Let’s not start with the tin-hatting here: Leon is a good player who needs minutes and fills the one position the Thorns lack depth in. Teams don’t do deals that they don’t think will benefit them.
We have 16 games over the next 2.5 months before the WC, or a game every 4.5 days or so. Leon is an undeniable upgrade on any of our current b…
Let’s not start with the tin-hatting here: Leon is a good player who needs minutes and fills the one position the Thorns lack depth in. Teams don’t do deals that they don’t think will benefit them.
We have 16 games over the next 2.5 months before the WC, or a game every 4.5 days or so. Leon is an undeniable upgrade on any of our current backup wing options- No offense to Michelle, but I’m pretty glad that we can go from replacing Weaver with Vasconcelos to replacing her with Adriana Leon. We also have CC games she can and should start.
Is the Portlanada thing getting a little tiresome and does this help Leon get minutes before the WC? Yeah, definitely- But it’s much more tiresome from a “are we actually doing any scouting” perspective than a “can Adriana Leon help the team” perspective.
Leon is a very, very good winger. She is going to fit in this system very well. It's perfect for both sides. One needs minutes before WWC and Thorns need someone who can help fill the RW with a schedule that requires most Internationals to play 5 games in 15 days. Mike Norris said today at training they will need to make sure everyone is ready in order to play a bunch of games in a short time span.
I don't see that happening, Izzy is going to get her minutes either way. Right now Michele Vasconcelos is the first winger off the bench. Leon will need to get used to the system first, so looks like she'll be taking that role. Especially with the challenge cup coming up, they'll need to rotate and having a high quality winger next to Izzy during it will be important.
Leon plays primarily on the left for club and country. I’d expect her to get a little time on the right, but I’d hope Izzy will get most of her starting minutes (i.e CC) at striker.....which is her natural and best position anyhow.
Regardless, between the CC and the WC, there's plenty of minutes for Izzy- I think she'll get plenty of time if she earns it.
You assume that Leon will be taking a backup's role when it could just as easily be either Sugita or Weaver that hits the bench for this two and a half month workout for Leon. Sure she may be better than Vasconcelos but Vasconcelos will be here during the WC and needs the playing time to get ready for that. What hole does Leon really fill for a couple of months?
Leon fills the very real hole at wing created when Yaz got traded and Beckie tore her ACL. I think she’ll probably get a few starts (again, we have a ton of games in the next few months and Weaver shouldn't be starting every game given the load she's gonna have to carry during the WC period) but yeah I do assume she’ll mostly be used off the bench as a rotational piece. A team is more than the 11 players that start any given match.
I don’t understand the anti-competition mindset: If she’s good enough to start, I don’t really care if she gets some of Hina or Weaver’s minutes, though I'd be surprised if Hina gets her minutes reduced given how important she is. Are we really arguing that Vasconcelos needs minutes so that she can prep for the WC period? I’d rather have the unquestionably better player play those minutes so the Thorns have a better chance of winning games.
100% agree with this. With the amount of games we have coming up you need at least 17 players or so who can start. We've got the first XI, Rocky, Moultrie, and Menges if fit. Beyond that it's choosing three from D'Aquila, Vasconcelos, Reyes, Taylor Porter, and now Leon. That's a healthier amount.
Yeah, I'd definitely be side-eyeing this deal if it were for longer honestly. But, truth is we need experienced depth now in this period pre-WC, and I definitely prefer Leon over Vasconcelos for those sub minutes. Leon is much faster/stronger on the ball and has a better foot. We're severely lacking any RW'ers, and I think Leon might actually be used as a Hina sub most often. Or, whoever needs to come out first of Hina/Weaver. Vasconcelos is generally more used as a sub on the left side for Weaver. Leon will also likely get all the starts during the CC games, which I am totally ok with. Let Leon, Weaver, and D'Aquila play those games with Vasconcelos as the sub. It also allows D'Aquila to play centrally more often, which is where her strengths are.
Overall, I think this was actually a smart move by KK. Probably cheap because it was a loan, and it benefits both parties immediately. Just hope she gets here soon!
Yeah I mentioned Vasconcelos because Leon plays mostly on the left as an inverted winger, but she could easily be used as a utility player across the front line. I'd also hope D'Aquila keeps getting the backup minutes over Vasconcelos once Leon is available, and she's been playing exclusively on the right.
I'd like to see a Challenge Cup front three of Leon-D'Aquila-Vasconcelos. Weaver is gonna burn out if she doesn't get some rest and we're really going to rely on her during the WC.
Sugita is a good winger but an incredible central midfielder, so better play her in her better position instead of forcing her to cover a different position
Let’s not start with the tin-hatting here: Leon is a good player who needs minutes and fills the one position the Thorns lack depth in. Teams don’t do deals that they don’t think will benefit them.
