Hey folks, I’m pretty new to live soccer but I’ve always gotten really excited when teams have chants for specific players. I wrote ups draft of one for Trinity Rodman. I’m sure it can be improved, so I figured I would throw it out to the group and see who has ideas. To the tune of “In Da Club”:

You find Trin on the line, making defense whine,

She’s got the twists like mojitos got the lime,

She’s making keepers whiff, she ain’t into wasting shine,

So come drop her a dime if we’re running out of time

(Edit:formatting)

Ill be at Audi for the Spirit, but I want to give my props to my hometown Current. Anyone know a bar/venue who is playing the game Sunday afternoon?

Not trying to stir the pot on superstition -- but as a practical matter, is anyone else thinking about planning travel/tickets to the finals if Spirit advance?

I'm especially wondering what will happen with the market for tickets to the game itself. Like do people holding the tickets plan to go regardless or are a lot of the tickets in the hands of folks who bought speculatively but won't go if their team doesn't advance? I guess a lot depends on if KC wins...

KC isn't too expensive a city and plane tickets were reasonable last I checked but I suppose all that could change.

Thinking about going with my son.

Hi everyone - it's Sam – huge NEWS KANSAS CITY. We are coming to you for a massive LIVE SHOW ahead of the NWSL Final in your incredible city!

This show is the First Annual WOMEN’S GAME NIGHT OF A THOUSAND STARS PRESENTED BY ALLY - I am coming into town with Rog plus a ton of our closest friends who will join us live on stage Thursday November 21st… 

We want to create a night that will be a celebration of the NWSL season and will be joined by the star players in town for the championship game as well as a host of massive personalities from the worlds of football and entertainment. We hope this night will be one in which we can come together with you and celebrate the incredible growth of the game we love and just raise a glass to being together after an incredible year, highlighted by American Olympic Gold

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW and I would love it if you would come and join us. i have to say, getting out and meeting The Women’s Game fans makes me so happy and to do it right before the NWSL Championship is even more special. I cannot wait to see you all soon!

https://www.threads.net/@womensgamemib/post/DBzUE4KpqRn?xmt=AQGzkDenAzHsqT61aKpIPY7QDFWcaWO3zQEt_mdvtZKcLw

Tickets here: https://mibcourage.co/40ptahP

https://www.threads.net/@stevengoff/post/DCRwW_nxdaa?xmt=AQGzEFS5fv4F9KumAQdL-civgON9mj6Uz4ner7t0ZHcD8w

Information from Steven Goff states they have sold over 17k in tickets. Only 2k more from sell out.

Hi! This will only be our second Spirit match to see. Where do folks typically meet before to get a drink and meet other fans? I was hoping for Solace Outpost, but they open at noon.

Thank you!

I am debating about getting two seats for Field Level Cabanas for the Semifinal. It’s a friend’s first game. Are the views good or better to get higher up covered seats? I really like the Club seats at Audi field.

We have taken metro all season but have a conflict with youth sports making our arrival by car at 1130am at the earliest, possibly noon or a little later. This will be a first for us and looking for advice on garages that don't fill up completely or for sure would honor a reservation made in advance.

Unfortunately no CAC for McNair. I know Geico Garage is very close but dont know if its filling up all 600 spots lately.

Any advice or tips would be appreciated.

Gotham has said section 113 is where they will be in the game and is offering bus rides. Just a heads up -tickets may sell more quickly.

Just an FYI to anyone who may have been similarly confused... I know someone who bought season tickets for next season and playoff tickets to yesterday's game.

Apparently, this person didn't know that it included tickets to this week's game, if the Spirit advanced (Spirit had not clinched a potential second home playoff game when the tickets were bought).

Just in case you were similarly situated and didn't plan on going to the semis this week due to a conflict - you might have tickets anyway.

Would hate for those seats to go unfilled.

I knew the match was going to be loud. I expected it to be crowded. But I still wasn’t prepared for just how big we went! The stadium absolutely ROARED the rise up chant and when McKeown scored, omg. I could have hugged everybody there.

The pregame was also so much better than usual, I really enjoyed the announcer helping lead the crowd and getting us all hyped for the match start.

Let’s do it again this weekend! See you there!

The last time Juan Carlos Amoros, the head coach of the New York New Jersey Gotham Sky Blue Bats / Rebranding Cautionary Tale, faced Jona was when his Betis team lost to Barca 4-0 in January 2022.

None other than Asisat Oshoala scored a hat trick for Barca in that game.

Turn around: Execute better or new tactics?

Jona said both. Didn't expect Bay to defend in a mid and low block, and not jump out on the center backs. The plan was to use that to open the spaces to play into "base" and "pockets" (me: I think base is the central space between the opposing midfield and back lines and I am more sure the pockets are the half spaces on each side between the opposing midfield and back lines). Spirit had to modify to push the 8/10 (Stainbrook/Brown) more into the box, while also attacking more on the sides. He summarized by saying they had to adjust the tactical plan because they had expected more of the Bay midfielders jumping to the Spirit back line, but they also needed to compete hard the whole game too (me: I think he was referring to the energy difference between the teams as the game progressed had an effect beyond just the tactics).

