- Our boys compete for the Western Conference Final tonight, win and they're in the championships. Glory, glory!
-Last warm day of the year, as a five-day storm arrives tomorrow and we won't be seeing 80+ until next spring. Been a good year with very few fires.
-Tomorrow is hopefully the last time I yell at clouds because the match is on CBSSN "Where sports go to die." The League's media deal expires and I expect they'll land something even more annoying. Maybe the media mavens of LAFC can kick enough NWSL butts to get this right. And if my granny had wheels maybe she could be a go kart.
Sure didn’t think they had it in ‘em. I’m pretty excited for the future of the USWNT…
Sounds like all of the USWNT players found out this am as well. Maybe a good time to remind the national team players that a new coach, Coach Emma Hayes, will be watching them this weekend. Players who may have thought their spots were safe are now back on level ground and a coach with high expectations will be watching very closely. No time like the present for many players on our Thorns to show up and show out tomorrow if they wanna be invited to the next camp. Could be the last time to impress before that camp roster is made and players like Coffey, Moultrie, and maybe even Weaver have a chance to loudly announce why they should be given a shot. And, older players like Crystal and Becky are gonna have to prove why they still deserve a start, or even a spot on a smaller Olympic roster. Sophia, well, she’s still getting back to full health and I don’t doubt that she isn’t part of the national team for a very long time, but now maybe she has to prove why she deserves the starts. The player competition really starts now. Really hope Mike is gonna set those players up for success…
Haha that was my first thought…I actually thought it could be the opposite. A lot of young players who have grown up with this last decade of Chelsea dominance saw Emma Hayes at the helm. Players wanted to go there to play for her, specifically. With an unknown replacement, and a likely few years of turnover with players coming and going, I think Chelsea is gonna be less of a desired spot in the short term. It was the only club I could see Soph going to before, and I’m unsure of that now…Tod Boehly sure doesn’t seem to have a great grasp on hires lol, so who knows who’ll take her place, but those are big shoes to fill…
Absolutely! As she should. Cat is an amazing player and Fishel seems like she has good potential. I mean, she’s at Chelsea for a reason…
Just thinking about positional competition…I can’t imagine Morgan or Hatch being anywhere near good enough to join Chelsea, let alone play. The USWNT 9’s should be Soph and Fishel.
I mean, I get your point, but she will literally be there for the Olympics. I imagine she’ll also be heavily involved in roster decisions from now until she takes over.
She’s also rumored to be bringing her assistant from Chelsea, who is a New Jersey native. The assistant could also fill in here and help out getting a new system implemented since they’re familiar with her style.
From my perspective, Norris is coaching for his job. Can he get the team up for this game? They went from pressing and playing solid overall to not really quickly.
OMG I hope this rumor isn't true. In addition to his "women are busy taking care of kids" comments (SERIOUSLY), he's a walking poster child for the terms "fail upwards" and "nepotism". AFAIK, he got hired for the Lionesses based largely on connections from his playing days, not any actual coaching merit on his part. He did badly at that job and got fired, but then got hired at Inter Miami because he's buddy-buddy with Beckham. He did even worse there and got fired - so now the Timbers want to hire him??!!?!!??!??!?!??!?!!!
I just hope this rumor is a load of BS, since I would like to keep supporting the Boys in Green.
Winner of the "Close, still no cigar" award for bringing their national team "so very close" and whose departure led to their World Cup triumph. Yeah, top-notch CV.
Imagine when the Thorns can finally play a season without their shitty owner actively harming them and/or imploding their sibling team over..and over…and over…
So bummed this all has to come out two days before the Thorns semi.
Sadly, can’t wait for that anchor to be cut loose. The Timbers would’ve dragged them into obscurity with the trajectory they’re on…
Because I stumbled across this tweet...for comparison of depth, I believe OL Reign will have a MUCH harder time writing their top 9+1 for the draft. Kinda crazy the difference, imo.
Can on-loan players really be selected? That makes no sense, and I can’t imagine an expansion soon team would waste a pick on a loan player even if they could. Regardless, I think it’s a pretty easy 9 *so long* as we’re right in thinking that free agent contracts can be delayed until after the expansion draft:
Barnes, Cook, Hiatt, Huerta, Balcer, Fishlock, Huitema, Olo, and Quinn.
McClernon and Latsko are replacement level players and prime expansion draft candidates in the Dani Weatherholt/Cari Ricardo mold. Losing Bennett would suck, but that’s the only one I’d really be worried about if I was a Reign fan.
If they have to worry about protecting the current free agents because they sign contracts before the draft....yeah, gets brutal pretty quick.
Yeah, loaned players can be picked. Which, imo they should because otherwise teams will stack their rosters and then try to hoard them by shipping them on rando loans. I guess it’s a personal peeve of mine so I’m happy to have them have to protect Jimena Lopez if they wanna ship her off a second year. I’d gladly take her on the Thorns.
I’m not sure I agree about Latsko and McClernon. Latsko is better than all of our F’s, save Soph and Weaver (and not counting Hina as a F.) She’s a fast brute and is exactly who I’d want as a winger sub for every game. I’d prefer her over Beckie…always would be around and a hell of a lot cheaper. Not saying she’d make a top 9…I didn’t try to do that for them, but my point is it’s much harder with their roster. And, when given a small amount of minutes, she can produce. She scored 5 goals with 8 shots on target (16 shots total) this season! She’s only 27. I would take her over any of our other F’s. Same with McClernon, who is now a starter. I don’t like how dirty she plays (and haven’t since Orlando), but she is a pretty good CB or fullback. And I’ve seen her decision-making become a lot better, so that she’s not nearly as often giving away pens in the box. She’s 25. I don’t know wtf the issue with Hiatt is bc I think she’s a good CB, but as of late McClernon is preferred. My guess is that Hiatt will be headed to BFC for protection (she has Bay Area ties) and that’s why she was suddenly dropped.
Also, Dickey or Ivory could be protected also…or maybe they roll the dice and leave them both unprotected and (of one is taken) the one who stays, plays. But, Dickey has been the preferred GK. Malonson, Browne, and Athens are actually all good players also, and better by miles than the end of our roster. Probably better than some of the middle of our roster, and with a higher ceiling. THAT is what I want the end of our roster to look like. I’d be surprised if they didn’t try to protect Browne, because she’s a good young fb and the heir apparent to Barnes, who they really shouldn’t be protecting. Luany was supp to be a really good young Brazilian midfielder, so I dunno what happened there…still, all that taken into consideration gets me a lot further away from the easy 9+1 that I can write for the Thorns.
Don’t get me wrong, Latsko and McClernon are good players that I would happily take on the Thorns... but I think that speaks more to the Thorns lack of competent B-/C level backups, which is something I’ve been bellyaching about since preseason. I just wouldn’t lose sleep over leaving them unprotected in an expansion draft.
The loan thing is still weird, but I guess I was thinking more of players on loan to the NWSL team in rather than out on loan to other teams. So yeah, add Jimena to the list of players they’d have some heartache about...though as you mention, they don’t seem to value her too much.
I agree that the Reign should be MUCH more worried about their players getting poached, but I do think the top 8 kinda writes itself. The last spot in the Hiatt/McClernon/Dickey/Jimena/Latsko range gets a little more challenging, though picking McClernon over Hiatt is insane to me, fwiw- The real question for me for that last spot would be Dickey or Hiatt. So, subtle difference, but that’s what happens when you have good depth!
Relevant to Sevecke (and many others on the back end of the roster):
"There is a waiver wire deadline Nov. 22, so for players only under contract through the end of the 2023 season they need to either be re-signed by then or they go onto the waiver wire and any team can pick them up. If they pass through unclaimed then they become free agent."
Sounds like she would need to be re-signed by that date to go through the normal expansion process (and then...do we protect if we're re-signing?), otherwise she will hit the waiver wire and can be picked up by other teams...
