Re: Thorns 2014

by keeper Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:49 am

True, but she is probably going to get more of an opportunity to play up there. As Kelsey D once told my daughter, you don't get better sitting on the bench. Very Happy

by Geezaldinho Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:22 am

In other news, Amber Brooks has last Bayern Munich to play "in the nwsl" according to he German coach.
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.womensoccer.de%2F2013%2F12%2F11%2Famber-brooks-verlaesst-bayern-muenchen%2F
German coach doesn't understand the pressure from ussoccer to play in the USA.

She, Tymrack and Hagen are in Cali for a Nat camp.

In her tweets she thanks coaches and players there, and responses to her congratulate her for joining the Thorns.

I haven't seen a signing announcement yet.

by DoubleDipper Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:50 am

From the Thorns:

Portland Thorns FC have acquired defender Nikki Marshall and the No. 9 overall pick in the 2014 National Women’s Soccer League College Draft from Seattle Reign FC in exchange for the No. 6 overall selection in the 2014 NWSL College Draft and a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, it was announced today.

"We are very pleased to be able to bring Nikki back to the club," said general manager Gavin Wilkinson. "Parting ways after last season was a difficult decision based on salary cap considerations, and we are excited that she will be rejoining the Thorns for 2014."

Marshall, 25, helped guide Thorns FC to the inaugural NWSL championship while appearing in every match during the regular season and both playoff games. She was one of just three players to start all 22 regular-season matches for Portland during the 2013 season. A Colorado native, Marshall provided the game-tying assist in a 3-2, come-from-behind win after extra time in the semifinal round of the NWSL Playoffs against FC Kansas City on Aug. 24.

"I’m excited about the opportunity to be back in Portland, it was such a great experience for me," said Marshall. "I’m even more excited play under Paul Riley. Paul and I have had conversations about me playing for him in the past and I’ve always wanted to play for him. I feel like he believes in me as a player, based upon our past conversations and experiences, so I’m thrilled for that opportunity. With Paul and the talent we have on this team, I think we can achieve big things this season."

Marshall was waived by Portland on Sept. 6 and selected by the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Waiver Draft on Sept. 9. The former U.S. youth international was then traded from Washington to Seattle on Oct. 25.

With the swapping of draft picks, Thorns FC now hold the No. 9, No. 14, No. 22 and No. 30 selections in the 2014 NWSL College Draft on Jan. 17, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pa.

by Geezaldinho Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:04 am

That's the last pick in the first round, folks, with Houston entering the league with the Dynamotions.

Not mentioned is that the Thorns have already traded away picks in future years.

And still no official signing announcement on Brooks or Moros.

by Geezaldinho Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:00 am

Moros looks official.

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/thornsfc/portland-thorns-fc-roster

by Geezaldinho Fri Jan 03, 2014 1:18 pm

Randy Waldrum resigned from Notre Dame to become the Dash's first head coach.

http://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2014/01/houston-dash-name-randy-waldrum-first-head-coach

by A_Fan Fri Jan 03, 2014 1:49 pm

They will be well coached!

by Geezaldinho Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:54 pm

Saw this on BS

I'm hearing rumors of a scrimmage against UPNorth and teammates, location unknown, on March 29.

Pretty sure it's in Portland

by UPSoccerFanatic Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:47 am

PurpleGeezer wrote:Saw this on BS

I'm hearing rumors of a scrimmage against UPNorth and teammates, location unknown, on March 29.

Pretty sure it's in Portland

Now hearing that the rumored scrimmage is between UPNorth and UPSouth. If correct, national team players might not be there due to conflicts.

by UPSoccerFanatic Wed Jan 29, 2014 1:53 pm

Interesting quote from recent Riley interview:

"People say to me that I coach more like a South American coach. I’m not really English in my coaching style. I think the players like that. They’re always guessing that we’re going to go with long balls and stuff like that, but we don’t do anything like that. I’m not into anything like that."

