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We posed the question of what the fans thought were the important roster properties of Gotham FC off season. Here are the results:
Over the next week or so. We will break down these priorities and give context.
We agree that the biggest off season question that needs to be answered is who is going to provide the service to Gotham FC's pair of top scoring forwards next season.
Gotham FC played in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 diamond throughout the last run of games under new coach Scott Parkinson.
Throughout the season the defense is what kept this team in games. The offense was feast or famine often punishing teams that tried coming out and play forward and getting stonewalled by teams looking to sit back and counter.
Gotham has tried multiple players in that provider, 10 role including legend Carli Lloyd, French legend Gaetane Thiney, Sodam Lee, and at times rotated the three holding midfielders Allie Long, McCall Zerboni, and Jennifer Cudjo in that spot to mixed success.
The attacking future of this club is the duo of the line stretching Ifeoma Onumonu and the superstar ankle breaking Margaret "Midge" Purce. Midge finished the season with 9 goals and 1 assist despite missing a large chunk of the middle of the season. Ifeoma finished the season with 8 goals and 4 assists. Playing in every game this season. The potential of these two attackers being the focal point with consistent service would be seemingly unstoppable.
Parkinson "they are formidable up front. They want to eat together, room together, and travel together." Speaking to the desire of both forwards to grow their connection on and off the field.
Gotham tends to pull the ball wide and try to force crossed balls over the top by overlapping fullbacks in Imani Dorsey and Caprice Dydasco. Or cleverly placed through balls from midfielder Nahomi Kawasumi or Paige Monaghan.
Gotham has struggled this season attacking from the middle of the field. When teams sit players behind the ball and clog the service lanes Gotham struggled to get shots on target. Adding a player that can unlock defenses and play that killer final pass to the attacking pair of piece and Onumonu is what will take this team to the next level.
Gotham already possesses one of the leagues stingiest defence and has currently, a pair of top goalkeepers in Olympic gold medalist Kailen Sheridan and Bosnian international Didi haracic. Gotham FC also has three veteran center backs and three holding midfielders.
Wide midfielders are a plenty. Veteran Nahomi Kawasumi, youngsters Paige Monaghan and Evelyn Viens will continue to grow and be threatening from wide spots.
There is a chance that the number ten this team needs is on roster. In limited minutes Evelyn Viens has shown a high soccer IQ and ability to move defenders in transition to open up passing Lanes. Traditionally a forward, Evelyn has lined up part time as a midfielder this season.
Sodam Lee is also a creative player who may fit the role. Sodam has a penchant for improvising and drifting out of position at times. Hasn't at present shown that ability to play the killer final pass. However, all the ability is there. Perhaps a season now under her belt and adaption to Parkinson's system may prove useful.
Another player on roster who may fit the role is the under utilized rookie and ESPN 21 under 21 Brianna Pinto. Fans and analysts alike are perplexed as to why the talented Pinto has not seen the field as much as most think warranted. A forward by trade, Brianna has the high soccer IQ and ability to be a number 10. But she may be better utilized as the first option off the bench to spell Onumonu and Purce.
Gotham used, now retired Carli Lloyd in that role to finish out the season. Gotham can look to the market to find the player that fits the role or they can use one of their draft picks in the upcoming NWSL college draft to find an up and coming play maker to plug in.
The Expansion Draft will be hosted in Los Angeles, CA on Thursday, December 16 at 4 p.m. PST. Two days later LA will also host the NWSL Draft slated for Saturday, December 18 at 11 p.m. PST.
We look forward to seeing how Gotham answers this pressing question.
-Gary Gibson
soccerovergotham@gmail.com
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