It’s refreshing to see such a pointed, accurate, thorough, yet fair assessment of the situation. I’ve made excuses for some of the FO moves with respect to the sale, maintaining some continuity with the upheaval and coaching changes, Olympic and World Cup years, etc. but nobody top to bottom has done as well as they could and should have even under adverse conditions. I’d entertain firing the whole staff minus Lowdon, including Norris and LeBlanc, to start a turnaround. We’ll look like clowns firing another coach so soon but we set ourselves back even more the longer we wait. There will be some fans who will see the new owners as too pragmatic or ruthless if they fire the lot, but it’s a statement of intent that needs to be made. We will lose great players to free agency and won’t attract and retain the best talent if we don’t quickly show we are moving in the right direction and that we mean business, that we aren’t just a place for Canadians to go to retire. We are embarrassing right now. That’s worse than bad.
Tnank you Phuoc for putting this summary of frustrations (and plea for action) out there where, hopefully, the ownership may notice it. I imagine this won't endear you to the team if they start to see you as an independent critical eye, and that their actions/inactions are, in fact being scrutinized.
Hopefully they can see the greater good in an honest media not afraid to be critical when it's appropriate, and that the Thorns organization will be better off in the long run for it.
I tend to push the “beginning of the end” even further back - to the end of Parsons tenure and the Riley scandal breaking in 2020-2021. The troubles caused by Paulson’s increasingly erratic and irresponsible behavior, his unwillingness to expedite the sale and lack of investment in the club during that period…it built up a store of problems the ‘22 star just kind of papered over.
It’s easy to forget the ugly start to ‘22, with points dropped as Wilkinson persisted in Gale-esque tactical errors (the 3-5-2!) and playing people out of position. I’m glad the club came back to win the semi on a late Dunn banger then rolled over a hapless KCC…but that season hung by a thread as often as not.
And as Richard points out - LeBlanc’s handwaving l’affaire Mengesson AND doxing the players whom it worried is a play right out of the Paulson Era book.
That’s why I’d hoped the Bhathals would come in hot and sweep out the nasty remnants of Paulson. That they didn’t has helped put us where we are now.
One thing not to overlook in your history lesson is that LeBlanc initially tried to gloss over Wilkinson's indiscretion, which led to the players complaining to the league and Wilkinson's departure. LeBlanc lost trust within the fan base with her "Gavinesque" behavior of denial, coverup and insisting that it "wasn't illegal" (as if that was relevant).
This fan was upset by this icky action, and she's done little since to improve my opinion of her. Re-signing Smith was good, getting Muller was good, getting Obaze & Payne may turn out good, and I really hope that Weaver justifies the hefty contract. So it's not all horrible but the farcical coach hirings (three now with zero experience!) really make me wonder. The Bathals sending her off to GM school for 18 months makes me fear that she's charmed them blind. We cannot stagger down this dark alley for two more seasons.
Been saying that since it came out! But, who would've done it? She's basically had no oversight or accountability for the entirety of her tenure...part of the problem and reason she's stuck around so long imo.
All this would be buttressed by a more in-depth analysis of Gale’s initial 6-game streak. He got a pass because of it, but the team didn’t look good for at least half those games. They happened to play a few lackluster opponents and have some things go their way that had nothing to do with any semblance of a coherent system/plan/strategy/set of tactics.
I think the general belief is that Gale was elevated to full time HC too quickly on the heels of the 6 game win streak. I was hopeful, but wanted to see if there was more coaching acumen to be had, but the FO decided they saw enough. Its too bad, because they painted themselves into a corner with the decision. It would have been a lot easier to say the Gale will finish out the season as HC.
It's now all about the ownership. They talked a big game when they took over. They have provided nothing to back all that happy talk up in the least. The club has fallen so far behind that they are going to have to spend a ton of money just to get back to even. Meanwhile, hey look over there, a shiny new WNBA team. Phffft.
