I'll have everybody know that I quite literally almost ran into Hina Sugita at the PSU farmer's market this morning and was incredibly awkward bc I have no idea how much english she understands, but I told her congrats on the award and gl in playoffs! But she was just as smiley and sweet as you'd expect!
Oh, and here’s just the perfectly adorable Hina-Sincy moment. At Sinc’s post match presser she takes a question (from someone we can’t see) but it’s Sugita-senshu. In this very hesitant tone she asks “Who will you miss the most…” at which there’s some crosstalk before Hina-san adds in an ever smaller voice “…and why is it me?”
I died from Utter Sweetness Overload.
FWIW the answer is that Sinc just thinks Hina-san is the Best Nicest locker buddy she’s ever had.
If you’re searching the Q&A comes at about 18:30 on the YouTube recording.
I think she might understand quite a bit but be reticent to speak if she feels self-conscious about her proficiency (e.g. I have a tiny smattering of Japanese from my kendo, but my accent is atrocious so I prefer to accompany a bow with “good morning” rather than “ohaio gomazu”.). So she probably understood your good wishes even if she didn’t answer directly…
But yes, even if Hina-senshu has amassed a decent amount of English, she might be self-conscious about using it in front of native speakers she's not friends with. I'm still like that, absolutely convinced I'll screw up even on stuff I know pretty well.
See? Like I said; I suck at basic Japanese even after years of being immersed in one of the most Japanese martial arts evah. So I totally get the reticence.
I can sing twinkle twinkle little star in Japanese and that's about it lol. A strange vestige of a young brain because a childhood best friend grew up in Okinawa.
But yes, I know she has likely picked up decent understanding the past few years.....but I do remember Rhian saying she knew 0 English when she came. I tried to keep it short, mostly because I just didn't wanna be weird lol.
Hina has been around here long enough to be fluent in English. There is a lot of down time for players that would give her the opportunity to take ESL classes. Then there's the fact that, unlike the United States, most countries in the world have learning teaching a second language as part of regular school.
Absolutely true. But take it from someone who lives in Japan: Japanese schools' English teaching is shockingly bad for the most part, geared towards passing a basic exam (and promptly forgetting almost everything...). Especially away from "attractors" (places where the tourist industry draws English speakers) like Kyoto or the more central parts of Tokyo, the large majority of Japanese people have only a smattering of English phrases in their vocabulary.
Moreover, English is _hard_ for Japanese speakers (and vice-versa: I'm working hard for very modest progress in Japanese language school, and that's only partly down to me being "chotto baka"...a bit of an idiot). The very different grammatical structure, English's notorious inconsistencies, a new character set (albeit a simple one compared to Japanese's more-complex three), and pronunciation challenges make it difficult. The only advantage is that of Japanese's tons of "borrow words" imported from other languages, the large majority are from English; this kind of "preloads" their vocabulary of English words.
Okay, lots of rambling to just point out that while Hina has certainly learned some English, she may not necessarily be all that fluent.
I took a couple community college "adult learning" classes in Japanese several years ago. Yep. It is way different than English. Then it occurred to me that I never learn to read or write...so I switched to French.
I lived in Yokohama for 3 years in the mid 60’s (Navy brat) and had a fair amount of contact with Japanese nationals and I picked up only a handful of common phrases. Tough language to learn for sure.
You can see a bit of bruising still, but I was def not paying attention mostly because I am socially awkward lol. She had flowers and a coffee and was just standing there taking it all in. I think a lot of players go to this farmer's market....I've seen pics from multiple players being here!
Maybe Hina was waiting for her but I didn't see her. Tbf the PSU farmer's market is absolutely bumpin' and I kinda got tunnel vision when I saw Hina lol, and then I ran away quickly because I am weird.
Do we think that, at this point, a lack of any sort of word from Kling and Sauerbrunn indicates that they both plan to return next year? Sinc may be THE goat, but Kling and Sauerbrunn are also even-toed ungulates who deserve a proper fan send-off.
You know what, I've been thinking about it, and I do think there is a possibility that was Kling's last game. I thought it was interesting last night that it was her who subbed in for Sinc (even though I think she was on the IR for a possible calf injury.) The Riveters also held up a Kling jersey when she came on (maybe they know something...) But I've been seeing a lot of pictures posted from last night and I see Kling really losing it in a lot of them. Craig Mitchelldyer (former Thorns photog) posted several on IG and there's a really sweet one of Becky comforting her. It was during the rose ceremony, in particular when the team was holding hands/swinging arms and there's pictures where she's just losin' it. It reminded me of seeing Horan looking distraught on her last walk-around at PP after we lost to Chicago in the playoffs...and then soon after we found out she was leaving. With Kling, it made me wonder if she knows that was maybe her last game as well. I sure hope not. I hope she gives supporters a chance to celebrate her as well...
