Well then! That's very much a real hire! Appears that real process was done! Color me initially pleasantly impressed/surprised!
Org structure is a little confusing. I assume Norris will be gone? Rushton is a really nice add, but her strengths are pretty much "technical director" personified. Wither Gale? Feels like there's a few more shoes to drop.
Ultimately, this is farrrrr better than anything I expected given how this process has played out. I hope they bring in their own people and aren't forced to retain Gale, but we just added the first two non-GW experienced soccer execs this org has ever had. That's *very* good and makes me think they wouldn't have taken the job without guarantees of control. Roster as at 19, so there's certainly moves to be made.
Regardless: These are real, experienced, soccer people with decades of experience in the jobs they were hired for. Also shouldn't be lost that McNab is an analytics consultant.....which is a pretty big deal to me as well. Doesn't guarantee success, but it's a good sign. Certainly nullifies the risk of KK shadow GMing at the very least!
In addition to McNab being an analytics consultant, Rushton seemed to prioritize having an analytics department from the get-go at Bay FC. Hopefully positive signs for the long term to professionalize that critical aspect.
Yeah and I think she came from the men's side at DC United prior doing analytics, and building out that department (if I can remember correctly, I'm not a follower of MLS.)
Not just Almiron, but that whole fleet of fledgling Atlanta United players like Josef, Villalba, Asad, LGP, Vasquez, Robinson etc. The Atlanta FO absolutely crushed those first three or four years from a scouting perspective, and that's not even counting the obvious hits like Barco and Pity.
If they're just hired as consultants, does that mean they're actually part of the club/staff...or will they just kind be consulted as needed (but likely don't live in town?)
No idea what the details look like, but McNab owns his own analytics consulting firm, so I'd guess they're using those resources as a consultant (which I believe is similar to how NWSL teams have built out their analytics departments in the past). I'd assume Rushton will be part of the club more directly, but who knows. Good question for Phuoc or someone to clarify when they're introduced though.
Strategic advisor title given for Rushton & McNab seems to imply not formally head of any departments or anything. So I wouldn't necessarily assume any changes short-term for existing staff. Probably a longer term process to re-organize over time.
A few additional post-workday thoughts floating around:
1. I personally agree with the consensus and think there should be a mass technical staff clear out before the season, but I also don't think Agoos should be hammered around here if there isn't. The Bhathals put him in a pretty tough spot with the timing just weeks before camp starts. Ripping the bandaid off is probably the best idea, but man, it's tough to find a new GOOD coach in weeks right before camp in your first week on the job.
2. Call it cope, but I think I'm kinda resigned to losing Soph whether we win the treble or lose every game 5-0. I could be totally off-base, but being the marquee signing for her hometown team is simply too good an opportunity to pass up, it's even closer to Wilson, she'll be a FA anyway, and I wouldn't blame her regardless of how good or bad the Thorns season goes. And, if it does happen, I'll feel better about it than if she left for the Spirit or some shit like that. And if she stays? Great!
3. Rushton knows people in the Euro woso world. Has those connections KK doesn't. She was the one who facilitated those big splash signings (albeit of various degrees of success) last year for Bay. That's pretty neat given we still have two international spots open and need a talent infusion. Time to hop on fbref and find me some winger targets!
4. This is all very cool! Very exciting! Legitimately ambitious! Four hours ago we all were in total panic mode, now there's optimism for the first time in months. I personally like being excited about my favorite sports team!
As I replied to ABell4 below, there's really no point to Norris now. Hopefully he bows out gracefully. Gale...yeah, problem is short turnaround; if camp opens a month before the CVI game (which it did last season) it kicks off next week.
Mike Smith? Don't see an immediate need to 86 him. Still need scouting, still need direction for the academy. If he stays on? I won't be appalled.
And Sophia Smith? She's gonna do what she's gonna do. If this club does it's best to field a top squad, etc, and she wants to click her heels three times, well..? Shit happens. Cowering in abject terror that Smith will someday be gone? Seems like a lot of energy put to use for something that may be...
I feel like I can never truly evaluate and thus have an opinion on roster decisions and/or comings and goings without knowing player salaries and how they relate to the salary cap. Granted, Smith is in a different category, but her future salary will ultimately be a determining factor into how good of a team we are able to put around her.