Soccer Made in Portland quotes Coffey saying something about Thorns erratic performance this season that sounds almost exactly like Jaelin Howell's comments about Louisville.
Behind the Equalizer paywall, but worth reading, on (how to measure) what makes a great goalkeeper:
"[Goals conceded] don’t tell us anything about the quality of the shots a goalkeeper faces, and they also don’t consider that some players face far more shots than others over the course of a season than others. Additionally, goalkeepers are not just shot stoppers – they are also important for a team’s distribution and passing, and they’re crucial for stopping set pieces and crosses into the penalty area."
To this, I would add leadership and organizing skills, which include cognitive and emotional skills. As Michelle Betos once told me, the keeper is "the brains out there" and thus should not be hesitant at all "to tell the defense what to do."
Agreed about goals conceded being a poor measure of keeper quality. Does The Equallizer talk about post-shot xG vs goals conceded? Because that's all about the quality of shots a keeper does or doesn't stop.
Honestly I had a hard time even choosing 9+1 to be protected because I'm so 'meh' about much of our roster. The fact that FA's and RFA's don't have to be protected is super helpful because we have several, and those deals can (hopefully) be made right after the expansion draft. This means Dunn, Kuikka, Sinc, Becky, Kling, Porter, Vasconcelos, and McGrady don't have to be protected. I wouldn't protect them all anyways obv, but it's helpful that we wouldn't have to if we sign them after the draft. It makes choosing the 9+1 a lot easier.
My protected list:
1. Smith
2. Weaver
3. Moultrie
4. Coffey
5. Sugita
6. Menges
7. Reyes
8. Rocky
9. Hubly
+1. Beckie
That leaves Bixby unprotected, for me. I just think that we can do better if she is taken; but, there will likely be a better #2 keeper left unprotected (Seattle and AC have two that might be valuable, off the top of my head) so the chances she's actually taken are probably lower. Beckie and Hubly are good depth players to have around and are good leaders for the team. Still haven't seen enough from Betfort to warrant a spot and would risk leaving her unprotected.
Also, I have NO idea wtf is going on with Sevecke. We signed her and have literally heard nothing since. I've not ever seen her in training pics. She was signed for this year (she was a FA), with an option for '24. I'm unclear what her protection status would be. Maybe they're planning on leaving Hubly unprotected, and they wanted to have a plan in place?
Also good to remember that we have players connected to both expansion draft clubs/cities. Vasconcelos played for Utah, and her family all still live in Sandy, UT. Tegan McGrady is from San Jose and played for Stanford. I know the coach also has Stanford/Bay Area ties, and she's said that she'd love to play in her hometown. D'Aquila played for Santa Clara and I know has been talked up a lot prior to this year from Ali Wagner (one of the owners of BFC.) Vasconcelos and McGrady are both FA's, though, so I imagine they can't really be used for a deal but could be signed by either club anyways.
Either way, I hope we don't go out of our way to make deals this year because beyond our 9+1, we don't have a whole lot that I'd be worried about losing. Just roll the dice on who and don't give away any allocation money. For the rest- honestly hope they waive the lot of them and get better depth, especially if they've been here over 2 years and haven't shown much. Specifically, Porter, Nally, Beckman, and Provenzano.
I agree that we should not deal for protection given how weak our available-to-draft list would be. However. Doing flashy deals is how GM's show their value. Last year we stood pat and this year we paid for that decision. If KK doesn't do something, anything, she will be perceived as not doing her job. My guess is that we will see several ridiculous deals to make sure we retain jewels like Beckie and McGrady. I am NOT looking forward to this. Please prove me wrong, Karina!
I guess my only thought is that I worry a bit about Emily Menges' recent string of injuries. I think she's close to that dreaded label "injury-prone". While I won't disagree that she's still got some soccer in her, I wonder how much, and whether we might be close to or even at the point of needing to look beyond her?
In truth, our depth drops off pretty fast. We have a handful of players who are on the "back nine." We have some players in their primes who don't quite fit (at least not well enough to command 60-70 or 90 minutes). We have a defensive unit - keeper and backline - that can be pretty shaky and, at times, downright dreadful. We have a free agent who will likely attract a lot of interest. We have a gigantic unknown with new ownership (and maybe new FO and coaching staff). And, many of our competitive advantages that we enjoyed in NWSL 1.0 have largely dissolved in NWSL 2.0.
But here's what really bums me out is this:
When players who have a chance to step forward and show that they're ready to lead in the impending new era don't do so.
And I don't mean those younger players who stumble because they're struggling to make the next leap.
I mean, the players who don't hustle all the time, make catastrophic and cascading errors that compound sins from lackadaisical play, and simply don't lead all the time when they're on the pitch.
Yes, everybody looks better playing next to Sauerbruun and pales in comparison when replacing her, but when given a chance to lock down a starting position this year so that she would be paired with Becky after Bruun returned, Hubly failed.
Hell, Menges was a trainwreck at times, but these were mostly miscommunications with Bixby. Moreover, I never saw Menges not hustle or make lackadaisical plays.
Unfortunately, I saw that many times from Hubly, and I saw it directly cost the team.
That's why I would be ready to allow her to go unprotected or even trade her to one of the expansion teams.
I mean, hell, when Nally replaces you and plays a better CB than you do because she gives full effort and makes clean passes, as she did in the NC game, that's a bad sign.
It's time to stop making excuses or minimizing. Kelli is 29 and has made 102 non-playoff appearances and 85 non-playoff starts for us.
If she would be willing to return to playing our 3rd CB permanently, that's fine. I would be happy to have her there.
But I don't see her being someone who is going to be happy in that role, and she couldn't make herself hustle and complete basic plays all the time this year when she had the starting job and could have cemented it.
With all the uncertainty and competition we're facing in the years to come, I don't want to build a defense around that.
We’ve been headed towards a major rebuild for a while.
IMO we’ve been living off the “big year” offseason of 2015-16 this whole cycle. Think of the tent poles of the Parsons and RW squads; people like Henry, Kling, and Horan. Holdovers from Riley like Heath, Menges, and Franch.
The acquisitions between then and Smith/Weaver (and since, like D’Aquila) have not been anywhere near as productive.
This isn’t an awful roster - finishing second out of 12 overall is, by definition, “good”.
But it’s not deep, and a lot of the better pieces from the Riley/Parsons years are aging out rapidly.
I’m fine if we end up taking some lumps under the new management if it comes with bringing a new gaffer with good ideas and a strong vision to rebuild around. Better that than years of struggling around a moneyball scheme that comes up with a lot of Betforts and D’Aquilas…
Using your protected list + the list of free agents, then the likely top remaining players available for selection in the expansion draft would be
1. Bixby
2. Betfort
3. D'Acquila
4. Hogan
5. Sevecke
6. Nally
7. Porter
My preference would be to protect Betfort instead of Beckie, but as you say, beyond that, there's not a ton of good quality depth or prospects.
In this scenario, I imagine Thorns would lose Bixby and whomever between Beckie/Betfort is made available. Not the worst outcome, though as a fan, I would really miss Betfort's energy and athleticism- seemed like she finally started to find herself this year, and i'd hate to see her become yet another ex-Thorns forward heading home goals over PTFC's slower, smaller, and/or largely bystander backliners.
I don't think the Thorns will really leave Bixby unprotected, though I agree with you they should- she seems a really nice person, and really physically talented, but her timidity and apparently fragile psyche as a GK always makes me nervous as a fan watching the games
I think Betfort has more upside at this point than Hubly, who by now is basically a finished product. I'd be willing to part with Hubs to facilitate roster protection.
I know we’ve had this argument before lol, but I still find it absolutely bizarre you value Betfort anywhere near Hubly.
