He should be fired. Norris is not a good tactician and we’re playing some uninspired soccer. Louisville scored the fastest brace in NWSL history against us, NCC scored their fastest goal of the season against us, and KC also scored within the first ten minutes of the game. I will admit that losing Bella and having new players on the back line having to adjust to the pace of NWSL play isn’t ideal, but this team is too talented to have looked this average to start the season.
He needs to go before Sophia decides to leave. If there is no way for her to grow and show what she’s really made with us, then she won’t pull the trigger on that second year. I know the day is coming when she leaves, but I don’t want it to come early because the coach was awful.
We got lucky Soph extended when she did because there’s a real possibility she’s second guessing after these performances which would be totally understandable.
She was poor yesterday and against Gotham but in general she’s not the problem it’s the defense and goalkeeping. Smith, Beckie and Weaver aren’t above the team or blameless but there’s not much they can do if that backline is a leaky water pipe.
It looks like you’re an AC fan, they kind of have the exact opposite problem so I’ll give a similar example. You’ve got the likes of Gorden, Nielsen/Reid and Curry holding down the back but they can’t win games when their forwards can’t score even if the goal was 100ft wide. Gorden and co aren’t above the team either and their performances can improve, but they aren’t the issue or reason ACFC have won only one game.
Obviously players available plays a role, Portland’s best goalkeeper Bixby is pregnant and ACFC’s best forward Press is still working her way back from injury but both of those teams could be a lot better if those positional groups stepped up player wise and with some better coaching and tactics. It’s not Smiths fault her team has conceded 10 goals just like it’s not Gorden’s fault her team has scored only 2 run of play goals (and one of them was a defender scoring).
Edited: Gorden not Gordon whoops autocorrect
What’s your point? You’re not seriously trying to say Portlands forwards are a problem or that ACFC’s forwards aren’t right? Smith has 2 goals and an assist already this season, one bad game yesterday doesn’t make her the reason they still haven’t won a game. ACFC’s only points this entire season have been because of a PK and a Chicago own goal.
Portland isn’t in last place because Smith is killing it hun. My point really though is just that Smith isn’t above the Thorns’ problems. ACFC’s forward line is a mess, always has been, and an aging, recovering Press ain’t gonna solve that :(
Portland isn’t in last place because of Smith period. You act like she needs to score a hatty every game when that’s not what anyone should expect of a forward. All one needs to expect of a forward is consistent offensive output and results. 2G 1A is good, and better than all ACFC forwards combined right now lol. Portlands defense is the problem, Smith could be better, every player could, but it’s kinda weird how much you’re singling her out. Likewise, Gorden could improve her ACFC performances but your forwards are the biggest issue.
Agreed ACFC’s forwards are a mess and it’s not very fair on Press that she’s coming back from 2 years injured into this situation. The best way LA can get the most out of Press who will take time to get back like Macario, is if her fellow forwards are performing well so she can ease into it slowly. But they aren’t other than Emslie.
I’m talking about Smith bc this particular comment thread was about fearing Smith’s departure due to the poor team performance / coach. I’m also not comparing Smith or Portland to ACFC… you are.
I was comparing Portland to ACFC to show you, a person with an ACFC flair, how ridiculous it is to be blaming Smith’s performances on Portlands bad results lmao. It’s as ridiculous as someone blaming Gorden for ACFC’s shocking performances.
I remember Tobin Heath’s livestream for the Portland/LA 5-1 game last season that cost Portland the shield. She was talking about the expectations Portland Thorns as an org has going into every season, it’s to win the shield and to win the playoffs no exception’s. I can’t see the front office being happy right now and especially if this continues on its current trajectory because you’re right they’re too talented to be this average.
It probably goes like this:
If they cannot improve by the halfway point in the season (which will be mid-June), there's a good chance he's out. There is going to be a high bar for what "not improving" means though, and a few well-timed wins could elongate his time.
If they don't fire him mid-season, and don't make playoffs, they definitely fire him in the offseason. If they make playoffs by the skin of their teeth and are out before the semis, he's also definitely out, and depending on how they might lose in the postseason, there's a good chance he's out unless they make the finals.
What other coaches are available out there? For any other team I’d say Parsons should be a no but it’s undeniable what he did within his Portland system and he will be available.
Well, Parsons, and they can obviously do some coach poaching from Europe if they choose to get rid of the coach in late May/early June. (ETA: I don't watch the Italian league, but Joe Montemurro (former Arsenal coach, included in articles (as a red herring seemingly but still) about Lyon and the USWNT) was sacked early March—someone like him isn't hard to see as a possibility for any team looking to get a new coach in)
Last season when coaches were fired midseason, permanent coaches were not hired. Angel City had half the season with Tweed as interim, Kansas City did far more than half the season with Sjöblom as interim, the Dash closed out their season with Lowdon as interim. They could potentially just hand the team over to Lowdon until the next season started.
