#forward and fullbacks only

[sprocketsciencer]

No more midfielders please, unless they’re a DM. And one only please. We have too many midfielders. I wanna see the kids ballin’, please use your brain skinner.

[didalexiabreakupwitholgaisback]

can patri play every single position on the pitch? well, yes, basically she can! nuestra polivalente de confianza 🫡

source: @PabloParra_95 on twitter

translation under the cut:

q: have you played as goalkeeper?

a: no, but i talk about it a lot, and for whatever reason, like that game falcón had to come off because there were no more substitutions, i'm willing to offer myself, so i'm close to it.

q: centerback?

a: centerback, yes.

q: fullback?

a: no, i think it was 20 minutes, but yes.

q: defensive midfielder?

a: yes, that's my position.

q: midfielder?

a: interior midfielder, are you referring to? interior? yes.

q: attacking midfielder?

a: attacking midfielder. let's give it a go, shall we?

q: forward?

a: also the same as fullback, very little, but yes.

q: winger?

a: i'd say no, but that's where it gets complicated for me. i think they're doing well, not putting me there.

q: so, you're only missing a winger to cover almost the entire pitch, and with the asterisk for goalkeeping.

a: exactly, i think i'll be playing in front of goal before as a winger.

[steamtrain52]

No Ordinary Boy- Chapter One

  As soccer practice began that Wednesday after school, Natalie saw Tommy sitting in the stands. Coach Scott probably thought his brother was here because he was Tommy’s ride home, but Natalie knew her boyfriend had come to watch her instead, and felt her heart swell. 

  She heard the whistle blow. “All right, bring it in. Take a knee, ladies!” 

  Coach Scott didn’t really look like Tommy’s brother, in truth. He was broad-chested, with dark brown hair and eyes, whereas Tommy was of a leaner build, with hair a shade lighter brown than his brother’s, and hazel eyes. In truth, Tommy took more after his dad, whereas Coach Scott strongly resembled the Scott boys’ mother. Though she knew Tommy’s dad had been in the Army during Vietnam, same as her own father, Natalie had never officially been introduced to Mr. Jonathan Scott. 

  Tommy’s mom, on the other hand… that was a different story. Just about every teenage girl in Wiskayok knew Tommy’s mother, for one very specific reason. Helen Scott was well-known throughout the town as a skilled seamstress, and the dress shop she ran had gotten so busy during the last prom season, Mrs. Scott had had to work nights just to keep everyone satisfied. 

  Despite her generally punk-rock, tomboyish attitude, Natalie had flushed with pleasure when Tommy’s mom fitted her for the dress she would be wearing for the awards dinner at Nationals. She was looking forward to Tommy’s reaction when he saw her in it. 

  “What’s up, state champs?” Coach Scott grinned, as the team whooped and clapped in response. 

  “Okay, so JV is gonna help us out with a little scrimmage today. Uh, Coach Martinez had to take care of a family thing, so JV, you’re gonna grab a pinny from Misty, and let’s get started!” 

  “Uh, excuse me, Coach Scott? Shouldn’t we say a prayer first?”

  Natalie groaned. She didn’t have to look to know who was talking. 

  Laura Lee, one of the team’s fullbacks, was a die-hard Christian, and had always gotten on Natalie’s last nerve with her credit-everything-to-God-or-burn-in-hell attitude. Laura wasn’t the only Christian on the team, but even Akilah Sondaya, whose family went to church every Sunday, rolled her eyes whenever Laura Lee piped up with her incessant invocations. 

  “Uh”, Coach Scott chuckled nervously. “It’s… just a scrimmage, Laura Lee.”

  Laura Lee’s mouth twitched, and Natalie instantly knew that if anything went wrong today, the fullback would blame it on God being angry with them for not praying.

  Coach Scott may have sensed it as well, because he cleared his throat awkwardly. 

  “But, uh… sure. Knock yourself out.”

  If only she would, Natalie thought, as Laura Lee led them in a prayer Natalie didn’t bother paying attention to. 

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  Working furiously at his Maths homework, Tommy finished the last question just in time to watch practice begin. Natalie dribbled the ball up the middle, then passed it to Allie, the freshman, who… fumbled the ball and had it taken away by one of the JV team’s defenders.

  Ben blew his whistle. “Come on, Allie, that should’ve been yours!” He called out, clearly irritated. 

  Tommy watched as Taissa jogged over to speak to Ben. He couldn’t hear what she said, but he saw Ben nod, and Taissa took one of the red soccer pinnies off of a JV player. What on earth was she up to?

  Then Tommy saw the long stitch marks along Taissa’s shorts, and grinned. Not long after the debacle at Taissa’s birthday party, she had been gunning for Natalie during practice, and had tried to ‘accidentally’ slide tackle her several times as payback. Natalie of course had been far too quick for Taissa, and in frustration, Taissa had point-blank launched herself at Tommy’s girlfriend. One of Natalie’s boots had caught in Taissa’s shorts, and the momentum had ripped them nearly in half, much to the embarrassment of Taissa, though Natalie and a few other Yellowjackets had been unable to stop snickering. 

  Ben had reassured Taissa that his and Tommy’s mother would be able to fix Taissa’s shorts, and sure enough, the midfielder received the garment back the next day, all stitched up and ready to go. 

  What Taissa didn’t know- and what Ben had forbidden Tommy from ever telling her- was that when he had presented the ripped shorts to their mother, Helen Scott had seen it as the perfect opportunity to finally teach Tommy her trade. Though it had taken well over an hour to get it right, Tommy had managed to fix up Taissa’s shorts in the end. Though Natalie had nearly choked with laughter when Tommy told her who had really fixed the shorts, Tommy had been surprised by how much he’d enjoyed the sewing.

  As a result, every Tuesday and Thursday after school since then, Tommy had started to help his mother in her shop, learning about various types of stitches, what would work on certain fabrics and what wouldn’t. Tommy had serious trouble believing at times that the person most opposed to his and Natalie’s relationship was indirectly responsible for him learning how to sew.

  Thanks for the life skill, Tommy thought, smirking as Taissa joined the JV team. 

  He watched as Taissa marked Allie, jostling her as they waited for Laura Lee to pass. Allie got the ball past Taissa, then passed to Shauna, who dribbled closer to the goal as a JV defender got close to her. 

  “Shauna!” Allie called out- and Tommy saw Taissa take off like a rocket.

  No. She’s NOT about to-

  Taissa hit Allie with a sliding tackle, and even from the stands, Tommy heard the freshman’s leg break, as Allie screamed like a wounded animal. 