The only way protecting Betfort makes any sense at all is if you’re *incredibly* high on her potential as a real, legitimate backup striker (which I am not), and even then it doesn’t really make a ton of sense to me. There’s literally a Betfort on every team in the league, including the Thorns! I’d just as well bet on Izzy, who is two years younger and never really got a real chance this season. Otherwise, you’re picking a player who has shown nothing more than occasional flashes over one who is extremely experienced, recently made a best 11 team, was an iron woman on a team that won a championship, and never gets injured. Good CBs don't grow on trees!
No, they don't grow on trees, and that's kinda the point.
Hubly has been here since 2016, going through years of conversion-and-development. I think she took a clear step back this year, and he has returned to being our 3rd CB when the others are healthy. She's going on 30, and we need to focus on upgrading the backline.
Conversely, I'm going to remind you of something the current conversion-and-development project did this year with the 18 y/o midfielder who just got her first callups to the Nats:
- There’s an argument she’s the one of the worst backup forwards we’ve ever had! From 2017-2022: I’d take Nadia, Foord, Charley, AMC, rookie Weaver, and maybe even the Lussi/Everett combo over her. It’s an active position of weakness right now!
- That goal was great. I’m also not sure showing one of the two league goals she scored this season really does that much for me.
- I don’t really agree Hubly took a step back any more than Natu, Menges, or Kling...all of whom have looked pretty dreadful under Norris.
- Of course Betfort has more "upside" than Hubly. The question is why would we protect a fringe player who might kinda sorta end up being fine over one we know is capable of playing well in an important role? It’s not like we’re talking about keeping Kelli over Moultrie here.
- 30 is hardly old, especially for a CB.
I’d like Betfort to stick around. I’ll also be real disappointed if she’s our backup striker next season.
We're going to go around and around here. Let's try something else:
- With her first regular playing time, Betfort visibly improved. She also did what Norris wanted her to do once Smith went down -- that is, provide high pressure. Betfort's work rate is off the charts.
- It's damn hard to convert to a successful forward. I once watched Caitlin Foord completely flop in a 1-on-1 session with Mark Parsons, in which he provided only light positional marking and there was no one in goal. When I say "flop," I don't think she put 25% percent of her shots on frame.
- 30 is not old for CB, but it is for a CB who has stopped improving and who took a big step backward last year, including in work rate. I think you're forgetting the number of times she didn't hustle back on defense, didn't hustle over to her mark, misplayed balls out of sheer casualness, and absolutely cost the team. That goal from Betfort - which is all touch and speed - came after Hubly put the entire team in a dreadful hole with that red card.
- If the Betfort experiment doesn't work out, she can reconvert to CB. However, Hubly is what she is -- a former forward converted to CB who doesn't hustle all the time on the pitch, who makes really dumb mistakes, and doesn't always care to settle the ball or pass well.
If I have to decide between a B/B- that has already reached their peak and a C/C+ who is still on their way up, fewer years on the clock, costs less, and who has greater athleticism, hustle, and the ability to reconvert to CB if needed, that's where I stand IF IT COMES TO THAT.
I agree, there's several backup 9's I'd probably take in the league over Betfort and I'd only protect her if we had maybe 13 protection spots lol. I think we could probably find better elsewhere, be it the draft or a transfer. I think it'd be great if she was here next season but I wouldn't be too bummed if she wasn't and I'd absolutely not protect her over Hubly. I mean, shoot, Messiah Bright was drafted in the 3rd round and is up for ROTY. But she still doesn't always start. I think the drop at our 6 and our 9 positions are the steepest on this team, and I think they should still attempt to rectify that, regardless of who starts there. Hell, I'd take Tess Boade over Betfort. I'd take any of Gotham's second strikers. Chicago even has one that I'd rather have (though I swear I can't tell the difference between like 5 of their players so I'm not sure of names.) We can do better, and we need to with our current 9 being a top international and likely away often.
Well, pointing to Messiah Bright in the 3rd round just means that other teams who didn't select her failed in the draft, at least so far. Which is also par for the course, as far more drafted players in all sports don't pan out.
Yeah, in hindsight I think MB fits our system and play style a lot more than D'Aquila and I'm sad we didn't take her instead, but that's the draft for ya....my point is just that the bar to find better than Betfort isn't that high, and I think we could and should. I just don't see enough in her skillset to be our primary goalscorer every time Soph is out for int'l duty (or if, say, Soph is injured.) Like I said, I'd be happy if she's still around but I wouldn't protect her. I like her energy, but I prefer a more tactical player to one that's just big/strong. Her touch is really poor also, and that doesn't work when she's asked to play a back-to-goal/holdup 9. Honestly wish they'd try her more on the wing. I don't hate having her as a winger sub as much as a sub for the 9 behind Soph. She played there a couple times and I thought it was when she looked her best. Not as a lone 9. In the game I'm thinking of, she beat/muscled Po off the ball/to the touchline all night and sent some really pretty crosses in from the RW. And we can still use her as a high-pressing sub. More of that instead!
Sevecke didn't make the roster for Denmark's recent match against Iceland. Don't know why. Nadim appeared for them. Also, did folks know that Dagny is currently on maternity leave? She and Omar are expecting their second child.
I have the exact same list and I don’t really think there’s that much room for debate given the free agency exception. Hopefully they do handshake agreements with any free agents and finalize after the expansion draft. Not sure how anyone could justify protecting Betfort over any of those 9. I do worry that Bixby and/or Beckie will be protected, but idk who they would omit.
The extra spot is helpful, but it’s a huge gamble given all 11 players I care about protecting are pretty desirable. No idea what they’ll do there. And, as always, I bet there will be a deal. Expansion drafts aren’t really a mechanism to build the top part of your roster anymore.
Not too concerned about Sevecke- I always thought this was a signing for next year and it never really made sense to bring her in with two weeks left.
I remember trying to make this list last expansion and it was muuuch more difficult. Even with considering the new FA rule, our depth has slowly dried up over the years. With FA protections, it makes protecting a starting XI + subs relatively easy, at least for us. I guess this is where our lean roster is helpful.
For the 9th spot, as well as the +1 spot, I think 3 players will be vying for those 2 spots....Bixby, Hubly, and Beckie. Based on play this season, the obvious preferred players at the position (ie Menges over Hubs), and the club's commitment to the player w/ recent long contracts (ie Reyes and Rocky) I think we can easily write the first 8, and then narrow to those 3 for the last 2 spots. I could very easily see Bixby being protected over Hubly, but I think that would be a huge mistake. A lot harder to find a veteran CB than a mid GK, imo. (Also, Hubly is very close with Dunn and Soph and I'm not sure sending her away is a good strategic move.) And again, if Bixby is left out, I don't think she'd get taken anyway because there will be better #2's left unprotected. Hubly has also been here longer. Beckie unfortunately didn't prove to be even a starter the first year she was here, and was out with an SEI her second season. She's great depth as a winger, but it would be dumb to protect her over Bixby or Hubly. Actually, I might protect her over Bixby honestly. Not even sure if she'll be ready to play at the start of the season....but with KK as the GM, well, I'm just not sure KK doesn't give her a spot...
I do like that they added the +1 spot. Especially because only 2 players that are real quality for us will be on the outside...and so only one of those will be taken, where the other will be able fill that +1 spot. It means that instead of losing, say, Bixby AND Beckie, we lose only Beckie...and then after she's chosen, Bixby is able to be protected. And so then instead, they end up with Beckie and Betfort (or Nally, or Porter...)
Sevecke...still though, she'll be available for taking if unprotected I'm guessing? She wouldn't currently have a contract after the season ends because they haven't exercised her option yet (does that have to happen before the draft?), but her rights can still be taken. What ever happened to Phuoc? Maybe a question he can ask...I agree that she was a player for next season, though...probably was signed bc she was a FA and didn't require any fee. Other clubs were interested in her and she's international quality, so I could see why we grabbed her over the last window if she was willing because it didn't cost us much. I wonder if she's even in Portland lol...I've not seen her in any training pics, and she hasn't even been in the starting 20 (XI + subs) for any games since she's been signed. If we don't have a lot of great options for the expansions clubs though, I could see an int'l CB's rights being considered, even if she's never played a minute in the league...still could be a bummer because it's a position we're really in need of upgrading.
