Turning Pro at 13

LASTMAN14 said:
An 18 or 19 old. Really. Try again. If we are going to compare male to female counterparts. Is she Rooney, Ronaldo, Mbappe?
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Look at this stud when he was 17. First 151 minutes was tough and rough. I havent finished the whole thing yet but he is the real deal.

 
oh canada said:
Yes, that's how the PR machine wants you to review her play and potential. "She's doing all this at 15, just wait till she's 21!" It kinda makes an excuse for mediocre play -- oh, but she's only 15. And when she has a moment of success it's headline grabbing -- 15 year old does this!

Don't forget, yes she's 15 years of age, but she's had 10 years of the best training and coaching and soccer lifestyle money can buy. With a childhood dedicated to soccer at the exclusion of everything else, she's likely accrued the same number of soccer training hours as 25 year old women in the league. Likely, that will limit her upside potential as the years go on.

Nobody knows how much more improvement she will have, maybe a lot, maybe a little? But I don't think we should be giving her a pass on poor/mediocre play "because she's 15yrs old." In "soccer years" she is much older and experienced.
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She will be on the team and that's all that matters. She earned it and worked hard for her chance.
 
LASTMAN14 said:
PM me.
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It would be cool to have a pinch kicker to come in for free kicks and corners. She is nails at 15 kicking wise and I would suspect she would be the best at kicking. I saw the videos and I saw with my eyes back in the day. She scored at least 3 goals a game and she got tot ake all the free kicks because she was money...lol! The speed & quickness is what I'm not so sure can hang with. Messi and Chrsitiano had IT at 15 & 17 respectfully, meaning they had God given speed & quickness. Plus, they took a beating from the older fellas. I just dont see her at 21 being the all time greatest. No way. She will be on the team that matters and that's ok.
 
Kicker4Life said:
So in your opinion a goal and an assist is a poor showing? Ok, is your expert opinion based on your extensive Coaching career or your long playing career at the collegiate and professional levels?

The overall fanfare is great for the women’s game. Is it a little overblown? Yah, likely.

But your overly harsh review of her play makes you loose credibility.
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"overly harsh" ? c'mon. i gave her an average rating in the second half and below avg in first. watch the game and read my post. did you watch the game? the first thing i wrote is she had great free kicks. doesn't take more than an average soccer dad to see that her play was very mediocre but for those. If you see otherwise then you're biased.

I catch the same heat for giving objective opinions criticizing Nike's other media darling, Alex M.

When she makes a golaso like Shea Groom's from the game, I will happily celebrate. (unfortunately, i couldn't even find a link to Groom's goal to post here -- got lost in the hoopla over the 15-year-old's free kick--kinda makes my point)
 
That's my point. She doesn't have to be consistently involved in the run of play. She has a huge impact in one or two moments in every game. She "consistently" changes games.

oh canada said:
When I see it consistently during the run of play I will happily sing her praises. Right now all that can be fairly stated is that she has a good set piece/corner kick.
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oh canada said:
"overly harsh" ? c'mon. i gave her an average rating in the second half and below avg in first. watch the game and read my post. did you watch the game? the first thing i wrote is she had great free kicks. doesn't take more than an average soccer dad to see that her play was very mediocre but for those. If you see otherwise then you're biased.

I catch the same heat for giving objective opinions criticizing Nike's other media darling, Alex M.

When she makes a golaso like Shea Groom's from the game, I will happily celebrate. (unfortunately, i couldn't even find a link to Groom's goal to post here -- got lost in the hoopla over the 15-year-old's free kick--kinda makes my point)
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“Poor/Mediocre” were your words not mine….
 
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Not sure how I feel about criticizing a minor in a public forum, but she asked to be a professional athlete so unfortunately some of that comes with the territory.

All I know is that I'd be super proud of my daughter even if her defense was allegedly "non-existent". I wish OM the best of luck and couldn't careless if she is there for purely PR reasons. How many kids do we know that are on high-level soccer team for reasons unrelated to skill? Life isn't fair, worry about your own kid.
 
watfly said:
Not sure how I feel about criticizing a minor in a public forum, but she asked to be a professional athlete so unfortunately some of that comes with the territory.

All I know is that I'd be super proud of my daughter even if her defense was allegedly "non-existent". I wish OM the best of luck and couldn't careless if she is there for purely PR reasons. How many kids do we know that are on high-level soccer team for reasons unrelated to skill? Life isn't fair, worry about your own kid.
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The criticism is not towards OM. She's a great soccer player for a 15 year old. The criticism is towards the decision by Portland to play her over their existing players. If you watch the Final OL v Thorns game, you will notice how OM is not ready for this league yet, IMHO (as is with all my opinions).

It was a great game to watch but not a great game for OM.

OM did a great thing by opening up the NWSL to girls under 18. I'm very proud of her and grateful for what she did for future girls.

Watch the game in a foreign language and form your own opinion.

