Category: Analysis

Armchair Centerback: Three Thoughts from the USA vs Mexico Friendlies

Posted on by RJ Allen

The two friendlies this week against Mexico weren’t the highest quality games the US has ever played. The shape wasn’t always compact and both defense and goalkeeping left something to be desired. But these games did show us that when players are “on” they can still be a delight to watch. Here are three thoughts on the US vs Mexico matches. 

The History of Goalkeeper Management Is Catching Up to the USWNT

The US is bad at creating the conditions for world class goalkeepers to be born. At the same time, they’ve also had some of the best goalkeepers in the history of the women’s game. With Briana Scurry and Hope Solo, it’s more that they overcome the underlying conditions than it is any real indication of success in the way goalkeepers are handled in this country. The mismanagement of the current crop—from who is being called in, to who is being capped, to the scarcity of substitutions—is making that very clear.

Scurry and Solo were able to overcome those difficulties because they were generational-quality keepers. Simple stuff, really. But Alyssa Naeher, Ashlyn Harris and Jane Campbell aren’t that lucky. They have each had minutes for the USWNT since Solo’s messy departure. While Ellis has put the most faith (and pressure) on Naeher’s shoulders, it hasn’t quite worked out the way that many expected. She certainly hasn’t locked up the position. In the rare minutes she gets, Harris has been competent if not stellar. And this week, Campbell used her first start to concede twice on corners while standing inside of goal.

Not stellar no matter how you cut it.

Abby Smith and AD Franch are both options that Ellis should look at before she runs out of pre-France minutes. After the last few matches, there is no reason to bank heavily on a return in Naeher’s form, nor would it be safe to treat either backup as ready for primetime. Why not bring in some healthy competition?

The Triple-Edged Sword Reborn

The Triple-Edged Sword was the name given to the attacking trio of Michelle Akers, Carin Jennings-Gabarra and April Heinrichs during the 1991 Women’s World Cup. Alex Morgan, Mallory Pugh and Megan Rapinoe look like they might be aiming to take that nickname for themselves.

Morgan finished the international break with four goals and one assist. Pugh notched two goals. And Rapinoe got an impressive one goal and five assists. The only goal the trio didn’t have a hand in was Carli Lloyd’s Lindsey Horan-assisted goal in the first game.

The three have looked sharp for the national team and with their NWSL clubs. If they can keep this energy up when the likes of Julie Ertz and Sam Mewis rejoin the midfield it could be a windfall for the team. It also puts less pressure on Tobin Heath when she returns. She won’t be the only source of creativity on the field. 

This Defense Is Just Fine.

Ellis wants the ability to go high and low with her outside backs. And after some thinkpieces and a minor freak out on the internet over Crystal Dunn being on the backline for these games, we saw some evidence that suggests it just might work.

Dunn was able to get into the attack nearly as much as if she were a winger. In the second game the mix of Davidson, Sauerbrunn and Sonnett was a fairly balanced and dynamic three-back when Dunn pushed up.

This won’t be the only setup that the USWNT plays, and it shouldn’t be. Very few teams are truly settled, with just one settled backline, one defensive unit, or one unitary style. Having players like Dunn and Kelley O’Hara who can line up on the left or right and on the backline or in the midfield gives Ellis the chance to play a back four, a modified back three or even pull back the wingbacks for a five-woman defense. What’s more, she can do it without making a bunch of substitutions thanks to a lot of flexibility in the individual players.

Having Sauerbrunn on the field is a huge advantage here, which we saw again this week. Her ability to teach in real time—giving Sonnett, Dahlkemper and Davidson room to learn without just stepping in for them—is exceptional. And remember, they’re missing some key players. When O’Hara comes back into the mix, she’ll provide a bit more experience about precisely when to push and when to hold back. Over time, we should see trust building and players working together as a more integrated unit.

Not That Bad: 5 Things the Dash Have Going For Them

Posted on by RJ Allen

We can all agree that the Houston Dash didn’t quite have things go their way this off-season. They lost some great international players to trade, ended up being shunned by Christen Press, and had their owner make some rather unfathomable choices for the club. It went so horribly that the women’s soccer media and NWSL fanbase seemed to give up on analyzing the decisions and defaulted to just pitying them. Yeah, it was that bad. And it still isn’t great by any means. But going into this international break, Houston can repeat this point of pride to themselves: “We are currently an undefeated team.” Sure, it’s only two draws, but that’s not nothing.

Everyone is still looking at them like winning a match will be a miracle. Analysts are plopping them at the bottom of their power rankings. Old southern women are practically ‘blessing their hearts.’ But this isn’t necessarily rock bottom for the club. And they shouldn’t be written off so easily. To paraphrase Monty Python, they’re not dead yet! So although things are bad, there are still some bright spots for the team looking forward into the season. Here are five of them:

1. Jane Campbell Is A Boss

One of the biggest takeaways from the first two games of the season is that Jane Campbell is a phenomenal goalkeeper. She has played on a new level for the start of this season, and brought a lot of stability for the Houston side. As a last line of defense, Houston can at least feel comfortable in the fact that they have Campbell. She comes up big when they need it. She is confident. And she is finding her rhythm in Houston, a fact that I am sure allows Vera Pauw to breathe a little easier. While a good keeper alone isn’t enough to make you the best team in the league, it sure is a start. If she can continue this trend, other US keepers are going to need to watch their backs.

