That's so great. Am sure I mentioned at some point we were in Portland for a thing and I thought it would be great to take Soccer Girl and Soccer Mommy to a Timbers match. But they weren't in town and some team named the Thorns were and I got us GA tix for the north end.
Nothing prepared us for the Providence spectacle, nor to be watching a World Cup highlights match that featured goals from Nadia (assist, Mandy) and local hero, Sinc, leading to a shutout of Chicago. You just don't get that with USL, and we've been returning ever since. Two losses in that time, so semi-lucky charms.
This was before expansion and the place was stuffed: 16,931.
One of the most incredible moments I've experienced! And loud it was- my partner checked the dB level and it was in the 130s! (which is actually dangerous) As someone with tinnitus, he was very happy to have earplugs in lol.
Had a guy with his boys (and their friends) behind me who was at his first Thorns FC match. Knowledgeable about footy in general, but new to WoSo. He was definitely VERY impressed.
That said, I rewatched the whole sequence of Washington's first goal, and Dorian Bailey was terrific, starting with her getting control of the ball in the center of the field before swinging out wide and running forward to receive the ball again and send in that nifty cross.
Interesting. I didn't check the box score after the Chicago match for the attendance. Last night passed the eye test for the largest crowd I've seen there since 2019, moreso than Chicago. Maybe I was looking for it?
Agree about the eye test. I was surprised to read the the attendance was higher for the Chicago game. In any case, this was an exciting game to watch, and the crowd was really into it.
I think maybe there was some bewilderment in the crowd at the Thorns struggling with Chicago. It put me off balance for sure.
EDIT: Not Chicago, of course, that was an away game; Angel City. Duh!
Gonna put soph to one side because...holy shit. holy fucking shit.
- once we accepted this was a transition game we were much better. second half was a lot more control than the first, even if Washington had moments. also putting Moultrie on added legs
- man, Kuikka is in a funk. Sitting Kling was the coach's decision, but Kuikka should be nice
- Hogan didn't actually have much to do, but she took care of what she needed to and crucially didn't fuck up
- Samantha Coffey is the best #6 in this league and it's a joke andi sullivan is going to the world cup instead. Thanks Vlatko!
- At a certain point you just have to guffaw at Hina, Crystal and Soph keeping the ball from opponents. Hina, btw, what a shift she put in.
The lack of a true fullback rotation is catching up. Reyna and eventually Tegan playing more will keep all of them fresher. Definitely needed asap. The CC had other ideas.
Yeah Coffey was, yet again, so so good. She’d absolutely eat next to Horan in the USWNT midfield, and her tackling/physical game has gone up a few notches from where it was just a few months ago.
Kuikka was terrible in the first half, much better in the second. I wouldn’t mind seeing her get a little reset especially with how Reyes has come on.
Thanks for the little Weaver update post-game. Now is Morgan's time to shine while Sophie is at the WWC. Excited to see Coffey and her hook up a lot more n the coming games!!!
Don't think I'm alone believing 2023 is the year Morgan Weaver has become the Morgan Weaver we always imagined was contained in the Joyous Frisky Goal-Scoring Colt from Pullman.
WWC break we may see Peak Morgan taking charge, to which I can only say Yes, please! There's an Olympics coming I'd like to see her participate in.
Somebody needs to make a Rodman tumbling GIF, and another one of her laying face down on the turf and kicking her leg when she didn't draw a foul. She's Dennis's daughter for sure!
Heh. The comparison with Soph at the moment is chalk and cheese. Think the league has unlocked at least part of the puzzle for shutting her down and the better potential WWC opponents are taking notes.
Probably the single best back and forth match I’ve seen in my 11 years of going to Thorns games. PDX is awesome.
- Soph is a simply transcendent athlete. Outrageously talented, naturally skilled, maniacally competitive....she’s got it all and we’re lucky to have her (and even Fishlock agrees!)
- Hina was absurd. Maintained her technical ability while working her ass off defensively. Any other game she’s the clear WOTM.
- Dunn had a rough opening 20, but was spectacular after that. Covered a ton of ground.
- Sam was awesome, per usual. Encourage everyone to go watch Soph’s comments on what she told Sam after she didn’t make the roster about her being the future of the USWNT post match.
- Rough from Natu, but she improved as the game went on. Really bad leaving Sanchez open back post on the first goal, but had a few really nice 1v1 moments in the second half. Thought Reyes was good.
