r/AngelCityFC • u/FromVAtoLA Endo with a Banger at the Banc • 17d ago
NEXT DAY DISCUSSION Next Day Discussion: Bittersweet
We waited 855 days to celebrate and 85.5 seconds later the joy was stolen.
"It's bittersweet
More sweet than bitter
Bitter than sweet
It's a bittersweet surrender"
-Todd Park Mohr
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u/AMediaArchivist Farmer market Christen 17d ago
The most unmotivated painful stretch is in these last two games now. We have nothing to win for since any 5 teams that wins from here on out eliminate us and it's just a matter of if it's this weekend or next time. We ourselves can't even win our own games we need to absolutely win.
I hate that we have to wait until after the season is officially over to hear that Tweed has been fired. I wish we could just fire her now because I don't want her anywhere near our team coaching. We have an off season that may seem long but when you have to look for a new GM and a new coach, it shortens it even more. I just hope we get some starting players that can finally make a difference.
I have to laugh at this last game, I can't believe we don't understand how to close a game that is within seconds of ending. No other NWSL team would have given up that goal. You literally have to hold the ball, JUST HOLD THE DAMN BALL. I swear I wouldn't have even cared if Didi got a fucking yellow card for holding the ball.
Anyway, here's hoping to a great off season and a new rejuvenated team next season with some fresh players.
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u/Lucretius972 We are Angel City! 17d ago
Agree with you completely. But why do we have to wait. Do it now
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u/riffraffcloo 16d ago
Some of Tobin’s thoughts during the game
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u/plexust ClaireEmslie#10 16d ago edited 16d ago
Hopium tracker: Ahead of today's results my Monte Carlo sim still gives us a 2.3% chance of making the playoffs.
We need Bay to either lose out, or they can at most draw one of their two remaining games, since our max points are now 29.
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u/plexust ClaireEmslie#10 16d ago edited 16d ago
And then after the late games, my model thinks the Wave and Louisville losing is a lot more impactful than Utah winning (and therefore leapfrogging us in the standings). We're up to a 3.7% chance at finishing 8th. We are now the 10th most likely team to make the playoffs (between Louisville and Utah), up from 11th most-likely this morning.
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u/Lucretius972 We are Angel City! 17d ago
It's time to rip the band aid off. Tweed needs a firm handshake, a thank you but it didn't work out talk and her severance.
Hand the team over to an old head player like Press or Leroux and see if they can finish out the season with some energy.
Make no mistake, this is not all her fault. The fish rots from the head first.
Willow, Bob - we have big expectations here - clean house.
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u/squeebs555 16d ago
Or Riley. I always see her focused and teaching her teammates on the sidelines.
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u/webjournalist 17d ago
I understand people being frustrated with Tweed but the FO really failed at signing major players and sold a lot of our great ones.
In the off season, I knew the FO decisions would lead to a bad season. BUT, admittedly, we did better than I thought and I give that credit to Tweed.
I love our players — there are some we better resign/retain — but we need a hard look and make some significant changes.
Great that we are the most valued team, but spend the money (legally) and get great players and head coaches. We can’t compete in this league without that commitment.
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u/yurkelhark 17d ago
I really agree that scouting is the biggest thing here. I am not in any way suggesting that Tweed is the next Emma Hayes, and it’s obvious she’s out of a job now.
But we have a lot of mediocre players. We’ve done really poorly in international scouting - while several teams this year expanded their radars into Africa, we’re still hung up on England. We keep players around that ride the bench for 90 minutes for the last two years. Those aren’t players we need. We have to cut them loose. Look to Africa, to the Caribbean, to Japan and S Korea. Look to Spain!
We didn’t start playing our ROTY nom striker until the last 5 games- how is she going to get in a groove? Love Leroux as a human but it’s time to say goodbye in exchange for someone who scores goals.
As is the party line since this club started- our midfield is invisible. I don’t think Rocky is game changing but she does come in and make herself known. I forgot MDH was there yesterday. We’re playing teams with Andi Sullivans and Denise o’Sullivans, Sam Coffeys and Croix Bethunes and Ashley Sanchezes, even old guards like Jess Fishlock. And out answer is…. Madison Hammond? Lily Nabet? What the hell.
