Hey all, any interest in a USWNT snubs piece? Sam Coffey should not be on that piece, but will end up being on it unless Vlatko takes her as an alternate.
I do plan on covering the WWC for STF, but just wanted to see the interest if our team were to do so.
I'd read that! But honestly the only major snub I see currently is Coffey, if you're just focusing on Thorns players. There's too much talent on the wings in the USWNT pool for Weaver to break in, as of today, and I think Bella is pretty far off USWNT level and is sadly trending the opposite way. Liv will get there, likely for the next WC cycle...
Yeah, if we're talking non-Thorns players, I'd agree with Hatch and Krueger. I understand wanting KOH there, esp with Becky out but am v curious what her injury status is. I'd take Kreuger over her for sure, but I'd also take Kreuger over Huerta. Huerta's defensive skills are not int'l level and I just think Kreuger is a better overall player.
Hatch, just kinda unlucky. Did everything she needed to get there, but the fact that so many players going can play a backup 9 makes her a little more obsolete, even if she offers a different skillset. With Rose and Ertz kinda ??? and Ertz possibly having to play CB, I'm not surprised he went with another midfielder that's a little more versatile.
I think it’s kinda funny that woso twitter is convinced that Thompson got the Hatch spot...which just objectively isn’t true. DeMelo got her spot and Thompson is the Pugh replacement.
Mewis is the one I don’t really get. Obviously Sam is a better option, but Mewis is just the definition of a C+ World Cup player. Not sure what the situation is where she makes a difference over someone like Coffey or even Kornieck.
Yeah, I thought that was obvious lol. Very obvious Demelo took a midfield spot that wouldn't have existed otherwise, especially because we still have Mewis going. Which, yeah, I'm kinda not sure why. I know Vlatko has history with KM though, so not surprised. I think probably because she can do a mediocre-to-fine job anywhere in the midfield and I think just has a little more in her bag than Kornieck (who also hasn't been playing much.) Sam, I mean, yeah...esp if you're gonna put Ertz at CB?? Vlatko is gonna break Andi Sullivan (and other teams are going to break us.)
Yes, I am definitely interested. It will be nice to have as a reference point for after the World Cup. This cycle definitely feels different from the last, and have a feeling that a few left behind will be sorely needed. There’s a lot of talent spread out all over the participant nations.
Sadly Coffey is on that list but so is Midge Purce which makes me feel even worse. Also, going to the WC as an alternate has to be the worst of all worlds.
Yeah, it kinda baffles me Kreuger wouldn't be chosen over Huerta. She's pretty good with her service, and she's muuuch much better at defending (esp 1v1) than Huerta. Huerta's inability to defend at the national level seems like a major liability unless you're just using her for garbage minutes in group stage games, or games you're up comfortably. Hatch is just unlucky in a multitude of ways, but was kinda always on the bubble for me. I'm guessing Soph will move to a 9 if Alex needs a sub (or Lynn.) Which, is terrifying...part of being a 9 at the int'l level is just getting the absolute shit kicked out of you. I hope Soph doesn't come back too beat up...
Krueger can also play CB, which is a position the NT seems thin right now. Yes, Ertz and Sonnett can both play CB, but we brought Ertz back to be a midfield destroyer not a back-up CB. Davidson hasn't really looked convincing to me this season and not just because Chicago is bad, whereas Krueger has looked good for Chicago even though Chicago is bad.
I was generally pro leaving Hatch behind - the drop-off when she would sub in for Morgan was so obvious. I just didn't think Vlatko would only take one true 9. Soph gets beat up anyway, not sure if it matters if it's at the 9 or on the wing. And between Naeher's crazy long punts and the speed and skills up top, we should be able to snag some transition goals.
Krueger and Davidson not getting an invite, even with the weakened backline, means that Vlatko doesn't rate Chicago's defensive efforts this year. Hard to argue with him.
Yeah, I'll add a +1 here Phuoc! Why BOTH fullbacks staying in midfield, leaving massive spaces in behind, and leaving CB's with numerous exposed 1v1 battles? No adjustments, despite bleeding goals?
Would love to know this even more than why he continues to play with two 10's (one of those an immobile 10.)
He knows the problem, so I don’t think it can be considered anything but naivety at this point. “If we play better everything will be fine” is the height of coaching delusion....and the problem is, it often *will* work because of the talent he has at his disposal.
Quick, tell KC about it so Sjöblom can try it next match and then complain that she hasn't had the players or the time she needs to play her desired formation!
Chief's Red Stars postmortem over at Riveting is up now. It's a painful read about Bixby.
Re: Bixby, the mistakes she made that resulted in the PK were *exactly* the things Angerer had the other keepers working on - over and over again - during the recent Open Training. However, Bella didn't take any reps doing those things. Instead, she sat on a ball and watched her understudies while they did those things.
By "those things," I mean coming out hard to challenge an attacker and take away or punch away a bounding ball before the attacker can get on the end of it.
So.... what to make of that?
Perhaps even more concerning, though, is how distraught she was about her mistakes... despite the fact that at the time Thorns sat on a 2-goal lead AND she still had opportunity to stop a PK (which she did not).
I mean, yeah, she messed up, but no more than Sarah Bouhaddi would do multiple times a match while playing for PSWST! The difference is that Bouhaddi never looked like her own mistakes rattled her.
By comparison, when I watched Bella's understudies during the Open Training, they had to face 3-4 shots in a row in quick succession, shaking off immediately any negative thoughts or disappointment they might have had from letting 1 get past them so that it didn't become 2, 3, 4 in a row. They also continued to battle whenever they *did* make mistakes, diving backward to swat away misplayed balls before they could cross the line. This was in a midweek *Open Training.*
Mental toughness is a tricky thing. For whatever reason, Bella's has been shaken.
If I may, Father's Day probably remains fraught for Bella. I don't draw any great conclusions about that and it's up to coach to address it if they believe it's an issue, but these players are all flesh and blood and human foibles.
I don’t doubt that for Bella, and my heart breaks for those reasons…but Bella isn’t the only player on this team whose lost a father, some more recently…like Kling and Broon, and others I think prior to Bella, like Hogan and Becky. I’m not sure if that was part of it, but her struggles have really been since last season, where she was better overall but still had some serious derps every couple games, a few of which also resulted in goals. If she is in a poor headspace, it’s up to Nadine to monitor and make those tough decisions, even if it’s for a one-off game on Father’s Day.