- Horrible, panicked, scattershot individual defending, especially on those Staab long throws. I actually thought the shape and 1v1 was mostly alright with a few exceptions, but awful clearances (Sinc, wtf) really doomed them.
- Hubly and Menges..... really rough. Get back soon pls Becky.
- The Thorns’ shape is much better against teams that want the ball. Allowing the opposition to have possession drops them back into a more secure shell that also gives Soph and Weaver a ton of space in behind. Second straight game against a top of the table opponent where we’ve seen it...they just have to cut the naivety out of games against lesser opposition.
Agreed as usual but one reason the center backs had a rough game (set pieces aside which…yikes) is they kept on being exposed in the wide channels because of how high both full backs were, especially in the first half. Seemed to settle down second half at least.
Hmm could be wrong, but it felt like there was less of that than usual? Definitely was an issue the first 15-20, but it felt like most of the defensive issues that lead to chances and goals were a result of pure sloppiness- missed clearances, failure to mark back post runners, panicked passes, etc. Not sure if the change was tactical so much as the Spirit just getting more of the ball, but it didn’t feel to me like they were exposed on the counter quite as much (with the exception of the two times Rodman nearly broke through).
What I saw, for the most part, was one FB hanging back a quite a bit when the other FB went forward. With Sam, that left four in the back all game. A minor adjustment toward the defense, and I’m sitting here wondering how much attack was lost due to this minor tactical change. None, I’d say.
That's the usual way to do it, yo-yo fullbacks, and I don't know why we weren't doing it that way all along. Was it coaching yelling both to get forward at once, or poor execution where they both weren't looking to see what the other was doing? Kling and Kuikka are both experienced enough that the latter reason seems wrong.
To me, the FB's still look pretty high with a ton of space in behind according to this pass map. Kuikka maybe a tad lower than last game, but still overall pretty high. Coffey is deeper than both FB's:
Definitely yes to that. When they get forward, they really get forward. Kuikka more than Reyes in this game. When Reyes went forward, Kuikka was back a little more. I know cuz I was on Fullback watch. It might be Kling and Kuikka can’t get the yo-yo figured out. Reyes and Kuikka did a better job. Better communication, or from coaching? I have no idea.
I’m embarrassed to say that one time I made the comment if I was starting a team I would choose Rodman over Smith. What a ridiculous statement that was. I hope Soph can forgive me. I’ve seen the error of my ways....
I’m pretty sure Morgan first hurt her right hip on the really hard defensive hip check by her in the box. She was holding her hip right and talked to the bench after. She played a bunch after that incident, but that was the origin I think.
Hina might have been the best 2nd best player on the field in history. She was a magician and a terror tonight, sometimes simultaneously.
Thorns played with energy, positivity, and hustle. Rodman looked frustrated much of the 2nd half. She was directly in front of us for much of it.
That's a tough call with Weaver, since that's also one of (left-footed) Hina's natural positions, but that's still a good point.
Morgan's lifted her game this season, filling in some gaps (like keeping her head up when she's attacking with the ball, etc.). She puts in the work, both on the pitch during matches where she's always giving full effort, and clearly in training, too. She's both effective and a blast to watch with that joyful approach to the game that she has.
Weaver's goal was just an example of her growth. She doesn't make that goal last season. I watched the slo-mo replay, and the ball was on the "up" bounce when she hit it. She hit the ball down into the ground rather than just putting her typical Weaver full-powered boot through it and sending the ball into the Goose Hollow neighborhood. Very good discipline to not let her excitement get the best of her in that scenario.
She hasn’t been on the bench hardly at all? She usually doesn’t play full 90s (probably because she kills herself every game) but she’s started 11/13 NWSL matches.
Ok. I’m not alone. She’s also adjusted very well to the forward position where her press actually adds a dimension to our defense. I’ve been very happy with how that experiment has gone.
Her defense was incredible. Really really solid full defensive and offensive effort from Hina last night, with all the usual sauce mixed in. And, she didn't drop off in the second half nearly as much as she had in games prior. Just, solid and really deserved that standing ovation!
- Soph’s second is absolutely *nailed* into the bottom corner. Might be one of her best technique-wise.
- Sanderson has done color commentary on two Thorns games this year; Soph has scored hat tricks in both.
- The 2020 MarPar draft duo coming back to haunt him!
- Sinc’s clearance on the Sanchez goal was terrible enough, but not stepping to the ball and giving her the space to get the shot off was really bad. Thought she was decent otherwise, but that was really poor.
