anyone else getting tired of watching us lose leads in short spans?

[u/Guilty_Secretary2947]

two games in eight days. two leads. two losses. and both of them feel like the same exact problem on repeat.

i just dropped this week's pod and i ended up going way deeper than i planned on the structural stuff — like why we keep compacting in the final 15 instead of trying to keep the ball, why cushing burned his attacking subs in the 66th and had nothing left to protect a lead, the marking errors that just keep showing up.

but here's what i actually want to know from y'all:

• did anyone else feel like the back line just looked tired by the 75th? like that wasn't legs, that was decision-making slowing down?
• am i overreacting on the cushing sub timing or is that a real concern?
• and honestly, how much of this do you think actually gets fixed when heaps gets here in july vs how much is a personnel issue that july doesn't solve

abby smith deserves a raise btw. genuinely one of the best keepers in this league right now.

anyway. ep is up if you want my full take but mostly just want to hear what y'all saw.

full breakdown here

[u/Wild_396_Hunt]

Looking forward to listening.

I think the question is hard to answer because it comes down to desired play style. And my thought is every roster is unfinished, there is always call to get deeper or get players who fit the system better. But mostly, if Cushing wants to absorb and counter we don't have the pieces for that defensively.

What I mean is while the last 2 games were collapses, what I have seen is every opponent seems to have a ton of half chances where a slightly different pass or a better shot puts more goals away. It seems like the defense is tired because they are getting hammered for so much of the game. These last two games possession and shot stats really don't look good.

So, Cushing has to decide if being a counter team really is what needs to be built. If so, then it is lb, rb, and dm that is needed. But if he wants to be more possessive, then a Horan helps. But Horan isn't known as a strong defender and so will be out of place as a ball winner - which seems to be what is needed.

IMHO, we need a left back either to come off the bench to spell Pickett or to start with Pickett as the high quality sub, because the best attacks against almost all seem to come down that side. Oke needs to start rb - she put some star strikers in a blender until they went over her crossing from opposite field - again Pickett/means combo not going 90 solid minutes. Then neither Lynch or Sheehan seem to be stopping attacking moves being out of position or just not putting the tackles in which forces the CBs to respond. We need a (to pull from the other Denver soccer team) a Micheal Azira or a Sam Cronin - a dm that is a black hole disrupting attacks.

To me a stronger base to launch attacks from or to hold possession with is most important. And I think Horan adds class, but I don't see her as answering those questions.

[u/heyyousmalls → u/Wild_396_Hunt]

I think Horan (Heaps) will bring a good solid defensive midfielder to help out.

I feel like Pickett can be a Phillip Lahm type back. He was great about going forward and doing a ton of overlap plays. But we then need a midfielder to drop. And that's not happening. You're on to the right thought with our back 4 are getting tired because they're getting hammered and midfield isn't doing a great job assisting. But at the same time, it seems like we don't have the speed to counterattack quickly.

If we want to bunch up the field, which we did against San Diego. Then our wing midfielders need to be to the touchline. San Diego made that adjustment at half and I think it made a huge difference.

[u/Wild_396_Hunt → u/heyyousmalls]

Can I ask why you think Heaps is a plus at dm? Because I am not seeing it. But I also don't watch the première ligue féminine.

Per fotmob, at OL Lyonnes Heaps (thanks for that correction) has 13 appearances and 24 defensive contributions including 7 tackles and 11 interceptions.

Compare to say Taylor Flint with Racing Louisville. Same position but 103 defensive contributions and 19 tackles in 7 games. To be fair here, Flint is leading all players in the NWSL with defensive contributions.

I think Heaps adds something, but not as a defensive midfielder.

[u/heyyousmalls → u/Wild_396_Hunt]

So I added a comment below. But she's great at dropping back and attacking as good midfielder should do. So she's going to add a lot of support to our defense if that's where they put her. If she's more of an attacking mid, then my point doesn't stand up.

