Can this team be saved?

Discussion in 'Boston Breakers' started by WiminzSoccerRocks, May 19, 2014.

  1. WiminzSoccerRocks

    Jun 15, 2009
    MA
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Any Boston Breakers loyalists out there who have the strength of heart to discuss this sorry season?

    Attendance is lousy (averaging 1775/game over 4 home games), schedule is lousy (e.g. games on weeknights, home opener on Easter Sunday, NO home games in July), defense is lousy, offense isn't working together. Is there any hope? Is the franchise done? Does anybody care?

    Bright spots this season- Joanna Lohman is working her tail off and her technical skill has improved dramatically; she's doing a nice job in the middle of the field. Julie King too remains solid and hard working. Others?

    I'll leave it there in the interest of staying positive.
     
  2. BlueCrimson

    BlueCrimson Member+

    North Carolina Courage
    United States
    Nov 21, 2012
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If I didn't know better, I'd say Tom Durkin is secretly Mike Jorden in disguise.

    I honestly have no idea what Boston can do at this point to turn their season around.
     
  3. Blaze20

    Blaze20 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Seattle Reign FC
    Sep 22, 2009
    Club:
    Philadelphia Independence
    Hire Lilly
     
  4. New Engalnd Nellie

    Mar 6, 2008
    #4 New Engalnd Nellie, May 19, 2014
    Last edited: May 19, 2014
    Not a blind devote but certainly I generally support my "home" team when they don't play my favorite. I've seen four games in person - Easter loss to Houston, Win over Sky Blue and the two Red Stars games.

    Midweek games are difficult and the Breakers got a lousy July schedule.

    Generally, I think Lianne Sanderson has played well, as has Cat Whitehill and Alyssa Naeher (who had a highlight reel save against Chicago Thursday night). DeVanna is a force to be reckoned with (in more ways than one) and I think it made it easier on Chicago's defense not to have to deal with her so they could concentrate more on HAO and Sanderson. Unfortunately she still has to sit out a game when she gets back doesn't she? I look at the name talent on the field and honestly I couldn't understand why they didn't do better against Chicago which actually started 5 rookies Saturday night.

    Maybe it is a team chemistry thing? Unfortunately at this point they are lacking in confidence so it is even worse.
     
  5. BlueCrimson

    BlueCrimson Member+

    North Carolina Courage
    United States
    Nov 21, 2012
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes, DeVanna does have to sit out a match when she returns from the Asian Cup. The earliest she'd be available to serve that suspension is on the 28th against Portland, but that's pushing it.

    Everyone talks about Boston trading Leroux, but I think not having McNeill back is a pretty big blow as well. She and Whitehill had good chemistry, and the shuffling of potential CB's isn't allowing for any chemistry to develop.
     
    New Engalnd Nellie repped this.
  6. Blaze20

    Blaze20 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Seattle Reign FC
    Sep 22, 2009
    Club:
    Philadelphia Independence
    And I think Boston bought into that narrative of losing Leroux as well and may have neglected other parts of this team. If you look at the players they drafted, if I'm not mistaken, they were all forwards. Factor in the debacle with Ortiz and you have a team that was so worried about offense that they forgot that you have to field defenders as well.

    Losing Kling in the expansion draft that not help matters either...
     
  7. New Engalnd Nellie

    Mar 6, 2008
    Actually I thought they concentrated on recruiting Dukies, athough Ezurike and Reeves are not from Duke. In fairness none of the forwards drafted by any team have hit the ground running (Hayes, Ohai, etc.) , my guess is it is a bigger transition for some reason. Pathman has gotten a lot of playing time but she plays all over the field and Anansi (sp?) who was a top ACC defender didn't show up, right? (or do I have her confused with someone else?)
     
  8. holden

    holden Member+

    Dundee FC, Yeovil Town LFC, Girondins de Bordeaux
    Oct 20, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Dundee FC
    Blaming it on losing Leroux or the offense is just silly. The problem is not the offense, it's the defense. After 6 games: last season Boston had allowed 6 goals (an average of 1 per game), this season they have allowed 16 goals (worst in the NWSL and an average of 2.67 per game).

    They need to get some solid defenders. It's something I said last season as well. They had the 2nd most goals for in 2013, but only managed a +1 goal differential because they had the 5th best/4th worst goals allowed. And if you haven't noticed, the standings pretty much exactly mirrored the GA column (with GF as the tiebreaker)...
     
  9. pressurecooker

    Feb 22, 2009
    Boston
    Club:
    Boston Breakers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    One thing the Breakers can do immediately is fix the broken link to their schedule on Google. The page it opens still says "Coming Soon!" It helps when fans have easy access to your schedule. I do agree that this schedule this year is also having some effect on attendance.