- Dunn yelling “we have to be smarter” in the huddle after the second Smith goal. Lol
- Absolute dime from Sam on the Weaver goal, after winning the initial header herself!
Sanderson and the guy calling play by play made two very interesting comments about Hina. When Hina made that play on sidelines trapping the ball between her calf and thigh and then jumping up and taking off the crowd went crazy. The play by play guy said... it is great when the fans recognize brilliant play and this crowd does. Sanderson (a former Thorn and international player) said Japanese players are so technical and play together so well, but when they are on their own on foreign teams they don't do as well, but she has, she is brilliant, so fun to watch. No quotes because but that is what I remember.
Also Sanderson noted that while Soph made the Spirit defense look bad to be fair some players are not defendable when they are feeling it. All true! It is one thing to mark Soph four on one when she has her back to the goal, but damn when she has running in an open field, four is not enough to stop her.
Last night we saw some fabulous Thorn players putting on a clinic. The defense was not quite as good but the Spirit have a very special front three.
Some of the reason Japanese players don't do as well in (some) foreign leagues is how they're utilized. As someone who watches a lot of Japanese players (I mean...I'm moving there in a couple months...gotta know the local footy landscape!), I've been puzzled for a while at how this happens so often: bringing in a very, very good player at a particular position...then sticking her in the lineup anywhere BUT that position. We did that here with Hina, but it's worked out anyway. I'm still baffled at City continuing to play one of the best attacking mids on the planet, Yui Hasegawa, as a 6.
Also, the Japanese play style's a bit different from anywhere else. Interestingly, it's probably _most_ different from the very speedy, high-contact (read: allows a lot of fouling) NWSL playstyle...where Japanese players have done best. In "more technical" (which is kinda BS save for a handful of teams, but whatever) Europe, I'd think they'd do better, coming from a place where the style is heavily team interplay oriented, with lots of quick give-and-go passing, etc., but as mentioned above, they tend to get wedged into unfamiliar roles.
Mike Watts called the game. He does a great job bringing excitement to matches IMO. Sanderson is pretty good at technical analysis but a bit bland in the emotion department. Kaylyn Kyle was my favorite in that role but MLS stole her.
Kaylyn Kyle was the absolute best, her post-soccer career is taking off and rightfully so. Hope NWSL can bring her back as a guest commentator once in awhile especially in the playoffs.
Thanks I didn't get his name and yes he does a great job. Sanderson is typically English in her brutal honesty, but she knows the game and as a forward yesterday was her kind of game.
Kaylyn Kyle is one my favorites. Again another very honest analyst and isn't afraid to show soccer enthusiasm.
Phuoc posted this elsewhere in this thread, but there is truly no better dynamic than that between Sinc and Soph. Also great to hear both of them absolutely rave about Sam and I love the idea of 22 year old Smith giving Coffey a pep talk after she missed out.
THIS is what the heat map should look like. Think it was more in response to game state than a tactical choice, but good to see nonetheless. Interesting that the Thorns have switched from struggling against the good teams and crushing the bad ones to the inverse so far this year.
Mike Norris at the presser said he made these calls in the lineup to best match up and exploit Washington Spirit. The fact that Natu stayed back a bit more says a lot. When Reyna plays, she is usually the one asked to come forward as a fullback which is very cool to see, especially the trust and belief in a rookie. Love the fact that the heat map shows off Hina's hybrid role. The midfielder being closer to Sam was big time too.
EDIT: This one is the Sinc/Soph part, do you have the part of the post-match with Norris? Thanks again for all your work, Phuoc!
Thanks for posting! I don't know why they post some post-match pressers on their youtube page and sometimes they don't...I'm always curious what the coach says after a game like this.
Did anyone get a chance to ask Parsons how it was being back in Portland (besides the L, lol)?
See, this map confuses the hell outta me. The eye test at the game said all of the attacking players had decent-ish (Sinc)-to-excellent (mostly all the others) games...but I look at this and see that Crystal still isn't really connecting with the forwards (aside from Hina), and that Hina's value created is blue when I thought she had an absolutely terrific game and was everywhere making connections.
It's interesting to see the little triangles popping up in every chart each week with the fullback, forward, and midfielder on each side. Like he tells those players to all stay close to each other...which I can see as another reason Sam is also isolated in the midfield when those triangles get sucked wide and the midfield is just parted like the red sea with only Sam standing in front of the two CB's lol. Really doesn't take much but one pass to put the opposition in behind the fullbacks running into that huge space.
I know folks are better at reading these things than I am, how do you square this map against, for example, the Hina blue circle?
