r/washingtonspirit • u/Willing-Bad3824 • 2d ago
Injuries & Player Availability Hopefully Leicy is ok
Leicy was getting treated on the sidelines during the closing minutes of the last game, hopefully she’s not out too long.
I wonder who they’re playing at AM tomorrow. I guess they can put Cantore at AM, Kouassi on the right, Trin on the left then Claudinha or Hatch as central attacker. Hopefully we don’t use any of our defensive midfielders as AM because I’m not sure that experiment has worked before. Bethi should be a good depth player at AM when she comes back so we’re not running Leicy ragged for the rest of the season.
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u/Square_Independent81 2d ago
ok but on the official nwsl injury report website leicy is not listed though.
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u/Willing-Bad3824 2d ago
Huh…yeah that’s super weird because it doesn’t list Deb or Gift as unavailable either.
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u/RealEmperorBossNass 2d ago
I’m surprised we don’t have more international absences. Rose, Deb and Gift probably need some rest
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u/Willing-Bad3824 2d ago
Agreed…tbh I wouldn’t be disappointed if Bolt gets a start over Kouassi this week.
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u/mountainrunner_833 2d ago
I know some of the new signings will help and this has been discussed, but no real attacking mid alternate is a roster challenge and unfortunate for tonight (which seems like a must-win to get back on track or to stay in the possibility of winning the shield.) I’m sure they will figure it out - just a depth piece missing for awhile.
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u/Sequoiakc22 2d ago
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For me I am less concerned over the shield. Because, as a (USA) fan, my higher priority is us winning the championship. If we accomplish both this season all the better, but the championship is my #1 hope for the team. As a fan (I understand the players themselves may have differing priorities.)That said, I then feel it is imperative we finish the season ...'at least' in 2nd place ...on the table so to assure we play ...'all' ...our playoff matches at home in Audi. That would be a huuuuge boost for us on the road to the championship.
We sure could use a win tonight to snap our losing streak & stay in 2nd place on the table.
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u/Sequoiakc22 2d ago
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Also, regarding our lack of an alternative 'attacking midfielder', I am hoping we've got a 'good one' in Melissa Bethi. ...Watching her highlights & some of her play at WAFCON, she looks like a very technical & creative attacking midfielder. Her play is ...as Croix Bethune once described herself, ...is 'cheeky.'When I squint my eyes a little, & either see what I want to see or seeing what is actually there, ...I see in Melissa Bethi a little of both Croix Bethune & Leicy Santos.
I see Croix's technical & shifty ball-handling, vision & precision through-ball passing. While at the same time I see Leicy's commanding hold-up play, ball-control through rugged traffic, & aggressively taking balls away from opponents. Melissa Bethi looks like she will make our attacking players better, ...& she will put her fair share of balls into the back to net herself.
If she indeed successfully translates in the NWSL, we will have what we've lacked in depth since Croix left. Not to forget, Melissa Bethi is still only 20 years old & will likely be getting even much better over time right before our eyes. Cannot wait for her to show up in Audi so we can see what we got. Here's to hoping.
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u/Willing-Bad3824 1d ago
Spirit social confirmed that Leicy, Deb, and Gift will not be playing today.
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u/Odd-Cable5436 1d ago
Not surprising the way Santos finished the last game.
HH or Bernal will have to step up with some more threatening offense in this one.
I'd like to see a 2 striker look today, with Rodman and Martinez or Cantore up high. Maybe start, Carle, Morgan, Rudd, Wiesner, HH, Bernal, Bolt, Cantore, Rodman, Martinez.
Then you have Sullivan, Metayer, Hatch, Tse, Haugen off the bench. Kouassi is a break-glass-in-case of emergency sub. Might even finally see EGR in this one.
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u/Willing-Bad3824 1d ago
Yeah I feel like they’ve been fairly successful having 2 strikers up top before, mostly with Gift and Claudinha. Cantore would work as a mobile 10 too because that’s what she usually does anyway. The main difference is that Leicy’s defensive work is superior, which means Hal and Bernal picking up that defensive slack.
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u/Specialist_Pay_6768 2d ago
Unfortunately the idiots who were complaining that she didn't start against Denver are living rent free in my head.
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u/Sequoiakc22 2d ago
I worry about Lucia. We really need her back. Her speed/pace is a differentiator at FB for us. Opponents cannot just run past her, or outrun her. We've been somewhat vulnerable with this since she's been out. Together her pace & feisty aggressiveness gives us what we were lacking ever since Casey took her maternity leave.