Soooooo, we lost Prašnikar that is maybe related to lack of minutes and starting.... and as soon as she moves, Palacios has a hip injury (which might relate to her leaving the denver game early). It hurts a bit, not gonna lie. Who do you hope for at center forward?
So ouch.... Lara Prašnikar not being part of the roster in the Denver game was actually precursor to her being transfered. The royals have taken now 2 hits to their roster of higher level talent. Prašnikar may have not exactly lit things on fire, she was still had some production. Will have more thoughts on this later...
So, no new injuries, which means every likely player available. Loera has been showing up on a couple of recent posts, maybe she comes back?
So the coach has to pick 3 player to not dress for gameday. Jackson as third gk is one, the new player Swenson is unlikely to get time with others healthy. That leaves the last one, which has some fascination. Spaanstra was imaged in the travel photo, so probably not her. Mozingo was off roster apparently because narumi was not 100% leading to the Washington game and they wanted another midfielder in pierre-louis. Then Pierre-Louis sat out and Mozingo had her best game against portland. All to say who the staff picks may indicate a bit of the royals strategy.
Oh, heaps is injured and won't play (which honestly I can't say if that favors or hurts the royals), and they moved the game to 8pm because it's hot as balls tomorrow.
Another super low player injury list! Will feel pretty full battle game, not to many injuries on either side. I think this will be a bit of the marker on where the Royals really are at. Let's see what they can do, feeling excited.
For those wondering, the royals have played on the loud speaker:
Come clean by Hilary Duff
It's raining men by de toppers
Umbrella by Rihanna
Thunder by Imagine Dragons
I'm feeling a bit trolled
Royals going strong on their injury list, so really hoping they just throw numbers at Washington and see if they are gassed from having a Sunday game and now a travel Wednesday. Press hard Royals (I'm hoping anyways).
Second half of the season starts, and we're pretty much as healthy as a team could want with no injuries, just the 2 sei's. Though that health has the asterisk with uncertainty on who is 90 minutes healthy.
I don't guess really any lineup changes beyond Riehl starting if she it's 90 minutes healthy. I'm not sure when or if Prašnikar starts if she is fully fit, I'm getting the impression she is not 100% yet anyways. Cronin I guess probably does start if she is 60' minutes fit and Delzer goes to the bench, however I'm thinking she also isn't quite there yet either. Maybe. Definitely want the royals to crank it up, to maintain position they need to beat even the mid-table teams like NC. Hopefully they can get thier press going, it's been not as strong since the break.
Just existing sei and Jackson (hope she is okay, concussion no fun).
Hope Riehl and Moriya are ready to give some starting minutes, that would greatly improve my optimism. Orlando lost on Wednesday at Orl, hoping for some tired legs and short lungs. Banda didn't play 90, that's too bad. The royals can get the win, though they need to change direction.
In the words of Prof Farnsworth, good news everybody. Tanaka, Moriya, and Cronin are all off the injury list, meaning the royals attack has full options (minus ream, sei). If Moriya is 50-70% game fit, hope she is the starting rb.
Defense will take some hits. Riehl is very critical to the backline, and Milazzo will have to step up from last week. Hammond or Pierre-Louis or Nagai will have to step in for Tejada as she goes on a little yellow card break.
I think with both teams coming off a loss they will sense some blood in the water, and Friday should be a fun game. Looking forward to some goals.
Ummm, this is not what you call coming out the break healthy and refreshed. Loera is still out (though she makes some training videos or images in the gram), Jackson is out (bummer however should not affect lineup plans), however Riehl and Miyabi do. Milazzo definitely back in starting lineup at cb or fb, who do people think is the other, Simmonds or a cdm (Tejada, Hammonds) to fill the backline?
On offense Tanaka will be a hard hit, and a combo hit with Cronin still out. For most likely, Palacios at the 9, Lacasse at lw. Prašnikar I feel pretty likely to get a start, maybe Delzer too.
No clue about Spaanstra other than portland saying she is a free agent at end of 2026 and the royals still have her listed on the website, and I'm not under the impression Eichenberger is still on the roster right now. Due to lack of players available I would guess we'll see both of those players if they are still with the royals tomorrow.
Ally Sentnor is transferring to ACFC. While it gives KC money to play with, the Royal's had a sell on % fee for future transfers when she was transferred to KC. It was 20%, hence the Royal's are expected to get $170k from this transfer (I think). While we won't get an Ally Sentnor for $170k, for perspective we did get Miura for $180k. Hopefully the front office is making good use of the summer break, and now they have clear money to use.
