KC wins that by a mile! Lousville at only 4 wins also can't be super happy with their performance. I would say probably KC, HOU, and ACNFT. I mean ACNFT's roster has Ertz, Thompson, Leroux, Endo...
Yeah, thinking more on it now, I'd put Racing there instead of Houston. I just can't figure out why Louisville draws so damn often, and not in a good way.
Do we think Harvey chose this as the match to reward Dickey for working hard all season in training? It's a very strange decision. We should see if we can find anything out about it. The new Sounder at Heart/Valkyries site is good. Maybe we can find something there.
I'm sure she's influenced by the fact that OL Reign had 0 goals scored against in the CC (where the backups played)...but getting a clean sheet against everyone's B-team isn't the same as playing in the league down the playoff stretch. I'm guessing LH wants more looks before maybe signing a new contract, or just having more data before we go into expansion draft season.
Or, OL Reign have just been playing like garbage so she's throwing shit at the wall to see what sticks? (Hint, Laura, it's not PTJ)
Didn't Dunn have a legit PK shout around the 85th minute? She had just won the ball in the box and was setting off toward goal when it looked like she was tripped. Did she just slip or something?
And yet you know what? ACFCNFT are up 2-0 in the 60th. If this holds up, that means PSWST will sit in 6th by themselves and ACFCNFT will sit 3 points behind them.
I got tired of ref bashing and just accepted that bad calls play a part in the way points play out. Wish it were better but not seeing much from the league to improve things.
Not quite sure why it was said Hina specifically needed to be worked in super slowly over the next couple weeks. She came on and immediately looked the best player on the pitch...
She got in days later than all of the other players so had less time to train and adjust. Only good a few trainings in too. The staff is 100% correct - doing right by the players especially off a WC.
Yeah, that never made sense. Hina didn't see that many minutes at WWC23 (sadly). With the exception of the travel (and it's been a few days), I don't see why a player as fit as she is wouldn't be good to go. Maybe some psychological rest needed: Japan have to be dreadfully disappointed about that unlikely result v Sweden. Cup could well have been theirs to lift. But Hina seems to be mentally resilient (although that's just speculation on my part).
When you get back days after everyone else, jetlag, and haven't played footy in a bit, it takes time to readjust. As you said the mental toll it took after Sweden too. 100% right call to ease her in.
Hina Dunn Liv Sinc as attacking mids, in that order, if we stick with the 442. This last stretch is gonna be an absolute grind, especially if Soph is out for an extended period.
"Touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised"
Unfortunate if Soph has an injury as well, because Hatch is right behind her for the golden boot. How many are damn PK's? I feel like I've seen her given at least 3 this season.
So that's what I thought *but* the "off foot immediately to hand = no handball" is not in the laws of the game. It's technically a recommendation that UEFA gave European federations. Does anybody know if CONCACAF or whoever governs NWSL also made the same recommendation?
So how much stoppage time, when we get to it? 5 minutes? Longer because of all the subs and the hydration break? I fear a goal at the death in extended stoppage time.
We're now past the 3/4ths point of the season.
Which are the three most disappointing/under-performing teams thus far?
I'm going with KC, OLR, and HOU.
KC, OLR, and RL for me. Houston definitely in that discussion too.
KC wins that by a mile! Lousville at only 4 wins also can't be super happy with their performance. I would say probably KC, HOU, and ACNFT. I mean ACNFT's roster has Ertz, Thompson, Leroux, Endo...
Yeah, thinking more on it now, I'd put Racing there instead of Houston. I just can't figure out why Louisville draws so damn often, and not in a good way.
ACFC just did us a solid, beating Reign 2-1. If Reign had won they'd have been in the slavering pack two points back of us.
If Phallon had played that match would have gone differently.
Definitely a weird decision to say the least...
Yeah, wtf with starting her on the bench? She's not on the IR. Um, I'd be happy to take her off their hands if they aren't happy with her...
Do we think Harvey chose this as the match to reward Dickey for working hard all season in training? It's a very strange decision. We should see if we can find anything out about it. The new Sounder at Heart/Valkyries site is good. Maybe we can find something there.