Great analysis and historical summary of how we got here by Phouc. Well done.
When you see a team walking off the field completely frustrated, I think what that says is that Gale has lost the locker room. I am wondering how many players have tuned him out.
I am wondering, again, whether it's time to put the focus on increasing the playing time of those that have been sitting on the bench waiting for Sinclair to retire.
I'm reluctant to suggest Sauerbrunn retire given that she seems to be the only one who has the ability to instruct the line about what they should be doing. I still remember an article that I read on Equalizer that Sauerbrunn makes the attack better as a result of guiding the back line.
I love Kling. She's among those who I'd prefer announce their retirement (as did Kelly O'Hara) and leave on her own terms.
Since Sinclair appears to not see the value in leaving on her own terms, someone needs to tell her that she's done. Way past the expiration date. Period. End story.
I'm not ready to buy that the Bhathals have already lost interest. Yes, the WNBA falling into their lap has maybe distracted them a little bit. I think they just don't know a lot about soccer, misplaced their trust in LeBlanc, and were fooled by Gale's dead cat bounce... and the good vibes, ooooo everyone loved the good vibes there for awhile. If only they had been loyal readers of Grumptown Footy.
Question... if you were a "world class coach", would you have been that interested in Portland Thorns?
Try to think without bias here. We're coming out of the woods of a dark period, the stench of which will take years to waft away and might always be part of the clubs' DNA (f*ck you Merritt, Rasputin, and Igor). We don't have our own stadium or training facility (not yet, but seeing is believing). Significant pieces of our roster are aging out and we, along with LeBlanc, tend to overrate our players (we do because we love them). We're going through assistant manager after assistant manager. Yes, it's Portland, three stars, and the fan base... and what PTFC has meant to WoSo etc etc. But the game has changed.
I'm not here to defend LeBlanc, Norris (you're still here?), or Gale (who is clearly in over his head). But what if LeBlanc really did reach out to top coaches and their reps... and the response was "meh"?
Of course it's entirely possible LeBlanc phoned it in, wanting Gale all along, or the Bhathals got sticker shock at top manager salary and tech-support demands.
But what if top coaches just weren't that interested ? Yeah, MarPar was interested but there is a reason why he's unemployed ATM and is not really considered a top coach anymore (he would be an improvement over Gale).
As for many of the players, the core of the team that has been here for years are emotionally spent (not unlike the supporters). They've been running on emotional fumes for three years now and the noobs look like they're in a fog... combine that with aging players, LeBlanc and Gale's incompetence and it's 5 losses in a row.
I agree the remnants of the ancien regime need to go, even if they're innocent of the worst sins. If the Bhathals care and have the guts to do it, they should get that ball rolling, before fans start building guillotines or just give up.
I think we still DO have things to attract a top coach.
- A winning tradition and (until lately) winning mentality. That's incredibly important in lifting up a team, as any coach wants to do. Imagine coming into, say, a Houston or a Chicago and trying to convince your entire team, deep enough to get it in their bones, that they're going to be winners. It's possible but it sure isn't easy.
- Passionate fans. Lots of them.
- A marquee club that set the standard in WoSo for a decade.
- Sophia Smith, Sam Coffey. Even Christine Sinclair, diminished as she is (who wouldn't want to put "coached the GOAT" on their resume?). In the past, Tobin Heath, Amandine Henry, Alex Morgan, and on and on.
- Soon, a shiny new training facility.
- Because of the above, an attractive destination for star players. They can get more exposure here, sell more jerseys ($$$), regularly experience the roar of 20,000 fans and see themselves on a tifo ... and maybe win silverware some day.
