167 Comments
Jul 10·edited Jul 10

Two things:

1) Story in The Athletic about SD is a bit misleading. They participated in a third-party-led investigation that ended back in February to April and that produced no findings of NWSL policy violations. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5629789/2024/07/10/jill-ellis-wave-nwsl-investigation/

2) Arnold left her partner, who just re-signed with West Ham, and her departure was seen as a surprise. Look at her FBREF comps for the past 365 days. They're not those of Top-10 international keepers -- YIKES! https://fbref.com/en/players/30f6344f/Mackenzie-Arnold. Arnold got a big deal to sign here -- through 2026, with an option for 2027. Still, I assume there will be a competition involving Hogan and Arnold, that Alvarado might well move on, that we'll let Kozal and Asman go, and that Bella is indeed going to retire. I can't think of too many things harder than coming back to be a top-level keeper after being away from it for probably 18 months or more.

Note: This is Arnold's second stint in NWSL. She was Naeher's backup in Chicago in 2019, and she never saw the pitch.

Expand full comment

From Lauletta on SD:

"This is not going to be the place where the burgeoning, off-the-pitch situation in San Diego is discussed. But a few thoughts. One is that enough different parties have come forward that it is absolutely not nothing. Two is that there have been no specific allegations made and we should be careful about manifesting them. Three is that the statement put out by the Wave was absolute garbage and shows a complete lack of regard for the culture shift NWSL supposedly underwent starting in fall 2001 (sic). The league statement and reaction have not been much better. The culture of secrecy and keeping quiet remains. Don’t let the next open report fool you."

Expand full comment

Lauletta is certainly not my go-to for WOSO anymore, as I think he tends to wing it on a lot of his analysis of teams he clearly doesn't spend a ton of time watching, but he's been more than consistent on this point about the garbage of "open reports" and the league not being transparent, even after the 2021 revelations. Credit to him for continuing to say it on that platform and not back down. Jill Ellis needs to held to account for her shitty coaching practices and treatment of players. This has been kept under wraps for far too long.

Expand full comment

Funny how the schedulemakers gave us on the very same weekend the two best teams and the two worst teams squaring off against each other. Scoreless after a 55-minute first half.

Expand full comment

With the Angel City franchise sale coming and the team not performing well, what are the odds that Becki Tweed makes it through the season?

Expand full comment

Are there any coaches named Thompson available?

Expand full comment

Orlando now the class of the league. KC has no excuse.

Expand full comment

Vlatko got outcoached.

AD did not have a good game.

KC have no ideas and no patience offensively. It's all just rely on superior athletic ability. They finally found an opponent against whom that won't necessarily work.

If Thorns don't play for the Championship, I'll be rooting for Marta and Orlando.

Expand full comment

Orlando are really good on transitions and are happy playing a deep to mid block. FWIW, I think KC would've won 11 v 11, but going down to 10 at 1-1 meant Orlando became incredibly conservative defensively. KC didn't get the space for their transitions.

Expand full comment

Let me play the world's tiniest violin for Vlatko.

It's intriguing because I felt like when we played Orlando we would've won if he had Soph. Yet we didn't deserve to be on the same field as KC when we played them. I guess that's parity and I look forward to our rematch against Orlando.

Expand full comment

Seriously unimpressed with KC today. Even if they equalize, they've not done anything to take advantage of the fact that they've played nearly 70 minutes up a player. Give credit to Orlando where due, but KC have no ideas. They just play direct and try to get lucky.

Expand full comment

Yeah, they sure didn't look like any sort of juggernaut (nor did Orlando). Not to put too fine a point on it, I'll repeat something I've been saying for a while now: the league's quality has declined.

Expand full comment

To what should we attribute the decline? Do you think it's a result of rapid expansion? Of players going to Europe? Something else? All of the above? None of the above?

Expand full comment

I think it's a combination of rapid expansion and the rise of Europe as the most desirable destination (for both players and coaches). The latter is a bit of a self-fulfilling deal: Europe had a reputation of being where the best football was being played, a rep it didn't entirely deserve...until a couple years ago. Now, while the NWSL remains the deepest league (by a bit, over the FAWSL and the WE League), it's less so than ever AND the overall quality of play has dropped off.

Player drain can't fully explain this, though. The quality of play in the WE League is still super-high, despite that league becoming a hunting ground for rich Euro clubs. The difference there might be that the Japanese youth/academy system works really well...possibly better than in the US, where the NCAA can _finish_ a promising player, but our overall system is less good at identifying and nurturing them from a young age. That ends up reflecting in the relative quality of the 1st division pro leagues, in which teams are mostly made up of domestic players.

