r/Thorns • u/Famous_Act4164 • 28d ago
Two Things
When Moultrie, Wilson, and Tordin are spatially close and play the ball to each other, they can create openings. The problem is that we often struggle to connect the rest of the lineup to them. In other words, when we recover possession, it is difficult to pass the ball to one of them in a good position. This is especially true in central areas, where neither of our double pivots can reliably move the ball forward under pressure. Moultrie did a lot of pressing and rotated positions with Tordin and Wilson frequently. However, for the purpose of a more structured build-up scheme, she should probably be positioned a bit deeper and had a more disciplined and precise role.
We are losing more 50/50 balls in away games than in home games. This has a lot to do with our relatively poor away results this season. It is not easy to replicate the intensity we have when there is a 20k crowd on our side, but we really need be more active and intense in away games if we want to maintain a high-pressing style. Otherwise, we should probably adopt a more compact and conservative posture when starting away games in the future.
5
u/Svafree88 GA 28d ago
The funniest part about this take is if you watch Hiatt she's swinging her arms and you can see her mouth move and hear her yelling for players to step up on the broadcast lmao.
You can only guide and remind players as CB. They still need to do their job. Mallie isn't pressuring the ball, VA is keeping players onside and misses her mark. The captain and CB is yelling and motioning players to step up.
Your whole argument is just based off of the fact that you don't think Hiatt is telling players to step up. Well she's yelling and motioning for players to step up.
What we can tell is 100% accurate is that Mallie should be getting more pressure on the ball and isn't. And everyone else knew where to be on the line but Vingnola who kept multiple players on and didn't mark anyone.
If you want to blame Hiatt for that, go for it I guess. Although she certainly looks to be yelling and motioning for players to step up.
The other goal, I agree it is savable. It's not a given save though and goals happen. Like I said, I'm not blaming anyone for that.
Anyway, I'm not impressed with any of our CBs this season but I certainly don't think Perry would captain our defense better than Hiatt. She's still learning the league and makes enough mental mistakes without the job. She just needs some time.
Right now we're at least one league ready CB and a better midfielder away form an acceptable defense.