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  The change room was silent, as the Yellowjackets dawdled around it. Natalie sat on the floor, hugging her knee. She could still hear the snap…

  “I know we’re all really worried about Allie”, she heard Jackie suddenly speak up. “But… it might not be as bad as it looks.”

  You’re kidding, right?

  “You could see her fucking bones, Jackie”, Natalie spoke up. “I’m pretty sure it’s exactly as bad as it looks.”

  “Oh, God”, Van choked out. “I’m gonna throw up.”

  Jackie crossed her arms. “Ok, but, I mean…” she took a breath. “We’re still a team. And we still have each other.”

  “And the Lord works in mysterious ways”, Laura Lee offered.

  Oh, give me a break. Give me a FUCKING break. Natalie should have known the team’s Bible-thumper would find a way to bring religion into what happened. She stomped out of the room, angrily banging on the locker next to Taissa. 

   You know who DOESN’T work in mysterious ways? Taissa fucking Turner, that’s who.

  “Nice work, Taissa”, she called out, not even bothering to look back at her teammate’s reaction. 

  She spent the rest of the day in a bad mood, and when she saw Tommy the next day at school, she didn’t hesitate to tell him about Taissa’s plan. 

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  When Friday came, Natalie told Tommy about the party in the woods the Yellowjackets were attending, so when school was done, Tommy put on his best jacket, then ‘borrowed’ some of Ben’s cologne before heading out the door. 

  “No drinking if you’re driving, Tommy!” He heard Ben call out. 

  “Okay, Mom!”

  Taking a detour to pick Natalie up, Tommy honked the car’s horn when he passed by her trailer, and Natalie immediately came running out. 

  “Hey!” She greeted him with a kiss as she sat down in the passenger seat, and Tommy enthusiastically reciprocated. 

  “You look good.” 

  “Thanks”, Tommy laughed. “You look good, too.”

  She did look good. She looked positively delicious in her bomber jacket, combined with a red tartan skirt and fishnet stockings. 

  “You bring condoms?”

  Tommy laughed. He’d always loved her bluntness.

  “Yes, Natty. I promise.”

  “Good. You’re gonna need ‘em. Let’s get wasted first, though.”

  “My brother made me promise not to drink.”

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  Natalie laughed as Tommy choked while trying to drain his second cup of beer. Lightweight.

  She loved that he was trying, though. It meant a lot to her that he was willing to step outside of his comfort zone to try and keep up with her. Still, she probably shouldn’t let him drive home like this.

  “Why am I here again?” Kevyn asked. “I mean, watching your boyfriend struggle with something so basic is pretty funny, but…”

  Natalie laughed even harder at the glare Tommy sent Kevyn’s way, just as Richie caught up with them.

  “You guys, my cousin hooked us up!” He practically screamed.

  “You got it?” Natalie asked.

  Richie nodded. “Got six words for you, my friend. Lucy… in the sky… with diamonds.”

  “That is, like, the least efficient way to say that”, Kevin scoffed, as Natalie took the acid tablet off Ritchie. “Dude, don’t you go to the Olympics or whatever, tomorrow?”

  “Uh… yeah, I do”, Natalie said, as Tommy gave her a look.

  Inside, Natalie was squirming. Before she started dating Tommy, she wouldn’t have thought twice about swallowing the tablet with whatever liquor was available, but now…

  “Uh, I’ll take it later”, she said, slipping the tablet into her pocket. She knew Tommy was good for her, but goddamn, he made her feel guilty sometimes. He didn’t mean to, she knew that, but still… goddamn… 

  “Laura Lee’s coming up behind you”, she heard Tommy say.

  Shit. 

  “Hiiii, Natalie!” she heard the ever-chirpy voice of Laura Lee call out behind her. Natalie resisted the urge to punch the other girl in the face.

  “Wanna get another drink?” She asked Tommy, making sure by the look on her face that he knew it wasn’t a question, as they started heading towards the nearby beer keg.

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  “We don’t have to worry about the Allie problem anymore, because Taissa fixed it for us!”

  Uh oh, Tommy thought. Shauna Shipman, Jackie Taylor’s sidekick, was drunk. And loud. Natalie had told him she’d been on board with Taissa’s plan against Allie, though. Was this some public expression of regret?

  “What? What’s she talking about?” He heard Laura Lee ask Natalie.

  Natalie grimaced. “She’s talking about Taissa’s little plan.”

  “Oh please,” Taissa said. “Since when do you give a shit anyway? Don’t you have a bong to hit… or a dick to suck?”

  “Excuse me?” Tommy asked Taissa incredulously. Seriously, the mouth on this girl…

  “Don’t talk to her that way”, Shauna yelled at Taissa.

  “Oh, fuck off, Shauna”, Natalie growled. “I don’t need you to defend me. Last time I checked, you were fine with the whole 'freeze her out' strategy.”

  “Okay, seriously, what are you guys talking about?”

  “SHUT THE FUCK UP, LAURA LEE!” The girls screamed.

  “Somebody needs to take her wasted ass home”, Taissa said, addressing Shauna.

  “Say that again, bitch!”, Shauna advanced on Taissa, only to be blocked by Van, as the girls rapidly descended into a screaming match.

  “Cat fight!” Tommy heard Randy Walsh, one of the school’s many meatheaded jocks, shouting joyfully to his friends.

  “SHUT UP, RANDY!” Tommy bellowed at him, surprising even himself. 

  “That’s it! Enough!” He suddenly hear Jackie yell at her team, and the girls quietened down. 

  “Yellowjackets! With me, now!” Jackie walked away, and the rest of the team followed her. 

  “Will you wait for me by the car? I wanna go home”, Tommy heard Natalie say.

  “Sure”, Tommy replied, as his girlfriend pressed a soft kiss to his lips, before following her teammates. 

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  “How is it you’re the only one on the team with a boyfriend who’s actually a good guy?” Natalie heard Shauna mumble.

  “One of life’s mysteries”, Natalie replied, hearing Shauna scoff in response as they drew closer to Jackie. 

  “I don’t know what the fuck that was”, the team captain began, “but I do know that it’s over. We’re about to go to Nationals. And based on what I’m looking at right now, we might as well not even bother getting on that plane.”

  Jackie paused. “All right. Everybody line up.”

  Nobody moved a muscle.

  “I’m fucking serious! Everybody line up!”

  Natalie quietly lined up with everyone else. She had a feeling as to what was coming next, and was proven right by Jackie’s next words. 

  “I want each of you to go down this line and say one nice, true thing about every other girl on this team.”

  Natalie rolled her eyes so hard, they almost got stuck in her head.

  “What is this, fucking Girl Scout camp?”, she heard Taissa say, and swallowed her laughter. 

