Legacy vs Bay Player Notes
I won’t write as much or with as much careful thought as the last post-game poster but it’s a good conversation starter for the group!
Defense: Was getting beat up on in the first half by long balls trying to exploit our high line. They were able to make it work in the first half but is a clear way team can easily threaten us and makes it worrying for a better attacking team. 2nd half put in shift and impressed by the ability to limit super dangerous chances even down a player but I do think this could have been disastrous against another team.
Murphy - many solid saves and control of the box albeit many of the shots were directly at her. Hoping she can continue to keep building more confidence.
Elgin - felt like the star of the backline both with her defense, especially emergency defending the long balls, and progressing forward in space.
Araujo - It was a lot cleaner game for her in terms of physicality which is good to see and obviously easier when you’re not guarding Banda.
BSG - providing some good attacking moments from the back but that challenge was poor form and also just didn’t even make sense to go so aggressively for. Not going to dog on her more for this because there’s plenty of fair criticism in the NWSL sub. She clearly goes physical when she makes a mistake or feel beat, which I can imagine is compounded when you’ve played as much as she has lately. Her red card provides the opportunity to start a backline of Araujo / Elgin / Carabali, which I think might be our best lineup. Then you could use BSG as a spark with a little more attacking mindset in the second half (obviously not next game though). This would give her fresh legs in games and hopefully cut down on some of her more unnecessary fouls.
Carabali - Looked solid and helped hold it down during the second half onslaught.
Hernandez- Still seems to be getting back as she had a few off touches but to be expected plus she’s really being thrown into the fire this game.
Midfield: Really not their game in terms of clicking and chemistry. No one person hugely stands out as a problem just couldn’t seem to connect passes in the middle of the field. They’ve been really good together like in the Orlando and Denver game plus the first half of Gotham so could be fatigue or Hutton just really messing up their flow.
Karich: Remains a steady presence, great at keeping possession under pressure.
Caño: felt like a quieter game for her. No huge thoughts. Feel like her and Prince’s usually strong combinations weren’t there tonight.
Hasbo: Really high work rate and felt like she was everywhere, but seems to struggle when close to goal. Obviously that’s not a key part of her role on the field but would love to see her develop as she’s gotten in some good positions close to goal recently.
Smith: don’t remember too much from her on this one. (Nothing about her! Just hard to remember all of our players without a rewatch)
Forwards: Some good looks but not our finest performance up front, especially compared to the games since Chicago.
Gambone: Felt like her coming in helped us pick up the ball and possess more even down a player. Would love to see her start where Ricketts started today.
Gutierres: Feels weird to call it her best game but it
was probably one of them? Her hold up play is really strong and her shots have had some pace on them just have been a touch off. Her penalties have been super strong, even though I don’t think we deserved that one
Ricketts: didn’t feel like she was able to be as effective as Olivieri, Gambone, or Gutierres have been in this role. She’s young so happy to see her get minutes.
Aissata: She’s relentless and a spark plug but I’m getting worried about how frantic her movement can be. She puts her body on the line but I’m worried about her getting hurt and potential fouls she can get from it. Was necessary to sub her in and I’m excited to see her / Amanda fresh, playing together as Amanda really starts to find her footing.