Maybe Smith stays just because he's been working on transfers, is heavily involved in the academy, and has some good institutional knowledge, but I'd have to imagine Norris and the whole staff are all gone if Gale is. Like I said, I hope they do clean house cause it's needed, but it also isn't without an element of risk given the timing.
And yeah, that's kinda my point about Soph- Either she leaves or doesn't, but she'll make her own decision and it's not really worth fretting about.
As an assistant? He wouldn't do it and I wouldn't want him to.
As head coach? We tried that. Worked for a while, then not so much.
And like I said; if the Thorns do all the "right things" to make this club successful and a great place to play, and Smith wants to go home again? She's a professional and a grown-ass woman and if she's gonna go, she's gonna go.
Riley consistently had his number. Vlatko, too. His playoff record is dismal. After the first two years he couldn't figure out how to get past the semifinals. He was a bust with the Dutch, and in Washington.
He's better than Ken. Low bar, but I hope we're more ambitious that that.
Think with Soph it depends on the pitch that Colorado makes. What are the facilities? What's the organization? And what is it compared to the Thorns? I'm sure home is a big factor for her but she could also just activate the option and see how it plays out.
Yeah I mean I obviously have no idea what her priorities are, just seems to fit about as perfectly as something like that could from an outside perspective. Who knows tho, maybe she just really loves it here!
What's most important to a pro athlete in deciding where to play? I have to think that income tops the list. An athlete's career is frighteningly short - ten years for very good players, 15 for stars, 20 for Christine Sinclair - and carries the possibility that it could end at literally any second during a game or even a practice. You have your few years to earn far more than you're likely to get for the rest of your life, and maximizing income has to be high up on the priority list. There are lots of approaches to doing this - getting into the best development environment, taking the highest offer available, getting on a winning team to give you lots of exposure and endorsement deals, going to a big city so you get a lot of jersey sales, trying to make the USWNT (which has won a lot of very large bonuses), and so on.
IMO other things probably look significantly less important. Maybe the chance to live with your partner is a top priority too. But if you have to live in a different city from him/her so you're not together on a daily basis, small-to-medium differences in distance probably don't matter so much, since it's still basically a plane flight no matter what. And IMHO proximity to family and childhood friends, while nice, falls into the category of "can wait until after playing career" unless all else is equal. Thinking back to my 20's, sure it would have been nice to live near Mom and Dad, but trying to make something of myself was far more important, and that was in a career that wasn't going to end in a few years. (And sure enough, at that stage of my life I ended up across the country from them.)
I guess I'm trying to say that maximizing one's playing career and income are going to be all-important for most pro athletes, and they'll make decisions based largely on that. And of those two, I'll hazard a guess that "best development environment" is the #1 priority early in a player's career, and "highest income" is #1 late in that career.
Soph is a big enough star that she'll pretty much reset the market any time she signs a new deal. I don't think it really matters where that is. As a result, she has the (earned) luxury of choosing where she goes without worrying so much about who will pay her the most....because everyone that can, will. You are definitely right that Denver--> Phoenix isn't really functionally all that different than Portland-->Phoenix even though the distance is much smaller.
I used the counter example of Delanie Sheehan a few days ago: A mid-tier player who hasn't gotten a big payday yet, so I imagine she took the biggest deal she could get even though that was with Houston.
And an actual executive with real experience...though I am weary that he came form MLS. I hope he at least watches women's soccer and has familiarity with top clubs and players.
Was reading the Equalizer article, and I very much appreciated this quote from him, right off the bat: "I’m honored to be part of such a prestigious club,” Agoos added in the statement. “The Thorns have a renowned legacy, and my focus is to provide the leadership necessary to ensure our on-field success, keeping the team at the top of the league and competing for championships.” I'm glad he appears to have a high baseline, and that he understands the expectations of this club and fanbase.
Okay, that's still a massive longshot. Roma just won the Supercoppa over there and are in contention* for a Champions League spot again. She's a fan-favorite starter there. But I still think we could talk Urawa out of Rion Ishikawa. At 21, she's not the veteran presence to replace 'Brunn we're going to want, but she's big, fast, and smart.
Gawd I've been waiting for so long! Ishikawa looks like she's got some good pedigree, though I haven't seen her play a ton yet. I do think we're still missing that leader on the backline as of now...
That's where I don't know a lot about Rion-senshu: is she a backline leader? Could she be one while working to overcome a language barrier? Lots of unknowns...
What I do know is she's got the physical and mental tools for the basic CB job and I expect her to be a Nadeshiko mainstay going forward.