That's a very good insight. Every time I see Bella shaken on the field, I can't help but wonder about how she's doing on the personal front. As you say, they're flesh and blood and human foibles, and for the most part these are young people.
Like any player, keepers go thru slumps. Unlike every other player, when a keeper is in a slump, concessions directly result. That in itself is a headwrecking problem.
I didn’t see anything in terms of mechanics that looked unusually dire in Chicago than Bixby has shown much of this season. Portland keepers, FWIW, have issues coming off their line - it’s an Angerer thing (Shelly Betos first appearance was in a game where Angerer got red for a bad challenge, if you recall…) and Franch and Brick had it to a degree - and until the Wright collision Bix looked no better or worse than she has up til now.
But that play exposed where her confidence is now…and that’s not a good place. I think she knows she’s making mistakes and is playing tight and jittery, and that has to infect her backline, too. Not good.
But Angerer knows her keepers better than I do. So until she pulls Bixby, we just have to hope she can keep it together.
I suspect the whole backline, including Bella, is struggling with Sauerbruun's absence. It might not be a case of what you see Bruun do, rather just her presence and demeanor.
The problem I have with that is 1) the backline doesn't seem all that much sturdier when she's there, 2) 'Brunn herself has been more fallible than I'd hoped to see from her, and 3) Emily Menges led the backline for years - she was a serious candidate for WNT selection in the 2015-2018 window. Yes, she's struggling now, but that shouldn't mean she doesn't know how to and can't lead her unit.
I'm not saying that 'Brunn isn't a positive! She's a damn good player and an "old head" who can help settle down a nervy unit.
But the whole "Help us, Becki-wan-Brunnobi! You're our only hope!" meme seems to heap the whole unit's issues on one missing player. My guess is that it's becoming a sort of group psychosis thing, and the backs' and Bixby's issues reinforce each other.
That's why I keep coming back to coaching. When it's not an individual player problem (which is ALSO coaching, just a different sort...) that's where the coach earns their pay. They analyze the problem(s), craft (s) solution(s), implement them, and analyze the results.
I don't see that happening in the back anymore than I see it anywhere else on the pitch.
In 2015 I constantly complained at Slide Rule Pass that the "plan" Paul Riley (spit!) seemed to have that season was "Let 'em play and see what happens..." I get a strong vibe from Norris about that. He seems to have sort of locked in some rosters, tactics, and subs in preseason and those don't respond to form or game state. I'm not sure whether that's obstinacy, inexperience, or just a dude over his head.
Reading these rankings and the resulting comments makes me very concerned for the NWSL. Expansion is a good thing but what's happened is that the true talents (mostly USWNT players) are getting spread thinner and thinner without the big infusion of foreign talent we thought might be coming. If more of the US players decide to follow the money overseas it will get even worse. The NWSL is at a crossroads. If they have the ambitions they say they do then some changes need to be made. First, raise or eliminate the salary cap. Absent that, a designated player rule needs to be implemented. The overall talent level needs to raise not be just moved around.
OTOH there are more players coming out of college ready to play in their rookie year. They're fit and skillful, many with good vision, and they're students of the game, eager to improve their play. The existence of the NWSL, providing the real possibility of a pro career, is increasing the pool of very good players.
If the level of play is declining across the league, I'd suggest it might be because of a falloff in coaching quality. There has been a huge (and hugely necessary) turnover in coaching staff across the league, and Norris isn't the only one trying absurd tactics. It may be necessary for a whole generation of coaches to learn how to manage a winning team without being a jerk or a creep. There's a long tradition of abusive coaching at the college and high school, and even younger, levels so this may take some time.
Yeah, given how many of Top Drawer’s 100 best players go undrafted each year I’m kind of skeptical about the “too much expansion” meme. Coaching/tactics seem more likely suspects.
Lol Cook is very good! She’s been one of the best CBs in the NWSL for years!
That unfortunately does not mean she’s of sufficient quality to replace Becky Sauerbrunn at a WC, but so it goes- I’m really not sure who the better option is.
One of those players where the stats and the eye test do not match up for me. IMHO she presents a derp-in-waiting, but whaevs. We'll see how opponents decide to attack that side, this summer.
She’s made some errors at the national team level, for sure. She’s also been the anchor of the most consistently good defense in the league for the last three years, and is still only 26 somehow.
I’m just not sure who’s better- The NWSL is just very short on quality center backs beyond Girma, which is why the Becky injury is so devastating. Freakin Tara McKeown might be the best CB in the league this year! Sonnett? Hell no. Hubly? Nah. Anybody on KC, Orlando, Louisville, Gotham, Houston, or ACFC? Definitely not. It’s one of the reasons why the league is so chaotic.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Ertz gets some time there fwiw, which is objectively hilarious given the reason she was rushed back is because Vlatko doesn’t trust his options at the 6.
Its funny, I don't think Menges had a good game. There were a couple of bad turnovers and she got beat a few times. I'm really hoping she returns to form (or close to it), but I don't think she is there yet. I do see the incremental improvement, and every player has a rough game here and there. She is going to be critical for the rest of the season, and I think she is going to be solid.
There have been waaay too many individual errors, but I think a lot of that has been the pressure of Norris' system and his system itself. When you play in such a risky way and make mistakes, you lose confidence in yourself and in the players around you. His system leaves the defense stranded and they can only do so much, esp a player like Menges who was out for a long time. When everyone is making these mistakes consistently, I tend to think it's the coach, ultimately. Sadly, unless he sits fullbacks deeper I think this poor form continues for all of the defenders. He isn't putting any of them in any position to succeed, and rather, is setting them all up to fail. That lack of confidence that breeds in yourself, your teammates, your GK, and your coach is poison for a functioning team.
Yeah, totally! Hubly's from the same game is worse. She attempts less lateral passes and more forward/progressive passes, but they are mostly all turned over. Hubly, STOP!
"Hubly made 76 passes and her passing accuracy was 82.9% (missed 13 passes)"
Hubly has been an underrated victim of the high midfielders: She gets *so* impatient if she can’t find an early vertical option and keeps trying to force it.
I get it’s kinda her personality, but she needs to chillll
Yeah, I don't remember this being a thing she did in seasons prior. You can see her frustration when she has literally no outlet passes and Sinc and Crystal are way the hell upfield just static. If this is the way Norris is gonna have them play (with CB's going long), though, they've gotta all work on moving to space and receiving the ball better. Hubly's passes forward might not be great, but that's partially on the M/F's for not making it work if that's what Norris wants them to do. Lots of turnovers on those because of poor receiving skills, as well as Hubly's impatient boots forward. Don't blame her for being frustrated either way, though. Again, comes back to tactics and setup. Norris isn't creating a system that works best for the players he has. At least, on the D/M side of things.
