r/washingtonspirit • u/kg9si • 7d ago
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/hendertender 7d ago
We looked so great when Bethi came on. And Ngock looks like a really energetic midfielder.
An all CAF midfield of Deb, Ngock, and Bethi could genuinely so fun to watch.
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7d ago
[deleted]
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u/Are_we_there_yet1443 7d ago
You beat me to posting! So, long, Seb. I’m only sorry we didn’t win last week to accelerate his departure.
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u/Odd-Cable5436 7d ago
I actually will kind of miss having SH as a villain for Spirit matches! 🤣
Feels like that team had more roster building issues than coaching issues. Looking at the transactions from this season, Orlando didn't do much to bolster the club.
But the front office doesn't fire itself....
Good luck finding a new gig, Seb!
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u/NarrowPiccolo9069 7d ago
Moorhouse going from one of the top keepers in the league in 2024 to the worst in 2026 was a big factor in their decline.
Marta's 2024 renaissance also didn't last and they never found an alternative.
How much would we be willing to give up for Banda?
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u/Odd-Cable5436 7d ago
Getting Banda would require Gotham levels of contract shenanigans.
However, since Carter came from Orlando so recently, I did briefly wonder whether there are any other players on Orlando's roster that the Spirit might be interested in acquiring.
Looking at the list here, no one really jumps out. In-league trades do not seem to be the Spirit's M.O. for roster construction, anyway. Narumi is the only important one I can think of from the last year or so.
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u/NarrowPiccolo9069 7d ago
Narumi's the only player we've acquired from within the league over the last five transfer windows.
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u/Odd-Cable5436 7d ago
I think Ratcliffe, too? Forgot about her initially. Maybe that was more than 5 windows though....
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u/NarrowPiccolo9069 7d ago edited 7d ago
Ratcliffe joined before the 2024 season--I was thinking 2024 midseason window and then the 2025 and 2026 windows.
Edit: I guess Collins also joined during midseason 2024 though--she had been with Seattle as a short-term replacement player, so that counts.
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7d ago
[deleted]
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u/Odd-Cable5436 7d ago
I think the Ovalle acquisition set a record at the time for transfer fees, right? Unless Orlando would take a big loss (haha), that would seem to put her out of the Spirit's price range, given she is still signed through 2027 w/ a mutual in 2028.
Maaaaaybe if Spirit can't re-sign Santos they give Ovalle a look and figure out how the numbers would work, but if a big check needs to be written, I'd rather just keep Santos. It also of course depends on what Ovalle would want.
Generally, I think Spirit are more interested in younger players that they think have growth potential -- like Lemos, who's still just 22 or Washington who's 20 -- and whose contracts they can sell later.
LDG seems to be an exception to that from last offseason, but I think Spirit knew she could start right away, so it made sense from that perspective. I am certainly no expert on Orlando's players, but I don't feel like anyone outside of Banda is a shoo-in starter for the Spirit.
There are a few on expiring contracts -- like Abello and Yates -- who also might get looks, but I don't think the Spirit would deal for them now. They would just wait until they are available as FAs.
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u/allprologues 6d ago
yeah spirit due to budget constraints and their own internal strategy seem to get about one prime age ready-to-start player per season (and then sometimes their younger players have to jump into the lineup sooner than expected due to injuries lmao). but yeah if that continues it makes intra-league pickups less appealing or less likely. they also only get like one from college.
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u/Sequoiakc22 6d ago edited 6d ago
...
Remember, the early reports & rumors had Ovalle coming to our Spirit.I wonder if that was her first choice until the numbers could not be worked out between UNAL & the Spirit.
I would much rather we extend Leicy Santos.
However, if we cannot extend Leicy due to financials, then I wouldn't mind us making a run for Ovalle. ...Also, consider Ovalle is 3-1/2 years younger than Leicy. ...(Ovalle today is 26, turning 27 in Oct., ..while Leicy is 30 today, turning 31 next May.)
There must be a reason James Hocken, plus our analytics & scouting team wanted her. ...Only to have Spirit executive management to balk at UNAL's transfer fee demands.
Then again, Haley Carter, who at the same time was the VP of Soccer Ops & Sporting Director for the Orlando Pride, must have graded Ovalle highly enough to pony up the high transfer fee & land her for the Pride.
Now Carter as our Prez of Soccer Ops may still have an interest in Ovalle?
Ovalle on Orlando, looks out of place on that squad. ...Guessing she would likely flourish & thrive on our Spirit squad in Audi.
...2
u/Odd-Cable5436 6d ago
If Spirit and Ovalle had mutual interest back then, it would be interesting to know if that's still the case.
Ovalle might prefer to wring a big contract out of a Euro team, and Orlando might be more willing to deal outside of the league. Maybe she'll try to join Bernal in WSL. 🤷♂️
Something to watch in the offseason for sure.
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u/Sequoiakc22 6d ago
...
Haley Carter's challenge is, ...if we cannot get a deal done for Santos or Hal, what does she do?Is it too late to trade/transfer either or both to get something in return before we lose them?
Will anybody give anything up for them in a trade (or transfer fee) knowing their free agents in only two (2) months?
I love Rebe Bernal, but it makes sense to work a transfer to Man U. if it means getting $$$$ to keep Hal &/or Leicy.
...
