I'd still put the Thorns above Reign. Beating them by two goals in their house a week ago still carries ranking weight this week, even if we did just play a stinker of a game.
Also I'd put the Spirit above Gotham, based on not much more than whim and not really believing in Gotham. Okay, maybe also some favoritism toward MarPar.
Sounds like she'll end up at Arsenal, but good to see a non-ACFC NWSL club linked.
(But again....gonna keep putting the alarm out there that the longer this sale drags out, the longer the Thorns stay static while the rest of the league grows. And it's happening quickly!)
Given Paulson and the fur ball that is the lease agreement I’m unsurprised that this is dragging out.
For all the we as fans want to move ahead Paulson has no such impetus and I suspect the bidders are willing to wait rather than get rushed into something that costs them extra.
The club history probably doesn’t help. Even after a poor season (2015) it continued to draw, and it’s never had an extended period of failure to find out if that might kill profitability.
So my guess is that neither party is too worried about becoming Boston.
I suspect it’s more likely that the price is the sticking point rather than the lease agreement, since that runs through 2029.
Two NWSL teams have been for sale since last year with OL Reign likely to be the third. With the formation of Bay FC, NWSL has set a floor of $50 million for club valuation, which may have dampened bidder enthusiasm without a new TV deal.
I doubt Peregrine would have sold for as low as $50 million. I also imagine they believe that with the passage of time, the pressure to sell would decline and the valuation could increase.
I think you’re discounting the lease as an issue. The Thorns face an extremely thorny problem untangling the Civic lease from Peregrine, the MAC, and the City, and that’s not including related issues like concessions and services. I’m gonna bet that base price is a simple toggle; either the bidders offer is big enough or it’s not. But all the issues surrounding things like the lease and practice facilities …those seem like a Gordian knot for the bidder to untangle.
My guess is that there’s enough randomness in the league to ensure that you have to be pretty dire to spend several consecutive seasons in the cellar. Boston Breakers owners-dire. I don’t think we’re there.
Re: coaches available currently or in the near future…
Carmelita Moscato is in Portland currently, according to her social media. If anyone is unaware, she just stepped down from Tigres two weeks ago. She’s hangin out with KK and her family. I’m not sure why she left Tigres (seems like it was her own decision), but I always considered her a possibility here considering her very close relationship with KK (and prob Sinc.) Actually thought she could get the job prior to Rhian being announced, although I think she’s a pretty green head coach also…would still love a bit more high profile hire, though that hasn’t been Thorns history.
Wave sign Girma through 2026- Probs a bit of “hands off” to Bay City (god that name still sucks so hard), even though I’m sure they would have done it regardless.
This also brings up the Soph-sized elephant in the room: She’s only got one year left on her deal and the Thorns better be pulling every lever possible to ensure she signs a new deal. Losing her at all would be a disaster, losing her for nothing would be an absolutely epic crisis.
In addition to going to Stanford, Girma's also from the Bay Area. But I also imagine San Diego wanted to get this done ahead of the World Cup. It's one thing to show you're the best thing for a player in the NWSL, it's another to try to hold off the big clubs who have unlimited finances
what's enraging is to fix this all you need to do is drop one 10 into an 8 and keep a full back a little deeper! then you get your 5 lanes, and a 5-5 balance which is what good possession teams do!
Really feel for Becky...she was surely looking forward to this WWC run as something of a career capstone. Bad for the Nats, too, as both her play and her leadership are huge factors for them. The only upside is that we'll likely have her back and fit sooner, assuming the Nats make a deep run.
I am so so sad for her, and, quite worried for that team lol. Whew!
I was thinking the same re: having her maybe playing too early? I sure hope not. We never rehired another head trainer after the Soubrier saga and I remember Norris talking about how they were very short-staffed in medical/technical staff in an interview just before the season started. I’ve also heard that overall, the club is understaffed and super green. This gaddamn sale can’t happen soon enough…
Especially weird since she was still listed as day-to-day per Clarke earlier, though he's since mentioned a setback.
