So, is it true that Sinclair has signed with the Flash? So far: Goebel Fountain Harris Sinclair And p.s. Thanks Bonnie for the thread!
Word is she's agreed terms with them. Oh, and they have the first pick of the WPS Draft, I'm assuming. Sinclair and Morgan up front? Yes, please.
I also would not be surprised to see Milbrett sign with WNY. She and Sinclair are very close. She would also come cheap, provide veteran leadership, and will not be out of the picture during the WWC (unlike Sinclair and Morgan).
Where are folks seeing news of people that *may* have signed w/ the Flash? Are there links to reports from the news conference? Thanks. (and mods, thanks for getting the new forum up and running)
I would bet that they will pick up Riley and Wilson, but pass on Bueler who is likely much more expensive. If they really are signing Sinc, then Kelly O'hara would not be far behind, and both Wilson and O'hara are likely not disappearing this summer for WWC. I'd take Press as #1 in draft, since she is not on Pia's current pick to click for the WNT, which creates quite a combo with Sinc and O'hara. All in all, interesting developments. Way to early to predict where other FA's will land.
The Flash are also signing: Mary Crissmus Joy Tue Thuh Wurld (International player) Jingle Bell Decktha Hall Bah Ruh Pum Pum Pumm (International player) Lettid Snow Winter Wunderland Frosttea Snowman And a ..... New Assistant Coach: Rudolph Red Reigndeere Basically, it's a wonderful Christmas for Flash fans. Get your tickets early for a nice holiday gift.
We had WNY Flash head coach Aaran "Kiwi" Lines on Kick This! this morning and he had a few roster things to say. 1st, he said that they will use the 1st pick in the draft on USWNT F Alex Morgan. 2nd, he said that they have a verbal agreement with Christine Sinclair and that they expect it to be finalized within the next week. 3rd, he said that they expect to announce some more signings in the next week or two. We also interviewed WNY Flash GK Ashlyn Harris. A podcast of the show should be up on http://www.kickthis.com/kickthis/ in the next day or two or you can grab it on iTunes.
From the FCGP, I am thinking Sinclair, Milbrett, Beuhler, Riley, O'Hara and maybe Cameron too. To start with. Me thinks I might be looking for a frequent flier route from the Bay Area to Buffalo.
Taken from Jeff Di Veronicas soccer blog - Devos Direct Kicks - on the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle website. The Western New York Flash has added two more talented young players, bringing its roster to five, and coach Aaran Lines says the expansion club already has decided to choose University of California and US national team forward Alex Morgan with the first pick in next month’s WPS Draft. Morgan, 21, is one of 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Award, soccer’s Heisman equivalent. She has led Cal in scoring each of her four years and this year in her first eight games for the US she had four goals and one assist. Her extra-time goal last month in Italy gave the Americans a key one-goal advantage after Game 1 in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifying playoff series with Italy. Lines said the Flash also have agreed to terms with WPS Rookie of the Year Ali Riley, 23, an outside back for league champion FC Gold Pride and New Zealand’s Player of the Year. Midfielder/defender Brittany Bock is another 23-year-old with a good college pedigree (Notre Dame) who has agreed to terms. Lines said both signings are pending WPS and US Soccer Federation approval - but they again signal, like last week’s announcement that Canadian star Christine Sinclair will play here, that the Flash want to win now. Bock is in the U.S national team player pool and played in WPS last summer with the Washington Freedom. “She’s going to be that next generation, a potential World Cup player if she can have a good year. That’s the type of player we want to bring in,” Lines said this morning. “She wants to play her way back into the World Cup mix.” Bock and Riley join midfielders Beverly Goebel (Washington) and Kaley Fountain (Gold Pride/Atlanta) and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris (St. Louis/Washington) on the Flash roster with WPS experience. LB...
Many thanks for the info/blog tip, LaxBandit. Those players are good pickups by WNY I'm going to post the info on Bock (and a link) in the main WPS forum. Bock had an injury plagued 2010. When healthy, she's a great talent but will she be healthy for a full season. Riley, like Sinclair, will miss a huge chunk of the season w/ WWC responsibilities. Lines will need to makes sure they have capable backups...
When I asked Kiwi about Sinclair's availability, I believe his answer was that he expects Canadian Internationals to be available for 14 regular season games and US Internationals to be there for 11 regular season games.
Sorry, I meant Beuhler to Boston, and maybe O'Hara too. So Riley, Sinclair, Milbrett, and maybe Cameron to WNY?
Wonder if they would pick up Chapman as well. She was good on the backline, and I also expect Milbrett to go there if she continues for another season. She definitely still has the talent.
More Players Announced Here is today's report from Rochester. http://blogs.democratandchronicle.com/devo/ New Zealand will not make nearly the demands on Ali that the USWNT will make on their players. The Canadian situation may be similar. GO FLASH
Congrats to Ali Riley and Brittany Bock as well as Christine Sinclair. The defense looks like it has great potential with Harris in the box. How funny that a Stanford and Notre Dame player join Le Flash the day after the NCAA D1 final. Bet they will have some interesting rivalry discussions next spring.
Looks like I'm going to have to adopt the Flash as my team, since they've already signed two of my favorite players in Sinclair and Riley. Here's hoping they bring in a few more ex-FCGP players. You could do worse than build your expansion team around the remnants of what some called the greatest women's soccer team of all time. And if you leave out the high priced players -- Marta, obviously, but also the USWNT players (Buehler is in Boston, don't need Barnhart) -- you're not even breaking the bank to do it.
More FCGP players I was lucky enough to see quite a few Gold Pride games last year. All 4 defenders played major roles by the end. Kandace is still not a technician but she worked hard on her game and by the end of the season was a force at right defender. Chappie was great all season. Technically sound and very aware of space and movement. Gold Pride used two mid-fielders as DMids. Becky was unobtrusively exceptional. She was always there whether in the first or the 89th minute. Of course Shannon was also a powerful defender but dollar for dollar I know who I would choose. And Becky will be available for all the games.
Welcome to bigsoccer, Quick as a Flash. Are you hinting about Edwards's destination with that last part? I agree w/ your opinion of her play. I've said elsewhere that I think she flew WAY too far under the radar last season. And I think Pia should give her a camp look. But even Osborne can't break into Pia's Boxx/Lloyd rotation so I doubt Edwards will get a look till after the WWC.
Kandace Wilson and McCall Zerboni have both signed with WNY. They're building something good, methinks.
I think I could let Pia pick her 11 and then I could come up with an American team that would beat Pia's team. Becky would be on that team as would Kandace.