The 2022 NWSL season will hopefully bring to an end the search for a title for the two oldest franchises in US women's professional soccer, the Boston Breakers and the Chicago Red Stars. Twelve other teams will have their say on whether either franc...
Monday morning at the Breakers' front office is already running at a fast and furious pace. John Herdman and Lee Billiard are working to fill the spot that has been open since Abby went on the 45-day injured reserve list on March 1 as well as finalize the 20-player roster. John is bringing Lee up to speed on what was discussed on the flight back yesterday.
John: We feel that we're in need of another outside defender, because we don't really have anyone to back up Chappie, we'll be without Abby in the first XI for the opening seven games, and Schiller hasn't proven she can start right now. Julie playing inside is our best arrangement given the rest of the personnel, but if we can't stop teams from attacking our right side, I'll have to move her back outside and take my chances on Santacaterina or George with Oyster, because I don't want Sam back there on a regular basis.
Lee: Any ideas on where to acquire another defender?
John: Abby told me about a player one of the clinicians at the Cantu Center mentioned to her. She's graduating from BU this spring, having started her career at South Carolina-Upstate but transferring home after her sophomore year. She was injured that second year and was able to get a medical redshirt. So, she's a year older than the traditional rookie, age-wise similar to Jenni. Can't hurt to give her a look since she can apparently play both outside back positions and started her college career as a central defender.
Lee: What other holes in the roster are you looking to fix?
John: Yael thinks we need a #9, but given our offensive talent in the front six, it's not an immediate concern. We're light in the midfield, but heavy on central defenders, so I'd like to deal one of the younger players and maybe a low-round pick for some depth. Libby didn't show well in Orlando, giving up all three goals we allowed in the tournament. Again, it's a low-priority move but getting another keeper at some point will be necessary since Steph has at most three years left, plus will be gone for chunks of next year and the year after for the World Cup and Olympics.
Lee: Do you have any potential partners lined up?
John: Chicago is light in the back and if Colaprico ever went down, they'd be stuck playing Rocarro at d-mid or pairing DiBernardo with either Stratigakis or Carle as dual box-to-box center mids. They would be my first choice because they do have a bit of depth there.
Lee: I take it you'd want one of the Canadians.
John: Yes and no. Yes, because I know their talent and what they would bring to Boston, but I don't want to separate them. They've been a thing since the YNT days, but aren't willing to be out with it for the public. I like Lindsay Elston, however. Laura Harvey said that, when she had her in Seattle, she was capable of playing any of the three midfield spots in her system. Elston would give us the depth on the outside that we lack when we have to move Sam to the back line and Morgan goes back to fill her spot. It wouldn't automatically mean "We have to put in Emilie and move the other midfielders around" to re-calibrate. We could be more simple, and if she can be an adequate #6, we won't have to move anyone around.
Lee: So a defender to fill the open spot and a midfielder for one of the young center backs.
John: That's it.
Lee: I'll contact the Red Stars, while you and Yael work on tracking down a defender through the local colleges.
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Starting with the following roster, John and Lee work the phones to make the necessary adjustments.
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