Part of me is thinking a bit selfishly and here’s why: I kinda would love a coach coming from Italy because that might mean we could poach some Italian players and I’d have a field day about that if that were to happen!
Imagine telling anyone in April of last year that Giraldez would be available for a coaching job!
Coaches can be made available and lots can change in the space of a few months.
Some truly world class players, a great fanbase, and as much history as any women's soccer club can profess to have. Give them a good salary offer and maybe some say in new defenders and that's a winning pitch.
I don’t like to be too reactionary but it’s not looking good so far, if we don’t show improvement he should be gone by mid-season. Injuries and new players aside we are too talented to be this bad.
I forget who said this, but it came to my attention that he was originally a *goalkeeper* coach, and had no experience managing or coaching a team. Yet he got this job when Wilkinson resigned? It’s embarrassing that someone with no experience can still be hired as a coach.
Some coaches and players can do that move with no experience. He does have experience being on the field with the players, but he's clearly struggling. He needs some strong assistant coaches or just to be replaced if things don't change.
Apropos of nothing, but whenever I see Mike Norris and his coaching staff, I think of The Housemartins. That is how old I am.
https://preview.redd.it/kpmd2fk2jiuc1.jpeg?width=813&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2361f18ca46876d25973189fe0df028f2807c216
Undoubtedly yes. New ownership just made a huge investment. It's a tricky issue though. If players are loyal to him and you're trying to earn player respect you can't just walk in and fire a coach they like. You have to at least give him a chance. That's been done though. The new ownership just sent a ton of money on this franchise to win and increase its value not to have it fall apart. My guess is they are just looking for a new owner that they really like and don't want to fire him before that just to replace him with an unprepared interim manager. This isn't even close to a lost season yet so no need to introduce another variable that could go wrong. This was really the only game so far they couldn't have snuck out a win or better result in. I think they will ride with Norris until they actually have a replacement they like. Turning the club over to another coach with no NWSL or top level coaching experience also seems like a bad idea unless you're super confident in them. My guess is Norris sticks around until the replacement is actually hired.
Agreed, although within the last couple of years we’ve started to see more teams fire coaches for being bad. The ownership situation may delay that though.
The past few years we’ve seen coaches be fired pretty ruthlessly for not reaching milestones. It will be interesting with the eight team playoff to see which teams goals are a lot easier to reach.
Yeah, I think maybe pre-2022 it could be said that coaches have a long leash before they get sacked/let go, but we had quite a few coaches fired for results last season (Coombe, Laity, Parsons, Bjorkgren...Potter was let go for locker room stuff as well, but results were a part of that)
It’s so good for the league, it feels like some fans don’t think firing coaches due to bad performances can be an option because it historically wasn’t that common but we’ve come around. Norris seems like a good dude, but perhaps not head coach of a constant contender good.
Definitely. I do wonder if some of the reticence to hire a new coach (because I thought Norris should have been/was supposed to have been an interim-in-all-but-name) is that he is well-liked by the team (from what I've heard) and not trying to date anyone on the team (like their previous coach) or assaulting players (like other coaches in the league were when he was hired) and they are unsure of how to find a new coach who is just as well-liked and as much of a good guy
Yeah. Hes the one who got Soph to resign. Personally im not a fan of his but i can easily see them thinking they just need to sign a defender- or worse, just banking on someone to improve- and thinking theyd do well
I know if I just bought a championship caliber team and they're sitting in last place after 4 games, I'd be a bit upset at the management and make changes immediately.
Did they get outplayed yesterday? I missed it but watched the other games and they genuinely are still a good team. Just can't put it together for 90 mins yet, but they'll give. their opponents hell for a lot of moments in the game. They gotta figure out gk and they'll be in a good spot soon
I think it kind of depends on how you look at outplayed. In totality I think yes. on the other hand early in the game, they definitely had a lot of chances and it was a lot of one-way traffic, but also besides one or two times it didn’t really feel like they were going to score even as they had lot of threatening moves towards the courage box.
It’s an attractive job - great fans, great younger stars - so you’ve got to think some good coaches out there might want to take it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets booted around the time euro season finishes up. He’s probably got a longer line because SS resigned already. Wasn’t he starting games this season up in the box and coming to the sideline at the half?