Remember that people's perceptions change more slowly the farther away they are. Yes we fans see the suck right now on a weekly basis, and we felt deeply the horrific scandals of the last several years. The scandals were awful but that was under a now-departed owner and GM, and *many* NWSL clubs have suffered from scandals and abuse. (And abuse in NWSL isn't worse than elsewhere, it's just been *revealed* more than elsewhere; hard as it may be to believe, the NWSL is one of the leaders in trying to root out abuse and mistreatment.) But people farther away, even people in WoSo, still remember that "marquee club" aspect, still remember our three championships - most in the NWSL! - and two Shields, still see our NWSL title less than two years ago and our near-misses at the Shield the last two years running. Sure we haven't been good the last year and a half, but that could easily - under the right coaching and roster-building - be a temporary blip, and many good coaches would have reasons to think they can elevate the team. If the money is right - and WoSo money is a whole lot less than BroSo money - a good coach would have lots of reasons to come here.
I still think there are positives to coming to Portland. You have the opportunity to coach 2 of the best players in the world, with a passionate fan base that shows up. There are good players on this team, and right now most are underperforming. If you believe in yourself, the expectation is that you can get more out of the players than what is currently being shown. You have new owners who seem willing to open the pocketbook.
Perhaps the negatives outweigh the positives, but there are reasons to come here.
I also believe that if an owner puts up the $$$ and sells their vision, you can bring almost anyone.
Spirit was the dorkiest club in the league like 3 years ago. They didn't even make playoffs last year, came in 8th place. And they were in 11th the year before!! Kang was able to put up $$$$ for Giraldez....and Spirit had neither the history of winning, nor the community support that Portland has. The player housing is in freakin' Leesburg, VA for chrissake! And so is their practice facility. Portland has a ton of amenities that they could capitalize on that other up-and-coming teams don't. The new WNBA collab could be a super fun thing to be a part of! It's just....they gotta get the FO sorted first, and they HAVE to spend money if they want quality hires these days...because if they don't spend, there'll be another club in this league who will. It's gonna be the difference between top clubs in this league, and everyone else. Getting rid of Norris, Gale, and KK would do a world of good to turn this back in a positive direction.
Wait, the Grumptown population is more than 1. You have lots of company here! I try not to be grumpy but it's gotten hard lately. Looking forward to better times.
That is a great letter Hiyoto and a lot of good points. A lot of people on Stumptown saw this coming. I admit I was one of the optimist that believed the talent could overcome the mediocrity of the people running the ship. The last two games indicate the players are dispirited. This can't go on for the players sake. In retrospect, yes the the short win streak after Gale took over was nothing but a "dead cat bounce."
Might it be that no top coaches were interested in working for LeBlanc? A global top-coach absolutely has the luxury of picking the environment they want. Big-time coaches have big-time egos and write their own ticket. Did a top-coach see future silverware and say "I'd love to help Smith, Weaver, Fleming, Moultrie, Sugita turn things around, but I need full control over the roster decisions."? Or more pointedly, "I will do it but not with LeBlanc here."? Did the Bhathals respond, "How about something easier. A chauffeured Bentley? Private masseuse? Fancy office?"
I could easily have seen someone like MarPar saying "I want final say on roster decisions" and KK and Mike not being to keen on giving up that control.
If so, then the Bhathals have no choice but to clean house. We'll see. I hope local and perhaps national soccer journos start asking tough questions. Phouc does a good job, but is a volunteer. WW coverage is a nice development. Need a little bit more in pressers than questions about squish mellows, friendships, and walk out songs.
Before the California teams PTFC WAS the NWSL and even today at #4 in attendance, slightly behind those three, there's a drop, then a cliff separating them from the rest of the league.
Strong club roots and identity w/in the community. Is there another pro sports team there who can match their following? NB Ducks don't count, even now that players get paid.
A legacy of winning, and winning the championship.
Lots of current talent (being badly used, but that's kind of the point).
Eurocentric coaches perhaps distain the very idea of the NWSL but an ambitious gaffer would love to come here and coach a team with the pedigree of the Portland Thorns. Is it a team in crisis? Certainly. Is that a plus rather than a minus for an incoming coach? All they would need would be those magic words "Build a squad who fit your vision, here's the checkbook. And yes, you can keep Sophia."