Yeah I mean they could definitely have to protect Sevecke, but I’d think this is one of those situations where there’d be a little bit of wink wink or small allocation money fee not to select her. Definitely frustrating if they end up having to pay up to keep her, but she doesn’t really fit the profile of players typically taken in an expansion draft.
I think they have to keep Hubly. I know we were all frustrated with her this season because her mistakes tend to be obvious, but I think she got an unfair amount of the blame and is still below 30, never injured, and literally made the NWSL second team *last season*. She’s EXACTLY who you want as a 3rd CB.
I also concur, re: Hubly. As a #3 on the CB depth chart, she's perfectly fine on the pitch, and her "glue gal" aspects are a huge plus.
The CB situation has some big unknowns...the biggest being 'Brunn's status. If she's looking to hang them up, IMO that position becomes our greatest need...even over the FB and GK slots. This club has often had the toughest defense in the league, and I'd like to see that be the case once more. That starts in the center. I'd like to see the FO think BIG for a long-term elite CB signing, in fact. Is it financially possible to snag a Leah Williamson, a Mapi Leon, or a Moeka Minami? I don't know...but they should try and find out. If that proves impossible, I'll once again call out Rion Ishikawa (Urawa Red Diamonds). Long term (she's 20), big, fast, smart...and already third in the very deep Nadeshiko rotation.
Yeah, I agree. She's also a big personality in the locker room, and that can be invaluable. Definition of a great 3rd CB. I think our entire defense was trash this season for many reasons, but I think a lot of the problems stem from the coaching and tactics that just made our entire defensive line look 'meh' at best. I don't doubt that a better system will see the entirety of our defense perform better. Many upsides to Kelli sticking around (esp with the Olympics looming), and unless you have a super star keeper, a field player is more valuable. Bella was a 29th draft pick, and I think she's hit her ceiling. There's just no argument for me to protect Bella over Hubly (or Beckie, frankly.)
Either way, I hope players aren't thinking about this during the playoffs, although I can imagine those 3 know they're on the bubble. Not great for our GK prone to really bad mental errors...
So long as the "big personality in the locker room" remains a positive thing. That's just a generalization, not a specific statement about Kelli or anybody else. It's just that players you'd like to have can become players who no longer fit, and their presence in the locker room isn't necessarily going to help the team.
Bixby is definitely the one I see the fans having a different perspective on than the club. I’d be tad surprised, though pleased, if they left her off.
From what I read, it sounds like (surprise!) the Chilean federation doesn't adequately support the women's program. I'm guessing Endler (who just reached her 100th cap for country) just got tired of it. She's 32 and is the top keeper at one of the world's top clubs, owned by Kang. Probably just not worth it anymore to take the big step down for country.
Final match of this stage of the Olympic qualis for the Nadeshiko, vs Vietnam. Hina _not_ starting (Endo is...and while Jun might have been the pick anyway, it's nice Coach Ikeda recognizes that between the two, it's Hina with an important club match looming). The starting 11 is basically the preferred WWC23 side...Japan are taking this one seriously.
Hina was a late sub, and as with most of the match, the team wasn't aggressively looking to run up the score, looking like they were doing a bit of a "protect a lead" drill. So I suspect she probably got less physical stress than a training day (or that long-ass flight she's looking at). I'm thinking she'll be fine to start.
The Nadeshiko were their usual slick, coherent selves when they chose to be, but were also having one of those (thankfully infrequent of late) sketchy finishing days. Lots of shots skied over the bar... Like any team, when not playing with full intensity, focus tends to waver and shooters weren't keeping their heads down.
Yeah, I imagine she's on a flight back to the US as we speak. A quick look on google flights looks like the flight time is anywhere from 26-32 hours for poor Hina. She likely won't get to training until Friday for a semi on Sunday, and will likely still be jetlagged. Not ideal!
Damn...that's brutal. Might not be okay to start after all, fit as she is. And that's bad.
I should have mentioned I actually found a (YouTube) stream for that one! Nadeshiko were in "get the job done and get through" mode, but still looked very good. Next up, early part of next year, is a home-and-away tie with North Korea. Whole 'nother level of opponent, but I would also expect Japan to be in "seek and destroy" mode...and that's a very different Nadeshiko (ask Spain).
Today Finland wrap up their 2 games with Kuikka playing 90 both games. 10/27 and 10/31. Poor gal is gonna be exhausted coming home from Croatia, with a semifinal 5 days away, but obviously less time with the team.
Soph appears to be in Arizona with her partner as of yesterday? Hina and Sinc still away. Hopefully Crystal, Becky, Sam, and Liv are back practicing! We have a very short runway with all of our starters lol...
Last game in this stage of the Asian Olympic quali is today ("today" being 11/1 here in Japan). Game's pretty late, so it'll be a while before I can see the starting 11. Hoping Hina's not starting (for all I suspect she'd love to get the nod for her national team!).
Game kickoff is right when my first class starts... /headdesk
Random thoughts on a Saturday evening:
- Our boys compete for the Western Conference Final tonight, win and they're in the championships. Glory, glory!
-Last warm day of the year, as a five-day storm arrives tomorrow and we won't be seeing 80+ until next spring. Been a good year with very few fires.
-Tomorrow is hopefully the last time I yell at clouds because the match is on CBSSN "Where sports go to die." The League's media deal expires and I expect they'll land something even more annoying. Maybe the media mavens of LAFC can kick enough NWSL butts to get this right. And if my granny had wheels maybe she could be a go kart.
LFG tomorrow, Thornies!
Oh baby they actually went and did it!
https://x.com/joeclowery/status/1720822514384085325?s=20
Sure didn’t think they had it in ‘em. I’m pretty excited for the future of the USWNT…
Sounds like all of the USWNT players found out this am as well. Maybe a good time to remind the national team players that a new coach, Coach Emma Hayes, will be watching them this weekend. Players who may have thought their spots were safe are now back on level ground and a coach with high expectations will be watching very closely. No time like the present for many players on our Thorns to show up and show out tomorrow if they wanna be invited to the next camp. Could be the last time to impress before that camp roster is made and players like Coffey, Moultrie, and maybe even Weaver have a chance to loudly announce why they should be given a shot. And, older players like Crystal and Becky are gonna have to prove why they still deserve a start, or even a spot on a smaller Olympic roster. Sophia, well, she’s still getting back to full health and I don’t doubt that she isn’t part of the national team for a very long time, but now maybe she has to prove why she deserves the starts. The player competition really starts now. Really hope Mike is gonna set those players up for success…
That is fantastic!
Wow! Flying under the radar for many weeks.
Now, if only she'll agree not to try to woo Soph to play for Chelsea...
Haha that was my first thought…I actually thought it could be the opposite. A lot of young players who have grown up with this last decade of Chelsea dominance saw Emma Hayes at the helm. Players wanted to go there to play for her, specifically. With an unknown replacement, and a likely few years of turnover with players coming and going, I think Chelsea is gonna be less of a desired spot in the short term. It was the only club I could see Soph going to before, and I’m unsure of that now…Tod Boehly sure doesn’t seem to have a great grasp on hires lol, so who knows who’ll take her place, but those are big shoes to fill…
Well, you know she's going to bring Fishel and Macario (when ready) into the Nats with her.
Absolutely! As she should. Cat is an amazing player and Fishel seems like she has good potential. I mean, she’s at Chelsea for a reason…
Just thinking about positional competition…I can’t imagine Morgan or Hatch being anywhere near good enough to join Chelsea, let alone play. The USWNT 9’s should be Soph and Fishel.
