The Thorns are flying high. Can they stay soaring against the tricky and talented Washington Spirit? With a roaring Providence Park at their back, probably. But regardless here’s the match thread to chat through it!
I do fear this is gonna become the norm going forward bc of the results. Def will start against Seattle, that’s for sure. I don’t wanna see 60’ though. Keep it at 45’.
Yeah Sinc will get some starts (and she kinda has to at this point). She's done well enough that I'm more worried about Soph having to play out wide by necessity than Sinc's actual performance, so long, as you say, it's only 45.
Yeah, that's what I meant. I want Soph getting those minutes in the 9. But with Weaver potentially out for a while (and results coming with Sinc in), I don't foresee it changing anytime soon, unfortunately.
In reality, they’ve found an effective way of using Sinclair and her intelligence without impacting others productivity. I’ve been anti using Sinclair as a starter, but I’m not arguing against results
I’ve seen this everywhere on twitter lol. Like the Thorns didn’t also just play a damn 3 game week, where they were in Chicago, then back across county to San Jose, and then got back to Portland like two days ago. C’mon, the game was as equal as it could’ve been!
They didn't really do that today, they played a mostly excellent (press-aided) first half and then ran out of gas in the second. Very different from Wednesday imo. Agree that I'd like to see a little more control, but baby steps.
They were out of gas by about 30-35 minutes in. Tonight was a function of playing 3 matches in 8 days. That said, very impressed with Soph's fitness, in particular.
Amazing. Smith could hardly move for the last 8 or 10 minutes ... except when she had the ball at her feet. Then she could still turn it on. What a player.
And I wondered if Hina would make it through the first half, given the energy she was putting out. What a player.
Hey, it worked for Gotham and others. Just take turns fouling her, even drawing yellows for assaulting her so long as the same player doens't draw a second yellow.
Agree, but there were a few times tonight where she should have come off her line to pick up a ball rolling her way. Didn’t cause a problem tonight but could in the future.
I think they spoke to her about stopping balls that were likely going out. She had a couple of disastrous stops that created opportunities for the other team
If they're going to play Liv as an 8, someone's gotta work with her on her defensive shape. She always leaves the split ball open, which is the one pass you can't let through.
She should be able to play the Fleming high-8 position. She's just gotta expand her skillset a little bit. A lot of it is work rate- She just doesn't run as hard and Hina and Fleming do, and is reactive instead of proactive defensively. But you're right: It is a problem for her atm.
(They also haven't played with a true 10 since Norris took over last season, so this isn't really new)
How did Rob Gale come up with such sartorial splendor on such short notice? He's got a different suit every match. Norris, on the other hand, wore the same brown zip-up jumper every frickin match!
Nice save by Hogan. Harder than it should have been. She dove on the first one when not needed, but the actual save was sweet. No chance Bixby does that.
Yes, I said this elsewhere that I'd love to see Payne as a winger sub (esp if Morgan is out.) She's got some defensive skills and she's faster than most. Getting her in behind a tired defense could be fruitful...she had some nice passes into the box when she'd get real high in the preseason game we got to see.
Beckie was pretty bad tonight...so many misplaced passes (which she's generally always pretty poor with) but worse than usual. A liability for our defense....she also didn't produce most going forward. Still think she's best utilized off the bench.
Yeah, we didn't put the BFC game away either, and we saw how that went. We've been on the back foot for a long time here. I don't want to see this become 2-1.
4 of 4 wins. Did not predict this a month ago.
LFG Thornies!
Thorns up to 4th on table, 2 points behind WAS and ORL
The only undefeated teams remaining?
KC (16 points)
ORL (15 points)
LOU (8 points)
You can scratch Louisville off the undefeated list. Orlando just beat them.
What really impresses me is Louisville’s consistency, year in year out nobody in the league can find a tie quite like them
Racing Louisville: Ties? We've got a whole closet full of them!
Sam Sez: Rob Gale is a motivator.
So last year they needed a calming presence. This year they needed someone to get them fired up. Wonder what they'll need next year and beyond?
Consistency! Hopefully we all get it. :)
(Not going to argue with results and it's OK if it only happens when Sinc starts, but pls pls pls no more Soph on the wing)
I do fear this is gonna become the norm going forward bc of the results. Def will start against Seattle, that’s for sure. I don’t wanna see 60’ though. Keep it at 45’.
