Sam Kerr is the best talent the National Women’s Soccer League has ever produced.
I found myself in the middle of a small Twitter tornado, once, tweeting that exact sentiment without noting the W-League's (as seen, below) or the Australian federation’s roles in developing the world’s best player. Apologies, Oz. I didn’t mean anything by it, but having seen Kerr play in the United States since 2013 – having seen her develop from an insanely-athletic wide threat into a forward that seems capable of doing things the women’s game has never seen, before – it’s hard not to take some ownership, at least on an emotional level.
Holy hell, look at what that she’s become. Look at what, minute-to-minute, movement-to-movement, she’s capable of doing. This has been beyond amazing to watch. It feels historic, to having been there from so early on.
If you’re a women’s soccer fan, it’s impossible not to get caught up in Sam Kerr, which is what makes Saturday’s game at Providence Park a must-see for anyone who’s ever considered watching Portland Thorns FC (7:30pm PT, ESPNEWS). For the Thorns themselves, though, Kerr merely represents the next challenge: the same way North Carolina’s Lynn Williams and Jessica McDonald were two weeks ago; the same way Orlando’s Alex Morgan was on Saturday.
This is where it gets scary for Portland, though. Not only are Kerr’s Chicago Red Stars among the most talented teams in the league – for my money, the Thorns and Red Stars have the league’s two most-talented squads – but Kerr combines all the best qualities of players like Williams, McDonald and Morgan. The speed of Williams, the intelligence, strength and resilience of McDonald, and pure explosiveness of Morgan are all present in a player who, having scored 50 times in her last 59 club games, seems hellbent on becoming one of the best players women’s soccer has ever known.
Year |
Team |
League |
Games |
Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 |
Chicago Red Stars |
NWSL |
15 |
10 |
2017-18 |
Perth Glory |
W-League |
9 |
13 |
2017 |
Sky Blue FC |
NWSL |
22 |
17 |
2016-17 |
Perth Glory |
W-League |
13 |
10 |
With that in mind, consider the Thorns’ defensive organization against Morgan on Saturday, an effort that left the U.S. international without a goal or a shot on target. In this moment, Orlando fullback Kristen Edmonds needs her teammate to show for the ball. Ultimately, she ends up dumping a pass to the right of the penalty box, but only after midfielder Emily Van Egmond runs behind the defense from midfield.
Yes, this is only one screenshot, but it is indicative of how Portland managed Orlando’s threat throughout the game. If Morgan was going to be dangerous, she was going to have to drop back from the defense or patrol the wide areas. Morgan, by herself, was not going to beat the Thorns. That she wasn’t able to adjust and be effective in those areas goes a long way toward explaining why the Pride finished Saturday’s game with a “0.”
Now, consider this sequence from two weeks ago, when the Thorns visited the Courage, and what McDonald can and is willing to do to create this Williams goal:
This is the scenario Thorns head coach was trying to avoid most: players like McDonald, above, or Williams getting into these wide spaces, carrying the ball deep against a transitioning defense, able to pick out players in front of goal. Against Orlando, this situation would have probably been fine. Let the Pride have those spots. Against the Courage, it seeded Portland’s downfall.
That’s what’s so scary about Kerr. She demands Morgan’s attention, has the versatility of McDonald, and out-produces them both. She’s the reason why, on the sidelines of Thorns training this week, phrases like “and then Sam Kerr happens” punctuate discussions about what could happen when the Red Stars come to town.
She’s the reason why this happened, almost a year ago – the reason why, whether you go with a plan like the Thorns had against Orlando or the one they used against North Carolina, you can still get destroyed by Kerr:
As Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese reminds us every week during his press conferences, coaches don’t like thinking about teams in terms of one player. It doesn’t work for preparing their group. It doesn’t work when planning for opponents, something talents like Yuki Nagasato, Vanessa DiBernardo, Danielle Colaprico, Morgan Brian, Arin Gilliland, Casey Short and Julie Ertz will remind the Thorns on Saturday, should they become too focused on Kerr.
But for the rest of us? Focus on Sam Kerr. She’s earned that honor. Focus on what she brings to Providence Park. Focus on the job players like Emily Menges and Emily Sonnett do trying to stop her.
What to watch for on Saturday:
- Oh, the stakes? Yeah, I guess that’s kind of important, too. Portland enters the weekend’s action in third place, five points behind Seattle Reign FC for second. That place comes with home field advantage in next month’s semifinals which, for the Thorns, would mean staying in Portland throughout the postseason.
- Chicago is right on the Thorns’ heels, though. A win on Saturday for the Red Stars would vault the team above Portland and, depending on Orlando’s result in North Carolina, potentially into third place. Sitting fifth, now, albeit with a game in hand on the Pride, Chicago needs something from Saturday’s match to keep their playoff plans on course.
- For their part, Portland enters the match with the league’s best form, having taken 12 points in their last five matches while moving into the most-manageable part of their schedule. Games against Chicago and Seattle (to close the season) will prove significant obstacles, but both of those contests are at home, while additional games against Sky Blue (home) and Washington (road) provide ample opportunity to make up ground on the Reign.
- The injury report is trending up for the Thorns, too; at least, relatively so. The losses of Meg Morris and Katherine Reynolds are significant blows, but compared to the balancing act the team has had to do for most of the season, the squad’s current ailments are practically manageable. Every other player should be available come Saturday’s kickoff.
- That means the full depth of Portland’s roster will be at Mark Parsons’ disposal. Caitlin Foord, having made her first two Thorns appearances over the last fortnight, gives the team an international-caliber talent in reserve. The same goes for Andressinha, and while it’s unclear who of Ellie Carpenter or Midge Purce will start at right back, the other will give the Thorns the option of bringing one of the league’s most-dangerous fullbacks off the bench. This might be more than the NWSL’s hottest team. Thanks to this new health, it might also be its deepest.