Some Thorns training info from my reconnaissance mission to Prov Park (aka my PT session this am.)
No Sinc, Soph, or Dunn. Becky and Rocky were both back in full training and I got to watch about 8 mins of a 1/2 field 11 v 11. Becky looked quick and not really hesitant. Rocky, got stuck in a little bit more but maybe still a little hesitant. There was someone tall-ish in warmups sitting on the sidelines but just street shoes. Couldn’t tell who it was, maybe a little bit more tan/darker hair. Could’ve maybe been Sinc? All the usual talls were out training.
Whhaaaaa, really? Didn't she just have surgery like 4 months ago? I thought she wouldn't be back ready to play maybe even after the start of the 2024 season. Usually about a year recovery there! I'm guessing you just mean more soccer-specific PT? Either way, great news that she's progressing well! I saw Sam post a video of Janine running on an anti-gravity treadmill a few days ago.
It def wasn't Janine that I saw, though. This was a person with dark hair. After seeing that Sinc is back, I'm assuming it was her.
Yeah has been working extremely hard the past few weeks and looks very good. Honestly thought she'd be out longer, but looks like it'll be weeks and not months when she returns.
Nadim (she of 3 ACL tears) has been able to make it back to match-play within 9 months each of the last 2 times. She just missed the cut-off for Women's World Cup roster.
1. Australia - have never won despite being good for a long time; home team, so vast numbers of people would be ecstatic
2. Sweden - have never won despite being very good for a long time
3. Netherlands - women and men combined have been to like 5 finals and never won
4. Colombia - have never won; the ultimate dark horse
5. Japan - so much fun to watch, but they're already slated to win it in 2027
6. France - the women haven't won but the men have, and recently (and probably will again in the next decade)
7. Spain - would be ranked higher but for the boost it would give the chauvinists in the RFEF
8. England - their media is already obnoxious about English football and winning would make it 1000x worse; plus the FAWSL doesn't need any more hype than it already gets
The Vlatko Experience points out how big the gap is between “NWSL/NCAA success 2013-2019” and “Intrnational success 2023-2024”. The utility of recruiting another US-based gaffer without international expertise seems highly suspect.
The player gap seems much smaller, and the barrier to making changes by instituting an academy-type system seems much higher; AYSO and the NCAA will fight to the last ditch to remain the primary player sources AND can’t turn from a “win now” to a “develop players to win later” approach they’d need to if they’re to take an academy role.
Europe next? A blue-chip university team? I assume he made more bank as USWNT coach than any NWSL organization spends, but that's just my SWAG.
MarPar came back, though.
More interested in how quickly US Soccer moves on the replacement--Paris 2024 looms large and whiffing on three tourneys in a row would seem suboptimal.
Reporting is that he's being considered by multiple international and club teams. Could see him back at whatever-comes-next-for-Seattle-Tacoma-OL-Reign if Laura Harvey gets the USWNT job (which isn't a non-possibility.) Rapinoe was super close with Vlatko, and so was Harvey, and he has history there.
Could also see him being courted by Angel City (has an interim) or Bay FC, because of all of the USWNT connections...though none of those owners at Bay FC have been sounding real high on Vlatko during the WC. I think KC is the most likely.
It wasn’t really pretty. Ninety-plus of “someone hits a banger from distance” mixed with “huck a long ball up to our striker and hope for something” Route One. Buildup? Who needs that shit?
And given that…I’m kind of irked that it forces me to get behind a Spain win because a) they play a more entertaining game despite b) Vilda being a horse’s ass.
a.e.t. - rough work from former Thorn Ellie Carpenter on England’s second. Ouch.
Listening to the Tobin and Press You Tube discussion of the WC23 (which by the way has been one of the best with great guests that know the game), Tobin said she doesn't understand people not supporting the Spanish's team because of the coach; she said "support them because of the players." My dislike for Vilda goes back to when Vilda took over from the 2015 coach after a rebellion led by Vero against the previous coach and Vilda punished her by leaving her out of the team. He is absolutely a horses ass. I will support the Spanish team in the final and I hope it gives the players more leverage. I do like watching Spanish and Japanese style football the most.
It was fun last night watching Raso and Daly going at it. Not a lot of love lost there between those two.
We've talked about that in our household and I have settled, uneasily, on England. My opinion is that if Spain wins, FREF will say "See, we told you we know best" and then change nothing plus never listen to the players again. At this point, they will probably do that anyway. My other reason is that the players on the pitch are essentially scabs, especially the three apologists - if they had stood firm FREF would have had to either concede or close down the national team. Either choice means a housecleaning, especially the latter.
On the soccer side, it's not so easy. The labor action forced Vilda to bring in young players and they have showed up their elders. This change was needed anyway. And it's tough to not want the best for youngsters giving their all.
Yeah, that’s my biggest issue. Vilda is a miserable authoritarian as a manager (no idea if that reflects his personality, but it doesn’t seem like a stretch). And he’s gonna be unassailable because of this run, let alone if Spain lifts the Big Casino.
It’s hard not to get behind this lively group of young players putting on such a show of attractive soccer…but for me it’s the same problem I have with Newcastle. I’ve been a Toon supporter since the mid-Nineties. But the Saudis using them for sportswashing is just too far. As attractive as the team itself is, they’re a tool in the wrong hands.
As said above, low-key rooting for Spain, Vilda-mort notwithstanding. 'Cause it will add a bit more weight to my still-gutted protestations that Japan was the best team in the tournament. I'm shallow like that...
I'm also retired as of mid-day today! Completely irrelevant, but it's the kind of thing one shouts to the rooftops.
Welcome, my friend, to the post-working-show that never ends!
(Well…it does, but that’s the whole “dirt-nap” thing…)
Yeah, I kinda hate to hope for Spain because Vildamort (like it!) but the young Furia Rosa are so much fun! Plus I’m in the “fucking WSL enough already!”
Yeah what was Carpenter doing there? That's not like her! Ouch indeed.
But England was going to win regardless. Unlike every other team in the tournament, they're good everywhere, from front to back. I expect them to hammer Spain's weak defense mercilessly.
That's the danger for Spain, for sure. The Nadeshiko ripped them apart, and while England's offense hasn't been the absolute machine Japan's was (mostly...still salty about that lost 70 minutes...this final should have been Japan v England), they're going to score. England's defense is much more solid than Spain's, so Spain will have to actually DO something with the possession they're likely to have.
England-China was the most lopsided match of the tournament I've managed to watch, and they were utterly clinical. If they can play like that then they will be hard for Spain to overcome. Having seen fewer Spain matches I don't have as good a sense of their strengths/vulnerabilities.
