The key here will be sitting Sam Coffey at the #6 and playing thru the middle. Keep the FBs home, use Weaver and Moultrie and Dehakiz to serve D’Aquila.
If that works and we nick an early goal? Great! If not, we’re not exposed in transition and worst case we get a scoreless draw road point.
Norris just needs to remember this isn’t his Brazil. We’re gonna be lucky to score at all, much less three or four. Keep Purce covered like a blanket, and possess, dammit. For dog’s sake, stop passing to the different colored shirts!
Looks like we're gonna see exactly what I was hoping for with the starting XI.
Coffey looks to be back at the 6. Reyes (I think) at LB, and Kling in the midfield. All others as expected. Personally think this is the best we can do with who we have, so, LFG!
I wouldn't be surprised to see Midge Purce score, maybe more than once; if she hadn't been out injured for so long she might well be off to the WC. And Mana Shim may feel that a goal contribution against Portland would be good for her mental health. The Thorns are going to have to up their game big time on both sides of the ball to have a hope of winning.
Shim was rubbish in 2016, so awful that Parsons cut her in midseason. Given her 2015 I’m not shocked. But I’m not sure that the years have been kind to her either. Sad, because I loved her, both as player and for her story.
First half hour of the Nats has been a yawn unless your go-to soccer experience is “breaking down a bunker by pounding on the brick wall with your forehead” kind of thing.
Have we required a single real save from Olivia Clark, though? The offense doesn't look terrible, exactly...just nothing dangerous in terms of finishing.
I’d call it pretty lame. No passing or moving to space. All brutally direct, and the finishing has been crap. Repeated misses both from close range and distance.
Any idea what the MF NTRP Dehakiz is like? Seems like she might be worth trying if she can play a lick. I ❤️ Kling but you can time her with a sundial…
Dehakiz's stats through college are pretty drab. She played her 5th year (I think?) at Santa Clara, but wasn't a starter. Chris Henderson has very low ratings for her for that year. Then a year in the Columbian league, and she got here like a week ago? I dunno if we can expect her to be much better than Porter honestly, but, sure, bring her in as a sub. Kling played midfield in college, so it's not an unfamiliar position...but I agree, I think she won't make it past 60'.
We might get "lucky" with the Thorns having a weather delay lol....check out that incoming thunderstorm on the weather channel. Woof.
They'll need to come out very early and try to knick a goal. There's a very high likelihood the game is stopped at some point, and it'd be an advantage to go into that a goal up. They'll be racing the clock, though. They really should've started the game earlier...with kickoff at 5:30 ET, the storm will be closing in and just getting worse from there throughout the evening. Could be that they play 45'+ and then call the game, like they did in NC earlier in the season.
Yeah, the most realistic thing I think we can hope for is that they don't concede and it's a 0-0 draw. But, Sam needs to be moved back to the 6. Porter just can't be on the field honestly.
OT: USWNT send off friendly v Wales...the person singing Star Spangled Banner basically relegated the actual melody to the status of someone appearing on a missing persons flyer. A talented enough singer (in a "Gresham's Got Talent" sort of way), but lordy, that was awful.
We've been on a roll lately at Thorns home matches, with some fantastic performances...so I'm extra-critical (even for a smug-assed working musician!).
It’s a pretty awful song, FWIW. I think the original .(“To Anacreon in Heaven”) was an 18th Century “drunk and singing karaoke in the taproom” kind of thing.
Bix/Hogan (I'm really not sold on either honestly)
Kuikka Hubly Menges Reyes
Coffey(6) Kling (8) Moultrie (10)
Vasconcelos D'Aquila Weaver
Reyes, if Norris will allow her to STAY BACK, might be more defensive muscle that we need. Midge will prob be on that side, and I do not want Kling in charge of her lol. If Norris has been paying attention over the last, oh, 2 seasons, this should be an easy switch. Coffey, we need her back in the 6. She's just simply needed there. Porter there just opens a gaping hole that better players will just eat up (ie...Purce, Yaz, Long, ect...) She shouldn't be starting. Norris- put your best players on the field. Move Kling to the 8- she's played in the midfield in past int'l windows and she played there in college. She can't be any worse than having Porter in the midfield. We are so light in the midfield/attack lol, I still can't believe they didn't get any forwards or attacking mids for this window.
I really hope we can win this game, but to do that it needs to be a different team than the one that's shown up the last two games. C'mon Thorns, bring it!
This year's race is the tightest I can remember, with two points still separating the top four teams. And how many different teams have led at one time or another? Have the top six (NC, Portland, Seattle, DC, NJY, SD) each had a turn at the top?
The key here will be sitting Sam Coffey at the #6 and playing thru the middle. Keep the FBs home, use Weaver and Moultrie and Dehakiz to serve D’Aquila.
If that works and we nick an early goal? Great! If not, we’re not exposed in transition and worst case we get a scoreless draw road point.
Norris just needs to remember this isn’t his Brazil. We’re gonna be lucky to score at all, much less three or four. Keep Purce covered like a blanket, and possess, dammit. For dog’s sake, stop passing to the different colored shirts!
Looks like we're gonna see exactly what I was hoping for with the starting XI.
