More to the point is when 2023 Weaver will be back. 2024 Weaver regressed significantly from her highs last season. If she doesn’t? It might be worth giving Linnehan a full 90 at LW and see how she does…
Does she have any goal contributions yet this season? I can’t remember.
Good thing we have room on the roster and extra international slots to use to shop in this summer window for some top tale….oh wait! We have 5 GK’s and 4 9’s instead…the way this roster has been built is so dumb.
Two, I think. One was in the Racing Coffey-equalizer match. Don’t recall the other.
Players can be waived…but that’d require a roster vision I don’t see from here. There are a lot of promising pieces already here; what I see lacking is the tactical vision to find roles for them…
All n All, yesterday brought Illumination. I Am left with Gratitude for Smith's goal, otherwise we fell on our Faces. This beatdown should lead us to Open Our Eyes with Head to the Sky, and say of this year, "Another Time." That's the Way of the World, or at least the Eternal Groove.
Soph will def leave after next season if they don’t heavily invest in this attack (including an attacking mid) in the off-season. She was frustrated as hell with all of the attacking players around her all game (and rightly so.) We do have some very good pieces on this team, but also it’s mind boggling how lacking in any attack we are…especially with Hina now playing defense. They’ve let this roster kinda die on the vine and the bill comes due!
Also a coach, dear lord. My silver lining is this kind of thing needed to happen for them to really see that there are problems and holes that just relying on Soph can solve.
It’s irritating that I bagged on kendo for this goat rodeo. I’d have been better off if people had been hitting me in the head with sticks than spending ninety minutes watching this crap.
This team has no discernible tactical identity, and no structure. They need investment in a coaching staff, a real coach, and in the roster. Kansas City are a great team, but what's remarkable is how quickly Vlatko has created a structure and identity for that side. We have none of that. That might be enough for 4th/5th place in this league, but it's not going to get you a shield or a championship.
I think she could be a decent prospect, but if you look at other top teams right now…the “prospects” are their bench players and they have top talent starting. And they all are better coached. We don’t even have a solid XI anymore. Each year…we have lost one starting player after another, and just not replaced them with equal or better talent. Beckie isn’t a starter on half the teams in this league. Same for multiple other players we start.
Also helps to have a referee that allowed Chawinga to grab and hold Payne throughout the match. I thought I was watching Bill Laimbeer boxing out Charles Barkley.
But yes, we're nowhere near in the same class as KC, Gotham, and Orlando. Maybe DC for now, maybe not. That's not enough to keep Sophia here.
I wouldn't call this season and next with a *player* option for '26 a "not going anywhere" contract. It's a "fix this or I'm walking" contract plus she 100% has the pull to force a trade.
I don't think that's correct. IIRC, she signed an extension through next season, which basically allows her to do what she wants if she doesn't like how things are shaping up.
I'm not too worried about Soph, tbh. And this can change quickly. Orlando were mediocre last season. KC were awful. Just needs some smart investment to build around what I'd say is a good core at Portland.
But the foundations have to be put down now. They stood pat for a year while Orlando, Gotham, Spirit moved.
My guess is that the long hold on the sale was a huge factor.
But, yeah. That’s then. If the Bhathals want to be in the conversation about the Championship they need to be paying attention to games like this and learning.
I agree and would add that we are still living w/ the MP-approved placeholder moves in coaching and the F.O., and that they are certainly not panning out, to riot in understatement. I agree w/ the many suggestions here that KK be moved to a position in public relations, and then look for a visionary HC and GM who will aggressively pursue difference-making intl. talent, and who preferably lack tunnel vision re: our charming northerly neighbors.
Yeah I totally get it because of the sale and in general the moves post sale were good (Obaze, Müller look good, Fleming as a transfer is a 5/10, Payne 6.5, Dias…idk)
True. All those clubs changed their fortunes fairly quickly. Here, it will require some real vision -- not just a vague-yet-hyperbolic aspiration -- and a willingness to go get the talent we need.
Yeah, I would love to ask KK what the club “vision” is because I also have no idea based on the “style” of play we see each week and based on her somewhat haphazard personnel choices over the what, 3-4 seasons she’s been here now? I have no idea what kind of player profiles we’re looking for…we haven’t brought in any viable attackers since Soph and Weaver were drafted in 2020 lol.