They're better on defense than this rather disappointing China team, but it's still an area of weakness. Spain also has trouble dealing with a disciplined, high-teamwork defense. Against Japan, they had the large majority of possession and an insane number of completed passes...BUT, most of those passes were around the back. Japan gave them nothing, and by the end of the match, their number of chances/shots wasn't that much higher than Japan's.
England's defense isn't anywhere near the Nadeshiko's in terms of cohesion and resistance to losing shape, but it's made up of excellent individual defenders who are starting to come together. Spain will have more chances, but won't be able to run rampant.
Spain's defenders are not pacey. Japan exploited that, partly because their low block took Spain by surprise and partly because the book on Japan is "technically brilliant and agile, but small and slow" and they had no idea how fast Hinata Miyazawa is. When Spain pushed forward to attack that low block there was a lot of space and Hinata-senshu burst into it. England can successfully run at those defenders, I'm sure.
Speaking of which, I'm sure hoping her lead in the Golden Boot holds out!
I thought the Matildas did a pretty decent job tearing into England’s backline, and that was without the good ball control the Spanish have shown. The problem was their attack broke down in the final pass or shot. The Swedes didn’t look much more lethal against Spain - Japan did, but England isn’t that slick. So I don’t see a huge difference in defensive vulnerability.
What a disappointing match. Japan had their first poor showing at the worst time, and their first half was awful. Sweden's opening goal was basically good fortune, but Japan could have cleared it faster. The Nadeshiko were much better in the second, but also desperately unlucky with that bounce that resulted in a handball. Comeback fell short, and additional bad luck included hitting the crossbar on a pk. Still the best team in the tournament (by a lot) in terms of overall play, and they'll be monsters going forward as the young players move into their prime.
There aren't really any teams I care that much about about left. I'll still follow it - it's the World Cup, after all - but won't be staying up for it after this.
Swedes have had some phenomenal luck. Their shot was a hair inside the line.Japan’s was on the line. Still, it wasn’t all luck. They pushed Japan off the ball quite well and used some nice passing to maintain possession. Then seemed to drift away from that tactic in the second half. Another difference, I think, Japan had a relatively easy path the quarters. Sweden was battle-tested especially after 120 minutes with the U.S. Japan will delight again at some point. What I would give if WNT would play attractive soccer even half as good as the Nadeshiko.
Oh, definitely not all luck (although certainly plenty enough!): they disrupted Japan's game for 60-70 minutes. Japan weren't themselves until late in the match, and the Swedes played a significant part in that (along with the moment catching up to a very young Nadeshiko team, I'd say).
Credit where due. The sign of a good defense is that the opposing offense "has a bad game." Like you say, Japan's inexperience prevented them from getting back to playing their game once Sweden had disrupted it. At one point near halftime, Sweden had outshot Japan 7-0 or something.
Yeah, Sweden executed a sound plan to disrupt Japan, and it took too long for the latter to figure it out. Figure it out they did, but didn't have enough time to get the clearly-coming second goal for the equalizer. I suspect Ueki is disconsolate about missing that pk.
The above is one way Japan's relative* inexperience hurt their chances, and the other was just the general pressure on young players. As said previously, I think the weight of the moment made them tentative for far too long.
* I do say "relative," though, because while it's clearly not the same thing at the junior level, many of these players have had huge success there, including lifting the U-20 World Cup. They'll be remembering that soon (if only because Ikeda will remind them!), and setting their sights on Olympic gold.
Yeah super disappointing- Sweden did a much better job at being disruptive early than Norway or Spain did and it seemed like it threw Japan off just a tad....a lot more misplaced passes and misjudged angles than we’ve seen before in the first half.
But in the end....really poor defending and bad luck on the set piece and handball in addition to a missed PK are surefire ways to lose an elimination game. The reasons they might have lost -- height disadvantage and counterattacking vulnerability-- didn't even really factor in aside from the Blackstenius chance in the first half.
But Sweden got nothing from that or from being stronger/heavier, really. One poacher's goal (that Japan could have cleared faster), one fluky, pure bad luck handball. If Japan had had any kind of luck at the end, it would have gone into extra time, and the Nadeshiko seemed to have at last found the answers. I'm still just gutted...
I was worried that as the scoring streak ran hot in the first four games that if it went cold a fluke of bad luck might catch the Nadeshiko. Sorry it had to be Sweden, who are about as fun to watch as a root canal.
Agree that Japan was the opposite; a true joy for the spectator, even a neutral, to see.
Cruel game. Oh, well, vamos Nippon. Look forward to seeing you again.
As I replied to Thorntree above, I think the weight of the moment got to that young team a good bit, and they didn't manage their usual rapid adjustment, which allowed Sweden to take them out of their game until too late. This result was a loss for beautiful football, but that's not a knock on Sweden: they did what then needed to do, and knockout games are _only_ about results.
Let's see what the Nadeshiko bring to the Olympics (assuming they qualify, which I very much expect to happen). I'll call it right now: gold or silver...and favorites in 2027.
Based on their scheme v. Norway (the only Japan match I caught) I thought they would be vulnerable to a fast, countering team. Since last night's match was past my bedtime I don't know if that caught up with them, but Sweden is one squad that can predictably bring a been there-done that swagger to any pitch.
Am 1/2 on predictions as I thought the Dutch were going to upset Spain. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Nope: Sweden got one goal on fluky bounces on a set piece when it fell right to the feet of a Swede (Japan's culpability in that one was not getting it cleared). The other came on the truly bad luck of having a deflected ball hit Nagano on the arm (no intent at all, but the right call). Japan handled any Swedish counter (and aerial ball) just fine. While Sweden's disruptive play for the first 65-70 minutes is a not-to-be-dismissed factor, Japan also had some dreadful luck.
Their tactical approach in this match was more like the one v Spain than v Norway, btw. Sweden had more possession until the last 20 minutes + stoppage. Japan was too tentative in their play until late, too...I truly think the weight of the moment caught up with that young Nadeshiko side. A painful but invaluable experience...
The best team in the tournament is out now. But they'll be better for the Olympics...and even better still in 2027. Incandescently bright future for the Nadeshiko...
Agree: I thought neither side looked very good in the first half. Sweden was Sweden…but the sleek passing and movement we’ve been seeing from Japan was gone. No communication, turnovers…just flat and ugly.