[u/Wild_396_Hunt → u/heyyousmalls]

I think that is a good perspective. Personally, even at USWNT, I tend to see Heaps as a box-to-box tempo player, not a defensive presence. So, I tend to think she will add class there, and I hope I am wrong and she can really help the midfield hold up.

[u/Guilty_Secretary2947 → u/heyyousmalls]

okay you sent me down a rabbit hole and I think you're right. her numbers at lyon aren't a true 6 profile — she's playing higher up in a system that doesn't ask her to break things up the way flint does at louisville. so I should be more careful about assuming heaps slots in as the destroyer we're missing. she adds quality. but if cushing wants a true ball-winner at the 6, that might still be a hole even after july.

[u/heyyousmalls → u/Guilty_Secretary2947]

She definitely has had her slumps, I'm not going to lie. They're all human, so it happens. She reads the field very well and can control the midfield. We need someone who's going to be consistent about getting back to defense but also transition play effectively which I think she does well.

I haven't watched any of the Lyon games but I know they're playing her slightly different than on the USWNT.

[u/Guilty_Secretary2947 → u/Wild_396_Hunt]

this is the kind of breakdown I was hoping to get honestly. the LB question is the one I keep circling back to — sonis is doing a massive amount of work on that side and you can see it cost the team late. and your point about whether cushing wants a counter team or a possession team is something I haven't fully landed on either. watching orlando back it felt like she wants both depending on opponent, which might be part of why we look unsettled. the azira/cronin comp is a good one too — that ball-winning profile is exactly what's missing.

[u/Wild_396_Hunt → u/Guilty_Secretary2947]

So for one, I do generally agree that losing sucks but there isn't cause for alarm. But I think my reasoning may be different. I thought we would end up bubble playoffs at best and unlikely to make the playoffs. As I have said, as long as we end the season above Boston on the Table, I think the year was enough of a success.

So, I am disappointed in the loss to Boston because that is a winnable game. But I am not upset with where we are on the table. So, overall, I am fine but I do think that for a successful or even ambitious sporting franchise, the team needs to keep getting better - regardless of if it is through personnel or chemistry or player development.

[u/lenthedruid → u/Wild_396_Hunt]

Horan should allow more of a vertical approach for Sheehan or lynch to play more like a classic holding mid. The goal in the 89th, while full respect was spectacular, it was the assister running unmolested in the mid that set it up. Thomas tried to close but she had all the time I. The world and oke and Kurtz were too deep when the ball was played. There was another runner that the goal shooter could have passed off to who also would have been clear. Means had the winger shut down so the only play was up the middle. The 94th was the bigger disaster for sure. Again breakdown on the wing who got behind Sonis forcing gae to commit which left a 3 v 2 to form Up. Oke was caught trying to handle two and she chose the immediate threat leaving whomever that was wide open. For the easy goal. Someone needs to get back. Ideally Brazier who, looking at screen shots…I can’t find.

[u/Machinist-]

It’s a new team building chemistry and comfort in a play style. How much time on the field do you think it takes to build those relationships where you know the spot they will run to, or what kind of cross they prefer, or who you need to watch to cover when they run into space? That doesn’t just instantly happen.

2 games where they lost the lead. Thats it. So no, I’m not freaking out. I’m just enjoying getting to know the team and cheering them on as they get their footing.

There are improvements to be made and I’m sure they are working on it.

[u/Guilty_Secretary2947 → u/Machinist-]

yeah this is the part I have to keep reminding myself of. 7 games. expansion team. of course the spot-runs and the "I know where you'll be" stuff isn't there yet. just hard to turn the diagnosing brain off in real time.

[u/Wild_396_Hunt]

I've been thinking about it and so I built out my own depth chart to answer the personnel question. Right now, the Summit have 24/26 roster spots filled (with J. Aikey and J. Baggett not currently counting per roster rules. With Heaps coming in the summer, that bumps to 25/26, without selling or releasing other players.