2. Daly & Mewis Bring Creativity

When Rachel Daly was moved to fullback, I was seriously wondering what Houston was doing, especially since Kealia Ohai was still out on injury. But there has been  a certain level of magic created by the pairing of Daly and Kristie Mewis as Houston’s outside backs. They command the offense and set the pace for the team. They bring creativity up and down the pitch. And they are all over the field, aggressively going after the ball because they both have the speed to make it back on defense in time. The commentators of the Houston-Utah match called them two of the best in the league, provoking some snarky comments. But there’s something to it. Neither of them is a singularly phenomenal outside-back. But together—working as one unit, establishing a proper give and take for the team—they are a force to be reckoned with.

3. Pauw Has A Plan

It was clear from the first few games that Vera Pauw doesn’t particularly care what others may think of her team. She is coaching with purpose, and convincing her players to play with purpose. She understands that her team has weaknesses. She isn’t ignorant of that fact. But she is also able to see that this team has strengths. Every player brings a different skillset, and her job is to find how all those pieces fit. It’s still a work in progress, but one that she is working diligently at. She’s also been quite honest about where things stand, owning in her last post-match interview that her team wasn’t fully able to play to their strengths against Utah—that they still had some homework to do. But it looks as though Vera is willing to put in the work as long as the players are. No phoning it in from the Dutch leader.

4. The Return of Ohai

Houston hasn’t won a match yet this season. But they also haven’t had their greatest attacking threat on the pitch yet. Kealia Ohai, who is coming off of an injury, will be a welcomed sight. Although she only got to play 10 matches last season before tearing her ACL, in the 2016 season she recorded 11 goals and four assists in 20 matches. Even if her return to the pitch doesn’t immediately bring those kind of results, it will still be great news for the Dash, because even when Ohai isn’t on the ball, she is still going to pull the attention of defenders. That is something that Houston has been missing. With Ohai’s return, we’ll get a chance to see some new dynamics of the Houston team. They haven’t shown all of their cards just yet.

5. The Underestimation Factor

Everyone knows Houston is supposed to be bad this year. But in a funny way, that’s an advantage. When your opponents expect very little out of you, they tend to get complacent. And then they lose. Just ask the University of Virginia men’s basketball team—whose first game as the overall favorite in the NCAA March Madness Tournament against 16th seed University of Maryland, Baltimore County didn’t quite go to plan. When there isn’t a lot expected of you, opponents tend to sit back and allow things to happen. They allow the underdogs to set the pace—and then the underdogs have no choice but to seize opportunity when it comes. It is David and Goliath. It is the tortoise and the hare. It is USA vs Russia in the 1980 Olympics. Could it be Houston vs North Carolina or Portland? Maybe. The stage is surely set and primed to have it played out.

So in light of all this, I refuse to feel bad for Houston. And I will not do the team the disservice of pitying them. Instead I will root for them—to get better, to fight the good fight, to play to their strengths. Because this team isn’t a lost cause, and we should stop treating it like one. They have a lot of talent and a great coach in Vera Pauw to steer this team toward a season that could mean something for them. They have some positive aspects that they bring to the table. We need to stop only talking about the negative.

Euro Roundup: WSL, Sweden, UWCL and the International Break

Posted on by RJ Allen

WSL Title Race

The NWSL may have just started but other leagues are nearing the end of their current seasons. One, in particular, is WSL1, which saw a big shock this weekend when Reading beat first-place Manchester City 2-0. Reading have been a tough team to beat this season and are starting to really show just how good they can be. An improvised bicycle kick finish by Remi Allen put the Royals in front and Kirsty Pearce secured the win for them despite going down to 10 players. City had plenty of chances but just couldn’t get past Mary Earps in the Reading goal.

Had City won, they would have capitalised on Chelsea dropping points to their London rivals Arsenal. The Chelsea-Arsenal matchup is always close and full of drama, and this one lived up to it. Sari van Veenendaal made an error in clearing the ball, which Ramona Bachmann latched onto before sending it into Fran Kirby. Kirby took a touch and poked it past Veenendaal to get her 20th goal in all competitions this season. Beth Mead leveled it up for Arsenal right before halftime with a great solo goal. She made a good run, beat a couple of the defenders, and finished well. She was easily one of the best players in that game and fully deserved the goal.

Birmingham City quietly moved up to third in the table with a good 2-0 win against Sunderland and Liverpool kept themselves near enough in the top five with a 4-0 win against Yeovil Town. Arsenal are just ahead in fourth of Liverpool on goal difference.

With matches still to be rearranged after weather delays, and some teams having games in hand, this title race could go right down to the wire. There is no room for error for any of the top five.

Sweden

As most of you will have heard by now, Christen Press has joined her former team Kopparbergs/Göteborg on a short team deal after the interesting saga with the Houston Dash. Press was last with this team after WPS folded, a spell with the club saw the team win the Svenska Cupen.

It’s been a few years, so let’s look at where the club is now and where the league is currently. Press has come into the league at the start with the Damallsvenskan kicking off April 14. Kopparbergs will kick off their season away against Rosengard on the 16th. Rosengard were runners-up last season, while Kopparbergs finished eighth last season out of 12 teams and will be looking to improve on that.

UEFA Women’s Champions League

This is another club competition nearing its finale for the season. UWCL is highly regarded as it really shows who is the best in Europe. History has already been made, with both WSL1 teams in the tournament—Chelsea and Manchester City—making it to the semifinals for the first time. It’s also the furthest that Chelsea have ever made it. They faced Montpellier in the quarterfinals, and while the French side did make it tough, Chelsea progressed through 5-1 on aggregate.