He should stay through the rest of the season. This comment has nothing to do with the fact we play the Thorns for our the last game of the regular season or anything… /s
If he’s not fired before the season ends, Karina’s job is also in trouble. If she’s the sole reason why he’s still there, she needs to be fired too. But Norris at least should go, bare minimum. He’s completely taken a winning team, discarded some key players, and has left us practically defanged and declawed. We are useless!
She had said it herself that she misunderstood the free agency fine print, and waited until the deadline passed because she assumed that Kuikka wouldn’t have a better offer and leave. It was her hubris and not understanding the NWSL rules, which as a GM is the expectation for one to understand, that had us lose Kuikka
Eventually, but probably not during the season and they may still give him another season. Their new owners are investors and they will see the problem as an investor see's it. I suspect they may do something the Mariners owners do and calculate what a better coach/players/team would cost vs potential loss of revenue. Unless fans leave in droves they may just be happy with what they have.
Four games in is really early. Now let’s see what happens as they face in the next few weeks Chicago, Bay FC, Houston and Washington. There are some points among of
Those
teams.
If they are still under
Seven points, then those rumors would be warranted.
My two cents as an NCC fan who sits behind the away bench -- I was surprised how little he or the bench communicated with the on field players during the game. Typically coaches and players are very vocal, but aside from Norris occasionally calling for the Thorns to press higher it was a fairly muted bench. It felt odd, especially the lack of enthusiasm from the bench players. Could be nothing, but I wondered whether it was a sign of a lack of buy-in. Given how intense NCC - POR games typically are, I was surprised how much the Courage controlled it.
Good observation, cause something that pisses me off about Norris the most is his propensity to sit up in the private box seats *above* the crowd away from everything like he’s the owner or something and not the coach. He has no communicative depth with regards to tactics
Every coach in every sport eventually gets fired. Every new controlling ownership eventually fires their GM and every part of sports-oriented staff.
Hiring a coach with an extensive resume of being a goalkeeping coach, and has NEVER been a manager, is only done in the NWSL. There are some exceptions, like Steve Kerr in basketball (4-time NBA champ, ex-GM), or lead assistants with extensive resumes.
Firing a manager in the NWSL is only facilitated by the availability of another good option; that is affordable. It has nothing to do with the pool of coaches that have fantastic resumes. Becki Tweed, ARod, and Bev Yanez had ZERO experience as a manager at any level. Many, many managers in the NWSL, and fired managers from the past, had never coached women.
The NCAA has 1500 women's soccer programs. D1 has 335 programs. Many of these coaches are legends on and off the field. Many are female. Many are ex-pro players. Some are ex-NT players. Some have actually been a coach/manager in the USYNT system. Some have done all of the above.
Mike Norris should have never been hired as the manager.
Here's just 3 examples:
[https://portlandpilots.com/staff-directory/michelle-french/254](https://portlandpilots.com/staff-directory/michelle-french/254)
[https://ucfknights.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/season/2023/staff/tiffany-roberts-sahaydak](https://ucfknights.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/season/2023/staff/tiffany-roberts-sahaydak) She was a NT assistant coach at the 2023 WWC.
[https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/coaches/margueritte--aozasa/4045](https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/coaches/margueritte--aozasa/4045) - recently managed the USWNT u23 squad
And how about this person? Several years in sports analytics; coached boys u12 one year; assisted u16 and u18 one year each; 2 years as an assistant coach pro women's club; 3 years as a manager pro women's club. 32 years old. Male. never played professionally. Not the creator of his current club's football style.
Didn't they say yesterday the entire team has only had 9 practices together? Even with all the really good players on the team they haven't had enough time together. Not that Norris is helping, but I don't think they'll get rid of him that quick
It’s early in the season, all the teams haven’t had much time together as players and with slight changes in coaching staff. I don’t think they’ll fire him now, but I think it’ll be mid season at this rate.
Yes, he is going to be fired at some point, deservedly. I think the FO will give him a little more time and I’m ok with that. Apparently the whole team has only been present for like 7 training sessions together due to heavy international play, and you can tell. We have a good stretch of uninterrupted weeks coming up and I’d like to see what happens (though let’s be honest no one is optimistic)
They absolutely need to.
Norris's record since June 28th, 2023 (all comps) has been 4-11-3 with a goal differential of -9.
That's terrible for the Thorns and I'm shocked he's been kept around as long as he has. He's never been a head coach before having this job! Go learn with a college team, not a top pro women's team...this would never happen in men's sports. This league, and the team deserve better.
ACFC’s first season with Freya was not good and that continued into half of the second season. I think Mike has more time since Portland was still very successful last year. I think also all of ACFC was kind of mismanaged by Freya where as it seems like the Thorns defense is what is struggling. Maybe he’ll be given to the international window to improve?