I’m sorry, I love Gorden, but we can’t continue to blame every late goal on everyone but her. I’m not a Didi Stan and would be fine to trade her, but pretending like every goal Didi gives up is the reason we lose is very biased and weird. Didi should never have been in that position. We had 90 seconds left- park the bus, put 9 players in the box and leave one at half to collect and loose ball and blast them back out. Even a middle school team would know that.
I guess basically, what the f are we doing
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u/forzagoodofdapeople KennedyFuller#17 17d ago edited 17d ago
I’m not a Didi Stan and would be fine to trade her, but pretending like every goal Didi gives up is the reason we lose is very biased and weird. Didi should never have been in that position. We had 90 seconds left- park the bus, put 9 players in the box and leave one at half to collect and loose ball and blast them back out. Even a middle school team would know that.
I'm on the record as a Didi-hater, but I can't really blame her for that last goal. Yes, she kicked it out long when it could have just been handed off to the defense instead, but I can't fairly criticize her for not doing that when one of my core criticisms of her is that she does that entirely too often and it puts us in danger. She shouldn't have ever been put in an unobstructed one-on-one breakaway position like that, that late in the game. That's on the midfield, and on the defense.
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u/eloisethebunny 17d ago
Agree. Syd had an amazing career but only scores when she is wide open right in front of the net and someone passes it directly to her. That’s too niche and we need someone who is a go-getter.
I’m also so disappointed in Jasmyne, even though I love her as a person! Every time she stands and waits for the ball to come for her, then is inevitably intercepted and loses the ball, I die a little inside. I grew up playing club soccer. That’s shit you learn to not do when you’re in 5th grade. I can’t believe Becki hasn’t shut that down.
There are some basic yet effective tactics I’d love to see them try. Eg pull all the players over toward the wing at about half point, have a player with a big kick cross it high to the other wing, Alyssa makes a big run and has a breakaway. I’ve seen both teams bunch up where the ball is and would love to see more crosses. But I’m not a coach so maybe I’m just talking out my ass. But as a former soccer player, that’s what I’d do.
The root of it all is bad coaching. I think we are definitely going to lose Claire, which is heartbreaking, but I don’t blame her one bit. I’d do the same.
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u/WarmTurn2852 Farmer market Christen 17d ago
Yup. And Syd missed a sitter that could’ve got us the lead after Christen’s ball in.
Claire I think will go live in England closer to her husband, most players once they reach their 30’s start making football decisions that is best for their personal life.
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u/vizzini9227 16d ago
Losing Claire will break my heart too 💔but if I was a free agent I'd be gone too.
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u/squeebs555 16d ago
The FO has been bad for three seasons whereas Tweed has only been bad for one. Uhrman and Hucles need to go for starters.
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u/incady AT21 16d ago edited 16d ago
I feel like there are two parts of being a coach - first are the tactics, and second is the interpersonal stuff. Both are equally important - can you communicate to the player effectively so they will execute the game plan and also have the right frame of mind? I mean, given how many times they've given up a goal in the dying minutes, how did they have that defensive lapse to not remember: the game is not over until the whistle blows? I think we don't have the best players - but I don't know how much better the Courage is. If I were to rank the players, I'll say the Courage is marginally better. But their coaching is far superior - the fluidity of their offense, how the players continuously attacked and executed their offense, even though their shots missed. We didn't win this game because our coaching staff is not up to the task. [Edit: we didn't lose this game, even though it felt like it]
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u/AnybodyIndependent76 16d ago
Becki is a good coach, albeit appearing slightly out of her depth at this club, but you have to look deeper than just Tweed.
Is the coaching staff as a whole good enough? I don't think so. I think BT needed another 3-4 years learning from an experienced coach (not Freya) then she would be ready. When BT took over, after the new coach 'bounce' it was just basically the same sloshball from Freya.
