Thorns land best 05 girls player in the country

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No, that one player is going to replace 1 starter. Who will replace one bench player. Who will bump the last bench player off the team (or the team will get bigger and have more bench players).

This wouldn't be as much of a concern if GDA didn't have their weird and restrictive substitution rules. As it is, only 14 players can play per game. This girl will be a starter and probably a full game player.

Again, looking at the GDA website match reports, Thorns already play most of their starters entire games. The bench players (the three that get to play per game) share a very small portion of minutes. She will be another starter playing full games which means either a starter who has been playing full games will be added to the bench players scrapping for those leftover minutes, or the number of starters playing full games will increase by one, making that pool of leftover minutes for bench players even smaller.

Either way, one starter won't be happy (because even if all the current full game starters get to continue playing full games, someone will lose "their" starting position) and all the bench players won't be happy. Does that make more sense?

And in answer to your question, yes, in theory girls should want to play with the best players. That's easy to say until that player takes your spot.

We will soon see if the starter & full game player up to now that becomes a pine rider stays on for the development even though they now get meager minutes. The cruelest part is, they may well lose their spot despite being equal to or better than the 13-year-old. As the top drawer article and many southern ca people who know her have pointed out: she is good but there are many in the DA that are better but she wins out forever now due to the Nike media sell. It no longer matters if anyone beats her on the pitch, she has won forevermore. That is what’s wrong with US Soccer and the antithesis of what she is supposed to stand for for Nike in the first place. No other girl soccer player around her can follow their dream anymore. Her million followers on social media is all that matters now and trumps any superior performance by any other girl. Sad, unfair and will be the further death of the sport.

[Unregistered]

We will soon see if the starter & full game player up to now that becomes a pine rider stays on for the development even though they now get meager minutes. The cruelest part is, they may well lose their spot despite being equal to or better than the 13-year-old. As the top drawer article and many southern ca people who know her have pointed out: she is good but there are many in the DA that are better but she wins out forever now due to the Nike media sell. It no longer matters if anyone beats her on the pitch, she has won forevermore. That is what’s wrong with US Soccer and the antithesis of what she is supposed to stand for for Nike in the first place. No other girl soccer player around her can follow their dream anymore. Her million followers on social media is all that matters now and trumps any superior performance by any other girl. Sad, unfair and will be the further death of the sport.

Huh?

If she gets schooled on the pitch, people will notice. Nike may be many things, but they are not able to rig sporting events to make sure "their" athletes win and other athletes lose. (And if Nike does get involved in that sort of match-fixing, then some executives there need to take a long business trip to the gray bar Hilton).

[Unregistered]

We will soon see if the starter & full game player up to now that becomes a pine rider stays on for the development even though they now get meager minutes. The cruelest part is, they may well lose their spot despite being equal to or better than the 13-year-old. As the top drawer article and many southern ca people who know her have pointed out: she is good but there are many in the DA that are better but she wins out forever now due to the Nike media sell. It no longer matters if anyone beats her on the pitch, she has won forevermore. That is what’s wrong with US Soccer and the antithesis of what she is supposed to stand for for Nike in the first place. No other girl soccer player around her can follow their dream anymore. Her million followers on social media is all that matters now and trumps any superior performance by any other girl. Sad, unfair and will be the further death of the sport.

Truth. There are many better players from so. Cal. The one in the top soccer article is one of many that are better. But these players don’t have the parent cultivated media following that hat this girl has. She’s leaving the best area for girls soccer and her current GDA team to come to Oregon in hopes she’ll stand out more against our last place GDA players. In CA she is a very good player but no unicorn and definitely no GOAT. It’s 100% about the media hard sell. Smoke and mirrors.

[Unregistered]

Truth. There are many better players from so. Cal. The one in the top soccer article is one of many that are better. But these players don’t have the parent cultivated media following that hat this girl has. She’s leaving the best area for girls soccer and her current GDA team to come to Oregon in hopes she’ll stand out more against our last place GDA players. In CA she is a very good player but no unicorn and definitely no GOAT. It’s 100% about the media hard sell. Smoke and mirrors.