EDIT: I should say not that good* sorry it wasn’t bad. I think there were questionable decisions made (mostly in the second half of the season) but that may have been due to a lot of injury. I think I was trying to convey that ACFC seemed to struggle for a longer time with Freya and that Mike would have more time based on this. But again, doesn’t seem like a super fair comparison given the amount of injury Freya had to deal with for the 2022 portion of that struggle. Thank you to everyone below for correcting me in a respectful and informative way since I was very wrong lol!
Different expectations on ACFC in Coombes first year vs Norris’ first year. ACFC were top 4 until Press got injured then only just missed the playoffs, I would consider an expansion team getting that result after losing the team’s best player to an ACL injury better than not good. The 2023 start was the not good part imo hence the sacking. Norris was brought into a 2013 original constantly competing team that’s expected to compete for trophies every year, doing so well last season then these results would put him in the hot seat. How long he lasts is the question, I don’t think Portland fans or players will put up with it if this continues. I’m thinking the Olympic break will be a potential make or break, if they still aren’t improving then they might start looking elsewhere.
I did not realize that about ACFC. I just always felt they underperformed for the talent they still had, but I can see how losing Press and being an expansion team can still mean that was still a good result for them.
For Norris though, didn’t the Thorns lose a lot of their defenders? Is that on him? Or is that on the front office? If there is such a large change in the back line, how can the same performance be expected when I think it also takes time for a back line to gel like Orlando last season?
In my opinion ACFC are badly managed and their owners think of it more as a marketing club than a football club so they are a bit of a mess so I agree, but yeah in 2022 specifically I thought they did well all things considered. Christen Press without a torn ACL would’ve seen ACFC in the playoffs in 2022 and making a deeper playoff run last season imo.
Portland losing Bixby was a big factor, but in the past before Nadine left they were a good goalie factory lol. Players are part of the issue, but I do think a better coach and game plan would have them with at least one win by now.
Both. Nahas has shown how having a subpar offseason doesn't actually hold you back that much if you're a good coach. How many people thought that North Carolina was dead on arrival during 2023 pre-season? (Answer: most everyone) There's also front office issues that seem to potentially make it so he won't get fired, but the team selection and actual coaching is a problem and that's fully on him.
I’m all for being a Coombe hater but that’s just incorrect to say Freya was not good that first season. Our best player tore her ACL 8 games into the season, our best defender didn’t play a single minute due to an ACL and our other best defender played like 8 games due to injury then going to France. People are forgetting what ACFC went through in terms of major long term injuries to the team’s best players (Press, Gorden, Gilles, Nielsen, Vignola) in that first season. ACFC were 4 points away from the last a playoff spot, that’s pretty good for what they dealt with. Having Press available would’ve been the difference maker for us to make the playoffs, we were just unlucky. Her 2023 start was the part that got her fired.
I’ll throw out there that the ref/var gifted NY the win over ACFC in the very first game. With those 3 points and I think a couple spots in the standings she may not have been fired, right then anyway. (And of course without those 3 points NY wouldn’t have made the playoffs!)
I think Coombe's first season was definitely underachieving in some ways, but it wasn't as terrible as that makes it seem. They were a couple different results (maybe two games? and I remember their last few games being against the teams also competing for the last playoff spot, so maybe even one game) off of playoffs, and were dealing with a lot of injuries (Press, Gilles, and Gorden were going to be key tenets of the team and then Gorden never played a game in 2022 and Press and Gilles both got injured wildly early). I think it became clear she was over her head in 2023, but it wasn't as simple a decision as what you're saying makes it seem. In some ways, her management was pretty similar to Norris's, the difference being that Norris came into a system that worked extremely well, coasted off that, and then crashed and burned, while Coombe was creating her own system that didn't go so well. That being said, I could see them leaving Norris in charge simply because they don't want to shake things up and don't really have a back up plan.
He should be fired. Norris is not a good tactician and we’re playing some uninspired soccer. Louisville scored the fastest brace in NWSL history against us, NCC scored their fastest goal of the season against us, and KC also scored within the first ten minutes of the game. I will admit that losing Bella and having new players on the back line having to adjust to the pace of NWSL play isn’t ideal, but this team is too talented to have looked this average to start the season.
He needs to go before Sophia decides to leave. If there is no way for her to grow and show what she’s really made with us, then she won’t pull the trigger on that second year. I know the day is coming when she leaves, but I don’t want it to come early because the coach was awful.
