The one next to KK is that Mallie McKenzie NRI from Georgia who was announced, but they didn't put her on the preseason roster. The one between Kling and Payne is def Marissa Sheva, who I knew was in Portland back in December. I just don't get why the Thorns wouldn't add them to the preseason roster if they were there. It seems a lot easier to do that than to hide them from pictures for 2 months....
The other one....hmmm. Honestly looks like Taylor Aylmer, a player who was on Spirit a while ago, got waived, went to Louisville, didn't get picked back up as a restricted free agent, and now apparently is here? She's really really not good. So the Thorns DID dip into the free agency pool, just the bottom of it lol.
I don't see Lara Dantas, but I'm still thinking she could be there. It would be weird that she recently followed half the Thorns (and a bunch followed her), including Mallie McKenzie, the NRI. There's gotta be some connection there...
Thought that might be McKenzie too, and good shout on Sheva- I knew I recognized the face and couldn't place it.
Theoretically they don't have to be signing anyone officially though, those FAs could just be camp invites. Still weird they haven't announced it though.
No they def don't have to sign anyone of course, but most other teams put all the trial players on the preseason roster, or have even announced that they're adding a player to the preseason roster....we've just done neither lol. Tbf though, they haven't really done much preseason content so it's all been kinda hidden.
I'm guessing this is a trial run for all current Thorns bubble players/rookies/NRI's and that anyone could lose their spot. Which is GOOD imo, I just wish there was better communication! Also wish the competition was a little better in some spots, but that's already known...
I actually see that Aylmer was at Gotham first, before she got dropped and went to the Spirit, and then got dropped and went to Louisville, and then didn't get picked up and is now here. She's kinda like our new Taylor Porter lol. I think she's mostly like an 8? Sheva more of a 10. McKenzie a RB....would be interesting if we all of a sudden have 5 FB's. And a lot of CB's. With Gabby there were 6...now we have 5. Still doesn't answer our question for DMF...unless we're having someone play out of position.
IMO it's all but certain that some of these players will be cut. That's always painful, but it's got to be even more painful to be announced and then cut. I don't want the FO to ignore that kind of issue.
Oh really? Hmmmm, and which would you say was her better position? Is she good defensively and/or does she have clean passing to be a good backup 6? Is she quick? Higher ceiling than Porter? I know she's not here anymore, but I'd love an upgrade from the Taylor Porter-level we've seen for the last many years....
Yeah the numbers are there now, but someone will need to show out in order to actually consider them a real backup option. I like bringing Sheva in as a utility midfielder/winger. Still that big gap at the 6 unless they REALLY like freakin Katie Duong lol
I'm fine with the trial run for the low-round rooks, but I'd like them to sign Linnehan and OWK already. I know every team has holdups with getting rookie contracts signed, but I'd feel better knowing they were signed.
Totally...I'm happy to have that competition and was bummed when the preseason roster dropped because it didn't look like we'd have much of any of that. Would be nice to see them signed soon, but I'm not too worried...most teams haven't signed many of their rooks yet. I'm guessing the more pressing need was *everything else* lol, so I'm fine if they can get all of those things over the line first and then get to the rookies.
I'm happy to keep Sheva (so long as she doesn't take an int'l spot)...she's fine depth as an attacker. I think, as you say, she's played on the wing some with Ireland and in the midfield for the Spirit. We suddenly have a lot of utility-type midfielders (for now)...Duong, OWK, Sheva, and Aylmer. I'm guessing not all of them cut it.
I'm a bit curious about Duong....she's a Portland native, and I could see the FO really trying to prop up that narrative and elect to keep her and/or give her more playing time than deserved. KK LOVES a heartfelt narrative. But, she was a late 4th-rounder, so I hope she is as critically assessed as all the others....
I wouldn't be too worried about narrative- If she's good enough, she'll play and she won't if not. We'll see if she even makes the team lol. I do like having the smartest player on the field at the 6- Maybe there are some mental links between engineering and ball distribution!
https://twitter.com/ThornsFC/status/1759637556038410379/photo/2
Alright, I spy (a whopping 16 field players!) time:
Keepers: Hogan, Asman, Kozal, Bixby
Defenders: Hubly, Müller, Nally, Kafusi, Kling, Payne (already there!)
Midfielders: OWK, Duong, Sinc
Attackers, Linnehan, Weaver, Izzy, Beckie (didn't know she wasn't on the gold cup roster)
So that means there's three players there I don't fully recognize: the two to the right of KK and the one between Kling and Payne. Anyone?
Projected lineup for the (1) one preseason game:
Hogan
Muller-Nally-Hubly-Kling
Duong-OWK-Sinc
Weaver-Izzy-Beckie
Looking at LeBlanc's pose reminds of this guy mugging for the camera.
https://youtu.be/8y-hu8cchyw
The one next to KK is that Mallie McKenzie NRI from Georgia who was announced, but they didn't put her on the preseason roster. The one between Kling and Payne is def Marissa Sheva, who I knew was in Portland back in December. I just don't get why the Thorns wouldn't add them to the preseason roster if they were there. It seems a lot easier to do that than to hide them from pictures for 2 months....