She has less than 100K followers. That's not exactly Kardashian numbers. Nike is taking a small gamble on her, probably for $100,000 over two years. Nike and other companies sign athletes like this all the time that never go anywhere. She had vast parental resources (private training at 7, her own field in her yard, trips to Europe to train, probably tutors to help with the home schooling). How long can she sustain what few advantages she has had while she goes through puberty and other kids catch up? Without all that she'd probably be another good SoCal player. With all that she's a better than good but not unicorn SoCal player

[Unregistered]

We will soon see if the starter & full game player up to now that becomes a pine rider stays on for the development even though they now get meager minutes. The cruelest part is, they may well lose their spot despite being equal to or better than the 13-year-old. As the top drawer article and many southern ca people who know her have pointed out: she is good but there are many in the DA that are better but she wins out forever now due to the Nike media sell. It no longer matters if anyone beats her on the pitch, she has won forevermore. That is what’s wrong with US Soccer and the antithesis of what she is supposed to stand for for Nike in the first place. No other girl soccer player around her can follow their dream anymore. Her million followers on social media is all that matters now and trumps any superior performance by any other girl. Sad, unfair and will be the further death of the sport.

she's training with the full pro team.

[Unregistered]

Latest reporting from the local birdcage liner on Moultrie:

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland-...-training.html

[Unregistered]

Latest reporting from the local birdcage liner on Moultrie:

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland-...-training.html

The funniest thing about this story is that THIS is what the Thorns GDA were promising all along. Pathway to the pros. And what did they do? Find an out of state player to place on that path, because the homegrown players aren't good enough.

I'm not saying an Oregon girl - any Oregon girl - deserves the opportunity this kid is getting. But the fact is whether you attach ECNL, GDA, or XYZ to a player, the player is still the player. No academy or free training or giving up HS sports or anything will change that.

But the scam artists at Thorns GDA will use this as a sales pitch - see what our academy can do for your player! And parents, foolishly not realizing that the academy did NOTHING for this girl, will buy into it.

[Unregistered]

The funniest thing about this story is that THIS is what the Thorns GDA were promising all along. Pathway to the pros. And what did they do? Find an out of state player to place on that path, because the homegrown players aren't good enough.

There's probably one Oregon girl that is good enough; but she prefers to play high school sports and college prep than pursue serious training.

Which is fine--it's her life, and her choice. Given the limited prospects for pro women players, I can't really blame her; there's no multi-million dollar contract out there. There isn't one for most boys either, but an infinitesimally small chance is still bigger than zero.

But perhaps this is how the Thorns need to operate. Don't focus on the local talent pool; instead a residential academy that draws nationwide, is fully funded and subsidized, and is not trying to compete with either OYSA or ECNL. Not a glorified club team.

[Unregistered]

There's probably one Oregon girl that is good enough; but she prefers to play high school sports and college prep than pursue serious training.

Which is fine--it's her life, and her choice. Given the limited prospects for pro women players, I can't really blame her; there's no multi-million dollar contract out there. There isn't one for most boys either, but an infinitesimally small chance is still bigger than zero.

But perhaps this is how the Thorns need to operate. Don't focus on the local talent pool; instead a residential academy that draws nationwide, is fully funded and subsidized, and is not trying to compete with either OYSA or ECNL. Not a glorified club team.

I actually think the latter part of this would be the answer, in the sense the Thorns could create something really unique nationally. Just it is going to cost them a pretty penny and they haven't demonstrated a willingness to make game changing investments (relative to their MLS peers) on boys' side. Yes they can presumably get Nike to contribute to the cost, but at what point do other Nike clubs (NWSL and youth clubs) start clamoring for their own support. Thorns first team is a unique national brand, but not sure "rich get richer" is going to fly with a whole bunch of clubs in the Nike ecosystem.

To respond to another poster - not sure many locals are fooled by this. This family is unique and made unique life choices that many of us would not. If the Thorns are willing to finance 4 teams of them, more power too them; what it is offering now is a far, far cry from that. They also seemed to have picked the wrong league horse, at least for the NW.

[Unregistered]

I actually think the latter part of this would be the answer, in the sense the Thorns could create something really unique nationally. Just it is going to cost them a pretty penny and they haven't demonstrated a willingness to make game changing investments (relative to their MLS peers) on boys' side. Yes they can presumably get Nike to contribute to the cost, but at what point do other Nike clubs (NWSL and youth clubs) start clamoring for their own support. Thorns first team is a unique national brand, but not sure "rich get richer" is going to fly with a whole bunch of clubs in the Nike ecosystem.

To respond to another poster - not sure many locals are fooled by this. This family is unique and made unique life choices that many of us would not. If the Thorns are willing to finance 4 teams of them, more power too them; what it is offering now is a far, far cry from that. They also seemed to have picked the wrong league horse, at least for the NW.