If Sweden HAD put the blocks to the Nadeshiko it’d have been one thing. But unfortunately I came away thinking Japan had lost that one more than Sweden had won it…
I concur. Japan had both a bad 70 or so minutes AND dismal luck, and that was enough to let a pretty thoroughly mid Sweden advance. I know I sound a bit sour grapes there, but honestly, I'd have the same evaluation if I was a true neutral in that one. I'm nursing my depression over this by thinking about just how much better the best team in the tournament can become...
And I should get to see some matches, if I'm willing to travel (I doubt they play in Hokkaido often if at all)! Expecting to touch down middle of next month...
Sadly (and unexpectedly) , Hina wasn't good. Not her best outing at all, and I can't blame Ikeda for swapping Endo in for her at the half. =( I'm gutted in general by this loss, and typing the above just twisted the knife. Gonna not do soccer on social media for a while now.
She was wide open a lot, but when she did get the ball, she is definitely not as fast as Endo and Endo seemed to be an improvement. Yes she looked somewhat tentative. Not the Hina we have been watching. She is at her most masterful more in the center of the pitch.
Here's a head-scratcher: Is it possible, at the international level, to have a coach whom the players love off the field and perform to peak on the field?
Nobody is faulting Vlatko for his relationship with the players. So, clearly that's not a team chemistry or player mindset problem.
I don't know that players are going to be too eager for a return to Jill Ellis, and Caitlin Murray lists that as an option worth considering.
Personally, I think the chemistry problem is part injuries, party we're-in-transition. There's more too it, sure, but I think it's important not to overcomplicate this.
As to the player mindset problem (which is what Caitlin Murray called it in her ESPN piece), I think that has much more to do with the enormous pressure weighing down the team and individual players going into the WWC. Hard to play with joy (and looseness) when everything is telling you that anything less than a semifinal appearance is a disaster and not winning the Cup is a failure.
The expectation of a championship sort of comes with the job, both for players and manager. That’s baked in.
I think the troubles here have been a long time coming. While the European and Asian federations have been moving to a more professional model we’ve stuck with the setup gifted us by Title IX. That worked then…but it produces both players and coaches that have a pretty inward-looking mindset.
Vlatko's selection had to have been in part a product of the era in which he was chosen, with the player abuse scandals, so many scandals, the equal pay initiative and lawsuit, the BLM protests, and and and. IDK if he was a consensus selection among players but will guess collectively they supported the choice.
And while he's a good coach overall, his strategic abilities when it comes to playing top-tier international foes is frankly, suspect. His WWC squad represented a self-painted corner because unlike, say, Ellis who consistently made wholesale changes among her starting XIs, Vlatko was pretty stuck with a very shallow rotation. It was a problem at the Olympics and fatal flaw at WWC.
Wiegman is as handy an example as I can name who both has the support of her squad and is an excellent tactician and strategist. Her polar opposite is the Spain coach and for that reason alone I hope the Lionesses kick arse on Sunday and send him on his way out the puerto.
I think you have put your finger on two problems. His strategy playing international foes with very different styles and shallow rotation. He had a very talented roster top to bottom, but he played very few of them and often not in their best position. He seemed to believe that the best thing was to start his eleven best players and kind of shoe horn them into a spot. I was very supportive of his choice of DeMelo, because, well she was a hot hand in the NWSL, but in retrospect that was not a good choice as she was really lost in the two games she played. He didn't take Sophia Smith to Toyoko, even though I am sure he knew she would be going to the World Cup, that experience would have helped the young woman who was expected to be the "cheat code" at the World Cup.
Yes his tactics and strategy limitations are very apparent (Monday Morning Quarterbacking here). I think the next US coach needs to be familiar with the international game and look at the lack of success of our U17 and U20 to see what is lacking.
Potential for top 3 euro finish. Pulling for Oz even though I like Sweden. Too much for one continent.
Not caring much about the final. Sort of want Spain but the culinary challenged will probably take it. If Spain does win Japan can take solace of being the only team to beat them. Handily at that.
Very curious how our Thons will return and how their WC play will translate back to club play. While some teams did better than others, unfortunately I don't think any of our Thorns individually had good tournaments....hopefully our biggest game changers here at the Thorns aren't totally demoralized and will be able to come back focused and ready to compete for the last half of the season. The table is so tight, and there's not a lot of room for more hiccups. Unfortunately...Norrisball still persists here...
Our next 2 games (Aug 20th-H vs. NCC and Aug 27th-A vs. Spirit) are both against top table opponents, and it's gonna be a very tall task if we don't have Hina, Dunn, or Smith back. O'Sullivan has been back with NCC, and I'm pretty sure there was a picture of Emily Fox back with the team yesterday also.
The "knock" I heard on Hina at WWC, and it's not even really so much of a "knock" as it is "this is who she is," is that she's a central midfielder not a wing and she's a more accurate passer but less of a risk-taker than a Jun Endo, for example. So, playing Hina out wide isn't really playing to her strengths.
I know we've talked about this here too -- she needs to be allowed to play at the 10.
Yeah, I totally agree. It's definitely not a good position for her, but unfortunately the one she's been asked to play for the Nadeshiko repeatedly. She looked timid, tentative, and a bit lost...and that's hard to write about Hina! Definitely much better suited to a central midfield position, whereas Endo...this is probably her best position. It was even more evident having Endo come on right after because she changed the game state completely. It's hard to compare the two because they are just two very different players trying to play the same position, but Endo looked worlds more effective, unfortunately. Of course, it also didn't help that Hina doesn't play that for club, and she hardly got any minutes during the WC. I feel like she's kinda the type of player that does best with constant play, because then her best attributes (her vision, her sharp passes, and her confidence) are more highly attuned. A blow to her confidence really seems to affect all of her play, and she doesn't have strength or speed to fall back on. It was hard watching all of our Thorns mightily struggle in the WC.
The whole team was timid until a ways into the second half, as big a part of their defeat as their horrible bad luck in the last 20 minutes. This is the kind of thing a young team learns from, and in this case that's more than the usual "cheer up" fluff people say after defeats. One of the few things this team lacks to be the best team in international WoSo is the ability to play through unexpected setbacks, and that's something that comes through a combination of good coaching (check) and experience (not yet checked off for most of them). I feel a bit silly for _still_ not taking that QF result well, but that's sportsball for ya!
Hina needs to start playing at the 10 for Thorns FC...period. She's the clear choice over a washed legend and inconsistent teenager. Blunt...but it's the truth.
You have that right about Sugita. It is such a disappointment that Norris has her playing RW, when the simple switch of her and Dunn could very well unlock more scoring threats on the team. From a coaching perspective you need to put players in a position that makes the team better. And moving Dunn to RW doesn't take away from her ability to impact the game, it balances the team across the board. Kuikka-Dunn is as threatening as Kling-Weaver, and Sugita should thrive playing the middle of the field. I don't think there is a Thorns player as good with the ball at her feet as Sugita. She looks like she is playing futsal out there.