Manchester City made it interesting for themselves in the second leg against Linkoping. City took a 2-0 lead into the away leg and what ensued was a goalfest, with both teams going for it. The second leg ended 5-3 to Manchester City. The other two in the semifinals are usual suspects at this stage, with Lyon and Wolfsburg both making it through. Wolfsburg secured their place with a 5-0 win over Slavia Praha in the first leg, but drew 1-1 in the second. Lyon faced quite a tough test against a great Barcelona side but won both legs to put them through.

Both semifinals are on the same day with the first leg on April 22 and the second one on April 29. Both English teams will start off at home. Manchester City face Lyon, who they faced at this stage last year. Lyon won the first leg last time, but City managed to win the second one—although it wasn’t enough to put them through. City will be looking to go one step further this year.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will be facing their nemesis Wolfsburg. The German team has put Chelsea out twice before in earlier rounds, but the third time could be the charm for the Blues. Chelsea have already come through a tough journey, beating Bayern Munich, currently second in the Frauen Bundesliga, on away goals. They then went on to beat Rosengard 4-0 over two legs before facing Montpellier. This is not the same team as in previous seasons, with manager Emma Hayes bringing in players to really strengthen Chelsea’s ability to compete on various levels. Chelsea are currently unbeaten in the league, and could finally beat Wolfsburg over two legs. These two semifinals are really unpredictable and we could see yet more history made.

International Break

This month sees four federations kick off or resume their World Cup Qualifications. AFC will see the Asian Cup take place in Jordan, with five teams qualifying for the World Cup. CAF will see teams in the first qualifying round for the African Women’s Cup of Nations, and the Copa America will directly qualify two CONMEBOL nations and send a third to a playoff against the fourth-place CONCACAF team.

The fourth federation is, of course, UEFA, and the European qualifiers look to be at the business end. Eight teams will qualify out of seven groups. Group 1 sees the top two teams, Wales and England, go head to head for the first time in this campaign. Wales currently top the table with 10 points, but England are behind by just one point with a game in hand. England have won all three of their matches so far, and will be full of confidence after performing well in the SheBelieves Cup.

England are now second in the world, but Wales won’t be too much of a pushover, with players like Jess Fishlock and Natasha Harding in their ranks. 15,000 tickets have already been sold for the encounter, which takes place at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton on April 6 and it should be a great atmosphere. Expect England to win and thrash their next opponents Bosnia with Wales ending their campaign later on in a playoff spot.

Group 2 is a bit more wide open, with Switzerland on top, with 12 points, and Poland second with six points and a game in hand. Group 3 is quite close, with the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland level at seven points, while Norway have six points. The Netherlands and Republic of Ireland face off on April 10. Group 4 has Denmark and Sweden first and second based on goal differential, with Denmark to face third-place Ukraine. Germany will look to regain their form against the Czech Republic, who are second. Rounding out the groups, the top two in Group 6 (Italy and Belgium) face each other April 10, while Spain and Finland in Group 7 play April 6.

We could see teams going a step closer to their place at the World Cup and maybe a few shocks as well.

NWSL QuickCap 2: Weekly Boogaloo

Posted on by RJ Allen

Welcome to your week two NWSL QuickCap.

Week Two saw another week without Australians and so many misses from inside the six that every forward in the league was probably at an extra practice while you were at your Seder and/or Easter dinner.

Houston Dash 0-0 Utah Royals

Neither Amy Rodriguez or Kealia Ohai have shown they can take over a game and create offense from nothing, but after this one it’s a risk I’m willing to take. A 0-0 game can be exciting as well as defensive, or it can be a mess where neither team has a coherent offense. Or even a visible game plan. Not that I had anything better to watch on my Friday night. Utah’s best offensive play was a late run down the left by Sauerbrunn and Utah’s most offensive play was a Desiree Scott challenge that could have been a credible straight red. Houston’s English national teamer Rachel Daly looked to be working in a vacuum trying to generate some offense and Kristie Mewis earned Twitter raves for a competent performance starting as an outside back, but Jane Campbell looked like the USWNT heir-in-waiting she’s already been declared.

Sky Blue FC 0-1 North Carolina Courage

The new Sky Blue spent most of the game hanging even with a pressing North Carolina Courage, even showing some offensive spark after being dominated early. North Carolina still looks to be missing Samantha Mewis for the central leadership, but Abby Dahlkemper and Abby Erceg remain a solid duo. Behind them, Sabrina D’Angelo was either struggling with an injury or stalling for time in the first half. Carli Lloyd had some fancy footwork, but wasn’t a catalyst for the young offense or the star that took over the game on her lonesome. Lynn Williams has speed to spare and a first touch rarely seen outside a U6 early season practice, but the underappreciated Jess McDonald saved their Easter ham with a last minute goal past the NWSL’s other superb Canadian GK, Kailen Sheridan, who came out too far and left her goal exposed.

Washington Spirit 2-0 Orlando Pride

Orlando was without Marta and Morgan, but on a team with this roster, such losses…really, really hurt. Sydney Leroux was all over, but as with Morgan, is the sort of pure scorer who relies on others moving the ball. Unfortunately for her, no Easter eggs were being put into the right baskets here. Washington’s offense of the future started early and kept Orlando on the back foot. Sullivan playing on the right side wasn’t as involved as she might have been as central player all the internet pundits want to see, but Pugh and Hatch both scored in the last ten minutes, and that was enough to seal the deal. GK Ashlyn Harris might want Pugh’s nutmeg goal back, but there’s nothing anyone could have done about Hatch’s shot from outside.

