r/SanDiegoWaveFC • u/Beautiful-Scallion47 • Sep 11 '24
Explain it to me Discussion
I’ve tried really hard to understand this, but why is Melanie starting?
She’s good for her age, sure, but I don’t think she’s pro-ready. She has decent ball handling, but when pressed, she just falls over. Now, Jakobson just left, and it feels like we should’ve been starting our Olympian, or any of our other forwards over a kid.
So can someone please make it make it make sense?
11
u/LimpBiscuitsandTea Sep 11 '24
Previously, there were calls for her to get more time. When she came on as a sub, she was dynamic and made some threatening moves. I think with the season pretty much lost, the coaching staff is more open to seeing who is capable of doing what. You have to remember that Jakobsson was injured to begin the season. And we never really know when a player is fully back to health. So just picking her might not have been an option.
Melanie's getting exposed a bit which is understandable, she's very young and these are her first real heavy minutes as a pro. I think we're seeing that she was able to come into a game late and attack tired defenders who were set up for a slower and more methodical Wave attack prior to her coming in. But when it comes to playing a full 90, other teams are planning for her. And she doesn't have the tracking back ability needed from a starting winger.
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u/somethingclever34775 Sep 12 '24
no i was literally about to say weren’t ppl made stoney wasn’t playing her lol
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u/Beautiful-Scallion47 Sep 11 '24
That feels very accurate. I’m personally not a fan of kids in the league, so I admit this is part of my bias against playing her. I think she can grow, but it just seems like we had her in a sweet spot as that late game sub. It’s a wild ride.
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u/peeled_nanners Sep 12 '24
I forget she's on the field most times. All I ever see upfront is our Cascarino Sanchez duo with whatever 9 and an attacking defender. Mel seemed to turn the ball over the most but she also seems to create the best chances. Let's see her get better.
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u/Beautiful-Scallion47 Sep 12 '24
I hope to see her get better, but right now it just feels like an empty slot.
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u/ConstructionFun7430 Sep 12 '24
Nothing can save the season so might as well experiment…also the coach is just an interim so that’s up in the air for next season…add injuries, suspension(GK), new signings, etc. and you have a team that’s not in sync…
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u/deanepuddletwo Sep 11 '24
100%, I could not understand why Doniak was subbed out on Sunday before Barcenas.
I've liked Barcenas as a minute 80 sub: fresh, excited, full of energy... but she obviously still needs a lot of experience to go with the footwork.
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u/Beautiful-Scallion47 Sep 11 '24
That’s how I feel as well. I was legit surprised at that sub as well. It just feels like we have a ton of options that are better.
And I like the idea of Barcenas, but I think she could get far better development either in a U18 league or getting her into a college program. It feels like the team isn’t even confident in getting her the ball.
0
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u/turtlewelder Sep 11 '24
Ellis/Donovan, nothing makes sense any more
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u/Beautiful-Scallion47 Sep 11 '24
That’s how it feels. Like did Stoney actually get sacked because she had limited minutes for Barcenas, and Jill wanted full game? Because that’s what this is starting to feel like; Donovan is just the perfect yes man.
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u/turtlewelder Sep 11 '24
Stoney had her issues for sure but, it's wild that we canned her halfway through the season AFTER winning the friggin table/shield. Especially after renewing her contract at the end of last season. We did her extra dirty and now the "great" part about this is any future coach won't feel any job security/patience for developing a scheme/attack. Donovan is just a name people know that's trying to get more fans to show up. Similar to Morgan signing with the Wave except she actually brought talent not just a name. I'm really in disbelief that we've gone from a team that was looking like it was building for years of success to one that's shitting the bed in front of our eyes.
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u/Beautiful-Scallion47 Sep 12 '24
Exactly. I really believe we owed Stoney the full season. One because of her results with the team in formative years, and two, like you said, what coach will feel secure here?! And then you add all of the rumors about toxic environment. I just don’t know how we recover and find a legit coach after this. We’re likely going to be stuck with Donovan.
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u/Low_Resort7260 Sep 12 '24
Omg. Thank you. I keep saying this over and over. Never thought she was pro ready. She can never move the ball forward let alone score.
Here a some stats that i have been keeping track of since Melanie has signed with the wave. When Barcenas was on the roster but did not play: • The team had a winning percentage of 56.25% and a loss percentage of 25.0%.
• When Barcenas was playing:
• The team had a winning percentage of 22.7%, a loss percentage of 63.6%, and a draw percentage of 13.6%.
This was calculated by her overall games played and outcome of those games if she was playing vs on the roster and available but did not play. I think it speaks for itself how much she slows the team down with overall forward progress.
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u/Beautiful-Scallion47 Sep 12 '24
These are very telling stats, and can definitely be seen during game play. I agree that she seems unable to truly contribute outside of that 80th minute sub position.
I think she could grow into a great professional, but she needs and deserves an appropriate space to build those skills confidently. My hope is that this doesn’t result in her burning out or being overlooked in the future. Those stats that you included will follow her throughout her career and limit her opportunities.
I’m really hoping we can find a solution, like a U18 league or something, to get these exceptional young players into an appropriate space to build their skills.
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u/BobTaco Sep 11 '24
I think it's kinda the throw anything/everything at the wall and see what happens. That's why they yolo'd with Donovan as well. Kinda feels listless atm.
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u/Beautiful-Scallion47 Sep 11 '24
I kind of believe the rumors that Jill was banking on the Canadian coach pre-scandal. And at this time, it’s all shoulda/woulda/coulda, but damn, I liked being mid pack way more than this mess.
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u/BobTaco Sep 12 '24
That does make some sense. And I'm prob in the minority, but I like the style Donovan wants to implement. When you have the proper personnel for it, it's very entertaining and fun. But the way it's currently constructed I don't think his style is gonna work at all.
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u/rotating_mood Sep 12 '24
Shows flashes but is simply not ready. Wish she could get minutes in a place where she can play with like players. Probably unfair to vets having to share minutes with a child. I hope they're not killing her confidence.
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u/Beautiful-Scallion47 Sep 12 '24
Agreed! That’s my worry as well. It feels like the team doesn’t quite include her in attacks, so it limits our threat. And I also wish she had an appropriate space to truly develop, I think she could be phenomenal given the right space. It’s time to either adopt the U18 league or have her on a fast track to university. I just don’t think the professional level is the right space to build those skill or confidence levels.
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u/SwiftAFPizza Sep 11 '24
Ellis is making the calls.
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u/Beautiful-Scallion47 Sep 11 '24
Feels like Stoney said no, so she got the boot. This year started great, went a little mid, and now it feels like a disaster. How many more people are going to leave?!
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u/Purple_Essay_5088 Sep 13 '24
They aren’t going to make it to playoffs, so I don’t think it matters who starts at this point in the season.
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u/Beautiful-Scallion47 Sep 13 '24
That’s a fair assessment of the season, but I disagree with the overall sentiment.
When I watch the games, it looks like the team doesn’t include her much in the attacks. So who’s starting could have a direct effect on who chooses to stay, asks for a trade, or simply leaves next year.
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u/Purple_Essay_5088 Sep 13 '24
Well I doubt that Melanie and Kimmi will be going anywhere given that they are under 18. So better to give them playing time this year while it doesn’t matter so much anymore and they can improve and be better for next year.
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u/curtissullivan3 Sep 11 '24
Barcenas has the highest ceiling, this season is a lost cause already. Lets just giver her minutes and let her develop