I hope it isn't frustrating the rest of the season. It seems pretty clear that either Dunn or Sugita needs to drop back more to provide some options for the CBs to pass to. Or Moultre if/when she is starting. The side benefit is that by dropping a player or two might open up the long ball if the opposition brings players up to continue to pressure the Thorns. Maybe not soccer 101, but we aren't talking post-graduate tactics here.
Another reason I so strongly advocate Sugita playing as a 10: it's easier to do this from that position than from the wing, where she's likely further forward and more likely to have opposition players between her and the back line. Both her and Crystal are excellent dribblers and passers, but Hina may have more of a playmaker's mindset (and Crystal more of a goal scorer's).
That said, Hina was clearly thinking more about her shot against Chicago, and I like it.
Not her fault, but she can’t keep taking the risks she does. If the only ball is deep over the top or out to one of the outside backs, she’s gotta take it instead of trying to force it to feet of someone under pressure.
We used to see her take the ball up the center a lot more than she has this season, and again, I think it's a result of Norris' risky setup. She has very little cover to do that now with the fullbacks up so high so early in the build up. And now, add in the lack of confidence playing poorly over and over again breeds, and your CB's won't take those risks. Booting a ball high upfield probably seems less risky, even if you know the high likelihood of a turnover.
Yeah, just as mentioned below to kielbj, she has no outlet passes, and the attacking mids and forwards have been poor at receiving long balls and/or moving to space.
Know who's tired of being at the bottom of the Power Rankings? KC's fans and soccer media.
I've been perusing their media over the last several weeks, and... HOOOOOOOOOBOY!
They too are questioning roster construction, noticing that the defenders are snapping at each other during games, and questioning whether it's time to fire the interim HC.
But ideas for how to right the ship? It's everything from make a major midseason trade or international signing to shore up the defense to try to lure Vlatko back if the Nats flame out in the WWC.
One more problem to add to KC's woes: Glas isn't healthy enough to play for Sweden in the WWC. If she's not healthy enough for that, then you have to wonder when she will play for KC.
Whenever I see one of these it’s a bunch of really good players grouped from 2-10 and then “oh shit the gap between Soph and #2 is the same as that between #2 and 10.”
It’s the same with G+: The difference between Soph (4.06) and Kizer (2.46) at #2 is approximately 1.5 G+; roughly the same as the difference between Kizer and Hina (1.02) at #15. Completely absurd!
Interesting table, particularly in showing that of the top 20 players 6 are thorns and that only two other teams have more than one player in that group. Helps explain our league leading goal differential.
With the front line we have I don’t think we need to leave the backline so exposed. If we were struggling to get goals I could see trying it, but I don’t think that is our situation
I know this isn't a popular opinion, but I would love for her to go to Europe for a few years and do champions league. It's important to get that experience as it'll make her an even better player. If she plays 10 seasons in Portland and 2-3 in Europe, that's a W.
SS9's next contract is going to be highest paid in the world.
She’ll get her chance in Europe, and I won’t begrudge her for wanting to take it when she does. I just hope that’s after her second contract when she’s 26 (or hell, her third when she’s 30!) and not after next year.
She’s added plenty of value in the small amount of time she’s been here, but it would suuuckk to lose her after her first long term contract expires.
I would swap Louisville and Dash. Louisville has been looking pretty good while Houston is underperforming the forward talent on that roster. I would also swap ACFC and Orlando. Orlando is still very much a 'who knows' vibe, but consistently getting better, whereas the ACFC win feels like a new coach bump situation fueled by defender goals that isn't sustainable.
NCC and Gotham are a toss-up for me. NCC on better form, but it's entirely powered by Kerolin. Gotham's early form was 100% Lynn Williams powered. And both teams are going to be losing a number of important players for the WC.
Louisville has all the talent to make playoffs for sure, they've just struggled against top tier teams. Most of their wins have come against the bottom 3-4 teams, outside of the Gotham w.
The NCC goal scoring has been mostly Kerolin, but the Miura/O’Sullivan double pivot has been the engine. Fuel for my “O’Sullivan is one of the most underrated players in NWSL history” agenda.
That's too bad she was omitted. I don't know enough about the composition of the Japanese midfield to know who she'd replace, but NC will no doubt be lucky to have her stick around during the WC window!
A bit surprising to see her left off the roster...but the Nadeshiko are incredibly deep in the midfield, particularly on the attacking end. That's where Hina will likely play, and of course there are people like Yui Hasegawa, Jun Endo, Risa Shimizu, Fuka Nagano...
Totally agree re: O'Sullivan! Have always thought so. Miura has seamlessly fit into Nahas' playing style as well. She's generally really clean on the ball...and she works well with O'Sullivan.
I agree that NC should be placed higher. Kerolin is on fire and, unlike so many other teams, they're ahead of schedule and performing well above expectations.
As for the bottom of the table, Chicago are absolutely the worst team in the league.. However, KC keep finding ways to lose despite having siuperior talent to Chicago and many other opponents. Chicago are bad, but KC are what it looks like when it goes wrong.
Plus something like $50K in performance bonuses, so over $300K if those drop. Yeah, seems like a good deal for a player who seemed to have already moved on…
I'm seeing teams lock down big players on their teams before the WC and I'm just side-eying our roster and :/....SO many contracts up after this season. Of course, some of them I'd like to not pick up again...but we have possible retirements, and if we're shaving off some deep-benchers or replacing any starters (like Kuikka or Dunn, for example), we have a whole lot of roster to build back up. Dunn will be a free agent, and there's the whole Pierre issue....Soph's contract is only through next season- 2024.
Status: (* = often starter)
*Broon: re-signed for 2023
*Sinc: Option exercised for 2023
*Moultrie: signed through 2023
*Kuikka: re-signed for 2023
Vasconcelos: re-signed through 2023 with 1 year option
Right. 15-20 minutes does not jibe with Liv’s goal, stated publicly, of becoming the best woman soccer player in the world. Prediction, for what it’s worth, if Sinclair is in the way next year, Liv will be somewhere else.
And it’s not like she’s an unknown coming to town with a heap of hype behind her. She’s earned it. A great pass for an assist (to Weaver). Probably our most accurate striker from around the 18. Scrappy defender. As much as I would hate to see her leave, I wouldn’t blame her a bit. (I’d save my wrath for the Canadians).