I doubt it would’ve been as bad, but no, the problem is the rest of the roster and the coaching staff here. Really wish the Bhathals would’ve cleaned house…
How could we have done better? Well...having a defense that actually resembled something a first-division pro team would field would have been a start. So many basic positioning/marking mistakes, so little effective communication. I realize a big part of the defensive problems stemmed from being "decaf" (swidt?), but the fact remains the defensive players out there didn't deliver.
We're a mid table team. Basically without Smith going goblin mode, we have no offense. Blew all the allocation money on Fleming and therefore have zero depth and bad wingers. Hopefully, this match proves to the FO that they need to get an actual coach too.
Add to the list a fundamental lack of speed, which KC exposed, and lack of physical play against a physical team like KC. And while I'm at it: too many players waiting for passes to arrive rather than moving toward them. That cause a bunch of giveaways today.
Yep, kept thinking we need a player like Rocky. We've become a team of lightweight finesse players. Not fast, not physical, and really not all that skilled when taken as a whole.
I think he’s done that multiple times this season actually. At least 3. It’s annoying and he also mispronounces Obaze’s name during pregame lineups...but of course we haven’t heard it in a while. How do they not get these things right?
Let’s face it. We are not a top two club. We’ll make the playoffs…but unless our form improves we won’t make the Final, or even the semi. There’s just too many holes in the roster, and too much tactical slack.
Moultrie would’ve, but she honestly hasn’t been starting quality imo. Can you imagine how good Soph COULD be if we had two solid wingers AND a starting quality playmaker? We haven’t seen it yet. It’s why Banda and Temwa are going goblin mode…because they have great players around them. Soph doesn’t…
Our offense is terrible with Soph as the only hope, but who hasn’t really gotten much service. Where’s Linnehan? We reeeally need some firepower in the off-season because our choices are not starters.
Izzy had the one good chance, but I honestly don't think any of the three are having a great game. I feel like Izzy is not doing enough, Beckie is trying to do too much, and Soph is kind of getting lost in the shuffle.
I don't think Izzy is very good but it boggles my mind she's being used as a winger. She can't dribble, she's not fast, she can't cross and she isn't very good at keeping the ball. What about those traits say to you, "play her wide"
Yeah I thought they’d at least put Soph on the wing and put Izzy in the middle because KC is horrendous in set pieces and corners (and Izzy is prob the best on this team in the air, actually)…I thought there might be tactics behind it. And they they set up and, well, nope… lol. But as a winger?! Put Payne on the damn wing if you need another winger. Or I dunno, start Linnehan lol.
I just meant over Izzy because it would at least stretch the opposing defense. But yes, I know. We don’t have any attacking options 😭 Like literally none.
Not this game, but signing Fleming (and Beckie) in the first place to record deals while other teams get actual game-changers. Bringing back Sinc despite the fact that she's been washed for a while and can't keep up anymore says bias. Then three Canadian coaches in a row, the last of which has been playing Sinc way too much.
I'd say some here are Canadian homers, frankly, with the way they defend Fleming and KK.
PS: Orlando's Brazilians are actually good players, hence they are tied for first place. Our Canadian players are average to poor and a couple should be considered busts for how much they cost to acquire and how much salary they are earning against the cap.
Fleming is not the problem in that half. At all. I know she's this blog's punching bag, but she's actually the best rated player we have on Fotmob by a country mile. Only player over 7.0, actually (she's at 7.6).
They currently have her at 6.8, which is .1 less than her rating the last two years at Chelsea and .4 less than her 20/21 season at Chelsea (when she scored 8 goals).
Naw... Becky has had several monster games this season. She's also 38 years old and likely retiring this year. Fleming is in her prime and was a world record transfer or something when we got her. She hasn't had a single game where she's been the best player on the field. Massive miss by KK given the money involved and the resulting lack of depth.
Ofc other players haven’t been good but Fleming is supposed to be one of players that really make a difference but she hasn’t been that in this match or previous matches. More critical of her because expectations are higher for players of her caliber.
Right, we’re over half a season in now and I’m struggling to see anything that Fleming is above average at other than cardio.
Definitely not a reason for today’s loss but take the shot that was narrowly wide - she had a pass out wide, to Müller I think, but she made the wrong decision.