The other one....hmmm. Honestly looks like Taylor Aylmer, a player who was on Spirit a while ago, got waived, went to Louisville, didn't get picked back up as a restricted free agent, and now apparently is here? She's really really not good. So the Thorns DID dip into the free agency pool, just the bottom of it lol.
I don't see Lara Dantas, but I'm still thinking she could be there. It would be weird that she recently followed half the Thorns (and a bunch followed her), including Mallie McKenzie, the NRI. There's gotta be some connection there...
Thought that might be McKenzie too, and good shout on Sheva- I knew I recognized the face and couldn't place it.
Theoretically they don't have to be signing anyone officially though, those FAs could just be camp invites. Still weird they haven't announced it though.
No they def don't have to sign anyone of course, but most other teams put all the trial players on the preseason roster, or have even announced that they're adding a player to the preseason roster....we've just done neither lol. Tbf though, they haven't really done much preseason content so it's all been kinda hidden.
I'm guessing this is a trial run for all current Thorns bubble players/rookies/NRI's and that anyone could lose their spot. Which is GOOD imo, I just wish there was better communication! Also wish the competition was a little better in some spots, but that's already known...
I actually see that Aylmer was at Gotham first, before she got dropped and went to the Spirit, and then got dropped and went to Louisville, and then didn't get picked up and is now here. She's kinda like our new Taylor Porter lol. I think she's mostly like an 8? Sheva more of a 10. McKenzie a RB....would be interesting if we all of a sudden have 5 FB's. And a lot of CB's. With Gabby there were 6...now we have 5. Still doesn't answer our question for DMF...unless we're having someone play out of position.
IMO it's all but certain that some of these players will be cut. That's always painful, but it's got to be even more painful to be announced and then cut. I don't want the FO to ignore that kind of issue.
Counsel patience, Yoda would.
I think McKenzie was a defensive mid before moving to fullback.
Oh really? Hmmmm, and which would you say was her better position? Is she good defensively and/or does she have clean passing to be a good backup 6? Is she quick? Higher ceiling than Porter? I know she's not here anymore, but I'd love an upgrade from the Taylor Porter-level we've seen for the last many years....
She's 5'9" also, so that would be nice.
I haven’t watched enough of her to make a conclusion either way unfortunately
Yeah the numbers are there now, but someone will need to show out in order to actually consider them a real backup option. I like bringing Sheva in as a utility midfielder/winger. Still that big gap at the 6 unless they REALLY like freakin Katie Duong lol
I'm fine with the trial run for the low-round rooks, but I'd like them to sign Linnehan and OWK already. I know every team has holdups with getting rookie contracts signed, but I'd feel better knowing they were signed.
Totally...I'm happy to have that competition and was bummed when the preseason roster dropped because it didn't look like we'd have much of any of that. Would be nice to see them signed soon, but I'm not too worried...most teams haven't signed many of their rooks yet. I'm guessing the more pressing need was *everything else* lol, so I'm fine if they can get all of those things over the line first and then get to the rookies.
I'm happy to keep Sheva (so long as she doesn't take an int'l spot)...she's fine depth as an attacker. I think, as you say, she's played on the wing some with Ireland and in the midfield for the Spirit. We suddenly have a lot of utility-type midfielders (for now)...Duong, OWK, Sheva, and Aylmer. I'm guessing not all of them cut it.
I'm a bit curious about Duong....she's a Portland native, and I could see the FO really trying to prop up that narrative and elect to keep her and/or give her more playing time than deserved. KK LOVES a heartfelt narrative. But, she was a late 4th-rounder, so I hope she is as critically assessed as all the others....
I'd be happy to keep Sheva, too. IIRC she's an American citizen who was recruited by Ireland like Farrelly.
I wouldn't be too worried about narrative- If she's good enough, she'll play and she won't if not. We'll see if she even makes the team lol. I do like having the smartest player on the field at the 6- Maybe there are some mental links between engineering and ball distribution!
(I do like that she made a highlight video of herself on her own Youtube channel tho https://twitter.com/ThornsFC/status/1759637556038410379/photo/2)
Lol that's v endearing...
I think one of them is Mallie McKenzie.
https://georgiadogs.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/mallie-mckenzie/7319
And call me crazy, but I'm counting 15 or 16 field players in the wide shot?
Okay, so that means that Lara is either not at Coachella, or they thought ahead enough to get her out of the wide shot.
No you're right, I didn't have Kafusi or Kling written down for some reason- Edited.
(One of whom is probably Bixby who is not wearing orange.)