Another thing about the pass network diagrams is that they show *average* position for passes. So if you receive a pass up high and return it, and do the same thing deep while the backline is moving the ball laterally, the average position shown might be at the midfield stripe when in fact you didn't touch the ball there at all. Likewise, Sam Coffey might be consistently moving toward whichever side we're trying to play forward on, but because she does that on both sides, the diagram shows her in the middle when in fact most of her play in passing triangles is on one side or another.
Also, the diagrams show passing actions (I think both sending and receiving passes). So if you do a great job in defense, say by not letting Trinity Rodman get past you, it won't show up at all in the diagram because there are no passes involved. And maybe you just consistently turned her backwards and you didn't touch the ball at all, so your actions wouldn't even show up on a traditional heat map, much less this pass network diagram. No analytical tool or stat is perfect, and you need several of them as well as the eye test to really evaluate a game.
I think there’s a few reasons why the Dunn triangles don’t touch Soph:
1. Smith’s not a “drop in and play” type of 9, so her pass network lines are going to be less frequent and narrower on graphs like this. Kinda tracks too given the Spirit had more of the ball.
2. The Thorns play with two single sided 8s and focus play through the wings, so it makes sense that the most common triangle is that between the winger and FB. Coffey’s that pivot point, which is why she has SO many lines in comparison to everyone else.
3. Dunn dropped deeper than usual to help defensively and provide an outlet option --which is a very good thing-- but also meant she got forward less.
I believe the “value created” just speaks to progressive ball movements / direct impacts on chances and goals. I don’t know that, aside from her assist, Hina did a ton going forward. She was incredible defensively and ball retention-wise, but it’s likely that an abstract single game “values added” metric doesn’t capture the kind of impact she had on the game.
Also, every team is gonna look like the fullbacks are playing in the midfield on these graphics because FBs get forward while the CBs don’t. We joke about the Thorns playing with two defenders because of how much higher the FBs play in comparison to other teams, but generally that’s just kinda how it looks on the graphics unless a team is so thoroughly dominated that their FBs are pressed back literally the entire game- The idea of a flat back four is kind of a misnomer. I'd just compare the position to other Thorns games: There's a pretty clear difference, especially with Natu.
Took a friend who’d never watched women’s soccer and they were blown away. The wild energy of the game and crowd won another convert!
You are amazing! So glad you both got to enjoy a wonderful game!
That's so great. Am sure I mentioned at some point we were in Portland for a thing and I thought it would be great to take Soccer Girl and Soccer Mommy to a Timbers match. But they weren't in town and some team named the Thorns were and I got us GA tix for the north end.
Nothing prepared us for the Providence spectacle, nor to be watching a World Cup highlights match that featured goals from Nadia (assist, Mandy) and local hero, Sinc, leading to a shutout of Chicago. You just don't get that with USL, and we've been returning ever since. Two losses in that time, so semi-lucky charms.
This was before expansion and the place was stuffed: 16,931.
Love hearing these stories! Thanks for sharing! :)
Still the best place in the world to watch women’s soccer. Nothin like it!
I’ll never forget the roar after Dunn’s goal in the semi last year. Chilllz
One of the most incredible moments I've experienced! And loud it was- my partner checked the dB level and it was in the 130s! (which is actually dangerous) As someone with tinnitus, he was very happy to have earplugs in lol.
Had a guy with his boys (and their friends) behind me who was at his first Thorns FC match. Knowledgeable about footy in general, but new to WoSo. He was definitely VERY impressed.
Glad more and more people are watching these players out on the pitch. They (the players) deserve it!
This is amazing! You rock!
Hina's winning the ball from Bailey and looping it to Soph for goal #3, all without it hitting the turf, just put that in permaloop. Sheesh.
I've been calling Hina our best technical player for a while now...and that's saying a lot, given the skills on this team.
That said, I rewatched the whole sequence of Washington's first goal, and Dorian Bailey was terrific, starting with her getting control of the ball in the center of the field before swinging out wide and running forward to receive the ball again and send in that nifty cross.
Great crowd tonight. 20,254. Highest attendance since before COVID, I think.
Back to back 20k home regular season games! Last home game vs Chicago too had 20,402 :)
Interesting. I didn't check the box score after the Chicago match for the attendance. Last night passed the eye test for the largest crowd I've seen there since 2019, moreso than Chicago. Maybe I was looking for it?
Agree about the eye test. I was surprised to read the the attendance was higher for the Chicago game. In any case, this was an exciting game to watch, and the crowd was really into it.
