With Dunn in midfield, I'd play Sugita as the 10 and Dunn as an 8. I think Sugita is better than Dunn in tight spaces and is a more accurate passer, both of which which are 10 talents. Dunn is excellent when she has a little bit of space - she doesn't need much but she needs more than Sugita. The big question is whether Dunn would defend; we know from the nats that she can, but I'm not sure she would if attacking opportunities were right in front of her.
I think Dunn would also do fine as a right winger. In fact my preferred formation has her there:
Weaver - Smith - Dunn
Rocky/Moultrie (8) - Coffey (6) - Sugita (10)
Kling - Sauerbrunn - Hubly - Kuikka
Bixby
Moultrie seems like a more natural replacement for Sugita as a 10, but I want Sugita out there, dammit!
In a diamond you risk losing width, and IMO we *would* lose it because we have only one player who likes hugging the touchline, Weaver.
Just read a random blurb online from a woso journalist overseas who said this in regards to someone asking a question about what’s going on with Horan…
“Understand that she wants to stay abroad and continue her loan spell.”
Now, who knows concretely but I’ve learned that often times about these sorts of things, where there’s smoke there’s fire, so…
If this is the case, I wish OL would just buy her outright so we can get big $$ for another top level player…KK just needs to cut the bait imo if she wants a longer loan.
Julie Uhrman, who always looks like she's working on "how to smile" (hint: "smiling" is not baring your teeth after staring through someone's soul for a couple of seconds), approached the referee on the field after ACFCNFT's recent loss to Washington.
Didn't ACFCNFT have somebody do the same damn thing last year, and also get fined for it?
Couldn't find details of that one, but I did find that ACFCNFT got fined for tampering back in November 2021 -- more than a month before the expansion draft!
ACFCNFT: We respect the laws of the game, unless we don't!
(UPDATE: Sorry, that was the other annoying SoCal team, SD Wave. Their GM approached an official after the match to complain).
Yeah, I mean, I'm happy we're playing Chicago when we're down pretty bad, but I don't think winning a game against a team where the wheels have already fallen off will change our trajectory too much. It's good to just get back on the winning track no matter who it's against, but we can't really declare all is well even if we get a big win. That should be the expectation at this point and anything less would be unsatisfactory. Maybe I'm cynical....but I'd like to see a result against even a mid-table team before I declare victory. Our midfield (defense too) has been outplayed every game since halftime at KC, with individual brilliance usually saving us.
On the other hand, what if we lose or draw this one? Another trap game if I've ever seen one, and I don't feel confident without a big change of personnel and structure. It's a good game to get Hogan some minutes, but I'm not sure coach is really to cross that bridge with Bixby yet...
Also side note, but watching the KC v LOU CC game, and Franch just looks really rough. She just booted a goal kick straight to a LOU player, and then DeMelo turned around and put it right back into the net. Looked saveable but Franch didn't even move. Whew, lotta GK's struggling this season with Franch very much at the top of the list. Love Franch, so I feel really bad for her...
As I'm writing this, DeMelo put another one past Franch (nothing she could do about that one, though.)
So very weird. I do not believe NWSL has the bandwidth to control the machinations of Industrial Soccer at this level. One Premiere League club roster's salary could buy every NWLS club.
Here's a place the Reign won't be returning to.
"The Seattle City Council passed a plan to support the demolition and rebuilding of Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center on Tuesday, according to the Seattle City Council official blog. Demolition and rebuilding would be completed through a private-public partnership, with the assistance of the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools, who own the stadium.
"The legislation, which was sponsored by Council President Debora Juarez, passed 8-1. Kshama Sawant voted no. The plan would entail the 76-year-old stadium being replaced with a new venue focused on students and other Seattle youth, according to the city council.
"A new stadium would have to have at least 8,000 seats under covered stands, as well. A decision to select the company to redevelop, operate and maintain the new stadium is expected to be made May 22.
"Funding for the new stadium has already been dedicated as follows:
"$66.5 million from Seattle voters through the SPS 2022 Building Technology Athletics and Academics levy
"$21 million from Seattle’s 2023 to 2028 Capital Improvement Plan
"$4 million from the Washington State 2023 capital budget"
Wait... City Council had to pass a resolution to *support* the demolition of Memorial Stadium? The demolition-by-neglect has been ongoing for at least 40 years.
If that 2-3-5-2 formation represents a 12-player team, it must include the goalkeeping. So the "2" there means it must have two goalkeepers. I like it! Why didn't we think of this earlier?!!
Putting mid-week news here instead because the open thread is just mostly Timbers discussion. I like having the Thorns stuff separate...
Anyways, sad news with Rocky out with an MCL sprain. That's cutting it super close for her with Costa Rica, and I'll be devastated for her if she doesn't go, or doesn't really get to play. Good news that Becky will be back sooner rather than later...
From Ryan Clarke today:
"Mike Norris said Rocky Rodriguez is out 6-8 weeks with a sprained MCL. They are hoping she’s able to recover sooner with the World Cup on the horizon.
Becky Sauerbrunn (foot) has returned to on-field work and should be available in the next week or two."
