I dont think Cox wants to play away from Seattle at this point in her career. She just took a high school coaching job in the town where she lives.
I think the Dash would be better with more 1st and 2nd round picks to get Brian,Grubka,Hinkle and Groom and maybe get Kelley Monogue in the 4th round
Houston has a good team next year if they can get good play from their CB's, and a consistent target forward. Yes they are a playoff contender if both of those happen. If neither happens, they won't be in the playoffs.
I like Groom but I think she'll be the first or second forward off the board. KC would love to get her.
They'd have to trade top assets at this point like Lloyd, Ohai, etc, to even get that many 1st and 2nd round picks. Stephanie Ochs wouldn't even get them a Top 10 pick (maybe a late 2nd rounder at best). This close to a draft, you have to "over-pay" at least a little bit to get a Top 10 pick. Trading Kyle would probably return the #18 pick at best, and probably only a #20 pick at best. Might as well keep her. DM's in this league aren't a dime a dozen.
Houston can also trade a 2nd or 3rd round pick from the 2016 draft and Kyle for a late 1st rounder.They have the depth at DM with Bock,Nick and Axon
I almost forgot about Lauren Sesselmann being on the Dash. She could be a key in order for them to have success, even if she only plays in half the games. Sesselmann has the opportunity to be a Top 10 CB in this league, if she is fully healthy. She was named to the 2nd team all starting XI team in NWSL in 2013. That's like saying she was a Top 4 CB in 2013.
Theyd love to have Grubka for sure. She'd plug a big hole in the back...I think Houston made a big mistake trading the #10 pick to SB but they felt they needed bodies more than quality. Maybe they get Meghan Straight at #13 or reach for Megan Oyster.
I also think it was a mistake but I understand the depth they needed at DM especially with Kyle at WC.
I've never been to impressed with McCarty in the NWSL. I do agree with you about Henderson. If she can get a few goals under her belt early in the season, I think that will help her confidence and she could have a breakout season.
OB should also be as much concern as CB.Klingenberg and Poliana will be at WC.That leaves them with one OB which is Ochs.At least at CB they will have Cross and Diggs and possibly Bock
McCarty looked much better last season...at Washington she looked out of her depth. I think the new midfield really helps Henderson. They will find her easy shots. I really hope the US players will be available for the first three or four games as promised. If Houston has to wait until July for the midfield to arrive it may be another lost year for the forwards.
No...there r three things still floating in the air but all have rock solid source so they arent rumors. Naimo is hinting he's found more draft day surprises for Flash fans, Paulson said Portland traded their picks and Harvey said Seattle did something.
If Houston wants to go in a youth direction, then here's how they can do it. Trade #1 Carli Lloyd to FCKC for Erika Tymrak and FCKC's #12 overall pick. (not sure how FCKC would turn that down, they'd have A-Rod, Holiday, O'Reilly, Lloyd, Richmond, Buczkowki at their forward & midfield spots. Not to mention, Hagen. they'd be unstoppable with national team talent everywhere) Trade #2 Trade Teresa Noyola and that newly acquired #12 overall pick to Boston for the #9 and #24 picks. Trade #3 Trade Kaylyn Kyle, Marissa Diggs, Ella Masar to Chicago for Adriana Leon, #8 pick, #27 pick (this fills two needs immediately for Chicago by acquiring a DM and a CB, plus they get Masar back) Trade #4 Trade the #27 pick they just acquired & #13 pick to Sky Blue for the #10 pick Summary Now Houston all of a sudden has the #1, #8, #9, #10, #24, and #31 picks. Houston can then possibly draft with these picks: 1.) Morgan Brian 8.) Sofia Huerta (Chicago probably wouldn't take Huerta at #5, after acquiring Masar back from the Dash) 9.) Kristen Grubka 10.) Shea Groom 24.) Tessa Andujar 31.) Kelley Monogue As a result, the roster looks like this: Houston Dash (2015) F - Sofia Huerta, Kealia Ohai, Melissa Henderson, Adriana Leon, Kelley Monogue, Tiffany McCarty MF - Erika Tymrak, Shea Groom, Morgan Brian, Rosana, Brittany Bock, Ashley Nick, Jackson, Kelly McFarlane D - Poliana, Stephanie Ochs, Tessa Andujar, Klingenberg, Sesselmann, Grubka, Cross GK - Erin McLeod, Bianca Henninger (maybe even pick up Jordan Day if she goes undrafted) If they go in a 4-3-3, Groom would probably be one of the forwards, and they still have a ton of midfield depth, even while national team players are away. Bock can also play on the back line if needed.
I like trade #1 for them. Lloyd will be out of this league by 2017 or so (she was a senior at Rutgers in 2004). But FCKC might make this trade, and here's why .... Carli Lloyd for Erika Tymrak and #12 overall pick. FCKC already has a few other draft picks. They'll tend to have a good draft regardless, so no big deal giving up the #12 overall pick. FCKC does as good of a job as any other team in this league with drafting, maybe better. They also can find diamonds in a rough, and quality players later in the draft (like Jenna Richmond). So losing the #12 pick is nothing for them. Lloyd is better than Tymrak. And Lloyd (combining with A-Rod, Holiday, O'Reilly, etc) by far makes them the most US National Team laden pro team in the history of WUSA, WPS, NWSL, even MLS. Not to mention, Carli Lloyd could have a killer 2015 WWC (I just feel it). Her popularity could be through the roof afterwards. All that combined could spark up more interest for Sporting KC to own (or partially own) the KC women's team, and they would then play every home game in their glorious MLS stadium. That would be HUGE for FCKC. 8 years of Tymrak playing for the Dash is better than just a couple years of Lloyd. Plus the Dash get the #12 pick from FCKC in that trade. Could be a win-win for both franchises.