It took a year to make moves that fit the new owners' lofty pledge to make the Thorns the world's premier women's soccer team. Let's hope a highly skilled and experienced coach and an announcement about the location of a new training facility are in the offing, too.
Wow, real experience. Real analytics focus. Real recruitment experience. I don't know a ton about any of these people but their CVs sure seem to cover some serious professional ground. Obviously there are still steps to be taken with head coach and roster spots, but this sure seems promising and worth the wait. Sigh of relief and fingers crossed!
Yeah bringing in more analytics people is huge. I really hope they build out a good data analytics and scouting dept. Apparently Thorns are not one of the 4-5 NWSL clubs who have extensive positions in the area. Spirit, Orlando, Bay, and maybe Gotham were who I remember hearing.
Absolutely, the analytics seems relatively new to NWSL. Having someone with a proven track record is great. I'm sure they have internal people who can do some analytics and want to grow. As a data/analytics person myself (not soccer), having guidance and experience in that regard will be immense.
Cosell's Ghost approves. I quote directly his quija-derived response:
"Your esteemed colleague has generously provided you with a pun that is both amusing and apposite. A pun, ladies and gentlemen, that is worthy of that witty portmanteau that your fellow commentator chose as a screen name!
"Roone never appreciated that beautiful game to which you are so devoted, but what can I say: the man was a philistine to his cupidinous core."
Predictable ancient centerback response: I'm stoked they picked a former defender! And I'm at least semi-serious about that. While I realize a GM isn't the sort of influence on a team's on-field emphasis that the coaching staff is, anything that might point to a return of the defensive powerhouse Thorns teams of the past is welcomed. Agoos is a guy who will know how to recognize defensive talent.
FWIW, Gavin Wilkinson was a CB, and a pretty brutal one. A friend of mine observed that more than one of his defender signings were “what a USL centerback thinks an MLS centerback looks like…”
Yeah, same. I am happy that we're bringing in multiple soccer people, and Rushton has been around a while. Haven't looked into who the other person is yet.
McNabb looks like a data analyst who does contract work. He’s kind of a classic contractor/hired gun who’s done analysis for the Canadian federation as well as at least one pro team in Scotland. I’m just pleased to see the Bhathals realizing that there’s other tools to roster building and management than the wise old gaffer. Metrics give you one more club in the bag.
I almost said five, but wanted to give a bit more leeway; especially if they intend to announce a new hire at the same time so they don't have to go the interim route.
Still, they've put it off long enough that making a well-considered hire at this point would be challenging. I'm hoping that whoever is holding down the FO and whatever search firm they hopefully hired can just hand Jeff, Lucy, and Angus a stack of folders and say, "here's our top six and we've got interviews lined up with all of them for this week." [Comms guy in me has tentative slots for second interviews next week, Rob's firing on Friday (1/17), and new coach announcement on Monday. Done!]
Lotta hopium there though. Much more likely, there's been no work done at all so there's no chance of getting someone new in place in the next few weeks (and I'm 100% Rob Out but even I don't think another interim coach solves anything). Probably not great that I'm already half rooting for another 4-game losing streak to start the season, just to get that ball rolling.
Technically preseason doesn't have to start until Feb 5th, so they do still have almost a month if they want it. Teams just can't start later than the 5th.
Fair enough, but a new coach would want to put together a new staff, and I'd love for them to have at least a couple weeks to bond/plan/strategize (to say nothing of moving and getting their personal/family lives at least a tiny bit sorted) before pre-season starts in earnest.
Much as I'm desperate for a new manager—and will not be purchasing new season tickets until/unless it happens*—I think they're running out of time to get someone new in. Would it be totally insane to try to bring in a serious new coach midseason (say a month in)? Probably. But I wouldn't be that broken up. Dick move to Rob kinda, but if you assume next season is a bit lost anyway then why not?
Then again, maybe Jeff just speed-dials Twila Kilgore and we're off to the races tomorrow. Not exactly great from a process perspective, but I'd be ecstatic.
* Yes, I will totally eat crow and buy back in next season if Rob proves us all wrong and hoists a major trophy next year, but that seems... unlikely.
Technically, the preseason can start as late as Feb 5th. So, they'd have almost a month! Get to it! I'd be fine with a slow start if we had a late start with a new coach...
Now we know what Sinclair's been working on, and with whom, since she retired: The Great Province of Cascadia!