After last night's match, I am extricating myself from the dead horse flogging, having done enough of it myself.
This is a disspirited team that has all but given up on the season.
The Prez of Soccer/GM and the HC aren't up to the job.
Ownership hasn't yet shown us that they're willing to make any bold moves.
This isn't going to change until ownership removes the Prez of Soccer/GM and we have a proper global search for the next HC.
If ownership does not step forward soon, and it allows this slide to continue without making the beginnings of obviously needed changes, then they won't continue to have my money in 2025.
Tbh I hope they win these Concacaf games because they are important for the eventual club world cup, and if we get our shit together in the offseason we have a shot (the finals I think are in 2025.)
But I do feel this way about our league games. I feel like it's gonna take a historically bad season to really leave owners no choice and we're already halfway (or more) there...I don't want our good players providing cover for the GM/HC/FO, papering over the very obvious coaching and roster issues. Torn, but it seems it needs to happen now before another year does that much more damage...
Very helpful and needed diagnosis, Chief. Everything about the current. bosses at the Thorns is backwards looking. Sinc: My hero for life and she should play, tactics: Antiquated at best, player management: Incomprehensible. It's true that Saurbrunn is age-defying but we all know that can't last. That she, Klingenberg and Sinclair are taking up not only precious roster spots but even more precious cap space is simply a refusal to let the past go. This is what Emma Hayes has been saying about American soccer. It's why she is not so subtly pushing players to Europe. Time to join the remaining 75% of the 21st century.
Not just late, but with less than 2 minutes to go in stoppage! Our 6 was not even in the picture in the buildup to the winning goal. Interesting strategy for a team in desperate need of points and non-losses.
It is helpful to have this detailed review. As your excellent analysis shows through a litany of poor decisions, the rebuild has to start with a new General Manager/President of Operations. I believe the sooner the better. Hopefully the Bethels have the resources and skills to recruit a first class person to lead the Thorns.
I've skimmed this while I should be working lol, but this was the piece that needed to be written...thank you Phuoc!!
I'm bookmarking to come back and read more thoroughly when I've got more time later. Just off the top of my head...another player that KK brought in that is easy to forget is Vasconcelos. Another NTRP-first-turned-signing player that did pretty much nothing (and is now no longer here.)
It’s refreshing to see such a pointed, accurate, thorough, yet fair assessment of the situation. I’ve made excuses for some of the FO moves with respect to the sale, maintaining some continuity with the upheaval and coaching changes, Olympic and World Cup years, etc. but nobody top to bottom has done as well as they could and should have even under adverse conditions. I’d entertain firing the whole staff minus Lowdon, including Norris and LeBlanc, to start a turnaround. We’ll look like clowns firing another coach so soon but we set ourselves back even more the longer we wait. There will be some fans who will see the new owners as too pragmatic or ruthless if they fire the lot, but it’s a statement of intent that needs to be made. We will lose great players to free agency and won’t attract and retain the best talent if we don’t quickly show we are moving in the right direction and that we mean business, that we aren’t just a place for Canadians to go to retire. We are embarrassing right now. That’s worse than bad.
"we aren’t just a place for Canadians to go to retire"
LOL
I mean, Oregon IS Canada's California, after all.
Ahem, I believe we're also a place for Canadians to train before big international tournaments.
Tnank you Phuoc for putting this summary of frustrations (and plea for action) out there where, hopefully, the ownership may notice it. I imagine this won't endear you to the team if they start to see you as an independent critical eye, and that their actions/inactions are, in fact being scrutinized.
Hopefully they can see the greater good in an honest media not afraid to be critical when it's appropriate, and that the Thorns organization will be better off in the long run for it.
THANK YOU!