Coffey looks to be back at the 6. Reyes (I think) at LB, and Kling in the midfield. All others as expected. Personally think this is the best we can do with who we have, so, LFG!
I wouldn't be surprised to see Midge Purce score, maybe more than once; if she hadn't been out injured for so long she might well be off to the WC. And Mana Shim may feel that a goal contribution against Portland would be good for her mental health. The Thorns are going to have to up their game big time on both sides of the ball to have a hope of winning.
Shim was rubbish in 2016, so awful that Parsons cut her in midseason. Given her 2015 I’m not shocked. But I’m not sure that the years have been kind to her either. Sad, because I loved her, both as player and for her story.
... and a child shall lead them
Speaking of which, Barcenas looked really good for the Champipple. Shaw good too, but Barcenas... wow!
First half hour of the Nats has been a yawn unless your go-to soccer experience is “breaking down a bunker by pounding on the brick wall with your forehead” kind of thing.
Wales without Fishlock is dire.
Have we required a single real save from Olivia Clark, though? The offense doesn't look terrible, exactly...just nothing dangerous in terms of finishing.
I’d call it pretty lame. No passing or moving to space. All brutally direct, and the finishing has been crap. Repeated misses both from close range and distance.
We won't scare many teams with this lineup.
https://twitter.com/ThornsFC/status/1678139092557520897
I actually like the lineup but it sure is an indictment of squad planning that "Meghan Klingenberg as an 8 is our best option" is actually true
Any idea what the MF NTRP Dehakiz is like? Seems like she might be worth trying if she can play a lick. I ❤️ Kling but you can time her with a sundial…
Dehakiz's stats through college are pretty drab. She played her 5th year (I think?) at Santa Clara, but wasn't a starter. Chris Henderson has very low ratings for her for that year. Then a year in the Columbian league, and she got here like a week ago? I dunno if we can expect her to be much better than Porter honestly, but, sure, bring her in as a sub. Kling played midfield in college, so it's not an unfamiliar position...but I agree, I think she won't make it past 60'.
Too much soccer today. USWNT, Thorns, USMNT.... Wish it were spread out.
We might get "lucky" with the Thorns having a weather delay lol....check out that incoming thunderstorm on the weather channel. Woof.
They'll need to come out very early and try to knick a goal. There's a very high likelihood the game is stopped at some point, and it'd be an advantage to go into that a goal up. They'll be racing the clock, though. They really should've started the game earlier...with kickoff at 5:30 ET, the storm will be closing in and just getting worse from there throughout the evening. Could be that they play 45'+ and then call the game, like they did in NC earlier in the season.
Welp, kickoff now 15 minutes earlier lol. 2:15!
Buuttttt..........*has* this team proven they can score goals?
(No)
Yeah, the most realistic thing I think we can hope for is that they don't concede and it's a 0-0 draw. But, Sam needs to be moved back to the 6. Porter just can't be on the field honestly.
OT: USWNT send off friendly v Wales...the person singing Star Spangled Banner basically relegated the actual melody to the status of someone appearing on a missing persons flyer. A talented enough singer (in a "Gresham's Got Talent" sort of way), but lordy, that was awful.
Ouch. I’m at The Sports Bra and the joint is so loud I can’t even hear myself, so I missed that treat.
We've been on a roll lately at Thorns home matches, with some fantastic performances...so I'm extra-critical (even for a smug-assed working musician!).
It’s a pretty awful song, FWIW. I think the original .(“To Anacreon in Heaven”) was an 18th Century “drunk and singing karaoke in the taproom” kind of thing.
Should have replaced it long ago, imo. With something a regular person has at least some chance of not butchering...
We should steal Canada’s. Or France’s. Both made of awesome.
The Italian anthem is always my favorite to watch players sing!
The XI I'd like to see:
Bix/Hogan (I'm really not sold on either honestly)
Kuikka Hubly Menges Reyes
Coffey(6) Kling (8) Moultrie (10)
Vasconcelos D'Aquila Weaver
Reyes, if Norris will allow her to STAY BACK, might be more defensive muscle that we need. Midge will prob be on that side, and I do not want Kling in charge of her lol. If Norris has been paying attention over the last, oh, 2 seasons, this should be an easy switch. Coffey, we need her back in the 6. She's just simply needed there. Porter there just opens a gaping hole that better players will just eat up (ie...Purce, Yaz, Long, ect...) She shouldn't be starting. Norris- put your best players on the field. Move Kling to the 8- she's played in the midfield in past int'l windows and she played there in college. She can't be any worse than having Porter in the midfield. We are so light in the midfield/attack lol, I still can't believe they didn't get any forwards or attacking mids for this window.
I really hope we can win this game, but to do that it needs to be a different team than the one that's shown up the last two games. C'mon Thorns, bring it!
My genius suggestion versus last week:
Instead of shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, time.
Try shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, SCORE!, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, SCORE!, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, SCORE! shoot, shoot, time.
This year's race is the tightest I can remember, with two points still separating the top four teams. And how many different teams have led at one time or another? Have the top six (NC, Portland, Seattle, DC, NJY, SD) each had a turn at the top?
Go Thorns!