Sign me the f*** up! Take me now! I wish to defect!
***
Elizabeth May, a lawmaker who leads Canada’s Green Party, offered to take in California, Oregon and Washington with the promise of some perks: free healthcare and stricter gun laws.
“We got a deal for you. You think we want to be the 51st state? Nah,” May said during a press conference Wednesday. “Maybe California would like to be the 11th province. How about it? California, Oregon, Washington.”
Here's the 15 minute version- Assuming this is the whole thing. Gale will be coach, which is unsurprising and not something I'm willing to get too upset about rn.
With respect to our folks here: I BEG for some more pointed questions. A meager 15 minutes --after radio silence for two months-- with virtually zero questions to which he had to give an actual answer (except Wilder's about the coaching staff) isn't really good enough. Specifics about Rushton/McNab's roles within the club? Any questions at all about the failures of the past season? Any questions about who has been making the roster decisions to this point?
I've gone on and on about open vs. close-ended questions in these pressers, but I really need to do it again: Questions like "give us your thoughts on _x_" or "What does _x_ mean to you" are virtually invites for GMs to give non-answers. This fanbase doesn't get any info because of both the nature of the Thorns and the NWSL media ecosystem at large, so the few opportunities offered really need to be taken advantage of more than a 15 minute interview.
I wonder if "access" doesn't play a role. Getting press credentials is up to the club. Unless you rep for "big" outlets like television stations or the Oregonian, getting too pointed if you're a fan site like Stumptown or Vox could put you on the outside of the door.
I'm sure fear of getting de-credentialed does impact things to an extent, but there were four people at the presser asking questions and three of them were from STF. Oram was the only other person there! Regardless, no one's asking them to ask "why aren't you firing Gale" or something openly antagonistic or critical. Just actual questions that can lead to an answer!
Yeah I was kinda blown away by Oram being the only actual journalist there! It's almost embarrassing. Like, it all feels very NWSL 1.0 in regard to coverage here right now. Where are the child reporters, while we're at it lol. Although some markets are similar, most have better coverage than the Thorns rn (even Houston.)
I appreciate the fan bloggers at STF asking questions, but the experience of these sorts of things (and what/how to ask) is really missing.
Well then! That's very much a real hire! Appears that real process was done! Color me initially pleasantly impressed/surprised!
Org structure is a little confusing. I assume Norris will be gone? Rushton is a really nice add, but her strengths are pretty much "technical director" personified. Wither Gale? Feels like there's a few more shoes to drop.
Ultimately, this is farrrrr better than anything I expected given how this process has played out. I hope they bring in their own people and aren't forced to retain Gale, but we just added the first two non-GW experienced soccer execs this org has ever had. That's *very* good and makes me think they wouldn't have taken the job without guarantees of control. Roster as at 19, so there's certainly moves to be made.
Regardless: These are real, experienced, soccer people with decades of experience in the jobs they were hired for. Also shouldn't be lost that McNab is an analytics consultant.....which is a pretty big deal to me as well. Doesn't guarantee success, but it's a good sign. Certainly nullifies the risk of KK shadow GMing at the very least!
My bar was low: someone outside of the club. So this is above and beyond for me.
In addition to McNab being an analytics consultant, Rushton seemed to prioritize having an analytics department from the get-go at Bay FC. Hopefully positive signs for the long term to professionalize that critical aspect.
Yeah and I think she came from the men's side at DC United prior doing analytics, and building out that department (if I can remember correctly, I'm not a follower of MLS.)
(via Wikipedia), she was "head of technical recruitment and analysis" at Atlanta United before becoming GM of DC United, then GM at Bay FC.
Ok thank you! I knew she had a tie to DC United and did analytics on the men's side also.
I mean, the more importantly she scouted guys like Almiron at Atlanta.
Not just Almiron, but that whole fleet of fledgling Atlanta United players like Josef, Villalba, Asad, LGP, Vasquez, Robinson etc. The Atlanta FO absolutely crushed those first three or four years from a scouting perspective, and that's not even counting the obvious hits like Barco and Pity.
I don't have any context behind that because I don't watch MLS. Is that good lol?
Agree 100%, especially regarding my expectations. We don’t know yet but this looks like a positive new direction.
If they're just hired as consultants, does that mean they're actually part of the club/staff...or will they just kind be consulted as needed (but likely don't live in town?)