The bottom line for me is someone in the front 5 other than Sophia Smith and Hina Sugita *has* to step up on a regular basis. With her pedigree and the money spent on signing her AND the fact that it meant we traded Rocky Rodriguez to Angel City, the expectation is that Fleming is one of those players. And right now, I’m not sure she’s starting if Moultrie and Coffey weren’t unavailable.
Fleming has not been bad at all. I don't know why she's the go to person to blame a bad half on, but she was not bad. Perfect? No, of course not. But she was not bad.
Crikey, you hate on Fleming every game. How does no one call this crap out? I'm fine with being critical, but for some reason Fleming gets the full blame and hate every single match on this blog.
Our entire defense was terrible today. No one in that front line (except for Soph towards the end) was good. But somehow Jessie Fleming is the only one we can blame and is the only one not putting effort in.
I think the anger or dislike comes from the fact that PT spent so much to get her, and she has been pedestrian at best. Compared to the other high price acquisitions, she is a dumpster fire.
Payne is in her second season on loan from PSG where she had two appearances last season. She was paired against Chawinga who currently has 9 goals and 6 assists in 14 games, one hell of a hold-up game and an impressive amount of strength. For comparison, Soph’s at 10-6-12, so basically Chawinga currently ranks up there with Soph and Banda in the “nightmare to defend” category. If you take into account the number of times Chawinga got away with beating on her, I thought Payne held up well enough under the circumstances.
I agree that Muller got torched. Not sure whether it was a mismatch in speed or a formation issue where she got caught up field and couldn’t recover, but she at most had a bad game in an otherwise impressive season. If we’re going by FotMob, they currently rate her third on the team behind only Soph and Coffey, and (surprisingly) just above Hina.
For as makeshift a lineup as we have, we’re not doing terrible with the ball. Having said that, the defensive marking has been atrocious. Hence the goal. Ugh.
Also why the obsession with trying to shoehorn two CFs into the frontline? Not seeing D’Aquila flourishing as LF. Why not Linnehan? She seems to work better as a winger…
Looks like we’ve got Kling in the pivot in place of Sam…which is kinda scary. She hasn’t played much all season so let’s hope her passing game isn’t rusty! Gonna need all the muscle we can get from her. Guessing Sam comes on at half or 60’. Happy to see Payne get the start. Interesting they go with Izzy over Payton..:which means Soph on the wing.
I’m a bit scared on that…I feel like she’s slower than Sam at this point in time. And she hasn’t played much all year which means she’ll be somewhat rusty. Let’s hope she ate her spinach this am!
Kling has done a hell of a job compensating for her lack of pace with positioning and anticipation. But that can only take you so far. At some point the speed difference is lethal. A lot will depend on how well our midfielders can cover for each other.
If she can work together with Hina and Fleming it might be okay. I’m more worried about Fleming, frankly. She was sloppy as hell in possession at Lumen. That will be fatal against KC
Any word on when Weaver might be coming back?
More to the point is when 2023 Weaver will be back. 2024 Weaver regressed significantly from her highs last season. If she doesn’t? It might be worth giving Linnehan a full 90 at LW and see how she does…
Yeah she hasn’t looked good since midway through last season, unfortunately.
And now she’ll be coming back from her first major injury as a professional.
Does she have any goal contributions yet this season? I can’t remember.
Good thing we have room on the roster and extra international slots to use to shop in this summer window for some top tale….oh wait! We have 5 GK’s and 4 9’s instead…the way this roster has been built is so dumb.
Two, I think. One was in the Racing Coffey-equalizer match. Don’t recall the other.
Players can be waived…but that’d require a roster vision I don’t see from here. There are a lot of promising pieces already here; what I see lacking is the tactical vision to find roles for them…
With apologies to Earth Wind & Fire...
Our Thorns will flounder together
Until the twelfth of never
Or when Weaver returns to form
Come to see a victory?
You're living in a fantasy!
Losing times for you and me
Fall behind Gotham and other three
Spirit did us a solid today though
All n All, yesterday brought Illumination. I Am left with Gratitude for Smith's goal, otherwise we fell on our Faces. This beatdown should lead us to Open Our Eyes with Head to the Sky, and say of this year, "Another Time." That's the Way of the World, or at least the Eternal Groove.