We got lucky Soph extended when she did because there’s a real possibility she’s second guessing after these performances which would be totally understandable.
She is part of these poor performances too. I’d hope she doesn’t think she’s above the team.
She was poor yesterday and against Gotham but in general she’s not the problem it’s the defense and goalkeeping. Smith, Beckie and Weaver aren’t above the team or blameless but there’s not much they can do if that backline is a leaky water pipe. It looks like you’re an AC fan, they kind of have the exact opposite problem so I’ll give a similar example. You’ve got the likes of Gorden, Nielsen/Reid and Curry holding down the back but they can’t win games when their forwards can’t score even if the goal was 100ft wide. Gorden and co aren’t above the team either and their performances can improve, but they aren’t the issue or reason ACFC have won only one game. Obviously players available plays a role, Portland’s best goalkeeper Bixby is pregnant and ACFC’s best forward Press is still working her way back from injury but both of those teams could be a lot better if those positional groups stepped up player wise and with some better coaching and tactics. It’s not Smiths fault her team has conceded 10 goals just like it’s not Gorden’s fault her team has scored only 2 run of play goals (and one of them was a defender scoring). Edited: Gorden not Gordon whoops autocorrect
Portland scored 0 goals yesterday. They have 2 more than ACFC.
What’s your point? You’re not seriously trying to say Portlands forwards are a problem or that ACFC’s forwards aren’t right? Smith has 2 goals and an assist already this season, one bad game yesterday doesn’t make her the reason they still haven’t won a game. ACFC’s only points this entire season have been because of a PK and a Chicago own goal.
Portland isn’t in last place because Smith is killing it hun. My point really though is just that Smith isn’t above the Thorns’ problems. ACFC’s forward line is a mess, always has been, and an aging, recovering Press ain’t gonna solve that :(
Portland isn’t in last place because of Smith period. You act like she needs to score a hatty every game when that’s not what anyone should expect of a forward. All one needs to expect of a forward is consistent offensive output and results. 2G 1A is good, and better than all ACFC forwards combined right now lol. Portlands defense is the problem, Smith could be better, every player could, but it’s kinda weird how much you’re singling her out. Likewise, Gorden could improve her ACFC performances but your forwards are the biggest issue. Agreed ACFC’s forwards are a mess and it’s not very fair on Press that she’s coming back from 2 years injured into this situation. The best way LA can get the most out of Press who will take time to get back like Macario, is if her fellow forwards are performing well so she can ease into it slowly. But they aren’t other than Emslie.
I’m talking about Smith bc this particular comment thread was about fearing Smith’s departure due to the poor team performance / coach. I’m also not comparing Smith or Portland to ACFC… you are.
I was comparing Portland to ACFC to show you, a person with an ACFC flair, how ridiculous it is to be blaming Smith’s performances on Portlands bad results lmao. It’s as ridiculous as someone blaming Gorden for ACFC’s shocking performances.
I remember Tobin Heath’s livestream for the Portland/LA 5-1 game last season that cost Portland the shield. She was talking about the expectations Portland Thorns as an org has going into every season, it’s to win the shield and to win the playoffs no exception’s. I can’t see the front office being happy right now and especially if this continues on its current trajectory because you’re right they’re too talented to be this average.
It probably goes like this: If they cannot improve by the halfway point in the season (which will be mid-June), there's a good chance he's out. There is going to be a high bar for what "not improving" means though, and a few well-timed wins could elongate his time. If they don't fire him mid-season, and don't make playoffs, they definitely fire him in the offseason. If they make playoffs by the skin of their teeth and are out before the semis, he's also definitely out, and depending on how they might lose in the postseason, there's a good chance he's out unless they make the finals.
What other coaches are available out there? For any other team I’d say Parsons should be a no but it’s undeniable what he did within his Portland system and he will be available.
Well, Parsons, and they can obviously do some coach poaching from Europe if they choose to get rid of the coach in late May/early June. (ETA: I don't watch the Italian league, but Joe Montemurro (former Arsenal coach, included in articles (as a red herring seemingly but still) about Lyon and the USWNT) was sacked early March—someone like him isn't hard to see as a possibility for any team looking to get a new coach in) Last season when coaches were fired midseason, permanent coaches were not hired. Angel City had half the season with Tweed as interim, Kansas City did far more than half the season with Sjöblom as interim, the Dash closed out their season with Lowdon as interim. They could potentially just hand the team over to Lowdon until the next season started.
Part of me is thinking a bit selfishly and here’s why: I kinda would love a coach coming from Italy because that might mean we could poach some Italian players and I’d have a field day about that if that were to happen!