Don't wanna blame the medical staff without knowing for sure tho, especially since it seemed like they were being overly cautious, if anything. Sucks regardless.
Yeah and I’m sure at that point USWNT medical staff were involved, and likely in control of that decision. Fine line between having her back too early and making sure she gets some minutes before going to int’l camp…Same for Lavelle. Seems OLR haven’t really been in control of those decisions; I’ve seen that USWNT medical staff have been mentioned with regards to her injury…
Still, I’m hoping she felt she had the proper support with the Thorns rehabbing her injury…they’ve just promoted assistants and not filled those vacant positions (or not announced it.) I sure know what that sort of compression feels like, I’m currently dealing with that myself at my workplace and it puts a strain on everything/everyone.
When you think about them - given 1) all the little fiddley bits in them and 2) the abuse they take - it’s a bit surprising that foot injuries aren’t more common, especially in running sports.
And they can be difficult; something like stress fractures in the metatarsals can be hard to sort out from soft tissue injuries, so after rest they might seem to have healed only to reappear the next time they’re stressed.
Unfortunate, whatever the problem turns out to be.
What a shame! With all due respect to Sinc, Becky has kind of been a defacto captain back there and calmed things defensively when on the field.
Think we can use Menges as a blueprint for how difficult foot injuries can be in returning to form. If you can't plant/pivot/push you can't play. I'm cautiously presuming we're no longer in the era of shooting something in where it hurts so the player can ignore the injury and "get out there."
Demelo will be a great addition to USWNT. I'm greatly concerned about that back line now.
I’d guess that’s pretty unavoidable. Agree that problems run deeper, but kinda can’t not can your field supervisor when the production division receipts tank like that…
I'm interested to see how this plays out. Freya was/is not the only problem in ACFC. So if Angel City is looking for a quick band-aid for their problems, I don't think this solves it all. But they have a tendency to be reactionary to criticism (see: how they hired Coombe in the first place).
It need not be a career-killer. Champ Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone was one of the Sac Kings approximately [checks notes] 137 coaches between Adelman and their next playoff appearance. Seems to have landed on his feet and yes, ownership and sr management were entirely to blame.
Her time at Sky Blue/Gotham was kind of mixed. She came in after the disaster of 2018 and Denise Reddy, so was always going to look better. She never had a full season with Sky Blue/Gotham - 2019 was split with Reddy, 2020 was Covid Cup where they reached semis, 2021 she left mid-way and so it was split with Parkinson and then they made play-offs. It's also hard to disentangle her coaching, other people's coaching, and the effects of better FO and ownership investment in that team. At ACFC, there were some questionable coaching decisions but mostly big roster questions where it's hard to know how much influence she had or should have tried to exert.
But she doesn't have the best resume even prior to NWSL. I think she could benefit by being an assistant somewhere for a while if she wants to stay in coaching, but that takes a willingness to admit a need for growth that not everyone has.
Reminiscent of Phil Neville as a coach. He sucked for the English women and sucked for Miami. The Miami job was both a "fail upwards" move and clear nepotism.
I'd still put the Thorns above Reign. Beating them by two goals in their house a week ago still carries ranking weight this week, even if we did just play a stinker of a game.
Also I'd put the Spirit above Gotham, based on not much more than whim and not really believing in Gotham. Okay, maybe also some favoritism toward MarPar.
https://twitter.com/Jose_M_Umana/status/1669366592474415105?s=20
Sounds like she'll end up at Arsenal, but good to see a non-ACFC NWSL club linked.
(But again....gonna keep putting the alarm out there that the longer this sale drags out, the longer the Thorns stay static while the rest of the league grows. And it's happening quickly!)
Russo would be one HELL of a get for this league.
It was a complete media briefed fabrication by Manchester United, lol
Exactly the sort of dastardly behavior one expects from ManU(re).
Have I mentioned I'm a City fan...? ;)
I can think of 115 examples of bad behaviour there...
https://twitter.com/tayvincent6/status/1669448523438493696?s=20
El Oh El
Given Paulson and the fur ball that is the lease agreement I’m unsurprised that this is dragging out.
