The Wait Is Over

Filling The Gap

All seven visiting teams have left Orlando for their home destinations, with the four flights heading to Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Houston before going onward to Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Los Angeles.

John Herdman has called a mini-executive meeting with his team's leadership. John, Yael, Julie, and Steph are joined by Morgan and Sam, and the six of them go over the tournament as a whole and what needs to be done before taking the field on the 9th in their home opener.

John: Overall, I think we accomplished most of what we set out to do in Orlando. We got a chance to see what combinations in defense will get us through the first two months, we were able to test players and see who was wanting and who were capable of playing at this level, and we were able to find out which players can be depended on to give us leadership when things aren't going well.

Julie: Where do we stand with the roster?

John: We have not filled Abby's place to date, so we have room to add another player. That was done sort of intentionally because I wanted to know where we were lacking after the tournament and then seek out a player that could fill whatever void we had.

Yael: Based on the results from this past week, I'd say we are in need of either a #9 forward or an outside back. I know we're getting tons of scoring from the midfield, but there will be games when you need that one crafty striker who can create their own shot or get into the right position to slam a ball home.

Morgan (to John): How do you feel the center back experimentation went?

John: As well as I was hoping. Sam and Megan are our best pairing outside of Abby and Megan, and you're more than capable of playing the 6 in front of them when we want to lock games up.

Sam: We didn't get a chance to run the three-back during the tournament. Is that still something you're considering?

John: Not unless we can find a player with inside and outside capabilities. We are a bit overbooked at center back, but none of them play out wide nor are they experienced enough to put in there alongside a man-marker like Oyster. Sam, Abby, and Julie are all more cerebral in the position and that's why I think we need to find another outside back. Schiller hasn't proven she is ready to be starting for this team. The performances from her have been underwhelming. The goal given up to Press in the first game, the equalizer against Chicago where Hoy was able to burn her to the touchline and cut back for the cross to McCaffrey. I'm also a little concerned about the goalkeeping situation. Steph, you know that you're our #1 hands-down, but I'm not really comfortable with Stout playing against the big teams. Resting you against a Philly or late in the season when we already have our playoff spot secured and a guaranteed home game would be fine, but against any of the other 5-7 dangerous teams in the league, I would be reluctant to use her.

Yael: I still think we need that up-front forward, but I agree that we have to get an outside back first if we're not confident that Devin can work in our system. We can probably manage our way through the shaky keeping by limiting Steph's practice work and picking matches ahead of time to use Libby.

Steph: I'm game for whatever we need to do to get to Chicago and bring home that title in October. I'm used to playing almost every game, but the body is starting to scream a little more often at me for not taking care of it better. Do you have anyone in mind to bring in?

John: Lee and I will sit down tomorrow with our local lists and see if anyone stands out. I want to have our additional player on the field by Wednesday at the latest.

Julie: Are we looking right or left?

John: If we can get it, someone who can play both. Chappie might be gone now and again for the Canadians as well as her propensity for picking up yellows. I don't think we have anyone on the roster right now who can back her up. We have at least a couple of options at right back if we get into a bind.