Yeah, I agree. I think Norris would have to change up his whole midfield plan though, in that case. Especially when Sinc is on the field, Crystal plays in more of an 8/10 role and is the one of the two of them that has more of the defensive duties. A straight swap to give Hina that role when Sinc is at the 10 isn't my favorite idea. Crystal and Hina have very different qualities so Norris would have to show some flexibility in his plan, which I wouldn't hold my breath for. But yes, my ideal would be to see Sinc out entirely, with Rocky at the 8, Hina at the 10, and Crystal at that RW. That RW position rotates back into the midfield and has connecting duties as well, so it's not like she'd be a pure winger in Norris' system. Seems unfortunate that a plan so obvious probably won't ever be tried.
I love the solution. But you are right that Norris probably won't implement it. I can understand a first year coach not wanting to rock the boat, but it doesn't bode well for his future. Managing players is the number one responsibility of a head coach, and it won't look good for him to say he deferred to the players in spite of a solution being right there. He better win a trophy, otherwise I don't see him long for the position.
Yeah, I agree it was a very muted game for most of the team up until like the 60th or 70th minute. Though not nearly as much, I did sill feel the same way watching Hina play in the group stage. She had some good stretches, but just looked hesitant overall and not super confident at times. She's usually so confident with the Thorns, so it was surprising. I do think it's mostly that position though. It's probably what I'd look like if someone stuck me at CB lol, especially after playing a totally different position (and side of the field!) for half a season just before the tournament.
As of today Kerolin is still in Brazil. Still a week until the game, but hoping she gets a nice long vacation. ::) Also hearing that the Man United rumors of her transfer are becoming closer to reality...not sure if that will play a part, but...
There's a lot of noise that she's gonna sign with United and the club is just trying to work out her transfer fee. She may not ever return to the NWSL if that deal goes through!
Got a piece at Riveting! dropping Friday discussing the returning internationals and some guesses about who might be in decent shape and who…might not. I’d appreciate your eyes/on and any comments you have…
The last WC in 2019 suggests that team performance wasn’t a huge signifier. Players who came home early like Sinc weren’t particularly stronger than the US internationals. Everyone who returned from France seemed pretty wiped. I think it’s going to be more of a coaching issue; whoever best assesses the internationals’ conditions and finds a way to use them effectively will profit. Given what we’ve seen of Norris I’m not confident he’s that guy…
Yeah, I'm trying to keep expectations measured given how we've gotten on in the past. I'm not expecting a whole lot honestly and feel a bit pessimistic about the end of the season.
Another interesting point to keep an eye on is many teams made multiple big name/international level signings over the summer window and those players will be joining their new teams, or for many, already have joined. Relevant to us this weekend, O'Sullivan is back, and they've also had the US Youth NT captain sign. Also, Rikako Kobayashi has joined the Courage and is training and newly-acquired Japanese international Manaka Matsukubo will be there in a few days. Looks like some USWNT players have already re-joined their respective teams...recently I've seen that Emily Fox and Casey Murphy are back with NCC (unfortunately for us) and Savannah DeMelo has returned and all have been training with their teams.
It’s going to be an arms race to see who can weaponize their reformed squads soonest and most effectively. I honestly don’t know who that will be, other than Norris’ form to date is not encouraging.
A lot will rest on who returns from the antipodes in the best mental and physical form. And that, too, I have no clue as toward.
Now just how else do you propose paying for all those gaudy internationals the club landed this year, plus the new all-grass training center, hmmmm? Price increases, to victory!
Money does not grow on trees. [Weyerhaeuser executive: whisper, whisper] Uh, I've been told that money does, in fact grow on trees, or at least inside them.
Guessing they also anticipated demand going way up because the Nats were gonna bring home the Cup or at least go deep into August.
It's hard to discern a pattern in the pricing adjustments, but it seems to me they want to encourage folks to start buying up the Toyota Terrace; those ticket prices stayed relatively constant. Seems they also figured out that a few seating areas were hidden gems and they jumped the prices a lot there.
They are pushing Toyota Terrace hard. Kept the price steady. If you read all the promotional material for next year. The team is offering east side Toyota Terrace as the economical choice for a family. 'Cheaper' food but no price point, beer special for 6 dollars, and 4 dollar water being sold on Toyota Terrace. I have a feeling the sunset games sun straight in your face isn't a great selling point.
Our club employs a "just imagine sitting here, only it's a real stadium and you're watching MLS instead of USL!" strategy. Beers are fifteen bucks, regardless.
Some Thorns training info from my reconnaissance mission to Prov Park (aka my PT session this am.)
No Sinc, Soph, or Dunn. Becky and Rocky were both back in full training and I got to watch about 8 mins of a 1/2 field 11 v 11. Becky looked quick and not really hesitant. Rocky, got stuck in a little bit more but maybe still a little hesitant. There was someone tall-ish in warmups sitting on the sidelines but just street shoes. Couldn’t tell who it was, maybe a little bit more tan/darker hair. Could’ve maybe been Sinc? All the usual talls were out training.
Anyways, that’s all I got!
Janine Beckie has started working her way back as well.
She's been at training too.
Whhaaaaa, really? Didn't she just have surgery like 4 months ago? I thought she wouldn't be back ready to play maybe even after the start of the 2024 season. Usually about a year recovery there! I'm guessing you just mean more soccer-specific PT? Either way, great news that she's progressing well! I saw Sam post a video of Janine running on an anti-gravity treadmill a few days ago.
It def wasn't Janine that I saw, though. This was a person with dark hair. After seeing that Sinc is back, I'm assuming it was her.
Very light and not much soccer activity. Progress is amazing.
Started traveling with the team too.
Love that so much for her! She's a great teammate as well. Do you know how Becky has been progressing or what her status is?
Yeah has been working extremely hard the past few weeks and looks very good. Honestly thought she'd be out longer, but looks like it'll be weeks and not months when she returns.
Nadim (she of 3 ACL tears) has been able to make it back to match-play within 9 months each of the last 2 times. She just missed the cut-off for Women's World Cup roster.
World Cup Wish Rankings:
Who do I *want* to win the World Cup?