Soph will def leave after next season if they don’t heavily invest in this attack (including an attacking mid) in the off-season. She was frustrated as hell with all of the attacking players around her all game (and rightly so.) We do have some very good pieces on this team, but also it’s mind boggling how lacking in any attack we are…especially with Hina now playing defense. They’ve let this roster kinda die on the vine and the bill comes due!
Also a coach, dear lord. My silver lining is this kind of thing needed to happen for them to really see that there are problems and holes that just relying on Soph can solve.
It’s irritating that I bagged on kendo for this goat rodeo. I’d have been better off if people had been hitting me in the head with sticks than spending ninety minutes watching this crap.
This team has no discernible tactical identity, and no structure. They need investment in a coaching staff, a real coach, and in the roster. Kansas City are a great team, but what's remarkable is how quickly Vlatko has created a structure and identity for that side. We have none of that. That might be enough for 4th/5th place in this league, but it's not going to get you a shield or a championship.
It’s hard not to see the issues as coaching. The roster doesn’t look awful. It looks like a tactical problem more than anything.
Yes though I do think there’s a talent issue especially in the attack, not including Soph
Yeah...the promise just hasn't come through, tho I'd hold Linnehan in abeyance.
I think she could be a decent prospect, but if you look at other top teams right now…the “prospects” are their bench players and they have top talent starting. And they all are better coached. We don’t even have a solid XI anymore. Each year…we have lost one starting player after another, and just not replaced them with equal or better talent. Beckie isn’t a starter on half the teams in this league. Same for multiple other players we start.
Also helps to have a referee that allowed Chawinga to grab and hold Payne throughout the match. I thought I was watching Bill Laimbeer boxing out Charles Barkley.
But yes, we're nowhere near in the same class as KC, Gotham, and Orlando. Maybe DC for now, maybe not. That's not enough to keep Sophia here.
Sophia signed a long-term contract early in the season. She's not going anywhere.
I wouldn't call this season and next with a *player* option for '26 a "not going anywhere" contract. It's a "fix this or I'm walking" contract plus she 100% has the pull to force a trade.
I don't think that's correct. IIRC, she signed an extension through next season, which basically allows her to do what she wants if she doesn't like how things are shaping up.
I stand corrected. Thanks. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/39820275/sophia-smith-portland-thorns-contract-nwsl-highest-paid-player#
No prob!
I'm not too worried about Soph, tbh. And this can change quickly. Orlando were mediocre last season. KC were awful. Just needs some smart investment to build around what I'd say is a good core at Portland.
But the foundations have to be put down now. They stood pat for a year while Orlando, Gotham, Spirit moved.
tbh the foundation looked solid back in ‘23. Looked like a tweak or three would do the trick.
I think Wilkinson left things in a decent state. But we’re two years beyond that season now.
My guess is that the long hold on the sale was a huge factor.
But, yeah. That’s then. If the Bhathals want to be in the conversation about the Championship they need to be paying attention to games like this and learning.
I agree and would add that we are still living w/ the MP-approved placeholder moves in coaching and the F.O., and that they are certainly not panning out, to riot in understatement. I agree w/ the many suggestions here that KK be moved to a position in public relations, and then look for a visionary HC and GM who will aggressively pursue difference-making intl. talent, and who preferably lack tunnel vision re: our charming northerly neighbors.
Yeah I totally get it because of the sale and in general the moves post sale were good (Obaze, Müller look good, Fleming as a transfer is a 5/10, Payne 6.5, Dias…idk)
True. All those clubs changed their fortunes fairly quickly. Here, it will require some real vision -- not just a vague-yet-hyperbolic aspiration -- and a willingness to go get the talent we need.
Yeah, it’s the vision and identity. I know the players talk about “Thorns soccer” but I can’t tell you what that is.
Yeah, I would love to ask KK what the club “vision” is because I also have no idea based on the “style” of play we see each week and based on her somewhat haphazard personnel choices over the what, 3-4 seasons she’s been here now? I have no idea what kind of player profiles we’re looking for…we haven’t brought in any viable attackers since Soph and Weaver were drafted in 2020 lol.
"Our 'vision?' Um...er...I'll get back to you on that. Meanwhile...Tim Hortons gift cards for everyone!"
