I’m really trying to like this podcast! I appreciate the tactical breakdowns but I’m really struggling with the commitment to fitting anything that happens into their narrative that Freya doesn’t know what she’s doing, and the lack of patience! For instance, saying that ONE loss with Julie Ertz in the squad means the formation is hopeless. She had only been with the team for a few days! For context, OL reign didn’t have a win their first 3 games in the ‘22 season and then won the shield. It just feels desperate to try to make any single outcome, player performance, error etc have to be part of a grand narrative. Part of what people love about soccer is that it’s unpredictable, good chemistry takes time, and building a solid team isn’t necessarily a linear process! Also, just the number of factual errors and wild suppositions with no evidence… for instance, saying that Diana Ordóñez is Brazilian (not the only player whose nationality has been misrepresented) or that Jasmyn Spencer is “in the doghouse” with Freya. Mel feels like an even keeled and knowledgeable counter balance when she’s on, more of that energy would make me want to keep listening!
