It's nice to see that the spirit of shit-talking predictions done by local sports talk radio guys during the third hour on a Thursday afternoon lives on in WoSo podcasting.
I think due to tie breakers we still have a chance even if we lose to Angel city . That would put us at 8th but they need to win to avoid Orlando. Hope Chicago loses their last two games
More than a chance- Missing the playoffs would take Louisville winning and the Thorns losing while making up the three goal differential in the process AND Bay FC beating whatever result the Thorns get against ACFC. A draw clinches 8th at worst.
Bay plays Houston and Louisville plays SD, so still very much technically possible however, given I have no faith that they'll get a point at home against ACFC.
Louisville doesn’t necessarily have to score 3 to make up that GD…bc if the Thorns lose, it’ll be lessening the GD LOU will need. We could lose 2-0 and they’d only have to win by 1 to match GD. Based on how we’ve been playing I honestly don’t think it’s that far-fetched. Bay beating Houston also seems likely. But yes, lots needs to go right (wrong?) for us to miss playoffs…
The first tiebreaker (after points) is goal difference, second is total wins. The Thorns will beat Loovull on wins if it comes to that, since we currently have 9 and they have 7.
No Reyna is going to suck. She’s an excellent 1 vs 1 defender. If Rob has us playing to tie again and starts the slowest forwards he can think of it’s over.
Right, but they still have to make up that GD somehow- Whether by luck or their own doing. Louisville also isn't very good and while SD isn't either, they do have attacking talent and I wouldn't bet on Louisville winning in San Diego.
Again: It's very possible the three things happen that need to happen in order for them to miss the playoffs, especially how much of a mess everything is...but it's still not the most statistically likely outcome given three different results have to happen.
Rob Gale: "That's as as quality of performance as you'll see away from home. Midfield was excellent. We had the majority of the ball. We controlled the tempo of the match. There's no way we weren't the better team tonight, and we certainly didn't deserve that result."
Problem is, he's *kinda* right here, but it doesn't matter because they didn't create shit. You can make a pretty good subjective argument that they were the better team, but if the forwards you put on the field generate next to nothing......that's on you!
Agree with these parts: "Midfield was excellent. We had the majority of the ball. We controlled the tempo of the match. There's no way we weren't the better team tonight, and we certainly didn't deserve that result."
But did nothing to actually WIN the match. Generated no attack. Failed to mark Flint to hold on for the result.
I'm not going to until Gale's gone and a new GM is in. We can always buy new ones if we want, there's really no benefit to renewing as far as I can tell- They're not going to sell out.
1) Sinc and Moultrie start. Sinc is playing a "false 9" which I guess means (per my observation) Moultrie is very often in the "9" position well in front of Sinc (i.e. in the "10" position).
2) Smith subs in for Sinc. But nothing at all changed in terms of how Moultrie played. I would think that because Smith in fact a "real 9" type of player, Moultrie would became the "10" most of the time (i.e. much more than when Sinc was in the game).
3) Linnehan played a lot of mid-field. No change in the way Moultrie played when Smith was on the field meant Weaver had to play midfield.
This team needs a _real_ 10, basically. A proper playmaking - and sometimes shooting - central attacking midfielder. We've had some great ones (Horan, Boquete...) and some wingers who filled a similar role (Heath...), but no one on the roster* is currently providing the attacking creativity this team so badly lacks.
*This is something I think Hina could quickly adapt to, despite it not being her role in the past *here, at Kobe, or with the Nadeshiko), but there seems little inclination on the part of three coaches to try her as a CAM, so perhaps I'm missing something about her game.
What I am trying to say is that in a dynamic sense, Sinc+Moultrie+D'Quila were lined higher than Linnehan in terms of position on the field. So, I'm saying that Linnehan (and Weaver) were far back of the front 3 (same with Smith+Moultrie+D'Quila).
Nah, Moultrie was at the ten with Linnehan/Izzy on the wings. I'd have to look at the pass maps to confirm, but there wasn't any substantial difference in Izzy and Linnehan's positioning.
I know what you are saying, but I think it was just linnehan checking back into space more to help with the build up. I don't think it was anything designed.
It's so funny that we're somehow still in a place where the same 5 or so coaching names are floated around for every major vacancy simply because woso media don't actually watch any soccer outside of what they cover.
"Tony Gustavsson," "Laura Harvey" said by people paid to discuss women's soccer in the year two thousand and twenty-four. And their best rationale is, "Experienced." That's not a good reason to appoint someone!
It's this: as Dr Nadim once said, "The NWSL is a joke."
Not the players, of course.
I mean the overall product, at the franchise level, league level, broadcasting, etc. There's just not nearly enough effort given to elevating the level of discourse and spectator IQ. It always feels like it's fledgling, just getting its foot in the door, people doing things they've never done before.
And that's a shame, because the players aren't novices.
yes i mean, compare the media coverage and analysis the WSL gets in England. It's far superior. Tom Garry at the Guardian is breaking a lot of news and info. I'm not sure the last piece of news a journalist here broke that wasn't the result of a press release. And you could argue the infrastructure is there, but this league has been around for over 10 years now.
