Or backline. Haracic was head-and-shoulders better - like 11 fewer goals the her club’s xGa predicted better! - than any keeper in the league last season. Her defense, otoh, gave up more good looks than anyone else. I don’t blame her for frustration.
Wow yeah that really autocorrected to midfield haha! I definitely meant her backline. She kept her team in way more games than they deserved, for sure.
The LA midfield is no prize, either. We should be able to control the tempo of this one. I just worry that the weird disconnect pushing the ball to the forwards will continue.
She's been playing some good football, however that team needs another jolt at midfield. Always thought Jun Endo could play there and being paired with Ertz and McKaskill would do ACFC wonders.
At this point, McCaskill is a veteran jack (jill?)-of-all-trades, though only 26 years old. She does a lot of things well and works really hard, and I wouldn't mind having her within a strong XI, but she can't be the strength of your XI. I am glad for her that she seems to have found a home at ACFC. Going from Bad Gotham to Chicago with Rory to expansion Louisville with Holly to expansion ACFC is a rough way to start a career.
Not particularly knocking McKaskill -- she has looked good this season -- but she’s really never been more than hard working and occasionally impactful at any of her previous stops.
She’s a perfectly competent complementary player (tho I do think she tries to do too much too frequently), but you’re right: She can’t be your number 1 make-something-happen player, especially for a club like ACFC.
Yeah, I was thinking it’s a good off-season spot for Soph to get some sun to balance out the PNW winters. More than a couple weeks in Phoenix and you’re begging for Portland weather again lol…
McKaskill is a real oddity. Works hard, not a bad player overall, but hideously inefficient. Sucks up tons of chances for very little production. (Weird stat; missed something like 3 of the 5 penalties she took last season)
I don’t hate on her. But I agree; she’s not a tentpole for a roster. Fine as support. But that’s not what she’s been used as, and her clubs have paid for that.
Yesterday NC acquired Victoria Pickett from Gotham for $200K in allocation money.
Back in August, Gotham acquired Victoria Pickett from KC for -- wait for it -- $200K in allocation money and a 2023 1st round pick (either Puget Sound WoSo Team's natural 1st rounder or the 2nd highest of Gotham's 1st rounders)
So, to recap: Pickett went to NC for $200K, KC wound up with Alexa Spaanstra and $200K for Pickett, and Gotham lost a pick but got their money back.
The kid is in Philly for the Penn Relays and she's basically going to bed California time and getting up Pennsylvania time. Somehow races, in between. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tonight's match will also feature a celebration for the upcoming premiere of the new Netflix series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
Pregame outside Gate D, fans are invited to see a one-of-a-kind event at Providence Park: From 6-7pm PT, an orchestra will be performing alongside an 18-foot crown. The orchestra will also be performing the national anthem before the match.
Additionally, fans will receive a limited-edition rally towel for the game.
Different is right! I suppose they are used to this sort of thing in LA, where the club hires a Noh troupe to act out a blockchain explainer in the parking lot.
During last night's infinite rain delay, managed to watch a chunk of the PTFC-RLFC replay and was impressed at how effective DeMelo was in terrorizing Portland on that offensive left flank. Clearly an important future piece for them.
Yes she was a force out there and I am sure Vlatco noticed. Not the mid we wanted him to notice but she is for real. Davis was scary too but Hubs kept her from being dangerous. They are definitely left sided.
Not sure if “terrorizing” really describes anything Racing did. “Was irritating to some defenders some of the time” seems more applicable. But, yes, she was kind of all Racing had…
Btw…I’ve just seen that SS9 has been spotted at PDX today…presumably headed to KC to watch her partner get drafted. Hoping that happens today and she’s on a quick flight back before tomorrow!! Guess we’ll see when the availability report is out today…but really hope she’s not out for tomorrow!
I would be surprised (but not shocked) if he gets picked today. Every projection I've seen on him says he's a day three pick because of injury concerns.
Also, I doubt he's even in KC- It's usually only the first/second rounders that fly out.
You’d definitely know better than I would, I know literally nothing about the nfl, except the draft is happening! He’s from LA area so I wonder if she’s flying down there to hang with him and his fam….it’s weird bc she was in LA at the beginning of this week as well…she was posting pics from what looked like a fancy hotel view in LA the day after the LOU game. Still, really hope she’s around for tomorrow night (and not exhausted!)