I think maybe there was some bewilderment in the crowd at the Thorns struggling with Chicago. It put me off balance for sure.
EDIT: Not Chicago, of course, that was an away game; Angel City. Duh!
Gonna put soph to one side because...holy shit. holy fucking shit.
- once we accepted this was a transition game we were much better. second half was a lot more control than the first, even if Washington had moments. also putting Moultrie on added legs
- man, Kuikka is in a funk. Sitting Kling was the coach's decision, but Kuikka should be nice
- Hogan didn't actually have much to do, but she took care of what she needed to and crucially didn't fuck up
- Samantha Coffey is the best #6 in this league and it's a joke andi sullivan is going to the world cup instead. Thanks Vlatko!
- At a certain point you just have to guffaw at Hina, Crystal and Soph keeping the ball from opponents. Hina, btw, what a shift she put in.
The lack of a true fullback rotation is catching up. Reyna and eventually Tegan playing more will keep all of them fresher. Definitely needed asap. The CC had other ideas.
Yeah Coffey was, yet again, so so good. She’d absolutely eat next to Horan in the USWNT midfield, and her tackling/physical game has gone up a few notches from where it was just a few months ago.
Kuikka was terrible in the first half, much better in the second. I wouldn’t mind seeing her get a little reset especially with how Reyes has come on.
Hina was spectacular. That is all.
Couldn’t agree more about Coffey. It was easy to forget Sullivan was on the field last night.
Oh wow...I just realized I did exactly that.
And you're not alone.
Gotham Thorns: Abby Smith, Michelle Betos, Midge Purce, Iffy Onumonu, Yazmeen Ryan, Allie Long, McCall Zerboni, Sinead Farrelly, Mana Shim.
You're welcome, Gotham.
Thanks for the little Weaver update post-game. Now is Morgan's time to shine while Sophie is at the WWC. Excited to see Coffey and her hook up a lot more n the coming games!!!
Izzy, Morgan, and Murph are going to have lots of fun!
You are most welcome :)
I'm looking forward to Moultrie getting the playing time she deserves.
A Moultrie/Coffey starting midfield is still going to kick butt!!!
Baller!
It's her time to shine.
Don't think I'm alone believing 2023 is the year Morgan Weaver has become the Morgan Weaver we always imagined was contained in the Joyous Frisky Goal-Scoring Colt from Pullman.
WWC break we may see Peak Morgan taking charge, to which I can only say Yes, please! There's an Olympics coming I'd like to see her participate in.
Somebody needs to make a Rodman tumbling GIF, and another one of her laying face down on the turf and kicking her leg when she didn't draw a foul. She's Dennis's daughter for sure!
Heh. The comparison with Soph at the moment is chalk and cheese. Think the league has unlocked at least part of the puzzle for shutting her down and the better potential WWC opponents are taking notes.
Probably the single best back and forth match I’ve seen in my 11 years of going to Thorns games. PDX is awesome.
- Soph is a simply transcendent athlete. Outrageously talented, naturally skilled, maniacally competitive....she’s got it all and we’re lucky to have her (and even Fishlock agrees!)
- Hina was absurd. Maintained her technical ability while working her ass off defensively. Any other game she’s the clear WOTM.
- Dunn had a rough opening 20, but was spectacular after that. Covered a ton of ground.
- Sam was awesome, per usual. Encourage everyone to go watch Soph’s comments on what she told Sam after she didn’t make the roster about her being the future of the USWNT post match.
- Rough from Natu, but she improved as the game went on. Really bad leaving Sanchez open back post on the first goal, but had a few really nice 1v1 moments in the second half. Thought Reyes was good.
- Horrible, panicked, scattershot individual defending, especially on those Staab long throws. I actually thought the shape and 1v1 was mostly alright with a few exceptions, but awful clearances (Sinc, wtf) really doomed them.
- Hubly and Menges..... really rough. Get back soon pls Becky.
- The Thorns’ shape is much better against teams that want the ball. Allowing the opposition to have possession drops them back into a more secure shell that also gives Soph and Weaver a ton of space in behind. Second straight game against a top of the table opponent where we’ve seen it...they just have to cut the naivety out of games against lesser opposition.
I’d love to watch Soph’s comments about Sam. Where can I see it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7vucNpAY24
Agreed as usual but one reason the center backs had a rough game (set pieces aside which…yikes) is they kept on being exposed in the wide channels because of how high both full backs were, especially in the first half. Seemed to settle down second half at least.