Yeah Sinc will get some starts (and she kinda has to at this point). She's done well enough that I'm more worried about Soph having to play out wide by necessity than Sinc's actual performance, so long, as you say, it's only 45.
Yeah, that's what I meant. I want Soph getting those minutes in the 9. But with Weaver potentially out for a while (and results coming with Sinc in), I don't foresee it changing anytime soon, unfortunately.
In reality, they’ve found an effective way of using Sinclair and her intelligence without impacting others productivity. I’ve been anti using Sinclair as a starter, but I’m not arguing against results
PbP crew sucks. They played 3 matches in 8 days, and had to adjust to loss of Weaver. The 2nd half was all heart to hold onto that lead for the win.
butbutbut the Spirit had to TRAVEL and the Thorns got to sleep in their own beds!
I’ve seen this everywhere on twitter lol. Like the Thorns didn’t also just play a damn 3 game week, where they were in Chicago, then back across county to San Jose, and then got back to Portland like two days ago. C’mon, the game was as equal as it could’ve been!
Liv and Soph kill off the clock. Awesome!
Nice to see that since for some reason they didn’t do that in the last game.
What a grind
Good on you Thorns.....well done
https://x.com/AnAbnos/status/1786961565171786232
Lmao
Holy amazing (also we’ve got a v young team nowadays!)
I'm glad they held on for the win, but I really don't like this "We are done playing as soon as we lead 2-0."
They didn't really do that today, they played a mostly excellent (press-aided) first half and then ran out of gas in the second. Very different from Wednesday imo. Agree that I'd like to see a little more control, but baby steps.
Yeah I’m allowing grace considering the first half was excellent and this is their 3rd game in a week!
They were out of gas by about 30-35 minutes in. Tonight was a function of playing 3 matches in 8 days. That said, very impressed with Soph's fitness, in particular.
Soph and Hina were both absolute machines. Truly world-class fitness.
Amazing. Smith could hardly move for the last 8 or 10 minutes ... except when she had the ball at her feet. Then she could still turn it on. What a player.
And I wondered if Hina would make it through the first half, given the energy she was putting out. What a player.
Turns out we have pretty amazing team altogether.
2-1 FT. Good match, solid win.
Holy cow, Sheva picking off Rodman 1v1 there was a hugeee play.
Yeah, that sealed it.
That was all ball on the tackle from Moultrie on Ricketts.
That fingertip save by Hogan, and that whole sequence by Bethune... that was terrific.
Strategy for playing against the Thorns:
1) Foul Sophia Smith
2) Foul Sophia Smith
3) 1 and 2
4) All of the above
It's a good strategy because you almost never are going to get called for a foul.
Hey, it worked for Gotham and others. Just take turns fouling her, even drawing yellows for assaulting her so long as the same player doens't draw a second yellow.
Becky's anticipation on balls into the box has been mostly incredible tonight. Very proactive.
Sugita WOTM
She was EVERYWHERE!
Oof.....c'mon RosenFrauen
Okay, that was some tired-ass defense. Let's button things down and close this out...and not have to regret missed chances.
And there’s gonna be some pretty lengthy injury time. Yep. Eight minutes
That's probably fair, given how long Rodman was down. I thought 6-7.
No argument there
Well shit.
Easier said than done, but both Hina and Muller gotta shut off the line there. You know that's where Rodman's going.
Hina was temporarily playing LB until Muller could recover. She's been amazing tonight.
TOO SLOW LIV! DAMN IT!
There's a fine line between calm and lax, and she's been on the lax side far too often this season.
Not sure how that's on Moultrie. Just a great header by Solano. Arguably Obaze got caught ballwatching, but that was just bing-bing from Rodman.
The comment was in reference to her getting picked off in possession a few minutes before the goal. Goal was half on Muller, half on Hina.
Got it.
Hina's endurance is INCREDIBLE. Her and Fleming both ran their socks off but Hina's doing it for 90+ minutes.
I'm not usually "these announcers suck" guy.....but these announcers suck.
Hogan's best match of the season thus far?
Agree, but there were a few times tonight where she should have come off her line to pick up a ball rolling her way. Didn’t cause a problem tonight but could in the future.
