Respectable performance marred by few individual errors. This is the first time I think I’d really criticize Gale’s approach to the game. He didn’t start the right players. Sinc should have stayed home. She’s got no business in Orlando heat and humidity, especially if we need to be quick in transition. Our lack of pace at both ends of th…
Respectable performance marred by few individual errors. This is the first time I think I’d really criticize Gale’s approach to the game. He didn’t start the right players. Sinc should have stayed home. She’s got no business in Orlando heat and humidity, especially if we need to be quick in transition. Our lack of pace at both ends of the pitch left us exposed at the back and Beckie isolated up top. Our passing was a bit off too, even Coffey. May have had something to do with trying to conserve energy and not move off the ball too much.
We’re lucky Hogan didn’t see red. Banda would have been within her rights to be tripped. Hogan has improved but I am curious about Alvarado. I’m really happy for Izzy, especially because I didn’t think she had it in her.
Linnehan has made a case to start over Beckie IMHO, though her being better defensively makes some sense as a sub if we assume we are going to try to hold a lead. Beckie needs to work on her composure and decision-making in the box, though she was often double or triple-teamed without outlets.
I don’t know what Fleming is supposed to be doing. Apparently she completed some passes but I don’t know if they were progressive or chance-creating. I rarely or barely notice when she’s playing. That’s gotta get fixed. So far it seems more like a favor to team Canada to sign her than about building a balanced Thorns roster. She’s got Hina, Moultrie, and sometimes Sinc at least competing for what seems to be her role. Hina and Moultrie as kind of pivoting 8/10s seems the best choice most of the time but Liv has some off games. Sinc gets mostly charity minutes, which is unfortunate and unprofessional IMHO.
Obaze and Payne might have been better choices than Hubly and Reyes for this one. Hubly and Reyes have both been returning to form/improving and maybe Obaze and Payne are still settling in and finding chemistry, but I think they are faster and I haven’t noticed the same mental lapses.
Gale has been doing well so far but LeBlanc and Norris set him up with an unbalanced roster. Some of that is due to us sticking with some older players for consistency during this transition period and to allow them to have honorable send-offs in front of the supporters. Offseason should help if they can make better decisions and not just use Thorns as the Canadian national team’s farm team. I kind of like being honorary Canadian and appreciate the value of cohesion and chemistry, but the club comes before country.
Would have preferred Linnehan and Beckie on the wings, Liv and Hina pivoting in midfield above Coffey, and probably Dias up top. Was valuable to have quality, pace, energy, and creativity off the bench though.
Respectable performance marred by few individual errors. This is the first time I think I’d really criticize Gale’s approach to the game. He didn’t start the right players. Sinc should have stayed home. She’s got no business in Orlando heat and humidity, especially if we need to be quick in transition. Our lack of pace at both ends of the pitch left us exposed at the back and Beckie isolated up top. Our passing was a bit off too, even Coffey. May have had something to do with trying to conserve energy and not move off the ball too much.
We’re lucky Hogan didn’t see red. Banda would have been within her rights to be tripped. Hogan has improved but I am curious about Alvarado. I’m really happy for Izzy, especially because I didn’t think she had it in her.
Linnehan has made a case to start over Beckie IMHO, though her being better defensively makes some sense as a sub if we assume we are going to try to hold a lead. Beckie needs to work on her composure and decision-making in the box, though she was often double or triple-teamed without outlets.
I don’t know what Fleming is supposed to be doing. Apparently she completed some passes but I don’t know if they were progressive or chance-creating. I rarely or barely notice when she’s playing. That’s gotta get fixed. So far it seems more like a favor to team Canada to sign her than about building a balanced Thorns roster. She’s got Hina, Moultrie, and sometimes Sinc at least competing for what seems to be her role. Hina and Moultrie as kind of pivoting 8/10s seems the best choice most of the time but Liv has some off games. Sinc gets mostly charity minutes, which is unfortunate and unprofessional IMHO.
Obaze and Payne might have been better choices than Hubly and Reyes for this one. Hubly and Reyes have both been returning to form/improving and maybe Obaze and Payne are still settling in and finding chemistry, but I think they are faster and I haven’t noticed the same mental lapses.
Gale has been doing well so far but LeBlanc and Norris set him up with an unbalanced roster. Some of that is due to us sticking with some older players for consistency during this transition period and to allow them to have honorable send-offs in front of the supporters. Offseason should help if they can make better decisions and not just use Thorns as the Canadian national team’s farm team. I kind of like being honorary Canadian and appreciate the value of cohesion and chemistry, but the club comes before country.
Would have preferred Linnehan and Beckie on the wings, Liv and Hina pivoting in midfield above Coffey, and probably Dias up top. Was valuable to have quality, pace, energy, and creativity off the bench though.
Onward.