Jason Anderson
@jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
4.6K followers 440 following 3.7K posts
Now: Staff writer, Pro Soccer Wire/USA TODAY Sports | Then: Black and Red United, Filibuster, Plex Weather | Sandstorm enthusiast, shoe purchaser
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jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Thank you #NWSL teams for giving me legit too many options to use for the Take-Off.

Went with the 3 statement performances of the week:

😎 Rose Lavelle and Gotham master making it easy on themselves
🔒 Racing Louisville (finally) lock it down
↔️ Spirit get it wide to devastating effect
NWSL Weekend Take-Off: Gotham FC simplifies while Spirit, Racing plan to perfection
NWSL had a potentially decisive Week 22, with Gotham, the Spirit, and Louisville showing how important it is to have a good plan.
prosoccerwire.usatoday.com
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Unreal free kick from Sadio Mané to put Senegal back atop Group B in Africa in the final seconds before halftime.
Reposted by Jason Anderson
laurelpfahler.bsky.social
Wrote something a little different during the break that I hope MLS PR considers, as national outlets keep decreasing coverage and now AI content is replacing writers. Someone had to say something before media access just gets worse. (Free post) www.patreon.com/posts/141166...
A reporter's letter to Major League Soccer | Laurel Pfahler
Get more from Laurel Pfahler on Patreon
www.patreon.com
Reposted by Jason Anderson
davidjroth.bsky.social
It is tacky for really famous people to be in TV commercials for products. Their gambling debts/boat repairs are not my problem, those roles should belong to actors like the Time To Make The Donuts guy and the actress who said "who are you calling a cootie queen you lint licker" in that Orbit ad.
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Francisco Calvo, an all-time "buy the ticket, take the ride" legend
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Anyway as we see the party tricks coming out, that means more progress towards Endo being a nightmare for defenses & a contender for the NWSL's all-sauce 11, as she was pre-injury.
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Pretty sure I've talked about this more than once, but when I went out to [redacted] to interview Riley Tiernan after ACFC training this spring, Jun Endo did something more audacious than this on a more powerfully-struck ball arriving at longer distance that legit took my breath away
Reposted by Jason Anderson
jeffrueter.bsky.social
Forgot to include my SoundCloud (to give MLS feedback on its usage of AI): www.mlssoccer.com/feedback/rec...
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Not sure whether I'm more angry or sad at how this, in retrospect, feels like an inevitable choice MLS would make.
jeffrueter.bsky.social
As someone whose time freelancing for MLSsoccer was a vital step in my career progression, and someone who generally gleans insight from the observations of others:

This sucks so hard.
MLS is using generative AI to write match recaps. Writers used to get paid freelance rates to do that. Hssssss.
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Shross gods giveth back to San Diego after last week's smiting
cjzero.bsky.social
Kenza Dali with a rainbow from distance to give San Diego the lead
Reposted by Jason Anderson
mattdoyle.bsky.social
With the Galaxy’s win, next week’s Atlanta vs. D.C. trash can derby will determine who wins the 2025 Wooden Spoon.
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
(sorry this is unclear on my part: González said the *early* use of the subs became the coaching staff's plan)
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
González says the Spirit came in knowing they needed to rotate with their schedule, minutes caps, etc.

González adds that the use of all 5 subs was influenced by KC's win over Gotham giving them home field in the playoffs.

(?s from @838carlisle.bsky.social & @annieelliott.bsky.social)
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
González says the Spirit in the 1st half were having trouble pressing NC's CBs, who were spread out enough that Cantore couldn't get close enough to trouble them, & that "sometimes we were jumping a bit late."
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
"Tough game," says Adrián González, citing the conditions & that the Spirit were "sometimes too stretched."

"I think we haven't had today, a really good performance... but the team has done a good job fighting."
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Finally the essential NC question that is my solemn duty: Are the Spirit going to Cookout?

Hershfelt says she's lobbying "starting now" and says a root beer float is her top choice before circling back to add "sometimes I get the burger and tots."
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Paige Metayer confirms that ball off the crossbar did come off her rather than Kaleigh Kurtz.

"I'm a little allergic to the goal," she joked, but said she had a few similar looks practicing set pieces in training recently.
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Hal Hershfelt confirms Trinity Rodman's post-game summary of her goal: Rodman was urging Hershfelt to recycle, but Hershfelt said "I saw her with the 1-on-1 challenge, and I bet on her when it comes to that."

(? from @838carlisle.bsky.social)
Reposted by Jason Anderson
nwslsoccer.com
Due to lightning strikes in the area, kickoff for today’s match between the Utah Royals and San Diego Wave FC is delayed. We'll provide more information when warmups restart.
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Credit to the Courage for shaking that off. Poor work in the build-out from the Spirit, who walk right into a pressing trap, lose the ball, & then Linnehan gets free to finish.

Even if VAR chalks this off, not gonna be a fun film session reviewing the play for the Spirit.
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Nightmare conditions for a defender against any skillful attacker, but especially tough if the attacker is Trinity Rodman.

Dani Weatherholt's slip ruthlessly punished by a left-footed banger.
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
I think she's been quite good as a 6, particularly given her experience level with the group. A couple overly ambitious shots IMO don't overshadow the ball-winning & fluency she brought to that spot. Consistently impressive since returning from her loan.
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Narumi Miura's 2025 hasn't been what most expected, but IMO in her last 5-6 weeks she's noticeably improved. Big moments like the goal-saving tackle, and also subtle, quicker decisions.

Role lately has been more 8/10 than 6. Talked to her about it after the W Champions Cup game vs. Gotham:
A screencap of text recounting a post-game interview between Jason Anderson and Narumi Miura. It reads as follows:

Jason Anderson: Watching you with North Carolina, you were playing almost always as a 6. In the 1-2 months, you've been going back and forth. [Against Houston], you came on as a 10, tonight, you were there again, but moved back to the 6. How has that been throughout the season, switching between extremes?

Narumi Miura: I think I am learning a lot this year, because, yeah, you said that I always played 6 when I played at North Carolina, versus now, I have to understand what position [I'm in] and what should I do? I think [I'm] getting better reading the game. First few — like 1-2 — times I was a little confused, because I was more comfortable playing 6. But like now, okay I play 10, I can play more aggressive, but if I play 6 [it's] more like keeping the ball and focus on [thinking] more like defenders. So, I think it's good for me.
jasondcsoccer.bsky.social
Murphy back in for NC in a game that is...not 100% must-win, but is really close to must-not-lose.
nccourage.com
Here's tonight's XI 🤲
Starting XI Graphic featuring an image of Dani Weatherholt and the XI listed: Murphy, Weatherholt, Kurtz (C), Williams, Jacobs, Jackson, Shinomi, Sanchez, Linnehan, Manaka