1. Australia - have never won despite being good for a long time; home team, so vast numbers of people would be ecstatic
2. Sweden - have never won despite being very good for a long time
3. Netherlands - women and men combined have been to like 5 finals and never won
4. Colombia - have never won; the ultimate dark horse
5. Japan - so much fun to watch, but they're already slated to win it in 2027
6. France - the women haven't won but the men have, and recently (and probably will again in the next decade)
7. Spain - would be ranked higher but for the boost it would give the chauvinists in the RFEF
8. England - their media is already obnoxious about English football and winning would make it 1000x worse; plus the FAWSL doesn't need any more hype than it already gets
Guess who is back and looks happy? Sophia Smith working out with the team!
Random thoughts on the WNT coaching search:
The Vlatko Experience points out how big the gap is between “NWSL/NCAA success 2013-2019” and “Intrnational success 2023-2024”. The utility of recruiting another US-based gaffer without international expertise seems highly suspect.
The player gap seems much smaller, and the barrier to making changes by instituting an academy-type system seems much higher; AYSO and the NCAA will fight to the last ditch to remain the primary player sources AND can’t turn from a “win now” to a “develop players to win later” approach they’d need to if they’re to take an academy role.
So is Vlatko the new coach of KC now that he’s handed in his resignation?
Europe next? A blue-chip university team? I assume he made more bank as USWNT coach than any NWSL organization spends, but that's just my SWAG.
MarPar came back, though.
More interested in how quickly US Soccer moves on the replacement--Paris 2024 looms large and whiffing on three tourneys in a row would seem suboptimal.
Either KCFUBAR or (brace yourselves) Portland Thorns. New ownership (eventually) and lots of success in NWSL. Why not?
KC makes most sense because he's there and Vlatko is a name (which supports ongoing international recruiting and KC's desire for names).
But here's the thing.... I just don't see Vlatko and Potter as being cut from different cloth. Indeed, I think they're probably pretty similar.
Vlatko will have no interest in the front office micromanaging that has characterized KC.
For a long time Vlatko didn't look like he was enjoying himself as USWNT coach. KC isn't nearly the same pressure, but the FO is pressing pretty hard.
He's also very loyal to his players (see Megan Rapinoe), and clearly that's not a priority in KC.
So, here's another possibility: Vlatko to Chicago, where he can work with Swanson and Naeher.
Might have to repair some fences with Kruger and Davidson, but that would be a move that says the new Chicago ownership are serious.
Reporting is that he's being considered by multiple international and club teams. Could see him back at whatever-comes-next-for-Seattle-Tacoma-OL-Reign if Laura Harvey gets the USWNT job (which isn't a non-possibility.) Rapinoe was super close with Vlatko, and so was Harvey, and he has history there.
Could also see him being courted by Angel City (has an interim) or Bay FC, because of all of the USWNT connections...though none of those owners at Bay FC have been sounding real high on Vlatko during the WC. I think KC is the most likely.
Coupla thoughts on AUS-ENG:
It wasn’t really pretty. Ninety-plus of “someone hits a banger from distance” mixed with “huck a long ball up to our striker and hope for something” Route One. Buildup? Who needs that shit?
And given that…I’m kind of irked that it forces me to get behind a Spain win because a) they play a more entertaining game despite b) Vilda being a horse’s ass.
a.e.t. - rough work from former Thorn Ellie Carpenter on England’s second. Ouch.
Listening to the Tobin and Press You Tube discussion of the WC23 (which by the way has been one of the best with great guests that know the game), Tobin said she doesn't understand people not supporting the Spanish's team because of the coach; she said "support them because of the players." My dislike for Vilda goes back to when Vilda took over from the 2015 coach after a rebellion led by Vero against the previous coach and Vilda punished her by leaving her out of the team. He is absolutely a horses ass. I will support the Spanish team in the final and I hope it gives the players more leverage. I do like watching Spanish and Japanese style football the most.
It was fun last night watching Raso and Daly going at it. Not a lot of love lost there between those two.
We've talked about that in our household and I have settled, uneasily, on England. My opinion is that if Spain wins, FREF will say "See, we told you we know best" and then change nothing plus never listen to the players again. At this point, they will probably do that anyway. My other reason is that the players on the pitch are essentially scabs, especially the three apologists - if they had stood firm FREF would have had to either concede or close down the national team. Either choice means a housecleaning, especially the latter.
On the soccer side, it's not so easy. The labor action forced Vilda to bring in young players and they have showed up their elders. This change was needed anyway. And it's tough to not want the best for youngsters giving their all.
Yeah, that’s my biggest issue. Vilda is a miserable authoritarian as a manager (no idea if that reflects his personality, but it doesn’t seem like a stretch). And he’s gonna be unassailable because of this run, let alone if Spain lifts the Big Casino.
It’s hard not to get behind this lively group of young players putting on such a show of attractive soccer…but for me it’s the same problem I have with Newcastle. I’ve been a Toon supporter since the mid-Nineties. But the Saudis using them for sportswashing is just too far. As attractive as the team itself is, they’re a tool in the wrong hands.
As said above, low-key rooting for Spain, Vilda-mort notwithstanding. 'Cause it will add a bit more weight to my still-gutted protestations that Japan was the best team in the tournament. I'm shallow like that...
I'm also retired as of mid-day today! Completely irrelevant, but it's the kind of thing one shouts to the rooftops.
Welcome, my friend, to the post-working-show that never ends!
(Well…it does, but that’s the whole “dirt-nap” thing…)
Yeah, I kinda hate to hope for Spain because Vildamort (like it!) but the young Furia Rosa are so much fun! Plus I’m in the “fucking WSL enough already!”
Yeah what was Carpenter doing there? That's not like her! Ouch indeed.
But England was going to win regardless. Unlike every other team in the tournament, they're good everywhere, from front to back. I expect them to hammer Spain's weak defense mercilessly.
That's the danger for Spain, for sure. The Nadeshiko ripped them apart, and while England's offense hasn't been the absolute machine Japan's was (mostly...still salty about that lost 70 minutes...this final should have been Japan v England), they're going to score. England's defense is much more solid than Spain's, so Spain will have to actually DO something with the possession they're likely to have.
England-China was the most lopsided match of the tournament I've managed to watch, and they were utterly clinical. If they can play like that then they will be hard for Spain to overcome. Having seen fewer Spain matches I don't have as good a sense of their strengths/vulnerabilities.
They're better on defense than this rather disappointing China team, but it's still an area of weakness. Spain also has trouble dealing with a disciplined, high-teamwork defense. Against Japan, they had the large majority of possession and an insane number of completed passes...BUT, most of those passes were around the back. Japan gave them nothing, and by the end of the match, their number of chances/shots wasn't that much higher than Japan's.
England's defense isn't anywhere near the Nadeshiko's in terms of cohesion and resistance to losing shape, but it's made up of excellent individual defenders who are starting to come together. Spain will have more chances, but won't be able to run rampant.
