re. the Crummer signing. I do not know much about this kid apart from the fact that she was really good a year or two ago but this year was a bit of a disappointment due to injury. Somewhere I read that she's a big presence in the box which should come in handy late in games. I like the idea of her and Katie Johnson (95% sure she would be signed) as options coming off the bench as they both give you something different. I would have preferred a speedy forward though. And I'm still waiting for the signing of a really good #6. Depth chart GK - Kopmeyer, Schiffel LB - Utsugi, Pickett CB - Barnes, Corsie, Stott, Player X (Bauer) RB - Mathias, Reed DCM - Fishlock, Nairn ACM - Matheson, Elston LF - Rapinoe (Utsugi, Pickett) CF - Yanez, Crummer, Player Y (Johnson) RF - Kawasumi, Dallstream
I like Utsugi at Keelin's #6 and i speculate that she was brought in mid-season when Winters told Harvey she was retiring, so i think that may be the plan. That only works though if Bauer is able to start at CB with Corsie & Stott (when Corsie is in Europe for Euro 17), then Barnes can play LB.
So Kopmeyer was just signed "through the 2018 NWSL season." (Her option had already been picked up for 2017, so I'm not sure if this is a 2 year contract replacing that option, or just a standard 1 year + 1 year option for the 2018 season). Anyway, it seems to be signaling that Solo will not be back with the Reign any time soon...
That is my thought as well. Maybe after confirming that Solo won't be joining, they offered her a new contract to solidify her job as the starter.
Updated to modify Kopmeyer going from a 2/2 to a 1/2 Current squad (18/20) Goalkeepers (2) Haley Kopmeyer - 1/2 Madalyn Schiffel - 1/2 Hope Solo - unknown Defense (7) Lauren Barnes (CB) - 2/2 Rachel Corsie (CB) - 1/2 Merritt Mathias (RB) - 1/2 Carson Pickett (LB) - 2/2 Elli Reed (RB) - 2/2 Rebekah Stott - 1/2 Rumi Utsugi (LB) - 2/2 Midfield (5) Jessica Fishlock (B2B) - 2/2 Lindsay Elston (CM) - 2/2 Magan Rapinoe (LM) - 1/1 Diane Matheson - (CM) - 1/1 Christine Nairn (CM) - 1/2 Forwards (4) Nahomi Kawasumi - 2/2 Beverly Yanez - 1/2 Kiersten Dallstream - 1/2 Larissa Crummer - 1/2 Rights (3) Veronica Perez Ariana Romero Morgan Marlborough 2017 Draft picks (3) 6th overall pick - Maddie Bauer - CB - Standford 16th overall pick - Katie Johnson - F - USC 37th overall pick - Kristen McNabb - CB - Virginia Outgoing from 2016 Andi Tostanoski - waived Kendall Fletcher - retired Michelle Cruz - waived Keelin Winter - retired Kim Little - traded Havana Solaun - traded Manon Melis - retired Summer Green - traded 2018 natural 1st round pick - Chicago 2018 natural 3rd round pick - Washington
Well this is NOT good news. That second tweet sums it up. Reign FC midfielder @dmatheson8 suffers torn ACL.Story: https://t.co/KSoBiPukJh pic.twitter.com/i5J4SVJPny— Seattle Reign FC (@reignfc) February 28, 2017 #FURT— Seattle Reign FC (@reignfc) February 28, 2017
One ACL... long process, but easy enough to come back from. TWO ACLs (same knee)... I wonder if thoughts of retirement start creeping in.
I kind of thought the same thing. And I can't help but wonder if her rush to recover from the last tear, along with the other issues she had during her recovery, contributed in any way to her re-tearing her ACL. I get why she wanted to play in the last WC (it's not often you get to play a major tournament on home soil) but that might have done more harm in the long run. Either way, sucks for both Matheson and Seattle.
Tough loss for the Reign. I think now the 4-4-2 with Fishlock and Nairn as double pivots makes sense again. With Yanez and Crummer up front and Rapinoe and Kawasumi on the Wings. If they tried to stick with the 4-3-3, then I guess they could put Yanez in at the 10? Otherwise they'd have to put one of Yanez, Crummer, Rapinoe, or Kawasumi on the bench and replace them with Rumi Utsugi or Lindsay Elston as a DM? Waiting for Andy to tell us why this is good for the Reign...