Expand full comment

New CPKC food stand item:

Chawinga Shawarma

Who says no?

Expand full comment

Orlando staff consulting with physicists on matters of time acceleration. KC metro has surprisingly few.

Expand full comment

Are KC this bad defensively -- and, if so, what does that say about us? -- that they conceded after Orlando went down a player and had to make a defensive substitution to shore it up? Yikes!

Expand full comment

Not sure I'd call that a matter of being "bad" defensively (although I think KC are mediocre in that area). Short-handed sides get breakaways sometimes, and AD unquestionably clouted Adrianna in the face on that play.

Expand full comment

Well now, YC Fiesta and a10 squad lead.

NWSL baby.

Expand full comment
Jul 7·edited Jul 7

.... and now Orlando playing down 1.

Lawrence was doing something interesting to deny Chawinga that ability to post her up, too. That's too bad. I was looking forward to seeing how it worked.

Basically, Lawrence was doing a version of what Dennis Rodman used to do against Karl Malone -- pull out the chair when Malone would lean back in the post.

In this case, though, Lawrence was staying an arms length behind Chawinga and hand-checking her, which left Chawinga having to reach behind her to try to figure out exactly where Lawrence was and establish a direction to try to pivot around Lawrence.

I'd like to see someone try that approach, because trying to body her up and deny her position isn't going to work.

Expand full comment

Well. There it is.

KC ends the night at 44 goals or rest some starters?

Expand full comment

Seriously, a match between two undefeated teams in Week 16, and lots and lots of empty seats in KC. So much for the "sellout." They can't even fill an 11,500 seat stadium for this?

Also, Orlando up 1-0 in the 38th. They've definitely looked the better side thus far.

Expand full comment

Lots of empty seats in KC. Also, the club colors are those of an ICEE dispenser.

https://www.icee.com/

Expand full comment

KC v Orlando: Chippy!

Expand full comment

30 goals visits 39 goals—after 15 games no losses between them. Root for comet?

Expand full comment

27th minute, still scoreless. Clear contrast in styles. Marta has been beefed around. No respect for elders!

Expand full comment

KC seems jittery, and Ball nearly chips Franch for a n own goal.

Expand full comment

Yeah, Ball's also responsible on Banda's goal.

But there's Chawinga to equalize. 1-1, 39th.

Expand full comment

Tiers forming in the corners of my eyes...

Tier 1: KC, Orlando

Tier 2: Washington, Gotham, Portland

Tier 3: Chicago, NC, Bay?

Tier 4: Loovull, SD, ACFC

Tier 5: Houston, Seattle

Tier 6: Utah

Expand full comment

Those look right to me, although it's at least possible that Mina Tanaka will elevate Utah to at least parity with Houston and the (d)Reign.

Expand full comment

Jill Ellis burner

Expand full comment

In fact, I heartily suggest that someone claim that as their new handle, "Jill Ellis's Burner Account"

Expand full comment

Oh, that's good.

Expand full comment

Meanwhile, OJ continued his search for the real killer, from the firey beyond.

Expand full comment

"If I Sent It"

Expand full comment

Am willing to split WOTM between Fleming and Hogan, who both had excellent stints with brilliant individual actions, e.g., Fleming's initiation of the goal sequence and Hogan's deflection of the Barcenas blast. Before that goal, Sheridan had a lock on it. Her positioning all night was letter perfect even on the goal, which squirted in underneath her. Yeah, we had plenty of shots right at the keeper but the keeper had an uncanny way of presenting herself in that spot.

On that topic, 12 shots on goal while surrendering 6 is not a bad shift for the Thorns who obviously have been lacking on the attack side of things.

Very lucky to get away with 75 minutes of more 10-on-11 soccer. Gods please deliver us from this portable hell.

Plenty of good performances while team soccer comes and goes like a random tide. SD has issues? Too frickin' bad for them. Squandered talent in a corrupt organization sprinkled with you occasional McCaskill. Why is she even a starter? Don't figure that out, Wave, you be you.

BTW interim coach Buckle is our former USL gaffer and maybe was packed up as part of Burkle's things in a name confusion error when he schlepped out of town.

Now, bring on...uh...Tijuana.

Expand full comment

We just played North Tijuana. Time now for South San Diego!

Also...Mas D'Aquila, por favor!

Expand full comment

Got my best-ever Thorns match pic: Sam and Reyna giving Izzy her hero's dousing during her post-match interview (my previous best: Sam cracking up Liv as the starting XI pic was about to be taken last year vs. NC). In that heat, it must have felt good, although Izzy was still shaking the water out of her hair when she ran over to accept her rose.

