Over in the kitty-corner part of the world, it looks like Ary Borges has arrived. I don't know if Brazil can defend, but they sure have a lot of goal-scorers. Fun on a bun!
Credit where it's due: the team looked a ton better than the previous matches and that has to be mostly a result of good coaching. We may not have been well-prepared for the interregnum, but Norris and team have turned it around. If they keep this up, and if the soccer gods shine kindly on our DownUnders, we could have a good runout.
The biggest change was going to a 442 and having Porter and Coffey as pivots. That enabled both full backs to push up high because there was coverage and stability; at times we almost had a box midfield because Moultrie and the right sided player would drift inside a lot
Looked much better as a box, mostly because neither Moultrie or D’Aquila are wingers. Thought Vasconcelos’s (relative) ability in tight spaces and off the ball was noticeable in the second half.
I feel bad for Izzy because she’s so clearly not being played in her natural spot -- she really only can be played in one very specific position and hasn’t even looked particular good when she’s played there-- but I can’t argue with Betfort deserving that spot at this point.
Yeah, not only is Betfort scoring but she's also pressing really well and holding the ball up well. No question in my mind that she should be getting a majority of minutes there.
I've been really hard on Betfort, but she had a really good game. If she doesn't whiff on the shot/pass(???) that Weaver put in she gets the hat trick. She worked hard (like she always does), but was in the right spots when she needed to be. She was also putting shots on frame, which was really nice to see. I hope that this was a much needed confidence burst, and that she can continue to work hard and become a contributor.
Small sample size, but she looks like she’s making an effort to slow down the game instead of just running full gas every time she sees the ball. Touches look a lot cleaner, head is up, and she really played off Weaver’s gravity in the 4-4-2 really well Friday night.
Until Friday night we've pretty much only been seeing small samples of what Betfort does on the pitch, many of which are irrelevant because they're just time-wasting appearances. Even so, my impression has been that she usually shows 1-2 flashes or glimpses of something in these samples.
However, it's hard to find rhythm in short and irregular playing time, especially when you're (1) trying to impress and (2) trying not to screw up, as every young bench player is when those short and irregular minutes happen to come your way.
A review of FBRef shows that Betfort has only played 217 minutes in 11 NWSL regular season matches and 230 minutes in 5 Challenge Cup matches to date (since 2021).
Let's try to get down to some useful information...
In 2021, she appeared only 1 time, for 2 minutes. So let's throw that out.
In 2022, her first 3 regular season appearances she played a total of 10 minutes (1, 5, 4). So let's throw those out too.
Now we're down to 7 regular season matches and 203 minutes in 2022 and 2023.
In those she has played 17, 27, 27, 63 (2022) and 12, 22, 37 (2023); she has started 1 time (63 minutes, 2022)
She has 2 goals in 7 regular season matches, 203 minutes.
And, to be fair, all the regular action she has seen (anything above time-wasting) has come in between July 1-August 24 2022 and July 1-July 9 2023. Mostly, she has sat and cheered, not seeing the pitch at all.
Let's move over to the Challenge Cup
As mentioned, she has played 5 CC matches and 230 minutes. But let's toss out that 2022 appearance, in which she played only 6 minutes.
Now we're down to 4 CC matches, 224 minutes: 45, 45, 62, 72 (2023).
She went 45 minutes on April 19, 45 minutes on May 31, 62 minutes on June 28, and 72 minutes on July 21.
She has started 2 times (62 minutes, 72 minutes).
She has 2 goals, 1 assist in 4 CC matches, 224 minutes.
So... the big takeaways for me are that she's hardly seen the pitch in the 2+ years she's been here, she goes for a month or more at a time without getting on the pitch at all, about half of her regular season appearances have been pure time-wasting, and that it's only right now -- June 28, 2023 to present -- that she's seeing any real playing time on a regular basis!
In the 4 regular season and CC matches she's played since June 28 , 2023, she has started 2 times, played 193 minutes, scored 3 goals, and picked up 1 assist.