    On the field, I agree with the comments before concerning the loss of Kia having a huge negative effect on the defense. However they need more speed defensively also. They are having trouble staying with some of the opposing forwards. When looking at what is available on the market the US has a serious lack of developed defensive talent to pick from. (Same problem on the national team IMO). Unless the Breakers pick up someone from overseas I don't see the current defense improving their play enough to make the needed improvement this season. I think HAO, Lianne, De Vanna and the rest of the offense can keep them in some games, but they really need a world class defender to go along with Cat to stabilize the back line.
     
  10. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    #10 WPS_Movement, May 20, 2014
    Last edited: May 20, 2014
    Yes, this franchise can be saved:

    - Fire the current head coach (someone has to be held accountable)
    - Promote Cat Whitehill to "interim" head coach to finish the year.
    - Hire Tony Gustavsson as head coach for 2015.
    - Retain Cat Whitehill as captain for 2015 as defensive leader.
    - Trade Lisa De Vanna for Jen Hoy, cash considerations, and an international slot (2015 and 2016 slot).
    - Permanently convert Jazmine Reeves to attacking mid.
    - Trade Heather O'Reilly to WNY in exchange for Kat Williamson and a 2nd round pick.
    - Trade top draft pick (if Boston has #1 overall pick) to DC for DC's 1st and 2nd round picks (DC drafts Brian).
    - Boston now has one 1st round pick, and four 2nd round picks (remember the Leroux trade for Mewis).
    - Boston acquires Jill Scott as an international from England, for the 2015 season, to give them more size.
    - Boston acquires Kate Gill as an international from Australia for 2015.
    - Boston retains Nkem Ezurike (Canada) as an international for 2015.
    - Boston retains Lianne Sanderson (who has her green card)
    - Boston still has a freed up international slot (since they would have four).
    - Boston brings back the Riptide in full effect.


    - Boston drafts: MF - Samantha Mewis (UCLA) in the first round using the acquired draft pick from DC.
    - Boston drafts: D - Megan Campbell (Florida State) with their first pick in the 2nd round.
    - Boston drafts: F - Sofia Huerta (Mexico - Santa Clara University) in the 2nd round.
    - Boston drafts: D - Satara Murray (North Carolina) in the 2nd round.
    - Boston drafts: MF - Havana Solaun (Florida) in the 2nd round
    - Boston drafts: GK - Taylor Burke (Florida) in the 3rd round.


    Boston Breakers (2015 Roster)
    F - Kate Gill (Australia), Sofia Huerta (Mexico), Nkem Ezurike (Canada), Jen Hoy, Katie Schoepfer
    MF - Lianne Sanderson, K. Mewis, S. Mewis, Jazmine Reeves, Jill Scott (England), J. Lohman, Havana Solaun
    D - Julie King, Megan Campbell, Cat Whitehill, Kat Williamson, Natasha Anasi, Satara Murray, Nikki Washington, Chelsea Stewart
    GK - Alyssa Naeher, Taylor Burke
    Coach - Tony Gustavsson


    *It's assumed Boston loses Mollie Pathman, Courtney Jones, Jazmyne Avant, Jami Kranich, in expansion draft.
    *Bianca D'Agostino, Kyah Simon, Maddy Evans, and Ashley Grove, are not retained.
     
  11. pressurecooker

    Feb 22, 2009
    Boston
    Club:
    Boston Breakers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't know what color the sky is in your world but I am assuming it looks like a basket of Easter eggs!

    1. They would not have retained Kyah Simon and have her take up an international spot this year with the intention of simply cutting her next year.

    2. The Breakers have absolutely no control over whether the members of the Riptide decide to come back to support the team. Besides the Armada are filling their shoes nicely already with their pre-game tailgates and bringing members of one of the Revs supporters group to join them last game.

    3. It would be smarter to bring in internationals next year who will likely not make a World Cup squad so they play for the team. This certainly makes a case for retaining both Simon and De Vanna because I think one or the other will make the Aussie squad but not both. Kate Gill and Jill Scott are almost locks to make their respective squads.
     
  12. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    De Vanna has already hinted that this will be her last year in NWSL.
    And the league may take at least a 3 week break during the WWC (the WWC lasts 30 days though).
     
  13. newsouth

    newsouth Member

    Nov 20, 2010
    Club:
    Santos FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Brazil
    Fix the defense first but don't draft the Speed Force because her fan base would prefer she stay in Southern Cal.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. New Engalnd Nellie

    Mar 6, 2008
    As usual WPS feels free to throw players under the bus all to get a reaction. He doesn't even bother to keep track of which players showed up for camp and which didn't. It doesn't matter if they are professionals (and some who he has targeted in the past were not). I really wonder if he knows any of these players or has seen them in person.
     