  Laura Lee stepped forward first, because of course she did, and started to speak.

  “Taissa, you are beautiful in the eyes of our Lord.”

  She moved on to Van. “Van, you are beautiful-”

  “Oh, my God!” Lottie groaned, as Natalie dissolved into helpless giggles.

  Jackie started to speak, but Natalie wasn’t listening. She wondered what she was going to say when it was her turn. 

  I hate this. I wanna be with Tommy, and fuck everyone who says I can’t. It’s freezing here. I love playing soccer, but fuck I hate you guys sometimes-

  “Nat?”

  “Hmm?” 

  “I love that you don’t care what anybody thinks”, Jackie began, “and you’re so completely yourself.”

  “She's also deadly at beer pong”, Natalie heard Van say, and she raised her plastic cup in thanks. 

  Feeling slightly mollified as the girls began facing each other, Natalie found herself looking up at Lottie. 

  “Uh, Lottie…” she struggled to find the words. “You never talk shit unless someone really deserves it.”

  And now I’m gonna go fuck my boyfriend, thank you very much. 

  She left to go find Tommy. Luckily, he’d managed to sober up a bit with water, and he drove her home. When they got to her trailer, they didn’t say a word, she just took his hand and led him to her bed. 

  As their clothes came off, Tommy pressed his body against hers as he lay on top of her, pressing his lips to her cheeks, her neck, her breasts, any part of her he could reach, thrusting into her as he gently, oh so gently, made love to her. As they finished, he looked down into her eyes in a manner that left Natalie in no doubt as to the depths of his love for her.

  “You’re beautiful, you know that?” He whispered softly. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” 

  Natalie felt a tear roll down the side of her face. She couldn’t help it- when he said things like that, he made her feel so loved, her heart pounded in her chest like a drum, and she felt so incredibly lucky she wanted to scream with happiness. It was hard to imagine they had only been dating for six months.  

  “Will you stay?” She mumbled. “Please?”

  “Of course”, Tommy replied, as his lips descended on hers. 

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  Tommy awoke at the crack of dawn, Natalie still sleeping peacefully in his arms. 

  Shit. Words couldn’t describe how much he didn’t want to leave her, but he knew he was way past curfew. As he disentangled himself from Natalie, he heard her wake up.

  “Baby, I have to go.”

  “Nooo”, Natalie whined, trying to pull him back into bed. 

  “I’m sorry, I have to go. I’ll see you soon, okay?” 

  “Mmmm”, Natalie groaned. Tommy could see she wasn’t happy, and as he finished dressing, he leaned over and pressed his lips to Natalie’s cheek.

  “I love you.” 

  “Love you too”, Natalie mumbled back, as she rolled over underneath the blankets. 

  The drive home was quiet, and it gave Tommy time to think. The sneaking around had been fun at first, but after six months of hiding the truth from his family, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t getting tired of it. 

  After Nationals are over, Natalie and I will talk. This has gone on long enough. We’ve done nothing wrong, and there’s nothing for us to be ashamed of. 

  He knew that Natalie preferred to keep things private. He was one of the few who knew the kind of man Natalie’s father had been, and how it had led to his death, but he hadn’t told a soul since Natalie had tearfully confessed the truth to him, the first time he set foot in her caravan six months ago. 

  Natalie’s dad had fought in Vietnam with the 1st Infantry Division, and according to Natalie’s mother, he had never been the same once he came home. Natalie had brightened up a bit when Tommy had told her that his grandfather had fought with the 1st Infantry in the Second World War, but when she’d asked what his Dad’s regiment had been in Vietnam, he’d told her it was the 101st Airborne, then left it at that. 

  It was true that his dad had fought in Vietnam with the 101st… it just wasn’t the whole truth. But he had always been a good father to Tommy and Ben, regularly taking them on hunting trips through the woods of North Carolina, then Kentucky when his unit had moved there in the late eighties. Jonathan Scott had been a very attentive teacher as well, always hammering into his sons the value of respecting their weapons, making sure they kept them clean and fit for service.

  By the time they moved to his father’s old hometown of Wiskayok four years ago, once his dad finally discharged after thirty years of military service, the fourteen-year-old Tommy had known more about guns and knives than half the cops in New Jersey. Over the years, he and his dad continued the hunting trips throughout the forests of New Jersey, and he had personally taught Tommy how to “clean” his kills- how to pluck a wild turkey, how to skin and clean a deer… the list went on and on. 

  Tommy knew Natalie had been conflicted at first about his family’s hunting lifestyle when they’d started dating, but once he’d started bringing her actual food that didn’t come in a paper bag, she had remained unusually quiet on the subject. Tommy had invited her, more than once, to come along on one of his family’s hunting trips, but she had always said no. 

  Truth be told, it had been a while since his family had gone on one of their trips. As he pulled into the driveway of his family home, Tommy decided he would ask his dad if they could go into the forests again, once they both returned from their concurrent vacations. 

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  Natalie clambered out of the taxi, joining the group on the runway as the private plane slowly rolled up to them. 

  Jesus. She knew that Lottie’s family was rich, but this was ridiculous. 

  Unfortunately, she was so busy staring at the plane, she didn’t notice Taissa rounding on her.

  “What’s he doing here?” The midfielder hissed, pointing at Tommy, who was standing next to Coach Scott.

  “Oh, yeah. His parents are out of town until next week. Didn’t I tell you he was coming with us?”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  “Oh well”, Natalie shrugged, “now you know”. 

  The look of indignation on Taissa’s face was so comical, Natalie started to laugh, just as Tommy drew up next to them. 

  “Hey, guys”, he greeted them. “Looks like I’m coming along for the ride. Don’t worry, I won’t be messing around. I’ll be paying attention during your practices and your games. Very. Close. Attention.”

  He was looking directly at Taissa as he said the last three words, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. 

  Natalie instantly understood, and by the look on her face, so did Taissa. Natalie tried not to show it, but when Tommy got protective, it really got her motor running.

  He’d better have packed condoms for the trip, because I’m jumping his bones the first chance I get. 

  Natalie had packed a few condoms herself, just in case, and the smile stayed on her face the entire way into the plane.

  “Wicked”, she laughed, as she saw what the inside of Flight 2525 looked like. 

  “I can’t believe your dad paid for a private plane”, she heard Van say to Lottie.

  “It’s pretty much his only form of parenting”, Lottie replied. “Guess I’ll take it!”

  “Well, thank you, Mr. Matthews!” Van responded, as Laura Lee chimed in.