The weird BTDT is I remember having this same conversation in 2015 about what Riley's "vision" for the squad was...
And then, of course, Riley (spit!) was canned, Parsons hired, and we did the monster offseason deals that began the progress to 2017...
Safe to say we won't see that starting lineup again.
Yeah, that was a head scratcher.
Yike. That was just ugly. No real way to spin that.
I guess my question would be; how could we have done better? Would Coffey and Moultrie have made enough difference? Obaze? Or is this who we are?
I doubt it would’ve been as bad, but no, the problem is the rest of the roster and the coaching staff here. Really wish the Bhathals would’ve cleaned house…
Maybe they are still planning to? A fella can hope, anyway.
How could we have done better? Well...having a defense that actually resembled something a first-division pro team would field would have been a start. So many basic positioning/marking mistakes, so little effective communication. I realize a big part of the defensive problems stemmed from being "decaf" (swidt?), but the fact remains the defensive players out there didn't deliver.
Roster construction issues when we don’t have another backup 6 on the roster but we have 5 GKs
SMDH
Definitely basic errors on the goals but Kansas City cut through so many times
We're a mid table team. Basically without Smith going goblin mode, we have no offense. Blew all the allocation money on Fleming and therefore have zero depth and bad wingers. Hopefully, this match proves to the FO that they need to get an actual coach too.
Is it possible the coaching hire is taking a while because the GM position might also be in play? Or am I dreaming into this possibility too much?
Add to the list a fundamental lack of speed, which KC exposed, and lack of physical play against a physical team like KC. And while I'm at it: too many players waiting for passes to arrive rather than moving toward them. That cause a bunch of giveaways today.
Yep, kept thinking we need a player like Rocky. We've become a team of lightweight finesse players. Not fast, not physical, and really not all that skilled when taken as a whole.
Did we run out of Kenergy?
More like girl power came in and clobbered Ken in the Mojo Dojo Casa House.
BTW, did anybody catch it when the PA announcer said that Reyes was subbing in for the "Timbers"? It was that kind of day.
I think he’s done that multiple times this season actually. At least 3. It’s annoying and he also mispronounces Obaze’s name during pregame lineups...but of course we haven’t heard it in a while. How do they not get these things right?
Good week to be a vacation. Ouch.
Chant: "THREE. GOALS. BEHIND!"
That’s cold. Legit…but cold.
Smith hero-ball!
Complete and total "Fuck you, Jobu. I do it myself," even as Mace threw a shoulder block, which merely served to give Soph more space.
Understatement of the year: commentator said that playing Kling at defensive mid against KCC is "not ideal."
It’s what happens when our roster is poorly constructed and we have no backup 6 lol.
Let’s face it. We are not a top two club. We’ll make the playoffs…but unless our form improves we won’t make the Final, or even the semi. There’s just too many holes in the roster, and too much tactical slack.
Fewer holes without all the key injuries, but yeah...still not at that top two level.
It's like the NWSL became a Euro league, only (mostly) without the salaries.
Minus Coffey and Weaver (who wasn’t on form before the injury…) this is kind of it. This is who we are.
Kind of. But I suspect both Moultrie and Obaze would have started this one, too.
Moultrie would’ve, but she honestly hasn’t been starting quality imo. Can you imagine how good Soph COULD be if we had two solid wingers AND a starting quality playmaker? We haven’t seen it yet. It’s why Banda and Temwa are going goblin mode…because they have great players around them. Soph doesn’t…
Hmmm….
I’ll have to think about that…
Goodbye goal differential.
Yeah, this defense needs some freaking work.
Y’all. We are Hina and no one else lol.
Our offense is terrible with Soph as the only hope, but who hasn’t really gotten much service. Where’s Linnehan? We reeeally need some firepower in the off-season because our choices are not starters.
Izzy had the one good chance, but I honestly don't think any of the three are having a great game. I feel like Izzy is not doing enough, Beckie is trying to do too much, and Soph is kind of getting lost in the shuffle.
