone is counting the turnovers we've had lol.
Constant feeling of the Thorns playing down 2 players.....And then they do that.
"F#$@ Yeah" to quote Morgan Weaver after that goal
When a few players look poor...prob an off day, but if EVERYONE looks poor? Probably the coaching...
This is just brutal to watch, I laughed at the 45% possession at halftime then remembered all the time penned in
Ran out of fingers by the five minute mark...
Damn: Bella just got kicked right on the point of the shoulder going down to the pitch to collect a ball in the six yard box.
This is really brutal to watch.
Not good y'all lol. Just kickball...no connection. Bad giveaways. Please, don't make me watch a multiple-McKaskill-goal game.
This comment didn't age well.
Yep, can confirm: did not feel good lol
Kelli Hubly ballwatching.
I should just keep that in my paste cache...
My God we look terrible. Do we even practice together?
Yeah...no sense of connection that I can see.
Nice to see Hannah and Reyna get the starts
To me, it looks like a 442 with Reyes in the midfield, and Weaver and Betfort up top. Porter/Coffey double pivot, hopefully....worked much better last game. Kuikka back in action, hope she's not too rusty. LFG gals.