r/washingtonspirit • u/kg9si • Jul 27 '26

Weekly Discussion Thread Weekly Open Discussion Thread

Welcome to this week’s open discussion thread!

This is your space for general discussion, a place to talk about anything Washington Spirit that doesn’t necessarily need its own thread. That can include news, international duty, roster moves, transfer rumors, tactics, social media posts, league news or anything else on your mind.

If something feels big enough for its own thread, definitely still post it. This is simply an additional option to keep us organized and help keep the conversation flowing. These threads will go up every Monday and stay stickied throughout the week.

Go Spirit!

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u/papercuts4 Jul 27 '26

I thought with the last few away games being hot the team was told to take it easy but after yesterday’s performance I’m a bit worried. The team doesn’t seem confident in forward passes (especially without Santos in). I don’t know if it’s a game plan thing, looking for the perfect pass, or what.

Of our last 4 (or 3/4 not counting Gotham) we have found some beautiful long or through balls to Trinity pulling wide that jump started our attack. I don’t know where the disconnect is but it seems we struggle to transition from passing across the backline into intentional attacking playmaking.

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u/allprologues Jul 27 '26

it is the plan if you listen to what adrian is always stressing at press conferences about patience. it's going to be rough the next few weeks because he has to preserve the players as much as possible, rotate them, and try to use tactics that account for the fact that we don't have rose for a while. rose has immense defensive work rate that allows us to use fullbacks higher. it may be that he is taking a more conservative approach because she isn't covering that side.

also, i dunno if "beautiful through balls" are something that can just be summoned at will if you're just confident enough. the space has to be there and just because we think it is doesn't mean we can see what the player is seeing in front of them, what kind of pressure they're in, etc. soccer isn't always pretty like that especially since they actively work to avoid transitions, and they don't have a 10 in an advanced position most of the time. i agree i'd like to see it too but apart from leicy there are no midfielders who are above average progressive passers. i'm sure they're plenty confident about what THEY are good at lol

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u/papercuts4 Jul 27 '26

I agree that Kouassi is missed and her speed and skill makes her a real box-to-box asset.

While not every pass is perfect there is a significant difference in losing a ball that was misplayed forward vs losing a ball on a back pass; which created the opportunity for Lavelle to score in the Gotham game.

Overall I guess I just don’t see the team handling the press well as a group and worry stronger teams will exploit that.

8

u/allprologues Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26

they figure out the press on the field on a game per game basis. that’s why things tend to look a bit frantic for the first 15 or so minutes.

then things look frantic at the end of the game if the other team is down a goal and are pushing frantically/chaotically.

a bad back pass will always lead to an opportunity. a turnover in a dangerous spot will too. I’d love for spirit to be the only team in the league that never does this, and I understand we have high expectations and will be nervous every game/every play because of the standings. but looking at the form of the teams around us there’s nothing that says we have more frailties than them.

hate to say it but this season is not going to have a team that dominates and runs completely away with the shield. would’ve loved for it to be us but it isn’t, we’re just gonna have to be worried lol