That's a sample set worth considering.
While it always helps the confidence and relaxation to get an early goal, and while we weren't facing SD Champipple's A-team, I think we're starting to see more of what Betfort is capable of doing in all facets of the game. She's going from glimpses or flashes to putting together a more complete representation.
I, for one, have liked what I have seen. What she is showing is not accidental; you can't fake those things.
Will she show them all the time? No. But I think she'll show them more, and more consistently, with more time.
I agree with most of that, but I don’t think we need to caveat her past performances to praise her recent ones. She was objectively completely ineffective almost every time she got on the field until the Gotham game. Yes, her time has been inconsistent and yes, it’s hard for a player like her to impress with fragmented playing time; but she hadn’t shown any kind of technique, finishing ability, or real soccer intelligence until this month that gave me cause for optimism.
So....it’s great that she’s had a few nice matches and I do think she’s shown some very noticeable improvements in pace of play, touch, and off the ball movement. I’m still not sure she’s locked-in backup striker quality, but I’m happy she’s getting the opportunity to show that she can be.
I've been hard on Betfort in the past, but I did really like her running up the right side...just bullying the fullbacks with better speed and strength. She rounded the back of them and had several nice crosses into the box as a result. She did well to move centrally when it was needed, and her positioning was encouraging. Would love to see if she can replicate this performance against Angel City.
I haven't watched a replay (I was at PP), but according to the eye test I didn't remember seeing Sam much, and Porter had a lot of giveaways in the first half. But I agree, having both of them in a double pivot mitigates a lot of the harm done by both fullbacks getting up super high. Definitely curious if Norris goes with the same XI against AC. I think it could be a tough game because they haven't lost a ton to the WC. I'm guessing maybe Vasconcelos could swap with D'Aquila because she just hasn't quite found her feet. Kinda indifferent about Walker...she was kinda just meh. But, not a lot of time of chance to show her stuff. Not sure why we got 2 NTRP's who we've not seen yet, and who won't be around much longer. I guess you take the job on the off-chance you do get a chance to play, regardless. Still, would've liked to see what Morrison could do as a late sub in a game we were up by several goals.
The 4-4-2 formation change really, really helped. Both Weaver and Betfort benefited tremendously from having a partner on a string nearby rather than being isolated either on the wing or up top. Betfort’s strength should be holding up play, combining, and running in behind and we definitely saw a lot more of that Friday.
Agree that Coffey didn’t have her best game. It’s a pretty big change to switch from a single holding six to a double pivot, but she wasn’t quite as effective. The expanding box definitely added a little more stability, especially once Vasconcelos came on. I’d hope we see it until the end of the WC.
Meanwhile, KC is just stockpiling int'l talent...salary cap (and roster limit?) be damned.
Brazilian starting CB Lauren is heading to KC after the World Cup. This is after also recently announcing Stine Ballisager, a Danish int'l starting CB, also at the WC. Wonder if they'll drop the two rookies who they've been relying on to play CB up to this point...
KC traded $100,000 & a 2024 international slot in exchange to the North Carolina Courage for its exclusive rights for the player. Wondering why we don't barter away the ones we never use, if wwe aren't gonna use them...for the last several years we've had 3 open int'l slots that we've just sat on. Currently, we have 3 open int'l slots...
Super excited for Japan vs. Spain. Comfortably the two best technical teams in tournament for my money: Both play variations of tiki taka, but Japan’s version is very fast and vertical while Spain’s is much slower and more methodical.
Japan looks awesome. Wouldn’t be surprised if Fujino is the breakout star of the tournament.
(Also feeling vindicated for failing to understand why Japan’s odds were nearly twice as long as Norway’s. Was wrong at the time and looks even worse now!)
Anybody watch? I didn't but looks like a tale of two halves: scoreless at halftime then NC lets loose with six from six different players, none being Lussi who had two assists. Also, it's raining yellow (eww) with four of those.