I guess the 4-4-2 with the double pivot should work. Both Pinoe and Kawasumi are natural wide players so that should give us enough depth on the wings. I think though that if we play 2 forwards, Katie Johnson will start instead of Crummer. She's the more in form forward right now.
The below is a story about the Reign Academy program but there's an interesting nugget at the end about former Reign player joining the organization as a coach in training. I excited that she's staying with the organization as I always thought she would make an excellent coach someday. "Reign FC assistant coach, Sam Laity, will take over as coach of the U17 and U18/U19 teams this weekend and will see them through the rest of the ECNL season. He will also be taking on an extra responsibility as a mentor to former Reign FC player Steph Cox, as she looks to continue her coaching career. “Steph is a young, up and coming, female coach. One of the things we want to do in our program is promote good, young, female coaches,” said Kevins. “Long term, Steph will aspire to take over and manage teams, and what we want to do is get her into that position.”" https://thebold.net/seattle-reign-academy-look-ahead-to-texas-showcase-9b4a1ac6a1ae#.ewdxp8erc
I was figuring Crummer would be healthy and ready to go by the start of the season, though admittedly I don't know the timeline of her injury. When will she be able to return to training?
Sad. Matheson is a favorite of mine but realistically this is probably the end for her. I have said that, inch for inch, she is the best player in the world. (Well, Gorry might be just as good, inch for inch.).
I still have bad memories of MacMillan rushing rehab for her ACL injury back in 2003, and looking nowhere near the player she had been before the injury. She probably could have had a longer career if she had taken the proper time to get fully healthy instead of trying to recover in 4 months.
According to Matheson's statement, she is planning to play next year and the year after. She says that this time, she will have the time she needs for a proper recovery. So, she herself isn't ready to call it quits.
As Japan wins by 2-0 at Algarve Cup 2017, Rumi Utsugi makes the assist for 1st goal. Also, 2nd goal comes from Rumi's middle-range shot being badly deflected by Icelandic GK. By the way: I was at the game and, between other things, I got an autograph from Rumi. Details in a multi-parter post on Nadeshiko Japan thread.
Chin up folks, it's the start of preseason. As we await the first list of players that are in camp, let's marvel at this very ironic headline. ICYMI: Reign FC have renewed their partnership with Seattle Divorce Services.Story: https://t.co/ca03sGNfxl pic.twitter.com/KdqRH6KvGB— Seattle Reign FC (@reignfc) March 9, 2017
I'll be in Seattle the weekend of the Orlando game. Any recommendation for sections in that stadium? One side better for avoiding being blinded by setting sun? I'm going as a general fan so no pref if there's home/away sections. Want to jump on them when single games go on sale.
Preseason roster is out ... Goalkeepers (4): Haley Kopmeyer, Maddie Schiffel, Brianna Smallridge (NRI), Hanna deHaan (NRI) Defenders (10): Elli Reed, Merritt Mathias, Lauren Barnes, Rachel Corsie, Carson Pickett, Anjel Brown (NRI), Maddie Bauer (Draft Pick), Kristen McNabb (Draft Pick), Rumi Utsugi, Rebekah Stott (NYR) Midfielders (10): Veronica Perez (NRI), Christine Nairn, Jordan Jesolva (NRI), Haley Rosen (NRI), Annie Alvarado (NRI), Mimi Rangel (NRI), Lindsay Elston, Paige Nielsen (NRI), Jessica Fishlock (NYR), Diana Matheson (NYR) Forwards (8): Beverly Yanez, Kiersten Dallstream, Megan Rapinoe, Nahomi Kawasumi, Katie Johnson (Draft Pick), Addison Steiner (NRI), Sydney Arnold (NRI), Larissa Crummer (NYR) Apart from Perez (we have her rights I believe), I do not know any of the NRIs but that's cause I don't follow the college game. I'll say though I'm glad that the bulk of the NRIs are midfielders as we are pretty thin there.
NRI = Non-roster invitee - Players that attended trials and where invited to stay NYR = Not yet reported - Haven't reported to camp yet. 3/4 players that are NYR all played in the W-League for Melbourne City and won the championship so I can understand taking extra time off. Yanez is the only one that also played for City but is in camp. My guess is because she live stateside while Fishlock, Stott and Crummer are all internationals