Match Preview with Theo Lloyd-Hughes | Portland Thorns at Houston Dash
We are beyond honored to be joined by one of my favorite people in soccer, Theo Lloyd-Hughes! Truly one of the best to do it.
We have a special surprise for you all this week!
One of the best absolutely best journalist, reporter, and podcaster is here!
Theo Lloyd-Hughes joins us this week for our match preview of Portland Thorns vs Houston Dash. His work is exemplary and speaks for itself. Be sure to give him a follow if you want the best footy coverage.
We can’t thank him enough for taking time to help us preview this exciting matchup between these two sides.
Five Questions with Theo Lloyd-Hughes
1. What are your thoughts on Fran Alonso so far this season?
TLH: How long do you have? (lol). Look, there's a lot going on above and beneath Alonso in Houston. With the front office, the roster, and the technical staff. The Dash is a club -- once again -- in transition. While it does feel like Alonso has struggled to adapt to the NWSL. I'd also argue that he hasn't been set up for success. It took just four matches for him to abandon his possess deep, pass-out-of-the-back strategy. Houston has struggled to defend, they've been bleeding chances. Partly, this is because they start every phase of the game inside their box. They've found success late in matches when things become more direct and chaotic. How much of this is down to Alonso? It's too early to tell. But embracing the chaos of the NWSL would be his best foot forward rather than trying to preach composure and control, at least, for now. Oh, and Alonso (or his staff) have done well on set pieces.
2. How are the players handling the consistent turnover at the club?
TLH: As best they can. You can look at someone like goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who has been at the club since 2017, and worked under six head coaches in that time, and she is playing the best soccer of her career. The younger players and international signings have struggled to get integrated amongst the chaos of Houston over the years. But remarkably, this season, rookies Amanda West and Avery Patterson have been two of the best performers. Then you add tried and trusted NWSL centreback Paige Nielsen to the mix, and suddenly it feels like this group has a lot of fight in them. All that being said, I don't think the constant change, in the staff and in the roster, is good for the players. They're doing their best. But it's been hard on them.
3. Houston is coming off a stretch of only allowing 2 goals in the past four, they've also have five points from those games. Do you think they've turned a corner?
TLH: Too early to tell, I reckon. Nielsen has been a huge part of that. As has the return of Natalie Jacobs from injury. Not only have Houston adjusted their style, to be more direct with the ball, they have also started playing natural defenders in the backline. It turns out, that is a good idea! I think Kansas City and Gotham, who both only scored one on the Dash, were much the better teams in those games. Between Campbell being exceptional and those clubs being unable to finish, I think there's an argument Houston has improved but got slightly lucky to average 0.5 goals conceded per game over the past four.
4. Players to watch from Houston on Friday? Matchup you're most excited to see?
TLH: Campbell and Nielsen will get a lot of love for their heroics so far for Houston, but another defensive piece to watch is Avery Patterson. The former UNC Tar Heel has been playing as a right wing-back for the Dash and, last Sunday, she did a marvelous job keeping Alyssa Thompson quiet in Los Angeles. She did not start the last time Houston faced Portland, just one month ago, but will likely get the nod on Friday night. Can she stop Sophia Smith? Can anyone stop Sophia Smith? Probably not. But it will be fascinating to see how she matches up with one of the NWSL's best.
5. Prediction and Why?
TLH: With the form they're in, it's very hard to not imagine a multi-goal win here for the Thorns. Although the Dash's defense has been better, there isn't an ideal player to pinch in on Smith, let alone cover Sugita and Moultrie when they break forward. I think Houston has to survive the first 20 mins and not dig a hole they can't get out of, and then they have to stay focused not to fall apart late (like Seattle did). Thorns will find a way to break 'em. The margins are slim. But with the Thorns having to travel the distance on this one, I'm going to predict a close-ish Houston 1-2 Portland. Smith, Sugita, and Andressa with their respective team goals.
First off, thank you Theo! We are excited to bring him on our podcast later this season as well. Like we’ve stated before, there’s no one better right now than TLH.
Stumptown Footy Corner
The Kenergy is at uncharted highs right now. The players are once again finding joy & fun in football. It’s a dangerous time for anyone to be playing right now and unfortunately for Houston, it’s their turn.
Rob Gale hasn’t made major changes to the structure or formation. Him and the staff have allowed the players to do what they do best and shine. The players have been allowed to find the game more and play way more like themselves. The free-flowing play style and philosophical change has meant so much to the Portland Thorns. However, they have inserted Hina Sugita in as a focal point of their attack — you could make the argument that she’s the second most important player for this team. Nicole Payne has shined in her last two starts, and credit to Mike Smith and Karina LeBlanc, but Marie Lena Müller (middle name included because she’s been one of the best NWSL defenders this year) has been superb. Did we forget to mention Reyna Reyes? She is a great combination between the two with her dribbling, passing, and physical defending. Meghan Klingenberg has been very sharp in her limited minutes this year as well.
Soph Smith has continued to make history this season. She was the first to 40 goals, 50 goal contributions, and has the most ever in a five game span. Is there anyone who can actually stop her? She has eight goals and six assists, and counting… Her ceiling is downright scary because now she’s passing at a high level now too. Where she has shined even more is her leadership. Many of her teammates have spoken up about her vocalness on the pitch and in the locker room. Soph has already grown as a player and now as a leader.
One concern is playing both Christine Sinclair and Olivia Moultrie at the same time. They aren’t able to press to the maximum extent with them on at the same time. Outside of Soph, the frontline is not fast enough. Janine Beckie or Payton Linnehan need to start in the other winger spot. If they want to go to four in the midfield to include, Moultrie, then do that, but don’t make her play out of position.
Houston has found a little something defensively over the past four games and Jane Campbell might be the best NWSL goalkeeper outside of Kailen Sheridan. They are going to make the Portland Thorns work for their opportunities. However, can they really fend off wave after wave? I don’t think so. They’ve sat back a ton and have really struggled to put the ball in the back of the net.
Prediction: Portland 2-0
Projected Starting XI
Hogan
Marie Müller - Kelli Hubly - Becky Sauerbrunn - Reyna Reyes
Jessie Fleming/Olivia Moultrie - Sam Coffey - Hina Sugita
Janine Beckie - Christine Sinclair - Soph Smith