Sure picked a strange time for it.
I'm sure she's influenced by the fact that OL Reign had 0 goals scored against in the CC (where the backups played)...but getting a clean sheet against everyone's B-team isn't the same as playing in the league down the playoff stretch. I'm guessing LH wants more looks before maybe signing a new contract, or just having more data before we go into expansion draft season.
Or, OL Reign have just been playing like garbage so she's throwing shit at the wall to see what sticks? (Hint, Laura, it's not PTJ)
Playoff Race at End of Week 17:
POR 29/17 +14
NC 27/17 +7
SD 27/17 +5
NJY 26/17 +2
WAS 26/17 +1
OLR 24/17 +3
ORL 22/17 -2
LOU 21/17 +3
ACFC 21/17 -4
HOU 20/17 -2
KC 19/17 -8
CHI 17/17 -19
Pinoe on the spot. Any chance she misses two in a row?
Sure.... where the hell was that against Sweden, Megan???
Same place equally reliable pk-taker Riko Ueki's was, I guess. =(
Everything that's wrong with ACFCNFT....
Eva Longoria banging the drums and singing is a selfie video opportunity for the woman next to her who's wearing oversized sunglasses.
So hard to cheer for ACFCNFT, but tonight I must.
(It was Tracee Ellis Ross from "Black-ish" and "Girlfriends," who is the daughter of Diana Ross. Go F#%k yourselves, ACFCNFT!)
They are so embarrassing and cringe lol...but, thanks gals!
Unfortunate for all of those folks who were ready to crown LH the heir apparent to Vlatty.
Never have I ever cringed harder than during that shot....but yes, alas, cmon the NFTs!
Mandy Henry might get some PT tonight. That's gonna be weird.
Her playing in the regular season finale against the Thorns will be the most awkward.
Lol Harvey benching PTJ for no apparent reason and getting burned for it twice over is somewhat soothing my residual rage.
Didn't Dunn have a legit PK shout around the 85th minute? She had just won the ball in the box and was setting off toward goal when it looked like she was tripped. Did she just slip or something?
I thought so
There was something there, for sure.
They didn't even show a replay or close-up, so it's hard to know what really happened.
Did y'all just see that PK that Ol Reign should've just gotten?! Clear, As. Day. PK. ANd not even looked at?!?!
I did...and have already levelled some appropriate snark about it on Twitt...um...X.
Ah yes, Twitt...um...X. Not sure why Musk thought that would be catchier than Twitter.
I guess since she didn't kick it before it hit her hand, it's not a handball.
And yet you know what? ACFCNFT are up 2-0 in the 60th. If this holds up, that means PSWST will sit in 6th by themselves and ACFCNFT will sit 3 points behind them.
https://twitter.com/AttackingThird/status/1695958639993868565
What is a handball anymore?
So inconsistently implemented, and it's infuriating when the table is as tight as it is.
I got tired of ref bashing and just accepted that bad calls play a part in the way points play out. Wish it were better but not seeing much from the league to improve things.
Just underscores why it’s nice to have more than a one goal lead as a cushion against these kind of calls.
I'm over here defending OL Reign, lawd....
And look at all of my grammatical errors lmao....heated!
ACFC match handball looked worse than Menges. No call.
Clearly so, too. Unreal
Not quite sure why it was said Hina specifically needed to be worked in super slowly over the next couple weeks. She came on and immediately looked the best player on the pitch...
She got in days later than all of the other players so had less time to train and adjust. Only good a few trainings in too. The staff is 100% correct - doing right by the players especially off a WC.
Yeah, that never made sense. Hina didn't see that many minutes at WWC23 (sadly). With the exception of the travel (and it's been a few days), I don't see why a player as fit as she is wouldn't be good to go. Maybe some psychological rest needed: Japan have to be dreadfully disappointed about that unlikely result v Sweden. Cup could well have been theirs to lift. But Hina seems to be mentally resilient (although that's just speculation on my part).
When you get back days after everyone else, jetlag, and haven't played footy in a bit, it takes time to readjust. As you said the mental toll it took after Sweden too. 100% right call to ease her in.