If the intent is to be a bigger better youth club, then arguably ECNL might be a better "fit".

If the intent is to actually run a professional academy, then ECNL is a lousy fit.

The problem the Thorns have is that they are pretending like the latter but investing like the former--and as a result, they don't have a more compelling product, really, than what CU has.

If Thorns Academy were actually free like TA was (no fees, all player travel included), and offered a residential program for out-of-area talent rather than simply trying to attract girls within driving distance--and more training opportunities with the first team--that would be a game-changer. Such a thing would easily be able to peacefully co-exist with the ECNL and non-travel clubs, serving vastly different sectors of the girls' soccer universe.

[Unregistered]

There's probably one Oregon girl that is good enough; but she prefers to play high school sports and college prep than pursue serious training.

Which is fine--it's her life, and her choice. Given the limited prospects for pro women players, I can't really blame her; there's no multi-million dollar contract out there. There isn't one for most boys either, but an infinitesimally small chance is still bigger than zero.

But perhaps this is how the Thorns need to operate. Don't focus on the local talent pool; instead a residential academy that draws nationwide, is fully funded and subsidized, and is not trying to compete with either OYSA or ECNL. Not a glorified club team.

Tualatin HS player?

[Unregistered]

If the intent is to be a bigger better youth club, then arguably ECNL might be a better "fit".

If the intent is to actually run a professional academy, then ECNL is a lousy fit.

The problem the Thorns have is that they are pretending like the latter but investing like the former--and as a result, they don't have a more compelling product, really, than what CU has.

If Thorns Academy were actually free like TA was (no fees, all player travel included), and offered a residential program for out-of-area talent rather than simply trying to attract girls within driving distance--and more training opportunities with the first team--that would be a game-changer. Such a thing would easily be able to peacefully co-exist with the ECNL and non-travel clubs, serving vastly different sectors of the girls' soccer universe.

Not sure we are really disagreeing, but begs question: what program in this country is truly running a "professional academy" for girls? Quakes and Reign are each running decent programs, but believe they are full-freight pay-to-play programs. Maybe Galaxy?

You also have some pro-affiliated programs - Orlando, LAFC, NYCFC - that have gone ECNL - is that because they are really just youth clubs that try to leverage the pro brand or is it because GDA is a weaker platform? I don't know the answer - just a "professional academy for girls" is more myth than reality in this country.

Thorns have had this program for a few years now and have not demonstrated nearly the financial commitment yet to run a professional academy for girls . . . hard to blame them, given there is no apparent financial return in this country for that investment.

[Unregistered]

she's training with the full pro team.

Of course she is. So do other Thorns Academy players. She’s rostered on the last place in a weak league u16/u17 Thorns team. Why not the u18/19 team which is at least decent? Rumor is she left Cal South where she was already on a MUCH better GDA team to look like a big frog in a little pond. Feel bad for the local academy players and the Thorns senior team. Who will she replace at mid for the photo op? They’re lucky she can’t be fostered till she’s 18, 5 years from now or she’d be taking someone’s spot now.

[Unregistered]

If the intent is to be a bigger better youth club, then arguably ECNL might be a better "fit".

If the intent is to actually run a professional academy, then ECNL is a lousy fit.

The problem the Thorns have is that they are pretending like the latter but investing like the former--and as a result, they don't have a more compelling product, really, than what CU has.

If Thorns Academy were actually free like TA was (no fees, all player travel included), and offered a residential program for out-of-area talent rather than simply trying to attract girls within driving distance--and more training opportunities with the first team--that would be a game-changer. Such a thing would easily be able to peacefully co-exist with the ECNL and non-travel clubs, serving vastly different sectors of the girls' soccer universe.

Won't ever happen - there's no money in it. There's a reason few GDA clubs are funded and almost no MLS clubs got involved. There's no money in it to justify the high costs.

[Unregistered]

Of course she is. So do other Thorns Academy players. She’s rostered on the last place in a weak league u16/u17 Thorns team. Why not the u18/19 team which is at least decent? Rumor is she left Cal South where she was already on a MUCH better GDA team to look like a big frog in a little pond. Feel bad for the local academy players and the Thorns senior team. Who will she replace at mid for the photo op? They’re lucky she can’t be fostered till she’s 18, 5 years from now or she’d be taking someone’s spot now.

She's 13, skinny as a rail, hasn't hit puberty yet. Having her play up that many age groups is a recipe for disaster.