  15. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    Obviously you are not qualified to be a GM to make these decisions then.
    This is not Love Connection in this league, despite it being a women's league, it's still a pro league after college.
    Some players won't cut it, others will get traded to another team, and so on.

    You don't have what it takes to determine who stays on board, and who gets traded or cut, it sounds like.
    These decisions have to be made with the head, and not the heart. Your bias for the Breakers is showing.
    This league is still a business. This is not throwing players under the bus. It's not like we're hanging them.
    They still have plenty of opportunities to play soccer elsewhere, possibly with another team in the league.
    Some players are just better than others for the team (including your team). That's just the way it is.

    As a fan, and America's #1 amendment in freedom of speech, we are allowed to voice our opinions.
    You have to check your conscious at the door when it comes to who to keep on board, and who to trade/cut.
    Do you think the Red Stars love Ella Masar for what she did for them on and off the field? Of course.
    But they didn't protect her from the expansion draft, and the Dash gobbled her up.
    She wasn't a Top 10 player in their plans. Head rules over Heart in this business (even in a women's pro league).
    This isn't the youth (U12) girls league anymore, in which the daughters can do no wrong on the field.
     
  16. New Engalnd Nellie

    Mar 6, 2008
    No I am not qualified to be a GM nor do I claim to be. And yes I do have a conscience. And I will admit that I know some of these players (not just Boston) so I don't take things as lightly as you do.

    Anasi never showed up to camp BTW. I guess that means she's available.
     
  17. MRAD12

    MRAD12 Member+

    Jun 10, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Just a response to your Ella Masar and Chicago comment. The word I heard is Ella requested that she be put on the unprotected list. Once the Red Stars acquired Press and with signing of other forwards, she didn't want to sit on the bench in Chicago. My feeling is that Chicago wanted to keep her but as a sub role. She didn't want that, so they granted her request.
     
  18. New Engalnd Nellie

    Mar 6, 2008
    I was told that as well.
     
  19. slc1997

    slc1997 Member

    Nov 2, 2013
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    The team is probably going to finish the season in last place with sub 2000 attendance. Good news is, Boston can fix a lot in the offseason.
    A) They get Morgan Brian in the draft
    B) The ownership survived the WPS where they lost more each season than they are spending now
    C) They can move out of Harvard to a better location (maybe even Dilboy which is apparently great for attendance and cost effective
    D) Hire Lilly as coach and work with what they have. Their offense is dangerous, but they need a better producing midfield (Brian helps with that) and just sign some quality free agent defenders.
     
  20. holden

    holden Member+

    Dundee FC, Yeovil Town LFC, Girondins de Bordeaux
    Oct 20, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Dundee FC
    I can't tell you how many people I heard that rejoiced at the news they were leaving Dilboy for Harvard... I can't imagine their reaction if they move back (though, I gotta say, I personally wasn't a fan of the choice). If they do go back to Dilboy, they gotta get Somerville to replace the artificial turf with something where the soccer lines aren't blue... (preferably with no permanent lines).
     
  21. New Engalnd Nellie

    Mar 6, 2008
    So any guesses about this week's lineup?

    Was the Portland game's lineup a last ditch effort to shake up the veterans and NTers or will it be a regular part of their roster cycle? Durkin had little to lose in that game which they were expected to lose but now he has to build on the win since there is a glimmer of redemption. (Almost more pressure now.)

    Durkin said before the game that Lohman was suspended and she wasn't even on the 18 person roster. Somehow the story changed after the game to not really suspended. What was that all about?

    If Durkin sticks to his guns sitting the big names every other game or more, how long before the NT starts complaining that their allocated players should be starting every game?

    Has this team been saved or was it just an one shot deal?

    Or was Portland just that bad, tired, unmotivated, unused to the turf with lines, full of themselves, surprised and the real story was them?

    I think I am going to go to see for myself.
     
  22. luvdagame

    luvdagame Member+

    Jul 6, 2000
    simple.

    do not mess with a winning lineup.

    when they lose (and they will eventually lose a game somewhere - maybe even this week), then you bring the original team back to start.

    right now they're subs.
     
  23. weelilbit

    weelilbit Member

    Nov 14, 2013

    I don't know if you ever just go back to the original team. I like the idea of keeping a winning lineup. Alternatively, at full strength, I like this:

    -----------------Naeher-----------------
    Avant--Whitehill--King--Washington
    -O'Reilly--Jones--Sanderson--Evans-
    ---------Ezurike--------Reeves---------
     
  24. holden

    holden Member+

    Dundee FC, Yeovil Town LFC, Girondins de Bordeaux
    Oct 20, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Dundee FC
    472879920310673408 is not a valid tweet id
     
  25. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

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