She's not coming until May so this is a move for the next World Cup rather than the Olympics which are only three months later.
I mean, I get your point, but she will literally be there for the Olympics. I imagine she’ll also be heavily involved in roster decisions from now until she takes over.
She’s also rumored to be bringing her assistant from Chelsea, who is a New Jersey native. The assistant could also fill in here and help out getting a new system implemented since they’re familiar with her style.
How reliable is Joe Lowery as a source? If he's reporting Emma-Hayes-to-USWNT, how likely is it to be true?
He’s reliable, but it’s also since been announced by Linehan, Kassouf, and plenty of others.
👀👀👀
ETA this may lead to a reliable answer for "Have Emma Hayes and Laura Harvey ever been seen together in the same room?"
I swear my partner got them mixed up or thought they were the same person for at least three years when he starting watching women’s football lol.
From my perspective, Norris is coaching for his job. Can he get the team up for this game? They went from pressing and playing solid overall to not really quickly.
Timbers seem to be hiring Phil Neville. Looks like it’s all Thorns for me for a few years!
OMG I hope this rumor isn't true. In addition to his "women are busy taking care of kids" comments (SERIOUSLY), he's a walking poster child for the terms "fail upwards" and "nepotism". AFAIK, he got hired for the Lionesses based largely on connections from his playing days, not any actual coaching merit on his part. He did badly at that job and got fired, but then got hired at Inter Miami because he's buddy-buddy with Beckham. He did even worse there and got fired - so now the Timbers want to hire him??!!?!!??!??!?!??!?!!!
I just hope this rumor is a load of BS, since I would like to keep supporting the Boys in Green.
Winner of the "Close, still no cigar" award for bringing their national team "so very close" and whose departure led to their World Cup triumph. Yeah, top-notch CV.
Imagine when the Thorns can finally play a season without their shitty owner actively harming them and/or imploding their sibling team over..and over…and over…
So bummed this all has to come out two days before the Thorns semi.
Sadly, can’t wait for that anchor to be cut loose. The Timbers would’ve dragged them into obscurity with the trajectory they’re on…
Because I stumbled across this tweet...for comparison of depth, I believe OL Reign will have a MUCH harder time writing their top 9+1 for the draft. Kinda crazy the difference, imo.
https://twitter.com/munson_bella/status/1719779810761949562
Can on-loan players really be selected? That makes no sense, and I can’t imagine an expansion soon team would waste a pick on a loan player even if they could. Regardless, I think it’s a pretty easy 9 *so long* as we’re right in thinking that free agent contracts can be delayed until after the expansion draft:
Barnes, Cook, Hiatt, Huerta, Balcer, Fishlock, Huitema, Olo, and Quinn.
McClernon and Latsko are replacement level players and prime expansion draft candidates in the Dani Weatherholt/Cari Ricardo mold. Losing Bennett would suck, but that’s the only one I’d really be worried about if I was a Reign fan.
If they have to worry about protecting the current free agents because they sign contracts before the draft....yeah, gets brutal pretty quick.
I'd be tempted to protect Latsko over Barnes.
Barnes will be 35 and I can't imagine she'd be willing to leave Seattle after playing her whole career there.
Latsko is 27 and had 4 goals and 2 assists this year in 18 matches (10 starts). More importantly, she's quite likely Rapinoe's replacement.
Here's another complication - King is married to Fishlock, so if you protect Fish you've gotta protect King.
Yeah you’re probably right that there’s a decent chance that Barnes isn’t protected. Maybe even Fishlock tbh.
Yeah, loaned players can be picked. Which, imo they should because otherwise teams will stack their rosters and then try to hoard them by shipping them on rando loans. I guess it’s a personal peeve of mine so I’m happy to have them have to protect Jimena Lopez if they wanna ship her off a second year. I’d gladly take her on the Thorns.
I’m not sure I agree about Latsko and McClernon. Latsko is better than all of our F’s, save Soph and Weaver (and not counting Hina as a F.) She’s a fast brute and is exactly who I’d want as a winger sub for every game. I’d prefer her over Beckie…always would be around and a hell of a lot cheaper. Not saying she’d make a top 9…I didn’t try to do that for them, but my point is it’s much harder with their roster. And, when given a small amount of minutes, she can produce. She scored 5 goals with 8 shots on target (16 shots total) this season! She’s only 27. I would take her over any of our other F’s. Same with McClernon, who is now a starter. I don’t like how dirty she plays (and haven’t since Orlando), but she is a pretty good CB or fullback. And I’ve seen her decision-making become a lot better, so that she’s not nearly as often giving away pens in the box. She’s 25. I don’t know wtf the issue with Hiatt is bc I think she’s a good CB, but as of late McClernon is preferred. My guess is that Hiatt will be headed to BFC for protection (she has Bay Area ties) and that’s why she was suddenly dropped.
Also, Dickey or Ivory could be protected also…or maybe they roll the dice and leave them both unprotected and (of one is taken) the one who stays, plays. But, Dickey has been the preferred GK. Malonson, Browne, and Athens are actually all good players also, and better by miles than the end of our roster. Probably better than some of the middle of our roster, and with a higher ceiling. THAT is what I want the end of our roster to look like. I’d be surprised if they didn’t try to protect Browne, because she’s a good young fb and the heir apparent to Barnes, who they really shouldn’t be protecting. Luany was supp to be a really good young Brazilian midfielder, so I dunno what happened there…still, all that taken into consideration gets me a lot further away from the easy 9+1 that I can write for the Thorns.
Don’t get me wrong, Latsko and McClernon are good players that I would happily take on the Thorns... but I think that speaks more to the Thorns lack of competent B-/C level backups, which is something I’ve been bellyaching about since preseason. I just wouldn’t lose sleep over leaving them unprotected in an expansion draft.
The loan thing is still weird, but I guess I was thinking more of players on loan to the NWSL team in rather than out on loan to other teams. So yeah, add Jimena to the list of players they’d have some heartache about...though as you mention, they don’t seem to value her too much.
I agree that the Reign should be MUCH more worried about their players getting poached, but I do think the top 8 kinda writes itself. The last spot in the Hiatt/McClernon/Dickey/Jimena/Latsko range gets a little more challenging, though picking McClernon over Hiatt is insane to me, fwiw- The real question for me for that last spot would be Dickey or Hiatt. So, subtle difference, but that’s what happens when you have good depth!
I suspect you'll see Reign make deals with both expansion clubs.
They are stacked. A lot oof tough choices.
KC will have an extremely difficult time with this too.
Relevant to Sevecke (and many others on the back end of the roster):
"There is a waiver wire deadline Nov. 22, so for players only under contract through the end of the 2023 season they need to either be re-signed by then or they go onto the waiver wire and any team can pick them up. If they pass through unclaimed then they become free agent."
Sounds like she would need to be re-signed by that date to go through the normal expansion process (and then...do we protect if we're re-signing?), otherwise she will hit the waiver wire and can be picked up by other teams...
My projected XI and subs
Weaver-Smith-Hina (Betfort)
Dunn (Sinclair)
Rocky-Coffey (Moultrie)
Kling-Menges-Bruun-Natu (Reyes, Hubly)
Bixby
Subs coming on @ minute 80 as per SOP?
Moultrie comes on for Rocky either to start 2nd half or by 60th minute.
Betfort on for Smith in 70th if she's not ready to go 90.
Reyes for Kling in 70th.
Sinclair and Hubly for Dunn and Bruun around 75th or 80th.
"Objection your honor: assumes coaching not in evidence."
"Sustained."
Soccer made in Portland is teasing starting lineups. Anyone want to give us their preferred starting 11 for Sunday?
Weaver - Smith (Betfort sub) - Dunn
Hina (w/ Moultrie sub)
Rocky (the good one hopefully) - Coffey
Kling - Menges -Brun - Reyes (Natu late sub?)