I don't think Izzy is very good but it boggles my mind she's being used as a winger. She can't dribble, she's not fast, she can't cross and she isn't very good at keeping the ball. What about those traits say to you, "play her wide"
Yeah I thought they’d at least put Soph on the wing and put Izzy in the middle because KC is horrendous in set pieces and corners (and Izzy is prob the best on this team in the air, actually)…I thought there might be tactics behind it. And they they set up and, well, nope… lol. But as a winger?! Put Payne on the damn wing if you need another winger. Or I dunno, start Linnehan lol.
I don’t really want Payne as a winger tbh, her on ball stuff is very mid.
I just meant over Izzy because it would at least stretch the opposing defense. But yes, I know. We don’t have any attacking options 😭 Like literally none.
We’ve arguably needed another elite attacker in a wide position for a year and a half.
Yeah, I wouldn't play her wide lol
And yet Gale and Norris have been doing this for 18 months
Fleming: Why?
Why? Canadian, of course.
Not this game, but signing Fleming (and Beckie) in the first place to record deals while other teams get actual game-changers. Bringing back Sinc despite the fact that she's been washed for a while and can't keep up anymore says bias. Then three Canadian coaches in a row, the last of which has been playing Sinc way too much.
I'd say some here are Canadian homers, frankly, with the way they defend Fleming and KK.
PS: Orlando's Brazilians are actually good players, hence they are tied for first place. Our Canadian players are average to poor and a couple should be considered busts for how much they cost to acquire and how much salary they are earning against the cap.
I been asking that all year
Fleming is not the problem in that half. At all. I know she's this blog's punching bag, but she's actually the best rated player we have on Fotmob by a country mile. Only player over 7.0, actually (she's at 7.6).
Maybe I’m missing something, but Fleming doesn’t even make the top ten in Fotmob’s ranking of current Thorns.
I meant for the GAME. For the game that she played, she was at 7.6 and the highest ranked player we had exiting the half. Good lord.
https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/9134/stats/season/22835/players/rating/team/433029/Portland%20Thorns
They currently have her at 6.8, which is .1 less than her rating the last two years at Chelsea and .4 less than her 20/21 season at Chelsea (when she scored 8 goals).
Fleming had a terrible first half.
Right, so 82% pass accuracy, 2 chances created and 5/5 ground duels won are a terrible half?
Christ, the blame for Fleming on this sub is unparalleled.
Expectations. Fleming was supposed to be a game breaker…
You’ll get no argument out of me there. The point of acquiring Sauerbrunn was supposed to be her leadership. I’m still waiting to see that.
Doesn’t make the Fleming case better! Just another point against the FO’s player evaluation …
Naw... Becky has had several monster games this season. She's also 38 years old and likely retiring this year. Fleming is in her prime and was a world record transfer or something when we got her. She hasn't had a single game where she's been the best player on the field. Massive miss by KK given the money involved and the resulting lack of depth.
Ofc other players haven’t been good but Fleming is supposed to be one of players that really make a difference but she hasn’t been that in this match or previous matches. More critical of her because expectations are higher for players of her caliber.
Right, we’re over half a season in now and I’m struggling to see anything that Fleming is above average at other than cardio.
Definitely not a reason for today’s loss but take the shot that was narrowly wide - she had a pass out wide, to Müller I think, but she made the wrong decision.
The bottom line for me is someone in the front 5 other than Sophia Smith and Hina Sugita *has* to step up on a regular basis. With her pedigree and the money spent on signing her AND the fact that it meant we traded Rocky Rodriguez to Angel City, the expectation is that Fleming is one of those players. And right now, I’m not sure she’s starting if Moultrie and Coffey weren’t unavailable.
I was just thinking today (and on many game days, frankly) we could really use a player like Rocky in the midfield.
Are we watching the same game?
Fleming has not been bad at all. I don't know why she's the go to person to blame a bad half on, but she was not bad. Perfect? No, of course not. But she was not bad.
yeah like the half ass challenge on third goal, at least make a run at the player, put some damn effort in.
Crikey, you hate on Fleming every game. How does no one call this crap out? I'm fine with being critical, but for some reason Fleming gets the full blame and hate every single match on this blog.
Our entire defense was terrible today. No one in that front line (except for Soph towards the end) was good. But somehow Jessie Fleming is the only one we can blame and is the only one not putting effort in.
Was surprised to see Fleming subbed off at half. Not sure Sheva wasn't her equal today.