I tend to push the “beginning of the end” even further back - to the end of Parsons tenure and the Riley scandal breaking in 2020-2021. The troubles caused by Paulson’s increasingly erratic and irresponsible behavior, his unwillingness to expedite the sale and lack of investment in the club during that period…it built up a store of problems the ‘22 star just kind of papered over.
It’s easy to forget the ugly start to ‘22, with points dropped as Wilkinson persisted in Gale-esque tactical errors (the 3-5-2!) and playing people out of position. I’m glad the club came back to win the semi on a late Dunn banger then rolled over a hapless KCC…but that season hung by a thread as often as not.
And as Richard points out - LeBlanc’s handwaving l’affaire Mengesson AND doxing the players whom it worried is a play right out of the Paulson Era book.
That’s why I’d hoped the Bhathals would come in hot and sweep out the nasty remnants of Paulson. That they didn’t has helped put us where we are now.
One thing not to overlook in your history lesson is that LeBlanc initially tried to gloss over Wilkinson's indiscretion, which led to the players complaining to the league and Wilkinson's departure. LeBlanc lost trust within the fan base with her "Gavinesque" behavior of denial, coverup and insisting that it "wasn't illegal" (as if that was relevant).
This fan was upset by this icky action, and she's done little since to improve my opinion of her. Re-signing Smith was good, getting Muller was good, getting Obaze & Payne may turn out good, and I really hope that Weaver justifies the hefty contract. So it's not all horrible but the farcical coach hirings (three now with zero experience!) really make me wonder. The Bathals sending her off to GM school for 18 months makes me fear that she's charmed them blind. We cannot stagger down this dark alley for two more seasons.
Yup, big same! And here's a quick refresher of that letter:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qYorWe1Quwdyr5DlzOQmxlVLngxkFbo7SisvXx_FiEU/mobilebasic
first I have seen that. I am actually surprised leblanc was not terminated with cause based on the statements in that letter.
Been saying that since it came out! But, who would've done it? She's basically had no oversight or accountability for the entirety of her tenure...part of the problem and reason she's stuck around so long imo.
I'd argue that the coach-hire fails go a long way to negating even the good player signings. "A pride of lionesses led by donkeys"...
All this would be buttressed by a more in-depth analysis of Gale’s initial 6-game streak. He got a pass because of it, but the team didn’t look good for at least half those games. They happened to play a few lackluster opponents and have some things go their way that had nothing to do with any semblance of a coherent system/plan/strategy/set of tactics.
I think the general belief is that Gale was elevated to full time HC too quickly on the heels of the 6 game win streak. I was hopeful, but wanted to see if there was more coaching acumen to be had, but the FO decided they saw enough. Its too bad, because they painted themselves into a corner with the decision. It would have been a lot easier to say the Gale will finish out the season as HC.
It's now all about the ownership. They talked a big game when they took over. They have provided nothing to back all that happy talk up in the least. The club has fallen so far behind that they are going to have to spend a ton of money just to get back to even. Meanwhile, hey look over there, a shiny new WNBA team. Phffft.
Great analysis and historical summary of how we got here by Phouc. Well done.
When you see a team walking off the field completely frustrated, I think what that says is that Gale has lost the locker room. I am wondering how many players have tuned him out.
I am wondering, again, whether it's time to put the focus on increasing the playing time of those that have been sitting on the bench waiting for Sinclair to retire.
I'm reluctant to suggest Sauerbrunn retire given that she seems to be the only one who has the ability to instruct the line about what they should be doing. I still remember an article that I read on Equalizer that Sauerbrunn makes the attack better as a result of guiding the back line.
I love Kling. She's among those who I'd prefer announce their retirement (as did Kelly O'Hara) and leave on her own terms.
Since Sinclair appears to not see the value in leaving on her own terms, someone needs to tell her that she's done. Way past the expiration date. Period. End story.
Yup, way past the expiration date, but still has just about the best vision and touch on the team, sadly.
just doesn't do much good when you can't keep uo with the Olay and are not occupying needed spaces on offense and defense.
