Orlando should trade their 2017 1st round pick, a 2016 pick, an international slot, Jamia Fields for Sydney Leroux. Morgan and Leroux should be on the same team. Leroux is being wasted right now at WNY. Morgan, Leroux, and Hagen would be quite the three-headed monster. It would be the best striking trio on any team since Marta, Sinclair, and Morgan for WNY in 2011.
Orlando now add Steph Catley to the backline. Fun to see an Aussie join, but I think there's too much defense on the teams already.... Levin, Hemmings, Pressley, Evans, now Monica and Catley.... Can we please get some real midfielders?
Apparently "Orlando is finalizing a deal with the Western New York Flash that would bring midfielder Becky Edwards and defender Kristen Edmonds to the Pride." http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...nd-thorns-stephanie-catley-20151210-post.html
Jamia Fields and Lianne Sanderson can play as attacking mids. Maddie Evans as a defensive mid. They also have Kaylyn Kyle. Adding Becky Edwards strengthens their midfield. Maybe Sermanni brings over an Australian midfielder.
I love the look of this new roster. It really does remind me of the Philadelphia Independence when they first entered WPS as an expansion team. They had a playoff competitive roster right away. Alex Morgan puts butts in seats and spectator eyes on her butt. She puts defenders on their butt. She puts endorsement money in her pocket which ultimately helps the visibility of Orlando's franchise and logo. Others fall on their butt, but Orlando stands upright and ready to win any given soccer match with Morgan playing. Sarah Hagen is HUNGRY. She needs a new home, and this is a perfect fit for her. When Morgan is away with the national team, now Hagen is the #1 focal point for goal scoring. She also benefits while Morgan is there, because that frees up Hagen to score. Hagen gets the best of both worlds by playing with Morgan, while Morgan is there, or away on national team duty. Jasmyne Spencer may be the fastest player in NWSL. Imagine this, you get tired as a defender while chasing Morgan around for 70 or 75 minutes. Now Mrs. Usain Bolt comes into the game and you are tired and have to chase her fresh entrance into the game. That is an absolute nightmare for any defender. Linanne Sanderson on the wing. She can score, and she can rack up assists. Jamia Fields is ready to be unleashed. She is a big time talent, as she showed consistently in college. This is probably the most athletic and speedy attacking team right now (on paper) in NWSL. And Hagen can score a bucket load of goals with her head, not to mention her feet as well. Alex Morgan is also good with her head. The Pride now need a play-making midfielder in the center of the park. That is the missing piece. They seem to have solid defensive depth already, and Monica is quite the acquisition from Brazil. It's good to see Brazilian starting national team players that are playing for a Florida franchise. And Stephanie Catley is arguably the most talented outside back in this league right now. Kaylyn Kyle is a late game reserve who can come in with fresh legs and patrol the defensive teeth of the midfield. She's one of the best in the business at that late in games when she has fresh legs. Taryn Hemmings and Camille Levin were great selections in the expansion draft. Harris and Bledsoe are a rock-solid goalkeeping duo. And Maddy Evans is a poor-woman's version of Jen Buczkowski, if you utilize her correctly, which speaks volumes.
Spencer Strike Sends Sky Blues To Grand Final Sunday, January 24: http://www.sydneyfc.com/article/spe...ues-to-grand-final/1flek2az4o6pc1qw75jzuxflyl ....I was going to post this on the Flash forum, then: D'oh!
The Pride add Laura Alleway, should help smooth over the loss of Hemmings. http://www.themaneland.com/2016/1/3...set-to-sign-australian-defender-laura-alleway
That's a good pick up. I think Alleway showed that she was much improved at the 2015 WWC. She has a lot of potential to get better still, but she's in her mid 20's now and provides a veteran presence for them.
Better you than us. Mediocre player who thinks she is a lot better than she really is and who is a locker room problem at times. No surprise she's played on more NWSL teams than anybody else.
Josée Belanger to Orlando Pride http://www.themaneland.com/2016/2/8...federation-allocate-josee-belanger-to-orlando
*blows dust off thread* I always have a hard time keeping track of international slots... I know the Pride sent one of their five away, but are the other four completely filled? I know they're already using slots on Catley, Alves, and Alleway, but neither Kyle nor Sanderson will count since they have green cards, so does the Pride still have an international opening, or have I missed someone?
It has been recently reported that the team is using three of their four international slots. Thinking about it, I agree that it seems the team should have five slots. Either the NWSL has not yet said the 4th slot will carry over, or we missed a transaction somewhere. Or it was a mistake in reporting. In any case, there are three being used currently.
NWSL site hasn't updated for 2016 roster rules so still shows that 2016 is supposed to only be 3 slots. I think it was just eventually assumed the added international slot didn't go away this year as nothing indicates otherwise and then there was an announcement that Pride had been granted an extra slot in an article at some point. Don't know if the 4 slots continuing was actually officially announced. Hope they keep it permanently as 4 slots are better to work with as the league expands.
Orlando had 5, they traded 1 to Portland leaving them with 4. They have used 3 of those (Catley, Monica, Alleway) so have one left open.
It is 4 spots for 2016 plus the added one for Orlando (which they traded to Portland for 2016 and 2017).
Ah, right, forgot. I thought she had been one of the many Canadians to have lost allocation and was just sticking around since wouldn't have counted as international. X-D