Things seemed to be back to normal for the Nadeshiko in that 2-0 win v Brazil. The previous match was weird, with Japan conceding so many goals. That said, it's hard not to concede when you're playing 11 v 12: the center ref was atrocious. They got CONCACAF'd...only in CONMEBOL. Still possibly the best team in the world right now on playing form. Ikeda has Hina playing pretty deep much of the time...almost a wingback sort of thing. I don't think it suits her that well, but it probably suits the roster he has (which is really deep in attacking talent). She still looked good, though, in her 45 minutes. Ikeda was rotating players a lot, as befits a friendly against a quality side.
These matches were available online, albeit at an hour of the day that had me a bit bleary (yeah, I know...that's my usual state, right?). Domestic support for the team seems to be resurging; it fell off a bit as they were rebuilding. Japan's on a bit of a footy roll right now, with the men's team at its historic best...very dangerous opponent. It's nice to see in a country that very much prioritizes baseball (and among older folk, sumo).
OT: I heard that Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka, released here as The Boy and the Heron, reached #1 at the box office in the US. Apparently it's the only Miyazaki film to do so (how did Spirited Away not achieve that??). Can't wait to see it.
Spirited Away (which for my part, I consider one of the very best films ever made) would probably do so today. It's quite a year for Japanese film, innit? Godzilla: Minus One is an absolute gem, too.
Yikes! I guess I get moving some players for *something* rather than just having them taken in the draft but CB and striker look pretty fucking dire right now. Karina has her job cut out for her right now because at this point our CB corps are old/banged up/free agent potentially moving Becky, always good for a derp or three Hubly, and Nally (with maybe Kuikka, who is also a free agent and who playing at CB would leave us without a natural RB). Our striker corps is Sophia, a 40 year old Sinclair, and has not shown absolutely anything D'Aquila.
So basically we have one starting quality CB (maybe) and one starting quality striker.
I counted Weaver as a winger like PTFC Dave. It's a totally different position than a center forward/striker. We really have never played her a CF, but she's one of the better wingers in the league, so it would be less than ideal for her to be our backup center forward (especially given that we don't really have a great backup left winger).
Emily Menges has been traded! Emily, we're going to miss you - you were a rock back there for a whole decade for us. You were a key part of one of the best defenses in the league for many years, and you saved the blushes of your fellow teammates many times with heroic efforts.
She was traded to Bay FC for $75k + draft protection. That strikes me as not enough, especially with valuations for women players climbing so quickly and with Utah still able to select two players from us (https://theathletic.com/5126492/2023/12/10/nwsl-expansion-draft-rules/). Is another trade, with Utah, in the works?
On the flip side, hopefully this means we're getting an international centerback.
Favorite moment? Coffey's goal, and the way she just lit up after it. You go girl! That was followed closely by Smith's goal, and more distantly by Horan's somewhat accidental goal.
Sam's reaction to scoring her goal was why women's soccer is becoming so popular. The delight in her face and the joy her teammates felt seeing her bag one was a nice moment. Trinity's goal celebration was pretty cool too.
OK makes sense. I was thinking of the front line attackers as a group, but true the Center Forward is a different type of player and Sinc and D’Aquila are what we have behind Soph. Yikes!
Maybe Izzy will show some Weaver like improvement. Sinc has shown some interest in being a position coach. Maybe she could follow the Ice Bear’s path from position GOAT to position Coach.
Things seemed to be back to normal for the Nadeshiko in that 2-0 win v Brazil. The previous match was weird, with Japan conceding so many goals. That said, it's hard not to concede when you're playing 11 v 12: the center ref was atrocious. They got CONCACAF'd...only in CONMEBOL. Still possibly the best team in the world right now on playing form. Ikeda has Hina playing pretty deep much of the time...almost a wingback sort of thing. I don't think it suits her that well, but it probably suits the roster he has (which is really deep in attacking talent). She still looked good, though, in her 45 minutes. Ikeda was rotating players a lot, as befits a friendly against a quality side.
These matches were available online, albeit at an hour of the day that had me a bit bleary (yeah, I know...that's my usual state, right?). Domestic support for the team seems to be resurging; it fell off a bit as they were rebuilding. Japan's on a bit of a footy roll right now, with the men's team at its historic best...very dangerous opponent. It's nice to see in a country that very much prioritizes baseball (and among older folk, sumo).
OT: I heard that Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka, released here as The Boy and the Heron, reached #1 at the box office in the US. Apparently it's the only Miyazaki film to do so (how did Spirited Away not achieve that??). Can't wait to see it.
Spirited Away (which for my part, I consider one of the very best films ever made) would probably do so today. It's quite a year for Japanese film, innit? Godzilla: Minus One is an absolute gem, too.
Yikes! I guess I get moving some players for *something* rather than just having them taken in the draft but CB and striker look pretty fucking dire right now. Karina has her job cut out for her right now because at this point our CB corps are old/banged up/free agent potentially moving Becky, always good for a derp or three Hubly, and Nally (with maybe Kuikka, who is also a free agent and who playing at CB would leave us without a natural RB). Our striker corps is Sophia, a 40 year old Sinclair, and has not shown absolutely anything D'Aquila.
So basically we have one starting quality CB (maybe) and one starting quality striker.
Someone needs to tell KK she doesn't get to take the Horan and Menges sale money with her when the new owner lets her go.
Did I miss something? What about Morgan Weaver?
I counted Weaver as a winger like PTFC Dave. It's a totally different position than a center forward/striker. We really have never played her a CF, but she's one of the better wingers in the league, so it would be less than ideal for her to be our backup center forward (especially given that we don't really have a great backup left winger).
Weaver is a winger. In fact, she fits the mold so well that I'd call her a winger's winger.
Emily Menges has been traded! Emily, we're going to miss you - you were a rock back there for a whole decade for us. You were a key part of one of the best defenses in the league for many years, and you saved the blushes of your fellow teammates many times with heroic efforts.
She was traded to Bay FC for $75k + draft protection. That strikes me as not enough, especially with valuations for women players climbing so quickly and with Utah still able to select two players from us (https://theathletic.com/5126492/2023/12/10/nwsl-expansion-draft-rules/). Is another trade, with Utah, in the works?
On the flip side, hopefully this means we're getting an international centerback.
Betfort traded to Utah for $10k and a third round draft pick.
Edit: Ooof... I read that wrong. Portland just gets protection and gave Utah Betfort, third round draft pick, and $10k.
Favorite moment? Coffey's goal, and the way she just lit up after it. You go girl! That was followed closely by Smith's goal, and more distantly by Horan's somewhat accidental goal.
Sam's reaction to scoring her goal was why women's soccer is becoming so popular. The delight in her face and the joy her teammates felt seeing her bag one was a nice moment. Trinity's goal celebration was pretty cool too.
OK makes sense. I was thinking of the front line attackers as a group, but true the Center Forward is a different type of player and Sinc and D’Aquila are what we have behind Soph. Yikes!
Maybe Izzy will show some Weaver like improvement. Sinc has shown some interest in being a position coach. Maybe she could follow the Ice Bear’s path from position GOAT to position Coach.