I'm not ready to buy that the Bhathals have already lost interest. Yes, the WNBA falling into their lap has maybe distracted them a little bit. I think they just don't know a lot about soccer, misplaced their trust in LeBlanc, and were fooled by Gale's dead cat bounce... and the good vibes, ooooo everyone loved the good vibes there for awhile. If only they had been loyal readers of Grumptown Footy.
Question... if you were a "world class coach", would you have been that interested in Portland Thorns?
Try to think without bias here. We're coming out of the woods of a dark period, the stench of which will take years to waft away and might always be part of the clubs' DNA (f*ck you Merritt, Rasputin, and Igor). We don't have our own stadium or training facility (not yet, but seeing is believing). Significant pieces of our roster are aging out and we, along with LeBlanc, tend to overrate our players (we do because we love them). We're going through assistant manager after assistant manager. Yes, it's Portland, three stars, and the fan base... and what PTFC has meant to WoSo etc etc. But the game has changed.
I'm not here to defend LeBlanc, Norris (you're still here?), or Gale (who is clearly in over his head). But what if LeBlanc really did reach out to top coaches and their reps... and the response was "meh"?
Of course it's entirely possible LeBlanc phoned it in, wanting Gale all along, or the Bhathals got sticker shock at top manager salary and tech-support demands.
But what if top coaches just weren't that interested ? Yeah, MarPar was interested but there is a reason why he's unemployed ATM and is not really considered a top coach anymore (he would be an improvement over Gale).
As for many of the players, the core of the team that has been here for years are emotionally spent (not unlike the supporters). They've been running on emotional fumes for three years now and the noobs look like they're in a fog... combine that with aging players, LeBlanc and Gale's incompetence and it's 5 losses in a row.
I agree the remnants of the ancien regime need to go, even if they're innocent of the worst sins. If the Bhathals care and have the guts to do it, they should get that ball rolling, before fans start building guillotines or just give up.
I think we still DO have things to attract a top coach.
- A winning tradition and (until lately) winning mentality. That's incredibly important in lifting up a team, as any coach wants to do. Imagine coming into, say, a Houston or a Chicago and trying to convince your entire team, deep enough to get it in their bones, that they're going to be winners. It's possible but it sure isn't easy.
- Passionate fans. Lots of them.
- A marquee club that set the standard in WoSo for a decade.
- Sophia Smith, Sam Coffey. Even Christine Sinclair, diminished as she is (who wouldn't want to put "coached the GOAT" on their resume?). In the past, Tobin Heath, Amandine Henry, Alex Morgan, and on and on.
- Soon, a shiny new training facility.
- Because of the above, an attractive destination for star players. They can get more exposure here, sell more jerseys ($$$), regularly experience the roar of 20,000 fans and see themselves on a tifo ... and maybe win silverware some day.
Remember that people's perceptions change more slowly the farther away they are. Yes we fans see the suck right now on a weekly basis, and we felt deeply the horrific scandals of the last several years. The scandals were awful but that was under a now-departed owner and GM, and *many* NWSL clubs have suffered from scandals and abuse. (And abuse in NWSL isn't worse than elsewhere, it's just been *revealed* more than elsewhere; hard as it may be to believe, the NWSL is one of the leaders in trying to root out abuse and mistreatment.) But people farther away, even people in WoSo, still remember that "marquee club" aspect, still remember our three championships - most in the NWSL! - and two Shields, still see our NWSL title less than two years ago and our near-misses at the Shield the last two years running. Sure we haven't been good the last year and a half, but that could easily - under the right coaching and roster-building - be a temporary blip, and many good coaches would have reasons to think they can elevate the team. If the money is right - and WoSo money is a whole lot less than BroSo money - a good coach would have lots of reasons to come here.
I still think there are positives to coming to Portland. You have the opportunity to coach 2 of the best players in the world, with a passionate fan base that shows up. There are good players on this team, and right now most are underperforming. If you believe in yourself, the expectation is that you can get more out of the players than what is currently being shown. You have new owners who seem willing to open the pocketbook.