Spain's defenders are not pacey. Japan exploited that, partly because their low block took Spain by surprise and partly because the book on Japan is "technically brilliant and agile, but small and slow" and they had no idea how fast Hinata Miyazawa is. When Spain pushed forward to attack that low block there was a lot of space and Hinata-senshu burst into it. England can successfully run at those defenders, I'm sure.
Speaking of which, I'm sure hoping her lead in the Golden Boot holds out!
I thought the Matildas did a pretty decent job tearing into England’s backline, and that was without the good ball control the Spanish have shown. The problem was their attack broke down in the final pass or shot. The Swedes didn’t look much more lethal against Spain - Japan did, but England isn’t that slick. So I don’t see a huge difference in defensive vulnerability.
Hope for a good game for a neutral, at least..
Props to the Matildathorns for advancing.
Now, go win the whole damn thing.
Outside of England, Spain, Sweden, and possibly their diasporas, the whole world HAS to be rooting for you!
Happy they won. Did not want to see an all euro final four. Keeps the snobbery down a notch.
They're my pick now, too.
Contrary to popular belief, IKEA is not the Swedish diaspora.
What a disappointing match. Japan had their first poor showing at the worst time, and their first half was awful. Sweden's opening goal was basically good fortune, but Japan could have cleared it faster. The Nadeshiko were much better in the second, but also desperately unlucky with that bounce that resulted in a handball. Comeback fell short, and additional bad luck included hitting the crossbar on a pk. Still the best team in the tournament (by a lot) in terms of overall play, and they'll be monsters going forward as the young players move into their prime.
There aren't really any teams I care that much about about left. I'll still follow it - it's the World Cup, after all - but won't be staying up for it after this.
Swedes have had some phenomenal luck. Their shot was a hair inside the line.Japan’s was on the line. Still, it wasn’t all luck. They pushed Japan off the ball quite well and used some nice passing to maintain possession. Then seemed to drift away from that tactic in the second half. Another difference, I think, Japan had a relatively easy path the quarters. Sweden was battle-tested especially after 120 minutes with the U.S. Japan will delight again at some point. What I would give if WNT would play attractive soccer even half as good as the Nadeshiko.
Oh, definitely not all luck (although certainly plenty enough!): they disrupted Japan's game for 60-70 minutes. Japan weren't themselves until late in the match, and the Swedes played a significant part in that (along with the moment catching up to a very young Nadeshiko team, I'd say).
Credit where due. The sign of a good defense is that the opposing offense "has a bad game." Like you say, Japan's inexperience prevented them from getting back to playing their game once Sweden had disrupted it. At one point near halftime, Sweden had outshot Japan 7-0 or something.
Yeah, Sweden executed a sound plan to disrupt Japan, and it took too long for the latter to figure it out. Figure it out they did, but didn't have enough time to get the clearly-coming second goal for the equalizer. I suspect Ueki is disconsolate about missing that pk.
The above is one way Japan's relative* inexperience hurt their chances, and the other was just the general pressure on young players. As said previously, I think the weight of the moment made them tentative for far too long.
* I do say "relative," though, because while it's clearly not the same thing at the junior level, many of these players have had huge success there, including lifting the U-20 World Cup. They'll be remembering that soon (if only because Ikeda will remind them!), and setting their sights on Olympic gold.
Yeah super disappointing- Sweden did a much better job at being disruptive early than Norway or Spain did and it seemed like it threw Japan off just a tad....a lot more misplaced passes and misjudged angles than we’ve seen before in the first half.
But in the end....really poor defending and bad luck on the set piece and handball in addition to a missed PK are surefire ways to lose an elimination game. The reasons they might have lost -- height disadvantage and counterattacking vulnerability-- didn't even really factor in aside from the Blackstenius chance in the first half.
Bummer
Watching Hina trying to block out Blackstenius on a corner and hoping it didn't find her head. Yeah the height thing was quite evident.
But Sweden got nothing from that or from being stronger/heavier, really. One poacher's goal (that Japan could have cleared faster), one fluky, pure bad luck handball. If Japan had had any kind of luck at the end, it would have gone into extra time, and the Nadeshiko seemed to have at last found the answers. I'm still just gutted...
I was worried that as the scoring streak ran hot in the first four games that if it went cold a fluke of bad luck might catch the Nadeshiko. Sorry it had to be Sweden, who are about as fun to watch as a root canal.
Agree that Japan was the opposite; a true joy for the spectator, even a neutral, to see.
Cruel game. Oh, well, vamos Nippon. Look forward to seeing you again.
As I replied to Thorntree above, I think the weight of the moment got to that young team a good bit, and they didn't manage their usual rapid adjustment, which allowed Sweden to take them out of their game until too late. This result was a loss for beautiful football, but that's not a knock on Sweden: they did what then needed to do, and knockout games are _only_ about results.
Let's see what the Nadeshiko bring to the Olympics (assuming they qualify, which I very much expect to happen). I'll call it right now: gold or silver...and favorites in 2027.
Based on their scheme v. Norway (the only Japan match I caught) I thought they would be vulnerable to a fast, countering team. Since last night's match was past my bedtime I don't know if that caught up with them, but Sweden is one squad that can predictably bring a been there-done that swagger to any pitch.
Am 1/2 on predictions as I thought the Dutch were going to upset Spain. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Nope: Sweden got one goal on fluky bounces on a set piece when it fell right to the feet of a Swede (Japan's culpability in that one was not getting it cleared). The other came on the truly bad luck of having a deflected ball hit Nagano on the arm (no intent at all, but the right call). Japan handled any Swedish counter (and aerial ball) just fine. While Sweden's disruptive play for the first 65-70 minutes is a not-to-be-dismissed factor, Japan also had some dreadful luck.
Their tactical approach in this match was more like the one v Spain than v Norway, btw. Sweden had more possession until the last 20 minutes + stoppage. Japan was too tentative in their play until late, too...I truly think the weight of the moment caught up with that young Nadeshiko side. A painful but invaluable experience...
The best team in the tournament is out now. But they'll be better for the Olympics...and even better still in 2027. Incandescently bright future for the Nadeshiko...
Agree: I thought neither side looked very good in the first half. Sweden was Sweden…but the sleek passing and movement we’ve been seeing from Japan was gone. No communication, turnovers…just flat and ugly.