  Natalie continued to smile, as she stored her bag overhead and sat down. She briefly wondered if Tommy was going to sit next to her. No, he couldn’t, that would give the game away to his brother. Maybe-

  Tommy sat down in the seat across from her, and Natalie smiled. Thank God. He was with her, but not in a way that would arouse suspicion. 

  Still, Natalie felt slightly disappointed. She wanted him next to her, though she knew she had only herself to blame for hiding. For months now, she had begged him to hide their relationship from his family, and though she preferred to keep things private, in her heart of hearts she was scared- no, terrified- that once their relationship came to light, his family would tear them apart. 

  Oh, well. There would be plenty of time to talk once they got to Seattle. Natalie slipped on her Walkman as the plane took off, and “Something in the Way” started to play as they ascended into the air. 

  As the hours dragged on, Natalie decided to take a nap. She wanted to be well-rested for when they got there. 

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  In the days ahead, Tommy would struggle to remember the exact moment he realised the plane was going down. Had the bang of the engine failing come before the oxygen masks descended, or after? 

  Regardless, as the plane began to descend towards the ground at a horrifying pace, Tommy found himself stretching his hand out across the aisle, searching for Natalie. He felt the warmth of her hand close around his, as he looked into her panic-stricken eyes. 

  Tommy was not religious, by any stretch of the imagination, but in that moment, he prayed to anyone who might be listening. 

  Please. God, Allah, fucking Buddha for all I care. Please don’t let this be the end. Please don’t let us die here-

  Those were the last thoughts Tommy had, before the plane smashed into the dirt.

[b-does-yellowjackets]

I’ve seen people talk about this with Shauna’s speed as a midfielder and Lottie’s tendency to shove people as a defensive player (possibly a fullback), but I love the little ways we see the Yellowjackets' soccer positions in their characters after the crash

Van Palmer is my GOAT, so this is mostly about her. Whoops.

So, Van's a goalkeeper. I don't know if other people who have played soccer have had a different experience with this, but every team I've ever played on has had the expectation that when you're on the field, you listen to the keeper. The captain's main role is as a link between the team and the coaching staff—not to command the pitch. Same with the striker. They're an important player, but even the offensive line defaults to the keeper.

However, we don't see Van taking a dominant role in the show. She tends to hang back and act kind of like a second-in-command to whoever is "officially" in charge. She's not one to rock the boat, and to her, that means just listening to whoever's at the helm. She's an acolyte to Lottie (the bird scene dude, the bird scene), we know she's loyal to Natalie (the team-up between them and Misty with the transmitter aside, she's super supportive of Natalie in s1 with the hunting), and the only time we really see her break away from the faux-hierarchy they establish in the wilderness is when Shauna takes charge. Why she did that is a different analysis, but I do think it's interesting to consider.

We know Van's good at talking to people, which is a big part of goalkeeping—she’s quick to diffuse situations (Shauna biting Mari, hugging Travis) and is able to draw their attention easily (her storytelling circles, the lake scenes).

Additionally, as a goalkeeper, she would hypothetically be very good at making quick decisions, keeping calm under pressure, and taking physical blows, all of which I think we see evidence for in the wilderness. Van always focuses on what’s in front of her, making choices to address the most recent piece of information she has received, so she’d likely be good at deciding on a dime whether to dive left or right. She's not one to break down much. She grits her teeth and moves forward. As for the physicality, we don't really see any of the other YJs getting rough with her the way we see it with Shauna or Lottie, which I find interesting. We don't see many overt displays of physical strength from her, but I think it says something that she's one of the only characters who hasn't been shoved to the ground or manhandled during an argument (at least, that I can remember).

We also see Van take a lot of emotional hits without complaining. All of the characters do this to an extent, but Van really doesn't break at all until the finale and I think she's one of the last characters to do so. Now, Van as a character obviously isn't totally defined by the fact that she was a goalkeeper, but I do think there's some merit to the way she behaves being influenced by being the team's last line of defense.

This could also all be null and void, but it's fun to think about!

[fedrifan78]

(requested by @facesblurry) something angsty, emotionally raw, but with a happy ending. maybe even an argument, or a kiss in the heat of the moment (i am cliche so what), maybe a misunderstanding or something both don’t agree on and it takes a toll on them.

more than a dumb game.

masterlist requested by: @facesblurry summary: a dumb argument over a FIFA game turns into way more than either of them were expecting. word count: 860 genre: angsty to less angsty (again lol)

“Stop playing like an idiot, tío.”

Pedri’s voice is already half-laughing, half-pissed, but he’s gripping the controller like it personally offended him. Ferran leans back on the couch, smug as hell, not even trying to tone it down.

“Cry about it,” Ferran says, scoring again. “Just because I’m better at FIFA-”

“You’re not better,” Pedri cuts in, throwing his head back dramatically. “You’re just playing ultra-defensive like a coward. You park the bus and pray.”

Ferran grins. “Maybe you should try it sometime instead of sending all your fullbacks forward like an egg.”

Pedri groans and tosses the controller onto the couch. “Nah, I’m done. I’m not playing like this.”

Ferran pauses the game. “You serious?”

“I don’t wanna play if you’re gonna act like it’s the Champions League final.”

“It’s just a game, hermano,” Ferran says, confused and amused at the same time. “Why are you taking it so personally?”

Pedri grabs a cushion and chucks it at him. Ferran catches it easily.

“I’m not taking it personally,” Pedri says, even though, yeah, his voice is doing that annoyed thing again.

“Then stop sulking.”

“I’m not sulking.”

“You are.”

Pedri stares at him, jaw tight. “You always do this.”

“Do what?”

“You push and push until I’m pissed off, and then act like I’m the one being dramatic.”

Ferran blinks. “Because you are being dramatic.”

Pedri stands up and sighs. “Alright. I’m going home.”

Ferran gets up too, crossing the space between them fast. “No, you’re not. Don’t be stupid.”

“I’m not being stupid, I’m just not in the mood to fight over a video game like we’re twelve.”

“You’re the one who threw a pillow at me.”

“You’re the one who kept grinning like a prick every time you scored!”

“It’s FIFA!”

Pedri’s breathing hard now. His hoodie’s riding up his stomach from where he shoved his hands in his pockets. Ferran’s eyes catch on that for half a second before he blinks and looks away, annoyed at himself.

“Okay, cool,” Pedri says, moving toward the door. “Next time, I’ll just let you win and spare you the drama.”

“Oh my god, Pedro. You’re not mad about FIFA. What’s actually up with you tonight?”

“Nothing,” Pedri snaps, turning back around. “Maybe I’m just tired of you thinking everything’s a joke.”

Ferran raises an eyebrow. “Says the guy who tried to win by slide-tackling my keeper.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Then what is?”

