Still not sure a goddamn Bixby goal was enough of a consolation for sitting through 90 minutes of....THAT.
Whew. Thorns stay getting points, despite themselves. A terrible showing by literally everyone except probably Weaver. Tried to take the game on her back. The sloppiest game I can remember from this t…
Still not sure a goddamn Bixby goal was enough of a consolation for sitting through 90 minutes of....THAT.
Whew. Thorns stay getting points, despite themselves. A terrible showing by literally everyone except probably Weaver. Tried to take the game on her back. The sloppiest game I can remember from this team, and there was no excuse this time. A week of rest/training, at home with a good crowd, beautiful weather...and just, bad. Most everyone looked lethargic, sooo slow to the ball. Sinc was playing the 9/CF to start, and I never want to ever sit through 60 minutes of that again. Once Soph came in, she dropped back into the hole where she usually is...but she was just gassed. Can't believe has consistently pulled Hina and Dunn before Sinc. She's 40 in a month! I reeeeally wish he would put her on to close out matches...the subs could use the leadership on the field at that point. The buzz around Canada is that Sinc will likely be tasked with that 9 position for the WC, and, well, sorry Canada....we had I think 5 shots in the first half, and I don't think Sinc had any. Never up front again, please.
Norris' decision-making is increasingly frustrating and equally baffling. I think it's overly conservative for him to keep a healthy Sophia Smith on the bench for 60 or so minutes because she was traveling earlier in the day. I watched that first half and thought for sure he would pull Sinc, or at least put her back in midfield. Eventually Crystal kind of assumed a higher role, but still, it was a mess. One of the best midfields in the league, and the midfield was swiss cheese. I'm not sure I've seen so many misplaced passes and bad touches. What I said to my partner last night- "You know who we could use here? Lindsay Horan. We need someone in the midfield who can hold onto the damn ball!" I haven't said that in a long time...I have no idea what the plan is, but it's been so many games now that it doesn't seem like a bug, rather than a feature. The midfield has looked pretty terrible multiple games in a row now. Would like to see him do something different, because he's had plenty of data now with the same problems in multiple games. Also, he was a SET PIECE coach...c'mon coach, why isn't anyone marking or shielding Julie Ertz or Katie Johnson on those!? I called each goal before they happened in the stadium because that's what those players do! That was absolutely a foul on Bixby from Ertz, though. Goal should have never stood. This is not a homer opinion.
The backline was just....woof. Kuikka and Kling were just spraying misplaced balls everywhere, not connecting passes, and making terrible fouls. What happened?! Hina- still not a winger. Bella- double woof, but made up for it? Moultrie, a bright spot. That pass!!! My soul left my body on that play with Weaver. THAT is what the playmaker needs to do to connect with the forwards.
In other news....don't think I've seen OL Reign play so terribly, so I guess that's encouraging.....but LOU, what you doing?! You HAD it right there.....! They looked really sharp that first half. Really sharp!
In other other news....did anyone see/hear Julie Uhrman at the game last night?! Oh man, she had one of the fancy suites above 113-ish area with a bunch of people and she was just SCREAMING like top of her lungs constantly for AC. Everyone in my section was just staring at her like "who is this insane lady?!" Never wanted to have water balloons more in my life lol....
Anyways, this is quite the clusterfuck of thoughts from me lol....I still haven't wrapped my head around that game but I'm not sure I want to rewatch that one...next week, we head to North Carolina. I hope they can get back on track....
Sure, if she could only play half. It was obvious that attack as he had it was toothless. I thought for sure she'd come in at half, or at least he'd put on a forward who could run with Weaver. What's the point in having Weaver's strength and speed if Sinc is playing a central forward, but jogging behind the play?! Just like, the most mismatched pairing I've watched in a while....
Fluky is one game, but, this has been multiple games. At some point you can't call it fluky anymore if they keep showing up the same way...it's been 4 games they haven't played well. HOU/SD/LOU/AC. They've gotten points in some of these because of so much individual talent and a lot of luck.
I know things are changing now, but my old-school brain cant accept Smith not being available bc she had to go visit her boyfriend. If that really is the reason she didn’t play, then shame on either her or Norris or both, depending on whose call it was. Voluntarily Letting your team down like that should be a fineable offense. I still love watching her play, but if I’m honest I respect her as a player a little less. Yeah I know- end of old man rant.
