new Coach...

Discussion in 'Portland Thorns FC' started by msilverstein47, Dec 9, 2013.

  1. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Beyond what's already been printed for mass consumption, can anyone add information about Riley?
     
  2. Blaze20

    Blaze20 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Seattle Reign FC
    Sep 22, 2009
    Club:
    Philadelphia Independence
    What kind are you looking for?

    I do not know much about him personally as I only met him once (even took a pic) at a meet and greet with the players but really didn't talk much with him. He was shorter than I expected though :p.

    He had a good relationship with all the players and they really liked him (Lianne Sanderson even calls him the best coach she ever had). His one weakness is drafting quality players from college. Apart from Sinead Farrelly and to some extend Lauren Barnes who was injured when she was drafted, I don't think he drafted anyone else that even made the team. This never became an issue because he was great at bringing in quality internationals (eg. Magnusdottir , Seger, and of course Boquete). Even in the local market, he was great at recruiting players that fit in his system. It's now common knowledge what he did for Arod after her terrible rookie season in Boston and Kai after she left SBFC.

    His style of coaching is midfield driven. This is one area that I think he will struggle with in Portland because he prefers short, fast and skillful midfielders for which there is a shortage of that in the league. However, with their two international picks still available and with his knowledge of the international market, maybe he can get the players he want. I'm not sure where Magnusdottir is playing right now but if he can get her to come back, it will be a real coup for Portland and bring a much needed presence and speed in the back.
     
  3. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #5 cpthomas, Dec 11, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2013
    Especially the last paragraph is what I was looking for. Thanks very much.

    PS - Angie Woznuk Kerr might fit your midfielder description.
     
  4. Blaze20

    Blaze20 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Seattle Reign FC
    Sep 22, 2009
    Club:
    Philadelphia Independence
    You are welcome, I thought it was common knowledge that his teams are build around midfielders. This is why I think Arod prosper under him. In his system, she was Queen. When I was watching games live, he never allowed her to come back to defend. He always wanted her up top and trusted his midfielders to provide her the service she needed. He usually played the 4-5-1 system in Philly rotating Kai, Arod and at times Sanderson. I'm not sure what he will do with the Sinclair/Morgan situation.
    He's also a good defensive coach but I'm not sure if this was due to him or the players he had. It was rumored that Philly had some of the toughest training sessions and that showed in their defense. For one fact, players were flat out scared to attack the Philly left flank when it was anchored by Magnusdottir. Admittedly at times she didn't play fair but most times she was just a beast. With the rotation and Kryszik(?), McNeill and Falk, he also had a good core of central defenders. On the plus side, Leblanc should be familiar with him.
     
  5. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This from an OregonLive article by Jaime Goldberg, re Coach Riley:

    During a conference call with media in December, Portland Thorns head coach Paul Riley said he hoped the Thorns would one day be considered the top women's club team in the world.

    ....

    "We want to create a fortress in Portland and make it a place where teams are scared to come.”
    Some have been calling Portland the Death Star of the NWSL. How about nick-naming Jeld Wen "The Fortress of Thorns"?
     
  6. Cliveworshipper

    Cliveworshipper Member+

    Dec 3, 2006

    They are already working on a new shield with the sleeping beauty theme.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Cliveworshipper

    Cliveworshipper Member+

    Dec 3, 2006
  8. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I heard a couple of interesting things in the interview:

    The Thorns have another international coming, who won't be here for the beginning of the season but will be coming in later.

    The Thorns anticipate adding 3 or 4 additional new players.

    Confirmation that Menges will be here for the full season.

    The Thorns are discussing either bringing in top European teams or going there to play them. It won't happen pre-season this year, but with the MLS All Star game here v Bayern Munich, that might be an opportunity. At this point, this is just in the internal discussion phase.
     
  9. worthyofbeing1

    Oct 23, 2011
    It's going be interesting to see, he certainly say's right stuff. It's easy talk about it but getting players to do it is another thing.

    Portland fan's want there coach to be like Clive Charles and they want there former players playing for the Thorns.
     
  10. Cliveworshipper

    Cliveworshipper Member+

    Dec 3, 2006
    Haha. The way he phrased it I thought he was talking about Heath.


    Don't we know it!

    Last year CPC talked about playing possession soccer when she gave her first interview.

    As to pilot fans wanting their coach to be like Clive, I'll ask you who wouldn't?

    But the old fans who saw him coach don't expect to ever see another, and the young ones only know his #3 is in the rafters.

    Portland does like to see attractive possession soccer. If he just delivers that much he will have happy fans. With the talent they have it will be a recipe for winning.

    And I am sure any place that has local players who were stars wants to see them again. UNC fans were even following the Thorns last year and some likely still will again. There are still twice as many UNC players on the team as Pilots. With luck, we both might have something to cheer about.

    It looks like we will have several chances to see 9 former Pilots on the pitch at once. Reign matches are going to be strange affairs for some of us.
     
  11. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

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