I think you could argue that Meg Linnehan wrote the most important article in the history of the league, maybe even of the sport. But I do agree that there is little to no criticism of on-field tactics, coaching, or play. And there is literally no criticism of individual players' lack of skills, pace, field vision, etc. Every player is wonderful, or young and still learning, no matter how dreadful she actually is. The harshest thing you ever hear is "she probably wants that one back".
No one writing here should be the least bit surprised at the way the club played tonight. We've been miserable and Gale, Karina and Norris need to find other employment, and quite frankly what the hell are the billionaire owners doing. Just love the billionaire class don't we?
yeah as soon as he wasn't fired after the debacle against Utah it's clear he wasn't going to be until the end of the season. I'm not sure what an interim does in any sense.
Is it me, or does this squad play down to their opponents like crazy? Racing is prettt crap, but Gale once again sends out a slow, toothless attack, lets the can hang around until the defense ships a goal. Wash, rinse, repeat.
It seems like that's always been a frustrating habit with this franchise. But never w/ this regularity. And in the past Sinc or Tobin or Lindsey or Soph or Morgan might provide some late magic to rescue some points, but they weren't playing for a coach who'd be hard pressed not to give up points at a middle school.
https://x.com/xOwnGoals/status/1847849984034566638
Lmao. Carlin sucks.
It's nice to see that the spirit of shit-talking predictions done by local sports talk radio guys during the third hour on a Thursday afternoon lives on in WoSo podcasting.
NOW who's got #TooManyBalls?
Bay fc scores. Now tied with the expansion team
We don’t deserve to make playoffs tbh. Prob would be best to just call it quits after the AC game, and get started hiring and firing…
I think due to tie breakers we still have a chance even if we lose to Angel city . That would put us at 8th but they need to win to avoid Orlando. Hope Chicago loses their last two games
More than a chance- Missing the playoffs would take Louisville winning and the Thorns losing while making up the three goal differential in the process AND Bay FC beating whatever result the Thorns get against ACFC. A draw clinches 8th at worst.
Bay plays Houston and Louisville plays SD, so still very much technically possible however, given I have no faith that they'll get a point at home against ACFC.
Louisville doesn’t necessarily have to score 3 to make up that GD…bc if the Thorns lose, it’ll be lessening the GD LOU will need. We could lose 2-0 and they’d only have to win by 1 to match GD. Based on how we’ve been playing I honestly don’t think it’s that far-fetched. Bay beating Houston also seems likely. But yes, lots needs to go right (wrong?) for us to miss playoffs…
I thought the first tiebreaker was total wins, which Louisville would lose to the Thorns.
The first tiebreaker (after points) is goal difference, second is total wins. The Thorns will beat Loovull on wins if it comes to that, since we currently have 9 and they have 7.
No Reyna is going to suck. She’s an excellent 1 vs 1 defender. If Rob has us playing to tie again and starts the slowest forwards he can think of it’s over.
Right, but they still have to make up that GD somehow- Whether by luck or their own doing. Louisville also isn't very good and while SD isn't either, they do have attacking talent and I wouldn't bet on Louisville winning in San Diego.
Again: It's very possible the three things happen that need to happen in order for them to miss the playoffs, especially how much of a mess everything is...but it's still not the most statistically likely outcome given three different results have to happen.
Thorns have given up a lot of goals and do have San Diego. It’s very possible thorns lose and Louisville make up the GD
Of course, but it's still far from the most likely outcome.
Several years in a row where they have absolutely fumbled the last game. I’m just conditioned to expect the worst
NotaCoachella 2024
"It's always a festival with Ken at the helm"
Rob Gale: "That's as as quality of performance as you'll see away from home. Midfield was excellent. We had the majority of the ball. We controlled the tempo of the match. There's no way we weren't the better team tonight, and we certainly didn't deserve that result."
Did we even have 1 xG dude? This man…
Problem is, he's *kinda* right here, but it doesn't matter because they didn't create shit. You can make a pretty good subjective argument that they were the better team, but if the forwards you put on the field generate next to nothing......that's on you!
Agree with these parts: "Midfield was excellent. We had the majority of the ball. We controlled the tempo of the match. There's no way we weren't the better team tonight, and we certainly didn't deserve that result."
But did nothing to actually WIN the match. Generated no attack. Failed to mark Flint to hold on for the result.
Along those lines, we did deserve that result.
And statistically not the better team! .75 to .6 xG isn’t meaningfully different!
lmfao
He was playing for a tie. He’s so done here. Delusional is an understatement
Can't wait to hear "I thought we deserved a result"
"Process." "Injuries." "Youth."
Pardon me. I have to go vomit while sober for the first time since 1979!
"We threw everything at it" with an xG under 1.0
STILL
HAVEN'T
RENEWED
MY
SEASON
TICKETS
I'm not going to until Gale's gone and a new GM is in. We can always buy new ones if we want, there's really no benefit to renewing as far as I can tell- They're not going to sell out.
Question:
1) Sinc and Moultrie start. Sinc is playing a "false 9" which I guess means (per my observation) Moultrie is very often in the "9" position well in front of Sinc (i.e. in the "10" position).