I think the frustration over her playing time in comparison to Sinc’s is totally justified, but she is also 17, plays every game, has gotten multiple starts, and will continue to get more. I wouldn’t blame her for wanting more time, but I haven’t exactly gotten the idea that she’s clamoring to leave. I’d guess that the fans are much more agitated about it than she is.
True this. But the league is at stage when many of the name players can move to another team for the asking or request an out through the transfer window. Most of the time, they are accommodated.
I honestly wonder if some of those are to establish a contract prior to WC. Both to lock a salary now and legal status, and so that if a Euro club comes along post-WC, there has to be a transfer fee involved.
It's definitely smart, and is what I'd do if I were a GM! I would've tried to get Soph on a full 3 yr +1 contract prior to the WC because her profile is only gonna go up after a WC where she will feature heavily. We only have her through 2024, and there's also the Olympics next year. At least a new big contract would do, as you've mentioned- give the Thorns a big payday if/when the big clubs come calling.
Outside of that, I’d guess Kling will sign another short term deal. If Becky doesn’t retire, I’d imagine she will too. Who knows about Kuikka. Hopefully these discussions are, at minimum, in progress.
And I’ll add: World Cups *always* prompt transfers. It’s not like Smith is an unknown by any means, but never underestimate the power of eurosnobs and their ability to need to see it shoved in their face before they realize how good she is. If she has a good tournament, the hyenas will come out in record time, I guarantee it.
It also depends very much on who needs a striker. City, Arsenal, Chelsea are fairly set. PSG are kind of a mess, but have Katoto for now. Lyon have Hegerberg but she's injured fairly frequently, and Barcelona, who don't really have an out and out #9, are interested.
I’m pretty confident that if and when she decides she’s ready, she’ll have plenty of suitors. I also wouldn’t be surprised if she gets pushed out to the wing at her next stop- There’s not a ton of players of her body type and skillset that play centrally, and she’s certainly capable of playing any of the front three forward spots.
(Also, as an Arsenal fan, I’d say they could definitely use a little extra oomph in attack, even if/when Viv comes back. It would lessen the pain of her leaving Portland by about 5%!)
Secondly, I've heard her say in interviews she much prefers to play the 9...so maybe that will factor in the where she ends up going, if/when she does.
I'd really love to see what happens with Dunn sooner than later. She's a free agent after this year, and I get the feeling that she doesn't have a lot keeping her in Portland and would consider a move elsewhere....esp considering what happened with Pierre. It would be huge if they could get her to commit to the club beyond this year.
Hey all, any interest in a USWNT snubs piece? Sam Coffey should not be on that piece, but will end up being on it unless Vlatko takes her as an alternate.
I do plan on covering the WWC for STF, but just wanted to see the interest if our team were to do so.
I'd read that! But honestly the only major snub I see currently is Coffey, if you're just focusing on Thorns players. There's too much talent on the wings in the USWNT pool for Weaver to break in, as of today, and I think Bella is pretty far off USWNT level and is sadly trending the opposite way. Liv will get there, likely for the next WC cycle...
I have a roster snub that bothers me quite a bit. I think this will go up Sunday or Monday.
Hatch is def a snub, even if I agree with it lol
Krueger should have been there over KoH. I’d say those two and Sam are the biggest “snubs.”
Somehow Sonnett still on the team. I just don’t get it
Yeah, if we're talking non-Thorns players, I'd agree with Hatch and Krueger. I understand wanting KOH there, esp with Becky out but am v curious what her injury status is. I'd take Kreuger over her for sure, but I'd also take Kreuger over Huerta. Huerta's defensive skills are not int'l level and I just think Kreuger is a better overall player.
Hatch, just kinda unlucky. Did everything she needed to get there, but the fact that so many players going can play a backup 9 makes her a little more obsolete, even if she offers a different skillset. With Rose and Ertz kinda ??? and Ertz possibly having to play CB, I'm not surprised he went with another midfielder that's a little more versatile.
I think it’s kinda funny that woso twitter is convinced that Thompson got the Hatch spot...which just objectively isn’t true. DeMelo got her spot and Thompson is the Pugh replacement.
Mewis is the one I don’t really get. Obviously Sam is a better option, but Mewis is just the definition of a C+ World Cup player. Not sure what the situation is where she makes a difference over someone like Coffey or even Kornieck.
Yeah, I thought that was obvious lol. Very obvious Demelo took a midfield spot that wouldn't have existed otherwise, especially because we still have Mewis going. Which, yeah, I'm kinda not sure why. I know Vlatko has history with KM though, so not surprised. I think probably because she can do a mediocre-to-fine job anywhere in the midfield and I think just has a little more in her bag than Kornieck (who also hasn't been playing much.) Sam, I mean, yeah...esp if you're gonna put Ertz at CB?? Vlatko is gonna break Andi Sullivan (and other teams are going to break us.)
Krueger and Hatch, too, imo. I know Chicago has been awful, but I don't think any of that's on Krueger (or Naeher, obvs).
Yes, I am definitely interested. It will be nice to have as a reference point for after the World Cup. This cycle definitely feels different from the last, and have a feeling that a few left behind will be sorely needed. There’s a lot of talent spread out all over the participant nations.
Sadly Coffey is on that list but so is Midge Purce which makes me feel even worse. Also, going to the WC as an alternate has to be the worst of all worlds.
Midge has been injured beginning of the season, so it's not too surprising. Hatch and Krueger are probably the biggest snubs this time around.
Yeah, it kinda baffles me Kreuger wouldn't be chosen over Huerta. She's pretty good with her service, and she's muuuch much better at defending (esp 1v1) than Huerta. Huerta's inability to defend at the national level seems like a major liability unless you're just using her for garbage minutes in group stage games, or games you're up comfortably. Hatch is just unlucky in a multitude of ways, but was kinda always on the bubble for me. I'm guessing Soph will move to a 9 if Alex needs a sub (or Lynn.) Which, is terrifying...part of being a 9 at the int'l level is just getting the absolute shit kicked out of you. I hope Soph doesn't come back too beat up...
Krueger can also play CB, which is a position the NT seems thin right now. Yes, Ertz and Sonnett can both play CB, but we brought Ertz back to be a midfield destroyer not a back-up CB. Davidson hasn't really looked convincing to me this season and not just because Chicago is bad, whereas Krueger has looked good for Chicago even though Chicago is bad.