Whatever brand of vodka Spirit [see what I did there] was guzzling at halftime, try switching.
Most concerned with NCC for the remainder of the regular season. Despite the rare loss to ACFC, they retain the league's best form from the last six.
I stayed and watched all 6, but I had forgotten that the NC beatdown came on 9/11. Hoo Boy.
3 goals in 9 minutes in the 1st half (15, 21, 24), 2 goals in 7 minutes in the 2nd half (61, 68), and the outlier (89). AD between the posts for all of them.
Hat trick by Williams; goals by Debinha, Dunn, and Hamilton; 3 assists by Debinha.
The only ass-kicking I need to reflect upon is the 2017 championship. Did we want to believe it was over in minute 13? We did not and yet, Debinha the Thornslayer had stuck in the fatal shiv. Jess McDonald flashing the crowd and Jaelene Daniels being Jesusy were just amuse bouches on that lengthy afternoon.
While it was a morose flight home for Soccer Girl and I, our suffering was nothing like the hungover Ducks fans who had lugged themselves from out of state just to witness their squad lose. Might have been homecoming or somesuch.
ETA was 2018 the season Ribbons broke her back? We had Foord in front for the 'ship and it would seem to have telegraphed what was to come.
Wilder, I am glad you finally had a good Thorns performance to recap. Thank you for your service!
Haha me too! I would much rather write about a win
Everybody endures boot camp. Hopefully yours is behind you now.
And, thanks!
Over in the kitty-corner part of the world, it looks like Ary Borges has arrived. I don't know if Brazil can defend, but they sure have a lot of goal-scorers. Fun on a bun!
Credit where it's due: the team looked a ton better than the previous matches and that has to be mostly a result of good coaching. We may not have been well-prepared for the interregnum, but Norris and team have turned it around. If they keep this up, and if the soccer gods shine kindly on our DownUnders, we could have a good runout.
The biggest change was going to a 442 and having Porter and Coffey as pivots. That enabled both full backs to push up high because there was coverage and stability; at times we almost had a box midfield because Moultrie and the right sided player would drift inside a lot
Looked much better as a box, mostly because neither Moultrie or D’Aquila are wingers. Thought Vasconcelos’s (relative) ability in tight spaces and off the ball was noticeable in the second half.
I feel bad for Izzy because she’s so clearly not being played in her natural spot -- she really only can be played in one very specific position and hasn’t even looked particular good when she’s played there-- but I can’t argue with Betfort deserving that spot at this point.
Yeah, not only is Betfort scoring but she's also pressing really well and holding the ball up well. No question in my mind that she should be getting a majority of minutes there.
I've been really hard on Betfort, but she had a really good game. If she doesn't whiff on the shot/pass(???) that Weaver put in she gets the hat trick. She worked hard (like she always does), but was in the right spots when she needed to be. She was also putting shots on frame, which was really nice to see. I hope that this was a much needed confidence burst, and that she can continue to work hard and become a contributor.
Small sample size, but she looks like she’s making an effort to slow down the game instead of just running full gas every time she sees the ball. Touches look a lot cleaner, head is up, and she really played off Weaver’s gravity in the 4-4-2 really well Friday night.
I'd put it a little differently.
Until Friday night we've pretty much only been seeing small samples of what Betfort does on the pitch, many of which are irrelevant because they're just time-wasting appearances. Even so, my impression has been that she usually shows 1-2 flashes or glimpses of something in these samples.
However, it's hard to find rhythm in short and irregular playing time, especially when you're (1) trying to impress and (2) trying not to screw up, as every young bench player is when those short and irregular minutes happen to come your way.
A review of FBRef shows that Betfort has only played 217 minutes in 11 NWSL regular season matches and 230 minutes in 5 Challenge Cup matches to date (since 2021).
Let's try to get down to some useful information...
In 2021, she appeared only 1 time, for 2 minutes. So let's throw that out.
In 2022, her first 3 regular season appearances she played a total of 10 minutes (1, 5, 4). So let's throw those out too.