I think they spoke to her about stopping balls that were likely going out. She had a couple of disastrous stops that created opportunities for the other team
She’s been solid, and her backline has helped by limiting the looks Washington is getting.
Trinity learned from her dad, Dennis, how to flop and make it look like you've been fouled. Shades of The Worm against The Mailman there!
Shouldn't have been a foul at all (contact was all on Rodman), but nice to see VAR get the outside-the-box call right.
And quickly too
No penal!
Rodman just ran into Muller, that was her intent. I hope VAR sees that.
At least the y recognized it was outside the box, but I don't think that was a foul, it was Rodman looking for the PK.
Yeah she literally tried to go right through her and just ran into her lol (as she did Hogan.)
Yeah, that was Rodman's dad, Dennis, flopping to draw a foul there.
Wormsdöttir
Crap. Offside bummer. And boy did we need it! But even if it didn't count, it helps to alter momentum.
Outside the box, no?
PK? No. Outside 18. Whew…
If they're going to play Liv as an 8, someone's gotta work with her on her defensive shape. She always leaves the split ball open, which is the one pass you can't let through.
We've basiscally abandoned playing a 10. I don't know what to do with that. I don't just mean tonight. I mean this entire season.
While I still maintain our best prospect as a 10 is Hina, she's playing so well as a deep 8 that changing that wouldn't make sense.
She should be able to play the Fleming high-8 position. She's just gotta expand her skillset a little bit. A lot of it is work rate- She just doesn't run as hard and Hina and Fleming do, and is reactive instead of proactive defensively. But you're right: It is a problem for her atm.
(They also haven't played with a true 10 since Norris took over last season, so this isn't really new)
(Will Utah accept Moultrie and give us Ally Sentnor 🫣😬)
Soph is doing it all. She is dropping way back and playing some real defense.
Love Soph's shot. Not because it ever had any chance of going in, but because we have to find a way to change the momentum.
How did Rob Gale come up with such sartorial splendor on such short notice? He's got a different suit every match. Norris, on the other hand, wore the same brown zip-up jumper every frickin match!
Now Hina is playing really high, right behind Moultrie.
Subs were juuuust in time. We were minutes away from a Spirit goal.
Even Muller is out of gas. Rodman just blew by her.
Thank god! Even if they're not blazing fast (I'm looking at you, Moultrie!), it's fresh legs.
Get Sinc off the field, she's leaving the entire Thorns right unmarked. Nearly cost them a goal.
Yeah she def needs to be pulled at half every game that she starts.
Why do we not have any subs??? We're clearly flagging.
Nice Hogan. Very very nice
Nice save by Hogan. Harder than it should have been. She dove on the first one when not needed, but the actual save was sweet. No chance Bixby does that.
You're always gonna dive as a keeper when you see a shot coming like that- You're taught to do so reflexively. Amazing recovery to get back up.
That play looked just like the drill keepers run for dealing with two shots fired in rapid succession and Hogan did it well.
Hell of save Shelbs
Yeah we need subs ASAP. We're out of gas out there. Saw that on the last opportunity. Absolutely no one there in the box.
Time for Linnehan, Sinc's been good but she's letting the Spirit bypass the press.
Was just thinking that. About 5 minutes til some subs. But don't be precious about what time it happens, Draco!
Also, Janine hasn't been great. Wouldn't mind seeing a sub there too. Maybe shift Payne higher and stick Reyna in.
Yes, I said this elsewhere that I'd love to see Payne as a winger sub (esp if Morgan is out.) She's got some defensive skills and she's faster than most. Getting her in behind a tired defense could be fruitful...she had some nice passes into the box when she'd get real high in the preseason game we got to see.
Beckie was pretty bad tonight...so many misplaced passes (which she's generally always pretty poor with) but worse than usual. A liability for our defense....she also didn't produce most going forward. Still think she's best utilized off the bench.
We need some sustained possession...they're getting too much time on the ball in our end.
I don't like the way the Thorns are falling back more in the second half so far.
Yeah, we didn't put the BFC game away either, and we saw how that went. We've been on the back foot for a long time here. I don't want to see this become 2-1.
Jeezus Rodman. There's a reason why they banned spearing in the NFL, and that's WITH helmets!