Expand full comment
Jul 6·edited Jul 6

Somebody needs to put together a McCaskill highlight film of nothing but her complaining. It would probably run longer than "Lawrence of Arabia."

SD signed her for 3 years. So that's 3 years we don't have to worry about SD being competitive.

Expand full comment

Lol she is just insufferable.

Expand full comment

Not impossible that SD fall to 11th or 12th this weekend. Also not impossible that we go into the break 1 point behind Gotham. Not likely, but not impossible.

Expand full comment

Also nice to see Becky bringing the ball forward more tonight. She's still got plenty of speed and skill with the ball.

Expand full comment

I thought Obaze looked good tonight. Morgan is still a difficult matchup for a young CB, and with exception of a rather dumb foul that gave SD a direct kick from a dangerous spot, she played rather well. She's just composed and calm out there.

Expand full comment
Jul 6·edited Jul 6

Fleming's best match as a Thorn, and it's not even close. I think we've found her place on the pitch too.

Expand full comment
founding

she did play well, but seemed Beckie took on the mantle of Canadian underperformer tonight (besides beautiful assist). Needed two hands maybe even some toes to count up turnovers off poor first touches

Expand full comment
Jul 6·edited Jul 6

I dunno, I think Sinc can challenge for that also lol...they were both very not good (but great assist!)

Expand full comment

The most Beckie-esque performance imaginable: 80-plus minutes where I groaned at her every poor pass, turnover, bad read (and there were more of those than I can begin to recall) and then she gets the GW assist.

Expand full comment

What was her role? I thought she was excellent tonight but half the time I was like what position is she playing?! V glad they’re figuring it out while we have no natural creative 10 on the field!

Expand full comment

Heat maps still a thing? Fleming's would be worth seeing.

Expand full comment
Jul 6·edited Jul 6

Well, I'd say she was playing a 10, but really it was more that she had room to move around and just be more involved. More playing through her, more opportunities to make plays. That cross into Soph on the run in the box in the 2nd half was beautiful.

Expand full comment

Good to go into the break on a positive note. Still hoping we get a real coach by the time they return.

Expand full comment

Parsons is back in Portland lol (and was at the game tonight)...let's hope the ambition is higher from the Bhathals.

Expand full comment

I didn't see the Bhathals last night. Usually, they're schmoozing on the patio of the VIP area (down along the corner below the Tillamook sign) before the match starts.

Expand full comment

Points are points. Pull’em out of your ass? They still count.

But this is not a good team. It’s a bunch of players some of whom are very good

Expand full comment

Thought that was actually a decent performance. Probably should have won 2-3 nil with the chances they created. Very different from Utah or Seattle, for instance.

They are what they are, and what they are is a tier below the best but still a generally good side.

Expand full comment
Jul 6·edited Jul 6

SD are really adrift. Sheridan did well, and that's about it. Very good sportsmanship from Sheridan when Soph went down. McCaskill on the other hand? No wonder she's been on 5 teams already. God, she's such a complainer, and then she caps it by not finding a way to apologize to Sophia. Fortunately, I think all the booing got into McCaskill's head. Not only was she ineffective from then on, she actually made several mistakes in a row. Good.

Expand full comment

McCaskill wanting to play the heel gave me the golden opportunity to scream, from three rows back when she subbed out, "You've always been mediocre!" Because "Thanks for negatively impacting a reigning shield winner's offensive efficiency" was too much of a mouthful.

Expand full comment

You're doing the Lord's work, my friend!

Expand full comment

Would’ve killed to hear it omg lol

Expand full comment

I sure hope she did. Lol.

Expand full comment
Jul 6·edited Jul 6

Yeah she was totally rattled lol. Pretended she loved it but actually was actively terrible beyond that.

Expand full comment

Did you see how she complained on an apparent handball on Hina that went out of bounds, possession to SD? She kept complaining about it, walking around with her arms in the air. I mean, what's the big deal? Yes, you don't get a kick and opportunity to set up, but jeez, it's not like you didn't the ball in virtually the same spot. She was still complaining while her teammates were back to playing. I've gotta think teammates don't like playing with her. That stuff gets really old, especially because it can't possibly stay confined to match play.

Expand full comment

I’ll be intrigued to see the xG/PSxG differential. I’m gonna bet you’re right and the xG is something like 2.05. Because the Thorns did create several dangerous opportunities.

But as we’ve seen repeatedly; once there the finish isn’t there. We throw up way too many airballs.