Hoping we see Hina or Moultrie in the midfield with Rocky out, rather than putting Sinc back in that starting role. Would like to see one of them, with D'Aquila on the wing, even if it's not her #1 position. She's looked the sharpest and most able to contribute to the attack of any of our wingers besides Weaver, imo. Just don't know why we aren't seeing her for more than 10-15 mins at a time...
Rocky's presser after the last match had her showing a stoic front while not knowing the degree of her injury. This is sad, as it's just one level behind "season-ending requiring surgery."
The progression with a serious knee typically has them allowing plant and pivot work at week 10. Actual playing, some number of weeks after that.
This is really sad about Rocky. She's one of my favorites just because I absolutely love her attitude. The skill set is pretty darn good too.
I have a feeling that this season is about to go off the rails, man. We're actually pretty thin in the midfield when it comes to 8's, and we're one Sophia Smith or Crystal Dunn injury from the scoring drying up. God forbid we lose any more than what we have already "planned for" during the WWC, but this is feeling a bit wobbly.
Yeah, I was thinking of it one of two ways. As you said, Sinc goes back in midfield and problems persist. We win against the most dire teams, but become a mid table team because we can't get a W against anyone else. If we lose a Coffey, Dunn, or Soph...it will go south really quickly. It was concerning that Coffey only played 70 mins, because Porter just is not a viable sub (esp when we're at a draw.) We will have Coffey and Moultrie (and most of our backline, sans Becky)...but yeah, just have no one to follow even just from a numbers standpoint. The other players- Betfort, Beckman, Provenzano haven't even played at all. And they aren't great depth. KK needs to get some good depth in, and soon, so players have time to gel with the team. Would love another F, maybe another FB, and yeah, 8/10 midfielders...
Or, optimistic me thinks maybe finally we'll get either Hina or Moultrie in the midfield with Coffey and Dunn, because Norris has to see Sinc can't play that position. He started Rocky the last game, so part of me thinks that's because he saw how Sinc was in the game prior. But, he benched Hina entirely last game so I have no idea what he's doing. Can't bench Dunn right now, so...
Also, this is kind of a side note here....but why do the Thorns not say literally anything about AAPI Heritage Month (May)? Or anything? Nothing for Black History Month either. Just like, we have wonderful diversity on our team and it feels like this club doesn't try at all to make them feel welcomed and special (esp in a very white city like Portland.) Would be nice to be celebrating Hina with some sort of player profile or SOMETHING. This club doesn't try at all and it makes me sad.
Yeah, the treatment of Hina has been infuriating for me. Further, bringing in Sinclair early because of an injury to Rocky over a 26yr old starting quality game-changing player like HIna in Houston, of all places...it's just literally insane to me. And then not playing her AT ALL?! Ready to toss out everyone in charge. You don't play Rocky or Moultrie and take Hina out, you play those players and take Sinclair out.
I'm sure you've stated this before, but I'm curious what your first choice starting XI would be, and then maybe a second choice, if you knew Dunn was immovable from the 10...Where would you see Hina in those two scenarios, and with who around her? And what formation? I know your first choice is a 10, but I'm curious how you'd organize elsewhere...
For me, I think if Dunn is immovable from the 10, I put Hina in an 8 role and D'Aquila on the wing (or Moultrie w/ Norris' weird inverted RW), OR, I'd try a 442 diamond with Moultrie and Hina both in the two 8 roles, with Smith/Weaver up top. However, that requires width from our fullbacks, and the defense is already looking shaky (although we'd have more in midfield for help)....Still don't think 8 is Hina's best role, but much more appropriate for her link up play/forward passing, solid passing accuracy/ability, and ability to maintain possession with her trickery. Ie....what we're missing in the midfield.
Yeah, I thought for sure if they were throwing her on the presser that it couldn't be too bad. It could be worse, but at this point, any sort of mid-level injury is threatening to WC dreams. It's hard to know also, because there's varying levels of a MCL sprain. Even the lowest level of severity (a grade I), it's about 6 weeks at the earliest until you can get back to work. That will cut it verrrry close for her...6 weeks from injury is June 23rd, with intl's being released June 26th. I imagine that's when she'd just get back to training and may have to stay around Portland and recover to hopefully be on a later plane to play their first game July 21st (against Spain.) That's the best case, too, no setbacks. Their group isn't an easy one, but without Rocky.....oooof. Feel so bad for her, and for her CR teammates.
After a couple of clean-sheet wins, KC now look a lot like KC under Potter.
In fact, they're healthier now than they've been at any point in the season, but they just had 3 matches in a row when they looked like the group Potter had -- a 3-2 loss to ACFCNFT, a 2-0 loss to SD, and a 3-2 loss to Racing (Challenge Cup).
What's the problem now? How is it any different from what Potter was dealing with, with even fewer player resources available to him?
I don't fault the ownership group. I mean, they're finally doing what KC deserved the first time around. Had this kind of ownership been there back then we wouldn't have had FCKC, Utah Royals FC, KC WoSo, and KC Current.