Perhaps the negatives outweigh the positives, but there are reasons to come here.
I also believe that if an owner puts up the $$$ and sells their vision, you can bring almost anyone.
Spirit was the dorkiest club in the league like 3 years ago. They didn't even make playoffs last year, came in 8th place. And they were in 11th the year before!! Kang was able to put up $$$$ for Giraldez....and Spirit had neither the history of winning, nor the community support that Portland has. The player housing is in freakin' Leesburg, VA for chrissake! And so is their practice facility. Portland has a ton of amenities that they could capitalize on that other up-and-coming teams don't. The new WNBA collab could be a super fun thing to be a part of! It's just....they gotta get the FO sorted first, and they HAVE to spend money if they want quality hires these days...because if they don't spend, there'll be another club in this league who will. It's gonna be the difference between top clubs in this league, and everyone else. Getting rid of Norris, Gale, and KK would do a world of good to turn this back in a positive direction.
True dat
Great points. Be prepared, though- I got berated here on STF for suggesting that idea about world-class coaches at the time- your mileage may vary.
Love "Grumptown Footy"- so appropriate nowadays!
Grumptown is great....it is me lol. I am Grumptown, pop: 1.
Wait, the Grumptown population is more than 1. You have lots of company here! I try not to be grumpy but it's gotten hard lately. Looking forward to better times.
Grumptown is the fans. Dumptown is the style of play, as in took/left one on the pitch.
That is a great letter Hiyoto and a lot of good points. A lot of people on Stumptown saw this coming. I admit I was one of the optimist that believed the talent could overcome the mediocrity of the people running the ship. The last two games indicate the players are dispirited. This can't go on for the players sake. In retrospect, yes the the short win streak after Gale took over was nothing but a "dead cat bounce."
Might it be that no top coaches were interested in working for LeBlanc? A global top-coach absolutely has the luxury of picking the environment they want. Big-time coaches have big-time egos and write their own ticket. Did a top-coach see future silverware and say "I'd love to help Smith, Weaver, Fleming, Moultrie, Sugita turn things around, but I need full control over the roster decisions."? Or more pointedly, "I will do it but not with LeBlanc here."? Did the Bhathals respond, "How about something easier. A chauffeured Bentley? Private masseuse? Fancy office?"
I could easily have seen someone like MarPar saying "I want final say on roster decisions" and KK and Mike not being to keen on giving up that control.
If so, then the Bhathals have no choice but to clean house. We'll see. I hope local and perhaps national soccer journos start asking tough questions. Phouc does a good job, but is a volunteer. WW coverage is a nice development. Need a little bit more in pressers than questions about squish mellows, friendships, and walk out songs.
FYI, I don't think that's Lisa. I think it's Renee Pirkl, the performance and wellness coach
https://www.thorns.com/thorns-technical-staff
Ah, okay. I stand corrected. Our seats are east side, so easy mistaken identity.
I thought the same thing but then thought it would be weird!
I was wondering about that. I'd expect the owner(s) to be up in a box somewhere.
I should think so.
Before the California teams PTFC WAS the NWSL and even today at #4 in attendance, slightly behind those three, there's a drop, then a cliff separating them from the rest of the league.
Strong club roots and identity w/in the community. Is there another pro sports team there who can match their following? NB Ducks don't count, even now that players get paid.
A legacy of winning, and winning the championship.
Lots of current talent (being badly used, but that's kind of the point).
Eurocentric coaches perhaps distain the very idea of the NWSL but an ambitious gaffer would love to come here and coach a team with the pedigree of the Portland Thorns. Is it a team in crisis? Certainly. Is that a plus rather than a minus for an incoming coach? All they would need would be those magic words "Build a squad who fit your vision, here's the checkbook. And yes, you can keep Sophia."
