73 Comments
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Any chance we rehire Soubrier once he is eligible to rehired again? He has some work to do to regain trust, but I like Dunn as the vet leader for this team and always held him in high regard.

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Why?

He showed exceptionally poor judgement in his handling of controlled medications. He’s damn lucky he didn’t lose his license altogether.

I get the “stand by your man”…but if Dunn can’t see that and accept that his role is “househusband” from here out, I’m not sure what that says about her judgement as a leader.

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He has to convince the league first, but if he does … I’d seriously consider it. People can learn from poor judgment.

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People can also learn from the examples made by others; “pour l’encourages les autres”.

Not my circus, tho. If the team doc thinks he can be trusted not to fuck up again? Fine. But when you’re dealing with narcotics, you often only get one strike. So if he was to go into landscaping? Don’t be surprised…

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Ahhh, the old dilemma. Did he screw up badly enough that no one should ever have anything to do with him again ever, or does the team think he can learn from this experience and never do anything like it again? And given the team's recent history, will they risk having him around again?

The internet always comes down heavily on the "toss them out" side when someone does something wrong, but sometimes trusting in redemption is wiser. Glad I don't have to make this call.

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Little surprised Smith went 90+ given the score line and the game next Friday against San Diego. Would have been a good opportunity to rest Smith, reduce the chance of unnecessary injury, and give Izzy some time at the 9.

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May 21, 2023·edited May 21, 2023

Norris’ sub patterns frankly baffle me. Agree; up four, why not rest Smith and give the rook some minutes. Why pull the teenager for gramma Sinc? Why pull Hubly for Nally? I’m sure he’s got a plan but it seems utterly opaque to me…

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I think all the subs made sense except leaving Smith in. Hubly was on a yellow hence the early Reyes sub, there’s no real reason to keep Moultrie in up 4 given we’re suddenly kinda short in midfield Nally came in for Kuikka when she got the head injury.

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Still don’t get Sinc for Moultrie. It’s not like the team has a midweek game. And the effects were immediately and visibly for the worse. If you want Moultrie off to save her legs, why not Porter? Or Provenzano? It’s not nearly so much above “Moultrie off” as “Why Sinc on?”

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Sinc's gonna play- just how it is. I'll happily take her getting 30 minutes in a blowout.

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That’s right; my bad on Nally, forget Kuikka picked up the knock.

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That’s what the squad needed. Statement win.

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Take a gander at the Gotham-Reign score everyone

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There are no tier 1 teams left lol.

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Lots of parity, but this is an effective offense

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author

This! Lol

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Gotham mirroring us; up four-nil.

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Seattle getting stomped AT HOME!

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So when I searched for this game the first hit Google gave me was from the Reign site headlined “OL Reign ready to take on Gotham”.

Ummm…maybe not so much..?

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Seattle pulled one back at 79’

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Wow. Huge crowd too.

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Love to see Seattle getting pwned. So much for “Gotham’s not legit”…

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Hina has been the best player on the field today and it hasn’t been close imo

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I'd probably call both Dunn and Coffey's performances "close." Moultrie's, too. But Hina was doing Hina things all game, and only a seriously great save kept her from a goal, too. PotM for me.

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Yeah, you're right...I typed this after that stretch in the 2nd where she was dominating the entire game and nearly scored on her right, so I was a little excited lol

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Dunn has been pretty close.

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Coffey’s giving her a run for her money. She’s been spectacular with her distribution. Dunn was quite good too

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Always hard to assess defense when the opponent is so poor. But…Coffey has been good.

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True, Sam’s been great.

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Nice to see Menges getting in 90.

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Predictable as the sunrise; put Sinc in for Moultrie and we are getting overrun in midfield . Jesus wept!

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Vasco? Really?

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And Sinc? Moultrie can’t go 90 at 17 years old?

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May 21, 2023·edited May 21, 2023

Especially baffling as I’d think we would want Moultrie to get some more full 90s under her belt before World Cup absences start…

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Secret to Kuikka scoring unlocked; don’t let her shoot, serve it to her head. 4-nil!

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That’s two spectacular passes from Coffey

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At Thorns game, looking over at the bench, wondering … “what kind of game shape is Vytas in”?

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He definitely still plays at training sometimes and is fully fit!

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Just sayin’ …

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Good start. Now just need to see out the second half.

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Who does Sinc sub for. Hina?

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Deargodno…

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Kuikka's tackle on Hocking was something.

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C’mon Hubs!

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Bad tackle…

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Hina seems to be adjusting quite well to forward and Sam Coffey has become a legitimate defensive 6.

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May 21, 2023·edited May 21, 2023

Looks like the press has come back. It’s time. Sinclair is a backup on this team

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It’s Chicago…but yes. This is the MF we should be starting.

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It’s more the structure of play that I worry about as opposed to the opponents. It’s easier to sustain against Chicago, but effort and discipline is contagious

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We know it’s possible, we’ve seen it. But we tend to panic against better teams, and it disappears.

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Part of the press is connected play. If there is a hole in the press, teams go to it to break it. When Sinclair is playing, her presence requires a different defensive set. We’ve yet to show we can play another defensive set effectively

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Or against a genuinely good opponent.

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Like Orlando last year, only worse.

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Now Dunn serves and Moultrie puts in the dagger. 3-nil in the 17th minute.

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Coming around on the Dunn trade. :-)

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Hina creates…Dunn finishes. 2-nil!

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Three great passes set up 3 easier goals

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Funny how that works, eh? Almost like it’s a thing soccer players figured out earlier..!

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Penso letting a lot of rough play go

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Feels like the first free kick goal in a long time

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Now that’s a pass!

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Weaver!!!

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Not encouraged by the early passing.

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Jenna Bike? Hoo dat?

Soccer over cycling seems like a bold choice.

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Promising! Starting XI includes Moultrie-Dunn-Coffey in MF. Usual F trio and backline (Menges for ‘Brunn…)

Well…there’s that.

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Okay coach, you've got our attention.

LFG

4-1

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The lineup of dreammmmsss

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Still gonna leave Coffey on the biggest island of all time, however

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Curious to see how Moultrie does at the 8 and if she is able to balance getting forward in the attack without isolating Coffey in defense. Big day for her.

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So happy she is getting the start. Great recognition to get her going and settled before everyone leaves for the WC. Let's see how long before she is wearing the captains armband!

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