But I very much do get the house-flipping vibe here.
They took a fixer-upper and started fixing it up, but instead of being patient the realtor (FO) had them put the house on the market prematurely and then tried to present it to the world as a move-in-ready mansion with turn-key living.
Alas, the Honey Bucket is still out in front, the roof is half-finished, not all the rooms have been re-wired, the plumbing is leaking, and what's that smell coming from the basement?
It’s tough for me to get a grasp on exactly what this team’s issues are at the moment- There’s certain elements that are clearly tangible, but there are also general cohesion issues that I’m not sure get fixed with a personnel adjustment. If I had to distill it down to three identifiable issues, I think I’d go:
1. Coaching: Norris is a little over his skis with how he wants the 4-3-3 to play. On paper, it makes sense: Press high, get Smith and Weaver in space, and cut off counter attacking options. I thought this was more personnel driven (Sinc and Dunn are natural attackers playing midfield roles), and while that’s certainly a big part of it, the Houston game showed that the forward position of the two 8s is more tactical than anything. I think he needs to ease off a little and structure the midfield to play a little deeper and close off those gaps between the back line and the midfield 3.
2. Individual (or are they?) errors: Outside of the very real Bixby issue, I’d say most of the individual errors seem directly linked to structure- Kelli passing the ball directly into a press. Menges and Nally isolated in space against skilled attackers without support. 4v2 counters when Kling and Natu are caught high.
3. Defensive structure, or lack thereof: The fullbacks get caught far too high far too often and there’s almost never an outlet in midfield because of how high Norris has the two 8s set up. So many of the bad midfield giveaways have come from the CBs trying to force feed Coffey in traffic because there’s no support mechanism that gives Sam the ability to play out of traffic. It looked a little more compact and fluid with Rocky in the first half, but completely went to shit in the 2nd half once she got hurt and the team got tired.
So... I think Norris needs to be able to articulate a game plan beyond “forecheck and cause havoc for a half before everyone gets tired and the whole structure falls apart.” The insistence both on the Dunn/Sinclair midfield and on playing 8 out of the 10 field players about as high as possible has all been a little too naive for me- I hope he can take a step back and see that this is more than a “the defenders need to play better” problem.
I think they’ll be fine- But adjustments need to be made, just like last year.
Tl;dr -- I’ve changed my opinion from the main issues being mostly personnel driven to being more tactical, though the two are obviously interrelated. Take the foot off the gas a little, Mike!
There was a spell early on last year when coach would run a 5-1-1-1-1 or whatever and the community had a communal hair-fire watching her eventually sort things out and win a ship. Since Norris was there observing firsthand and because there's been so relatively little roster churn, I'd like to think he'd have it figured out by now.
Only aspect that has me cutting him some slack is the reality of WCC break, with a ton of points to be won or surrendered in that period, depending on how well he can direct the Factory Outlet Thorns and strategize against what will be some bizarre and unknowable opponent lineups.
There are also different issues than last year imo- Norris has kept the same formation, but it plays very differently. He knows he has the athletes (especially with Dunn fit) to play a pressure-based style, but it feels like he's sacrificed stability to get as many numbers forward at all times.
Honestly, this team could use a Lindsey Horan right about now- We need a big, skilled body who will sit deep, fill the holes, and keep the ball instead of rocketing forward.
Would love to see Linds bossing that midfield again. While Rocky has her physicality she's smaller and not as clever on the ball. Sam's got her ball handling and vision but is not as physical, nor as much a scoring threat. Those sound like criticisms but Horan really is one of the planet's best. I'm feeling better for the USWNT with the possibility of her no longer filling in for Ertz, playing in her comfortable spot with the likes of Lavelle and Macario alongside.
ETA Imagine Lindsey back, mentoring Olivia. Moultre is doing what Horan did, only sooner and not overseas (although...SLC to PDX? That's a lot like traveling to another land).
Especially with Rocky out for a relatively extended period. Love that Moultrie's gonna get more time, but she doesn't have Rocky's ball retention ability and strength in tight spaces yet.
Still -- like most of us-- would like to see Hina at the 8 to help with that ball retention, but both her national team coach and Norris appear to have decided that they'd rather shunt her wide than displace someone else from the midfield.
(Phuoc, if you're reading: Pls ask if Hina might get some time at the 8 :) )
I've noticed both fullbacks high *at the same time* once or twice, but I haven't looked to see if it's a consistent problem. You just can't do that -- with a back 4, at least 3 need to be home in case of a turnover and counterattack. Both Kling and Kuikka can be good in the attack, but only one at a time please! And midfielders need to rotate over if one of the fullbacks goes really high on an attack run.
It definitely is, and the pass charts show it pretty clearly. It wouldn't be as much of an issue if we had a midfield willing to drop back and support when needed....but Sinc and Dunn don't do that.
That said, the bigger issue to me is the lack of bodies in the midfield. You just can't have a 3-woman midfield and still leave the gaps the Thorns consistently do.
Least surprising MLS surprise, in our ever-surprising world.