If Sweden HAD put the blocks to the Nadeshiko it’d have been one thing. But unfortunately I came away thinking Japan had lost that one more than Sweden had won it…
I concur. Japan had both a bad 70 or so minutes AND dismal luck, and that was enough to let a pretty thoroughly mid Sweden advance. I know I sound a bit sour grapes there, but honestly, I'd have the same evaluation if I was a true neutral in that one. I'm nursing my depression over this by thinking about just how much better the best team in the tournament can become...
And I should get to see some matches, if I'm willing to travel (I doubt they play in Hokkaido often if at all)! Expecting to touch down middle of next month...
Hina with the start! Hina with the start!! LFGGGGG!!
Sadly (and unexpectedly) , Hina wasn't good. Not her best outing at all, and I can't blame Ikeda for swapping Endo in for her at the half. =( I'm gutted in general by this loss, and typing the above just twisted the knife. Gonna not do soccer on social media for a while now.
In fact, is the dispensary open yet...?
I wonder if the long layoff hurt her? Sugita seems to go better the more she plays.
Could be. Like the whole team in the first half, she looked tentative.
She was wide open a lot, but when she did get the ball, she is definitely not as fast as Endo and Endo seemed to be an improvement. Yes she looked somewhat tentative. Not the Hina we have been watching. She is at her most masterful more in the center of the pitch.
Oh, I so hope that trash-talking becomes a real part of WoSo. Not just on the pitch, but into the microphones and on the X-Twitter!
Here's Sydney Leroux's comeback to Beerensteyn, after the Dutch lost to Spain:
"One thing we've learned is wait to talk shit until after you're on the podium with a gold medal because now ... you're bye too."
Insert golf clap AND mouth pop!!!
https://youtu.be/E6boHCSOcC8
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0xKaXSyzDmc
World Power Rankings!!!
(1) Japan
(2) France
(3) Spain
(4) Sweden
(5) Netherlands - van de Donk out for Spain
(6) England - James out for Colombia (and Australia/France if they get that far)
(7) Australia - will be higher if Kerr is healthy for France
(8) Colombia
That said, here are my picks for quarterfinal matchups:
Japan v Sweden => Japan
Netherlands v Spain => Spain
Australia v France => France
England v Colombia => England
Those were the picks I made as well. Japan is going to be tough to beat, they are playing at such a high level right now.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38216331/uswnt-gm-kate-markgraf-follow-coach-exit-sources
Markgraf out. Not surprsing.
No. Or to be regrettable. USSF needs a serious housecleaning.
Here's a head-scratcher: Is it possible, at the international level, to have a coach whom the players love off the field and perform to peak on the field?
Nobody is faulting Vlatko for his relationship with the players. So, clearly that's not a team chemistry or player mindset problem.
I don't know that players are going to be too eager for a return to Jill Ellis, and Caitlin Murray lists that as an option worth considering.
Personally, I think the chemistry problem is part injuries, party we're-in-transition. There's more too it, sure, but I think it's important not to overcomplicate this.
As to the player mindset problem (which is what Caitlin Murray called it in her ESPN piece), I think that has much more to do with the enormous pressure weighing down the team and individual players going into the WWC. Hard to play with joy (and looseness) when everything is telling you that anything less than a semifinal appearance is a disaster and not winning the Cup is a failure.
The expectation of a championship sort of comes with the job, both for players and manager. That’s baked in.
I think the troubles here have been a long time coming. While the European and Asian federations have been moving to a more professional model we’ve stuck with the setup gifted us by Title IX. That worked then…but it produces both players and coaches that have a pretty inward-looking mindset.
Vlatko's selection had to have been in part a product of the era in which he was chosen, with the player abuse scandals, so many scandals, the equal pay initiative and lawsuit, the BLM protests, and and and. IDK if he was a consensus selection among players but will guess collectively they supported the choice.
And while he's a good coach overall, his strategic abilities when it comes to playing top-tier international foes is frankly, suspect. His WWC squad represented a self-painted corner because unlike, say, Ellis who consistently made wholesale changes among her starting XIs, Vlatko was pretty stuck with a very shallow rotation. It was a problem at the Olympics and fatal flaw at WWC.
Wiegman is as handy an example as I can name who both has the support of her squad and is an excellent tactician and strategist. Her polar opposite is the Spain coach and for that reason alone I hope the Lionesses kick arse on Sunday and send him on his way out the puerto.
I think you have put your finger on two problems. His strategy playing international foes with very different styles and shallow rotation. He had a very talented roster top to bottom, but he played very few of them and often not in their best position. He seemed to believe that the best thing was to start his eleven best players and kind of shoe horn them into a spot. I was very supportive of his choice of DeMelo, because, well she was a hot hand in the NWSL, but in retrospect that was not a good choice as she was really lost in the two games she played. He didn't take Sophia Smith to Toyoko, even though I am sure he knew she would be going to the World Cup, that experience would have helped the young woman who was expected to be the "cheat code" at the World Cup.
Yes his tactics and strategy limitations are very apparent (Monday Morning Quarterbacking here). I think the next US coach needs to be familiar with the international game and look at the lack of success of our U17 and U20 to see what is lacking.
Potential for top 3 euro finish. Pulling for Oz even though I like Sweden. Too much for one continent.
Not caring much about the final. Sort of want Spain but the culinary challenged will probably take it. If Spain does win Japan can take solace of being the only team to beat them. Handily at that.
That last is why I'm low key rooting for Spain...
Very curious how our Thons will return and how their WC play will translate back to club play. While some teams did better than others, unfortunately I don't think any of our Thorns individually had good tournaments....hopefully our biggest game changers here at the Thorns aren't totally demoralized and will be able to come back focused and ready to compete for the last half of the season. The table is so tight, and there's not a lot of room for more hiccups. Unfortunately...Norrisball still persists here...
Our next 2 games (Aug 20th-H vs. NCC and Aug 27th-A vs. Spirit) are both against top table opponents, and it's gonna be a very tall task if we don't have Hina, Dunn, or Smith back. O'Sullivan has been back with NCC, and I'm pretty sure there was a picture of Emily Fox back with the team yesterday also.
The "knock" I heard on Hina at WWC, and it's not even really so much of a "knock" as it is "this is who she is," is that she's a central midfielder not a wing and she's a more accurate passer but less of a risk-taker than a Jun Endo, for example. So, playing Hina out wide isn't really playing to her strengths.
I know we've talked about this here too -- she needs to be allowed to play at the 10.
