u/bigdugie69

1. For like the 1st time ever JCA uses the same lineup for 3 games in a row & the team gets 3 wins with 3 shutouts, earning a total of 9 points out of 9! You can't ask for anything better than a 3 game sweep in a 3 game matchweek. The team just got the damn thing done!

2. I see why Yael & JCA went for all attacking players because this team functions at its best when it is in attack & apparently they think they can turn anyone into a defender (Jenna, Nealy, Midge, Guro, Howell, Sommers, Dre, Harper). Who will be the next player to be converted to outside back or defense?

3. With that said compared to the other games we did look a little less fluid, a little more shakey at the back, & a little fatigued which is kind of expected in the last game of 3 games & with the same lineup starting all 3 for multiple minutes. However, could we be seeing the possible negative effects of not playing true outside backs? We still held them to only 5 shots with 1 on target & only 8 touches in our box but this match felt like we were pressed back more. Our outside backs seemed to not be getting up as much & with Guro & Midge not getting up as often in the attack we seemed to generate less viable chances with Guro being somewhat quiet compared to the matches against Bay & Stars. Will this same backline work against a Spirit or a Portland offense?

4. Esther just hasn't been putting the goals away like she was last season but she has still been vital in being an outlet or a link up in the build up of play for many of our chances. She also creates space with her runs or just her presence frees up space by pulling defenders towards her because of how dangerous she can be. Still if or when do we get to the point about discussing moving her from starting to off the bench. If you do make the move what becomes the starting lineup/formation? I say move Dudley up top, shift Shaw to the right, move Guro up on the left, & bring Reale back to starting at LB. Then Esther comes on later in the match which either up or behind is a scary site for any team to see.

5. However, Gotham still put on a masterclass performance (especially in the 1st half) getting 14 shots with 4 on target & 25 touches in the oppositions box to create 3 big chances. Once again Gotham gets the job done in the 1st half and holds the line to finish out the match. The 1 goal lead did make this feel closer than it actually was which makes you wish we had just gotten 1 or 2 more goals to finish Racing off sooner but Bloomer came up big for them otherwise this easily could have been a 2+ game (missed 2 out of our 3 big chances).

6. Gotham has been putting on a shooting clinic. Bay 25 shots with 14 on target, Stars 19 shots with 7 on target, Racing 14 shots with 4 on target compared to the prior 3 of KC with 15 shots with 4 on target, Pride 10 shots with w on target, & Denver 8 shots with 5 on target. See what happens when you just shoot the ball? Just keep ripping those shots and make sure to follow up for the rebound!

7. Dudley, Dudley she does right! Dudley, Dudley she's alright!

1 goal & 2 assists in 3 games, the rook is cooking 🍳 👌🏻. Love seeing Dudley get Shaw back for the assist against Chicago. The Shaw/Dudley link up is looking nice!

8. AKB's quick & on point distribution 🤌🏻. Multiple times she was able to get Rose moving quickly into a counter attack & I loved seeing it. Now we just need to start finishing some of those runs and we will be on absolute 🔥.

9. Adding another positive tally to the impact sub column. Loved to see Reale at CB again even if only quickly till she went to LB. Cook put in another good shift & Harper/Lampson along with Dudley put on an absolute performance in game management during the final minutes. Well done by all of them to see the game out 👏🏻.

10. Looks like everything seems to be clicking with a few touches & tweaks that could be made to make it running 100% smoothly & perfectly. Time to rest & prepare for the next match but let's keep the momentum moving forward! LFG GFC 🦇

1. Another dominant performance with another masterclass 1st half performance as Gotham had 56% possession, 10 shots (5 on target) to Chicago's 3 (0 on target), with 23 touches in the oppositions box to create 4 big chances (2 of which were missed). Gotham's new strategy looks to be to get the job done in the 1st half & hold the line in the 2nd half. A little concerning we aren't getting 2nd half goals (only 9 shots with 2 on target & 0 big chances) but as long we keep scoring multiple goals early & keeping clean sheets it should keep getting results. I would like us to get a couple of more goals early on to really put the game to bed especially given the # of chances created & shots taken but it's all good given the final results.

2. The very attacking backline gets another clean sheet but we did get caught out a few times giving Chicago a couple too many chances. Not having true outside backs might not work against a tougher opponent but still another job well done allowing Chicago only a total of 13 touches in our box to get just a total of 8 shots off with only 1 being on target.

3. This was the Dudley, Guro, Rose, Shaw (although she looked a little tired & frustrated towards the end), & Esther (although she just couldn't put the goal away) show.

4. Guro is such a baller. Great touches, great passing, great distribution, great runs, and an intelligent enough of a player to hold down a position she is still getting used to playing at. What a player all around & an absolute joy to watch. May be the player/piece we were missing all along to link everything together. Also, now that she has the assist hopefully she is the next one to get a goal. She would have earned it & deserves it given all she has done these past 2 games.

5. Dudley just keeps getting better & better as well as growing more confident with each game. She is creating chances, making great drives & runs, and is linking up well with everyone. She got the assist & now an amazing 1st goal. Hopefully, the flood gates will open up for both! Dudley, Dudley, she does right! Dudley, Dudley, she's alright!