Chicago Red Stars 2-3 Portland Thorns FC

Chicago’s black uniforms look like something a referee would wear and I spent the first few minutes very confused. Unlike the rest of the league this weekend, these teams raced right past the “no more than two goals” limit, tallying more goals than the other six teams combined. It started with Horan opening the scoring for Portland. Then, Chicago’s Alyssa Mautz knuckleballed over Adrianna Franch only to be met by Portland’s Christine Sinclair who drove past a sliding Alyssa Naeher and kept control of a bouncing ball to put Portland up 2-1 at the half. Sinclair added a penalty kick and Mautz added a second. And there’s no way I can stay under my word limit if people keep scoring like this in these games.

NWSL QuickLook: Week Two

Posted on by RJ Allen

This week, we combine the confusion of overfull rosters following the Boston Breakers shutdown with the return of the Australians from international duty. Predictions are meaningless in the face of such wholesale and paradigmatic abstraction. Plus they are hard to do.

Houston v. Utah – March 30 @ 8 pm ET

Houston: 0-0-1

Utah: 0-0-1

Last week, neither team had their known offensive weapons producing much and the usually reliable Becky Sauerbrunn gave up a (dubious) PK. Utah has a solid defense and, even with Nicole Barnhart out with an injury, Abby Smith’s move from Boston gives them an excellent replacement. Houston surprised everyone by looking composed and competitive against Chicago last week, but also had their scoring coming from an unknown and not the usual or expected. Houston should have the least change in personnel given their short injury report and lack of Aussie internationals, but also the most uncertainty about pulling together a repeat.

North Carolina Courage v. Sky Blue FC – March 31 @ 3 pm ET

North Carolina Courage: 1-0-0

Sky Blue FC: 0-0-0

SBFC makes their season debut, featuring such stars as NJ’s own Carli Lloyd, rookie and recent USWNT call-up Savannah McCaskill, and Shea Groom, acquired via the O’Hara trade this summer. They aren’t being thrown to the lions, because that would be Utah, but the Courage also have a cat crest—what’s with that in this league? Sky Blue has a potent young roster that could really compete this year, but runs the risk of relying too heavily on Lloyd to be a game changer. NC remains loaded with forwards, but saw no tallies from their marquee players (MacDonald, Williams) last week. They do have a solid defense that can hold off most challenges.

Washington v. Orlando – March 31 @ 3:30 pm ET

Washington: 0-1-0

Orlando: 0-0-1

Orlando will no longer live or die on Alex Morgan’s performance, which will be good for them if she’s out with concussion issues. Sydney Leroux hasn’t shown her infamous speed in her return from maternity leave, but Cassius in that #2 “Mommy” jersey was a stunning debut. As for the game, with Marta serving there’s a good chance for a break on any play from any player. Orlando’s defense is solid and their GK Harris good for some great saves, and their offense should be remarkable given the personnel. Washington features more promised future stars than any other roster, but doesn’t have the usual sunsetting veteran star to help build out of the midfield or build the future careers.

Chicago v. Portland – March 31 @ 8:15 pm ET

Chicago: 0-0-1

Portland: 0-1-0
A year ago we’d have billed this as a peek at a potential championship match. This year? Both still have loaded rosters, but so does everyone due to contraction. Portland has a solid core with Canada’s Christine Sinclair as a foundation. Chicago has major injury issues and will still be missing reigning MVP Sam Kerr to national team duty with Australia. Portland gave up some well-known players, but their Boston pickups alone (especially Midge Purce and Ifeoma Onumonu) are a roster improvement on an already-massive talent. Chicago may be missing QB Julie Ertz more than departed scoring leader Christen Press given how they looked a bit lost against Houston last week.

Seattle v. Any Takers

They shouldn’t do byes. The off team should play any challenger who steps up for their spot in the NWSL. By week 9 we’ll have Arsenal Women vs. Jamestown Area Travel U17 fighting for a playoff spot and I welcome the chaos because it’s easier than making real previews and predictions with these heavy rosters and lack of data.

Route Two Soccer: A Strong Start for the Reign

Posted on by RJ Allen

This offseason, the Reign said goodbye to their longtime coach Laura Harvey, and quite a few players as well. For many fans, this movement was disconcerting. Even for those who liked the changes in principle, there was plenty of concern about how long it would take them to get everything organized.

One week in, it’s still far too early to draw any serious conclusions. But the news so far is good. In this column, I want to take a quick look at the Reign’s first match, and see what it tells us about the new Vlatko Andonovski regime.

The team set up in a 4-3-3, which was hardly surprising. It was very similar to how they played under Harvey, and quite similar to the way Vlatko’s FCKC teams often played as well. The personnel available definitely creates some flexibility here, with both Allie Long and Jess Fishlock able to play a holding role, allowing them to shift easily back and forth between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 depending on game state. Against Washington, they spent the majority of the game on the front foot, allowing Long to generally play as a single holding midfielder, while giving her and Fishlock freedom to interchange as necessary.

Getting the most out of Allie Long

This is a role Long has played before, but rarely excelled in. She’s a solid defender in one-on-one situations, and her good workrate allows her to be a disruptive force, but her lack of positional discipline has always prevented her from truly excelling at the job of shielding the backline. Further, her tendency to dither on the ball is risky for a player tasked with winning the ball and distributing it quickly from dangerous positions. Finally, playing her deep tends to limit her opportunities to crash into the box—one of the most important qualities of her game.

