She once gave Little Thornando great advice for aspiring 8s and 10s ("concentrate on your finishing and technical footwork."), and she was quick with a smile and a self-depricating joke (e.g., about her dark-dyed hair stage).
I've always admired her competitive fire and love for the game, as well as her ability to laugh and enjoy herself.
Can we use this sweet sweet transfer money on an elite CB? No offense to anyone on the team, but with Becky likely gone for the season , we have a need, and perhaps the funds to bring someone in.
It was actually one of the highest transfers, so definitely not a bad thing. In NWSL, trades are exchanged for more than that somewhat often, but the transfer landscape globally isn't quite there.
Yep- From my low-level research, I think this is the fourth or fifth highest transfer fee for woso player ever. Pretty good considering she was never coming back to PDX regardless.
(Caveat that woso is exploding everywhere -- but particularly in Europe -- and I’d guess we start seeing fees in the millions sooner rather than later)
I think that's still quite a bit higher than any transfer between NWSL teams. The record there is ~230k for Alex Morgan. It does seem like the market value for players is still a bit unknown and changing very fast as clubs put in more money.
Yeah, you're totally right. It just seems so low for a top in the world player...but maybe that's because men's transfers are just so ludicrously high and I've been recently paying attention to all of those transfer rumors lol.
Wondering what folks here prefer we do with that money...spend it now on depth? a new starting player (like CB)? sit on it until after the expansion draft? put it into contracts for players we wanna keep here? A combo of all the things?
I definitely think we need to be looking at a starting quality CB for next season, regardless of Becky's status, because Olympics are next year...but I'd do it post-expansion draft. Though, we are an Emily Menges injury away from having Nally a starter, which is pretty concerning imo. And Menges has not been able to stay healthy for long periods, so it's not impossible...I'm not sure how long Sauerbrunn's injury will keep her out of club play, but her leadership will be such a plus to have around during the WC period. If she does get some minutes in Portland, even better.
Also, we need to be getting Soph, Dunn, and Moultrie contracts done now. And Kuikka too, if she stays. Otherwise we need a starting-quality RB for next season as well. It's possible Becky and Sinc retire, but I tend to think they'll both hang on another year to play in the Olympics.
Also also, some better quality depth! The 329K we'll get for Horan only goes so far with what we still need to do, but I'm sure we're sitting on other money to be thrown in the pool for some depth upgrades. Players that haven't played, aren't contributing, or aren't cutting it should be let go. KK def has a big offseason ahead of her, though hoping lots of those contracts are over the line before then.
Horan posted a nice thank you/farewell to Portland on her IG, and in the comments, Soph says "Portland and our turf understand. Love you." With a hand over mouth laugh emoji and a heart.
Lol. Totally makes sense that world class players with injury history wouldn't wanna play on turf regularly. Of course, this is absolutely not in the top 5, or even 10 reasons why she's staying in France, but it could be A reason! I know it's difficult, but I sure hope it's considered more seriously in the future, after Thorns get their own training facility and whatnot...
Imagine it’s an advantage for the cali teams in contrast to Portland and Seattle if nothing else. If the new owners REALLY want to make a sexy splash maybe they’ll solve the decades long grass issue ;)
Yes, I’m not really interested in more Canadian attackers that are just depth players. Anyone think we pick up Leon after the WC? Honestly I haven’t seen much to write home about to warrant her coming back and getting a contract (probably an overpaid one, at that.)
There are a slew on Canadian defenders that I wouldn’t mind, however! Would love if she could get Jayde Riviere from ManU, and obv, either of the Canadian starting CB’s….though quite hard to pry from European money.
Whoa, that's great news for The Great Horan! Congratulations to her.
Sad to see her gone from here, but it was looking inevitable. $330k might seem like a lot now but it will be a pittance for a WoSo transfer within a year or two. Wish we'd pushed the envelope a bit more on it but oh well. Now, KK PLEASE don't spend it on Canadians that you overvalue!
Good for Lindsey. Good for Thorns and OL. Best of luck to her.
Just sad to see her go.
She once gave Little Thornando great advice for aspiring 8s and 10s ("concentrate on your finishing and technical footwork."), and she was quick with a smile and a self-depricating joke (e.g., about her dark-dyed hair stage).
I've always admired her competitive fire and love for the game, as well as her ability to laugh and enjoy herself.
And then there was this:
https://www.insider.com/olympic-soccer-canadian-captain-comforts-club-teammate-uswnt-2021-8
It's time to turn the page, I know, but I'm gonna miss both of them when that moment comes.
Can we use this sweet sweet transfer money on an elite CB? No offense to anyone on the team, but with Becky likely gone for the season , we have a need, and perhaps the funds to bring someone in.
Legend. Among the best all-around players the league has seen and for Portland, her header game has never been replicated.
Best of luck TGH. A quarter million euros seems like a pittance, frankly, but there was no other outcome evidently.