Pedri throws his arms up. “I don’t know, Ferran! Maybe I’m just tired of always being the one who takes shit seriously when you don’t!”

That one hits harder than it should.

The room falls quiet, only the hum of the paused PlayStation menu in the background. Ferran’s staring at Pedri like he’s trying to piece something together, like he’s listening to what wasn’t said.

“You’re being weird,” Ferran says finally, more softly. “What’s going on?”

Pedri shakes his head, laughing bitterly. “It’s always me, right? I’m the one acting weird, I’m the one making it weird. But you’re the one who can’t go five minutes without touching me or looking at me like you’re…” He cuts himself off.

Ferran steps forward. “Like I’m what?”

Pedri doesn’t answer.

And then they’re standing too close again, like always. The kind of close that’s not quite accidental anymore. The kind of close that makes the air feel tight.

Ferran breathes in, jaw clenched, voice quiet. “Do you want me to stop?”

Pedri says nothing, but he doesn’t move either.

Ferran watches him for a second, then reaches out, slowly, carefully, like he’s giving Pedri one last chance to back away.

Pedri doesn’t.

So Ferran kisses him.

It’s fast. Not even sweet, not yet. Just hot and unfiltered and laced with all the things they haven’t been saying. It happens like a stumble, like an impulsive reaction they both regret instantly, but neither pulls away from.

Pedri’s fingers curl into the front of Ferran’s shirt. Ferran’s hands find his jaw, pulling him closer, deepening it before either of them can overthink it.

They break apart after maybe five seconds.

It feels like an hour.

Pedri stares at him, stunned. “What was that?”

Ferran’s chest is rising and falling fast. “I don’t know.”

Pedri runs a hand through his hair. “We were literally just fighting about FIFA.”

Ferran lets out a laugh, breathless. “We are so stupid.”

“Yeah.”

Neither of them moves.

Finally, Pedri sinks back onto the couch, arms resting on his knees, eyes on the floor.

Ferran sits next to him. Not too close this time. Just close enough.

“So,” Pedri says, “are we gonna pretend that didn’t happen or what?”

Ferran tilts his head toward him. “Do you want to?”

Pedri shakes his head. “Not really.”

“Good.”

A beat.

Ferran nudges his shoulder. “Wanna finish the match?”

Pedri smirks. “Only if you promise not to score again.”

“No promises.”

Pedri looks at him, soft now. “Okay. But maybe… later we talk about this properly?”

“Yeah,” Ferran says, picking up his controller. “Later.”

They restart the match.

Pedri’s hand brushes Ferran’s thigh while reaching for a drink, and this time, no one moves away.

- sofía ✎ᝰ.

[falsamoneda]

i suppose the quiet transfer window has a lot to do with the head coach situation. we don't know of course but it seemed to me like renee didn't actually get the job until like mid january or something. so i'm not too surprised to be honest. Players may not want to sign before there's a permanent coach with a vision and playing style (or there's not enough staff to look for players and a head coach at the same time...).

I agree though. There has to be ambition to make the next step and compared to chelsea, it doesn't seem like it's there signings wise. But I guess I'm personally still more comfortable with bringing in fewer players that fit the system we're trying to play and working on making the team gel instead of buying players just because it means other teams can't get them.

didn't see all of the game yesterday (train had no wifi it was preposterous) but I agree another fast winger should probably be our highest priority right now. especially seeing as a proper 6 is hard to find. I think it's less noticable when caitlin is fit because she pushes up, alessia drifts out on the right, beth inwards and that works well, but when she's not fit, we have no backup really. i guess the system is one winger is high up, the fullback behind them follows forward, the centerback goes out the other centerback is in the middle and then you need your other fullback and winger to be more defensive. but to make that work, you've got to be able to switch really quickly from defense to attack, whenever you switch sides and i think we don't do that fast enough at the moment. may also be because we have no proper 6 when lia is out and it seems to make everyone nervous and more defensive.

as you can see i also do like to talk about this :)

Anon, we are birds of a feather 😃 It sounds like you’re from the UK maybe? (Or not, so so sorry if I’m wrong 🙃) so idk if you’ve had a chance to see the news but strong rumors that Jenna Nighswonger is being picked up by Arsenal. As Gotham fan also, mixed feelings about her leaving. Howevvver, she was a standout midfielder in college at a dynasty level Florida State team and only recently converted to left back her rookie year. She won rookie of the year in NWSL in 2023, and while her game has seen some tough times in the last eight months or so, I’m wildly excited about her making a go at Arsenal. She’s tough and her game has a little bit of flashiness to it…plus she’s not afraid to shoot from outside the box and has a wicked left foot.

[whitehartlane]

Tottenham Hotspur’s Double winning team pose for a photo together with their trophies, 1961.

Back row, left to right: Bill Brown, Peter Baker, Ron Henry, Danny Blanchflower, Maurice Norman, Dave Mackay.

Front row, left to right: Cliff Jones, John White, Bobby Smith, Les Allen, Terry Dyson.

Bill Brown: Signed in the summer of ‘59. Proper keeper, is talked about in the same breath as keepers like Clemence, Jennings, and Lloris. Steadfast in this side.

Peter Baker: Born in Hampstead, he played for Enfield before coming to Spurs in ‘52. Played one game short of 300 and scored 3 goals as a right back. Got the job done and never let himself get ruffled by any winger; he’d love watching modern fullbacks nowadays.

Ron Henry: Only ever played for Spurs on the senior level, signing in ‘52. Fast and a good tackler, sound left back. He had a plant nursery and homing pigeons, and he stayed on with Spurs as a coach for the U18s.

Danny Blanchflower: Irresistible, incredible, incomparable. There will never be another like Danny. Signing from Villa in ‘54 and going on to head Northern Ireland, he was the captain of Spurs’ Double winning side and made this great team extraordinary. He had very progressive ideas of how the game should be played, fast and attacking and being allowed to use a ball during training, and was set on the idea that the glory—doing things in style—is what is special about the game. No one like him.

Maurice Norman: Signing in the winter of ‘55, he was an absolute assured and commanding figure at the back. Scored 19 goals over his 400+ appearances for Spurs; should’ve been a mainstay at centre half for England but unfortunately his career was cut short due to a double fracture in his tibia and fibula. Integral to the success of this side.

Dave Mackay: If the word legend had a picture accompanying its definition in the dictionary, surely Mackay’s face would be smiling back up at you. Coming from Hearts in the spring of ‘59, he is still described to this day as possibly the most complete midfield player Scotland has ever produced. He never gave up playing even when the rest of the team believed they had already won. A player who inspired everyone around him, others spoke of him as the ‘hardest man I have ever played against—and certainly the bravest.’ He was known famously as the heartbeat of Bill Nic’s Double winning side. Ange Postecoglou and Son Heungmin would have loved him.