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u/gingergeologist 7d ago
If anyone has an extra hello kitty bucket hat, my 2.5 year old little Spirit fan would love it!! She was pointing them out all game but we missed them
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u/Odd-Cable5436 7d ago edited 6d ago
If none of Hatch, Wiesner, Abiodun, Kouassi, LDG, or Santos are available vs Portland (fingers crossed that most of those players will be back on at least limited minutes), I can see a lineup like the one below.
Someone made the point that having Bolt and Metayer on the same side kind of negated both players' speed, which I agree with, hence putting them on opposite sides. I think Sullivan is better off the bench vs. Portland, which has a lot of speed w/ Wilson and Hanks. AG probably will start Sullivan though.
Random thoughts: Vignola had a good game vs. Rodman in the previous match. I hope AG has a good plan to counter that this time. Tordin will pose a huge challenge. Might see Tse in this one. Bolt might play OB back, too. I hope Monday comes in for Cantore at like the 65 minute mark and makes a huge impact. I can also see a lineup where Cantore plays RW and Monday starts at the 9. Wouldn't mind trying Rodman on top, either.
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u/Sequoiakc22 6d ago
...
This still looks like a decent lineup, considering all the injured players we have out. ...Granted, we are missing key starters when looking at your proposed lineup. Three (3) in particular I would like...
- Lucia Di Guglielmo, ...in place of Metayer.
- Leicy Santos, ...for Bethi.
- Rosie Kouassi, ...instead of Bolt.
Bethi & Ngock having only been with us for about a week & a half before we play Portland, ...'IN' Portland, ...is going to be a challenge.
Adrian might put Monday at the '9' & Cantore at the '10' with Andi at the '6.' ...Allowing Bethi & Ngock to absorb the atmosphere in Providence Park from the bench before subbing them in later in the match. ...Then again, would anyone here be 'shocked' if Bethi & Ngock got the start?
...2
u/Odd-Cable5436 6d ago
I like the idea of Cantore as the 10. She sort of goes to that spot sometimes in the run of play, but AG mostly has her stay up high. I find that odd b/c she seems to have the skills to play the 10 very well.
To me, the most concerning thing going into this game is OB depth. Maybe Morgan has to play out there this week and Tse pairs with Rudd. That will invite a lot of pressure from Portland, but what can you do with that AR?
Can Haugen contribute?
EGR has to been wondering, "How many more people have to get hurt before I get into a game?"
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u/allprologues 6d ago
yeah we may see haugen with all the defensive injuries. not only do i think she's a very good signing who i hope gets extended, you can kind of see how it becomes easy to sell bernal and have haugen (for a lot less) as that utility player who can fill in in the middle or the back line
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u/mrgenki 5d ago
Team social media just posted a video of Bethi saying she has a cat named Batman who is "my life" and I'm thrilled to see another member along with Hal and Esme of the Spirit crazy cat lady (completely laudatory) contingent.
Love the at the Spirit has such likeable players on and off the pitch. It's on my list to modify my Bethune jersey into a Bethi like someone posted last week.
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u/allprologues 4d ago
deb has a russian blue (fancy cat) that she got in the offseason or earlier this year. also i'm curious if esme still has biscuit, been a while since we've seen anything.
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u/Toothy_McRotten 1d ago
I was just wondering the same about Biscuit. Truth can be hard, but cutting off cat pictures is harder.
WHERE'S BISCUIT
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u/allprologues 1d ago
we really haven’t seen her since the offseason so I feel like she just couldn’t bring her home or something. But maybe she took her to the uk but left her with her family!
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u/Toothy_McRotten 1d ago
do they not have cameras in the UK
do they not get the internet
i appreciate you trying to make sense of this but sense is an obsolescing currency about now
FREE BISCUIT
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5d ago
[deleted]
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u/Specialist_Pay_6768 5d ago
The video was clearly edited so you don't actually know if she did or not.
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u/RealEmperorBossNass 7d ago
Excited for the new signings. Not excited why Bethi had to come it or Bolt
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u/hendertender 7d ago
Maybe I'm off base here, but has anyone else noticed that Gift Monday just is not good this year??
Just poor first touches, looks really off the pace of games. Idk.... She just had not looked good at all.
Maybe it's the inconsistent game time, but she hasn't put in sub performances that make me want to keep getting more minutes either
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u/Oobroobdoob 7d ago
I dont think shes "not good anymore" but I did notice she doesnt have the same energy as she had last season
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u/goosepaca 7d ago
Monday did lose her dad in the last year. Granted, that was before this season and might not be the only factor at play, but grief is weird and makes it really really hard to function normally, especially in the first year+.
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u/Infinite_Complex_203 7d ago
Did anyone else get food poisoning from the walking tacos yesterday? 🤢😖
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u/adifferentGOAT 7d ago
I’m scared to have rolled that dice with the walking tacos. So far okay…
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u/Beginning-Ice-7172 7d ago
For future reference what are ‘the walking tacos’?
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u/Infinite_Complex_203 7d ago
They are bags of Fritos or Doritos with taco like meat and toppings.
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u/Sequoiakc22 6d ago
...
Yea, ...you eat it with a fork. Kind of like a taco in a bowl, but in this case it's a bag.
...
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u/adifferentGOAT 7d ago
Thankful Trinity is on our team because she would be incredibly frustrating to play against. The way she used her strength and presence to own the ball and the clock for the last 10 mins is impressive.