Hmm could be wrong, but it felt like there was less of that than usual? Definitely was an issue the first 15-20, but it felt like most of the defensive issues that lead to chances and goals were a result of pure sloppiness- missed clearances, failure to mark back post runners, panicked passes, etc. Not sure if the change was tactical so much as the Spirit just getting more of the ball, but it didn’t feel to me like they were exposed on the counter quite as much (with the exception of the two times Rodman nearly broke through).
That's what I noticed as well
What I saw, for the most part, was one FB hanging back a quite a bit when the other FB went forward. With Sam, that left four in the back all game. A minor adjustment toward the defense, and I’m sitting here wondering how much attack was lost due to this minor tactical change. None, I’d say.
That's the usual way to do it, yo-yo fullbacks, and I don't know why we weren't doing it that way all along. Was it coaching yelling both to get forward at once, or poor execution where they both weren't looking to see what the other was doing? Kling and Kuikka are both experienced enough that the latter reason seems wrong.
yo-yo fullbacks is brilliant. That term is awesome.
The Kuikka/Reyes difference is also largely because Rodman played on the left for the most part and they smartly gave her a little extra attention.
Maybe they thought they could get away with it against “lesser” competition
To me, the FB's still look pretty high with a ton of space in behind according to this pass map. Kuikka maybe a tad lower than last game, but still overall pretty high. Coffey is deeper than both FB's:
https://twitter.com/arielle_dror/status/1672665732797321216/photo/1
Definitely yes to that. When they get forward, they really get forward. Kuikka more than Reyes in this game. When Reyes went forward, Kuikka was back a little more. I know cuz I was on Fullback watch. It might be Kling and Kuikka can’t get the yo-yo figured out. Reyes and Kuikka did a better job. Better communication, or from coaching? I have no idea.
Yeah, take all the money you got from Horan, put it in a truck, and deliver it to Soph's apartment.
Put it toward a grass field. Sounds like that's what she really wants.
Supermax extension plz
I’m embarrassed to say that one time I made the comment if I was starting a team I would choose Rodman over Smith. What a ridiculous statement that was. I hope Soph can forgive me. I’ve seen the error of my ways....
I’m pretty sure Morgan first hurt her right hip on the really hard defensive hip check by her in the box. She was holding her hip right and talked to the bench after. She played a bunch after that incident, but that was the origin I think.
Hina might have been the best 2nd best player on the field in history. She was a magician and a terror tonight, sometimes simultaneously.
Thorns played with energy, positivity, and hustle. Rodman looked frustrated much of the 2nd half. She was directly in front of us for much of it.
Can you believe Hina has been riding the pines so much this season? That is a crime.
The only player on the side you don't bench to make sure Hina's in the 11 is Sophia.
Okay, obviously that can't be an absolute because position, but y'all get my point. You have her in there over any other attacking player save Smith.
I don’t think I’m taking Weaver off left wing for anybody. But I agree, I’m not taking Hina out for anyone either
That's a tough call with Weaver, since that's also one of (left-footed) Hina's natural positions, but that's still a good point.
Morgan's lifted her game this season, filling in some gaps (like keeping her head up when she's attacking with the ball, etc.). She puts in the work, both on the pitch during matches where she's always giving full effort, and clearly in training, too. She's both effective and a blast to watch with that joyful approach to the game that she has.
Weaver's goal was just an example of her growth. She doesn't make that goal last season. I watched the slo-mo replay, and the ball was on the "up" bounce when she hit it. She hit the ball down into the ground rather than just putting her typical Weaver full-powered boot through it and sending the ball into the Goose Hollow neighborhood. Very good discipline to not let her excitement get the best of her in that scenario.
She hasn’t been on the bench hardly at all? She usually doesn’t play full 90s (probably because she kills herself every game) but she’s started 11/13 NWSL matches.
Ok. I’m not alone. She’s also adjusted very well to the forward position where her press actually adds a dimension to our defense. I’ve been very happy with how that experiment has gone.
Her work rate is so good. Is a incredible box to box winger/hybrid/midfielder.
Her defense was incredible. Really really solid full defensive and offensive effort from Hina last night, with all the usual sauce mixed in. And, she didn't drop off in the second half nearly as much as she had in games prior. Just, solid and really deserved that standing ovation!
https://twitter.com/838_carlisle/status/1673101257903337473?s=20
Same kinda shit she pulled on Weaver, btw. Dirty as helll
Backed right TF down when Abby got in her face about it...