6. I was really hoping that when Esther scored that penalty against Bay she would start finding the back of the net but she just couldn't finish. So many chances she had too and just had bad luck finishing the. The post robbed her & us of an absolute banger! Feel like it is coming soon and once it does The Estherminator will be back!

7. Shaw & Rose keep being ballers by causing chaos & creating chances. Making great runs to open up space and amazing passes to link up the lines. Probably our 2 most important players given how constantly involved they have been in key/big moments & in all of our attacking play.

8. Both Carter & Tiernan hold/lead the backline and keep putting in a solid/steady performance to keep another clean sheet.

9. Drea & Sommers do well again as the outside backs giving us a little more depth to the backline. Cook puts in another good performance, & Harper finally gets some minutes. I would have preferred her moving higher up & keeping Sommers at outside back but I'm just happy she got on the field. Also, shout out Reale at CB. Love to see it & hope to see more of it.

10. Hopefully, Gotham can keep this run of form going against Louisville but 6 points out of 3 games is massive. JCA is going to have some hard decisions on who to put on the field once Freeman, Bru, & Sonnett are back & trying to get all this attacking power on at once. Go Bats!

1. This was our best performance so far & it was an absolute masterclass performance by Gotham, especially in the 1st half. Gotham had 61% possession compared to Bay's 39% and Gotham had 14 shots with 8 on target compared to Bay's 0. This is how Gotham always wants to look & play. Control possession, dictate the tempo/flow of the game, & limit the opposition's chances. The team did all of this & without a true backline.

2. I take back hounding Yael & JCA for being too attacking prone with our signings b/c this game was all attack & we still had a top defensive performance. Having players be more like wingbacks rather than fullbacks might have been the key as Gotham has always looked at their best when getting our outside backs forward & into the attack. The drivers forward & the overloads on the sides open up play for us to generate the chances we are looking for. Shows how much Bru has been missed not having her to provide that option like usual.

3. What a debut performance by Guro. Looking that good in a position you barely play & with a team she just started to get integrated with shows her level of talent & ball knowledge. Also, that left foot with those crosses and then add in Reale into the mix with her left foot 🤌🏻. I LIKE GURO!

4. Tierna looks like she has barely missed a beat from last season putting in a top notch performance at the back alongside Carter. Her being back there definitely brings a calm & sturdy presence that we need & do better with. I can't wait for her to be 90 minutes match fit!

5. Howell is a beast! It doesn't matter if she is higher up in attack, holding it down in the midfield, or bossing the backline she is absolute quality all over the pitch. That extended leg to block the ball was an amazing show of athleticism. If she keeps this up she can be a contender for MOTY & DOTY!

6. Dudley just keeps getting better & better. She made so many good drives forward as well as great passes showing her link up play with the rest of the team getting better. Wanted her to get the goal so badly but the consolation prize is she got her 1st assist.

7. Look I've given her a lot of stick so I will give credit where credit is due, McCaskill had a good performance. I'm still not convinced enough to justify the continued starts or the contract extension but she looked good in this match.

8. Dre, Schup, Cook, Mack & Sommers all looked good off the bench & did their job to keep the win & the clean sheet. Impact subs gain another positive tally!

9. Hot take but I like Mack! With that said idk how or why she is getting the sub over Harper, #FreeHarper!

1. Despite losing this actually wasn't a bad performance as a mostly decent offensive performance (created chances & finally scored another goal) helped cover a poor defensive performance. Our usually reliable defense is getting caught on the counter, which isn't unusual given how high our backline plays, but what is more concerning is that we seem to have difficulty handling teams when being pressed. This isn't great given that we are a team that wants to play out the back and shouldn't be an issue given how elite our backline is supposed to be. Still they kept Temwa quite, who even on minute restrictions is still dangerous, and stopped KC from creating too many chances except down the KC rightside the Gotham leftside.

2. The biggest weak link in our defense came from an uncharacteristically poor performance from Reale who Cooper cooked the entire match & every big KC chance came from her side. Despite this she had a pretty good offensive game making some good drivers forward as well as some nice forward passes. It was her drive forward that started the Shaw goal.

3. Howell, Rose, & Shaw so far look to be our best & most important players. All 3 have put in consistently good performances & been key in creating chances or in big moments. 2026 Shaw is looking like the 2025 Esther as we only seem to score when Shaw is on the field.

4. Dudley keeps making her mark by making an impact off the bench & helping change the momentum in Gotham's favor. Once she starts scoring & generating assits her name will quickly be tossed into the ROTY discussion.

5. Schup & Cook also help change the momentumin Gotham's favor with the flow looking better and with us looking much more in control with them coming on. This adds another positive tally in the impact sub category for Gotham.

6. Even with getting the assist McCaskill still looks poor. She gives the ball away too often, looks too slow, and causes needless fouls. I don't understand the contract extension.

7. What is going on with Harper and why can't she even get into a game? She has been on a hot streaking in scoring goals which is something we are lacking so why not give her a chance? #FreeHarper

8. Losing Duran to SEI is devastating for her as she was finding form in a none natural position & for the overall teams backline depth. Makes me feel so justified in my concerns over the lack of defensive signings. Tierna though looks to have shaken the rust off quickly so hopefully we can get her back to 90 minute form quickly b/c her calming present could be what we need back there to settle things down.