Now we're down to 7 regular season matches and 203 minutes in 2022 and 2023.
In those she has played 17, 27, 27, 63 (2022) and 12, 22, 37 (2023); she has started 1 time (63 minutes, 2022)
She has 2 goals in 7 regular season matches, 203 minutes.
And, to be fair, all the regular action she has seen (anything above time-wasting) has come in between July 1-August 24 2022 and July 1-July 9 2023. Mostly, she has sat and cheered, not seeing the pitch at all.
Let's move over to the Challenge Cup
As mentioned, she has played 5 CC matches and 230 minutes. But let's toss out that 2022 appearance, in which she played only 6 minutes.
Now we're down to 4 CC matches, 224 minutes: 45, 45, 62, 72 (2023).
She went 45 minutes on April 19, 45 minutes on May 31, 62 minutes on June 28, and 72 minutes on July 21.
She has started 2 times (62 minutes, 72 minutes).
She has 2 goals, 1 assist in 4 CC matches, 224 minutes.
So... the big takeaways for me are that she's hardly seen the pitch in the 2+ years she's been here, she goes for a month or more at a time without getting on the pitch at all, about half of her regular season appearances have been pure time-wasting, and that it's only right now -- June 28, 2023 to present -- that she's seeing any real playing time on a regular basis!
In the 4 regular season and CC matches she's played since June 28 , 2023, she has started 2 times, played 193 minutes, scored 3 goals, and picked up 1 assist.
That's a sample set worth considering.
While it always helps the confidence and relaxation to get an early goal, and while we weren't facing SD Champipple's A-team, I think we're starting to see more of what Betfort is capable of doing in all facets of the game. She's going from glimpses or flashes to putting together a more complete representation.
I, for one, have liked what I have seen. What she is showing is not accidental; you can't fake those things.
Will she show them all the time? No. But I think she'll show them more, and more consistently, with more time.
I agree with most of that, but I don’t think we need to caveat her past performances to praise her recent ones. She was objectively completely ineffective almost every time she got on the field until the Gotham game. Yes, her time has been inconsistent and yes, it’s hard for a player like her to impress with fragmented playing time; but she hadn’t shown any kind of technique, finishing ability, or real soccer intelligence until this month that gave me cause for optimism.
So....it’s great that she’s had a few nice matches and I do think she’s shown some very noticeable improvements in pace of play, touch, and off the ball movement. I’m still not sure she’s locked-in backup striker quality, but I’m happy she’s getting the opportunity to show that she can be.
I've been hard on Betfort in the past, but I did really like her running up the right side...just bullying the fullbacks with better speed and strength. She rounded the back of them and had several nice crosses into the box as a result. She did well to move centrally when it was needed, and her positioning was encouraging. Would love to see if she can replicate this performance against Angel City.
I haven't watched a replay (I was at PP), but according to the eye test I didn't remember seeing Sam much, and Porter had a lot of giveaways in the first half. But I agree, having both of them in a double pivot mitigates a lot of the harm done by both fullbacks getting up super high. Definitely curious if Norris goes with the same XI against AC. I think it could be a tough game because they haven't lost a ton to the WC. I'm guessing maybe Vasconcelos could swap with D'Aquila because she just hasn't quite found her feet. Kinda indifferent about Walker...she was kinda just meh. But, not a lot of time of chance to show her stuff. Not sure why we got 2 NTRP's who we've not seen yet, and who won't be around much longer. I guess you take the job on the off-chance you do get a chance to play, regardless. Still, would've liked to see what Morrison could do as a late sub in a game we were up by several goals.
The 4-4-2 formation change really, really helped. Both Weaver and Betfort benefited tremendously from having a partner on a string nearby rather than being isolated either on the wing or up top. Betfort’s strength should be holding up play, combining, and running in behind and we definitely saw a lot more of that Friday.