I was generally pro leaving Hatch behind - the drop-off when she would sub in for Morgan was so obvious. I just didn't think Vlatko would only take one true 9. Soph gets beat up anyway, not sure if it matters if it's at the 9 or on the wing. And between Naeher's crazy long punts and the speed and skills up top, we should be able to snag some transition goals.
Krueger and Davidson not getting an invite, even with the weakened backline, means that Vlatko doesn't rate Chicago's defensive efforts this year. Hard to argue with him.
https://twitter.com/arielle_dror/status/1670834801077792771?s=20
Love that we’re pioneers of the NWSL’s first 2-5-3 formation. Mr. Norris, you sir, are an innovator!
This is downright scary. Orlando saw this before the game and knew exactly what to do against Portland.
Any kind of question to Norris about how this impacts the defense/midfield positionally would be greatly appreciated ;)
Yeah, I'll add a +1 here Phuoc! Why BOTH fullbacks staying in midfield, leaving massive spaces in behind, and leaving CB's with numerous exposed 1v1 battles? No adjustments, despite bleeding goals?
Would love to know this even more than why he continues to play with two 10's (one of those an immobile 10.)
Wow, that is brutal for our CB's lmao
Facts
Definitely tracks with the heat maps you posted from twitter too. Expected to cover massive area.
If I was a CB I'd be furious lol. Or a defender (or GK!)...his system has made every one of them look poor all season.
Yeah.
After getting hammered by direct play in Orlando, Norris looks out at the pitch and thinks; "Maybe I didn't push everyone up high ENOUGH".
Talk about doing the same thing and expecting a different result...what was that a definition of again..?
He knows the problem, so I don’t think it can be considered anything but naivety at this point. “If we play better everything will be fine” is the height of coaching delusion....and the problem is, it often *will* work because of the talent he has at his disposal.
Quick, tell KC about it so Sjöblom can try it next match and then complain that she hasn't had the players or the time she needs to play her desired formation!
Chief's Red Stars postmortem over at Riveting is up now. It's a painful read about Bixby.
Re: Bixby, the mistakes she made that resulted in the PK were *exactly* the things Angerer had the other keepers working on - over and over again - during the recent Open Training. However, Bella didn't take any reps doing those things. Instead, she sat on a ball and watched her understudies while they did those things.
By "those things," I mean coming out hard to challenge an attacker and take away or punch away a bounding ball before the attacker can get on the end of it.
So.... what to make of that?
Perhaps even more concerning, though, is how distraught she was about her mistakes... despite the fact that at the time Thorns sat on a 2-goal lead AND she still had opportunity to stop a PK (which she did not).
I mean, yeah, she messed up, but no more than Sarah Bouhaddi would do multiple times a match while playing for PSWST! The difference is that Bouhaddi never looked like her own mistakes rattled her.
By comparison, when I watched Bella's understudies during the Open Training, they had to face 3-4 shots in a row in quick succession, shaking off immediately any negative thoughts or disappointment they might have had from letting 1 get past them so that it didn't become 2, 3, 4 in a row. They also continued to battle whenever they *did* make mistakes, diving backward to swat away misplayed balls before they could cross the line. This was in a midweek *Open Training.*
Mental toughness is a tricky thing. For whatever reason, Bella's has been shaken.
If I may, Father's Day probably remains fraught for Bella. I don't draw any great conclusions about that and it's up to coach to address it if they believe it's an issue, but these players are all flesh and blood and human foibles.
I don’t doubt that for Bella, and my heart breaks for those reasons…but Bella isn’t the only player on this team whose lost a father, some more recently…like Kling and Broon, and others I think prior to Bella, like Hogan and Becky. I’m not sure if that was part of it, but her struggles have really been since last season, where she was better overall but still had some serious derps every couple games, a few of which also resulted in goals. If she is in a poor headspace, it’s up to Nadine to monitor and make those tough decisions, even if it’s for a one-off game on Father’s Day.
That's a very good insight. Every time I see Bella shaken on the field, I can't help but wonder about how she's doing on the personal front. As you say, they're flesh and blood and human foibles, and for the most part these are young people.
Like any player, keepers go thru slumps. Unlike every other player, when a keeper is in a slump, concessions directly result. That in itself is a headwrecking problem.
I didn’t see anything in terms of mechanics that looked unusually dire in Chicago than Bixby has shown much of this season. Portland keepers, FWIW, have issues coming off their line - it’s an Angerer thing (Shelly Betos first appearance was in a game where Angerer got red for a bad challenge, if you recall…) and Franch and Brick had it to a degree - and until the Wright collision Bix looked no better or worse than she has up til now.
But that play exposed where her confidence is now…and that’s not a good place. I think she knows she’s making mistakes and is playing tight and jittery, and that has to infect her backline, too. Not good.
But Angerer knows her keepers better than I do. So until she pulls Bixby, we just have to hope she can keep it together.
I suspect the whole backline, including Bella, is struggling with Sauerbruun's absence. It might not be a case of what you see Bruun do, rather just her presence and demeanor.
The problem I have with that is 1) the backline doesn't seem all that much sturdier when she's there, 2) 'Brunn herself has been more fallible than I'd hoped to see from her, and 3) Emily Menges led the backline for years - she was a serious candidate for WNT selection in the 2015-2018 window. Yes, she's struggling now, but that shouldn't mean she doesn't know how to and can't lead her unit.
I'm not saying that 'Brunn isn't a positive! She's a damn good player and an "old head" who can help settle down a nervy unit.
But the whole "Help us, Becki-wan-Brunnobi! You're our only hope!" meme seems to heap the whole unit's issues on one missing player. My guess is that it's becoming a sort of group psychosis thing, and the backs' and Bixby's issues reinforce each other.
That's why I keep coming back to coaching. When it's not an individual player problem (which is ALSO coaching, just a different sort...) that's where the coach earns their pay. They analyze the problem(s), craft (s) solution(s), implement them, and analyze the results.
I don't see that happening in the back anymore than I see it anywhere else on the pitch.
In 2015 I constantly complained at Slide Rule Pass that the "plan" Paul Riley (spit!) seemed to have that season was "Let 'em play and see what happens..." I get a strong vibe from Norris about that. He seems to have sort of locked in some rosters, tactics, and subs in preseason and those don't respond to form or game state. I'm not sure whether that's obstinacy, inexperience, or just a dude over his head.
But it sure is ugly when it doesn't work.