No idea what the details look like, but McNab owns his own analytics consulting firm, so I'd guess they're using those resources as a consultant (which I believe is similar to how NWSL teams have built out their analytics departments in the past). I'd assume Rushton will be part of the club more directly, but who knows. Good question for Phuoc or someone to clarify when they're introduced though.
Yeah, true. I just looked into McNabb....there's our Canada tie! He seems to have connections with the CPL. Lol. Always gotta hire at least one.
Yep. What would the Thorns be without some Canadian somewhere on the payroll?
LOL
Strategic advisor title given for Rushton & McNab seems to imply not formally head of any departments or anything. So I wouldn't necessarily assume any changes short-term for existing staff. Probably a longer term process to re-organize over time.
Also I'm 100% okay with Agoos not doing a pre match lap. 😉
But how do you feel about him wearing a hot pink pantsuit?
If that makes him happy, totally good
I will miss seeing little Karina before matches. Just not big Karina.
If he brings us a championship, we may need to rename Providence Park "Agoos Hollow"
And if we come in #2 in the standings, we can call him Jeff BGoos
This is the content I'm really here for.
:-D :-D :-D
Are clean sheets now "Agoos Eggs"?
IIRC his nickname *is* "Goose".
I can see a campy Top Gun video remake with management and the new coach hire in the offing. He will have to grow out a cheesy mustache first, though.
A+
A few additional post-workday thoughts floating around:
1. I personally agree with the consensus and think there should be a mass technical staff clear out before the season, but I also don't think Agoos should be hammered around here if there isn't. The Bhathals put him in a pretty tough spot with the timing just weeks before camp starts. Ripping the bandaid off is probably the best idea, but man, it's tough to find a new GOOD coach in weeks right before camp in your first week on the job.
2. Call it cope, but I think I'm kinda resigned to losing Soph whether we win the treble or lose every game 5-0. I could be totally off-base, but being the marquee signing for her hometown team is simply too good an opportunity to pass up, it's even closer to Wilson, she'll be a FA anyway, and I wouldn't blame her regardless of how good or bad the Thorns season goes. And, if it does happen, I'll feel better about it than if she left for the Spirit or some shit like that. And if she stays? Great!
3. Rushton knows people in the Euro woso world. Has those connections KK doesn't. She was the one who facilitated those big splash signings (albeit of various degrees of success) last year for Bay. That's pretty neat given we still have two international spots open and need a talent infusion. Time to hop on fbref and find me some winger targets!
4. This is all very cool! Very exciting! Legitimately ambitious! Four hours ago we all were in total panic mode, now there's optimism for the first time in months. I personally like being excited about my favorite sports team!
As I replied to ABell4 below, there's really no point to Norris now. Hopefully he bows out gracefully. Gale...yeah, problem is short turnaround; if camp opens a month before the CVI game (which it did last season) it kicks off next week.
Mike Smith? Don't see an immediate need to 86 him. Still need scouting, still need direction for the academy. If he stays on? I won't be appalled.
And Sophia Smith? She's gonna do what she's gonna do. If this club does it's best to field a top squad, etc, and she wants to click her heels three times, well..? Shit happens. Cowering in abject terror that Smith will someday be gone? Seems like a lot of energy put to use for something that may be...
I feel like I can never truly evaluate and thus have an opinion on roster decisions and/or comings and goings without knowing player salaries and how they relate to the salary cap. Granted, Smith is in a different category, but her future salary will ultimately be a determining factor into how good of a team we are able to put around her.
Maybe Smith stays just because he's been working on transfers, is heavily involved in the academy, and has some good institutional knowledge, but I'd have to imagine Norris and the whole staff are all gone if Gale is. Like I said, I hope they do clean house cause it's needed, but it also isn't without an element of risk given the timing.
And yeah, that's kinda my point about Soph- Either she leaves or doesn't, but she'll make her own decision and it's not really worth fretting about.
As an assistant? He wouldn't do it and I wouldn't want him to.
As head coach? We tried that. Worked for a while, then not so much.
And like I said; if the Thorns do all the "right things" to make this club successful and a great place to play, and Smith wants to go home again? She's a professional and a grown-ass woman and if she's gonna go, she's gonna go.
is he going to get a job? he's been without one for over a year. several high profile jobs have gone elsewhere.
Riley consistently had his number. Vlatko, too. His playoff record is dismal. After the first two years he couldn't figure out how to get past the semifinals. He was a bust with the Dutch, and in Washington.