Yeah, I totally agree. It's definitely not a good position for her, but unfortunately the one she's been asked to play for the Nadeshiko repeatedly. She looked timid, tentative, and a bit lost...and that's hard to write about Hina! Definitely much better suited to a central midfield position, whereas Endo...this is probably her best position. It was even more evident having Endo come on right after because she changed the game state completely. It's hard to compare the two because they are just two very different players trying to play the same position, but Endo looked worlds more effective, unfortunately. Of course, it also didn't help that Hina doesn't play that for club, and she hardly got any minutes during the WC. I feel like she's kinda the type of player that does best with constant play, because then her best attributes (her vision, her sharp passes, and her confidence) are more highly attuned. A blow to her confidence really seems to affect all of her play, and she doesn't have strength or speed to fall back on. It was hard watching all of our Thorns mightily struggle in the WC.
The whole team was timid until a ways into the second half, as big a part of their defeat as their horrible bad luck in the last 20 minutes. This is the kind of thing a young team learns from, and in this case that's more than the usual "cheer up" fluff people say after defeats. One of the few things this team lacks to be the best team in international WoSo is the ability to play through unexpected setbacks, and that's something that comes through a combination of good coaching (check) and experience (not yet checked off for most of them). I feel a bit silly for _still_ not taking that QF result well, but that's sportsball for ya!
Hina needs to start playing at the 10 for Thorns FC...period. She's the clear choice over a washed legend and inconsistent teenager. Blunt...but it's the truth.
You have that right about Sugita. It is such a disappointment that Norris has her playing RW, when the simple switch of her and Dunn could very well unlock more scoring threats on the team. From a coaching perspective you need to put players in a position that makes the team better. And moving Dunn to RW doesn't take away from her ability to impact the game, it balances the team across the board. Kuikka-Dunn is as threatening as Kling-Weaver, and Sugita should thrive playing the middle of the field. I don't think there is a Thorns player as good with the ball at her feet as Sugita. She looks like she is playing futsal out there.
Yeah, I agree. I think Norris would have to change up his whole midfield plan though, in that case. Especially when Sinc is on the field, Crystal plays in more of an 8/10 role and is the one of the two of them that has more of the defensive duties. A straight swap to give Hina that role when Sinc is at the 10 isn't my favorite idea. Crystal and Hina have very different qualities so Norris would have to show some flexibility in his plan, which I wouldn't hold my breath for. But yes, my ideal would be to see Sinc out entirely, with Rocky at the 8, Hina at the 10, and Crystal at that RW. That RW position rotates back into the midfield and has connecting duties as well, so it's not like she'd be a pure winger in Norris' system. Seems unfortunate that a plan so obvious probably won't ever be tried.
I love the solution. But you are right that Norris probably won't implement it. I can understand a first year coach not wanting to rock the boat, but it doesn't bode well for his future. Managing players is the number one responsibility of a head coach, and it won't look good for him to say he deferred to the players in spite of a solution being right there. He better win a trophy, otherwise I don't see him long for the position.
I'd say the only two Thorns _ever_ that were in Hina's league in terms of skill on the ball were Tobin and Vero. Pretty good company...
Maybe he wants Hina's ball retention there to contrast with Weaver's direct play? That's how Vasconcelos has generally played.
Yeah, I agree it was a very muted game for most of the team up until like the 60th or 70th minute. Though not nearly as much, I did sill feel the same way watching Hina play in the group stage. She had some good stretches, but just looked hesitant overall and not super confident at times. She's usually so confident with the Thorns, so it was surprising. I do think it's mostly that position though. It's probably what I'd look like if someone stuck me at CB lol, especially after playing a totally different position (and side of the field!) for half a season just before the tournament.
Any luck on delaying Kerolin's re-entry to the States? =)
As of today Kerolin is still in Brazil. Still a week until the game, but hoping she gets a nice long vacation. ::) Also hearing that the Man United rumors of her transfer are becoming closer to reality...not sure if that will play a part, but...
Good work, ABell4. Now keep her there through Sunday! 😀
There's a lot of noise that she's gonna sign with United and the club is just trying to work out her transfer fee. She may not ever return to the NWSL if that deal goes through!
Got a piece at Riveting! dropping Friday discussing the returning internationals and some guesses about who might be in decent shape and who…might not. I’d appreciate your eyes/on and any comments you have…
The last WC in 2019 suggests that team performance wasn’t a huge signifier. Players who came home early like Sinc weren’t particularly stronger than the US internationals. Everyone who returned from France seemed pretty wiped. I think it’s going to be more of a coaching issue; whoever best assesses the internationals’ conditions and finds a way to use them effectively will profit. Given what we’ve seen of Norris I’m not confident he’s that guy…
Yeah, I'm trying to keep expectations measured given how we've gotten on in the past. I'm not expecting a whole lot honestly and feel a bit pessimistic about the end of the season.
Another interesting point to keep an eye on is many teams made multiple big name/international level signings over the summer window and those players will be joining their new teams, or for many, already have joined. Relevant to us this weekend, O'Sullivan is back, and they've also had the US Youth NT captain sign. Also, Rikako Kobayashi has joined the Courage and is training and newly-acquired Japanese international Manaka Matsukubo will be there in a few days. Looks like some USWNT players have already re-joined their respective teams...recently I've seen that Emily Fox and Casey Murphy are back with NCC (unfortunately for us) and Savannah DeMelo has returned and all have been training with their teams.
It’s going to be an arms race to see who can weaponize their reformed squads soonest and most effectively. I honestly don’t know who that will be, other than Norris’ form to date is not encouraging.
A lot will rest on who returns from the antipodes in the best mental and physical form. And that, too, I have no clue as toward.
It could be a very strange September…
Now just how else do you propose paying for all those gaudy internationals the club landed this year, plus the new all-grass training center, hmmmm? Price increases, to victory!
Money does not grow on trees. [Weyerhaeuser executive: whisper, whisper] Uh, I've been told that money does, in fact grow on trees, or at least inside them.
Guessing they also anticipated demand going way up because the Nats were gonna bring home the Cup or at least go deep into August.
It's hard to discern a pattern in the pricing adjustments, but it seems to me they want to encourage folks to start buying up the Toyota Terrace; those ticket prices stayed relatively constant. Seems they also figured out that a few seating areas were hidden gems and they jumped the prices a lot there.
They are pushing Toyota Terrace hard. Kept the price steady. If you read all the promotional material for next year. The team is offering east side Toyota Terrace as the economical choice for a family. 'Cheaper' food but no price point, beer special for 6 dollars, and 4 dollar water being sold on Toyota Terrace. I have a feeling the sunset games sun straight in your face isn't a great selling point.
Our club employs a "just imagine sitting here, only it's a real stadium and you're watching MLS instead of USL!" strategy. Beers are fifteen bucks, regardless.
USL v MLS: U are only an M away!