Reading these rankings and the resulting comments makes me very concerned for the NWSL. Expansion is a good thing but what's happened is that the true talents (mostly USWNT players) are getting spread thinner and thinner without the big infusion of foreign talent we thought might be coming. If more of the US players decide to follow the money overseas it will get even worse. The NWSL is at a crossroads. If they have the ambitions they say they do then some changes need to be made. First, raise or eliminate the salary cap. Absent that, a designated player rule needs to be implemented. The overall talent level needs to raise not be just moved around.
OTOH there are more players coming out of college ready to play in their rookie year. They're fit and skillful, many with good vision, and they're students of the game, eager to improve their play. The existence of the NWSL, providing the real possibility of a pro career, is increasing the pool of very good players.
If the level of play is declining across the league, I'd suggest it might be because of a falloff in coaching quality. There has been a huge (and hugely necessary) turnover in coaching staff across the league, and Norris isn't the only one trying absurd tactics. It may be necessary for a whole generation of coaches to learn how to manage a winning team without being a jerk or a creep. There's a long tradition of abusive coaching at the college and high school, and even younger, levels so this may take some time.
Yeah, given how many of Top Drawer’s 100 best players go undrafted each year I’m kind of skeptical about the “too much expansion” meme. Coaching/tactics seem more likely suspects.
https://twitter.com/itsmeglinehan/status/1671541287852359680?s=20
- DeMelo gets Hatch’s spot (cool!)
- KoH over Krueger (lame)
- Mewis over Kornieck (I don’t care)
- Ho boy that defense might have some rough moments.
No Becky and Cook retains her curious mindmeld into Vlatko's psyche. Am not very happy about that defense.
Lol Cook is very good! She’s been one of the best CBs in the NWSL for years!
That unfortunately does not mean she’s of sufficient quality to replace Becky Sauerbrunn at a WC, but so it goes- I’m really not sure who the better option is.
One of those players where the stats and the eye test do not match up for me. IMHO she presents a derp-in-waiting, but whaevs. We'll see how opponents decide to attack that side, this summer.
She’s made some errors at the national team level, for sure. She’s also been the anchor of the most consistently good defense in the league for the last three years, and is still only 26 somehow.
I’m just not sure who’s better- The NWSL is just very short on quality center backs beyond Girma, which is why the Becky injury is so devastating. Freakin Tara McKeown might be the best CB in the league this year! Sonnett? Hell no. Hubly? Nah. Anybody on KC, Orlando, Louisville, Gotham, Houston, or ACFC? Definitely not. It’s one of the reasons why the league is so chaotic.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Ertz gets some time there fwiw, which is objectively hilarious given the reason she was rushed back is because Vlatko doesn’t trust his options at the 6.
No surprise in Franch getting left off the roster, but I feel terrible for her. I hope one of the expansion clubs would like to bring her in.
Given the stat sheet on Cassie Miller I’d say that the problem is mostly KC’s “defense”…
Menges' heat/distribution maps for her game against Chicago. She missed 7 passes out of 83 (91.6% passing accuracy).
https://twitter.com/melinae07/status/1671234129176715264
Menges is a baller. Just knows how to play this game at a high level. Her return from injury could not have come at a better time.
Its funny, I don't think Menges had a good game. There were a couple of bad turnovers and she got beat a few times. I'm really hoping she returns to form (or close to it), but I don't think she is there yet. I do see the incremental improvement, and every player has a rough game here and there. She is going to be critical for the rest of the season, and I think she is going to be solid.
There have been waaay too many individual errors, but I think a lot of that has been the pressure of Norris' system and his system itself. When you play in such a risky way and make mistakes, you lose confidence in yourself and in the players around you. His system leaves the defense stranded and they can only do so much, esp a player like Menges who was out for a long time. When everyone is making these mistakes consistently, I tend to think it's the coach, ultimately. Sadly, unless he sits fullbacks deeper I think this poor form continues for all of the defenders. He isn't putting any of them in any position to succeed, and rather, is setting them all up to fail. That lack of confidence that breeds in yourself, your teammates, your GK, and your coach is poison for a functioning team.
That seems like an impressive passing accuracy until you look and see that virtually every pass is lateral.
Yeah, totally! Hubly's from the same game is worse. She attempts less lateral passes and more forward/progressive passes, but they are mostly all turned over. Hubly, STOP!
"Hubly made 76 passes and her passing accuracy was 82.9% (missed 13 passes)"
https://twitter.com/melinae07/status/1671246424611102720
Hubly has been an underrated victim of the high midfielders: She gets *so* impatient if she can’t find an early vertical option and keeps trying to force it.
I get it’s kinda her personality, but she needs to chillll
Yeah, I don't remember this being a thing she did in seasons prior. You can see her frustration when she has literally no outlet passes and Sinc and Crystal are way the hell upfield just static. If this is the way Norris is gonna have them play (with CB's going long), though, they've gotta all work on moving to space and receiving the ball better. Hubly's passes forward might not be great, but that's partially on the M/F's for not making it work if that's what Norris wants them to do. Lots of turnovers on those because of poor receiving skills, as well as Hubly's impatient boots forward. Don't blame her for being frustrated either way, though. Again, comes back to tactics and setup. Norris isn't creating a system that works best for the players he has. At least, on the D/M side of things.
I hope it isn't frustrating the rest of the season. It seems pretty clear that either Dunn or Sugita needs to drop back more to provide some options for the CBs to pass to. Or Moultre if/when she is starting. The side benefit is that by dropping a player or two might open up the long ball if the opposition brings players up to continue to pressure the Thorns. Maybe not soccer 101, but we aren't talking post-graduate tactics here.
Another reason I so strongly advocate Sugita playing as a 10: it's easier to do this from that position than from the wing, where she's likely further forward and more likely to have opposition players between her and the back line. Both her and Crystal are excellent dribblers and passers, but Hina may have more of a playmaker's mindset (and Crystal more of a goal scorer's).
That said, Hina was clearly thinking more about her shot against Chicago, and I like it.
Not her fault, but she can’t keep taking the risks she does. If the only ball is deep over the top or out to one of the outside backs, she’s gotta take it instead of trying to force it to feet of someone under pressure.
We used to see her take the ball up the center a lot more than she has this season, and again, I think it's a result of Norris' risky setup. She has very little cover to do that now with the fullbacks up so high so early in the build up. And now, add in the lack of confidence playing poorly over and over again breeds, and your CB's won't take those risks. Booting a ball high upfield probably seems less risky, even if you know the high likelihood of a turnover.