"Major League Soccer this week is expected to announce the addition of San Diego as an expansion team that will begin play in 2025, according to multiple reports. The news comes as a blow to the MLS aspirations of Sacramento Republic FC, which will have to wait until America’s top soccer league expands beyond 30 teams. Sacramento, behind Republic FC owner Kevin Nagle, was among the candidates for MLS’ latest expansion bid along with San Diego and Las Vegas. "
"San Diego emerged as the top candidate in recent months behind Egyptian billionaire investor Mohamed Mansour. [What, no Ron Burkle? Where Ron go?] The expansion fee is reportedly $500 million. The team will play in the recently constructed Snapdragon Stadium. The 35,000-seat venue opened in 2022 to host San Diego State football games along with home games for the National Women’s Soccer League’s San Diego Wave SC. MLS commissioner Don Garber, Mansour and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria are expected to formally announce the plan on Thursday. Nagle and other Republic FC officials have not commented on the latest development in the MLS expansion saga."
Grumble
Side note: when we were first granted our MLS expansion license it was $70 million. I think Burkle lost it between the sofa cushions, or maybe Garber did.
San Diego failed to hold onto the San Diego Rockets, Clippers, and Chargers,
They also had teams in "major leagues" that died -- the Conquistadors/Sails, Sockers, and Mariners.
Yes, David Stern kept the Kings in Sacramento, but the city remains 1-for-1, with an almost 40-year tenure.
That's impressive when you consider that the Kings were previously in Rochester, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Kansas City/Omaha, and Kansas City again, and that they've only had 9 winning seasons in Sacto (thank you, Rick Adelman, for 8 of them).
Some good post-match observations from the Current's "track meet" with Louisville:
"The defense is still in shambles. They were under constant pressure due to mistakes and turnovers, many of them by the defenders themselves and some inexperienced midfielders in front of them."
"Childers had an up and down first start. She made some integral tackles, but turned the ball over far too often, including on back-to-back plays in the second half."
"AD Franch doesn’t look like a third GK on the USWNT. She had another rough performance and her mistake led directly to the first goal. She had another mistake, colliding with Merrick, that should have led to a goal for Louisville but they missed a wide-open net. I don’t see how Cassie Miller isn’t the starter this weekend."
"Hailie Mace, despite only playing a half, looked really tired. She’s played a ton this season, so hopefully it’s just fatigue and not an injury."
"Elizabeth Ball was back on the bench, which is a good sign, though she was unused. This team desperately needs her on defense."
"Kristen Hamilton was on the bench for the second straight game, but also didn’t get into the action. I don’t understand her being on the bench if she’s not going to get into games. They needed goals in this game and this past weekend, yet she remained on the bench."
And that in itself probably says a lot... The new coach is continuing to play the kids even when you've got vets back who could see at least a few minutes. AD is suffering from the shitty defense, and vice versa. And Mace is probably a bit tired from all the heavy lifting she's doing.
What's that going to look like for opponents? Can you imagine having both Kerr and Macario coming at you? If the two of them can work out how to play off each other, it's going to be absolutely deadly. Hell, having either one of them on the field will automatically make space for the others. Fortunately Chelsea's defense is not impervious, so there's still hope - not much, but a glimmer - for other teams.
With Dunn in midfield, I'd play Sugita as the 10 and Dunn as an 8. I think Sugita is better than Dunn in tight spaces and is a more accurate passer, both of which which are 10 talents. Dunn is excellent when she has a little bit of space - she doesn't need much but she needs more than Sugita. The big question is whether Dunn would defend; we know from the nats that she can, but I'm not sure she would if attacking opportunities were right in front of her.
I think Dunn would also do fine as a right winger. In fact my preferred formation has her there:
Weaver - Smith - Dunn
Rocky/Moultrie (8) - Coffey (6) - Sugita (10)
Kling - Sauerbrunn - Hubly - Kuikka
Bixby
Moultrie seems like a more natural replacement for Sugita as a 10, but I want Sugita out there, dammit!
In a diamond you risk losing width, and IMO we *would* lose it because we have only one player who likes hugging the touchline, Weaver.
Tier 1- Unbeaten: Washington
Tier 2- Tyler Lussi scored against you: Seattle
Tier 3- Fraud watch Pt. 2: Portland, SD
Tier 4- I don’t quite buy it: ACFC, Gotham
Tier 5- Bad teams, good results: Orlando, NCC, Houston
Tier 6- Beat Chicago: Louisville, KC
Tier 7- Chicago: Chicago
Just read a random blurb online from a woso journalist overseas who said this in regards to someone asking a question about what’s going on with Horan…
“Understand that she wants to stay abroad and continue her loan spell.”
Now, who knows concretely but I’ve learned that often times about these sorts of things, where there’s smoke there’s fire, so…
If this is the case, I wish OL would just buy her outright so we can get big $$ for another top level player…KK just needs to cut the bait imo if she wants a longer loan.
Exactly. What are Thorns getting from allowing Lindsey to play 2 years abroad while under contract with PTFC?
An assorted cheese allotment, 3X/year.
Uhrman's Head...