He's better than Ken. Low bar, but I hope we're more ambitious that that.
Think with Soph it depends on the pitch that Colorado makes. What are the facilities? What's the organization? And what is it compared to the Thorns? I'm sure home is a big factor for her but she could also just activate the option and see how it plays out.
Yeah I mean I obviously have no idea what her priorities are, just seems to fit about as perfectly as something like that could from an outside perspective. Who knows tho, maybe she just really loves it here!
Or maybe she wants some sweet playoff/shield/etc cash and we can give her a better shot than Colorado can. It's her living, after all...
What's most important to a pro athlete in deciding where to play? I have to think that income tops the list. An athlete's career is frighteningly short - ten years for very good players, 15 for stars, 20 for Christine Sinclair - and carries the possibility that it could end at literally any second during a game or even a practice. You have your few years to earn far more than you're likely to get for the rest of your life, and maximizing income has to be high up on the priority list. There are lots of approaches to doing this - getting into the best development environment, taking the highest offer available, getting on a winning team to give you lots of exposure and endorsement deals, going to a big city so you get a lot of jersey sales, trying to make the USWNT (which has won a lot of very large bonuses), and so on.
IMO other things probably look significantly less important. Maybe the chance to live with your partner is a top priority too. But if you have to live in a different city from him/her so you're not together on a daily basis, small-to-medium differences in distance probably don't matter so much, since it's still basically a plane flight no matter what. And IMHO proximity to family and childhood friends, while nice, falls into the category of "can wait until after playing career" unless all else is equal. Thinking back to my 20's, sure it would have been nice to live near Mom and Dad, but trying to make something of myself was far more important, and that was in a career that wasn't going to end in a few years. (And sure enough, at that stage of my life I ended up across the country from them.)
I guess I'm trying to say that maximizing one's playing career and income are going to be all-important for most pro athletes, and they'll make decisions based largely on that. And of those two, I'll hazard a guess that "best development environment" is the #1 priority early in a player's career, and "highest income" is #1 late in that career.
Soph is a big enough star that she'll pretty much reset the market any time she signs a new deal. I don't think it really matters where that is. As a result, she has the (earned) luxury of choosing where she goes without worrying so much about who will pay her the most....because everyone that can, will. You are definitely right that Denver--> Phoenix isn't really functionally all that different than Portland-->Phoenix even though the distance is much smaller.
I used the counter example of Delanie Sheehan a few days ago: A mid-tier player who hasn't gotten a big payday yet, so I imagine she took the biggest deal she could get even though that was with Houston.
Okay. I’m impressed. Goos is a very good hire, and it’s more encouraging that the club finally caught on that analytics are important.
I’ve been skeptical. But this is genuinely exciting, the first real ambitious move the owners have made. Let’s hope this is just the first.
Hallelujah
Yessss finally!!!
And an actual executive with real experience...though I am weary that he came form MLS. I hope he at least watches women's soccer and has familiarity with top clubs and players.
Was reading the Equalizer article, and I very much appreciated this quote from him, right off the bat: "I’m honored to be part of such a prestigious club,” Agoos added in the statement. “The Thorns have a renowned legacy, and my focus is to provide the leadership necessary to ensure our on-field success, keeping the team at the top of the league and competing for championships.” I'm glad he appears to have a high baseline, and that he understands the expectations of this club and fanbase.
https://equalizersoccer.com/2025/01/07/former-mls-executive-jeff-agoos-named-portland-thorns-gm/
Also, as Jacob Stevens said.. "just looking at his face makes me think he'll fire Rob Gale" lol
He’s got a Gale firing face if I’ve ever seen one.
Hopefully a Norris firing face also lol.
And a Minami-hiring face!
Okay, that's still a massive longshot. Roma just won the Supercoppa over there and are in contention* for a Champions League spot again. She's a fan-favorite starter there. But I still think we could talk Urawa out of Rion Ishikawa. At 21, she's not the veteran presence to replace 'Brunn we're going to want, but she's big, fast, and smart.
Gawd I've been waiting for so long! Ishikawa looks like she's got some good pedigree, though I haven't seen her play a ton yet. I do think we're still missing that leader on the backline as of now...
That's where I don't know a lot about Rion-senshu: is she a backline leader? Could she be one while working to overcome a language barrier? Lots of unknowns...
What I do know is she's got the physical and mental tools for the basic CB job and I expect her to be a Nadeshiko mainstay going forward.