ETA, what I'm talking about.
https://live.staticflickr.com/7465/27769899540_4e6719575d_k.jpg
Facts.
It was actually one of the highest transfers, so definitely not a bad thing. In NWSL, trades are exchanged for more than that somewhat often, but the transfer landscape globally isn't quite there.
Yep- From my low-level research, I think this is the fourth or fifth highest transfer fee for woso player ever. Pretty good considering she was never coming back to PDX regardless.
(Caveat that woso is exploding everywhere -- but particularly in Europe -- and I’d guess we start seeing fees in the millions sooner rather than later)
That’s what I saw too. I had a colleague calculate a bit further and it looks like it would be 2nd highest with the loan added to it too.
Phuoc, what do you mean "with the loan added to it"? Did the Thorns receive money for her first loan stint at OL?
Yeah, the 250k euro + 50k euro (for performance) would be 300k euro, or, about 329k USD.
For some naive reason I thought we'd get more than that considering some transfers fees we've seen from NWSL team to NWSL team, but still not upset!
I think that's still quite a bit higher than any transfer between NWSL teams. The record there is ~230k for Alex Morgan. It does seem like the market value for players is still a bit unknown and changing very fast as clubs put in more money.
Yeah, you're totally right. It just seems so low for a top in the world player...but maybe that's because men's transfers are just so ludicrously high and I've been recently paying attention to all of those transfer rumors lol.
Wondering what folks here prefer we do with that money...spend it now on depth? a new starting player (like CB)? sit on it until after the expansion draft? put it into contracts for players we wanna keep here? A combo of all the things?
I definitely think we need to be looking at a starting quality CB for next season, regardless of Becky's status, because Olympics are next year...but I'd do it post-expansion draft. Though, we are an Emily Menges injury away from having Nally a starter, which is pretty concerning imo. And Menges has not been able to stay healthy for long periods, so it's not impossible...I'm not sure how long Sauerbrunn's injury will keep her out of club play, but her leadership will be such a plus to have around during the WC period. If she does get some minutes in Portland, even better.
Also, we need to be getting Soph, Dunn, and Moultrie contracts done now. And Kuikka too, if she stays. Otherwise we need a starting-quality RB for next season as well. It's possible Becky and Sinc retire, but I tend to think they'll both hang on another year to play in the Olympics.
Also also, some better quality depth! The 329K we'll get for Horan only goes so far with what we still need to do, but I'm sure we're sitting on other money to be thrown in the pool for some depth upgrades. Players that haven't played, aren't contributing, or aren't cutting it should be let go. KK def has a big offseason ahead of her, though hoping lots of those contracts are over the line before then.
Horan posted a nice thank you/farewell to Portland on her IG, and in the comments, Soph says "Portland and our turf understand. Love you." With a hand over mouth laugh emoji and a heart.
Lol. Totally makes sense that world class players with injury history wouldn't wanna play on turf regularly. Of course, this is absolutely not in the top 5, or even 10 reasons why she's staying in France, but it could be A reason! I know it's difficult, but I sure hope it's considered more seriously in the future, after Thorns get their own training facility and whatnot...
Imagine it’s an advantage for the cali teams in contrast to Portland and Seattle if nothing else. If the new owners REALLY want to make a sexy splash maybe they’ll solve the decades long grass issue ;)
Yeah, might be a good idea to keep Sophia happy for as long as possible. I don't know, just spitballing here...
Yeah I saw that comment from Soph and cringed lol. Like, City of Portland, DO IT, do you know what you have?!
It does seem odd that the sod capital of the world has turf
To the new owners. Can you help Merritt be human and put grass in?
I’m bummed that Horan is officially gone, but think this is the right move for her and the team. I wish her nothing but success going forward!
Now it’s time for the Thorns to lock up sim key players going forward. This is where KK needs to earn her salary.
I have in my pocket, a list of acceptable Canadians. All, of course, play overseas but hey, we can't let that remain a one-way proposition now can we?
Yes, I’m not really interested in more Canadian attackers that are just depth players. Anyone think we pick up Leon after the WC? Honestly I haven’t seen much to write home about to warrant her coming back and getting a contract (probably an overpaid one, at that.)
There are a slew on Canadian defenders that I wouldn’t mind, however! Would love if she could get Jayde Riviere from ManU, and obv, either of the Canadian starting CB’s….though quite hard to pry from European money.
I doubt Riviere comes, she’s replacing Battlle.
Same, just wishful thinking re: Canadians I’d actually love to see here
Congrats to Lindsey. Good luck at OL
https://twitter.com/LindseyHoran/status/1671167732191199241
Whoa, that's great news for The Great Horan! Congratulations to her.
Sad to see her gone from here, but it was looking inevitable. $330k might seem like a lot now but it will be a pittance for a WoSo transfer within a year or two. Wish we'd pushed the envelope a bit more on it but oh well. Now, KK PLEASE don't spend it on Canadians that you overvalue!