For all the we as fans want to move ahead Paulson has no such impetus and I suspect the bidders are willing to wait rather than get rushed into something that costs them extra.
The club history probably doesn’t help. Even after a poor season (2015) it continued to draw, and it’s never had an extended period of failure to find out if that might kill profitability.
So my guess is that neither party is too worried about becoming Boston.
I suspect it’s more likely that the price is the sticking point rather than the lease agreement, since that runs through 2029.
Two NWSL teams have been for sale since last year with OL Reign likely to be the third. With the formation of Bay FC, NWSL has set a floor of $50 million for club valuation, which may have dampened bidder enthusiasm without a new TV deal.
I doubt Peregrine would have sold for as low as $50 million. I also imagine they believe that with the passage of time, the pressure to sell would decline and the valuation could increase.
I think you’re discounting the lease as an issue. The Thorns face an extremely thorny problem untangling the Civic lease from Peregrine, the MAC, and the City, and that’s not including related issues like concessions and services. I’m gonna bet that base price is a simple toggle; either the bidders offer is big enough or it’s not. But all the issues surrounding things like the lease and practice facilities …those seem like a Gordian knot for the bidder to untangle.
"...it’s never had an extended period of failure..."
Give 'em time...
My guess is that there’s enough randomness in the league to ensure that you have to be pretty dire to spend several consecutive seasons in the cellar. Boston Breakers owners-dire. I don’t think we’re there.
Re: coaches available currently or in the near future…
Carmelita Moscato is in Portland currently, according to her social media. If anyone is unaware, she just stepped down from Tigres two weeks ago. She’s hangin out with KK and her family. I’m not sure why she left Tigres (seems like it was her own decision), but I always considered her a possibility here considering her very close relationship with KK (and prob Sinc.) Actually thought she could get the job prior to Rhian being announced, although I think she’s a pretty green head coach also…would still love a bit more high profile hire, though that hasn’t been Thorns history.
Wave sign Girma through 2026- Probs a bit of “hands off” to Bay City (god that name still sucks so hard), even though I’m sure they would have done it regardless.
This also brings up the Soph-sized elephant in the room: She’s only got one year left on her deal and the Thorns better be pulling every lever possible to ensure she signs a new deal. Losing her at all would be a disaster, losing her for nothing would be an absolutely epic crisis.
In addition to going to Stanford, Girma's also from the Bay Area. But I also imagine San Diego wanted to get this done ahead of the World Cup. It's one thing to show you're the best thing for a player in the NWSL, it's another to try to hold off the big clubs who have unlimited finances
https://twitter.com/ChrisRifer/status/1668438202557022209?s=20
Friends, our message has finally gone mainstream!
(Someone print that map out and bring it to the next presser pls)
what's enraging is to fix this all you need to do is drop one 10 into an 8 and keep a full back a little deeper! then you get your 5 lanes, and a 5-5 balance which is what good possession teams do!
https://twitter.com/ChrisRifer/status/1669093160746913794?s=20
Rifer comin down hard on Mr. Norris!
Freya gone and AC wins first match played without her.
Once again, there are no good teams in the NWSL.
Bad news: The Athletic is reporting that Sauerbrunn will miss the World Cup because of her foot injury. It must be worse than it appeared.
Really feel for Becky...she was surely looking forward to this WWC run as something of a career capstone. Bad for the Nats, too, as both her play and her leadership are huge factors for them. The only upside is that we'll likely have her back and fit sooner, assuming the Nats make a deep run.
https://twitter.com/itsmeglinehan/status/1669811870570561538?s=20
Well.....this is.....very bad! Must have aggravated it in Seattle, and *really* hope that wasn't negligent from the medical staff.
Sounds like Demelo is in (good job Vlatko), as is KoH and Kingsbury.
I am so so sad for her, and, quite worried for that team lol. Whew!