Leicy

Wasn't quite up to full speed last week, and Heather and Courtney played well, so he thought they earned another start. Plus, if she couldn't do a full game then he could need to take her off during a critical time. He said she was really good and even better in the second half (of her playing time). And he smiled and said she would be more ready next week. (me: I think he was suggesting he expects she will start.)

Regular Season vs Playoff intensity

Was asked about differences with the playoffs for both the crowd and the players. He said the crowd was great, and has been great all of the home games. As far as the opponent's intensity, he didn't see a difference with them. He said the Spirit started slowly, and maybe that was a playoff thing, but he thinks that experience should work through it. Was good to win today, especially the way they won it (coming from behind late) will be very helpful going forward. He said he'd obviously like to lead from the start, but they were better than Bay today, creating more chances than Bay so Spirit deserved to win.

Falling behind: what did he change and tell the team

He said they played with two strikers (putting Lena on) and only one holding midfielder, Hal, and also put Leicy between the lines. (me: Makenna had dropped back for Heather, and Lena replaced Makenna. I think he means that Leicy was dropping back deeper with Hal, and pushing up with the forwards.) Before they were attacking on the side with wingers, but where not putting enough players in the box, and he thinks Lena is good at that and she created a "big big" chance when she came on. He had the defensive line play more aggressively and jump with the ball like Tara did on her goal. After scoring the first goal, he said it was the ideal time to keep pushing. He said maybe other times you would settle some defensively, but they were creating a bunch of chances leading to them scoring in extra time.

Fans

He thanked the fans again saying they were "the player number 12". He said it is easy to have fan support when you are winning because it is fun, but what about when you are losing? The reaction from the players and the fans was great, and thus going to need the fans again next week.

Need to improve

First half possession wasn't good enough. Reaction was great. Plenty of things to tweak in attack and defense.

Oshoala and Kundananji

He said they great players, even though they were tired they kept creating chances. He said he did talk to Oshoala during the game, and she said she wanted to "kill him in the game", but they have a great relationship, and he wishes her success in the future. (me: there are suggestions that Jona chased her out of Barca by benching her, seems to be overblown.) Said Spirit did a good job today defensively, Kundananji didn't create any chances and she is one of the best players in the league. Oshoala created one chance and she scored it (me: he smiled). But he said Spirit defended very well, and it will be good prep for next week.

Tara's goal

Tara was missing her sisters wedding. He said he saw the other day that 15 players had scored a goal and now they have 16. Hopes they can increase the number next week. He said that Tara has really improved in possession and she has always been great defensively and really likes the big challenges to defend. (me: ROSE KOUASSI IS BACK NEXT GAME!!)

Tara and Hal

Tara said there was no way she was missing her sister's wedding for no reason. Hal said they never felt like their season was over. Tara said they have been working on rest defense, so she knew she had to stop that release. (me: rest defense refers to the positioning of center midfielders and center backs (usually) to react to changes of possession to either recover the ball or prevent rapid counterattacks). Once she got the ball, she had space took the long shot and is happy it went in. She said after the goal they could see the gestures from the sideline and in their heads they heard Jona saying "VAMOS"...

Without Bay pressing, they said it really required discipline and patience to move the ball from side to side to open seams in the defense.

To Jona's point, and to show how well they took on what all of the pundits said was key, Kundananji, here are the Sofascore ratings. 6.5 is an average player performance. 5.5 is a "bench this player immediately, she's hurting you" level of performance. That was locking on to the opponent's best player and making her bad, kudos to the Spirit. Not surprisingly, Tara was POTM.

https://preview.redd.it/fzs3377zn50e1.png?width=1883&format=png&auto=webp&s=d92bf45f3dc929248b92faf2911c8e80ce808b99

Does anyone know the possible times for the semis game and when they will be finalized? Can't find anything online except that it will be either Saturday or Sunday.

We have discussed whether Jona would do it, given his admiration for Pep and his being raised in the Barca ways.

Opta found he used the 4-1-4-1 against NCC last weekend. As you are likely aware, they use the actual positional data on and off the ball, and machine learning techniques to fit where the players are actually playing to discover the actual formation versus the notional formation.

Jona made a comment about how Hal had a tough assignment in the space in front of the center backs and she did it well. It seemed strange to me, because this wasn't her first time in a single pivot, but she was going to play the Rodri position. You know, the guy who won the Ballon d'Or and considered one of the smartest players on the planet. A lot of faith shown in Hal, and it worked out great.

4-1-4-1

The Know Before You Go email the team sent out a few minutes ago said to expect heavy traffic in the area due to an event at Nationals Park but I can’t find any information on what it is or what time. Anyone know?