Yeah I just went and looked. She did say she had no inside knowledge or anything, just that her contract hasn’t been renewed…
Becky’s contract hasn’t been renewed yet either but I can’t imagine she’s retiring…nor could I imagine not re-signing her if she still wants to play. That would be actually insane.
There are still a ton of players who are out of contract at the end of the season: Kling, Becky, Bella, Hubly, Provenzano, Asman, Hirst, McKenzie, Sheva, Kozal. I do imagine we part ways with some or many of these but not all of ‘em. I imagine KK should still be doing a lot of this work now, until the end of the season when she’s out. Otherwise, the new GM is gonna have a hell of an off-season to get through. Tons of new contracts, lots of dead weight, a retirement, and definite need to upgrade the roster with several elite players needed, as well as good depth. Hopefully Karina is making that job a little easier by doing some of the re-signing/housekeeping work now!
My guess is that this offseason is going to be pretty chaotic. Unless the squad runs the playoff table I have to think it’s getting a new gaffer. We know they’re getting a new GM. I’m guessing there’s already some roster moves planned.
So I’ll bet there’s going to be more than the usual interval w no signings news. FO might do handshake deals rather than commit new GM/HC to contracts they might want to negate before next season..?
So I might not want to read TOO much into the immediate lack of renewals/offers. Could be something…but also might not.
A couple of years ago Sauerbrunn said that as long as a team will have her, she'll play.
It is my wish that Kling would retire of her own accord. Were it me, if I once was a regular starter when the day came that I wasn't, that is when I would retire. Kling has won every championship that is available (World Cup, NWSL, I don't recall if Olympic gold is another).
Personally, I get a sense of satisfaction when a player goes out on their own terms.
This is why I feel conflicted about Sinclair. Going out after the 2022 NWSL Championship Championship would have been perfect.
I don't think Kling has an Olympic gold medal. She wasn't on this year's team, and the last time we won, in 2012, she was an alternate. I don't think alternates get a medal unless they make the bench (or the field) at least once, and I don't think Kling did.
So…I tend to agree on Kling. Big, big part of the 2016-17 run, team huddle ranter, overall (as Sinc emphasized) “team spirit animal”. She deserves her own “send-off night” similar to what Sinc got.
Brunn? Sorta. She seems like terrific people and does deserve a salute when she hangs ‘em up.
But she’s played many more games - and bigger games - for the Kroyals in whatever form they took, FCKC or Utah, than she has for us. I’m not sure how she sees herself. But I still remember the goddamn goal she scored against us for Utah. I just can’t see her the same way I see Kling, or Sinc.
Great player? Ohhellyes. Great “Portland” player? I’d say “kinda”.
I understand this line of thinking with Sauerbrunn, but I would love to give her the benefit of the doubt of being a leader and stabilizing force on this team (and with the players union) while we were going through our mess.
Super, SUPER bummed to have had to miss that one live, but seemed like an awesome occasion and obviously an important result.
Gonna be real brave here and make it known that I think having Soph, Weaver, and Hina in the same lineup is pretty important! This is not a defense of Gale who has done the opposite of elevating the talent he's had available, but sometimes it can be as simple as "having your best players on the field = good." Not that anyone should have needed reminding, but Sophia Smith is really, really, REALLY damn good and her presence alone frees things up for everyone else.
Speaking of Soph Pt. 1: She's right. Angles are often deceiving, but I don't think this could be any more obvious. I don't blame her for rage-tweeting at 7 AM the morning after a 3-0 win. https://x.com/sophsssmith/status/1852713310476779590
Super bummed to miss that as well. I had a ticket, but I also had the worst instance of insomnia I've had in decades and it ruined my whole day.
Many, many thanks for both links. That offsides call is galling, and all the more so w/ VAR at their disposal.
And I was really hoping someone would link that interview clip. As impressed as I am by her play (and I think she's already the most dominant pro athlete in the city's history), it's her thoughtful, genuine and enormously good-hearted nature that makes it all the more thrilling to follow her career at this close vantage.
The offside call was a whole lot closer than that Xeet makes it appear - there's really deceptive perspective going on there - but I measured with lines in a freeze-frame and it still looked like she was onside. But only by inches, and if I was slightly wrong in either timing or measuring, she could have been off. Still think she was on though.
I forget where I saw it, but someone did actual photogrammetry lines for this one and it was pretty clearly onside even if it that particular angle is a little deceptive. Like, very easily a clear and obvious error. Hell, even the back angle that they showed during the broadcast (which is more biased the other way) makes her look onside.