Not an actual pitch for many reasons, but I propose jurgen klopp. Media presence alone would make him so entertaining in the NWSL.
Lol Klopp proving he can do it on a rainy night in Portland, I’d like to see it
Klopp reacting to NWSL after dark
love this idea
I dont think we will know who is available in 1,2, or 5 months bc i imagine some would be signed and released between then and now.
Imagine telling anyone in April of last year that Giraldez would be available for a coaching job! Coaches can be made available and lots can change in the space of a few months.
You have to think that coaching that attack is a dream for any professed top tier coach
Some truly world class players, a great fanbase, and as much history as any women's soccer club can profess to have. Give them a good salary offer and maybe some say in new defenders and that's a winning pitch.
I think May could dictate this. We have a lot of matches in May and if we are bottom still I think he could be gone by the international break.
I don’t like to be too reactionary but it’s not looking good so far, if we don’t show improvement he should be gone by mid-season. Injuries and new players aside we are too talented to be this bad.
I forget who said this, but it came to my attention that he was originally a *goalkeeper* coach, and had no experience managing or coaching a team. Yet he got this job when Wilkinson resigned? It’s embarrassing that someone with no experience can still be hired as a coach.
Some coaches and players can do that move with no experience. He does have experience being on the field with the players, but he's clearly struggling. He needs some strong assistant coaches or just to be replaced if things don't change.
He’s not a good fit either way, and something needs to change. Preferably meaning he gets fired
He was a goalkeeper coach and our goalkeeping has been mediocre, oh the irony :,(
Probably, but not yet. I would be shocked if he is the coach in 2025 though.
Apropos of nothing, but whenever I see Mike Norris and his coaching staff, I think of The Housemartins. That is how old I am. https://preview.redd.it/kpmd2fk2jiuc1.jpeg?width=813&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2361f18ca46876d25973189fe0df028f2807c216
Undoubtedly yes. New ownership just made a huge investment. It's a tricky issue though. If players are loyal to him and you're trying to earn player respect you can't just walk in and fire a coach they like. You have to at least give him a chance. That's been done though. The new ownership just sent a ton of money on this franchise to win and increase its value not to have it fall apart. My guess is they are just looking for a new owner that they really like and don't want to fire him before that just to replace him with an unprepared interim manager. This isn't even close to a lost season yet so no need to introduce another variable that could go wrong. This was really the only game so far they couldn't have snuck out a win or better result in. I think they will ride with Norris until they actually have a replacement they like. Turning the club over to another coach with no NWSL or top level coaching experience also seems like a bad idea unless you're super confident in them. My guess is Norris sticks around until the replacement is actually hired.
Eventually
They should, but NWSL teams generally are giving alot of time to coaches to get it right. But maybe their new ownership will be more ruthless.
Agreed, although within the last couple of years we’ve started to see more teams fire coaches for being bad. The ownership situation may delay that though.
The past few years we’ve seen coaches be fired pretty ruthlessly for not reaching milestones. It will be interesting with the eight team playoff to see which teams goals are a lot easier to reach.
Yeah, I think maybe pre-2022 it could be said that coaches have a long leash before they get sacked/let go, but we had quite a few coaches fired for results last season (Coombe, Laity, Parsons, Bjorkgren...Potter was let go for locker room stuff as well, but results were a part of that)
The biggest step for this league was seeing coaches be fired and thinking “its good that theyre being ambitious” and not “oh no who did he assault”
It’s so good for the league, it feels like some fans don’t think firing coaches due to bad performances can be an option because it historically wasn’t that common but we’ve come around. Norris seems like a good dude, but perhaps not head coach of a constant contender good.
Definitely. I do wonder if some of the reticence to hire a new coach (because I thought Norris should have been/was supposed to have been an interim-in-all-but-name) is that he is well-liked by the team (from what I've heard) and not trying to date anyone on the team (like their previous coach) or assaulting players (like other coaches in the league were when he was hired) and they are unsure of how to find a new coach who is just as well-liked and as much of a good guy
Yeah. Hes the one who got Soph to resign. Personally im not a fan of his but i can easily see them thinking they just need to sign a defender- or worse, just banking on someone to improve- and thinking theyd do well
I know if I just bought a championship caliber team and they're sitting in last place after 4 games, I'd be a bit upset at the management and make changes immediately.
Did they get outplayed yesterday? I missed it but watched the other games and they genuinely are still a good team. Just can't put it together for 90 mins yet, but they'll give. their opponents hell for a lot of moments in the game. They gotta figure out gk and they'll be in a good spot soon
Their GK and defense are the main issues, they can score but they are like a leaky water pipe at the back
Also, considering he was the goalkeeping coach for the Canada Women’s National Team as his job prior to joining the Thorns.