And same kind of reaction by her when confronted too. She's gonna get trucked by somebody.
She just straight up needs a suspension for this kind of shit. Someone is going to get seriously injured.
BSG is all bark, no bite. Dirty fouls and then shrinks at confrontation.
She keeps that up and somebody is going to clean her clock.
Abuse of Power Rankings
(1) Thorns
(2) NC Courgettes
(3) PSWST
(4) DC Kang
(5) Wave Goodbye
(5) Gotham's Dark Night
(7) Houston You Have Problems
(8) Loovull
(9) Pride (In the Name of Love)
(10) KCFUBAR
(11) ACFCNFT
(12) No Stars
A few leftover points on watching the highlights:
- Soph’s second is absolutely *nailed* into the bottom corner. Might be one of her best technique-wise.
- Sanderson has done color commentary on two Thorns games this year; Soph has scored hat tricks in both.
- The 2020 MarPar draft duo coming back to haunt him!
- Sinc’s clearance on the Sanchez goal was terrible enough, but not stepping to the ball and giving her the space to get the shot off was really bad. Thought she was decent otherwise, but that was really poor.
- Dunn yelling “we have to be smarter” in the huddle after the second Smith goal. Lol
- Absolute dime from Sam on the Weaver goal, after winning the initial header herself!
- This is both very sweet and very true:
https://twitter.com/RyanTClarke/status/1672476065619648513?s=20
Sanderson and the guy calling play by play made two very interesting comments about Hina. When Hina made that play on sidelines trapping the ball between her calf and thigh and then jumping up and taking off the crowd went crazy. The play by play guy said... it is great when the fans recognize brilliant play and this crowd does. Sanderson (a former Thorn and international player) said Japanese players are so technical and play together so well, but when they are on their own on foreign teams they don't do as well, but she has, she is brilliant, so fun to watch. No quotes because but that is what I remember.
Also Sanderson noted that while Soph made the Spirit defense look bad to be fair some players are not defendable when they are feeling it. All true! It is one thing to mark Soph four on one when she has her back to the goal, but damn when she has running in an open field, four is not enough to stop her.
Last night we saw some fabulous Thorn players putting on a clinic. The defense was not quite as good but the Spirit have a very special front three.
Some of the reason Japanese players don't do as well in (some) foreign leagues is how they're utilized. As someone who watches a lot of Japanese players (I mean...I'm moving there in a couple months...gotta know the local footy landscape!), I've been puzzled for a while at how this happens so often: bringing in a very, very good player at a particular position...then sticking her in the lineup anywhere BUT that position. We did that here with Hina, but it's worked out anyway. I'm still baffled at City continuing to play one of the best attacking mids on the planet, Yui Hasegawa, as a 6.
Also, the Japanese play style's a bit different from anywhere else. Interestingly, it's probably _most_ different from the very speedy, high-contact (read: allows a lot of fouling) NWSL playstyle...where Japanese players have done best. In "more technical" (which is kinda BS save for a handful of teams, but whatever) Europe, I'd think they'd do better, coming from a place where the style is heavily team interplay oriented, with lots of quick give-and-go passing, etc., but as mentioned above, they tend to get wedged into unfamiliar roles.
Mike Watts called the game. He does a great job bringing excitement to matches IMO. Sanderson is pretty good at technical analysis but a bit bland in the emotion department. Kaylyn Kyle was my favorite in that role but MLS stole her.
Kaylyn Kyle was the absolute best, her post-soccer career is taking off and rightfully so. Hope NWSL can bring her back as a guest commentator once in awhile especially in the playoffs.
Thanks I didn't get his name and yes he does a great job. Sanderson is typically English in her brutal honesty, but she knows the game and as a forward yesterday was her kind of game.
Kaylyn Kyle is one my favorites. Again another very honest analyst and isn't afraid to show soccer enthusiasm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7vucNpAY24
Phuoc posted this elsewhere in this thread, but there is truly no better dynamic than that between Sinc and Soph. Also great to hear both of them absolutely rave about Sam and I love the idea of 22 year old Smith giving Coffey a pep talk after she missed out.
It's my favorite presser I have ever been a part of. Glad you enjoyed!
Thanks so much! That was awesome!
Thanks so much for posting. I don't suppose you videoed the Norris portion of the presser too?
Coffey Talk, no big whoop!