It took a year to make moves that fit the new owners' lofty pledge to make the Thorns the world's premier women's soccer team. Let's hope a highly skilled and experienced coach and an announcement about the location of a new training facility are in the offing, too.
Ok so *are* we gonna get Jaedyn Shaw next? Lol...
Lol. That was my first thought after reading about that reddit poster.
Dunno, but hoping that future with Agoos > past with Ellis and Donovan.
Wow, real experience. Real analytics focus. Real recruitment experience. I don't know a ton about any of these people but their CVs sure seem to cover some serious professional ground. Obviously there are still steps to be taken with head coach and roster spots, but this sure seems promising and worth the wait. Sigh of relief and fingers crossed!
Yeah bringing in more analytics people is huge. I really hope they build out a good data analytics and scouting dept. Apparently Thorns are not one of the 4-5 NWSL clubs who have extensive positions in the area. Spirit, Orlando, Bay, and maybe Gotham were who I remember hearing.
Absolutely, the analytics seems relatively new to NWSL. Having someone with a proven track record is great. I'm sure they have internal people who can do some analytics and want to grow. As a data/analytics person myself (not soccer), having guidance and experience in that regard will be immense.
Yep, last seasons top 4 plus Bay were the ones.
Washington has in-house analytics.
Yeah, I mentioned the Spirit in my comment.
OT: Did Scotland run out of original names?
This year's Scottish WoSo transfers include Sam Kerr (no, the other one) and Emma Watson (no, the other one).
Not to be outdone, England's own Jess(ica) Simpson is also on the move.
With all due apologies to Howard Cosell:
Agoos is on the loose!
When will we first get a gander at Agoos?
Just finished the presser a bit ago. Working on 'takeaways' from the presser. Will have it out by the afternoon.
Would have gladly had Gale as a takeaway (and dump somewhere)
Quick thought from you Phuoc…do you feel optimistic after hearing him answer questions?
That's the first step.
Cosell's Ghost approves. I quote directly his quija-derived response:
"Your esteemed colleague has generously provided you with a pun that is both amusing and apposite. A pun, ladies and gentlemen, that is worthy of that witty portmanteau that your fellow commentator chose as a screen name!
"Roone never appreciated that beautiful game to which you are so devoted, but what can I say: the man was a philistine to his cupidinous core."
"Big fan, Howard, now shut up, Cosell."
—Zombie M. Ali
"When it comes to the sweet science of professional fisticuffs, there is no greater practitioner tha..."
"I said shut up, Howard!"
Turn out the lights, the party's over!
Comment of the year!
Predictable ancient centerback response: I'm stoked they picked a former defender! And I'm at least semi-serious about that. While I realize a GM isn't the sort of influence on a team's on-field emphasis that the coaching staff is, anything that might point to a return of the defensive powerhouse Thorns teams of the past is welcomed. Agoos is a guy who will know how to recognize defensive talent.
And he was a national-team-level talent himself, so his baseline is prob higher.
Agreed. He was an excellent player: smart and focused. Why, rather like me...except actually good at soccer. =P
He was also one tough customer. I would hate to have to play against him. I think that's part of what made him so good.
Lol. Was he a CB or a FB?
Goose was originally a CB but got bumped over to LB when Carlos Llamosa joined DCU and from then on played mostly at LB.
Well it'll be nice to have someone on board who knows what a good CB/FB looks like.
FWIW, Gavin Wilkinson was a CB, and a pretty brutal one. A friend of mine observed that more than one of his defender signings were “what a USL centerback thinks an MLS centerback looks like…”
Tentatively positive and like that they also hired Rushton who was well regarded at ATL and had WoSo experience.
Yeah, same. I am happy that we're bringing in multiple soccer people, and Rushton has been around a while. Haven't looked into who the other person is yet.
Yeah very happy to see that Rushton has experience, and presumably connections, in the WoSo world. We'll need that.
Absolutely.
McNabb looks like a data analyst who does contract work. He’s kind of a classic contractor/hired gun who’s done analysis for the Canadian federation as well as at least one pro team in Scotland. I’m just pleased to see the Bhathals realizing that there’s other tools to roster building and management than the wise old gaffer. Metrics give you one more club in the bag.
Tentative B. But I'll upgrade to an A if they fire—or "promote"—Rob Gale within the next ten days.
Countdown to Jan. 17. The clock has started.