Cliff Jones: Formerly Spurs’ top fifth goalscorer before Sonny overtook him, the Welshman signed for the club in the early spring of ‘58 from Swansea. He was a crucial player in the side who played on both wings, was faster than you could believe, always put a lovely cross in, and scored goals from flying headers. Still has lovely words to say about the club and his grandson, Matt Wells, is currently a first team assistant coach.

John White: Nicknamed ‘The Ghost’ due to his runs to find space off the ball that saw him arrive unexpectedly in the opposition’s penalty box, he was one of the most skilful players to ever don the shirt. Signed in the autumn of ‘59. His name bleeds into Spurs folklore as he was being primed to be the next Blanchflower but tragically passed away prematurely when struck by lightning while playing golf in ‘64. His teammates say about him: ‘While other players were someone you would have to bring into a game, John would bring himself into the game.’

Bobby Smith: For the days of centre forwards like him! Currently Spurs’ third top goalscorer, he joined from Chelsea in the winter of ‘55, clearly having recognised which the superior London club was. Twelve hat tricks over his career with Spurs, he was big and bustling and scored goals like nobody’s business. He scored 33 goals in 43 games in the Double-winning season—not too shabby.

Les Allen: Joining the club in the winter of ‘59, he immediately struck up a brilliant and lethal striking partnership with Smith, scoring 27 goals that Double-winning season. While living in Smith’s shadow a little and struggling to retain his place in the starting XI with the arrival of Jimmy Greaves, he was still an essential part of this side’s success. His son Clive Allen and his nephew Paul Allen both went on to play for Spurs.

Terry Dyson: A player who would nowadays be dismissed by talent scouts due to his height and is often not remembered in this side, but was the catalyst to Spurs’ success that season. He signed for the club in ‘55. A snappy winger who could put in a good cross, he is the only Spurs player to score a hat trick in the North London Derby to date. You can still find him trawling around academy matches.

[jerriemofos]

Since its the January transfer window, i'll be talking about players that i would love to see at Arsenal!

Obviously, with the registered players being at the max, it's not realistic for new signings to come in this window. So these are players that i think will massively improve our squad in the summer especially if we do want to make it far in the uwcl and win the wsl!

Also, i would like to make another post about players that i will not be opposed to leaving in the summer to get better players in 🤔 but idt yall are ready for that conversation yet

1) Maëlle Lakrar

Amazing young defender, very attacking minded, fits in the playstyle of how jonas wants our defenders to be

Hard worker, loves to get interceptions in, 1v1 duels to win the ball back (i love defenders like this)

Tactically intelligent, able to get into good positions to intercept players and loves to progress the ball forward to quickly transition into attack

At 170cm, she handles aerial duels well and can be used as a threat in set pieces

Quite pacey and can handle speedy forwards when in transition

A lot of big clubs have already started enquiring about her as her contract ends in 2024, would be a shame if Arsenal lose her to a big rival.

2) Sakina Karchaoui

One of the best left-footed fullbacks in the world right now, very attacking minded defender, which again is how jonas loves our defenders to be

Only 160cm but what she lacks in height, she makes up for in work ethic, loves to be higher up the pitch to get involved in attacks but tracks back well to defend when caught in transition

Loves to get interceptions in, 1v1 duels to win the ball back, often both having a high rate of success

Same as Maëlle, her contract ends in 2024 and the opportunity to get a worldclass fullback on a free should not be missed. She will be a massive upgrade on Arsenal's left-back position.

3) Chiamaka Nnadozie

Goalkeepers are a harder one to judge because you cannot rely on stats, so this analysis is based on eye tests

At 23 years old, one of the best young goalkeepers in the world right now

180cm, an excellent height for a gk

Had an amazing WWC23 run as a starter for Nigeria

Currently, also having an amazing uwcl run with Paris FC

Very impressive aerial abilities for a young keeper (imo can be considered worldclass)

Great outside the box, able to play out from the back effectively

Although at times her decision making can be better, but with the right coaching, she's on her way to be a worldclass gk

Amazing gk for both Paric FC and Nigeria at only 23 years old, why not snatch her up? (if you can't beat her, buy her)

4) Angel Mukasa

21 years old, still needs more experience but at her age, shes phenomenal

No data on her height but from eye tests, probably around 170-180cm

Excellent shot-stopping

Great positioning, never caught out of focus

Her distribution is a stand out trait, amazing at her age

Great composure, doesn't make rash decisions in stress

In the uwcl against barca femení, if it weren't for her, FC Rosengård would've conceded more than 7 goals, she was phenomenal in that game

Not my choice for a starting keeper but would be an excellent 2nd keeper until she gains enough experience to be 1st choice

5) Kerolin Nicoli

NWSL MVP 2023, NWSL Best XI First Team 2023, Runner up for NWSL Golden Boot 2023 (what more can i say 🤷🏽‍♀️ she's a baller)

Lethal in the attacking third, loves 1v1 duels, excellent dribbling

Unselfish player, will pass to a teammate if needed but also loves taking shots at goal too

Right-footed player but is excellent at the left

Versatile player, can play on the left and right (as a winger or midfielder), up top but also as a CM

Not much else to say except that she will be lethal in Arsenal's left hand side. Just imagine Karchaoui, McCabe and Kerolin on our left 😮‍💨

Other players that i will love at Arsenal but too unrealistic:

Naomi Girma

Merle Frohms

Misa Rodriguez

Stina Johannes

Antônia Silva

Jule Brand

Morgan Weaver

Ary Borges

Anyways, if you've actually read the whole thing, thanks! I'm quite disappointed with the lack of movements in this window so i've decided to write it here.

Do you agree with this list? Any other players that you will like to see at Arsenal as well? Lemme know i would love to here you thoughts! (pls refrain from hateful words, if you don't like this list at all. criticism is fine but keep it civil)

[28dayslater]

Two DMs to protect our makeshift defence

Fullbacks barely going forward

Werner on for Son after Udogie went off to provide defensive cover for poor old Reguilon

Maddison on for Brennan moving Deki to RW, attempt to get some more creativity with two 10s on the pitch

Sat back in the second half to protect our lead, only went back to attacking when Wolves equalised

But apparently Ange never changes up the naive way we play? It’s just who we are mate?