Thanks so much!! That was great!!
https://twitter.com/arielle_dror/status/1672665732797321216?s=20
THIS is what the heat map should look like. Think it was more in response to game state than a tactical choice, but good to see nonetheless. Interesting that the Thorns have switched from struggling against the good teams and crushing the bad ones to the inverse so far this year.
Mike Norris at the presser said he made these calls in the lineup to best match up and exploit Washington Spirit. The fact that Natu stayed back a bit more says a lot. When Reyna plays, she is usually the one asked to come forward as a fullback which is very cool to see, especially the trust and belief in a rookie. Love the fact that the heat map shows off Hina's hybrid role. The midfielder being closer to Sam was big time too.
Hope this is the trend moving forward.
Is the presser available anywhere online? I haven't found it.
I have it here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7vucNpAY24
EDIT: This one is the Sinc/Soph part, do you have the part of the post-match with Norris? Thanks again for all your work, Phuoc!
Thanks for posting! I don't know why they post some post-match pressers on their youtube page and sometimes they don't...I'm always curious what the coach says after a game like this.
Did anyone get a chance to ask Parsons how it was being back in Portland (besides the L, lol)?
Great, thanks, and thanks for all you do to keep us all informed. Good work.
That’s good to hear- He’s been pretty steadfast that their issues haven’t been a tactical issue up to now, so hopefully he’s changed his tune a tad.
Yeah it’s hard to say for sure, but I think he’s making adjustments with personnel and still allowing them to be themselves.
The heat map above is definitely ideal tho for sure. Thanks for sharing :)
See, this map confuses the hell outta me. The eye test at the game said all of the attacking players had decent-ish (Sinc)-to-excellent (mostly all the others) games...but I look at this and see that Crystal still isn't really connecting with the forwards (aside from Hina), and that Hina's value created is blue when I thought she had an absolutely terrific game and was everywhere making connections.
It's interesting to see the little triangles popping up in every chart each week with the fullback, forward, and midfielder on each side. Like he tells those players to all stay close to each other...which I can see as another reason Sam is also isolated in the midfield when those triangles get sucked wide and the midfield is just parted like the red sea with only Sam standing in front of the two CB's lol. Really doesn't take much but one pass to put the opposition in behind the fullbacks running into that huge space.
I know folks are better at reading these things than I am, how do you square this map against, for example, the Hina blue circle?
Also also, are we playing a 262 lmao? A 253? WTF
Another thing about the pass network diagrams is that they show *average* position for passes. So if you receive a pass up high and return it, and do the same thing deep while the backline is moving the ball laterally, the average position shown might be at the midfield stripe when in fact you didn't touch the ball there at all. Likewise, Sam Coffey might be consistently moving toward whichever side we're trying to play forward on, but because she does that on both sides, the diagram shows her in the middle when in fact most of her play in passing triangles is on one side or another.
Also, the diagrams show passing actions (I think both sending and receiving passes). So if you do a great job in defense, say by not letting Trinity Rodman get past you, it won't show up at all in the diagram because there are no passes involved. And maybe you just consistently turned her backwards and you didn't touch the ball at all, so your actions wouldn't even show up on a traditional heat map, much less this pass network diagram. No analytical tool or stat is perfect, and you need several of them as well as the eye test to really evaluate a game.
I think there’s a few reasons why the Dunn triangles don’t touch Soph:
1. Smith’s not a “drop in and play” type of 9, so her pass network lines are going to be less frequent and narrower on graphs like this. Kinda tracks too given the Spirit had more of the ball.
2. The Thorns play with two single sided 8s and focus play through the wings, so it makes sense that the most common triangle is that between the winger and FB. Coffey’s that pivot point, which is why she has SO many lines in comparison to everyone else.
3. Dunn dropped deeper than usual to help defensively and provide an outlet option --which is a very good thing-- but also meant she got forward less.
I believe the “value created” just speaks to progressive ball movements / direct impacts on chances and goals. I don’t know that, aside from her assist, Hina did a ton going forward. She was incredible defensively and ball retention-wise, but it’s likely that an abstract single game “values added” metric doesn’t capture the kind of impact she had on the game.
Also, every team is gonna look like the fullbacks are playing in the midfield on these graphics because FBs get forward while the CBs don’t. We joke about the Thorns playing with two defenders because of how much higher the FBs play in comparison to other teams, but generally that’s just kinda how it looks on the graphics unless a team is so thoroughly dominated that their FBs are pressed back literally the entire game- The idea of a flat back four is kind of a misnomer. I'd just compare the position to other Thorns games: There's a pretty clear difference, especially with Natu.