At least Hubly tried them??? Maybe?? (But yes, Hubs don't get impatient and stop turning over the ball.) For Menges, they are all so flat.
Overall, such an obvious reflection that we don't have an 8 who's dropping deeper to receive and progress the ball.
Yeah, just as mentioned below to kielbj, she has no outlet passes, and the attacking mids and forwards have been poor at receiving long balls and/or moving to space.
https://twitter.com/ScoutRipley/status/1671892385343877123?s=20
Love a good longform and this one on Soph is excellent
STF Fantasy Standings Week 12!
1. Pitch Perfect United- 1316
2. Dream Weaver- 1222
3. Skull Smashers- 1187
4. Searchers- 1169
5. Tuscan Oilers- 1164
6. PDX Fantastics- 1134
7. Danxp2- 1116
8. Sharpe's Bay United- 1095
9. The Slab Serifs 1068
10. Smith is the Face, Fishlock the heel- 1067
11. Thornando FC- 1026
12. Artemis FC- 969
13. VARforall- 911
Know who's tired of being at the bottom of the Power Rankings? KC's fans and soccer media.
I've been perusing their media over the last several weeks, and... HOOOOOOOOOBOY!
They too are questioning roster construction, noticing that the defenders are snapping at each other during games, and questioning whether it's time to fire the interim HC.
But ideas for how to right the ship? It's everything from make a major midseason trade or international signing to shore up the defense to try to lure Vlatko back if the Nats flame out in the WWC.
One more problem to add to KC's woes: Glas isn't healthy enough to play for Sweden in the WWC. If she's not healthy enough for that, then you have to wonder when she will play for KC.
Seems pretty good!
NWSL xG + xA Leaders After Round 12
9.67 - Smith (POR)
7.64 - Weaver (POR)
7.44 - Hatch (WSH)
7.42 - DeMelo (LOU)
6.56 - Adriana (ORL)
6.26 - Rodman (WSH)
6.17 - Kizer (KC)
5.83 - Kerolin (NC)
5.80 - Williams (GFC)
5.79 - Emslie (AC)
5.66 - Sugita (POR)
5.56 - Morgan (SD)
:)
Whenever I see one of these it’s a bunch of really good players grouped from 2-10 and then “oh shit the gap between Soph and #2 is the same as that between #2 and 10.”
It’s the same with G+: The difference between Soph (4.06) and Kizer (2.46) at #2 is approximately 1.5 G+; roughly the same as the difference between Kizer and Hina (1.02) at #15. Completely absurd!
https://app.americansocceranalysis.com/#!/nwsl/goals-added/players
Interesting table, particularly in showing that of the top 20 players 6 are thorns and that only two other teams have more than one player in that group. Helps explain our league leading goal differential.
Yes! So true!
Totally agree
In that respect, maybe Norris’ system is working
I think that’s at least partly true as concerns offense, but the defensive ramifications of the system are hurting overall performance.
With the front line we have I don’t think we need to leave the backline so exposed. If we were struggling to get goals I could see trying it, but I don’t think that is our situation
Agree
Yeah, that is all absolutely nuts. I hope some of this Horan money will go into throwing the bag at Soph for another big contract.
“Everyone in Portland panicking about Damian Lillard this summer should really worried about keeping Sophia Smith in town”
My column:
I know this isn't a popular opinion, but I would love for her to go to Europe for a few years and do champions league. It's important to get that experience as it'll make her an even better player. If she plays 10 seasons in Portland and 2-3 in Europe, that's a W.
SS9's next contract is going to be highest paid in the world.
She’ll get her chance in Europe, and I won’t begrudge her for wanting to take it when she does. I just hope that’s after her second contract when she’s 26 (or hell, her third when she’s 30!) and not after next year.
She’s added plenty of value in the small amount of time she’s been here, but it would suuuckk to lose her after her first long term contract expires.
I want her to do whatever she desires. With a boyfriend who plays in the NFL, she may choose to stay her a while
I’m not panicking, out of both of those players only one needs to be in Portland next year
I'm not panicking either...probably because I don't follow hoops! =P
I would swap Louisville and Dash. Louisville has been looking pretty good while Houston is underperforming the forward talent on that roster. I would also swap ACFC and Orlando. Orlando is still very much a 'who knows' vibe, but consistently getting better, whereas the ACFC win feels like a new coach bump situation fueled by defender goals that isn't sustainable.
NCC and Gotham are a toss-up for me. NCC on better form, but it's entirely powered by Kerolin. Gotham's early form was 100% Lynn Williams powered. And both teams are going to be losing a number of important players for the WC.
Louisville has all the talent to make playoffs for sure, they've just struggled against top tier teams. Most of their wins have come against the bottom 3-4 teams, outside of the Gotham w.
The NCC goal scoring has been mostly Kerolin, but the Miura/O’Sullivan double pivot has been the engine. Fuel for my “O’Sullivan is one of the most underrated players in NWSL history” agenda.
I agree on both counts there. I was a little sad that Miura didn't end up making the cut for Japan's WC squad because she's been great this season.
I was quite surprised by that as well! Has she ever been a part of the Japanese national program?
She was part of the Toyko Olympics squad.
That's too bad she was omitted. I don't know enough about the composition of the Japanese midfield to know who she'd replace, but NC will no doubt be lucky to have her stick around during the WC window!
A bit surprising to see her left off the roster...but the Nadeshiko are incredibly deep in the midfield, particularly on the attacking end. That's where Hina will likely play, and of course there are people like Yui Hasegawa, Jun Endo, Risa Shimizu, Fuka Nagano...
Totally agree re: O'Sullivan! Have always thought so. Miura has seamlessly fit into Nahas' playing style as well. She's generally really clean on the ball...and she works well with O'Sullivan.
Looks good. I'd rank the Courage above Gotham at this point. They're on fire, with Kerolin the kerosene that's making them burn so hot.
Thanks for the heads up, it’s a bad habit I still can’t shake haha.
Yeah I don’t disagree, just want to see them produce against legit teams too. If they do that, they’ll be moving way up for sure.
I agree that NC should be placed higher. Kerolin is on fire and, unlike so many other teams, they're ahead of schedule and performing well above expectations.
As for the bottom of the table, Chicago are absolutely the worst team in the league.. However, KC keep finding ways to lose despite having siuperior talent to Chicago and many other opponents. Chicago are bad, but KC are what it looks like when it goes wrong.