Cause her rating on some website doesn’t really count for much today.
Oh hey, look who got subbed off at the half. Jessie “7.0” Fleming.
If you're not actually going to have a productive conversation and just be rude and only hate on one player, I don't know why you're on here lmao.
Looks like we subbed Fleming off and conceded again!
I think the anger or dislike comes from the fact that PT spent so much to get her, and she has been pedestrian at best. Compared to the other high price acquisitions, she is a dumpster fire.
Personally, I think Payne and Muller have had worse showings today.
Payne is in her second season on loan from PSG where she had two appearances last season. She was paired against Chawinga who currently has 9 goals and 6 assists in 14 games, one hell of a hold-up game and an impressive amount of strength. For comparison, Soph’s at 10-6-12, so basically Chawinga currently ranks up there with Soph and Banda in the “nightmare to defend” category. If you take into account the number of times Chawinga got away with beating on her, I thought Payne held up well enough under the circumstances.
I agree that Muller got torched. Not sure whether it was a mismatch in speed or a formation issue where she got caught up field and couldn’t recover, but she at most had a bad game in an otherwise impressive season. If we’re going by FotMob, they currently rate her third on the team behind only Soph and Coffey, and (surprisingly) just above Hina.
Payne had no hope. Chawinga was allowed to push, shove, grab, and hold her throughout the match. It's shameful, cowardly officiating.
That is true! The officiating was nothing to write home about.
Could have fooled me. I haven’t seen her do anything particularly worthwhile. I’ll have to see when I screen this.
I don’t see anyone in a Doritos kit having a good day, Fleming included…
The team needs a leader up front. And at the back. Holy.
This might end up rivaling our 0-6 loss to the Courage back in the day…
This could get real, real ugly...
Worse than this? How?
Well...it was 0-2 when I posted that, so...
Point taken.
And the hemorrhaging continues. ☹️ Wish DavidK had been wrong but nope...
DavidK wishes DavidK had been wrong, too...
Stop being right!!
Nailed that comment Yikes
Yeah... Hoo boy,.
We need to be way more clinical in the final third, and do something about KCC's speed.
Great job by Fleming there to win the ball and earn the foul.
For as makeshift a lineup as we have, we’re not doing terrible with the ball. Having said that, the defensive marking has been atrocious. Hence the goal. Ugh.
Nothing like giving your most dangerous opponent a free header…
Williamson wearing a Hubly jersey today. Wondering whether Valeri will be here given he’s in town.
I mean, he lives here again now, so... His side hustle is assistant coaching PDX FC.
If Connie came along I’d bet on it.
Also why the obsession with trying to shoehorn two CFs into the frontline? Not seeing D’Aquila flourishing as LF. Why not Linnehan? She seems to work better as a winger…
Kling actually subbed in at midfield last week and was solid.
Against Seattle? One of the slowest attacks in the league? On a day that Harvey set up to clog midfield to slow things down?
This is KCC. One of these things is not like the other.
Looks like we’ve got Kling in the pivot in place of Sam…which is kinda scary. She hasn’t played much all season so let’s hope her passing game isn’t rusty! Gonna need all the muscle we can get from her. Guessing Sam comes on at half or 60’. Happy to see Payne get the start. Interesting they go with Izzy over Payton..:which means Soph on the wing.
Or D’Aquila. Either way one of the CFs will be a winger today. With Linnehan (who has done well outside)m on the bench.
Well it went exactly as expected lol.
So…no Sinc (good!) and Payne for Reyes (also good!) but Kling in midfield?
I’m a bit scared on that…I feel like she’s slower than Sam at this point in time. And she hasn’t played much all year which means she’ll be somewhat rusty. Let’s hope she ate her spinach this am!
Recall watching her try to chase down Rodman last year. Again and again and again.
So there's that.
Kling has done a hell of a job compensating for her lack of pace with positioning and anticipation. But that can only take you so far. At some point the speed difference is lethal. A lot will depend on how well our midfielders can cover for each other.
If she can work together with Hina and Fleming it might be okay. I’m more worried about Fleming, frankly. She was sloppy as hell in possession at Lumen. That will be fatal against KC
And offensive, hopefully lol.
I love Sinc, but hopefully when she retires we get some more leadership and speed up front so we have some more options.