[halfturn]

Saw that Milos Kerkez is wanted by many big accounts on twitter, including him in their future starting eleven. What do you think of him? Can he be tha future Robbo replacement or is he a tad bit overhyped? I have seen him a few times, he is good, but far from brilliant.

i've though a lot about this question and i have agree he is very much a diamond in the rough! ⚠️yapping below⚠️

kerkez really suits iraola's system: bournemouth play a 4-2-4 in possession, where the fullbacks are free to bomb forward, and kerkez regularly roams into the middle + final thirds to support the forwards. important caveat cos i don't think all this waffling would be fair if i didn't mention this: i Luv iraola but my knowledge on bournemouth's tactical build up is patchy at best so if i have any cherries supporters following me pls feel free to correct me BUT in the first half of the season kerkez's attacking play took a back seat as iraola was more focused on improving his defensive game; he only recently started to play more offensively. before his suspension he started in a more advanced position, and earlier in the month he had a really impressive performance against yanited where dogwalked the mancs <3

so he's naturally a more attacking player who loves going forward into the opponent's half and in front of the penalty area, and this can be seen in both his numbers and the eye test. below are sceenshots from fbref, the first one is from last season when he played for AZ in the eredivisie (2671 minutes) and the second one is from the current season (1880 minutes), as you can see at AZ he was put into a much more offensive role, while at bournemouth he hasn't really had the chance to shine yet. also really important to mention that obviously the PL is much harder to break into and it’s much more difficult for a newcomer to put out great performances on a regular basis

his defensive stats leave Uhhh something to be desired, but all of his weaknesses can be improved, he's only 20 after all. as i mentioned he's an attacking-minded fullback, he's always positioning himself to either provide key passes or be in a goalscoring position (those two BCMs against united 🥀) etc AND one thing that i wanted to highlight is his high quality crossing ability (here's a video of his through balls compiled by marc lamberts, a scout for malmö FF)

let's put all this into arne slot's system: big slotter loves when his teams create numerical overloads; in possession, one of his fullbacks invert to form a double pivot with the #6, and the other is high up to overload the midfield or to overlap with the winger, which is what kerkez does at bournemouth. the hungarian national team plays a back 3 with kerkez as a wingback which lets him go forward more and hides his weaknesses as he has less defensive responsibilities.

in MY opinion kerkez is a good inverstment for the future. another name that's been thrown around is aït-nouri, who i think is the better player currently but i see kerkez fitting slot's system better. i have no idea how this transfer window will go but interestingly, our new sporting director, richard hughes, was instrumental in the signing of kerkez from AZ 🤔 if robbo decides to stay then kerkez would be a gamble (but a promising one??), if robbo stays but tsimi goes i think promoting one of the academy boys like owen beck into the first team would be a smarter choice. anyway i digress i don't think we'll make a move for kerkez in the near future but i'm interested in how his second year in the PL goes because i truly think that he could be a really really great premier league fullback. the talent's all there

[thommi-tomate]

Well, what can you say about such a disgusting and humiliating defeat?

I was confident in my team but I forgot the coach we have, since the starting 11 was announced I knew nothing good was going to happen, changing the whole scheme so out of the blue and leaving crucial players for such an important game just didn't bode well , the team started with desire to go forward but only a few minutes, they were crushed by not having a leader giving instructions up front , Mustafi said it, the indications can come from behind but they take too long to arrive and that's when it all dissolves

The lineup was a nightmare, Upa just came off injury , you can't demand it like that, I also don't think the most intelligent thing was to demand Min Jae, Tuchel has a problem that already falls into the absurd with Matta, for me, the starters should have been Nous and Rapha at fullbacks, Sacha is still new to take responsibility for such an important game and the language issue and little playing time alongside the others was another obstacle

I love Pavlo but this game was definitely not for him, he is still too inexperienced for a game of this size and definitely should have started with Jo and Leon

And well Thomas was also needed up front, leading the pressure and attack but most of all giving life to the team that looked without any feeling at all

There is nothing to do, we no longer depend only on ourselves to even aspire to follow a record that took blood, sweat and tears to achieve and that a lot of bad decisions have made the dream of achieving it difficult to see again

[athlxtics]

So my lesbian ass is now obsessed with Women's Soccer so I've developed a few characters using some awesome players.

Under the cut is my list of current characters as well as some FCs I'm thinking of bringing in.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE message me if you are interested in doing WLW sports plots!!! While soccer is my main thing, I'm open to any and all female athletes (for me, I'd consider wrestlers and dancers in this category!!!)

Please note: I am currently only playing on Discord

Note: their teams aren't solidified in any way. They can play on real or fictional teams.

Joey Fields - Laura Friei.gang FC. 26 . Lesbian. Forward. Arrogant little jerk who gets a lot of yellow cards and never has had a real relationship.

Daniella "Dani" Vega. Ona Bat.lle FC 23 years old. Lesbian. Fullback. Purest baby, dated a fellow teammate for like 5 years but they just recently had a really amicable breakup. So fucking loyal.

Ariel "Rio" Valerio. Mapi Le.on FC. 28 years old. Lesbian. Center back. Not quite arrogant but really self-assured. Loves her family and her country so damn much. Is going to grow up to be a cat lady.

Maria Juana "MJ" Campos. Angelina Alonso Constan.tino. 25 years old. Fluid. Midfield. The calm in the storm. She has a really relaxed demeanor which makes a lot of her teammates gravitate toward her. Has such a goofy, fun-loving side but can give hella good advice. As laid back as she can be, she'll go to the mat for one of her girls.

FCs immediately on my mind to play or play against, but I'm not at all limited to them. There are just way to many I like so I wanted to make a "current top 5" so to speak

Ale.xia Putellas

Ali Kri.eger

Sophia Sm.ith

Leah William.son

Ingrid En.gen

[ikram1909]

we also don’t have a first team left back (iñigo could play as a lb but he just came back from injury so i don’t think he will start)

I just realised I typed forwards when I meant fullbacks 😭 but I was referring to how our only real fullbacks are either injured or sick and I don't think Íñigo will start either and he shouldn't. I'm seeing that hector is playing on the left 😭😭

[wosonaresurrected]

personally I think carpenter and Ashley Lawrence are at a similar level both very good at going forward not as good defensively but idk Ashley is more adaptable she can play both sides as a fullback or winger, you could argue Ellie has more experience in the later stages of champions league but technically the only final she played more than 15 minutes in was when Lyon lost and she was one of their worst players in that game so 🤷‍♀️ I can see it maybe happening though bc she is younger so more likely to improve in the next few years

True although I think my perception and others is different of Ellie than Ashley, like Ellie’s been a consistent starter for Lyon a top of the top club. She’s not gonna just give that up and settle for maybe starting big matches 2nd to Lucy and then if she’s lucky and waits a year or two she will😭

if she joins Sonia’s going to have to have guaranteed something

[writer59january13]