Julie Uhrman, who always looks like she's working on "how to smile" (hint: "smiling" is not baring your teeth after staring through someone's soul for a couple of seconds), approached the referee on the field after ACFCNFT's recent loss to Washington.
Didn't ACFCNFT have somebody do the same damn thing last year, and also get fined for it?
Couldn't find details of that one, but I did find that ACFCNFT got fined for tampering back in November 2021 -- more than a month before the expansion draft!
ACFCNFT: We respect the laws of the game, unless we don't!
(UPDATE: Sorry, that was the other annoying SoCal team, SD Wave. Their GM approached an official after the match to complain).
This should come as a wake-up to everybody out there...
7 matches into the season, Racing have only 1 more loss and 1 more tie than Portland.
Yeah, I mean, I'm happy we're playing Chicago when we're down pretty bad, but I don't think winning a game against a team where the wheels have already fallen off will change our trajectory too much. It's good to just get back on the winning track no matter who it's against, but we can't really declare all is well even if we get a big win. That should be the expectation at this point and anything less would be unsatisfactory. Maybe I'm cynical....but I'd like to see a result against even a mid-table team before I declare victory. Our midfield (defense too) has been outplayed every game since halftime at KC, with individual brilliance usually saving us.
On the other hand, what if we lose or draw this one? Another trap game if I've ever seen one, and I don't feel confident without a big change of personnel and structure. It's a good game to get Hogan some minutes, but I'm not sure coach is really to cross that bridge with Bixby yet...
Also side note, but watching the KC v LOU CC game, and Franch just looks really rough. She just booted a goal kick straight to a LOU player, and then DeMelo turned around and put it right back into the net. Looked saveable but Franch didn't even move. Whew, lotta GK's struggling this season with Franch very much at the top of the list. Love Franch, so I feel really bad for her...
As I'm writing this, DeMelo put another one past Franch (nothing she could do about that one, though.)
Well, good thing Ashton fired Potter, then!
Reminds me of this: https://youtu.be/GhgGur0yti8?t=29
Conflict? What conflict? There's no conflict of interest here...
https://twitter.com/tayvincent6/status/1658521242000060416
Washington, first you gave us "Washington Football Team." Now you've given us "Puget Sound WoSo Team." Bless you, our nation's Capital. Bless you!
So very weird. I do not believe NWSL has the bandwidth to control the machinations of Industrial Soccer at this level. One Premiere League club roster's salary could buy every NWLS club.
Here's a place the Reign won't be returning to.
"The Seattle City Council passed a plan to support the demolition and rebuilding of Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center on Tuesday, according to the Seattle City Council official blog. Demolition and rebuilding would be completed through a private-public partnership, with the assistance of the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools, who own the stadium.
"The legislation, which was sponsored by Council President Debora Juarez, passed 8-1. Kshama Sawant voted no. The plan would entail the 76-year-old stadium being replaced with a new venue focused on students and other Seattle youth, according to the city council.
"A new stadium would have to have at least 8,000 seats under covered stands, as well. A decision to select the company to redevelop, operate and maintain the new stadium is expected to be made May 22.
"Funding for the new stadium has already been dedicated as follows:
"$66.5 million from Seattle voters through the SPS 2022 Building Technology Athletics and Academics levy
"$21 million from Seattle’s 2023 to 2028 Capital Improvement Plan
"$4 million from the Washington State 2023 capital budget"
Wait... City Council had to pass a resolution to *support* the demolition of Memorial Stadium? The demolition-by-neglect has been ongoing for at least 40 years.
Like the tunnel project, they don't like rushing things.
Note to Seattlites, Seattlians, Seattlepolitans, and Seattlers:
Run-down sports facilities do not biodegrade and Astroturf does not have a half-life.
OL Groupe were denying all this just a few weeks ago. Why not just be tranparent about it from the beginning? Seems shady,
I see you went with the 2-3-5-2 formation, which is Coach Norris's preferred use of 12 players.
Gotham might not be getting much out of their midfield, but they've got some hockey-style enforcers, including McCall ZAMBONI.
If that 2-3-5-2 formation represents a 12-player team, it must include the goalkeeping. So the "2" there means it must have two goalkeepers. I like it! Why didn't we think of this earlier?!!
Alas, it's two Sincs on the pitch at the same time.
I previously thought that the "12" slip of the tongue by Norrissey during his initial media conference was just a funny moment.
Now I realize that Norrissey's been taken hostage by the Canadian WoSo Mafia, and that everything is about 12.
Putting mid-week news here instead because the open thread is just mostly Timbers discussion. I like having the Thorns stuff separate...
Anyways, sad news with Rocky out with an MCL sprain. That's cutting it super close for her with Costa Rica, and I'll be devastated for her if she doesn't go, or doesn't really get to play. Good news that Becky will be back sooner rather than later...
From Ryan Clarke today:
"Mike Norris said Rocky Rodriguez is out 6-8 weeks with a sprained MCL. They are hoping she’s able to recover sooner with the World Cup on the horizon.
Becky Sauerbrunn (foot) has returned to on-field work and should be available in the next week or two."