The biggest problem is that they have overturned other (much tighter) offside calls using the same angles. If they’re not going to use the tech, they have to be consistent with how they apply the clear and obvious metric.
I love his Wonka; it’s so dangerously unhinged. From that entrance thru most of the flick it’s debatable whether the character is or isn’t some sort of semilethal madman, which totally makes it worth watching.
Pretty good as a comment on our making the postseason, too…
I read somewhere that Gene Wilder insisted on doing his introduction as Willy Wonka that way. The director didn't want to do it but Wilder insisted on it, because it would leave audiences guessing for the rest of the movie about whether or not he's lying. I'd say it worked.
I had to look it up; the director is someone named Mel Stuart, who seems to have been a sort of journeyman. Did a bunch of "Making of the President" flicks in the before-CNN-times when people went to that sort of stuff. TV movies, plus the awesomely named "Call of the Wild - Sex in the Animal Kingdom" in 2003.
Why the producers of a Roald Dahl fantasy novel would tap somebody so normie to direct the picture I have NO idea. But I can totally imagine Stuart being completely baffled by what Wilder was doing.
Interestingly, the Wikipedia entry for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" says that Dahl - who wrote the screenplay for the film - didn't like that the producers/director made the flick about the Wonka character instead of his kid protagonist.
Which just goes to show that great writers can be irrationally wedded to their creations, because who the hell wants more of Peter Ostrum playing the gruesomely loveable little Charlie Bucket when you can have Gene Wilder going mad, bad, and dangerous to know as the lunatic candymaker?
Ya know, as much as this season was largely a disappointment, the Thorns still gave me some unforgettable soccer memories this year: Gale’s first win, beating Orlando, and Sinc’s big send-off.
Bonus memories: Soph’s ball/bench hijinks, Coffey plowing through the ref, Sinc getting to score in her last game at Christine Sinclair Place.
Wow that game was everything emotional, exciting and remembering why we love these young women so much. Sinc was magisterial, what an exit! Hina; have we ever missed you! Actually, the midfield was so good all in their own way had great games. I think they all turned it up an extra notch for Sinclair as you can see she means a lot to Sam, Hina and Jessie of course. The fullbacks had their hands full with Angel City, but Wow is Payne fast or what! There was one play where Alyssa Thompson blew by her and Payne caught up enough to force a bad shot. Müller had her usual good game and Angel City is two deep in every attacking position. Plus a clean sheet. Soph and Weaver on the field at the same time was great to see unless you are a AC defender. Now lets hope for some NWSL chaos in the playoffs, Orlando deserves to win, but the NWSL doesn't always roll that way and as they say the ball is round.
I have thoughts! (Been away from a proper keyboard for days and can't do the blur-thumb typing thing anybody born after 2000 does with zero effort.)
Thorns are presently in FIRST KEN WIN mode. Honestly believe this squad can face up against anybody, provided Ken sets them up to win. Will you do that for us all, Rob? Pretty please? PLEASE? Good god that monsoon match was so fun, so gratifying. Thorns playing with joy and purpose.
Know hope. Thorns can go on the road and grab a playoff win. Narrator: this is not a prediction.
Probably about the best result all things considered. Worst home crowd by far, no Chawinga/Rodman, have played Gotham decently. Still don't think they have an upset in them, but I like this matchup a little better on paper.
(plus, better chance of a home playoff game if shit gets wild!)
We've been a pretty poor matchup to them before now, and Gotham has been kind of on a tear since early September. I'm not sure this squad can reliably beat any top-four team, but of those we've done better against Washington than the other three...
They played Washington really well (in the first half at least) and won during the initial Gale run, but that was before the Spirit hit their stride under Giraldez. If we’re talking recent results, they got absolutely whipped by an undermanned Spirit team in the game where Santos scored that last minute winner- Single game xG isn’t always reliable, but the Spirit did have like 4 xG in that game alone if I remember correctly. I won’t argue too much if you think Washington’s a better matchup especially given their injuries, but I’m more scared of Washington’s high press and attacking speed than Gotham’s slow build. Gotham also always plays that suicidal high line against Smith, which has given them big trouble in the past.
Ultimately, I don’t really think it matters because it’s unlikely, as you say, that they beat any of them on the road
Gotham are a better version of themselves since the first time we met them, as they have added Berger and Carter. But, we should be better than we were back on August 24, as we were without Smith and Weaver, Obaze didn't play at all, and we were still at the point of starting Spaanstra. We should at least be deeper and back to full health. What we cannot do is fall behind early, as we did on August 24. We have to give ourselves a chance, even if it's just a puncher's chance, to win.
