We can start the 2017 thread where we left off on the 2016 thread. Let's start with today's news of draft pick trade with Boston. http://chicagoredstars.com/chicago-exchanges-draft-picks-with-boston/
Let's take a look at Chicago red Stars needs going into the draft next week. Just my opinions. Goalkeeper They have: Alyssa Naeher, Michele Dalton You have the starting goalkeeper for the USWNT going into non-Olympic, nonWWC year(s). Very serviceable 2nd string keeper and local player in Dalton. What to add in draft: Nothing to change there. Defense They have: Johnston, Short, Gilliland, Johnson, Naughton, Gordon IMO, the best defense in the league. What to add in the draft: Maybe add another outside defender as depth. Midfield They have: Colaprico, DiBernardo, Comeau, Mautz, Raetzman, Luba, If I remember Rory played Huerta in midfield as well last season and she did great, IMO. This is where I would add a couple from the draft. CRS need a couple outside mids that can play in tight spaces and can move north and south fast and furious. Mautz has been there for a long time but IMO, is a good/average player. I like Raetzman but she rarely played last season, Comeau is good but like Mautz. Luba rarely plays. Colaprico and DiBernardo are among the best in midfield in the league. That stays. What to add in the draft: It would be great if somehow CRS could add to that midfield with a diamond in the rough player in the second round that can start alongside Colaprico and DiBernardo. Forwards They have: Christen Press, Sofia Huerta, Cara Walls, Jen Hoy, Stephanie McCaffrey You start off with arguably the best forward in the league. Red Stars and Red Stars fans are lucky and should be thankful every game to have Christen Press in Chicago. Sofia Huerta and Press have started to feel each other on the field and are jiving very well at the end of last season. McCaffrey is should now have a full season to be up front with Press as well. Hoy regressed last season. She needs to do better right out of the gate if she wants much playing time. What to add in draft: It wouldn't be a bad idea to add one or two more fire-power players. A player that can score is always welcome. Maybe CRS can come across another Lynn Williams somewhere in the draft. The Red Stars have a good team that has been together for several years. The only thing they can do is add more depth or find one, maybe two good player(s) in the later rounds that can start, proving themselves by beating out a current player and also give one or two top local players coming out of college a chance as well. Don't be surprised to see a local Chicago kid like Crystal Thomas out of Georgetown being drafted. As a season ticket holder and one who follows this team heavily, I expect nothing less in the 2017 season than a playoff spot and hopefully a Championship this time. Providing all players from last season return. Like I said, just my, as a fan, opinions.
@MRAD12 I pretty much agree with you. Outside mid and some more goal-scoring threats. I think I like VDB more in middle of pitch, especially if we continue to have outside backs who are able to charge forward. She is effective anywhere but think she can do more from central position. Jen Hoy had a tough season last year, but it seems she is doing well over in the W-League, so I hope that carries over for her. Impressed that a gal with an Ivy League degree and no national team prospects is still working on her game and showing commitment to the league. I also like Alyssa Mautz' fighting spirit, but she is very inconsistent (except for her unfortunate tendency for reckless fouling) and you never know if she will have an impact in a game or not. I guess we shouldn't be surprised that our late picks did not see much time on the field, but hard to have much of a positive impression, there. Will be interested to see who sticks on the roster. I am still waiting for (but hoping against) a shoe to drop with Press - people keep suggesting she is not all that happy at Red Stars and we know she loved her time overseas and is in a position to make that happen again, if she wants.
Chicago Red Stars Draft: I think Rory got what he needed for the most part out of this draft to supplement the returning "veterans". As I said a couple of posts above, CRS needed one or two more midfield help to go with Colaprico and Dibernardo. They got that with 5'10" Morgan Proffitt who will be the tallest player in the middle. And a "local" kid from Indiana who also played for the Red Stars reserves the last couple of summers. She is a physical player from what I know and should alleviate some pressure from Dibernardo to push more up this season. I see her starting this year. I also said that it wouldn't be bad to add another player that can score. I think they may have that with Michele Vasconcelos. From the videos I've seen she looks like a little dynamo with speed and skill to go into the box. She is a flank player that can play both midfield and forward and has a mean cross. My reading says she is a very hard worker, which Rory I believe, loves as a quality that can do well to connect the back line with the forwards. Hopefully she will be dangerous on that left flank. Red Stars 3rd pick I'm not sure of. I was kind of surprised. But maybe Rory knows something some of us do not. They state that she is one of the best utility players around. I honestly do not know what that means but we'll see. I was thinking they may draft Georgetown forward Crystal Thomas a local Chicagoan and former Eclipse Select player with that last pick. Red Stars traded several picks as I recall for top picks in 2018. I am glad to see that the Red Stars brass is looking forward to the future. Many feel next year will be an expansion year and that the Red Stars will lose some key players including, maybe Christen Press if there is an LA Club in the NWSL. Rory is doing well to position himself for top draft picks for when that happens. Also, and this is just me thinking, I don't know how long Julie Johnston will remain in Chicago with her fiance, playing football for Philadelphia. Hopefully the Red Stars have all the pieces this year to finally win the long awaited Championship!
A nice little write-up from Australia about Arin Gilliland. http://northernnswfootball.com.au/on-the-bench-with-arin-gilliland/
Time for Season Ticket Holders to go to Toyota Park and pick their seat on Feb 11th from 10:00 - 1:00. http://chicagoredstars.com/selectaseat2017/
Went to the Choose Your Seat event at Toyota Park today. I'm keeping my same seat as last year, close to the tunnel and just to the left of the home bench 3rd row. Courtney Raetzman and Casey Short were there signing autographs. I am thrilled for Short. A real Chicago girl on the USWNT. I may be wrong but I don't think Chicago has had a player on the senior USWNT since Debbie Keller almost 20 years ago. Not talking about Press, Johnston, Naeher, they are from other states playing in Chicago.
One of Red Stars 2017 draft picks will not be in uniform for the 2017 season. Having a baby. http://chicagoredstars.com/michele-vasconcelos-to-miss-2017-season/
I'm disappointed, because I was looking forward to watching her on the field this year. But at the same time, I'm happy for her and her husband.
Red Stars announce pre-season schedule: http://chicagoredstars.com/chicago-red-stars-unveils-2017-preseason-schedule/ Time to schedule my ND game day off to go to South Bend and maybe a half-day to go to Madison, Wisconsin.
Chicago's pre-season roster: http://chicagoredstars.com/chicago-red-stars-begin-2017-season/ There are a couple notable invitees here: Brittany Ratcliffe and Simone Kolander
Good read about the Red Stars upcoming season: http://equalizersoccer.com/2017/04/05/chicago-red-stars-season-preview-living-up-to-expectations/
I was shocked when Simone Kolander didn't get drafted. Two-time Big Ten Forward of the Year...and not just a goal poacher...great with her feet and splitting the defense, can score, pass, has a great speed and height combination. Yet NWSL teams drafted forward after forward from the Big Ten ahead of her. Makes me wonder if the front offices are actually doing any scouting at all or just listening to their buddies. Would be very surprised if she doesn't make the final roster for Chicago.
Red stars season preview http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2017/4/12/15262854/chicago-red-stars-nwsl-2017-preview
Haha! Seen Huerta and Johnston make that same play at least 20 times. Johnston passes to Huerta, Huerta scores. Huerta passes to Johnston, Johnston scores. They're interchangeable...