Phuocerman, can you confirm Soph will be back for the game?
Wouldn't be surprised if she was flying down to LA to watch with his fam- Draft ends early Saturday afternoon, so she could *technically* leave as soon as he gets picked. Maybe she can take the ACFC bus back to Portland after the draft ;)
Seattle picked a WR 20 overall, but that doesn't necessarily mean they wouldn't take another. SF is certainly an option. Other than that hoping it's one of the LA teams. He'd still have to make a roster, too.
I hesitate to wanna see him go anywhere in CA honestly…esp bc Soph went to Stanford, and the Bay Area has huge money coming in with their expansion team next season. Any big money team in CA would def try to poach her, and I’m not 100% sure they couldn’t be successful if her partner lived and played there also. No thank you, if not Seattle send him to Detroit or something plz! Lol
Who is the screamy shouty lady named Saskia on the Racing/Puget Sound WoSo stream? Saskia Webber, the ACFCNFT investor and NWSL broadcaster? She's pretty funny and I like her energy, but there are moments when she inspires Chris Farley flashbacks.
Berman just inadvertently threw Louisville City FC, the Louisville Bats, and some others under ACFCNFT's bus. She said Racing is the only professional team in Kentucky. Whooops!
PRO YouTube channel put up their analysis of the week 4 VAR overturned calls.
Weaver 2nd goal goes from. 4:22 to the end. Takes you through the whole process in the booth with a guy to summarize at the end.
You can hear the CR saying if there was contact it looked in a natural position talking to the players while the booth is reviewing things. Booth thinks arm is stretched out to far and the touch helped control the ball that lead to a goal so the goal was overturned.
Artist's rendering of what happens every time DiDi Haracic concedes and/or disagrees with the referee:
https://youtu.be/7ushQ_mMSqw?t=18 (best enjoyed with sound off... just like Haracic's play)
Lol she really is always yellin’ at somebody afterwards…don’t blame her though, most of the time it’s her midfield that implodes on her lol.
I think I've actually heard her yell "You owe me restitution!"
(Sorry, Sally Brown said that. I get them confused.)
Or backline. Haracic was head-and-shoulders better - like 11 fewer goals the her club’s xGa predicted better! - than any keeper in the league last season. Her defense, otoh, gave up more good looks than anyone else. I don’t blame her for frustration.
Wow yeah that really autocorrected to midfield haha! I definitely meant her backline. She kept her team in way more games than they deserved, for sure.
The LA midfield is no prize, either. We should be able to control the tempo of this one. I just worry that the weird disconnect pushing the ball to the forwards will continue.
My #1 rule of the last 5 years of NWSL: If Savannah McKaskill is your best playmaker, you’ve had a few roster building missteps along the way
She's been playing some good football, however that team needs another jolt at midfield. Always thought Jun Endo could play there and being paired with Ertz and McKaskill would do ACFC wonders.
At this point, McCaskill is a veteran jack (jill?)-of-all-trades, though only 26 years old. She does a lot of things well and works really hard, and I wouldn't mind having her within a strong XI, but she can't be the strength of your XI. I am glad for her that she seems to have found a home at ACFC. Going from Bad Gotham to Chicago with Rory to expansion Louisville with Holly to expansion ACFC is a rough way to start a career.
Not particularly knocking McKaskill -- she has looked good this season -- but she’s really never been more than hard working and occasionally impactful at any of her previous stops.
She’s a perfectly competent complementary player (tho I do think she tries to do too much too frequently), but you’re right: She can’t be your number 1 make-something-happen player, especially for a club like ACFC.
I know this is off topic, but Sophia’s boyfriend was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals today. Seems like a smart, polished young man
https://stanford.rivals.com/news/michael-wilson-goes-to-arizona-cardinals-in-3rd-round-of-2023-nfl-draft
Let's hope he lands there. Phoenix and Portland are easy flying distance. Phoenix is a nice spot for off-season conditioning for NWSLers.
Yeah, I was thinking it’s a good off-season spot for Soph to get some sun to balance out the PNW winters. More than a couple weeks in Phoenix and you’re begging for Portland weather again lol…
FC Tucson Toast seem like an unlikely expansion club for NWSL.