In this game, however, Long looked transformed. All those good qualities were present, and she looked far more confident managing play. Gone were the tentative stabs that opened up space behind her. Gone was the player who often fell under some tough challenges, conceding possession in dangerous zones. She seemed far more locked into the holding role, and played it far better than she generally has managed.

She still isn’t the most dynamic passer—generally opting for static sideways balls if at all possible—but that’s really the only complaint to be found about her play. She was even able to pick and choose a fair number of opportunities to get forward and contribute in the box.

It’s never a good idea to draw firm conclusions from one game, particularly against a team as young and raw as this Washington side. But at least on the first impression, Coach Andonovski surely will have been pleased to see the Long and Fishlock partnership work out so well.

The magical Rapinoe

The Megan Rapinoe renaissance continues apace. She put on a show in this game, absolutely bamboozling Taylor Smith on multiple occasions, ranging far and wide to get the ball, shooting at will, and playing plenty of beautiful passes as well. It was a majestic game, from a player who may have lost half a step of pace, but who has more than made up for it with guile and precision.

That said, it’s once again worth mentioning the opposition. Taylor Smith had a great year in 2017, but hasn’t looked nearly as solid so far in 2018. Her first half here was particularly rough, as she persistently overcommitted only to find herself turned and chasing Rapinoe. She also struggled enormously trying to establish a working partnership on with Whitney Church—whose lack of pace exposed huge gaps in the right side of the defense.

Jodie Taylor also deserves credit. While she didn’t provide any singular moments to rival those of Rapinoe, her presence was felt all through the night. Seattle desperately needed a true #9 last year to establish a point of attack, soak up pressure, and give Rapinoe and Naho someone to play off. With Taylor, they’ve now got one, and it brought the attack into clear focus.

A backline full of options

All of the key performances for Seattle took place in the front six, but there’s plenty worth discussing in the back half of the pitch as well. We should begin by noting the incredible depth of the Seattle defense. The five starters last night are all excellent, but you could conduct a complete line change and replace them with five more top-level players. After all, they were missing two starters away on international duty (Lydia Williams in goal and Steph Catley at left back) and another (Yael Averbuch) to illness. Then consider names like Christen Westphal, Maddie Bauer, and Kristen McNabb and you’ve got two full defensive units that could easily be starting.

Of the group that started this game, the clearest positive story was Theresa Nielsen, whose first game in the league went very well. Many have suggested that the combination of Nielsen and Catley gives Seattle the best fullback duo in the league, and on the evidence of the night, there seems to be a lot to that. She is a dynamic player who will do a lot to settle the position for them. On the other side, Utsugi did fine, not blowing down any doors but getting the job done. It seems like she will be a nice luxury for Andonovski this year: a seasoned player who probably doesn’t start when everyone is healthy, but who can cover virtually any midfield or defensive position in a pinch.

At center back, Lauren Barnes looked a bit shaky. She has been a mainstay at Seattle for years, but appears to be in one of those phases that often hit players as they emerge out of their peak years: still good, but struggling to adapt to a slight loss of physical performance. It will be worth watching to see whether Averbuch slots immediately in as a starter once she’s healthy. On a team with fewer options, both would certainly be expected to play every day, but on a team with depth, some rotation might serve both players best, giving them time for rest and recovery to allow full exertion when they’re called on.

Finally, Michelle Betos put on quite a show in her first game back in the NWSL since she departed after the 2016 season. It was a vintage Betos performance, with some impressive sweeping, a few nice saves, and a few moments to set the heart racing. Williams should still be expected to start once she returns, but at a bare minimum Betos showed that Seattle have solid depth in the position.

Verdict still out, but a promising start

Ultimately, one game is only one game. Things could still very easily go wrong. But one theme coming into the year was concern that it might take Vlatko time to get everyone working together, to imprint his vision, and to establish the sort of style he wants to see. With five new players (many of them down the spine of the team), more new players to come, and a new coach, it would be understandable if things hadn’t really gelled. Instead, they hit the ground running.

Last year, Seattle finished fifth, five points off of a playoff spot. The four teams who finished ahead of them can’t have liked what they saw on Saturday night.

The NWSL QuickCap: Week One

Posted on by RJ Allen

*Announcer voice* And here is your weekly recap of NWSL games.

Actually, I hate talking. That’s why I write. And I have no idea what sort of voice I’ll be writing in as this goes. Newsy? Sardonic? Trolling? Quickly fired? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Anyway, *Announcer voice* here is your weekly recap of NWSL games.

North Carolina defeated Portland 1-0 in a rematch of last year’s final, except for Long, Hatch, Henry and various other notable names moved in a very busy offseason. Per the internet, because I’m always at mass during the Lifetime Random Live Sporting Event Without Lead In or Follow Up, the one goal was by Débora Cristiane de Oliveira, but you can call her Debhina.

In a battle of the two newest teams in the league, Orlando and Utah tied 1-1. Utah, looking remarkably like FCKC but with Kelley O’Hara and without Shea Groom—and coached by Laura Harvey—gave up a PK (converted by Marta) on an iffy Sauerbrunn handball. Utah’s first franchise goal came from Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir, taking up the mantle of Only Icelandic Player in the NWSL as Dagný Brynjarsdóttir is on maternity leave. Notable from this game may not be the lack of finishing from either side, but the collision between Utah’s GK Abby Smith (late of Boston) and Orlando’s Alex Morgan (late of Epcot) that has Morgan in the concussion protocol.