I was thinking the same re: having her maybe playing too early? I sure hope not. We never rehired another head trainer after the Soubrier saga and I remember Norris talking about how they were very short-staffed in medical/technical staff in an interview just before the season started. I’ve also heard that overall, the club is understaffed and super green. This gaddamn sale can’t happen soon enough…
Especially weird since she was still listed as day-to-day per Clarke earlier, though he's since mentioned a setback.
Don't wanna blame the medical staff without knowing for sure tho, especially since it seemed like they were being overly cautious, if anything. Sucks regardless.
Yeah and I’m sure at that point USWNT medical staff were involved, and likely in control of that decision. Fine line between having her back too early and making sure she gets some minutes before going to int’l camp…Same for Lavelle. Seems OLR haven’t really been in control of those decisions; I’ve seen that USWNT medical staff have been mentioned with regards to her injury…
Still, I’m hoping she felt she had the proper support with the Thorns rehabbing her injury…they’ve just promoted assistants and not filled those vacant positions (or not announced it.) I sure know what that sort of compression feels like, I’m currently dealing with that myself at my workplace and it puts a strain on everything/everyone.
When you think about them - given 1) all the little fiddley bits in them and 2) the abuse they take - it’s a bit surprising that foot injuries aren’t more common, especially in running sports.
And they can be difficult; something like stress fractures in the metatarsals can be hard to sort out from soft tissue injuries, so after rest they might seem to have healed only to reappear the next time they’re stressed.
Unfortunate, whatever the problem turns out to be.
What a shame! With all due respect to Sinc, Becky has kind of been a defacto captain back there and calmed things defensively when on the field.
Think we can use Menges as a blueprint for how difficult foot injuries can be in returning to form. If you can't plant/pivot/push you can't play. I'm cautiously presuming we're no longer in the era of shooting something in where it hurts so the player can ignore the injury and "get out there."
Demelo will be a great addition to USWNT. I'm greatly concerned about that back line now.
ETA, Becky's statement is all Becky. Queen.
https://twitter.com/beckysauerbrunn/status/1669886557497733126?cxt=HHwWjMDRrcC-0KwuAAAA
Freya is out. Not really surprised about it.
https://twitter.com/itsmeglinehan/status/1669169853242957824
I’d guess that’s pretty unavoidable. Agree that problems run deeper, but kinda can’t not can your field supervisor when the production division receipts tank like that…
I'm interested to see how this plays out. Freya was/is not the only problem in ACFC. So if Angel City is looking for a quick band-aid for their problems, I don't think this solves it all. But they have a tendency to be reactionary to criticism (see: how they hired Coombe in the first place).
It need not be a career-killer. Champ Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone was one of the Sac Kings approximately [checks notes] 137 coaches between Adelman and their next playoff appearance. Seems to have landed on his feet and yes, ownership and sr management were entirely to blame.
This isn't Freya's first rodeo - she has now coached two straight teams into the basement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3-eavMSBnk
Her time at Sky Blue/Gotham was kind of mixed. She came in after the disaster of 2018 and Denise Reddy, so was always going to look better. She never had a full season with Sky Blue/Gotham - 2019 was split with Reddy, 2020 was Covid Cup where they reached semis, 2021 she left mid-way and so it was split with Parkinson and then they made play-offs. It's also hard to disentangle her coaching, other people's coaching, and the effects of better FO and ownership investment in that team. At ACFC, there were some questionable coaching decisions but mostly big roster questions where it's hard to know how much influence she had or should have tried to exert.
But she doesn't have the best resume even prior to NWSL. I think she could benefit by being an assistant somewhere for a while if she wants to stay in coaching, but that takes a willingness to admit a need for growth that not everyone has.
Reminiscent of Phil Neville as a coach. He sucked for the English women and sucked for Miami. The Miami job was both a "fail upwards" move and clear nepotism.
"In (the NWSL), whichever side may call itself the victor, there are no winners, but all are losers."
-- apologies to Neville Chamberlain
1. San Diego
2. Washington
3. OL Reign
4. Gotham
5. Portland
6. NC
7. Houston
8. Louisville
9. Orlando
10. KC
11. ACFCNFT
12. Chicago