I almost said five, but wanted to give a bit more leeway; especially if they intend to announce a new hire at the same time so they don't have to go the interim route.
Still, they've put it off long enough that making a well-considered hire at this point would be challenging. I'm hoping that whoever is holding down the FO and whatever search firm they hopefully hired can just hand Jeff, Lucy, and Angus a stack of folders and say, "here's our top six and we've got interviews lined up with all of them for this week." [Comms guy in me has tentative slots for second interviews next week, Rob's firing on Friday (1/17), and new coach announcement on Monday. Done!]
Lotta hopium there though. Much more likely, there's been no work done at all so there's no chance of getting someone new in place in the next few weeks (and I'm 100% Rob Out but even I don't think another interim coach solves anything). Probably not great that I'm already half rooting for another 4-game losing streak to start the season, just to get that ball rolling.
Technically preseason doesn't have to start until Feb 5th, so they do still have almost a month if they want it. Teams just can't start later than the 5th.
Fair enough, but a new coach would want to put together a new staff, and I'd love for them to have at least a couple weeks to bond/plan/strategize (to say nothing of moving and getting their personal/family lives at least a tiny bit sorted) before pre-season starts in earnest.
Much as I'm desperate for a new manager—and will not be purchasing new season tickets until/unless it happens*—I think they're running out of time to get someone new in. Would it be totally insane to try to bring in a serious new coach midseason (say a month in)? Probably. But I wouldn't be that broken up. Dick move to Rob kinda, but if you assume next season is a bit lost anyway then why not?
Then again, maybe Jeff just speed-dials Twila Kilgore and we're off to the races tomorrow. Not exactly great from a process perspective, but I'd be ecstatic.
* Yes, I will totally eat crow and buy back in next season if Rob proves us all wrong and hoists a major trophy next year, but that seems... unlikely.
Technically, the preseason can start as late as Feb 5th. So, they'd have almost a month! Get to it! I'd be fine with a slow start if we had a late start with a new coach...
Now we know what Sinclair's been working on, and with whom, since she retired: The Great Province of Cascadia!
Sign me the f*** up! Take me now! I wish to defect!
***
Elizabeth May, a lawmaker who leads Canada’s Green Party, offered to take in California, Oregon and Washington with the promise of some perks: free healthcare and stricter gun laws.
“We got a deal for you. You think we want to be the 51st state? Nah,” May said during a press conference Wednesday. “Maybe California would like to be the 11th province. How about it? California, Oregon, Washington.”
"Cascadia Province" versus "Greater Idaho". Sigh.
Call it New Timhortonsland
How are your firefighting resources lately, eh?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6CJkJT1sR0
Here's the 15 minute version- Assuming this is the whole thing. Gale will be coach, which is unsurprising and not something I'm willing to get too upset about rn.
With respect to our folks here: I BEG for some more pointed questions. A meager 15 minutes --after radio silence for two months-- with virtually zero questions to which he had to give an actual answer (except Wilder's about the coaching staff) isn't really good enough. Specifics about Rushton/McNab's roles within the club? Any questions at all about the failures of the past season? Any questions about who has been making the roster decisions to this point?
I've gone on and on about open vs. close-ended questions in these pressers, but I really need to do it again: Questions like "give us your thoughts on _x_" or "What does _x_ mean to you" are virtually invites for GMs to give non-answers. This fanbase doesn't get any info because of both the nature of the Thorns and the NWSL media ecosystem at large, so the few opportunities offered really need to be taken advantage of more than a 15 minute interview.
I wonder if "access" doesn't play a role. Getting press credentials is up to the club. Unless you rep for "big" outlets like television stations or the Oregonian, getting too pointed if you're a fan site like Stumptown or Vox could put you on the outside of the door.
I'm sure fear of getting de-credentialed does impact things to an extent, but there were four people at the presser asking questions and three of them were from STF. Oram was the only other person there! Regardless, no one's asking them to ask "why aren't you firing Gale" or something openly antagonistic or critical. Just actual questions that can lead to an answer!
Yeah I was kinda blown away by Oram being the only actual journalist there! It's almost embarrassing. Like, it all feels very NWSL 1.0 in regard to coverage here right now. Where are the child reporters, while we're at it lol. Although some markets are similar, most have better coverage than the Thorns rn (even Houston.)
I appreciate the fan bloggers at STF asking questions, but the experience of these sorts of things (and what/how to ask) is really missing.