Thorns are only on a two-game away trip this time…to NC and then straight to HOU. The CHI game after those two is at home on the 21st. Would love a full 6 points but I think those two games will be tougher than they may seem on paper. Norris has got to do something differently with all 3 lines, imo, they are all having problems. That first L is looming if nothing changes…
Ah you’re right- Chicago is at home. I definitely want 7 out of those three games then!
Agreed that these games won’t be as easy as they look on paper....though again, the Thorns really have to be getting close to max points against mediocre teams without a real home field advantage.
I only knew that one specifically because it’s my dad’s bday, and he’s from Chicago so he’s been reminding me about it weekly lol.
Yes, they should! But I think NC is more dangerous than their record suggests, and our record there has been pretty dismal. And the HOU frontline has the potential to be really dangerous. Our backline has really not been inspiring as of late, and having Becky out doesn’t help. Having Sinc and Dunn essentially playing more as two 10s (whether it’s meant to be that way or not), and, who’ve been sloppy as hell also ain’t helping us at all. Add in a kinda useless Hina on the RW, and it all feels a little off.
Watching this 442 diamond makes me wanna at least try it. It’s better defensively and Hina drops into midfield now anyways. Why not just keep her there where she’s more effective? Make Rocky and Dunn the 8’s and Hina the 10. Or swap Dunn and Hina. Weaver and Smith make fine dual F’s. They both float up front anyways. Put Sinc at the 10 if you have to.
4-3-3 vs. the 4-1-2-1-2 diamond is an interesting debate from a "what style of soccer do you enjoy" perspective. Philosophically, I really have never liked a diamond midfield (even before we saw it in Portland) because it naturally narrows the field and puts a ton of creative pressure on the 10, and defensive pressure on two 8s to shuttle up and down the wings. Parsons tried to find that true 10 here and really never did, but Sanchez is the exact archetype for what you want in that role. Sinc is who would get that spot, and she’s not a creator.
I really like the 4-3-3 for the Thorns for a few reasons:
1. It lets Soph play up top and roam, rather than being crowded by a second striker and a 10. I don’t want Weaver and Soph getting jn each other’s way because their strengths are in space. Norris played a diamond in the second half of the ACFC game and Soph had no space and was totally confined to the right side of the field.
2. It gives the team real width instead of compacting the entire attacking 6 (something we *always* bitched about on this board when Parsons played the diamond)
3. Rocky and Hina are both too slow to play the shuttler 8s- Same issue we had with Horan and Rocky the last Parsons season.
I’ve been a broken record on this, but the problem with the 4-3-3 this year isn’t the style, but the personnel. Take either Sinc or Dunn out and play a more traditional 8 and I think some of the midfield stability comes back. It’s not like the opposition xG is high anyways (though it might be when we play the Reign or Spirit), so I really think it’s more of a tweak than a formation change that’s needed.
I’d agree if they were going to Seattle and SD, but NCC and Chicago are just...not very good. A team with shield winning aspirations should beat both.
If they get 5 and are still undefeated in three weeks I’ll take it, but I’ll be mildly disappointed.
Thorns are only on a two-game away trip this time…to NC and then straight to HOU. The CHI game after those two is at home on the 21st. Would love a full 6 points but I think those two games will be tougher than they may seem on paper. Norris has got to do something differently with all 3 lines, imo, they are all having problems. That first L is looming if nothing changes…
Ah you’re right- Chicago is at home. I definitely want 7 out of those three games then!
Agreed that these games won’t be as easy as they look on paper....though again, the Thorns really have to be getting close to max points against mediocre teams without a real home field advantage.
I only knew that one specifically because it’s my dad’s bday, and he’s from Chicago so he’s been reminding me about it weekly lol.
Yes, they should! But I think NC is more dangerous than their record suggests, and our record there has been pretty dismal. And the HOU frontline has the potential to be really dangerous. Our backline has really not been inspiring as of late, and having Becky out doesn’t help. Having Sinc and Dunn essentially playing more as two 10s (whether it’s meant to be that way or not), and, who’ve been sloppy as hell also ain’t helping us at all. Add in a kinda useless Hina on the RW, and it all feels a little off.
Watching this 442 diamond makes me wanna at least try it. It’s better defensively and Hina drops into midfield now anyways. Why not just keep her there where she’s more effective? Make Rocky and Dunn the 8’s and Hina the 10. Or swap Dunn and Hina. Weaver and Smith make fine dual F’s. They both float up front anyways. Put Sinc at the 10 if you have to.
4-3-3 vs. the 4-1-2-1-2 diamond is an interesting debate from a "what style of soccer do you enjoy" perspective. Philosophically, I really have never liked a diamond midfield (even before we saw it in Portland) because it naturally narrows the field and puts a ton of creative pressure on the 10, and defensive pressure on two 8s to shuttle up and down the wings. Parsons tried to find that true 10 here and really never did, but Sanchez is the exact archetype for what you want in that role. Sinc is who would get that spot, and she’s not a creator.
I really like the 4-3-3 for the Thorns for a few reasons:
1. It lets Soph play up top and roam, rather than being crowded by a second striker and a 10. I don’t want Weaver and Soph getting jn each other’s way because their strengths are in space. Norris played a diamond in the second half of the ACFC game and Soph had no space and was totally confined to the right side of the field.
2. It gives the team real width instead of compacting the entire attacking 6 (something we *always* bitched about on this board when Parsons played the diamond)
3. Rocky and Hina are both too slow to play the shuttler 8s- Same issue we had with Horan and Rocky the last Parsons season.
I’ve been a broken record on this, but the problem with the 4-3-3 this year isn’t the style, but the personnel. Take either Sinc or Dunn out and play a more traditional 8 and I think some of the midfield stability comes back. It’s not like the opposition xG is high anyways (though it might be when we play the Reign or Spirit), so I really think it’s more of a tweak than a formation change that’s needed.