Seattle is currently the highest-scoring team in the league, following a 2-1 win over Washington. Megan Rapinoe, looking to continue her strong form from last season, and England’s Jodie Taylor, scored in the first half for the Reign, and Joanna Lohman struck for the rebuilt Washington in the second. This game featured the return of Michelle Betos to NWSL, in net for Seattle. While only traditional Hot Take specialists are up in arms at this point, the Spirit featuring the future of the USWNT in Mallory Pugh, Rose Lavelle (injured) and Andi Sullivan will surely be under the microscope as the season progresses.

In the most surprising result of the week, Houston showed up. Oh, there’s more. They were competitive and controlled much of the game, leading 1-0 on a Kimberly Keever (no profile picture on the NWSL site, even) goal until Chicago’s Taylor Comeau equalized at 90’+2. With Sam Kerr on Matildas duty and Ertz and Short among the injuries, Chicago is probably going to look very different in future games.

Sky Blue had the bye.

So bye. Until next week.

Utah Royals FC Preview: Can They be a Contender?

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Utah Royals FC are the newest NWSL team on the scene. However, after a quick game of musical chairs this fall, the team secured an experienced head coach and a veteran lineup.

On November 7, the Seattle Reign announced that Laura Harvey was stepping down and FC Kansas City head coach Vlatko Andonovski would take her place. Nine days later, MLS owner Dell Loy Hansen announced women’s professional soccer would arrive to the Salt Lake Valley in 2018. 

By November 20, the league ceased operations of FC Kansas City and announced players would be reallocated to the Utah franchise. Seven days later, Harvey was named the new coach of the yet-to-be-named franchise.

Come March 24, the Royals will open their inaugural season against the Orlando Pride. Here is what you need to know about Harvey and company. 

Head Coach: Laura Harvey (First season with Utah, sixth season in NWSL)

2017 record: FC Kansas record 8-9-7

Projected Starting XI:

Goalkeeper: Nicole Barnhart

Defenders: Kelley O’Hara, Rachel Corsie, Becky Sauerbrunn, Becca Moros

Midfielders: Lo’eau LaBonta, Diana Matheson, Desiree Scott

Forwards: Amy Rodriguez, Katie Stengel, Brittany Ratcliffe

Player you should know:

Canadian midfielder Diana Matheson is definitely a player every women’s soccer fan should know. She was an integral part of the success of the Washington Spirit club that made its first NWSL Championship appearance in 2016.  She signed with the Seattle Reign last year but missed the 2017 season after tearing her ACL (left knee) playing with Canada last February. Matheson returned to the Canadian National Team for the 2018 Algarve Cup and followed Harvey from Seattle to Salt Lake City.

Under the Radar:

Taylor Lytle collected five assists for Sky Blue FC last season. She is deceptively quick and crafty in the midfield. “She is a player I have admired for a while now,” said Harvey in a December press release. “In Taylor, we have a player who has been a stalwart for Sky Blue over five seasons; whenever I would coach against her, she would always cause my team problems, so I’m now very glad that we are on the same team … we expect that bringing in someone like Taylor who has such a great attitude for the game will only enhance our roster.”

Biggest offseason acquisition:

Kelley O’Hara coming over from Sky Blue FC was the largest get for the team formerly known as FCKC. O’Hara has proven she can play anywhere on the pitch and make an impact. Sky Blue FC often relied on O’Hara’s versatility. It will be interesting to see how Harvey utilizes O’Hara. She is fast, fit and an absolute tank of a player.

Biggest rival:

Harvey and Vlatko Andonovski have essentially swapped teams. Andonovski led five of the current Utah Royals to back-to-back championships in 2014-15. Additionally, Andonovski may have something to prove after two disappointing seasons. If he can keep the Reign in the top five teams, it is very possible that those June and July match-ups versus Utah will be important. 

Most memorable moment from 2017:

N/A, unless being relocated counts.

Why they’re the team to watch in 2018:

First, one look at the roster and one notices big names in the game. Canadian Olympic medalists Desiree Scott and Diana Matheson (2012) join American Olympians Nicole Barnhart (2008, 2012), Becky Sauerbrunn (2012, 2016), Amy Rodriguez (2008, 2012) and Kelly O’Hara (2012) for a star-studded roster. The latter three are also reigning FIFA World Cup Champions.

Additionally, Harvey has secured her lineup with solid role players such as Becca Moros, Corsie and Taylor Lytle. This team has enough stars to be a contender, but also has a good balance of role players to grind out the ups and downs of an NWSL season.

Harvey is a masterful coach with two NWSL Shields for the Seattle Reign. She led her team to two-consecutive NWSL postseason appearances. Additionally, the Utah Royals franchise has invested a great deal of resources in its newest team. From facilities to vehicles for the players, the Royals are investing in women’s soccer in America like no other club.

Predicted finish:

It’s reasonable to expect a solid performance from the Royals. However, with all the trades in the offseason, they are not the only team with significant roster changes.  Harvey does not have a top five 2017 goal scorer on her squad. However, Barnhart led the league in saves (97) last season.

I expect this team to be middle of the pack with a chance at the playoffs. So, in numerical terms, I have them finishing sixth. Although, this may be a conservative prediction.

Success depends on:

Staying healthy. Both Matheson and Rodriguez are coming off major injuries. Sauerbrunn has also missed time with the National Team due to injury. Utah is missing a superstar in the true sense of the word. This is a team likely to work best when all its players are at peak performance. 