Hoping we see Hina or Moultrie in the midfield with Rocky out, rather than putting Sinc back in that starting role. Would like to see one of them, with D'Aquila on the wing, even if it's not her #1 position. She's looked the sharpest and most able to contribute to the attack of any of our wingers besides Weaver, imo. Just don't know why we aren't seeing her for more than 10-15 mins at a time...
All of that would make far too much sense...
Rocky's presser after the last match had her showing a stoic front while not knowing the degree of her injury. This is sad, as it's just one level behind "season-ending requiring surgery."
The progression with a serious knee typically has them allowing plant and pivot work at week 10. Actual playing, some number of weeks after that.
This is really sad about Rocky. She's one of my favorites just because I absolutely love her attitude. The skill set is pretty darn good too.
I have a feeling that this season is about to go off the rails, man. We're actually pretty thin in the midfield when it comes to 8's, and we're one Sophia Smith or Crystal Dunn injury from the scoring drying up. God forbid we lose any more than what we have already "planned for" during the WWC, but this is feeling a bit wobbly.
Yeah, I was thinking of it one of two ways. As you said, Sinc goes back in midfield and problems persist. We win against the most dire teams, but become a mid table team because we can't get a W against anyone else. If we lose a Coffey, Dunn, or Soph...it will go south really quickly. It was concerning that Coffey only played 70 mins, because Porter just is not a viable sub (esp when we're at a draw.) We will have Coffey and Moultrie (and most of our backline, sans Becky)...but yeah, just have no one to follow even just from a numbers standpoint. The other players- Betfort, Beckman, Provenzano haven't even played at all. And they aren't great depth. KK needs to get some good depth in, and soon, so players have time to gel with the team. Would love another F, maybe another FB, and yeah, 8/10 midfielders...
Or, optimistic me thinks maybe finally we'll get either Hina or Moultrie in the midfield with Coffey and Dunn, because Norris has to see Sinc can't play that position. He started Rocky the last game, so part of me thinks that's because he saw how Sinc was in the game prior. But, he benched Hina entirely last game so I have no idea what he's doing. Can't bench Dunn right now, so...
"But, he benched Hina entirely last game so I have no idea what he's doing."
Do I even have to say it...?
Also, this is kind of a side note here....but why do the Thorns not say literally anything about AAPI Heritage Month (May)? Or anything? Nothing for Black History Month either. Just like, we have wonderful diversity on our team and it feels like this club doesn't try at all to make them feel welcomed and special (esp in a very white city like Portland.) Would be nice to be celebrating Hina with some sort of player profile or SOMETHING. This club doesn't try at all and it makes me sad.
That is a little strange. We have an executive for community partnerships, and DEI is part of her portfolio (as it is for others).
Yeah, the treatment of Hina has been infuriating for me. Further, bringing in Sinclair early because of an injury to Rocky over a 26yr old starting quality game-changing player like HIna in Houston, of all places...it's just literally insane to me. And then not playing her AT ALL?! Ready to toss out everyone in charge. You don't play Rocky or Moultrie and take Hina out, you play those players and take Sinclair out.
I'm sure you've stated this before, but I'm curious what your first choice starting XI would be, and then maybe a second choice, if you knew Dunn was immovable from the 10...Where would you see Hina in those two scenarios, and with who around her? And what formation? I know your first choice is a 10, but I'm curious how you'd organize elsewhere...
For me, I think if Dunn is immovable from the 10, I put Hina in an 8 role and D'Aquila on the wing (or Moultrie w/ Norris' weird inverted RW), OR, I'd try a 442 diamond with Moultrie and Hina both in the two 8 roles, with Smith/Weaver up top. However, that requires width from our fullbacks, and the defense is already looking shaky (although we'd have more in midfield for help)....Still don't think 8 is Hina's best role, but much more appropriate for her link up play/forward passing, solid passing accuracy/ability, and ability to maintain possession with her trickery. Ie....what we're missing in the midfield.
Yeah, I thought for sure if they were throwing her on the presser that it couldn't be too bad. It could be worse, but at this point, any sort of mid-level injury is threatening to WC dreams. It's hard to know also, because there's varying levels of a MCL sprain. Even the lowest level of severity (a grade I), it's about 6 weeks at the earliest until you can get back to work. That will cut it verrrry close for her...6 weeks from injury is June 23rd, with intl's being released June 26th. I imagine that's when she'd just get back to training and may have to stay around Portland and recover to hopefully be on a later plane to play their first game July 21st (against Spain.) That's the best case, too, no setbacks. Their group isn't an easy one, but without Rocky.....oooof. Feel so bad for her, and for her CR teammates.
I'm just gonna set this down here. It was over there a while ago.
(No Longer) Premature Diamond Power Rankings -- You Are Your Results Edition
Tier 1: Washington
Tier 2: PSWoSoT, Gotham
Tier 3: SD, NC, Portland
Tier 4: ACFCNFT, Houston, Louisville
Tier 5: Orlando, KC
Tier 6: Chicago
If I were Camille Ashton, I'd be updating my resume. Maybe there's an opportunity in the WWEUFC?