We never do very well against Gotham though, do we? This year we lost to them twice, and I don't remember many happy outcomes in previous years either. Didn't they dump us out of the playoffs last year?
I think they’ve played Gotham a little more closely than the results indicate. Really should have won both the semi last season and the early season game this year.
Again, there’s not one of the top 4 that I feel even remotely confident about getting a result against, but I’m more scared of the current version of the Spirit because of the matchup issues their attackers create. Plus, as I mentioned below, Gotham insist on playing a super high line and Soph tends to eat on those.
In reality, it’s been a while since we’ve been fully healthy. Whether it’s enough to upset Gotham is another story, but it’s no more unrealistic than a Gotham team coming into Portland and winning in 2023 after their struggles.
Tbf I don’t think anyone thought we were beating Gotham in the semi last season after how the regular season ended. Better comp might be when we lost the shield in 2022 by drawing that awful Gotham side away on the last day.
Whoa, North Korea won the U-17 Women's World Cup. They and Spain tied 1-1 in regulation, nobody scored in extra time, and the Norks won the PK shootout 4-3. Didn't see that coming.
Also, the US beat England 3-0 in the bronze-medal match.
Underrated random insane sports fact is that North Korea have the most successful women’s U-17 program of all time —I’m serious, look it up!— but none of their players ever get to play pro anywhere cause, well, ya know, the North Korea of it all.
That is a really interesting factoid. I wonder why it doesn’t predict the success of the Nort’s women’s teams?
A question for David? I realize I am a super Hina fanboy and don’t know that much about the talent on the Nadeshiko, but why is Hina no longer in favor for the national team? She is such a brilliant player. At the last SBC that she played in I thought she was their best midfield player. Full disclosure, I am not an unbiased judge.
To my considerable disappointment, Japan's Little Nadeshiko choked in the penalty shootout v a somewhat overmatched England (and it should never have gotten to that: they allowed England to equalize...twice). Otherwise I think my prediction of a NK v Japan final would have played out. I don't see this Spain U17 team beating Japan...they don't have the defensive composure, and this particular Little Nadeshiko iteration is relentless in the attack.
NK are probably the best U17 team on the planet right now (that is, the WWC title is well-deserved). Japan would have had a good chance, as they have probably the best U17 player in the word in Shinjo, but the Norks have no real weaknesses in their defensive shape and cohesion. They're not a brilliant attacking side and play that Swedish style anti-football at times, but it works.
Checking in from the devil's anteroom, Wakemed Soccer Park where visiting Spirit are running the hosts ragged, but only lead 0-1 at the half. Can't say if they're resting starters while Spirit aren't. Trin is in.
Anyhoo, place is packed and I'll bet thousands are still stuck in the line for parking.
I’d argue our best chance is against Gotham, just because they don’t have the transition speed that we always struggle against. Definitely don’t want to see Chawinga and Rodman and Kouassi aren’t much better even if they’re missing Sullivan.
(It also gives us the best chance of hosting a game on the off chance the Thorns win and someone springs an upset)
Although... KC is locked into finishing 4th now, so they have nothing to play for and might (smartly) decide to rest their starters protect against injuries. Chicago, meanwhile, needs to win to avoid having to go to Orlando on Friday- that's good motivation!
I'll have everybody know that I quite literally almost ran into Hina Sugita at the PSU farmer's market this morning and was incredibly awkward bc I have no idea how much english she understands, but I told her congrats on the award and gl in playoffs! But she was just as smiley and sweet as you'd expect!
Oh, and here’s just the perfectly adorable Hina-Sincy moment. At Sinc’s post match presser she takes a question (from someone we can’t see) but it’s Sugita-senshu. In this very hesitant tone she asks “Who will you miss the most…” at which there’s some crosstalk before Hina-san adds in an ever smaller voice “…and why is it me?”
I died from Utter Sweetness Overload.
FWIW the answer is that Sinc just thinks Hina-san is the Best Nicest locker buddy she’s ever had.
If you’re searching the Q&A comes at about 18:30 on the YouTube recording.
I think she might understand quite a bit but be reticent to speak if she feels self-conscious about her proficiency (e.g. I have a tiny smattering of Japanese from my kendo, but my accent is atrocious so I prefer to accompany a bow with “good morning” rather than “ohaio gomazu”.). So she probably understood your good wishes even if she didn’t answer directly…
That's "gozaimasu." Sorry...couldn't resist. ;)
ジョンさんもおはようございます、友よ!
But yes, even if Hina-senshu has amassed a decent amount of English, she might be self-conscious about using it in front of native speakers she's not friends with. I'm still like that, absolutely convinced I'll screw up even on stuff I know pretty well.