P.S. Phuoc, I think you want "would have", "should have", and "could have" instead of "would of", "should of", etc.
No information on what the "agreed-upon fee" comes to: https://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/news/thorns-fc-transfer-midfielder-lindsey-horan-to-olympique-lyonnais
Lyon say €250k, which is a pretty good fee.
Plus something like $50K in performance bonuses, so over $300K if those drop. Yeah, seems like a good deal for a player who seemed to have already moved on…
https://twitter.com/ThornsFC/status/1671911113183875072?s=20
There it is!
(Will we ever know the transfer fee? Who knows!)
https://twitter.com/LindseyHoran/status/1671919194655580162?s=20
Looks like 250k and a potential 50k kicker
Yep. Actually a top 5 women’s transfer fee ever, I believe (though it won’t be for long), with the Euros conversion.
- Lauren James went for 235k in 2020
- Beth England for 250k in 2023
- Pernille Harder for 294k in 2020.
- Keira Walsh for 470k in 2022.
https://twitter.com/thegoalkeeper/status/1671920732178186240
Euros
I say: give it all to Soph
But save a couple of grand out for Sam Coffey..!
And maybe some to Dunn?
https://twitter.com/838_carlisle/status/1671282137620725762?s=20
Ah yes, I remember being told that Sam Coffey can’t play as the traditional 6 for the USWNT because her defensive skills aren’t up to par!
I'm seeing teams lock down big players on their teams before the WC and I'm just side-eying our roster and :/....SO many contracts up after this season. Of course, some of them I'd like to not pick up again...but we have possible retirements, and if we're shaving off some deep-benchers or replacing any starters (like Kuikka or Dunn, for example), we have a whole lot of roster to build back up. Dunn will be a free agent, and there's the whole Pierre issue....Soph's contract is only through next season- 2024.
Status: (* = often starter)
*Broon: re-signed for 2023
*Sinc: Option exercised for 2023
*Moultrie: signed through 2023
*Kuikka: re-signed for 2023
Vasconcelos: re-signed through 2023 with 1 year option
*Dunn: signed for 2023
*Kling: signed through 2023 with 1 year option
Kozal: signed through 2023 with 1 year option
McGrady: signed through 2023 with 1 year option
Provenzano: contract option exercised for 2023
Beckman: contract option exercised for 2023
Porter: contract option exercised for 2023
Data comes from the Keeper Notes spreadsheet, which is usually well kept and reliable: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C-J_G5JRJxBbAaU0UtHOkmb4kt4QgJBY3aWfJ60n4Vo/edit#gid=548937126
The one that really scares me there is Moultrie. We're not making a great case for her staying here by Norris playing her 15-20 minutes per match.
Right. 15-20 minutes does not jibe with Liv’s goal, stated publicly, of becoming the best woman soccer player in the world. Prediction, for what it’s worth, if Sinclair is in the way next year, Liv will be somewhere else.
Yep. I sure as hell wouldn't wait any longer if I were her. Someone is going to be willing to offer her a tidy sum and a starting role.
And it’s not like she’s an unknown coming to town with a heap of hype behind her. She’s earned it. A great pass for an assist (to Weaver). Probably our most accurate striker from around the 18. Scrappy defender. As much as I would hate to see her leave, I wouldn’t blame her a bit. (I’d save my wrath for the Canadians).
I think the frustration over her playing time in comparison to Sinc’s is totally justified, but she is also 17, plays every game, has gotten multiple starts, and will continue to get more. I wouldn’t blame her for wanting more time, but I haven’t exactly gotten the idea that she’s clamoring to leave. I’d guess that the fans are much more agitated about it than she is.
FWIW I think Moultrie has an option for next year:
"Portland Thorns FC have signed midfielder Olivia Moultrie to a three-year contract with an option, it was announced today."
Oh that’s good to know…that spreadsheet that’s supposed to be pretty accurate and up to date doesn’t mention an option year.
True this. But the league is at stage when many of the name players can move to another team for the asking or request an out through the transfer window. Most of the time, they are accommodated.
I feel like this will change with free agency. Salaries will rise. It will get harder to make those accommodations for the players
I honestly wonder if some of those are to establish a contract prior to WC. Both to lock a salary now and legal status, and so that if a Euro club comes along post-WC, there has to be a transfer fee involved.
It's definitely smart, and is what I'd do if I were a GM! I would've tried to get Soph on a full 3 yr +1 contract prior to the WC because her profile is only gonna go up after a WC where she will feature heavily. We only have her through 2024, and there's also the Olympics next year. At least a new big contract would do, as you've mentioned- give the Thorns a big payday if/when the big clubs come calling.
Totally agree, but her agent may be looking at the same facts and saying, "Don't sign anything until after the WC."
Very true!
Priority of contract renewal:
1. Smith
2. Moultrie
3. Dunn
4. Natu
Outside of that, I’d guess Kling will sign another short term deal. If Becky doesn’t retire, I’d imagine she will too. Who knows about Kuikka. Hopefully these discussions are, at minimum, in progress.
And I’ll add: World Cups *always* prompt transfers. It’s not like Smith is an unknown by any means, but never underestimate the power of eurosnobs and their ability to need to see it shoved in their face before they realize how good she is. If she has a good tournament, the hyenas will come out in record time, I guarantee it.
It also depends very much on who needs a striker. City, Arsenal, Chelsea are fairly set. PSG are kind of a mess, but have Katoto for now. Lyon have Hegerberg but she's injured fairly frequently, and Barcelona, who don't really have an out and out #9, are interested.
I’m pretty confident that if and when she decides she’s ready, she’ll have plenty of suitors. I also wouldn’t be surprised if she gets pushed out to the wing at her next stop- There’s not a ton of players of her body type and skillset that play centrally, and she’s certainly capable of playing any of the front three forward spots.
(Also, as an Arsenal fan, I’d say they could definitely use a little extra oomph in attack, even if/when Viv comes back. It would lessen the pain of her leaving Portland by about 5%!)
Absolutely no to her leaving! Lol.
Secondly, I've heard her say in interviews she much prefers to play the 9...so maybe that will factor in the where she ends up going, if/when she does.
Soph on the wing, Lessi Russo on top. Make it happen, Clare and Edu.
I'd really love to see what happens with Dunn sooner than later. She's a free agent after this year, and I get the feeling that she doesn't have a lot keeping her in Portland and would consider a move elsewhere....esp considering what happened with Pierre. It would be huge if they could get her to commit to the club beyond this year.
Agree. She’s #2 on the list