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Also I will still be surprised that a team needing a goalie isn't making a run on Justus.
9 Royals players were part of national team games and/or camps in June, brief notes. If anyone has recaps or more info, please share, would be fun to hear.
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Prašnikar - Started in 2 world cup qualifying marches (vs Austria and vs Germany), unfortunately 2 losses. Saw one strong chance against Germany and a not great own goal on a corner (her og due to bad reach with her foot) in the highlights.
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Mcglynn - 1 start in a friendly against Brazil in Brazil. Great experience, she had 2 goals scored against and I think 2 saves.
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Del Fava - idk, u23 camp in Brazil (fun!), 2 closed door scrimmages.
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Lacasse - 1 start in friendly vs Costa Rica, she had 4 shots.
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D. Pierre-Louis- I don't think she played or was even in the bench in either friendly, got some training time.
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Moriya - 1 start in 2nd friendly vs South Africa.
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Tanaka - 1 sub in 1st friendly vs South Africa.
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Simmonds - 1 start in friendly vs Panama, good for her get field time, fullback depth is high right now on the Royals.
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Palacios - 1 start and 1 sub in 2 friendlies vs Australia.
I think I missed a matchday number last time, whoops.
So, 2 big changes. Janni Thomsen is off for this next game (personal break I think), and Madison Hammond is off the injured list. That leaves a few players at home, plus one starting spot open.
I think Moriya is more likely than Milazzo (because I'm really thinking she is the backup cb right now), Simmonds, or Spaanstra. If they are not extending the loan, then Spaanstra playing against portland is honestly a bit of a conflict of interests, and seems like the nwsl may need to write better contracts.
Honestly not having thomsen makes me think we will have a less offense oriented fullback by default, which may coincidentally help with defending against the heavy offense talent tilt of portland (really a grasping at straws, despite thomsen going forward so much the defense has been solid). Should be a fun game, and in reality the amuse-bouche of the royals schedule that will be top of table opponents after the break (minus Chicago, no offense intended).
Okay, home game tomorrow. Cronin's injury from last game will carry over, and in a thought to caution she will probably be out next game and hopefully get the time needed to rest up over the break. Hammond hopefully recovers over the break too, she's been out awhile now.
Plenty of options across the board. Who gets the wing start? Maybe delzer with her assisting ways, maybe Spaanstra (will she even been on the team after the break? ). While palacios might be an option at wing with delzer or Prasnikar at top, my guess is not. Though my last guesses have been in word of the young-ins, buns.
Prašnikar is back! Full offense options are back with 24 players available. Hammond has shown in more pictures of training, she should be back hopefully sooner than later. Louisville will be the start of the last the 3 games before the break, with opponents getting (relatively) progressively stronger. Louisville has a strong offense (13 goals in 8 games, royals have 12 in 9 games) with a less great defense. Should be a fun game, I'm guessing 2-0, though Louisville can win against anyone. Should be a fun one.
Prašnikar and Hammond are still out, though looks like Palacios may be ready. We'll see if any rotation as this is their 3rd game in like 8 days (moriya was good, though wouldn't be surprised to see rabano come in). Palacios can hopefully start and provide at least some rotation for the royals on offense. Really exciting possibilities, though also just enjoying their play overall.
No changes on sei front and Hammond and Prasnikar are still out. Milazzo is off injury. I think that means Jackson, Eichenberger, and probably Simmonds is out. I think it's unlikely that Coenraets changes the starting lineup. Moriya has been consistent on sub ins, and so has Spaanstra to an extent. Everyone else seems like a wild card. Houston should be a fun match.
Sooooo, Hammond and Loera is still out, however Miura might make her debut! Cronin and Rabano also will likely make their 2026 season debut which also could big (Rabano is idk, Milazzo is definitely in form right now). Prašnikar is still out and now Delzer has an injury. One step forward amd 1 step back. Oh, probably the biggest thing is Mcglynn is off the injury list, I would guess she is 90' fit if her finger is truly healed.
In general looking healthy, and minus the cdm's rotation the defense has a full set of options. Not sure who is starter or 90' fit though. I think only Jackson and Eichenberger will be off roster.
Really a grind down 0-0 draw would be a okay outcome, though let's see what the royals have cooking tomorrow.