See? Like I said; I suck at basic Japanese even after years of being immersed in one of the most Japanese martial arts evah. So I totally get the reticence.
Probably more English than your Japanese, if I had to wager.
I can sing twinkle twinkle little star in Japanese and that's about it lol. A strange vestige of a young brain because a childhood best friend grew up in Okinawa.
But yes, I know she has likely picked up decent understanding the past few years.....but I do remember Rhian saying she knew 0 English when she came. I tried to keep it short, mostly because I just didn't wanna be weird lol.
Hina has been around here long enough to be fluent in English. There is a lot of down time for players that would give her the opportunity to take ESL classes. Then there's the fact that, unlike the United States, most countries in the world have learning teaching a second language as part of regular school.
And I believe that in Japan students are required to take at least a few years of English.
Absolutely true. But take it from someone who lives in Japan: Japanese schools' English teaching is shockingly bad for the most part, geared towards passing a basic exam (and promptly forgetting almost everything...). Especially away from "attractors" (places where the tourist industry draws English speakers) like Kyoto or the more central parts of Tokyo, the large majority of Japanese people have only a smattering of English phrases in their vocabulary.
Moreover, English is _hard_ for Japanese speakers (and vice-versa: I'm working hard for very modest progress in Japanese language school, and that's only partly down to me being "chotto baka"...a bit of an idiot). The very different grammatical structure, English's notorious inconsistencies, a new character set (albeit a simple one compared to Japanese's more-complex three), and pronunciation challenges make it difficult. The only advantage is that of Japanese's tons of "borrow words" imported from other languages, the large majority are from English; this kind of "preloads" their vocabulary of English words.
Okay, lots of rambling to just point out that while Hina has certainly learned some English, she may not necessarily be all that fluent.
I took a couple community college "adult learning" classes in Japanese several years ago. Yep. It is way different than English. Then it occurred to me that I never learn to read or write...so I switched to French.
I lived in Yokohama for 3 years in the mid 60’s (Navy brat) and had a fair amount of contact with Japanese nationals and I picked up only a handful of common phrases. Tough language to learn for sure.
Yay!! How’s her face looking?
You can see a bit of bruising still, but I was def not paying attention mostly because I am socially awkward lol. She had flowers and a coffee and was just standing there taking it all in. I think a lot of players go to this farmer's market....I've seen pics from multiple players being here!
And was Provenzano not escorting her!? (And Is that the real reason we keep re-signing her? Because if so, worth it)
Maybe Hina was waiting for her but I didn't see her. Tbf the PSU farmer's market is absolutely bumpin' and I kinda got tunnel vision when I saw Hina lol, and then I ran away quickly because I am weird.
Do we think that, at this point, a lack of any sort of word from Kling and Sauerbrunn indicates that they both plan to return next year? Sinc may be THE goat, but Kling and Sauerbrunn are also even-toed ungulates who deserve a proper fan send-off.
I remember years ago Kling saying something to the effect that if the Thorns ever traded her she would just retire. A true loyal Thorn.
Edit: found it. https://x.com/OregonianSports/status/1044573495018115072
You know what, I've been thinking about it, and I do think there is a possibility that was Kling's last game. I thought it was interesting last night that it was her who subbed in for Sinc (even though I think she was on the IR for a possible calf injury.) The Riveters also held up a Kling jersey when she came on (maybe they know something...) But I've been seeing a lot of pictures posted from last night and I see Kling really losing it in a lot of them. Craig Mitchelldyer (former Thorns photog) posted several on IG and there's a really sweet one of Becky comforting her. It was during the rose ceremony, in particular when the team was holding hands/swinging arms and there's pictures where she's just losin' it. It reminded me of seeing Horan looking distraught on her last walk-around at PP after we lost to Chicago in the playoffs...and then soon after we found out she was leaving. With Kling, it made me wonder if she knows that was maybe her last game as well. I sure hope not. I hope she gives supporters a chance to celebrate her as well...
I do think Becky is def sticking around, though.
Sun Daze over on X is saying Kling's contract was not renewed.
Pointing out that nothing will probably be known officially about her situation until playoffs end. This might be it though.
Yeah I just went and looked. She did say she had no inside knowledge or anything, just that her contract hasn’t been renewed…
Becky’s contract hasn’t been renewed yet either but I can’t imagine she’s retiring…nor could I imagine not re-signing her if she still wants to play. That would be actually insane.