Sounds good. We'll see ....

by Geezaldinho Fri Jan 31, 2014 1:05 pm

I hope the South American coach he coaches like is Bielsa or Pasarella, and not Dunga or Maradona.

by Geezaldinho Fri Feb 07, 2014 2:41 pm

Thorns schedule:

http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2014-thorns-fc-schedule

Only one home date in April, and that not until the third game of the season.

The killer part of the schedule will be July -- 6 games in 18 days

And 6 games during the men's World Cup (June 15-July 17). Brasil will be about 5 hrs ahead, so all but the June 22 game against the Flash at 3:00 PM are not likely to cut into live viewing.

by UPSoccerFanatic Mon Feb 10, 2014 10:11 pm

No more Jeld-Wen Field. Now Providence Park.

by A_Fan Mon Feb 10, 2014 11:14 pm

Does this mean that those of us with Providence Health Insurance will be getting a discount on our tickets? Or free beer?

by Geezaldinho Tue Feb 11, 2014 12:48 am

Free beer for sure. Since I have been told my cholesterol is too low, I figure prescribed greasy hamburgers with blue cheese are also in order.

by A_Fan Tue Feb 11, 2014 10:04 am

I'm glad to see my health insurance premiums of over $600 a month are going to a good cause - naming rights.

Looking forward to that free beer.

by DoubleDipper Tue Feb 11, 2014 10:39 am

I wasn’t surprised that Jeld-Wen, with headquarters in Klamath Falls, would not retain the naming rights to the stadium next to the Multnomah Athletic Club.....the company has been cutting cost in recent years.

A half a century ago when I was a student at UP, the stadium was known as Multnomah Stadium….that was the name that lasted for 40 years, from 1926 to 1966. When the stadium was sold to the city of Portland it was renamed Civic Stadium….that lasted 35 years. Then the stadium was refurbished and named PGE Park….the name most PN readers are probably most familiar with, but that lasted only 10 years before it became Jeld-Wen Field.

But now, after just 3 years, it is to be called Providence Park….named after the health care provider. And that comes on the heels of the Trail Blazers’ home arena being named for another health provider, Moda Health.

I’ve heard it asked, what’s next? Could Memorial Coliseum soon be named the Kaiser Cube?

by Geezaldinho Tue Feb 11, 2014 11:08 am

I was sort of hoping for Intel Stadium and Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Center.

We'd get the canopy and dropdown replay screens.

New fur on the seats, maybe.

by wrv Tue Feb 11, 2014 1:36 pm

How dare those few capitalists in management and government try to keep down the fees and assesments by selling corporations the right to place their name on the marquee.

Any good socialists out there nostalgic for the good old days? When inspired names like Civic Stadium, or Mulnomah Stadium were used . . .oh wait . . .

There does remain a line of going to far--but I have not seen it. How much does Providence pay for the privelege of competing with Moda health here in Portland? Are there any other health insurance companies willing to follow suit and sponsor fields--Merlo Field, Blue Cross stadium?

by Indigo Kid Tue Feb 11, 2014 4:10 pm

I was hoping for Voodoo Donuts Stadium

by Geezaldinho Tue Feb 11, 2014 4:32 pm

I suppose Hemp City Stadium was out of the question.

by A_Fan Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:26 pm

Probably more appropriate for Seattle or Denver stadiums.

by Geezaldinho Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:39 pm

A_Fan wrote:Probably more appropriate for Seattle or Denver stadiums.

Thorns 2014 - Page 2 0d59b2bebc77597ebb8322bb301a44f2

82nd and Fremont

by Dan No Yell Wed Feb 12, 2014 12:17 pm

This civic minded socialist requests, for clarity sake, that we just refer to it as Civic Stadium.

by purple passion Sat Mar 08, 2014 9:05 am

I realize that most PN readers and posters are more focused than ever on the activities of the Reign, but occasionally maybe a post or two is fitting about the Thorns.
With that in mind, training camp for the Thorns starts March 10th with Alex Morgan and Jackie Acevado scheduled to be there, but five (as previously noted) starters will be with the WNT and will return at a later date.
One other story of note is the hiring of two assistants with Pilot ties as reported on the Thorns' page:

http://www.timbers.com/news/2014/03/thorns-fc-name-coaching-staff-2014-season