Courage v Racing -1

Welcome to my first proper post of the season! We are dangerously close to being able to talk about some actual soccer (note: posts may only contain around 25% actual soccer coverage). I am not much for reading previews, so I don’t write them. As a reminder and if by some bizarre reason you are new to this space, my “minus one” posts are really just an excuse for me to write something and make sure I don’t get my media pass revoked. My long con has now entered year 6 and expanded to getting to sit on the pitch for Lou City home matchers, weather and Racing duties permitting (Elizabeth always has to be on the pitch as the Fleur-de-lis FC official photographer: rain/sleet/snow/extreme heat/disgusting odor).

I maintain a virtual radio silence from December to February because the offseason doesn’t really interest me. I follow the signings, but that’s about it. I come out of my cave just in time for NWSL kit release day (a kit ranking post is now pretty common, but when I did my first one in 2022 it was pretty ambitious and rare. Yes, I do have a very healthy ego). I tend not to read anything beyond the press releases from the club and avoid anything with the words “offseason grade” in them like the plague. Who among us doesn’t sit down with our boss at the beginning of each year and get a performance review based on how he or she thinks we will perform in the coming year? As you process the ridiculousness of that previous sentence let me say that I don’t judge those who write and consume those types of things. There is an audience for them, it just doesn’t include me.

I assume that if you look back into the history of sports journalism (I can’t be bothered) that you will find that the concept of a “preview” and its first cousin, a “prediction” probably came about when newspapers figured out that gamblers might drop a spare nickel to get some sort of inside scoop. I don’t gamble. I am terrible at it. I never win at the track. However, I do find myself part of the “Big Preview Industry” as I regularly show up to ask questions of Racing players and coaches whenever there is “media availability”. New to Racing (and Lou City) this year is a designated interview room. This keeps everyone out of the elements when necessary. There has also been an emphasis on making sure that the consumers of the pre-match interviews can hear the questions being asked, so now you get to hear my stupid voice as I ask my dumbass questions. You’re welcome.

Lo, Emma and Bev are used to my dumbass questions, so they usually have good answers. You can listen here and here if you are interested and make your own judgements. The only piece of color that I might add this that the vibe seemed relaxed. Aren’t you glad that you came here for that type of analysis?

Of course, you cannot escape any piece of mine about the Courage without me reminding you that Cary, NC is an anonymous city in an overrated state. If Neil Tennant arrived in Cary and asked “Hay una discoteca por acqui?”, I am sure he would be greeted with a confused look, so it’s appropriate that Racing’s Disco Kits won’t be making a debut here. Also, the Courage’s stadium is an absolute dump. I am contractually obliged to say that the playing surface is nice and that it drains water quickly.

For everything we might think we know about Racing and this match at this point, we don’t actually know anything which is why sports is fun. Whatever starting 11 you are picturing in your head is surely to be wrong (not because I know anything, but because I have seen Racing’s collective fanbase be wrong so many times even when it’s a no change lineup from the previous match). Don’t worry, we’ll final have some evidence to judge come Saturday evening.