Soph trained in Portland Friday morning was back before 10am Saturday morning. I don’t think people realize the sacrifices these players make. They have families and lives outside of soccer.
I gotta old man rant a little with Stefan though. Can you imagine the opposite happening? How many NFL games will the boyfriend miss because Smith has an important Nats game he would rather be at? My guess is zero.
Look, maybe she had the full support of every teammate and coach, it wasn't really important to them whether the best striker in the league was available for the game because she had other family stuff to do and they figure they are good enough to drop a couple of points along the way and it not matter for shield or playoff positioning.
It is also extremely generational. While I commend the younger generation for not letting their work define them, control them, the reality is that life is full of conflicts and choices, conflicting responsibilities. I have missed a ton of family things over the years because of work responsibilities, but try to make the most of the time that I do have. I am always annoyed when my equals come to me and expect a last minute schedule change because they personally want to do something other than work (which creates a ton of work for everyone else to cover for them) but some of them wouldn't help out others with the same request and would not be willing to be inconvenienced themselves to pay it back. Professional soccer is a bit different because there is no opportunity to pay it back.
She didn’t miss anything, she was there and ready to play. It was 100% the coaches decision. I’m sure her SO would not miss an NFL game to attend a family event but to be fair she did not miss a game either.
You are right (or at least consistent with what others have said, that she was only out of town for an overnight trip, back well before kickoff). I have to admit I don't follow her whereabouts on social media or as paparazzi, etc ;).
I was never a professional player, but in college the rule on my team was always no parties or substances the night before, in bed on time, stay completely on routine. San Diego is a short flight (I read elsewhere that is where Boyfriend's family is) but it is still 5 hours on a plane round trip, not sleeping in your own bed, nothing routine about it. Timing was not ideal for a finely tuned athlete to be in airports/traveling for 8-9 hours for a congratulatory together moment, quick sleep over and home. That said, this wasn't the reason we drew and nearly lost. That was on defensive blunder minded moments.
I remember reading a story about Marta, when Brazil got eliminated from some WWC or Olympic competition , showing up at Orlando Pride practice early the next week. Her coach essentially said don’t you want to take some time off? (Coach probably being used to many of the USWNT players who basically disappear with “knocks” after international play is done). She said no, you’re paying me to play soccer right? Well let’s play soccer. (As a disclaimer, This is all paraphrased and from memory) . That kind of baller attitude made me a fan immediately.
I don't usually like criticizing coaches for resting players....but it's borderline insane to not start Soph on full rest, weekend LA trip or no weekend LA trip.
I'll maintain that the main problem with the midfield is that, well, two of the midfielders don't actually really want to play midfield, and certainly not in the 8-6-8 style of 4-3-3 Norris plays. Sinc and Dunn essentially took turns at the 9 in the first half, leaving Rocky and Sam alone. Totally agree that we seem to be missing a Horan-type 8. I'd like to see more Moultrie and less Sinc/Dunn together.
It's also hard for me to blame the coach for garbage set piece marking- These are professional players! Do your jobs! Same with Bella on first goal and Natu on the foul that lead to the 2nd: Simply inexcusable individual mistakes leading *directly* to goals.
The Demelo red really screwed Louisville over- Too bad, but I'll certainly take a combined 1 point between Seattle and SD this weekend.
Yeah, I've gotten the vibe that he is a bit too overly cautious and conservative with it (except for with Sinc.) I'm happy he isn't Freya Coombe a la last season running his team into the ground, but, she had a week of rest and took a 2 hr flight to chill with her partner and eat catered Mexican food lol. At least give her half if she's healthy. She's had 8 goal contributions so far....we have to minimize that time she's not on the field, esp given that she will be gone in a couple months. We need to pick up points now!
SWAG he expected to roll ACFC early then bring her in to score and seal the deal. This requires not accepting they're a different and importantly, tougher team with Ertz, who has already asserted herself on that squad in an eyeblink. Thorns looked a little soft and disjointed in the first half.
Though Emslie had herself a really good game, too.
Yeah, our defense was atrocious, but the battle was lost in the midfield for sure...which may have been the most problematic. It's been that way for about 4 games now.
Wow, I have many thoughts lol....
Still not sure a goddamn Bixby goal was enough of a consolation for sitting through 90 minutes of....THAT.
