If there is one thing Phil is doing is he is creating a market for players and he is driving up their prices. You do league transfers to strengthen your squad and you do outer league transfers to fatten the wallet and strengthen the club. Williamson's last two games shows why he is valuable and you should probably keep him through the season. Transferring him would weaken the team. I can't imagine letting him go because there have to be concerns with Ayala's injuries, and the chances of a new player coming in and having an immediate impact would not be guaranteed. I think Williamson is fit now and is a two-way player, much like Ayala needed to get fit earlier in the season. Paredes carried a lot of the load early in the season and I honestly don't think he's regressed. His "metrics" are just fine. He wins a lot of balls, he has a fairly high passing percentage, although a lot of those passes are safe. He is not as talented offensively as Williamson, but he has definitely had his moments. I see him with a lot of value too, especially within the clubhouse, and there is no reason to transfer him, either. He can back up Chara, and if Phil can improve his game, then we have another player in his prime. I'd actually hate to see Paredes go, because no one, outside of Chara, fights as hard as he does. At the end of the year they can figure out what to do with the midfield group, but I'd stand pat there. There's no reason to spend a lot on a midfielder. It's all working right now. Why mess with it, and I don't think they will. (I am sorry you brought up Nagbe. That just saddens me to think how many titles we would have by now if we didn't transfer him.)
I think the big payday guys are where you will see some movement. If Evander wins some hardware with the team, and Moreno and Mosquera continue to shine, then you'll see some transfers, starting in the winter window. My guess is Mosquera will be the first to be transferred out of that group. I think he's improved a ton this season and has shown he is ready for a bigger league. To attract a top league offer, Moreno needs to show he can do the things he is currently doing consistently, but he is basically ready and will be next, I predict by next summer. Evander will fetch the highest price. He's ready now for a bigger league in Europe, but who knows, maybe he goes back to Brazil, and I kinda think he could go in the winter or by next summer, if we win some hardware. I think Brazil's national team could use him, and if he is playing in Brazil or a higher league, then that could happen, which would be cool, although it'd be great if he wanted to stay here the rest of his career ;)
Yeah, and don't forget Norris has migrated upward as well! Just, a mess.
One thing that is slightly concerning though....KK just started an 18 month new FIFA training program for club management. She was posting about it a few weeks ago. Presumably high-dollar and paid for by the Bhathals. Only 40 people are admitted each time, and you have to be accepted. I don't think they're gonna put a bunch of money and time into her training and fire her before that's complete...seems like they like her and they are sticking with her. Which is...rough.
Right, and that's where I'd expect better. If they aren't looking outside their own house when they have 0 knowledge, that's their first misstep. They should be consulting with outside people with unbiased opinions...but they also shouldn't be signing off on this ham-headed decision 3 months after an interim hire...and after the first interim was "promoted." Just, a lot of mistakes they are signing off on...
The thing is, tho…how do you do that? If you’re publicly calling in “outside people” how does that not demoralize and disrespect the inside people? Even worse if you try and do that secretly, because you know it’s gonna leak and look even worse.
That’s why I’d hoped the new owners would 1) get in touch with the outside experts FIRST then 2) clean house immediately and get their own FO people in. Norris was kind of inevitable but LeBlanc was replaceable and should have been.
Leaving so much of the Peregrine staff in place kind of baked this in. Shame.
Mauricio Pochettino is looking for work.
Just sayin’…
If there is one thing Phil is doing is he is creating a market for players and he is driving up their prices. You do league transfers to strengthen your squad and you do outer league transfers to fatten the wallet and strengthen the club. Williamson's last two games shows why he is valuable and you should probably keep him through the season. Transferring him would weaken the team. I can't imagine letting him go because there have to be concerns with Ayala's injuries, and the chances of a new player coming in and having an immediate impact would not be guaranteed. I think Williamson is fit now and is a two-way player, much like Ayala needed to get fit earlier in the season. Paredes carried a lot of the load early in the season and I honestly don't think he's regressed. His "metrics" are just fine. He wins a lot of balls, he has a fairly high passing percentage, although a lot of those passes are safe. He is not as talented offensively as Williamson, but he has definitely had his moments. I see him with a lot of value too, especially within the clubhouse, and there is no reason to transfer him, either. He can back up Chara, and if Phil can improve his game, then we have another player in his prime. I'd actually hate to see Paredes go, because no one, outside of Chara, fights as hard as he does. At the end of the year they can figure out what to do with the midfield group, but I'd stand pat there. There's no reason to spend a lot on a midfielder. It's all working right now. Why mess with it, and I don't think they will. (I am sorry you brought up Nagbe. That just saddens me to think how many titles we would have by now if we didn't transfer him.)
I think the big payday guys are where you will see some movement. If Evander wins some hardware with the team, and Moreno and Mosquera continue to shine, then you'll see some transfers, starting in the winter window. My guess is Mosquera will be the first to be transferred out of that group. I think he's improved a ton this season and has shown he is ready for a bigger league. To attract a top league offer, Moreno needs to show he can do the things he is currently doing consistently, but he is basically ready and will be next, I predict by next summer. Evander will fetch the highest price. He's ready now for a bigger league in Europe, but who knows, maybe he goes back to Brazil, and I kinda think he could go in the winter or by next summer, if we win some hardware. I think Brazil's national team could use him, and if he is playing in Brazil or a higher league, then that could happen, which would be cool, although it'd be great if he wanted to stay here the rest of his career ;)
Phuoc, please tell us they aren’t hiring Rob Gale permanently today, like it’s been rumored on Thorns Reddit.
Well, at least this means that when they have to can Gale next year, they might also move on from Karina. What a horribly run club!
Yeah, and don't forget Norris has migrated upward as well! Just, a mess.
One thing that is slightly concerning though....KK just started an 18 month new FIFA training program for club management. She was posting about it a few weeks ago. Presumably high-dollar and paid for by the Bhathals. Only 40 people are admitted each time, and you have to be accepted. I don't think they're gonna put a bunch of money and time into her training and fire her before that's complete...seems like they like her and they are sticking with her. Which is...rough.
Ooof!
Talk about “settling”. You’d think the Orlando and KC whippings would have raised huge red flags…
I honestly have no idea who else got an interview, but it’s hard to believe there wasn’t anyone with a better c.v. available.
The Thorns “lionesses led by donkeys” tradition remains intact.
Lol... You clearly expect too much from KK.
I literally expect nothing but bad decisions from KK lmao. But I did expect more from the Bhathals...
Yeah, the Bhathals have no soccer in them, and their “subject matter experts” are Norris and LeBlanc.
Right, and that's where I'd expect better. If they aren't looking outside their own house when they have 0 knowledge, that's their first misstep. They should be consulting with outside people with unbiased opinions...but they also shouldn't be signing off on this ham-headed decision 3 months after an interim hire...and after the first interim was "promoted." Just, a lot of mistakes they are signing off on...
Btw..more discussion of this has been happening on this thread too (though older and harder to find hah): https://stumptownfooty.substack.com/p/portland-thorns-sign-australian-gk/comments
The thing is, tho…how do you do that? If you’re publicly calling in “outside people” how does that not demoralize and disrespect the inside people? Even worse if you try and do that secretly, because you know it’s gonna leak and look even worse.
That’s why I’d hoped the new owners would 1) get in touch with the outside experts FIRST then 2) clean house immediately and get their own FO people in. Norris was kind of inevitable but LeBlanc was replaceable and should have been.
Leaving so much of the Peregrine staff in place kind of baked this in. Shame.
They don't know anything about soccer and KK talks a massive game. If I'm Smith, I'm talking to absolutely everyone in Paris.