Gotham 1 Racing 1 Post Match Thoughts
Courtesy ISI Photos
I make no apologies for my previous post. I almost never pick a picture before I write a blog entry, but on my previous post match analysis, I did. It was a raw, emotional entry. To close out the season however, I am removing the kid gloves. Now that the first season is over, the expansion label comes off.
Don't misconstrue me. My lavender tinted glasses remain intact. The kid gloves are coming off for the rest of the league.
Put simply…Racing are coming for you.
They are coming for your points. Racing has now recovered points in an away match, and only recovering the full 3 remain on their to do list. If you think you can pencil in an easy 3 points for your home match against Racing next year, think again, Racing will go home with all 3. Forget about points at the Fam. It is a fortress.
They are coming for your players. Almost every current NWSL player has now gotten to see the best stadium in the NWSL and the best facilities. When the CBA gets passed with surely some sort of free agency included, Louisville will be a top destination.
They are coming for your respect. By the end of next season, teams will dread seeing the name “Racing” on the schedule. The other teams will know that win, lose or draw, Racing is going to fight for the full 90 minutes. By year 3 that respect will turn to fear.
And then following that, they are coming for your trophies…all of your trophies. They will fight tooth and nail for cups, shields and championships. Other teams might as well not even bother with trophy cabinets.
How will they do this, the doubters might ask. They will do it through identity. The identity forged in this inaugural is one of a team who will never quit. So many times this team could have packed it in. They lost one of their best players on a questionable foul. They went through losing streaks, losing a coach, and decisions on league rules that seemed to directly spit in their faces. None of this broke them. It made them stronger. It is true that this team will lose players and gain players in the off-season, but an identity is forged on your crest. That crest has an identity. One of my favorite football quotes comes from Arsenal great Tony Adams, “Play for the name on the front of the shirt, and they will remember the name on the back.” I will remember the name of every player who donned a Racing uniform this year. Each in their own way have forged the crest that will soon strike fear in the hearts of opponents.
So let it be said, Racing are coming.
“They are so young.”
Racing are coming.
“They don't have any star players.”
Racing are coming.
“No one wants to play in Louisville, Kentucky.”
Racing are coming…and they’re coming soon.
I can't wait for next season!