What’s really frustrating is that against peer opponents (i.e. not KC or Orlando) we can show some skills. But it’s not consistent. So…yeah. Your conclusions stand; we’re kind of “mid- to upper-mid-table”…

Expand full comment

According to FootStats xG for the Thorns was 1.86

xG for SD was .50

Expand full comment

Today wasn't even air balls. It was shots right at the goalie.

Expand full comment

Yeah it should’ve been like 3-4 to nothing lol. Janine and Sinc both missed absolute sitters, and there were numerous others. Right. At. Sheridan.

Expand full comment

About time!

Expand full comment

Not a great game to watch and a lot of questions...but three points is three points.

Expand full comment

Nally w a good clear

Expand full comment

Recognition + execution. That was good stuff.

Expand full comment

But why can’t we do that more often? Why slog thru 85 minutes of crap to get there?

Expand full comment

Have a dayyy Jessie! Best game as a Thorn!

Expand full comment

If nothing else, she's got one hell of a motor and she won't let up or let an opponent relax. She looked terrific.

Expand full comment

Yeah thought she was excellent tonight! Whatever they did- more of that!

Expand full comment

She was all kinds of fired up, including straight throwing an elbow into someone’s back away from play, but I’m not gonna argue, she ran about 10 miles tonight

Expand full comment

Great game! I was impressed - glad she was involved in the goal, too!

Expand full comment

Going to VAR, probably for D’Aquila foul on Sheridan

Expand full comment

Looked like they were checking Hina either for a foul or hand ball earlier in the buildup.

Expand full comment

Good goal.

Expand full comment

Phew. That celebration was epic and deserved to stand.

Expand full comment

Think it was her first goal at PP!

Expand full comment

I'm happy for her. Hope this helps her get her mojo. She's going to need it!

Expand full comment

Yay, Izzy!!!!

Expand full comment

Perfect cross, too.

Expand full comment

Good lord, finally

Expand full comment

Bout time

Expand full comment

Hogan bails out her backline!

Expand full comment

Hogan looking better and better.

Expand full comment

Outstanding save by Sheridan there.

Expand full comment

Has Beckie hit 10 turnovers yet?

Expand full comment

We were counting and yes it was about that lol. The assist negates 5, we’ve decided haha

Expand full comment

That sounds reasonable!

Expand full comment

She just got an assist!

Expand full comment

About effing time

Expand full comment

Finally! Brilliant buildup…but Sheridan comes up huge to deny Beckie. Shit, that was our goal…

Expand full comment

Sheridan did well tonight. And I'm so glad we beat her!

Expand full comment

See below, re: need for a real right winger.

Expand full comment

#Toosoon after Biden pulled a Portland Thorns in the debate

Expand full comment

Gaahhhh, how.....

Expand full comment

Credit to Sheridan. Huge save.

Expand full comment

True, she's no slouch

Expand full comment

It was...but there was also room for a better finish.

Expand full comment

Your angle is better than mine; from here it looked all Sheridan. I’ll be curious to see when I (shudder) watch it again.

Expand full comment

A good run and pass from Sinc, too.

Expand full comment

Heel to the throat - ouch!

Expand full comment

Pretty good duel; Smith v Girma. Smith nicks the corner which goes nowhere.

Expand full comment

One goal in the run of play in the last 528 minutes by my count, and that was a late goal against Kansas City that really didn't mean anything. We also had the PK winner against Western New York, I mean North Carolina.

Expand full comment

This is just painful to watch.

Expand full comment

It's _dull_. I keep having to resist the temptation to tab out to...well, anything. If it were a nice day here (it's muggy AF...Japan in the summer, basically), it would be hard for me to stick with this. Watching a team with no coherent offensive plan beyond "chuck it up to Soph" is pure tedium ('speshly to someone who's gotten used to intricate WE League passing).

Expand full comment

Yeah. It’s just eleven people doing random shit. Every ten minutes or so we’ll do something socceresque. But other than that? It’s recess time…

Expand full comment
founding
Jul 6·edited Jul 6

Not quite sure what the point of Sinclair to 60 minutes is

Expand full comment

How about 75 minutes?

Expand full comment

I joked a few days ago about her going 90 tonight. It appears that Ken is reading my posts and thought it was a brilliant game plan.

Expand full comment

None

Expand full comment

And we’re past the hour. She’s whatever leaner-than-fumes are.

Expand full comment

Not sure what the point of playing her at all, especially in this heat.

Expand full comment

Pinned back for damn near three minutes…

Expand full comment