There are still a ton of players who are out of contract at the end of the season: Kling, Becky, Bella, Hubly, Provenzano, Asman, Hirst, McKenzie, Sheva, Kozal. I do imagine we part ways with some or many of these but not all of ‘em. I imagine KK should still be doing a lot of this work now, until the end of the season when she’s out. Otherwise, the new GM is gonna have a hell of an off-season to get through. Tons of new contracts, lots of dead weight, a retirement, and definite need to upgrade the roster with several elite players needed, as well as good depth. Hopefully Karina is making that job a little easier by doing some of the re-signing/housekeeping work now!
My guess is that this offseason is going to be pretty chaotic. Unless the squad runs the playoff table I have to think it’s getting a new gaffer. We know they’re getting a new GM. I’m guessing there’s already some roster moves planned.
So I’ll bet there’s going to be more than the usual interval w no signings news. FO might do handshake deals rather than commit new GM/HC to contracts they might want to negate before next season..?
So I might not want to read TOO much into the immediate lack of renewals/offers. Could be something…but also might not.
I wondered about both those details too. Have we *ever* seen Kling as a sub from Sinc?
Yeah why not Turner? She was warming up…
Kling, those tears in her tribute to Sinc probably weren't just about Sinc's departure.
A couple of years ago Sauerbrunn said that as long as a team will have her, she'll play.
It is my wish that Kling would retire of her own accord. Were it me, if I once was a regular starter when the day came that I wasn't, that is when I would retire. Kling has won every championship that is available (World Cup, NWSL, I don't recall if Olympic gold is another).
Personally, I get a sense of satisfaction when a player goes out on their own terms.
This is why I feel conflicted about Sinclair. Going out after the 2022 NWSL Championship Championship would have been perfect.
I don't think Kling has an Olympic gold medal. She wasn't on this year's team, and the last time we won, in 2012, she was an alternate. I don't think alternates get a medal unless they make the bench (or the field) at least once, and I don't think Kling did.
What? You're saying Kling and Sauerbrunn both have an extra toe on each foot?
:-)
So…I tend to agree on Kling. Big, big part of the 2016-17 run, team huddle ranter, overall (as Sinc emphasized) “team spirit animal”. She deserves her own “send-off night” similar to what Sinc got.
Brunn? Sorta. She seems like terrific people and does deserve a salute when she hangs ‘em up.
But she’s played many more games - and bigger games - for the Kroyals in whatever form they took, FCKC or Utah, than she has for us. I’m not sure how she sees herself. But I still remember the goddamn goal she scored against us for Utah. I just can’t see her the same way I see Kling, or Sinc.
Great player? Ohhellyes. Great “Portland” player? I’d say “kinda”.
I understand this line of thinking with Sauerbrunn, but I would love to give her the benefit of the doubt of being a leader and stabilizing force on this team (and with the players union) while we were going through our mess.
I hope we give her the send off she wants.
Super, SUPER bummed to have had to miss that one live, but seemed like an awesome occasion and obviously an important result.
Gonna be real brave here and make it known that I think having Soph, Weaver, and Hina in the same lineup is pretty important! This is not a defense of Gale who has done the opposite of elevating the talent he's had available, but sometimes it can be as simple as "having your best players on the field = good." Not that anyone should have needed reminding, but Sophia Smith is really, really, REALLY damn good and her presence alone frees things up for everyone else.
Speaking of Soph Pt. 1: She's right. Angles are often deceiving, but I don't think this could be any more obvious. I don't blame her for rage-tweeting at 7 AM the morning after a 3-0 win. https://x.com/sophsssmith/status/1852713310476779590
Speaking of Soph Pt. 2: This is adorably sweet and hopefully a passing of the torch https://x.com/SportsonPrime/status/1852565000474284159
Super bummed to miss that as well. I had a ticket, but I also had the worst instance of insomnia I've had in decades and it ruined my whole day.
Many, many thanks for both links. That offsides call is galling, and all the more so w/ VAR at their disposal.
And I was really hoping someone would link that interview clip. As impressed as I am by her play (and I think she's already the most dominant pro athlete in the city's history), it's her thoughtful, genuine and enormously good-hearted nature that makes it all the more thrilling to follow her career at this close vantage.
The offside call was a whole lot closer than that Xeet makes it appear - there's really deceptive perspective going on there - but I measured with lines in a freeze-frame and it still looked like she was onside. But only by inches, and if I was slightly wrong in either timing or measuring, she could have been off. Still think she was on though.
Glad it didn't matter.
I forget where I saw it, but someone did actual photogrammetry lines for this one and it was pretty clearly onside even if it that particular angle is a little deceptive. Like, very easily a clear and obvious error. Hell, even the back angle that they showed during the broadcast (which is more biased the other way) makes her look onside.
The biggest problem is that they have overturned other (much tighter) offside calls using the same angles. If they’re not going to use the tech, they have to be consistent with how they apply the clear and obvious metric.