We have 16 games over the next 2.5 months before the WC, or a game every 4.5 days or so. Leon is an undeniable upgrade on any of our current backup wing options- No offense to Michelle, but I’m pretty glad that we can go from replacing Weaver with Vasconcelos to replacing her with Adriana Leon. We also have CC games she can and should start.
Is the Portlanada thing getting a little tiresome and does this help Leon get minutes before the WC? Yeah, definitely- But it’s much more tiresome from a “are we actually doing any scouting” perspective than a “can Adriana Leon help the team” perspective.
Leon is a very, very good winger. She is going to fit in this system very well. It's perfect for both sides. One needs minutes before WWC and Thorns need someone who can help fill the RW with a schedule that requires most Internationals to play 5 games in 15 days. Mike Norris said today at training they will need to make sure everyone is ready in order to play a bunch of games in a short time span.
When do we play ACFC? I'm stocking up popcorn in anticipation of the first time McCaskill tries to body-up Leon. I did take physics.
Who wins that encounter?
Saturday April 29th is when Angel City first come to town.
Excited for that game. First time we will get to see Alyssa Thompson at Providence Park.
Just would hate to restrict growth of a younger player who is committed to playing here the remainder of the year.
I don't see that happening, Izzy is going to get her minutes either way. Right now Michele Vasconcelos is the first winger off the bench. Leon will need to get used to the system first, so looks like she'll be taking that role. Especially with the challenge cup coming up, they'll need to rotate and having a high quality winger next to Izzy during it will be important.
Young, less experienced players will be relied on during the World Cup, in addition to getting other playing time.
I assume you’re talking about D’Aquila, who doesn’t play in the same position as Leon.
Hmmm. Aren’t we talking about right winger and hasn’t Izzy played that position a few times already this year?
Leon plays primarily on the left for club and country. I’d expect her to get a little time on the right, but I’d hope Izzy will get most of her starting minutes (i.e CC) at striker.....which is her natural and best position anyhow.
Regardless, between the CC and the WC, there's plenty of minutes for Izzy- I think she'll get plenty of time if she earns it.
You assume that Leon will be taking a backup's role when it could just as easily be either Sugita or Weaver that hits the bench for this two and a half month workout for Leon. Sure she may be better than Vasconcelos but Vasconcelos will be here during the WC and needs the playing time to get ready for that. What hole does Leon really fill for a couple of months?
Leon fills the very real hole at wing created when Yaz got traded and Beckie tore her ACL. I think she’ll probably get a few starts (again, we have a ton of games in the next few months and Weaver shouldn't be starting every game given the load she's gonna have to carry during the WC period) but yeah I do assume she’ll mostly be used off the bench as a rotational piece. A team is more than the 11 players that start any given match.
I don’t understand the anti-competition mindset: If she’s good enough to start, I don’t really care if she gets some of Hina or Weaver’s minutes, though I'd be surprised if Hina gets her minutes reduced given how important she is. Are we really arguing that Vasconcelos needs minutes so that she can prep for the WC period? I’d rather have the unquestionably better player play those minutes so the Thorns have a better chance of winning games.
100% agree with this. With the amount of games we have coming up you need at least 17 players or so who can start. We've got the first XI, Rocky, Moultrie, and Menges if fit. Beyond that it's choosing three from D'Aquila, Vasconcelos, Reyes, Taylor Porter, and now Leon. That's a healthier amount.
Yeah, I'd definitely be side-eyeing this deal if it were for longer honestly. But, truth is we need experienced depth now in this period pre-WC, and I definitely prefer Leon over Vasconcelos for those sub minutes. Leon is much faster/stronger on the ball and has a better foot. We're severely lacking any RW'ers, and I think Leon might actually be used as a Hina sub most often. Or, whoever needs to come out first of Hina/Weaver. Vasconcelos is generally more used as a sub on the left side for Weaver. Leon will also likely get all the starts during the CC games, which I am totally ok with. Let Leon, Weaver, and D'Aquila play those games with Vasconcelos as the sub. It also allows D'Aquila to play centrally more often, which is where her strengths are.
Overall, I think this was actually a smart move by KK. Probably cheap because it was a loan, and it benefits both parties immediately. Just hope she gets here soon!
Yeah I mentioned Vasconcelos because Leon plays mostly on the left as an inverted winger, but she could easily be used as a utility player across the front line. I'd also hope D'Aquila keeps getting the backup minutes over Vasconcelos once Leon is available, and she's been playing exclusively on the right.
I'd like to see a Challenge Cup front three of Leon-D'Aquila-Vasconcelos. Weaver is gonna burn out if she doesn't get some rest and we're really going to rely on her during the WC.
Clearly the talks about this deal were done in the previous days it was teased 4/12, announced 4/13 but Leon was already in Portland by then.
Sugita? She glues this team together.
Sugita is a good winger but an incredible central midfielder, so better play her in her better position instead of forcing her to cover a different position