Fun prediction:

In case you didn’t know, Broon is a gamer!  She is especially fond of Tomb Raider and recently participated in the #TombRaiderTraining challenge. I predict she will continue to film video game or movie-inspired training sessions throughout the season. Honestly, who doesn’t want to see that?

Portland Thorns Preview: What Do You Get For a Team that Has Everything?

Posted on by RJ Allen

It’s easy to forget, but 2017 started out as a pretty difficult year for the Thorns. Tobin Heath was out almost all season after an all time year for club and country in 2016. It put a wrench in their attacking plans and they stumbled around a bit lost in the early part of the season but they ended up closing out the season with nine wins from ten and winning the championship. They learned how to defend as a unit, letting in the least goals over the course of the season of any team, and former bench players stepped up to make a name for themselves. Portland, historically a team of superstars, became a team of players with a point to make. 

Head Coach: Mark Parsons

2017 record: 14-5-5, 2nd in the league.

Projected Starting XI:
Caitlin Foord was meant to be the new attacking addition that would make Portland’s offense tick. No one, however, does exactly what Foord does, and since she is projected to be injured for most of the season, expect Portland to rely on pushing their fullbacks forward to generate offense, perhaps morphing permanently into the back three that was hinted at last season.

Goalkeeper: Adrianna Franch
Defense: Midge Purce, Katherine Reynolds, Emily Sonnett, Emily Menges, Meghan Klingenburg
Midfield: Lindsay Horan, Andressinha
Forwards: Hayley Raso, Christine Sinclair, Tobin Heath

Player you should know: Have you heard of Christine Sinclair, second all-time international goal scorer, most-capped Canadian international by a lot, and Portland legend? The veteran striker has been making adjustments to her game since she can’t just race past players at will anymore, dropping deeper and directing attacks, and she still looks like one of the best players on the field. Appreciate her ability and her vision before she calls time on an incredible career.

Under the radar: It’s almost a cliche to describe Emily Menges as underrated at this point, but until she gets a serious look in the national team, it will keep being true. The longest-serving member of an athletic and well-drilled backline that let in the fewest goals in the league last season, Menges is often tasked with cleaning up after players who get caught up the pitch. She’s rarely caught out of position, and when she is, she has the recovery speed and the tenacity to make decisive tackles anyway.

Biggest off-season acquisition: Andressinha. The Brazilian international midfielder acquired in a trade with Houston arrives as one of the top attacking players in the NWSL with excellent passing ability and a strong shot from outside the box. Where she will fit into a team that is flush with attacking midfielders is yet to be determined (she has played defensive midfield for Houston before), but once she gets on the same page as Heath and Sinclair, the Thorns might be able to play rings around their opponents.

Biggest rival: Traditionally Seattle, although in recent years games against North Carolina have been feisty enough to elevate the Courage to equal rivals in the eyes of many fans.

Most memorable moment from 2017: A 4-1 demolition of the Orlando Pride in the playoff semifinals at home, where the Thorns went up 2-0 in 20 minutes. They were creative in possession in the first half and ripped Orlando apart on the counterattack once their lead was solidified. It was one of their few complete performances in the league during a season largely defined by defending.

Why they’re the team to watch in 2018: They lost their European contingent in the off-season, but other than that, this is a team that has seen very little change for two seasons and won silverware in both. Despite those successes, however, this team still feels like it has a lot to prove. They won last year, but relied heavily on a strong defense, and provided little of the slick offense that the team wants to play. Can they be the first team to win the Shield and the Championship in the same year? Other teams at the top keep getting better, so it won’t be easy.

Predicted finish: 3rd. The Thorns will remain defensively strong and will retain their ability to shut down games, but the rest of the league is improving on offense and the Thorns, due to unfortunate circumstances, are standing still.

Success depends on: Will they stay healthy? Tobin Heath spent virtually all of last season injured and new acquisition Caitlin Foord—who was expected to be the lynchpin on the forward line—is going to spend most of this season injured. Last year the team went through a few games without being able to fill their bench, and this is a year with a heavier international schedule. Rotation players such as Celeste Boureille, Meg Morris, Midge Purce, and Mallory Weber will have to step up and play a big role.

Fun prediction: Look for Emily Sonnett to do some playmaking from the backline. It’s something she worked on when away at the W-League, and for a team without a clear starting defensive midfielder, she could well be in line to play as the league’s first libero. Fans of wildly attacking centerbacks, rejoice.

Seattle Reign Preview: the NWSL’s Newest Old Team

Posted on by RJ Allen

Once upon a time, the Seattle Reign were the most dominant team in the NWSL, playing a brand of fast-paced, possession-oriented soccer that remains some of the most attractive we’ve seen in the young league. For two years, they were all but unstoppable, winning the shield in 2014 with 54 points and a ridiculous goal differential of +30. Although they’ve never won a championship, that squad was the most successful in league history by just about any other measure.

In 2016 and 2017 though, following the departure of some key players, the Reign fell off. They landed in the middle of the table in both years, combining some great wins with a lot of lackluster performances, with huge defensive shortcomings in 2017 especially.

At the close of the 2017 season, Laura Harvey, the Reign’s only coach to that point, announced her departure, and the team brought on Vlatko Andonovski of FC Kansas City. Andonovski made wholesale changes to the roster this offseason, marking a new era in Reign history. What happens next in Seattle is one of the most interesting open questions going into this new season.