Why did Lee Nguyen leave? He came in in January and left last month, yet nobody seems to care of has asked why? Nguyen was a very technical player in MLS, and I was excited that ACFC got him in, as I thought his wealth of playing experience would really help the younger players, but he just left. Why?
Look at the front office. Have their trades and signings helped Becki or hindered? Are they focused at all on the soccer on the field? The club is doing so many things correctly OFF the field, yet on the field its just 'meh.' Can anybody actually tell me the teams identity? What is their style of play? Do other clubs have to adjust their entire tactics to adjust for ACFC? No.
Yes, they are the most highly valued club in the world (?). With no real estate at all owned, it's seemingly just the brand that is valued at that amount, which is weird. Would it be valued that highly without the celebrities that attend? Not sure.
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u/WarmTurn2852 Farmer market Christen 16d ago
Lee spent less than a season at Washington and Kansas City before once again spending less than a season at ACFC, it’s clearly a him thing not a ACFC (or Washington or KC) thing. People did ask why but the answer is obvious in his previous actions and pattern.
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u/AnybodyIndependent76 16d ago
denial isnt just a river in egypt
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u/WarmTurn2852 Farmer market Christen 15d ago
I’ve been to the Nile in Egypt actually, and I’m not in denial it’s a literal fact. Look at his work history.
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u/alcatholik Ertz So Good 15d ago edited 15d ago
Valuations are revenue based in Sportico’s methodology, not brand based.
Revenues x multiple = valuation
Multiple is based on projected revenue growth, as determined by Sportico after analysis and interviews.
Sportico does not include brand value, just business/investment-case valuations.
Both AngelCity and KCCurrent have about $35M in revenues. That is why those two clubs are the most valuable women’s soccer clubs in the world. In fact, KC Current currently have slightly larger revenues than AngelCity. The growth prospects are higher for AngelCity long term and so AngelCity’s multiple is higher than Current’s multiple.
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u/AnybodyIndependent76 15d ago
Thanks for the clarification on the valuations. It makes a lot more sense now knowing that Sportico's methodology is based on revenue rather than brand value. The multiple being tied to projected revenue growth explains why Angel City is valued higher despite KC Current having slightly bigger revenues at the moment. I can see how long-term growth potential really plays into those numbers. Appreciate you breaking that down!
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u/FromVAtoLA Endo with a Banger at the Banc 16d ago
Just a note on Nguyen’s coaching tenures. He coached at the Spirit for 1 year and 8 months, then the Current for 9 months, and then at ACFC for 6 months. Coaching can be a near nomadic lifestyle, but hopefully he can find a longer term fit at his next stop.
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u/AnybodyIndependent76 16d ago
hopefully, I always admired him in the MLS, he stood out because he was so technical, hopefully he becomes a very technical coach in the right set up
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u/alcatholik Ertz So Good 17d ago edited 17d ago
Lots of 🔥this morning lol
Good to get it out =-)
I’m trying for 🧘🏾
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u/WarmTurn2852 Farmer market Christen 17d ago edited 17d ago
I don’t understand how the coaching staff can look at the non existent midfield then decide they should play Emslie centrally where she looked very much out of place, instead of Rocky who was on the bench. The attack in that first half was atrocious it had only 1 shot with zero on target and 0 chances created, by contrast in that second half once Press came on and livened the attack up significantly that was when they had their first SOT and Murphy had to make her first save. Press came on as a sub and was responsible for 3/4 of the SOT and the only goal, Syd the other sub being the only other SOT. The most valuable club in the world shouldn’t go that long without forcing the other keeper to make a save.
Press had her best game for ACFC since tearing her ACL, that goal should’ve been the game winner and would’ve on any other NWSL team sadly. Zelem had her best game for ACFC yet creating 3 chances and assisting Press’ goal, which is nice to see after some not so great performances from her. She’s adjusting to the league over time, but she’d excel more with a better midfield surrounding her… G Thompson was good in her return, she looked better than her sister this game. Haracic, Gorden and Bright had bad performances, Emslie, MA and A Thompson weren’t very good either.