If I were AD Franch, I'd be thinking this is probably the end in KC.
And, if I were Matt Potter, I'd feel bad for my players from last year but I'd be LMFAO.
KC w/ Potter 0-3-0: -6 GD
KC w/o Potter (incl. Challenge Cup) 3-3-0: +2 GD
After a couple of clean-sheet wins, KC now look a lot like KC under Potter.
In fact, they're healthier now than they've been at any point in the season, but they just had 3 matches in a row when they looked like the group Potter had -- a 3-2 loss to ACFCNFT, a 2-0 loss to SD, and a 3-2 loss to Racing (Challenge Cup).
What's the problem now? How is it any different from what Potter was dealing with, with even fewer player resources available to him?
Is it just me, or did KC really seem like they way ovreperformed in making it to the final last year?
I think you're suggesting regression to the mean.
I don't fault the ownership group. I mean, they're finally doing what KC deserved the first time around. Had this kind of ownership been there back then we wouldn't have had FCKC, Utah Royals FC, KC WoSo, and KC Current.
But I very much do get the house-flipping vibe here.
They took a fixer-upper and started fixing it up, but instead of being patient the realtor (FO) had them put the house on the market prematurely and then tried to present it to the world as a move-in-ready mansion with turn-key living.
Alas, the Honey Bucket is still out in front, the roof is half-finished, not all the rooms have been re-wired, the plumbing is leaking, and what's that smell coming from the basement?
It’s tough for me to get a grasp on exactly what this team’s issues are at the moment- There’s certain elements that are clearly tangible, but there are also general cohesion issues that I’m not sure get fixed with a personnel adjustment. If I had to distill it down to three identifiable issues, I think I’d go:
1. Coaching: Norris is a little over his skis with how he wants the 4-3-3 to play. On paper, it makes sense: Press high, get Smith and Weaver in space, and cut off counter attacking options. I thought this was more personnel driven (Sinc and Dunn are natural attackers playing midfield roles), and while that’s certainly a big part of it, the Houston game showed that the forward position of the two 8s is more tactical than anything. I think he needs to ease off a little and structure the midfield to play a little deeper and close off those gaps between the back line and the midfield 3.
2. Individual (or are they?) errors: Outside of the very real Bixby issue, I’d say most of the individual errors seem directly linked to structure- Kelli passing the ball directly into a press. Menges and Nally isolated in space against skilled attackers without support. 4v2 counters when Kling and Natu are caught high.
3. Defensive structure, or lack thereof: The fullbacks get caught far too high far too often and there’s almost never an outlet in midfield because of how high Norris has the two 8s set up. So many of the bad midfield giveaways have come from the CBs trying to force feed Coffey in traffic because there’s no support mechanism that gives Sam the ability to play out of traffic. It looked a little more compact and fluid with Rocky in the first half, but completely went to shit in the 2nd half once she got hurt and the team got tired.
So... I think Norris needs to be able to articulate a game plan beyond “forecheck and cause havoc for a half before everyone gets tired and the whole structure falls apart.” The insistence both on the Dunn/Sinclair midfield and on playing 8 out of the 10 field players about as high as possible has all been a little too naive for me- I hope he can take a step back and see that this is more than a “the defenders need to play better” problem.
I think they’ll be fine- But adjustments need to be made, just like last year.
Tl;dr -- I’ve changed my opinion from the main issues being mostly personnel driven to being more tactical, though the two are obviously interrelated. Take the foot off the gas a little, Mike!
There was a spell early on last year when coach would run a 5-1-1-1-1 or whatever and the community had a communal hair-fire watching her eventually sort things out and win a ship. Since Norris was there observing firsthand and because there's been so relatively little roster churn, I'd like to think he'd have it figured out by now.
Only aspect that has me cutting him some slack is the reality of WCC break, with a ton of points to be won or surrendered in that period, depending on how well he can direct the Factory Outlet Thorns and strategize against what will be some bizarre and unknowable opponent lineups.
There are also different issues than last year imo- Norris has kept the same formation, but it plays very differently. He knows he has the athletes (especially with Dunn fit) to play a pressure-based style, but it feels like he's sacrificed stability to get as many numbers forward at all times.
Honestly, this team could use a Lindsey Horan right about now- We need a big, skilled body who will sit deep, fill the holes, and keep the ball instead of rocketing forward.
Would love to see Linds bossing that midfield again. While Rocky has her physicality she's smaller and not as clever on the ball. Sam's got her ball handling and vision but is not as physical, nor as much a scoring threat. Those sound like criticisms but Horan really is one of the planet's best. I'm feeling better for the USWNT with the possibility of her no longer filling in for Ertz, playing in her comfortable spot with the likes of Lavelle and Macario alongside.
ETA Imagine Lindsey back, mentoring Olivia. Moultre is doing what Horan did, only sooner and not overseas (although...SLC to PDX? That's a lot like traveling to another land).
Especially with Rocky out for a relatively extended period. Love that Moultrie's gonna get more time, but she doesn't have Rocky's ball retention ability and strength in tight spaces yet.