Bixby
Assumes Natu and Hina coming off int. duty will need subbing out.
Soccer Made in Portland quotes Coffey saying something about Thorns erratic performance this season that sounds almost exactly like Jaelin Howell's comments about Louisville.
Behind the Equalizer paywall, but worth reading, on (how to measure) what makes a great goalkeeper:
"[Goals conceded] don’t tell us anything about the quality of the shots a goalkeeper faces, and they also don’t consider that some players face far more shots than others over the course of a season than others. Additionally, goalkeepers are not just shot stoppers – they are also important for a team’s distribution and passing, and they’re crucial for stopping set pieces and crosses into the penalty area."
To this, I would add leadership and organizing skills, which include cognitive and emotional skills. As Michelle Betos once told me, the keeper is "the brains out there" and thus should not be hesitant at all "to tell the defense what to do."
Agreed about goals conceded being a poor measure of keeper quality. Does The Equallizer talk about post-shot xG vs goals conceded? Because that's all about the quality of shots a keeper does or doesn't stop.
Taylor Vincent's breakdown of the Expansion Draft rules:
https://equalizersoccer.com/2023/11/01/2024-expansion-draft-what-you-need-to-know/
Also, re: expansion-
"In the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft seven out of the nine teams eligible for the draft traded players for some form of protection
One of these protections happened 2 months prior to the Draft, but the rest happened in the 10 days leading up to the Expansion Draft itself."
Expansion draft rules are out!
Takes place December 15th; BayFC will have the first pick, Utah the second. Lists due by Dec 12th.
- Teams can protect 9 players, and can protect an additional player after the first pick from their roster
- U18 players are not eligible to be selected in the expansion process
- Unsigned free agents/unrestricted free agents players are not eligible to be picked and do not occupy a spot
- Players with a ‘No Trade Clause’ in their SPA are required to be protected in the Expansion Draft
They do occupy a spot as one of the nine (9) protected players (unless a Player wanted to waive the ‘No Trade Clause’ in their SPA)
- Individuals on the Discovery List of any team are not eligible to be selected in the expansion draft
- Teams are required to disclose to the League, along with the protected/unprotected
designation, any Players who a Team believes will be unavailable to play by January
1, 2024, due to injury, retirement, loan, or any other reason. This information will be
shared with the Expansion Teams.
Our protected list from the 2022 draft:
Bella Bixby
Crystal Dunn
Lindsey Horan
Natalia Kuikka (International - FIN)
Emily Menges
Olivia Moultrie
Raquel Rodriguez (International – CRC)
Sophia Smith (U.S. Federation Player)
Morgan Weaver
Honestly I had a hard time even choosing 9+1 to be protected because I'm so 'meh' about much of our roster. The fact that FA's and RFA's don't have to be protected is super helpful because we have several, and those deals can (hopefully) be made right after the expansion draft. This means Dunn, Kuikka, Sinc, Becky, Kling, Porter, Vasconcelos, and McGrady don't have to be protected. I wouldn't protect them all anyways obv, but it's helpful that we wouldn't have to if we sign them after the draft. It makes choosing the 9+1 a lot easier.
My protected list:
1. Smith
2. Weaver
3. Moultrie
4. Coffey
5. Sugita
6. Menges
7. Reyes
8. Rocky
9. Hubly
+1. Beckie
That leaves Bixby unprotected, for me. I just think that we can do better if she is taken; but, there will likely be a better #2 keeper left unprotected (Seattle and AC have two that might be valuable, off the top of my head) so the chances she's actually taken are probably lower. Beckie and Hubly are good depth players to have around and are good leaders for the team. Still haven't seen enough from Betfort to warrant a spot and would risk leaving her unprotected.
Also, I have NO idea wtf is going on with Sevecke. We signed her and have literally heard nothing since. I've not ever seen her in training pics. She was signed for this year (she was a FA), with an option for '24. I'm unclear what her protection status would be. Maybe they're planning on leaving Hubly unprotected, and they wanted to have a plan in place?
Also good to remember that we have players connected to both expansion draft clubs/cities. Vasconcelos played for Utah, and her family all still live in Sandy, UT. Tegan McGrady is from San Jose and played for Stanford. I know the coach also has Stanford/Bay Area ties, and she's said that she'd love to play in her hometown. D'Aquila played for Santa Clara and I know has been talked up a lot prior to this year from Ali Wagner (one of the owners of BFC.) Vasconcelos and McGrady are both FA's, though, so I imagine they can't really be used for a deal but could be signed by either club anyways.
Either way, I hope we don't go out of our way to make deals this year because beyond our 9+1, we don't have a whole lot that I'd be worried about losing. Just roll the dice on who and don't give away any allocation money. For the rest- honestly hope they waive the lot of them and get better depth, especially if they've been here over 2 years and haven't shown much. Specifically, Porter, Nally, Beckman, and Provenzano.
I agree that we should not deal for protection given how weak our available-to-draft list would be. However. Doing flashy deals is how GM's show their value. Last year we stood pat and this year we paid for that decision. If KK doesn't do something, anything, she will be perceived as not doing her job. My guess is that we will see several ridiculous deals to make sure we retain jewels like Beckie and McGrady. I am NOT looking forward to this. Please prove me wrong, Karina!
I guess my only thought is that I worry a bit about Emily Menges' recent string of injuries. I think she's close to that dreaded label "injury-prone". While I won't disagree that she's still got some soccer in her, I wonder how much, and whether we might be close to or even at the point of needing to look beyond her?
I think we're heading for bumpy times here.
In truth, our depth drops off pretty fast. We have a handful of players who are on the "back nine." We have some players in their primes who don't quite fit (at least not well enough to command 60-70 or 90 minutes). We have a defensive unit - keeper and backline - that can be pretty shaky and, at times, downright dreadful. We have a free agent who will likely attract a lot of interest. We have a gigantic unknown with new ownership (and maybe new FO and coaching staff). And, many of our competitive advantages that we enjoyed in NWSL 1.0 have largely dissolved in NWSL 2.0.
But here's what really bums me out is this:
When players who have a chance to step forward and show that they're ready to lead in the impending new era don't do so.
And I don't mean those younger players who stumble because they're struggling to make the next leap.
I mean, the players who don't hustle all the time, make catastrophic and cascading errors that compound sins from lackadaisical play, and simply don't lead all the time when they're on the pitch.
Yes, everybody looks better playing next to Sauerbruun and pales in comparison when replacing her, but when given a chance to lock down a starting position this year so that she would be paired with Becky after Bruun returned, Hubly failed.
Hell, Menges was a trainwreck at times, but these were mostly miscommunications with Bixby. Moreover, I never saw Menges not hustle or make lackadaisical plays.
Unfortunately, I saw that many times from Hubly, and I saw it directly cost the team.
That's why I would be ready to allow her to go unprotected or even trade her to one of the expansion teams.
I mean, hell, when Nally replaces you and plays a better CB than you do because she gives full effort and makes clean passes, as she did in the NC game, that's a bad sign.
It's time to stop making excuses or minimizing. Kelli is 29 and has made 102 non-playoff appearances and 85 non-playoff starts for us.
If she would be willing to return to playing our 3rd CB permanently, that's fine. I would be happy to have her there.
But I don't see her being someone who is going to be happy in that role, and she couldn't make herself hustle and complete basic plays all the time this year when she had the starting job and could have cemented it.
With all the uncertainty and competition we're facing in the years to come, I don't want to build a defense around that.
We’ve been headed towards a major rebuild for a while.
IMO we’ve been living off the “big year” offseason of 2015-16 this whole cycle. Think of the tent poles of the Parsons and RW squads; people like Henry, Kling, and Horan. Holdovers from Riley like Heath, Menges, and Franch.