Agree that Coffey didn’t have her best game. It’s a pretty big change to switch from a single holding six to a double pivot, but she wasn’t quite as effective. The expanding box definitely added a little more stability, especially once Vasconcelos came on. I’d hope we see it until the end of the WC.
Meanwhile, KC is just stockpiling int'l talent...salary cap (and roster limit?) be damned.
Brazilian starting CB Lauren is heading to KC after the World Cup. This is after also recently announcing Stine Ballisager, a Danish int'l starting CB, also at the WC. Wonder if they'll drop the two rookies who they've been relying on to play CB up to this point...
KC traded $100,000 & a 2024 international slot in exchange to the North Carolina Courage for its exclusive rights for the player. Wondering why we don't barter away the ones we never use, if wwe aren't gonna use them...for the last several years we've had 3 open int'l slots that we've just sat on. Currently, we have 3 open int'l slots...
KCFUBAR: Cornering the market on talent for a shitty team.
Seriously, what the f... would this team be without Hamilton, Debinha, Kizer, young Cooper, and Mace?
Super excited for Japan vs. Spain. Comfortably the two best technical teams in tournament for my money: Both play variations of tiki taka, but Japan’s version is very fast and vertical while Spain’s is much slower and more methodical.
Japan looks awesome. Wouldn’t be surprised if Fujino is the breakout star of the tournament.
(Also feeling vindicated for failing to understand why Japan’s odds were nearly twice as long as Norway’s. Was wrong at the time and looks even worse now!)
Meanwhile Courage absolutely destroying Spirit 6-0.
Anybody watch? I didn't but looks like a tale of two halves: scoreless at halftime then NC lets loose with six from six different players, none being Lussi who had two assists. Also, it's raining yellow (eww) with four of those.
Whatever brand of vodka Spirit [see what I did there] was guzzling at halftime, try switching.
Most concerned with NCC for the remainder of the regular season. Despite the rare loss to ACFC, they retain the league's best form from the last six.
Yeah, 6 goals in like 22 minutes.
Not the first time NCC have pasted a 6-0 defeat on a Mark Parsons coached team.
Although 2019 NCC was quite the super team.
I stayed and watched all 6, but I had forgotten that the NC beatdown came on 9/11. Hoo Boy.
3 goals in 9 minutes in the 1st half (15, 21, 24), 2 goals in 7 minutes in the 2nd half (61, 68), and the outlier (89). AD between the posts for all of them.
Hat trick by Williams; goals by Debinha, Dunn, and Hamilton; 3 assists by Debinha.
Thank god somebody had the sense to distill this down to a sub-4-minute highlight reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCpHaBmB7fM
What stands out:
- Horan jogging along instead of going contesting balls and opponents in her area.
- Carpenter doing a piss-poor job getting a leg up to block shots.
- Slow Thorns, Fast Courage.
- How much talent both teams had on the pitch that night:
Thorns: Franch, Klingenberg, Menges, Reynolds, Carpenter, Horan, Dagny, Heath, Sinclair, Raso, Purce
Courage: Labbe, Daniels, Erceg, Dahlkepmer, Matthias, Dunn, O'Sullivan, Mewis, Debinha, Williams, MacDonald
Though sometimes you just have to laugh. Lynn Williams with a hat track!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCpHaBmB7fM&t=156s
The only ass-kicking I need to reflect upon is the 2017 championship. Did we want to believe it was over in minute 13? We did not and yet, Debinha the Thornslayer had stuck in the fatal shiv. Jess McDonald flashing the crowd and Jaelene Daniels being Jesusy were just amuse bouches on that lengthy afternoon.
While it was a morose flight home for Soccer Girl and I, our suffering was nothing like the hungover Ducks fans who had lugged themselves from out of state just to witness their squad lose. Might have been homecoming or somesuch.
ETA was 2018 the season Ribbons broke her back? We had Foord in front for the 'ship and it would seem to have telegraphed what was to come.
I went and watched the 2019 final highlights again and now realize Soph wasn't the first to pull the shrug celly off in a final.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZX1vaFUhhM&t=60s