Whew. Thorns stay getting points, despite themselves. A terrible showing by literally everyone except probably Weaver. Tried to take the game on her back. The sloppiest game I can remember from this team, and there was no excuse this time. A week of rest/training, at home with a good crowd, beautiful weather...and just, bad. Most everyone looked lethargic, sooo slow to the ball. Sinc was playing the 9/CF to start, and I never want to ever sit through 60 minutes of that again. Once Soph came in, she dropped back into the hole where she usually is...but she was just gassed. Can't believe has consistently pulled Hina and Dunn before Sinc. She's 40 in a month! I reeeeally wish he would put her on to close out matches...the subs could use the leadership on the field at that point. The buzz around Canada is that Sinc will likely be tasked with that 9 position for the WC, and, well, sorry Canada....we had I think 5 shots in the first half, and I don't think Sinc had any. Never up front again, please.
Norris' decision-making is increasingly frustrating and equally baffling. I think it's overly conservative for him to keep a healthy Sophia Smith on the bench for 60 or so minutes because she was traveling earlier in the day. I watched that first half and thought for sure he would pull Sinc, or at least put her back in midfield. Eventually Crystal kind of assumed a higher role, but still, it was a mess. One of the best midfields in the league, and the midfield was swiss cheese. I'm not sure I've seen so many misplaced passes and bad touches. What I said to my partner last night- "You know who we could use here? Lindsay Horan. We need someone in the midfield who can hold onto the damn ball!" I haven't said that in a long time...I have no idea what the plan is, but it's been so many games now that it doesn't seem like a bug, rather than a feature. The midfield has looked pretty terrible multiple games in a row now. Would like to see him do something different, because he's had plenty of data now with the same problems in multiple games. Also, he was a SET PIECE coach...c'mon coach, why isn't anyone marking or shielding Julie Ertz or Katie Johnson on those!? I called each goal before they happened in the stadium because that's what those players do! That was absolutely a foul on Bixby from Ertz, though. Goal should have never stood. This is not a homer opinion.
The backline was just....woof. Kuikka and Kling were just spraying misplaced balls everywhere, not connecting passes, and making terrible fouls. What happened?! Hina- still not a winger. Bella- double woof, but made up for it? Moultrie, a bright spot. That pass!!! My soul left my body on that play with Weaver. THAT is what the playmaker needs to do to connect with the forwards.
In other news....don't think I've seen OL Reign play so terribly, so I guess that's encouraging.....but LOU, what you doing?! You HAD it right there.....! They looked really sharp that first half. Really sharp!
In other other news....did anyone see/hear Julie Uhrman at the game last night?! Oh man, she had one of the fancy suites above 113-ish area with a bunch of people and she was just SCREAMING like top of her lungs constantly for AC. Everyone in my section was just staring at her like "who is this insane lady?!" Never wanted to have water balloons more in my life lol....
Anyways, this is quite the clusterfuck of thoughts from me lol....I still haven't wrapped my head around that game but I'm not sure I want to rewatch that one...next week, we head to North Carolina. I hope they can get back on track....
Still think not starting SS9 was the right call. I would of put her in at the start of second half though.
Yeah, have to hope it was a weird fluky game like the entire NWSL slate this week. Seems like there were upsets and weird results everywhere.
Team will have to rebound, clean up a few things, and get back to playing the soccer they are good at. They'll be back!
Sure, if she could only play half. It was obvious that attack as he had it was toothless. I thought for sure she'd come in at half, or at least he'd put on a forward who could run with Weaver. What's the point in having Weaver's strength and speed if Sinc is playing a central forward, but jogging behind the play?! Just like, the most mismatched pairing I've watched in a while....
Fluky is one game, but, this has been multiple games. At some point you can't call it fluky anymore if they keep showing up the same way...it's been 4 games they haven't played well. HOU/SD/LOU/AC. They've gotten points in some of these because of so much individual talent and a lot of luck.
I know things are changing now, but my old-school brain cant accept Smith not being available bc she had to go visit her boyfriend. If that really is the reason she didn’t play, then shame on either her or Norris or both, depending on whose call it was. Voluntarily Letting your team down like that should be a fineable offense. I still love watching her play, but if I’m honest I respect her as a player a little less. Yeah I know- end of old man rant.