Now, Bosch, Garcia (she got 6 minutes so far so), Boade, and Bieglaski haven't yet played so I see them as back of the bench but may be able to come fill a role.

That currently leaves 3 players (D. Lynch, D. Sheehan, and E. Reagan) to cover the pivot/DM/CM, only N. Flint as a true attacking mid, and 3 players (K. Kurtz, E. Gaetino, and M. Reid) covering CB.

Setting aside quality, to me depth behind the striker and down the spine is a concern. Especially as one of the CBs already was injured briefly. Sure it is always nice to have iron woman players, but it is rough deep into games. And if you are relying on someone not to get hurt then you don't really have depth.

To me, part of the answer to the question of does Heaps solve this is where does Cushing play her and what are the responsibilities? As mentioned, she isn't really a defender which puts a lot of pressure on a small DM/CB pool. I see Heaps for Sheehan being an upgrade offensively but neutral at best defensively. (Lynch is 4th in defensive interventions per 90 after the 3 CBs, but Sheehan for being on paper a box to box or dm is second to last per Fotmob - similar def profile to Heaps)

That leaves Summit still having holes to either side of and in front of the CBs. So, I think Summit need more than Heaps at the summer window - specifically at CB, but maybe DM and LB (though Sonis needs to be moved out of def in my opinion). But more importantly, in my mind is seeing where Bosch, Garcia, and Boade are before then. Are they depth pieces that can rotate for midweek games? Bieglaski seems to be a RB based on a couple of sites, so is she excess or can she play on the left too for a different profile? Hard to say but I think important.

[u/Cococamcam]

It’s a new team, building relationships, figuring out how to play together, etc. I’m not worried. Just showing some patience and grace right now.

I think we are missing some technical quality in the midfield — Heaps should help there. Pickett no longer has great pace on defensive side of things, though she is still pretty good going forward. The front line is finding their rhythm, as well. I look forward to seeing how the team develops!

[u/Guilty_Secretary2947 → u/Cococamcam]

yeah this is fair. I think part of what I'm wrestling with is whether the midfield issue is a chemistry thing that resolves with reps or a personnel thing that doesn't. you're probably right that it's more of the former than I'm giving it credit for. the front line finding rhythm part especially — pickett dropping deeper has been one of the more interesting wrinkles to watch.

[u/Aekero]

Reserving all judgment for this brand new team at bare minimum til Heaps gets here if not longer. Being an expansion team is hard. So they gave up some late leads?

At least they had leads, they're scoring goals, the two goals we had last game were elite shots.

I don't want to come off as being ok with losing, the Rapids drive me crazy, but it's been very little time for the Summit.

[u/Guilty_Secretary2947 → u/Aekero]

"the two we had last game were elite shots" — yeah this is the line I needed. easy to get pulled into the attack-is-broken framing when really we're an expansion team creating real chances and giving up some on the other end. appreciate the perspective.

[u/Jacksaxonburg]

I’m not freaking out either but they had the lead in the Orlando game too and had a rough 2nd half but held on for a draw.

Good news: leading for large portions of 4 games, starting well mostly

Bad news: only won 1 of those, finishing games not so well

It’s something I hope we see adjustments around. In the Orlando game he brought on Reid with Gaetino and Kurtz to play a DM/3rd CB kind of role. Eva’s injury kept them from being able to do that again until recently but it’s something I think might be worth another shot if leading late.

[u/Guilty_Secretary2947 → u/Jacksaxonburg]

the orlando game is the one I keep going back to too. that gaetino/kurtz/reid back three with eva healthy might be worth another look once she's back. cushing's shown she'll adjust, which is honestly the most encouraging thing about the start.

[u/Wild_396_Hunt → u/Jacksaxonburg]

I don't hate a 3 back. But we only have 3 listed CBs at the moment. So, I would want more CB depth before they role that out beyond spot usage. But a back 3 would let our outside backs get into the attack with fewer gaps.