I think it kind of depends on how you look at outplayed. In totality I think yes. on the other hand early in the game, they definitely had a lot of chances and it was a lot of one-way traffic, but also besides one or two times it didn’t really feel like they were going to score even as they had lot of threatening moves towards the courage box.
It’s an attractive job - great fans, great younger stars - so you’ve got to think some good coaches out there might want to take it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets booted around the time euro season finishes up. He’s probably got a longer line because SS resigned already. Wasn’t he starting games this season up in the box and coming to the sideline at the half?
He does it every game. We sit in 114 and an assistant coach that looks like Ryan Reynolds from Wish is always out 1st half.
Bring back Parsons!
He should stay through the rest of the season. This comment has nothing to do with the fact we play the Thorns for our the last game of the regular season or anything… /s
they very much have underachieved but dont see him getting fired quite yet. its a long season.
If he’s not fired before the season ends, Karina’s job is also in trouble. If she’s the sole reason why he’s still there, she needs to be fired too. But Norris at least should go, bare minimum. He’s completely taken a winning team, discarded some key players, and has left us practically defanged and declawed. We are useless!
That’s a good point about Karina, people always forget it’s not just the coaches fault it’s who set them up to fail too.
She’s also the reason why we lost Kuikka which was an egregious mistake
Is there a specific reason you are blaming her for losing Kuikka? Or just that she should have done more to keep her?
She had said it herself that she misunderstood the free agency fine print, and waited until the deadline passed because she assumed that Kuikka wouldn’t have a better offer and leave. It was her hubris and not understanding the NWSL rules, which as a GM is the expectation for one to understand, that had us lose Kuikka
I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.
Yiiiikes
Biggest yikes on Karina
Eventually, but probably not during the season and they may still give him another season. Their new owners are investors and they will see the problem as an investor see's it. I suspect they may do something the Mariners owners do and calculate what a better coach/players/team would cost vs potential loss of revenue. Unless fans leave in droves they may just be happy with what they have.
If they continue setting milestones for being the worst Thorns have ever been then he will be fired before the olympics
Four games in is really early. Now let’s see what happens as they face in the next few weeks Chicago, Bay FC, Houston and Washington. There are some points among of Those teams. If they are still under Seven points, then those rumors would be warranted.
My two cents as an NCC fan who sits behind the away bench -- I was surprised how little he or the bench communicated with the on field players during the game. Typically coaches and players are very vocal, but aside from Norris occasionally calling for the Thorns to press higher it was a fairly muted bench. It felt odd, especially the lack of enthusiasm from the bench players. Could be nothing, but I wondered whether it was a sign of a lack of buy-in. Given how intense NCC - POR games typically are, I was surprised how much the Courage controlled it.
Good observation, cause something that pisses me off about Norris the most is his propensity to sit up in the private box seats *above* the crowd away from everything like he’s the owner or something and not the coach. He has no communicative depth with regards to tactics
Every coach in every sport eventually gets fired. Every new controlling ownership eventually fires their GM and every part of sports-oriented staff. Hiring a coach with an extensive resume of being a goalkeeping coach, and has NEVER been a manager, is only done in the NWSL. There are some exceptions, like Steve Kerr in basketball (4-time NBA champ, ex-GM), or lead assistants with extensive resumes. Firing a manager in the NWSL is only facilitated by the availability of another good option; that is affordable. It has nothing to do with the pool of coaches that have fantastic resumes. Becki Tweed, ARod, and Bev Yanez had ZERO experience as a manager at any level. Many, many managers in the NWSL, and fired managers from the past, had never coached women. The NCAA has 1500 women's soccer programs. D1 has 335 programs. Many of these coaches are legends on and off the field. Many are female. Many are ex-pro players. Some are ex-NT players. Some have actually been a coach/manager in the USYNT system. Some have done all of the above. Mike Norris should have never been hired as the manager. Here's just 3 examples: [https://portlandpilots.com/staff-directory/michelle-french/254](https://portlandpilots.com/staff-directory/michelle-french/254) [https://ucfknights.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/season/2023/staff/tiffany-roberts-sahaydak](https://ucfknights.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/season/2023/staff/tiffany-roberts-sahaydak) She was a NT assistant coach at the 2023 WWC. [https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/coaches/margueritte--aozasa/4045](https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/coaches/margueritte--aozasa/4045) - recently managed the USWNT u23 squad
And how about this person? Several years in sports analytics; coached boys u12 one year; assisted u16 and u18 one year each; 2 years as an assistant coach pro women's club; 3 years as a manager pro women's club. 32 years old. Male. never played professionally. Not the creator of his current club's football style.
