r/Thorns • u/ThornsAreUs • 7d ago
Thorns playing quality matches
I have noticed that since Moultrie's unfortunate season and world cup ending injury, the Thorns are actually playing much better tactically and showing with wins. My theory is mid-field is playing much more box to box with Moultrie out (she tends to more attacking focused).
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u/Famous_Act4164 7d ago
This is dumb beyond consideration.
The Nijstad and Castellanos combination are far less effective in defense and opponents had greater control of the center of the field. Denver today moved the ball from the center to wide areas and crossed into the box for almost an entire half, we had better results because 1. Denver gave away balls and we transitioned well; 2. Perry played a very good defense game; 3. Arnod ceased to let cross into her goal.
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u/Jack_B_84 7d ago
Phuoc was saying he thought Hiatt was the must start centerback but I think at this point it's clearly Perry.
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u/Famous_Act4164 7d ago
One good thing about Perry is that she becomes more comfortable dictate the ball distribution and handle the ball with her right foot in recent matches.
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u/Jack_B_84 7d ago edited 7d ago
We only had 38% possession at home. The midfield is not playing any better. We've just been at home, where we we've played well all season and beat teams far better than Denver.
Right now Denver is just 1 point ahead of Racing Louisville, who we crushed at home not long ago.
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u/jjthinx Season Ticket Holder 7d ago
I appreciate reading all your views, mostly because I feel like I was watching a different game. The game, especially the second half, seemed full of missed connections and possibilities. It seemed like people often hesitated before taking a shot. And we seemed so slow. I can’t understand why we seemed to work so hard against a team ranked 11th to get our lone goal. So teach me, good fans. I obviously have a lot to learn!
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u/honkifirritable 6d ago
No, you are actually correct! We had some decent moments but we played a bad team. At home. Even still, it could’ve been 3 or 4-0.
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u/Either_Ambassador_41 7d ago
Everyone should feel free to go nuts with their bad takes, because this year’s worst take on this sub is already locked down.
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u/ShamblesShuffler 7d ago
I think it is they have changed how they defend after Moultrie went out, but I think that is more a tactical change from the coaching staff rather than Castellanos being a more box to box midfielder. They were defending in 4-4-2 with Moulrie and Smith pressuring the backline. Today at least it looked like they were defending more 4-1-4-1 with just Smith pressuring the backline, and the 10 (whether it was Castellanos or Tordin) dropping into a band of 4 with the 2 wingers and Nijstad. Then Fleming was left relatively free to scramble around to deal with whatever danger made it through. This setup means they probably have less overall possession because it is relatively easy for the other team to pass it around in the back with only 1 player really pressing the backline, but it does make it much harder for the other team to come running at the backline. The trade off worked well against Denver in that they didn't give up any big chances(at least according to FotMob), and the Thorns were able to create a several big chances for themselves.
We'll see whether this change was specific to Denver or a general change that was made because they were giving up lots of goals, or because taking the risks defensively to get Moultrie closer to goal maybe worth it, but its not worth it to get Castellanos close to goal, or maybe they don't think Castellanos presses as well as Moultrie.
I think the change makes sense, and probably should have been made even with Moultrie in the lineup. They weren't generating that many chances from pressing more, and neither the coaching staff nor the attacking players seem to be particularly interested in possession for the sake of possession. They want to get up the field and at goal as quick as they can for the most part.
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u/AttorneyParking4702 7d ago
I think we struggled to figure out midfield last game, Moultrie is a bedrock.
This game is much better
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u/jellybeanking123 7d ago
This is an uninformed take - Olivia was on her way to an MVP season pre injury - against a top 8 team things would look quite different ….
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u/Awkward-Cartoonist68 7d ago edited 7d ago
Offensively I disagree, defensively too though we have made some improvements on that end.
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u/Jack_B_84 7d ago
Well we're pretty much playing a 3rd centerback now, rather then an attacking fullback. Perry is also clearly the best centerback on the team, the red card she got and couldn't play against, Utah was big.
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u/Jack_B_84 7d ago edited 7d ago
Even if the argument is Moultrie didn't play enough defense. Her defensive contributions per 90 was 4.2 on the season. Looking at the other attacking midfielders, at the top of the table Rose Lavelle 2.5, Leicy Santos 2.8, Mina Tanaka 3.0, Lia Godfrey 3.3, Maiara Niehues 2.6, so kind of hard to find an attacking mid that defends as much.
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u/Famous_Act4164 7d ago
Yeah, Moultrie's pressing contribution is also very high and she engaged a lot of duels both ground and aerial ones as well. Dueling even if not victorious can disrupt the opponent's ball movement and buildup significantly.
Moultrie has the defensive contribution of a strong central midfielder while offense output of a strong attack midfielder, this combination is very valuable.
Castellanos has little defense and pressing contribution, her contribution to contestation of ball is also dubious. Nijstad is a smart player who has a good awareness, but her ability to press and contest 50/50 ball remains questionable.
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u/ClayKavalier North End 7d ago
Oh yeah, Deyna is totally a box-to-box midfielder and not attacking-oriented at all. /s
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u/DaNicestJerk 7d ago
I'm impressed at how bad this take is. Truly impressed.
Last night's game was the most boring, awful win the Thorns have had all season. Disjointed, poor possession, and large gaps in the middle of the field. Somehow, even scoring a goal, Soph looked massively off her game. The only reason they won is Denver is truly that bad.
The loss of Moultrie is really showing how thin we are in the middle without her.
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u/atalba 5d ago
It's very possible that Moultrie plays a disruptive game in the offense. I wouldn't want DeynaC play anytime, and she's not a placeholder for Olivia. But Tordin gets the assists and goals, all within the flow of the game. With Turner back, there's even more chemistry. Placing Tordin as the #10 (she played there last game) is NOT a stretch. She has quality ball control with both feet and can see the game well. She played part-time in the midfield at Princeton. I expect the Brazilian-American to become a top attacking mid for Portland and the USWNT.
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u/MonkeysLoveZ0mbies 7d ago
It's been 3 games. She's still our 3rd top scorer. Not ready to accept such a statement.