McKaskill is a real oddity. Works hard, not a bad player overall, but hideously inefficient. Sucks up tons of chances for very little production. (Weird stat; missed something like 3 of the 5 penalties she took last season)
I don’t hate on her. But I agree; she’s not a tentpole for a roster. Fine as support. But that’s not what she’s been used as, and her clubs have paid for that.
I suspect we've found our NWSLNFT...
Yesterday NC acquired Victoria Pickett from Gotham for $200K in allocation money.
Back in August, Gotham acquired Victoria Pickett from KC for -- wait for it -- $200K in allocation money and a 2023 1st round pick (either Puget Sound WoSo Team's natural 1st rounder or the 2nd highest of Gotham's 1st rounders)
So, to recap: Pickett went to NC for $200K, KC wound up with Alexa Spaanstra and $200K for Pickett, and Gotham lost a pick but got their money back.
I will get my Leon v. McKaskill faceoff. it is preordained, it will happen.
Louisville up 1-0 in 7th minute. Go Big Perp! (um, Big Purp).
2-0 going into halftime. Thank you, Grimace!
And if anyone was wondering, Soph appears to be back in PDX already…ahhh the life of young pros…
"Sleep? Overrated."
The kid is in Philly for the Penn Relays and she's basically going to bed California time and getting up Pennsylvania time. Somehow races, in between. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tonight's match will also feature a celebration for the upcoming premiere of the new Netflix series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
Pregame outside Gate D, fans are invited to see a one-of-a-kind event at Providence Park: From 6-7pm PT, an orchestra will be performing alongside an 18-foot crown. The orchestra will also be performing the national anthem before the match.
Additionally, fans will receive a limited-edition rally towel for the game.
This will be something different.
Different is right! I suppose they are used to this sort of thing in LA, where the club hires a Noh troupe to act out a blockchain explainer in the parking lot.
Any blockchain explainer should be done in Latin, to make it more understandable.
https://twitter.com/weareangelcity/status/1652010156979306497?s=20
Wait wait wait....ACFC is *taking the BUS* from LA to Portland??? The fuck?
Well, at least we know ACFC's plan for Saturday.
They mean to come here and park the bus!
Budget, uh, problems? Feck if I wanna team-bond stuck in Friday p.m. traffic on I-5 over the Grapevine. "Only five hours to Bakersfield, gals!"
Probs spent their travel budget on NFTs of Jennifer Garner
Lol I’ve been stuck in traffic on the grapevine coming home from road trips more times than I can count! (I’m from the Antelope Valley)
Lol, and also, lmao. Exactly the sort of thing I want to hear as a Thorns fan
Nooo they just take a swanky bus to the airport lolol. Could you imagine playing a game after a 14 hr bus ride?!
Shh I wanted more ammo to yell at ACFC about
Oh, but you have plenty lololol. Would love to see an NFTFC sign in the crowd tomorrow night! :D
Maybe I'll make one and hang it off the East Terrace
If Ertz retires after the WWC is over, then clearly she was the ACFCNFT.
I just plan to shout "You're Not Good! You're Not Good!"
When I heckle, I like to focus on the simple and self-evident.
I have compiled a list of simple, self-evident ACFC heckles.
Feel free to use any or all of these tomorrow night, with or without attribution:
"Your roster construction is poor!"
"Your lines don't connect well!"
"Your backline is soft!"
"You have difficulty scoring!"
"You have a losing record.... again!"
"You have 11 staff members, and at least as many owners, for every win you've ever had!"
"You keep finding new ways to lose!"
"Your team bus is more expensive than your payroll!" (actually true for entire league -- gotta fix that)
"Your fans think 'Freya Coobme' is a beauty product for frizzy hair!"
"Your NFTs would be more valuable if they were fungible. Also, what the hell is an NFT?"
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe!" (That one's targeted at ACFC fans; also "Blade Runner" is the best thing LA has given the world)
"Your best player is only interested in you so she can play in the World Cup!"
"Your President/GM thinks 'smiling' is when you stare straight ahead for three seconds, then bare your teeth!"
You're welcome, Thorns fans!
Do the Thorns (and Timbers) meet up somewhere and take a bus to the airport together? Or do they all just get to PDX on their own?
I’m sure they all meet at PP and bus it to the airport together, but I have no idea really.