2) Smith subs in for Sinc. But nothing at all changed in terms of how Moultrie played. I would think that because Smith in fact a "real 9" type of player, Moultrie would became the "10" most of the time (i.e. much more than when Sinc was in the game).
3) Linnehan played a lot of mid-field. No change in the way Moultrie played when Smith was on the field meant Weaver had to play midfield.
I don't get it. Perhaps someone can explain it.
This team needs a _real_ 10, basically. A proper playmaking - and sometimes shooting - central attacking midfielder. We've had some great ones (Horan, Boquete...) and some wingers who filled a similar role (Heath...), but no one on the roster* is currently providing the attacking creativity this team so badly lacks.
*This is something I think Hina could quickly adapt to, despite it not being her role in the past *here, at Kobe, or with the Nadeshiko), but there seems little inclination on the part of three coaches to try her as a CAM, so perhaps I'm missing something about her game.
Linnehan played on the wing, as did Weaver. Not sure what you mean by midfield.
In terms of their static formation was yes.
What I am trying to say is that in a dynamic sense, Sinc+Moultrie+D'Quila were lined higher than Linnehan in terms of position on the field. So, I'm saying that Linnehan (and Weaver) were far back of the front 3 (same with Smith+Moultrie+D'Quila).
Nah, Moultrie was at the ten with Linnehan/Izzy on the wings. I'd have to look at the pass maps to confirm, but there wasn't any substantial difference in Izzy and Linnehan's positioning.
I know what you are saying, but I think it was just linnehan checking back into space more to help with the build up. I don't think it was anything designed.
Where does on find these pass maps?
Welcome to KenBall!
Hey, at least tonight's loss makes that win against Orlando look that much more aberrant!
Cupo just said on live tv that Rob Gale has done an excellent job coaching this team LIKEEEEE WHAAAAAAA
Did you see as she was speaking that JMac looked away and gave a quick eyeroll before she even threw out the "Gale has done an excellent job" comment?
Quick! Interview JMac!
She also suggested Tony Gustavsson as the next coach for Arsenal. Patently does not know ball
It's so funny that we're somehow still in a place where the same 5 or so coaching names are floated around for every major vacancy simply because woso media don't actually watch any soccer outside of what they cover.
"Tony Gustavsson," "Laura Harvey" said by people paid to discuss women's soccer in the year two thousand and twenty-four. And their best rationale is, "Experienced." That's not a good reason to appoint someone!
It's this: as Dr Nadim once said, "The NWSL is a joke."
Not the players, of course.
I mean the overall product, at the franchise level, league level, broadcasting, etc. There's just not nearly enough effort given to elevating the level of discourse and spectator IQ. It always feels like it's fledgling, just getting its foot in the door, people doing things they've never done before.
And that's a shame, because the players aren't novices.
yes i mean, compare the media coverage and analysis the WSL gets in England. It's far superior. Tom Garry at the Guardian is breaking a lot of news and info. I'm not sure the last piece of news a journalist here broke that wasn't the result of a press release. And you could argue the infrastructure is there, but this league has been around for over 10 years now.
I think you could argue that Meg Linnehan wrote the most important article in the history of the league, maybe even of the sport. But I do agree that there is little to no criticism of on-field tactics, coaching, or play. And there is literally no criticism of individual players' lack of skills, pace, field vision, etc. Every player is wonderful, or young and still learning, no matter how dreadful she actually is. The harshest thing you ever hear is "she probably wants that one back".
I’m hearing Rob Gale is still not very good!
"Some say."
😭😭
RG snatches defeat at the end. Again.
Feel free to publicly resign during your post-match Q&A (it seems like I make that suggestion every goddamned week).
Derp Derp Derp, Derp of Gale......
That'd make one hell of a chant at the finale!
Good idea. But unfortunately I have created my own ear worm
No one writing here should be the least bit surprised at the way the club played tonight. We've been miserable and Gale, Karina and Norris need to find other employment, and quite frankly what the hell are the billionaire owners doing. Just love the billionaire class don't we?
Not to defend the billionaires too much, but they have fired a coach and a GM in their first season.
And still have one more they need to fire as soon as the season ends for Porland.
yeah as soon as he wasn't fired after the debacle against Utah it's clear he wasn't going to be until the end of the season. I'm not sure what an interim does in any sense.
Our billionaires have taken their eye off the ball when it comes to the Thorns. Shiny new WNBA franchise though which is a good thing.
Watching that goal again, what in the HELL is Becky Sauerbrunn doing? What is Hogan doing? It's awful!
Get Rob, Karina, and Mike out of this club. All of them failed up and have no business being involved in a club like this one.
We can thankfully put this season out of its misery.
Is it me, or does this squad play down to their opponents like crazy? Racing is prettt crap, but Gale once again sends out a slow, toothless attack, lets the can hang around until the defense ships a goal. Wash, rinse, repeat.
It seems like that's always been a frustrating habit with this franchise. But never w/ this regularity. And in the past Sinc or Tobin or Lindsey or Soph or Morgan might provide some late magic to rescue some points, but they weren't playing for a coach who'd be hard pressed not to give up points at a middle school.
That's what bad teams do