Bay v Racing Pre Match Thoughts
Courtesy USA Today Sports Images
Racing continues a streak of matches against teams competing for a playoff spot. At this point that list includes just about every team from Chicago to Utah in the table. Houston seems to be imploding/exploding depending on your perspective.
I think we need to say at this point in the season that only a 2-goal or more lead in a match for Racing is one that should be considered somewhat comfortable. It definitely isn’t safe, but it would be a start. All of the leads given up earlier in the season loom large over these last eight matches. Sometimes the officiating is going to be abysmal, and it is very possible that you will lose in those situations. Leaving things to chance never seems to work out in Racing’s favor. There could be hundreds of reasons for that as well as absolutely no reasons other than the randomness of the league. Racing has not kept a clean sheet against NWSL competition since June 7th and since that was the Dash they only technically qualify. To win any of these matches, Racing will likely need to score multiple goals and a minimum of 3 should probably be the target. That need should dictate style, Kaitlyn Whiteside mentioned on the most recent BTRD podcast something that I noticed too. Racing deep in its own half early in matches lacks a sense of urgency. That wouldn’t be such an issue if Racing was built to win 1-0. It wasn’t built that way to start the season, and it definitely isn’t now.
I am still bullish on Racing’s chances, but I am less bullish if they don’t get it done with a match or two to spare. The team needs momentum after a tough loss, and if they don’t start to build it soon, I am afraid that they will run out of runway. Marissa DiGrande has done nothing to lose her position, but she isn’t DeMelo and Sav needs to drop back to the midfield to let a more natural forward play on the wing once she returns from suspension. If the front line isn’t Kanu/Balcer/Beckie to start in after Sav returns, I wonder what is preventing that from happening. Racing rolled the dice during the window, so I don’t know why there should be any more hesitation to use all of the ammunition that they acquired. Your 4 best proven attackers should be on the pitch if at all possible and as of this moment they are Kanu, Balcer, Beckie and DeMelo. Racing needs goals. They need them early and this is the best way to do it in my opinion. Sears and Fischer both work off of the bench.