Also this is hilarious:
https://x.com/838_carlisle/status/1852560936978014326
I love his Wonka; it’s so dangerously unhinged. From that entrance thru most of the flick it’s debatable whether the character is or isn’t some sort of semilethal madman, which totally makes it worth watching.
Pretty good as a comment on our making the postseason, too…
I read somewhere that Gene Wilder insisted on doing his introduction as Willy Wonka that way. The director didn't want to do it but Wilder insisted on it, because it would leave audiences guessing for the rest of the movie about whether or not he's lying. I'd say it worked.
I had to look it up; the director is someone named Mel Stuart, who seems to have been a sort of journeyman. Did a bunch of "Making of the President" flicks in the before-CNN-times when people went to that sort of stuff. TV movies, plus the awesomely named "Call of the Wild - Sex in the Animal Kingdom" in 2003.
Why the producers of a Roald Dahl fantasy novel would tap somebody so normie to direct the picture I have NO idea. But I can totally imagine Stuart being completely baffled by what Wilder was doing.
Interestingly, the Wikipedia entry for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" says that Dahl - who wrote the screenplay for the film - didn't like that the producers/director made the flick about the Wonka character instead of his kid protagonist.
Which just goes to show that great writers can be irrationally wedded to their creations, because who the hell wants more of Peter Ostrum playing the gruesomely loveable little Charlie Bucket when you can have Gene Wilder going mad, bad, and dangerous to know as the lunatic candymaker?
Literally my favorite movie moment, and one I hope to recreate one day in my own life.
https://youtu.be/7Yq4mUKtPbI?t=28&si=c4Q5OmBxlCjRGpgQ
Ya know, as much as this season was largely a disappointment, the Thorns still gave me some unforgettable soccer memories this year: Gale’s first win, beating Orlando, and Sinc’s big send-off.
Bonus memories: Soph’s ball/bench hijinks, Coffey plowing through the ref, Sinc getting to score in her last game at Christine Sinclair Place.
Wow that game was everything emotional, exciting and remembering why we love these young women so much. Sinc was magisterial, what an exit! Hina; have we ever missed you! Actually, the midfield was so good all in their own way had great games. I think they all turned it up an extra notch for Sinclair as you can see she means a lot to Sam, Hina and Jessie of course. The fullbacks had their hands full with Angel City, but Wow is Payne fast or what! There was one play where Alyssa Thompson blew by her and Payne caught up enough to force a bad shot. Müller had her usual good game and Angel City is two deep in every attacking position. Plus a clean sheet. Soph and Weaver on the field at the same time was great to see unless you are a AC defender. Now lets hope for some NWSL chaos in the playoffs, Orlando deserves to win, but the NWSL doesn't always roll that way and as they say the ball is round.
For what it's worth...
https://ibb.co/MG1TsMp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEwm0fv7OBA
I have thoughts! (Been away from a proper keyboard for days and can't do the blur-thumb typing thing anybody born after 2000 does with zero effort.)
Thorns are presently in FIRST KEN WIN mode. Honestly believe this squad can face up against anybody, provided Ken sets them up to win. Will you do that for us all, Rob? Pretty please? PLEASE? Good god that monsoon match was so fun, so gratifying. Thorns playing with joy and purpose.
Know hope. Thorns can go on the road and grab a playoff win. Narrator: this is not a prediction.
Thorns are going to Gotham. Sunday Noon Scheduled kickoff, game is on scheduled to be on ABC.
Playoffs are now locked in.
Probably about the best result all things considered. Worst home crowd by far, no Chawinga/Rodman, have played Gotham decently. Still don't think they have an upset in them, but I like this matchup a little better on paper.
(plus, better chance of a home playoff game if shit gets wild!)
We've been a pretty poor matchup to them before now, and Gotham has been kind of on a tear since early September. I'm not sure this squad can reliably beat any top-four team, but of those we've done better against Washington than the other three...
They played Washington really well (in the first half at least) and won during the initial Gale run, but that was before the Spirit hit their stride under Giraldez. If we’re talking recent results, they got absolutely whipped by an undermanned Spirit team in the game where Santos scored that last minute winner- Single game xG isn’t always reliable, but the Spirit did have like 4 xG in that game alone if I remember correctly. I won’t argue too much if you think Washington’s a better matchup especially given their injuries, but I’m more scared of Washington’s high press and attacking speed than Gotham’s slow build. Gotham also always plays that suicidal high line against Smith, which has given them big trouble in the past.