Still -- like most of us-- would like to see Hina at the 8 to help with that ball retention, but both her national team coach and Norris appear to have decided that they'd rather shunt her wide than displace someone else from the midfield.
(Phuoc, if you're reading: Pls ask if Hina might get some time at the 8 :) )
I've noticed both fullbacks high *at the same time* once or twice, but I haven't looked to see if it's a consistent problem. You just can't do that -- with a back 4, at least 3 need to be home in case of a turnover and counterattack. Both Kling and Kuikka can be good in the attack, but only one at a time please! And midfielders need to rotate over if one of the fullbacks goes really high on an attack run.
It definitely is, and the pass charts show it pretty clearly. It wouldn't be as much of an issue if we had a midfield willing to drop back and support when needed....but Sinc and Dunn don't do that.
That said, the bigger issue to me is the lack of bodies in the midfield. You just can't have a 3-woman midfield and still leave the gaps the Thorns consistently do.
Least surprising MLS surprise, in our ever-surprising world.
"Major League Soccer this week is expected to announce the addition of San Diego as an expansion team that will begin play in 2025, according to multiple reports. The news comes as a blow to the MLS aspirations of Sacramento Republic FC, which will have to wait until America’s top soccer league expands beyond 30 teams. Sacramento, behind Republic FC owner Kevin Nagle, was among the candidates for MLS’ latest expansion bid along with San Diego and Las Vegas. "
"San Diego emerged as the top candidate in recent months behind Egyptian billionaire investor Mohamed Mansour. [What, no Ron Burkle? Where Ron go?] The expansion fee is reportedly $500 million. The team will play in the recently constructed Snapdragon Stadium. The 35,000-seat venue opened in 2022 to host San Diego State football games along with home games for the National Women’s Soccer League’s San Diego Wave SC. MLS commissioner Don Garber, Mansour and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria are expected to formally announce the plan on Thursday. Nagle and other Republic FC officials have not commented on the latest development in the MLS expansion saga."
Grumble
Side note: when we were first granted our MLS expansion license it was $70 million. I think Burkle lost it between the sofa cushions, or maybe Garber did.
San Diego: the gift that keeps on giving... Sacramento the finger
We're reduced to hoping CSU Sacramento kicks CSU SD's butt. In whatever.
It is really crappy.
San Diego failed to hold onto the San Diego Rockets, Clippers, and Chargers,
They also had teams in "major leagues" that died -- the Conquistadors/Sails, Sockers, and Mariners.
Yes, David Stern kept the Kings in Sacramento, but the city remains 1-for-1, with an almost 40-year tenure.
That's impressive when you consider that the Kings were previously in Rochester, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Kansas City/Omaha, and Kansas City again, and that they've only had 9 winning seasons in Sacto (thank you, Rick Adelman, for 8 of them).
Their version of Stumptown Footy is really well done. Beautifully laid out and they're also doing a podcast. Too bad the soccer isn't better...
https://kcsoccerjournal.com/category/kc-current/
Some good post-match observations from the Current's "track meet" with Louisville:
"The defense is still in shambles. They were under constant pressure due to mistakes and turnovers, many of them by the defenders themselves and some inexperienced midfielders in front of them."
"Childers had an up and down first start. She made some integral tackles, but turned the ball over far too often, including on back-to-back plays in the second half."
"AD Franch doesn’t look like a third GK on the USWNT. She had another rough performance and her mistake led directly to the first goal. She had another mistake, colliding with Merrick, that should have led to a goal for Louisville but they missed a wide-open net. I don’t see how Cassie Miller isn’t the starter this weekend."
"Hailie Mace, despite only playing a half, looked really tired. She’s played a ton this season, so hopefully it’s just fatigue and not an injury."
"Elizabeth Ball was back on the bench, which is a good sign, though she was unused. This team desperately needs her on defense."
"Kristen Hamilton was on the bench for the second straight game, but also didn’t get into the action. I don’t understand her being on the bench if she’s not going to get into games. They needed goals in this game and this past weekend, yet she remained on the bench."
And that in itself probably says a lot... The new coach is continuing to play the kids even when you've got vets back who could see at least a few minutes. AD is suffering from the shitty defense, and vice versa. And Mace is probably a bit tired from all the heavy lifting she's doing.
Macario is off to Chelsea, who are also working on a "long-term extension" for Kerr.
Now that we know that Kodos Textor and Michelle Kang have formed a partnership, do we think it's more likely or less likely that Lindsay
- stays with OL?
- goes elsewhere in Europe?
- returns to Portland? or
- or reunites with MarPar in Washington?
What's that going to look like for opponents? Can you imagine having both Kerr and Macario coming at you? If the two of them can work out how to play off each other, it's going to be absolutely deadly. Hell, having either one of them on the field will automatically make space for the others. Fortunately Chelsea's defense is not impervious, so there's still hope - not much, but a glimmer - for other teams.
And given that Guro Reiten is the one the who scored against us here last summer, and that Sam is openly recruiting Soph, yeah.... scary!