Sexually explicit meme more real day

originally written May 31st, 202_ humorously, posthumously, and tempestuously expressing woes

from the top of my talking head to gnarly nails of (this little piggy fame) toes in sore need and want of a podiatrist I suppose, which keratin structures at the end of plates of meaty ten digits topping off little feet dextrous enough to type poetry and prose

and play violin highs and lows,

but only the shadow knows

that one among common prickly Joe's alternately titled re: double entendre

the red, white and blue diminutive soldier (when squeezed like a toy gun cocked and primed to fire off load) then gets flaccid like a slimy hose does double duty in tandem with magic wand,

lifelike snaky entity that actually grows

particularly necessary when burst of fiery secretion flows intense spray powerful enough to pulverize knees and elbows

subsequently witnessing yours truly to doze an ideal time to take a naked lunch break at petticoat junction to figuratively close itty bitty teensy weensy of cross between humpback sperm whale

analogous to miniscule Moby Dick regarding how prurient introduction to reasonable rhyme blows. I chose to memorialize, alas and alack atypical/unusual fond memory - argh, a sudden nostalgia attack many... countless years gone back livingsocial at 324 Level Road, elapsed good times, I can never buyback prominent Gambone family builders demolished complex edifice currently repurposed mansion manse sin courtesy vinyl city as Stella's Way boyhood address above, never seen since transformed into latter place name, which property originally christened Glen Elm, (within national registries) yours truly can easily callback detailed information searching internet if mine eyes espied absent estate... slack jawed stare would repeatedly sow sadness weighing me heart heavy as coalsack accompanying sorrow with attendant flood of tears, would make an immediate comeback impossible mission to stopper feeble, futile and lame counterattack where sentimental reverie would carry me far away to Old Virginny, for no particular rhyme nor reason. e'en attempting to write recollections might trigger tsunami imminent domain grievous childhood memories recollecting watching silent home movies, while chomping on crackerjack when I had real teeth.

Like puss in boots, the Missus axed me to enliven herself regaling humorous instances, thus I cutback to... party hardy times, the major drawback x amount of time elapsed summoning special occasions (surgeon general's warning such mental revisitations) fraught with onset, where perilous flashback will moost likely violently grip cerebral cortex analogous to suckerpunch puny chap (me) knocked unconscious courtesy searingly robust fullback, nevertheless impossible mission to restrain waterworks I intend to hijack, and hoop fully succeed tamping tears strong suggestion as encouraged by hunchback from Notre Dame Dublin known within these neck of woods as storied Paul Bunyan also alias Philanderer, (especially among superficially prim and proper, but actually prurient women folk), whose services regarding payback best abide, adhere, and afford to pay forward credo fore playbook.

Said burly lumberjack with severe scoliosis, nonetheless quite self evident his outsize implement, (ye need not axe further questions) extinguishing problematic residue iterated further within mine playful ramble herewith to enliven anecdote ever further, I inject humorous tidbit just gimme moment to unload and reach into psychological metaphorical knapsack particularly blue's clue slimy hose from days of yore, my keepsake to forcibly remove dingleberries birthed courtesy emergency pit stop without means and ways to clean derriere, a feeble and futile attempt.

Haint no fallacy yours truly subsequently secured more powerful giant accouterment), while clinging for dear life perched atop ledger or edger domain of clawfoot bathtub, (ah how convenient and timely smallish size Jacuzzi getup to appear) and lemme figuratively continue closing pathetic riffraff (apropos of nothing) rifling around mostly strewn with random tchotchkes and odd bubba's zayda's knickknack such as ahh... look here hocked wares, acquired ready to receive paddywhack giving doggerel bonafied chops.

[whitehartlane]

Random footy ask! I only saw bits of the Korea game earlier but would love your takes on what needs to change. Was sonny swapped from the centre to the left in the second half? Did Kangin just get marked into oblivion?

hello laura 🫶🏾 thank you for the ask!!

ah, it was a frustrating game. not the end of the world, but a proper wake up call for klinsmann regarding his tactics and starting xi choices. full credit to jordan, they did their homework and played with real fighting spirit! very hard to break down and very physical as well. didn’t play a low block and played their football, it was nice to watch. they had a lot of fans there and that gave them a bit of a home advantage.

first of all, personnel status. kim taehwan needs to start over lee kije. i’m not a fan of lee kije generally but even disregarding that, taehwan is just way more impressive going forward. second half was really bright from him and seol youngwoo - the two fullbacks made a lot of overlapping runs that led to a fair amount of chances. just no final ball today unfortunately. cho guesung was off it - i don’t know if he’s feeling the pressure as being first choice striker or if he’s just off form but i think a stint on the bench would do him good. i’d like to see more of oh hyeongyu up front. he’s very eager to impress and held the ball just a bit too long at times today (which i think frustrated sonny) but there’s a player there.

kangin is great, but he’s a young player. he runs hot/cold right now and that’s probably my biggest point of criticism with him and why i side eye kr bro tacticos that hype him up too much—he’s spectacular but he has to work on consistency within his performances and his game, especially now that he’s coming into his own and opponents know that and try to mark him into oblivion like they do with sonny. haven’t seen the stats but he got dispossessed a lot today and tried some long balls that were a bit over shot from the eye test. it’s a good game for his character, to come down a bit and know that he has to find a way past that and work on his game. he’s young, he will improve and find his consistency.

tactics wise… first half was sloppy apart from the penalty (which was super). it was kind of surprising honestly, team was clicking a lot more in the past few games chemistry wise, but this first half, oof. couldn’t put a pass together if their lives depended on it! second half was much better, more aggressive. lack of finishing was pretty much the curse today. i think klinsmann needs to just go through some attacking patterns with the lads instead of individual brilliance moment from sonny/kangin/inbeom/whoever and inshallah. loved the overlapping runs from the fullbacks today as said, and if he hones those a bit more in training and actually rewards players who play well with starts then things could be looking way better. getting heechan and jinsu back would be a huge boost, especially heechan!!! his physicality and his ability to drive into the box. i’d like to see sonny playing through the middle with heechan on the wing, that linkup is very dangerous.

think today was also in part sort of a underestimation on korea’s part, i don’t think the lads expected jordan to play the way they did which is why the first half looked so rough. the second half was much better in terms of determination and aggression. the conspiracy theorist in me is saying that they did this on purpose so they could see how japan’s group plays out and possibly avoid a clash in ro16 but i don’t think klinsmann is playing 5D chess 😭