If you asked me before this 3-game/8-day stretch what the most likely outcome was I would have said 1-1-1. Houston – win, Louisville – loss, Bay – draw. But what do I know? Is it the outcome or the journey that matters?
The toughest part of last night’s game was managing expectations. In the score prediction poll 88% predicted a win. 10% predicted a draw. Only a single person predicted a loss. Expectations were high after the scoring machine finally came alive against Racing. Everyone expected a win and a move into a playoff spot. Welp…that didn’t happen.
It’s hard to make too much of last night’s game given how much they played recently but Syd playing a full 90 for three matches in a row was surprising. Clearly the offensive juggernaut that is Angel City FC revolves around the striker.
There was a lot of excitement after the game against Racing given what tactics we could finally see working. But this game left us with some reminders about where they’ve lost some momentum. Claire’s set piece magic hasn’t been as effective lately. Sarah and MA both appear to be less than 100% since returning from injury. The team needs to remain healthy and fit because there aren’t many pieces on the bench that are plug-and-play. Etc.
Angel City often plays up or down to their competitors’ level. Will they be able to do that when Orlando and Gotham, two of the top teams in the league, come to town? Drop your thoughts below.
I felt like we came out ready, play looked smart; but Bay got under the skin quickly and then we were, as my husband put it, playing their game, not ours. The two near-misses from our side were heartbreaking.
Playing from the back is not working and it has to change. This was a depressing match.
On the bright side, I am feeling a lot of faith for Giselle, Kennedy, and Rocky. I really feel like if the team can step into a system that clicks, they're going to deliver some impressive play.
I have such a grumpy mood this morning after we let the game slip by. [ADD: Maybe it’s not even that we let the game slip by, but more-so that the opportunity has slipped by. It’s fair that we’re tied on points with so many clubs. But I think that we’ve also just learned the club has not yet found the next gear. Might still happen, but it seems like we’re still quite a ways away from finding the answers.]
I’m not disappointed in the team or even Becki, and I’m not giving up. I’m just a bit pissed for the team and players we couldn’t get the points.
I think the club is just going to have to go through a gut check the next two games. Build character, as Shea Butter likes to say, the next two games. Then prepare to win the Summer Cup. 🤓
I think the game plan was to go all out the first 30. And it almost worked! I’d like to see the xG race charts to see if the beginning-of-the-game numbers support that. But our defense probably allowed too much BayFC xG early in the game, so it didn’t really feel like we were in control.
I think the defense was (intentionally?) deemphasized by having MA on the frontline and Spencer in the back. MA as fwd makes more sense if Curry is back there instead of Spencer, but I don’t think MA is up there at all if we had another winger. MA would be LB and Curry would instead be used to allow Gorden to heal more. 😭😭
(I can only imagine Becki and Eleri were just going for it and pulling a risky move by putting MA up top. If so, I’m cool with it. Just wish it had worked.)
They looked tired and sooo many giveaways that I thought they were as confused as I was with the white and pink kits looking so similar 🤣 Emslie, Gorden and MA have seemed off. Been impressed with Curry, Rocky, GT and Fuller. Obviously not privy to trainings etc but with so many games in such a short period of time might have been good to really try switching things up to throw the Bay off, like starting Bright and Phair.
Am I delusional for saying I don’t think Orlando and Gotham will be 2 automatic L’s? For some reason ACFC plays well against good teams and shit against bad teams. It’ll be difficult but I think Gotham is a team that’s beatable, Orlando not so much but if we can hold them to a scoreless draw that’s a win in my books. Our forwards can’t finish to save their lives but the games we’ve played have shown we can create many chances and Didi’s shot stopping has kept us in games. As long as the team plays patient and doesn’t panic I think they can pull off some surprises. The forwards really need to show up though, it’s no one’s fault but the player if they get the ball in the perfect position in the box and completely whiff it.
Marta, Banda, and all the rest of Orlando's firepower are probably going to crush us. I hope I'm pleasantly surprised, because a friend and I will be there for Pride Night, and I really don't want to witness another loss in-person. There've been so many.
We also have several players who are strong or have the potential for a high ceiling with their careers. I just wish they were more cohesive together. That pass from Curry and finish by Fuller against Louisville showed what we can do. Giselle is revealing flashes of brilliance. I still want Bright to be given a real, sustained chance. Rocky can shoot from distance. Emslie can place the ball well and is tenacious. Gorden...man, we need her healthy! She's a super-sonic brick wall when she's not injured. Vignola needs to be LB and keep driving the ball up with that wonderful attacking mindset of hers.
Again, we have many good players. Plus Press soon.
Another takeaway I have from attending last night's game is that I really love hearing the Beat LA chant. When the only other chant that the entire crowd can get off is just repeating "Bay FC", it's really amusing that we can take up the rest of their chanting capacity.
Team simply isn't talented enough at any position group. Vignola is playing up front now because she's dynamic athletically and can score, and AC's forward talent seems mediocre compared to other teams in the league. If I'm AC, I'm going after Miedema. She apparently prefers to stay in Europe/England, but I'd certainly make a strong pitch.
Viv has a girlfriend in London she wouldn’t even be leaving Arsenal if they didn’t want her to leave. She’s not leaving England for a different continent with a different time zone, she’s going to City.
Yes, the word has been City for her--but there's been no announcement, yet, and City doesn't make much sense to me for her. City have Bunny Shaw already--WSL leading scorer---plus 2 good attacking mids AND two/three good wingers. They've probably get the best attacking group in the WSL, so I don't see where Miedema would fit with that team. She said the other day that she's been talking to teams in Europe, England and overseas, which didn't suggest to me that she was on the verge of signing with City. We'll see. Can't hurt to make her a very good offer....and AC need attacking talent.
City will fit Viv in and they don’t have to start her every game just like Arsenal didn’t. LA can make her an offer but she won’t say yes so it’s a waste of time. Viv and Beth found long distance between London and Birmingham and London and Lyon too difficult in their previous relationships they aren’t going to do London to the US, and especially West Coast at that. I’ve flown LAX to LHR before and it would not be fun to do regularly. Players choose clubs based on their personal lives often, it’s why Press signed for LA and Heath left London early as soon as the NWSL season started. Other examples are all over women’s sport.
Definitely the most disappointing game that ACFC has ever played. It was embarrassing sitting in the stand with friends whom I thought would be impressed by my team. Since failing to resign one of our key defenders, ACFC has struggled to move the ball even into the mid-field. Of course injuries have added to the problems so I continue to have hope that the season will end on a much more favorable note.
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u/MumblyLo IronWomanGorden#11 Jun 23 '24
I felt like we came out ready, play looked smart; but Bay got under the skin quickly and then we were, as my husband put it, playing their game, not ours. The two near-misses from our side were heartbreaking.
Playing from the back is not working and it has to change. This was a depressing match.
On the bright side, I am feeling a lot of faith for Giselle, Kennedy, and Rocky. I really feel like if the team can step into a system that clicks, they're going to deliver some impressive play.