Head Coach: Vlatko Andonovski

2017 record: 9-7-8 (34 points), fifth place in the league

Projected Starting XI:

Goalkeeper: Lydia Williams (it’s worth noting, though, that she won’t arrive until late April—so if Michelle Betos is in form, Williams could end up fighting for playing time)

Defense: Theresa Nielsen, Yael Averbuch, Lauren Barnes, Steph Catley

Midfield: Jess Fishlock, Allie Long, Rumi Utsugi

Forwards: Megan Rapinoe, Jodie Taylor, Nahomi Kawasumi

Player you should know: Jess Fishlock has been the center of this team for a long time. She’s a famously (or infamously, depending on where you’re standing) physical, extremely hard-working midfielder who can dictate play from the center of the pitch and has a knack for scoring from distance—and under Laura Harvey, she was basically second in command, with a level of influence that went well beyond what she did on the field. Following an enormous roster overhaul this offseason, Fishlock is the most important remaining link to the Reign of old, and one of the biggest questions going into the season is what her working relationship with Andonovski ends up looking like.

Under the radar: To longtime Reign fans, Nahomi Kawasumi is hardly a secret, but she’s a key contributor to the Seattle offense who gets relatively little fanfare in the national press. She’s an archetypal Japanese player, extremely smart and technical with a buttery-smooth touch, and notched nine assists last year—just one short of the single-season record in the NWSL.

Biggest off-season acquisition: With so much turnover, it’s hard to pick just one answer.

I’m going to interpret “biggest” to mean “most surprising,” though, and go with Allie Long. If it weren’t for that other big trade, the Long-Foord trade would have been the biggest news this offseason, simply for the drama: a standby for Portland, who many would have expected to retire in red, seemingly requesting a trade to her club’s longtime rival (more on that in a minute). Thorns fans were heartbroken. Reign fans were skeptical.

Let’s stick to the field, though. Long was inconsistent in 2017—when she played at all—and observers of the national team probably know her best for her ill-fated stint at centerback. Neither is representative, though; over five years in Portland, Long proved herself as a multi-use player who can have an impact anywhere in the central midfield.

“I don’t know exactly what role she’s going to play,” Andonovski told me in a phone interview, “but I feel like she has a quality to play any role in the middle. She can play in front of two center backs and be a great six, but at the same time, she has the stamina and the ability to go box to box—and also, she has the creative and finishing abilities to play at the ten. So I’m pretty sure she’ll do well regardless of what we ask from her.”

Biggest rival: Portland. In the six-year-old NWSL, there are still few actual rivalries—especially given that teams keep relocating or folding altogether. The Thorns-Reign rivalry, however, is absolutely real, in the eyes of fans and players alike. Portland fans carry a much longer-established animosity towards the Seattle Sounders over to the women’s side, while Reign fans look at Portland as the unfairly-advantaged evil empire to the south. Look for things to get especially heated this year, in the wake of the Long trade.

Most memorable moment from 2017: Instead of choosing a single moment, I’m going to point to Seattle’s last two matches against Sky Blue, each of which ended 5-4—one in the Reign’s favor, one in Sky Blue’s. Incredibly, there were two other games last season in which Seattle scored at least five goals, but those two matches brought out both the best and the worst in two teams with high-flying offenses and poor defenses.

The scoreline in the first match was 4-0 in Seattle’s favor by the 60th minute, when Kelley O’Hara put away a penalty. Sky Blue nearly came back to draw, before a Rapinoe goal in the 87th minute netted her a hat trick and put the game away for the Reign. The second match played out similarly, with Seattle up 3-0 heading into halftime before Sam Kerr scored four in the second half. These matches were a perfect storm, a meeting of two teams seemingly engineered to yield the most exciting (or stressful) possible soccer—and if Andonovski has done his job, nothing remotely like them will happen in 2018.

Why they’re the team to watch in 2018: Seattle are not literally a new team, but in just about every sense short of having moved and rebranded, this is a revamped Seattle team. As such, there are layers of storylines here.

Andonovski is one of the league’s most successful coaches, but headed a team that struggled in the last two years of its existence. The Reign, meanwhile, once played some of the most dominant and attractive soccer we’ve seen in the NWSL, but couldn’t pick up the pieces after losing key players in successive years. It’s an almost poetic matchup.

” I think my coaching style is attacking-minded,” he says. “Based on possession and being able to progress from one zone to another, very methodical, being able to break lines or advance forward with short, sharp, and accurate passes.” Andonovski’s teams have also, historically, been defensively strong, even in years where they stumbled offensively. That’s good news for a Seattle side whose defense was among the worst in the league last year.

Predicted finish: Fourth in the table. This roster has the potential to be really good, but so many new players aren’t going to gel overnight. I expect them to be hit-and-miss early in the season, and pick up steam as they get into the summer.

Success depends on: What else? Defense. That was one of Andonovski’s first priorities coming in, and, accordingly, he’s brought in some world-class defenders to join longtime mainstay Lauren Barnes. Steph Catley and Theresa Nielsen are upgrades at outside back—although the left side of the defense may suffer as Catley misses playing time early for the Asian Cup. Yael Averbuch followed Andonovski from FCKC, and Megan Oyster, picked up in the Boston dispersal draft, is likely a depth piece, but strong one.

Fun prediction: Harvey and Andonovski meet again in the championship match. Lydia Williams is sent off with minutes left in overtime, and, with no subs left, Fishlock goes in goal. Tune in to the 2018 season to see what happens next.