Ultimately, I don’t really think it matters because it’s unlikely, as you say, that they beat any of them on the road
Gotham are a better version of themselves since the first time we met them, as they have added Berger and Carter. But, we should be better than we were back on August 24, as we were without Smith and Weaver, Obaze didn't play at all, and we were still at the point of starting Spaanstra. We should at least be deeper and back to full health. What we cannot do is fall behind early, as we did on August 24. We have to give ourselves a chance, even if it's just a puncher's chance, to win.
I thought that Carter and Berger played the last time we played them though I will acknowledge I have been watching more casually than in past years.
They did. Gotham are stronger than they were at the start of the season. We're stronger than we were when we faced Gotham on Aug 24.
We never do very well against Gotham though, do we? This year we lost to them twice, and I don't remember many happy outcomes in previous years either. Didn't they dump us out of the playoffs last year?
I think they’ve played Gotham a little more closely than the results indicate. Really should have won both the semi last season and the early season game this year.
Again, there’s not one of the top 4 that I feel even remotely confident about getting a result against, but I’m more scared of the current version of the Spirit because of the matchup issues their attackers create. Plus, as I mentioned below, Gotham insist on playing a super high line and Soph tends to eat on those.
In reality, it’s been a while since we’ve been fully healthy. Whether it’s enough to upset Gotham is another story, but it’s no more unrealistic than a Gotham team coming into Portland and winning in 2023 after their struggles.
Tbf I don’t think anyone thought we were beating Gotham in the semi last season after how the regular season ended. Better comp might be when we lost the shield in 2022 by drawing that awful Gotham side away on the last day.
So at the end of The Offseason FC Episode 2, Kelli Hubly says, "I want to have a baby before 30, I'm 29."
Just an interesting note that I hope our future GM is aware of...
I hope a certain Timbers midfielder is aware of it! First ever ptfc baby?
Haha she does imply her boyfriend is aware of this plan.
Whoa, North Korea won the U-17 Women's World Cup. They and Spain tied 1-1 in regulation, nobody scored in extra time, and the Norks won the PK shootout 4-3. Didn't see that coming.
Also, the US beat England 3-0 in the bronze-medal match.
Underrated random insane sports fact is that North Korea have the most successful women’s U-17 program of all time —I’m serious, look it up!— but none of their players ever get to play pro anywhere cause, well, ya know, the North Korea of it all.
That is a really interesting factoid. I wonder why it doesn’t predict the success of the Nort’s women’s teams?
A question for David? I realize I am a super Hina fanboy and don’t know that much about the talent on the Nadeshiko, but why is Hina no longer in favor for the national team? She is such a brilliant player. At the last SBC that she played in I thought she was their best midfield player. Full disclosure, I am not an unbiased judge.
Well, primarily because it's North Korea so they don't have a pro league their players can play in lol
To my considerable disappointment, Japan's Little Nadeshiko choked in the penalty shootout v a somewhat overmatched England (and it should never have gotten to that: they allowed England to equalize...twice). Otherwise I think my prediction of a NK v Japan final would have played out. I don't see this Spain U17 team beating Japan...they don't have the defensive composure, and this particular Little Nadeshiko iteration is relentless in the attack.
NK are probably the best U17 team on the planet right now (that is, the WWC title is well-deserved). Japan would have had a good chance, as they have probably the best U17 player in the word in Shinjo, but the Norks have no real weaknesses in their defensive shape and cohesion. They're not a brilliant attacking side and play that Swedish style anti-football at times, but it works.
Checking in from the devil's anteroom, Wakemed Soccer Park where visiting Spirit are running the hosts ragged, but only lead 0-1 at the half. Can't say if they're resting starters while Spirit aren't. Trin is in.
Anyhoo, place is packed and I'll bet thousands are still stuck in the line for parking.
It's not raining.
Watching now.
Seems like with how things shake out, we're either playing @Gotham or @KC. Two of the teams I'd least like to play lol...
I’d argue our best chance is against Gotham, just because they don’t have the transition speed that we always struggle against. Definitely don’t want to see Chawinga and Rodman and Kouassi aren’t much better even if they’re missing Sullivan.
(It also gives us the best chance of hosting a game on the off chance the Thorns win and someone springs an upset)
We get our Trin v Ashley moment.
If Chicago wins tomorrow, the Thorns are @Washington, otherwise they’re @Gotham.
That’s true but I think there’s a snowball’s chance in hell Chicago beats KC lol.
Looking like we have a playoff rematch with Gotham. Would be lovely to beat them in their house this time…
Esp. now that it's CHI 0-3 KC at the half.
Although... KC is locked into finishing 4th now, so they have nothing to play for and might (smartly) decide to rest their starters protect against injuries. Chicago, meanwhile, needs to win to avoid having to go to Orlando on Friday- that's good motivation!
or not
lol