I'm still cheering for her to grow into the game. She sacrificed a lot and is a hard worker with a lot of talent. She just isn't ready RIGHT NOW for the Thorns compared to what they have on their bench.
 
watfly said:
she asked to be a professional athlete so unfortunately some of that comes with the territory.
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Yep, exactly. If you only want to read fluff opinions about professional soccer players, I suggest sticking to the NY Times and OC Register. On here, most of us are big boys and girls (and a few nutballs--i don't need to name them) who can have respectful, deeper conversations about players and the game. It is sexist to treat her any differently, which you seem to want to do. Sorry it hurts your feelings to read constructive criticism about a PROFESSIONAL athlete who is being promoted as the heir apparent to the USWNT #10 position. I'm guessing your kid(s) skin is thicker than yours. Thank goodness.

watfly said:
couldn't careless if she is there for purely PR reasons.
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You are on a lonely island with that opinion. I understand they had to play her in a high profile game after the legal victory. But, the more I see her play, the more I think (like @Emma) she's just not ready yet for that level. The game vs. Lyon is further support for that thesis. (zero game impact and looked unsure of herself at times throughout the 60' she played) @Sunil Illuminati and a couple others disagree, and I respect their differing soccer opinion. Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong. But, nobody is saying she never will be ready and I don't think anyone is rooting against her (what's the point?). But, there's no need to rush her. And, there's certainly no reason to shut down voices who agree with that line of thought. Maybe in the meantime, we uncover a few elite #10s who are now playing in college and end up being better than the "prodigy".

Need a tissue?
 
oh canada said:
Yep, exactly. If you only want to read fluff opinions about professional soccer players, I suggest sticking to the NY Times and OC Register. On here, most of us are big boys and girls (and a few nutballs--i don't need to name them) who can have respectful, deeper conversations about players and the game. It is sexist to treat her any differently, which you seem to want to do. Sorry it hurts your feelings to read constructive criticism about a PROFESSIONAL athlete who is being promoted as the heir apparent to the USWNT #10 position. I'm guessing your kid(s) skin is thicker than yours. Thank goodness.


You are on a lonely island with that opinion. I understand they had to play her in a high profile game after the legal victory. But, the more I see her play, the more I think (like @Emma) she's just not ready yet for that level. The game vs. Lyon is further support for that thesis. (zero game impact and looked unsure of herself at times throughout the 60' she played) @Sunil Illuminati and a couple others disagree, and I respect their differing soccer opinion. Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong. But, nobody is saying she never will be ready and I don't think anyone is rooting against her (what's the point?). But, there's no need to rush her. And, there's certainly no reason to shut down voices who agree with that line of thought. Maybe in the meantime, we uncover a few elite #10s who are now playing in college and end up being better than the "prodigy".

Need a tissue?
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Um Ok. I'm not sure what I said that triggered the ad hominem attacks (irony noted). I agree that if she wants to play professional soccer that she has to take the criticism that comes with it. However, it doesn't change the fact that she is only 15. I also don't dispute you or Emma's assessment of her performance. She very well may not be ready; however, the club/coach may believe she puts more butts in seats (IDK, does Portland even allow people to attend events?). The Thorns first priority is the bottom line, not developing players. Could that be a short-sighted mistake, maybe, but if you believe the "the game is the best teacher" maybe its best that she's playing. I'll leave that up to the coach, club, her and her parents to make that decision.
 
watfly said:
Um Ok. I'm not sure what I said that triggered the ad hominem attacks (irony noted). I agree that if she wants to play professional soccer that she has to take the criticism that comes with it. However, it doesn't change the fact that she is only 15. I also don't dispute you or Emma's assessment of her performance. She very well may not be ready; however, the club/coach may believe she puts more butts in seats (IDK, does Portland even allow people to attend events?). The Thorns first priority is the bottom line, not developing players. Could that be a short-sighted mistake, maybe, but if you believe the "the game is the best teacher" maybe its best that she's playing. I'll leave that up to the coach, club, her and her parents to make that decision.
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Dude is picking on a 15 year old girl....lol. Whose the loco one now. Talk about nut jobs.....lol!
 
crush said:
Dude is picking on a 15 year old girl....lol. Whose the loco one now. Talk about nut jobs.....lol!
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I really don't mind your thoughts and tangents back to your DD because it's entertaining, but for someone who doesn't like name calling and bullies, you sure do throw it out a lot when people disagree with you.
 
watfly said:
Um Ok. I'm not sure what I said that triggered the ad hominem attacks (irony noted). I agree that if she wants to play professional soccer that she has to take the criticism that comes with it. However, it doesn't change the fact that she is only 15. I also don't dispute you or Emma's assessment of her performance. She very well may not be ready; however, the club/coach may believe she puts more butts in seats (IDK, does Portland even allow people to attend events?). The Thorns first priority is the bottom line, not developing players. Could that be a short-sighted mistake, maybe, but if you believe the "the game is the best teacher" maybe its best that she's playing. I'll leave that up to the coach, club, her and her parents to make that decision.
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I completely agree with your reason as to why OM was played by the Thorns, publicity and selling tickets. It's short sighted because people will see through it quickly and not take their daughters to go watch. It diminishes the value of women's soccer. Women's PRO soccer should be about skills, not a popularity contest.
 
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