KC v WAS was supposedly a sellout crowd. LOTS of visibly empty seats.
After last night's match, I am extricating myself from the dead horse flogging, having done enough of it myself.
This is a disspirited team that has all but given up on the season.
The Prez of Soccer/GM and the HC aren't up to the job.
Ownership hasn't yet shown us that they're willing to make any bold moves.
This isn't going to change until ownership removes the Prez of Soccer/GM and we have a proper global search for the next HC.
If ownership does not step forward soon, and it allows this slide to continue without making the beginnings of obviously needed changes, then they won't continue to have my money in 2025.
Am I kinda crazy for hoping we lose tonight? I think winning would be a red herring and perhaps delay tough decision making by the owners.
Tbh I hope they win these Concacaf games because they are important for the eventual club world cup, and if we get our shit together in the offseason we have a shot (the finals I think are in 2025.)
But I do feel this way about our league games. I feel like it's gonna take a historically bad season to really leave owners no choice and we're already halfway (or more) there...I don't want our good players providing cover for the GM/HC/FO, papering over the very obvious coaching and roster issues. Torn, but it seems it needs to happen now before another year does that much more damage...
You got your wish!
I'm not so much hoping for a loss in any game, but I'm hoping the truth of our situation and need for changes is apparent to all as soon as possible.
I'm looking at it like a practice match. Gale will mix and match players and strategies to see what he can come up with that looks like it will work.
The players will be trying to decide whether they want to come back next season if Gale stays on as coach for another year.
Late but apropos of this post; Riveting! match report: https://rivetingpdx.com/2024/09/17/thorns-fc-empty/
Very helpful and needed diagnosis, Chief. Everything about the current. bosses at the Thorns is backwards looking. Sinc: My hero for life and she should play, tactics: Antiquated at best, player management: Incomprehensible. It's true that Saurbrunn is age-defying but we all know that can't last. That she, Klingenberg and Sinclair are taking up not only precious roster spots but even more precious cap space is simply a refusal to let the past go. This is what Emma Hayes has been saying about American soccer. It's why she is not so subtly pushing players to Europe. Time to join the remaining 75% of the 21st century.
"Ken is trying to make Sam Coffey sit deep as a pure destroyer."
Perhaps, but that doesn't explain Coffey making at least two deep runs into the box late in the Chicago game.
Did you see the para in the Coffey comment how Ken either let her off the leash after the break or she just said “Fuck you, Jobu, I do it myself.”?
THAT explains the runs, and her monster attacking PMR in the second half.
Did not. But yeah, that takes care of that. Gracias!
Not just late, but with less than 2 minutes to go in stoppage! Our 6 was not even in the picture in the buildup to the winning goal. Interesting strategy for a team in desperate need of points and non-losses.
Agree with all these sentiments, I've posted similar and stronger statements the past few weeks.
But does anyone know anything about how Hina Sugita is - looked like a nasty injury to an awesome player.
It is helpful to have this detailed review. As your excellent analysis shows through a litany of poor decisions, the rebuild has to start with a new General Manager/President of Operations. I believe the sooner the better. Hopefully the Bethels have the resources and skills to recruit a first class person to lead the Thorns.
I've skimmed this while I should be working lol, but this was the piece that needed to be written...thank you Phuoc!!
I'm bookmarking to come back and read more thoroughly when I've got more time later. Just off the top of my head...another player that KK brought in that is easy to forget is Vasconcelos. Another NTRP-first-turned-signing player that did pretty much nothing (and is now no longer here.)
Btw, the Bhathals follow Phuoc/STF on twitter so go show your love and support to him in the comments over there because they'll likely see it.
When reporters pursue accountability I think it's extra important they receive community support.
STF folks/Phuoc- I hope y'all keep this article pinned until changes are made, and I hope you also repost it on twitter every time we lose a game.
After tonight’s collapse, there is really no other choice than to clean house. ASAP.