The change when she came on was instantaneous. Very impressive.
Hina Dunn Liv Sinc as attacking mids, in that order, if we stick with the 442. This last stretch is gonna be an absolute grind, especially if Soph is out for an extended period.
Playoff Race (going into last match of the weekend):
POR 29/17 +14
NC 27/17 +7
SD 27/17 +5
NJY 26/17 +2
WAS 26/17 +1
OLR 24/16 +4
Sounds like things got exciting after the hour…but not so much in a good way.
Well…I’ll take a look in a bit.
Surprised Stengel is still with Gotham and hasn't yet headed back to England. Hmmm....
So here's the rule:
"Touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised"
Menges' position is totally natural. Bad call.
Unfortunately "natural" is interpreted to mean "beside or behind your body."
It *can be* (and was, in this case) interpreted that way, but the rule is pretty clear that it "natural" does not, in fact, mean "by your side."
And to my mind, so was the handball call on Kling.
Agreed
Coffey in the postmatch interview is clearly pissed about the handball call.
Loovull is helping us out so far. 0-0 against Gotham in 80th.
So apparently the new handball law doesn't exempt foot-hand handballs anymore. Still brutally harsh.
I guess the referee determined Menges never touched the ball with her foot. That's the only way the call makes any sense.
Magic ball just LOOKED like it ricocheted off her foot...
Two points stolen. Ref should be sanctioned for that incompetency.
Unbelievable theft of two points. I just don't understand how the referee did that. It sheds no glory on the VAR official either. Embarrassing.
Grand theft 2 points. Thanks Team Fuschia. Hope Soph is OK.
I know I said I'd be happy with a draw, but this hurts. After getting the lead we played well enough to hold it for all 3.
Unfortunate if Soph has an injury as well, because Hatch is right behind her for the golden boot. How many are damn PK's? I feel like I've seen her given at least 3 this season.
We had two unfortunate handball calls today, on two of our most veteran players. Go figure.
Yeah, to me that's the wrong call. It's a call you make if you're afraid of the reaction after all that time reviewing it.
Unfortunately Bella isn't known for her PK saves.
That is legitimately one of the worst calls ive ever seen
Shuddup Sanderson
Well, shit.
Yeah, just theft of 2 points
That's a travesty.
Straight up theft.
Someone tell me what handball critera that meets. Absolute bullshit
I thought the rule was off the foot then immediately off the hand was not a handball, but I guess I misunderstood the rule.
So that's what I thought *but* the "off foot immediately to hand = no handball" is not in the laws of the game. It's technically a recommendation that UEFA gave European federations. Does anybody know if CONCACAF or whoever governs NWSL also made the same recommendation?
You would be correct.
You don't.
So dumb
Bullshit call.
That's terrible. How on earth can he make that call.
If it's not clear and obvious...it was off her damn foot! Still, NWSL refs will call that I think...
No chance, you can't call that! Comes off her foot!
Came off her foot. Shouldn't be a handball.
Uffff are you kidding.
Nally with the football tackle in the box.
Take it to a corner gals. WHAT WOULD BECKY SAUERBRUNN DO/SAY
Just hoping for the win here so we can see Parsons's demeanor afterward.
I like Ricketts, just a total jitterbug
Hina is feeling it. Immediate impact from her. I missed her so much!
I really like Hina.
Porter has to win that 50-50
Mostly I find her jogging behind a play after she's given the ball over, or somebody else does. She's probably slower than Nally even.
I feel like those are what I see her losing most often.
Nally's not good, but her first touch, passing, and hustle are all superior to what I've seen from Hubs over this summer.
I can't say she doesn't hustle and really try, for sure, but her third gear is still as fast as my grandma.
So how much stoppage time, when we get to it? 5 minutes? Longer because of all the subs and the hydration break? I fear a goal at the death in extended stoppage time.
Still plenty of time to add more.
Won't be last week's eternity.
I'd guess 6-7
Can't believe Parsons is running Rodman and Sullivan this much. They just returned to training this week.