The acquisitions between then and Smith/Weaver (and since, like D’Aquila) have not been anywhere near as productive.
This isn’t an awful roster - finishing second out of 12 overall is, by definition, “good”.
But it’s not deep, and a lot of the better pieces from the Riley/Parsons years are aging out rapidly.
I’m fine if we end up taking some lumps under the new management if it comes with bringing a new gaffer with good ideas and a strong vision to rebuild around. Better that than years of struggling around a moneyball scheme that comes up with a lot of Betforts and D’Aquilas…
Using your protected list + the list of free agents, then the likely top remaining players available for selection in the expansion draft would be
1. Bixby
2. Betfort
3. D'Acquila
4. Hogan
5. Sevecke
6. Nally
7. Porter
My preference would be to protect Betfort instead of Beckie, but as you say, beyond that, there's not a ton of good quality depth or prospects.
In this scenario, I imagine Thorns would lose Bixby and whomever between Beckie/Betfort is made available. Not the worst outcome, though as a fan, I would really miss Betfort's energy and athleticism- seemed like she finally started to find herself this year, and i'd hate to see her become yet another ex-Thorns forward heading home goals over PTFC's slower, smaller, and/or largely bystander backliners.
I don't think the Thorns will really leave Bixby unprotected, though I agree with you they should- she seems a really nice person, and really physically talented, but her timidity and apparently fragile psyche as a GK always makes me nervous as a fan watching the games
I think Betfort has more upside at this point than Hubly, who by now is basically a finished product. I'd be willing to part with Hubs to facilitate roster protection.
I know we’ve had this argument before lol, but I still find it absolutely bizarre you value Betfort anywhere near Hubly.
The only way protecting Betfort makes any sense at all is if you’re *incredibly* high on her potential as a real, legitimate backup striker (which I am not), and even then it doesn’t really make a ton of sense to me. There’s literally a Betfort on every team in the league, including the Thorns! I’d just as well bet on Izzy, who is two years younger and never really got a real chance this season. Otherwise, you’re picking a player who has shown nothing more than occasional flashes over one who is extremely experienced, recently made a best 11 team, was an iron woman on a team that won a championship, and never gets injured. Good CBs don't grow on trees!
No, they don't grow on trees, and that's kinda the point.
Hubly has been here since 2016, going through years of conversion-and-development. I think she took a clear step back this year, and he has returned to being our 3rd CB when the others are healthy. She's going on 30, and we need to focus on upgrading the backline.
Conversely, I'm going to remind you of something the current conversion-and-development project did this year with the 18 y/o midfielder who just got her first callups to the Nats:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1CxQzVZffo
That wasn't an accident, it was a glimpse of what's possible.
She's a better substitute at forward than we've had in a long time, and I'd like to see to see what she does with another year here.
If I have to focus on who I think still has more upside, I'll take Betfort.
I mean, a few things:
- There’s an argument she’s the one of the worst backup forwards we’ve ever had! From 2017-2022: I’d take Nadia, Foord, Charley, AMC, rookie Weaver, and maybe even the Lussi/Everett combo over her. It’s an active position of weakness right now!
- That goal was great. I’m also not sure showing one of the two league goals she scored this season really does that much for me.
- I don’t really agree Hubly took a step back any more than Natu, Menges, or Kling...all of whom have looked pretty dreadful under Norris.
- Of course Betfort has more "upside" than Hubly. The question is why would we protect a fringe player who might kinda sorta end up being fine over one we know is capable of playing well in an important role? It’s not like we’re talking about keeping Kelli over Moultrie here.
- 30 is hardly old, especially for a CB.
I’d like Betfort to stick around. I’ll also be real disappointed if she’s our backup striker next season.
We're going to go around and around here. Let's try something else:
- With her first regular playing time, Betfort visibly improved. She also did what Norris wanted her to do once Smith went down -- that is, provide high pressure. Betfort's work rate is off the charts.
- It's damn hard to convert to a successful forward. I once watched Caitlin Foord completely flop in a 1-on-1 session with Mark Parsons, in which he provided only light positional marking and there was no one in goal. When I say "flop," I don't think she put 25% percent of her shots on frame.
- 30 is not old for CB, but it is for a CB who has stopped improving and who took a big step backward last year, including in work rate. I think you're forgetting the number of times she didn't hustle back on defense, didn't hustle over to her mark, misplayed balls out of sheer casualness, and absolutely cost the team. That goal from Betfort - which is all touch and speed - came after Hubly put the entire team in a dreadful hole with that red card.
- If the Betfort experiment doesn't work out, she can reconvert to CB. However, Hubly is what she is -- a former forward converted to CB who doesn't hustle all the time on the pitch, who makes really dumb mistakes, and doesn't always care to settle the ball or pass well.
If I have to decide between a B/B- that has already reached their peak and a C/C+ who is still on their way up, fewer years on the clock, costs less, and who has greater athleticism, hustle, and the ability to reconvert to CB if needed, that's where I stand IF IT COMES TO THAT.
I agree, there's several backup 9's I'd probably take in the league over Betfort and I'd only protect her if we had maybe 13 protection spots lol. I think we could probably find better elsewhere, be it the draft or a transfer. I think it'd be great if she was here next season but I wouldn't be too bummed if she wasn't and I'd absolutely not protect her over Hubly. I mean, shoot, Messiah Bright was drafted in the 3rd round and is up for ROTY. But she still doesn't always start. I think the drop at our 6 and our 9 positions are the steepest on this team, and I think they should still attempt to rectify that, regardless of who starts there. Hell, I'd take Tess Boade over Betfort. I'd take any of Gotham's second strikers. Chicago even has one that I'd rather have (though I swear I can't tell the difference between like 5 of their players so I'm not sure of names.) We can do better, and we need to with our current 9 being a top international and likely away often.
Well, pointing to Messiah Bright in the 3rd round just means that other teams who didn't select her failed in the draft, at least so far. Which is also par for the course, as far more drafted players in all sports don't pan out.
Actually, Bright was picked #21 (2nd Round) -- I had to just look that up -- and I think there are a few teams that might want a re-do.
Yeah, in hindsight I think MB fits our system and play style a lot more than D'Aquila and I'm sad we didn't take her instead, but that's the draft for ya....my point is just that the bar to find better than Betfort isn't that high, and I think we could and should. I just don't see enough in her skillset to be our primary goalscorer every time Soph is out for int'l duty (or if, say, Soph is injured.) Like I said, I'd be happy if she's still around but I wouldn't protect her. I like her energy, but I prefer a more tactical player to one that's just big/strong. Her touch is really poor also, and that doesn't work when she's asked to play a back-to-goal/holdup 9. Honestly wish they'd try her more on the wing. I don't hate having her as a winger sub as much as a sub for the 9 behind Soph. She played there a couple times and I thought it was when she looked her best. Not as a lone 9. In the game I'm thinking of, she beat/muscled Po off the ball/to the touchline all night and sent some really pretty crosses in from the RW. And we can still use her as a high-pressing sub. More of that instead!
Sevecke didn't make the roster for Denmark's recent match against Iceland. Don't know why. Nadim appeared for them. Also, did folks know that Dagny is currently on maternity leave? She and Omar are expecting their second child.
I have the exact same list and I don’t really think there’s that much room for debate given the free agency exception. Hopefully they do handshake agreements with any free agents and finalize after the expansion draft. Not sure how anyone could justify protecting Betfort over any of those 9. I do worry that Bixby and/or Beckie will be protected, but idk who they would omit.
The extra spot is helpful, but it’s a huge gamble given all 11 players I care about protecting are pretty desirable. No idea what they’ll do there. And, as always, I bet there will be a deal. Expansion drafts aren’t really a mechanism to build the top part of your roster anymore.
Not too concerned about Sevecke- I always thought this was a signing for next year and it never really made sense to bring her in with two weeks left.