Soph trained in Portland Friday morning was back before 10am Saturday morning. I don’t think people realize the sacrifices these players make. They have families and lives outside of soccer.
I gotta old man rant a little with Stefan though. Can you imagine the opposite happening? How many NFL games will the boyfriend miss because Smith has an important Nats game he would rather be at? My guess is zero.
Look, maybe she had the full support of every teammate and coach, it wasn't really important to them whether the best striker in the league was available for the game because she had other family stuff to do and they figure they are good enough to drop a couple of points along the way and it not matter for shield or playoff positioning.
It is also extremely generational. While I commend the younger generation for not letting their work define them, control them, the reality is that life is full of conflicts and choices, conflicting responsibilities. I have missed a ton of family things over the years because of work responsibilities, but try to make the most of the time that I do have. I am always annoyed when my equals come to me and expect a last minute schedule change because they personally want to do something other than work (which creates a ton of work for everyone else to cover for them) but some of them wouldn't help out others with the same request and would not be willing to be inconvenienced themselves to pay it back. Professional soccer is a bit different because there is no opportunity to pay it back.
She didn’t miss anything, she was there and ready to play. It was 100% the coaches decision. I’m sure her SO would not miss an NFL game to attend a family event but to be fair she did not miss a game either.
You are right (or at least consistent with what others have said, that she was only out of town for an overnight trip, back well before kickoff). I have to admit I don't follow her whereabouts on social media or as paparazzi, etc ;).
I was never a professional player, but in college the rule on my team was always no parties or substances the night before, in bed on time, stay completely on routine. San Diego is a short flight (I read elsewhere that is where Boyfriend's family is) but it is still 5 hours on a plane round trip, not sleeping in your own bed, nothing routine about it. Timing was not ideal for a finely tuned athlete to be in airports/traveling for 8-9 hours for a congratulatory together moment, quick sleep over and home. That said, this wasn't the reason we drew and nearly lost. That was on defensive blunder minded moments.
I remember reading a story about Marta, when Brazil got eliminated from some WWC or Olympic competition , showing up at Orlando Pride practice early the next week. Her coach essentially said don’t you want to take some time off? (Coach probably being used to many of the USWNT players who basically disappear with “knocks” after international play is done). She said no, you’re paying me to play soccer right? Well let’s play soccer. (As a disclaimer, This is all paraphrased and from memory) . That kind of baller attitude made me a fan immediately.
I don't usually like criticizing coaches for resting players....but it's borderline insane to not start Soph on full rest, weekend LA trip or no weekend LA trip.
I'll maintain that the main problem with the midfield is that, well, two of the midfielders don't actually really want to play midfield, and certainly not in the 8-6-8 style of 4-3-3 Norris plays. Sinc and Dunn essentially took turns at the 9 in the first half, leaving Rocky and Sam alone. Totally agree that we seem to be missing a Horan-type 8. I'd like to see more Moultrie and less Sinc/Dunn together.
It's also hard for me to blame the coach for garbage set piece marking- These are professional players! Do your jobs! Same with Bella on first goal and Natu on the foul that lead to the 2nd: Simply inexcusable individual mistakes leading *directly* to goals.
The Demelo red really screwed Louisville over- Too bad, but I'll certainly take a combined 1 point between Seattle and SD this weekend.
Yeah, I've gotten the vibe that he is a bit too overly cautious and conservative with it (except for with Sinc.) I'm happy he isn't Freya Coombe a la last season running his team into the ground, but, she had a week of rest and took a 2 hr flight to chill with her partner and eat catered Mexican food lol. At least give her half if she's healthy. She's had 8 goal contributions so far....we have to minimize that time she's not on the field, esp given that she will be gone in a couple months. We need to pick up points now!
SWAG he expected to roll ACFC early then bring her in to score and seal the deal. This requires not accepting they're a different and importantly, tougher team with Ertz, who has already asserted herself on that squad in an eyeblink. Thorns looked a little soft and disjointed in the first half.
Though Emslie had herself a really good game, too.
ACFC just outworked us. Better tempo, better marking, won the midfield most of the night. And what’s troubling, to me at least, they shouldn’t have.
Yeah, our defense was atrocious, but the battle was lost in the midfield for sure...which may have been the most problematic. It's been that way for about 4 games now.