The highest of highs to the lowest of lows. This game was like drinking a red bull when you're tired. It picks you up but drops you off lower than when you started. There is so much to talk about which Ruby and I will dissect in our next Podcast due out Friday where we will cover both this game and the Portland away game mid week. But here are three quick takeaways and what we learned.
- Smart players will take the advantages they are given. We all know that the refs the nwsl are assigned are not up to par. We know that refs in this league get intimidated by star players and by crowds. Playing Portland in Portland is the pinnacle of this. This game hopefully served notice to gotham's players because it's going to be worse in Portland. Smart players like Rapinoe and Huerta know this. The old adage of "don't hate the player. Hate the game". Both Long and Lewandowski are veterans who should know better than to give players like Rapinoe the chance to take that dive. Those were easy. Long put her hands on Huerta and Lewandowski went it on a challenge she shouldn't have. The Rapinoe one was too easy. The ball was away from her and heading out of play. There was no reason to go in. We've seen this a thousand times. Gotham needs to do better.
- The Lloyd problem. Lloyd is one of the best that have ever played. She's one of the best because she does it her way. And that's a problem. Because she does it, her way. Her inclusion takes out the natural balance of this squad. You have to play her. This is her victory lap and I'm sure national team players have pull in this league. Just last night the inclusion of Lloyd pushed the leagues hotte
st striker to the wing. But what happens when Purce comes back? Do you push Ify to the left? Do you bench the leagues hottest striker or the league's most dynamic attacker in Purce? Kawasumi is the most creative player Gotham has and deserves to start. Do you bench her? What about Monahan when she returns? If Onumonu gets put to the bench I believe Gotham fans might revolt.
- Dorsey has been missed. Although used as a second half sub Imani is the only true two way left back on the team. Eddy really struggled in this one. Completing only 62 percent of her passes. But Eddy is not a left back so she did the best she could. Having Dorsey back playing to the level she did earlier in the season will go a long way. We've tried three or four different players at her spot and haven't been able to replicate her. Glad she's back.
Gary Gibson