During last night's infinite rain delay, managed to watch a chunk of the PTFC-RLFC replay and was impressed at how effective DeMelo was in terrorizing Portland on that offensive left flank. Clearly an important future piece for them.
Yes she was a force out there and I am sure Vlatco noticed. Not the mid we wanted him to notice but she is for real. Davis was scary too but Hubs kept her from being dangerous. They are definitely left sided.
Not sure if “terrorizing” really describes anything Racing did. “Was irritating to some defenders some of the time” seems more applicable. But, yes, she was kind of all Racing had…
ACFC availability report looking like a trauma center triage list.
https://twitter.com/weareangelcity/status/1652356081723797504?cxt=HHwWgMDT2cHGrO4tAAAA
I do love they have a player named Pluck.
If the NWSL had poetry in its soul, Pluck would play for the Courage, Spirit, or Pride.
Any truth she's related to Gritty?
Btw…I’ve just seen that SS9 has been spotted at PDX today…presumably headed to KC to watch her partner get drafted. Hoping that happens today and she’s on a quick flight back before tomorrow!! Guess we’ll see when the availability report is out today…but really hope she’s not out for tomorrow!
Day 3 of the draft starts really early and finishes early afternoon tomorrow.
He’s projected day 3 but this draft has been super weird so could be earlier.
I would be surprised (but not shocked) if he gets picked today. Every projection I've seen on him says he's a day three pick because of injury concerns.
Also, I doubt he's even in KC- It's usually only the first/second rounders that fly out.
Cardinals got Mike.
So happy for him, he had an amazing senior bowl and it paid off. Probably had a guarantee to get picked so that’s awesome.
You’d definitely know better than I would, I know literally nothing about the nfl, except the draft is happening! He’s from LA area so I wonder if she’s flying down there to hang with him and his fam….it’s weird bc she was in LA at the beginning of this week as well…she was posting pics from what looked like a fancy hotel view in LA the day after the LOU game. Still, really hope she’s around for tomorrow night (and not exhausted!)
Phuocerman, can you confirm Soph will be back for the game?
Wouldn't be surprised if she was flying down to LA to watch with his fam- Draft ends early Saturday afternoon, so she could *technically* leave as soon as he gets picked. Maybe she can take the ACFC bus back to Portland after the draft ;)
Seattle picked a WR 20 overall, but that doesn't necessarily mean they wouldn't take another. SF is certainly an option. Other than that hoping it's one of the LA teams. He'd still have to make a roster, too.
I hesitate to wanna see him go anywhere in CA honestly…esp bc Soph went to Stanford, and the Bay Area has huge money coming in with their expansion team next season. Any big money team in CA would def try to poach her, and I’m not 100% sure they couldn’t be successful if her partner lived and played there also. No thank you, if not Seattle send him to Detroit or something plz! Lol
This is very true- I'm not sure if she'd go to LA/SD (yikes that would suck) but the Bay would certainly be a possibility.
I usually tune out days 2-3 of the draft, but I'll be much more attentive this year lol
Arizona it is for Wilson! They’re stockpiling NWSL-adjacent players lol. Still side-eyeing ACFC and SDW…don’t even try it.
JFCRLFCWTAFRUKM?
Welp, snatching draw from the hands of victory is a special kind of incompetence.
Portland and Louisville have it mastered.
Who is the screamy shouty lady named Saskia on the Racing/Puget Sound WoSo stream? Saskia Webber, the ACFCNFT investor and NWSL broadcaster? She's pretty funny and I like her energy, but there are moments when she inspires Chris Farley flashbacks.
Berman just inadvertently threw Louisville City FC, the Louisville Bats, and some others under ACFCNFT's bus. She said Racing is the only professional team in Kentucky. Whooops!
Demelo with a goal at the end of the first half. 2-0 Racing.
https://youtu.be/yvt5TMyG3j4
PRO YouTube channel put up their analysis of the week 4 VAR overturned calls.
Weaver 2nd goal goes from. 4:22 to the end. Takes you through the whole process in the booth with a guy to summarize at the end.
You can hear the CR saying if there was contact it looked in a natural position talking to the players while the booth is reviewing things. Booth thinks arm is stretched out to far and the touch helped control the ball that lead to a goal so the goal was overturned.