I remember trying to make this list last expansion and it was muuuch more difficult. Even with considering the new FA rule, our depth has slowly dried up over the years. With FA protections, it makes protecting a starting XI + subs relatively easy, at least for us. I guess this is where our lean roster is helpful.
For the 9th spot, as well as the +1 spot, I think 3 players will be vying for those 2 spots....Bixby, Hubly, and Beckie. Based on play this season, the obvious preferred players at the position (ie Menges over Hubs), and the club's commitment to the player w/ recent long contracts (ie Reyes and Rocky) I think we can easily write the first 8, and then narrow to those 3 for the last 2 spots. I could very easily see Bixby being protected over Hubly, but I think that would be a huge mistake. A lot harder to find a veteran CB than a mid GK, imo. (Also, Hubly is very close with Dunn and Soph and I'm not sure sending her away is a good strategic move.) And again, if Bixby is left out, I don't think she'd get taken anyway because there will be better #2's left unprotected. Hubly has also been here longer. Beckie unfortunately didn't prove to be even a starter the first year she was here, and was out with an SEI her second season. She's great depth as a winger, but it would be dumb to protect her over Bixby or Hubly. Actually, I might protect her over Bixby honestly. Not even sure if she'll be ready to play at the start of the season....but with KK as the GM, well, I'm just not sure KK doesn't give her a spot...
I do like that they added the +1 spot. Especially because only 2 players that are real quality for us will be on the outside...and so only one of those will be taken, where the other will be able fill that +1 spot. It means that instead of losing, say, Bixby AND Beckie, we lose only Beckie...and then after she's chosen, Bixby is able to be protected. And so then instead, they end up with Beckie and Betfort (or Nally, or Porter...)
Sevecke...still though, she'll be available for taking if unprotected I'm guessing? She wouldn't currently have a contract after the season ends because they haven't exercised her option yet (does that have to happen before the draft?), but her rights can still be taken. What ever happened to Phuoc? Maybe a question he can ask...I agree that she was a player for next season, though...probably was signed bc she was a FA and didn't require any fee. Other clubs were interested in her and she's international quality, so I could see why we grabbed her over the last window if she was willing because it didn't cost us much. I wonder if she's even in Portland lol...I've not seen her in any training pics, and she hasn't even been in the starting 20 (XI + subs) for any games since she's been signed. If we don't have a lot of great options for the expansions clubs though, I could see an int'l CB's rights being considered, even if she's never played a minute in the league...still could be a bummer because it's a position we're really in need of upgrading.
Yeah I mean they could definitely have to protect Sevecke, but I’d think this is one of those situations where there’d be a little bit of wink wink or small allocation money fee not to select her. Definitely frustrating if they end up having to pay up to keep her, but she doesn’t really fit the profile of players typically taken in an expansion draft.
I think they have to keep Hubly. I know we were all frustrated with her this season because her mistakes tend to be obvious, but I think she got an unfair amount of the blame and is still below 30, never injured, and literally made the NWSL second team *last season*. She’s EXACTLY who you want as a 3rd CB.
But as a 2nd CB, I don't want her. I saw it this year.
I also concur, re: Hubly. As a #3 on the CB depth chart, she's perfectly fine on the pitch, and her "glue gal" aspects are a huge plus.
The CB situation has some big unknowns...the biggest being 'Brunn's status. If she's looking to hang them up, IMO that position becomes our greatest need...even over the FB and GK slots. This club has often had the toughest defense in the league, and I'd like to see that be the case once more. That starts in the center. I'd like to see the FO think BIG for a long-term elite CB signing, in fact. Is it financially possible to snag a Leah Williamson, a Mapi Leon, or a Moeka Minami? I don't know...but they should try and find out. If that proves impossible, I'll once again call out Rion Ishikawa (Urawa Red Diamonds). Long term (she's 20), big, fast, smart...and already third in the very deep Nadeshiko rotation.
Yeah, I agree. She's also a big personality in the locker room, and that can be invaluable. Definition of a great 3rd CB. I think our entire defense was trash this season for many reasons, but I think a lot of the problems stem from the coaching and tactics that just made our entire defensive line look 'meh' at best. I don't doubt that a better system will see the entirety of our defense perform better. Many upsides to Kelli sticking around (esp with the Olympics looming), and unless you have a super star keeper, a field player is more valuable. Bella was a 29th draft pick, and I think she's hit her ceiling. There's just no argument for me to protect Bella over Hubly (or Beckie, frankly.)
Either way, I hope players aren't thinking about this during the playoffs, although I can imagine those 3 know they're on the bubble. Not great for our GK prone to really bad mental errors...
So long as the "big personality in the locker room" remains a positive thing. That's just a generalization, not a specific statement about Kelli or anybody else. It's just that players you'd like to have can become players who no longer fit, and their presence in the locker room isn't necessarily going to help the team.
Bixby is definitely the one I see the fans having a different perspective on than the club. I’d be tad surprised, though pleased, if they left her off.
Endler retires from international competition. Wow. Appears that perhaps she'd had enough of dealing with her federation.
What's weirder is that she retired DURING the PanAm Games, right after her team made the final. Apparently Lyon wants her back early?
And now I read that Chile doesn't have another GK?!! WTF?? They're going into the tourney final without a GK on the roster???
From what I read, it sounds like (surprise!) the Chilean federation doesn't adequately support the women's program. I'm guessing Endler (who just reached her 100th cap for country) just got tired of it. She's 32 and is the top keeper at one of the world's top clubs, owned by Kang. Probably just not worth it anymore to take the big step down for country.
Final match of this stage of the Olympic qualis for the Nadeshiko, vs Vietnam. Hina _not_ starting (Endo is...and while Jun might have been the pick anyway, it's nice Coach Ikeda recognizes that between the two, it's Hina with an important club match looming). The starting 11 is basically the preferred WWC23 side...Japan are taking this one seriously.
Like...really seriously: Yui Hasegawa, Fuka Nagano, and Hinata Miyazawa in the midfield...Jun Endo and Mina Tanaka attacking. Damn...
Hina was a late sub, and as with most of the match, the team wasn't aggressively looking to run up the score, looking like they were doing a bit of a "protect a lead" drill. So I suspect she probably got less physical stress than a training day (or that long-ass flight she's looking at). I'm thinking she'll be fine to start.
The Nadeshiko were their usual slick, coherent selves when they chose to be, but were also having one of those (thankfully infrequent of late) sketchy finishing days. Lots of shots skied over the bar... Like any team, when not playing with full intensity, focus tends to waver and shooters weren't keeping their heads down.
Yeah, I imagine she's on a flight back to the US as we speak. A quick look on google flights looks like the flight time is anywhere from 26-32 hours for poor Hina. She likely won't get to training until Friday for a semi on Sunday, and will likely still be jetlagged. Not ideal!
Damn...that's brutal. Might not be okay to start after all, fit as she is. And that's bad.
I should have mentioned I actually found a (YouTube) stream for that one! Nadeshiko were in "get the job done and get through" mode, but still looked very good. Next up, early part of next year, is a home-and-away tie with North Korea. Whole 'nother level of opponent, but I would also expect Japan to be in "seek and destroy" mode...and that's a very different Nadeshiko (ask Spain).
Today Finland wrap up their 2 games with Kuikka playing 90 both games. 10/27 and 10/31. Poor gal is gonna be exhausted coming home from Croatia, with a semifinal 5 days away, but obviously less time with the team.
Soph appears to be in Arizona with her partner as of yesterday? Hina and Sinc still away. Hopefully Crystal, Becky, Sam, and Liv are back practicing! We have a very short runway with all of our starters lol...
Last game in this stage of the Asian Olympic quali is today ("today" being 11/1 here in Japan). Game's pretty late, so it'll be a while before I can see the starting 11. Hoping Hina's not starting (for all I suspect she'd love to get the nod for her national team!).