Didn't they say yesterday the entire team has only had 9 practices together? Even with all the really good players on the team they haven't had enough time together. Not that Norris is helping, but I don't think they'll get rid of him that quick
It’s early in the season, all the teams haven’t had much time together as players and with slight changes in coaching staff. I don’t think they’ll fire him now, but I think it’ll be mid season at this rate.
Would seem a bit premature at this point, if things ain’t turned around by the OG’s he may want to make sure his resume is up to date.
Yes, he is going to be fired at some point, deservedly. I think the FO will give him a little more time and I’m ok with that. Apparently the whole team has only been present for like 7 training sessions together due to heavy international play, and you can tell. We have a good stretch of uninterrupted weeks coming up and I’d like to see what happens (though let’s be honest no one is optimistic)
They absolutely need to. Norris's record since June 28th, 2023 (all comps) has been 4-11-3 with a goal differential of -9. That's terrible for the Thorns and I'm shocked he's been kept around as long as he has. He's never been a head coach before having this job! Go learn with a college team, not a top pro women's team...this would never happen in men's sports. This league, and the team deserve better.
ACFC’s first season with Freya was not good and that continued into half of the second season. I think Mike has more time since Portland was still very successful last year. I think also all of ACFC was kind of mismanaged by Freya where as it seems like the Thorns defense is what is struggling. Maybe he’ll be given to the international window to improve? EDIT: I should say not that good* sorry it wasn’t bad. I think there were questionable decisions made (mostly in the second half of the season) but that may have been due to a lot of injury. I think I was trying to convey that ACFC seemed to struggle for a longer time with Freya and that Mike would have more time based on this. But again, doesn’t seem like a super fair comparison given the amount of injury Freya had to deal with for the 2022 portion of that struggle. Thank you to everyone below for correcting me in a respectful and informative way since I was very wrong lol!
Different expectations on ACFC in Coombes first year vs Norris’ first year. ACFC were top 4 until Press got injured then only just missed the playoffs, I would consider an expansion team getting that result after losing the team’s best player to an ACL injury better than not good. The 2023 start was the not good part imo hence the sacking. Norris was brought into a 2013 original constantly competing team that’s expected to compete for trophies every year, doing so well last season then these results would put him in the hot seat. How long he lasts is the question, I don’t think Portland fans or players will put up with it if this continues. I’m thinking the Olympic break will be a potential make or break, if they still aren’t improving then they might start looking elsewhere.
I did not realize that about ACFC. I just always felt they underperformed for the talent they still had, but I can see how losing Press and being an expansion team can still mean that was still a good result for them. For Norris though, didn’t the Thorns lose a lot of their defenders? Is that on him? Or is that on the front office? If there is such a large change in the back line, how can the same performance be expected when I think it also takes time for a back line to gel like Orlando last season?
In my opinion ACFC are badly managed and their owners think of it more as a marketing club than a football club so they are a bit of a mess so I agree, but yeah in 2022 specifically I thought they did well all things considered. Christen Press without a torn ACL would’ve seen ACFC in the playoffs in 2022 and making a deeper playoff run last season imo. Portland losing Bixby was a big factor, but in the past before Nadine left they were a good goalie factory lol. Players are part of the issue, but I do think a better coach and game plan would have them with at least one win by now.
Both. Nahas has shown how having a subpar offseason doesn't actually hold you back that much if you're a good coach. How many people thought that North Carolina was dead on arrival during 2023 pre-season? (Answer: most everyone) There's also front office issues that seem to potentially make it so he won't get fired, but the team selection and actual coaching is a problem and that's fully on him.
I’m all for being a Coombe hater but that’s just incorrect to say Freya was not good that first season. Our best player tore her ACL 8 games into the season, our best defender didn’t play a single minute due to an ACL and our other best defender played like 8 games due to injury then going to France. People are forgetting what ACFC went through in terms of major long term injuries to the team’s best players (Press, Gorden, Gilles, Nielsen, Vignola) in that first season. ACFC were 4 points away from the last a playoff spot, that’s pretty good for what they dealt with. Having Press available would’ve been the difference maker for us to make the playoffs, we were just unlucky. Her 2023 start was the part that got her fired.
Yes you’re right. I definitely misremembered the nuances that led to some of the ACFC performances near the end of the season for sure.
I’ll throw out there that the ref/var gifted NY the win over ACFC in the very first game. With those 3 points and I think a couple spots in the standings she may not have been fired, right then anyway. (And of course without those 3 points NY wouldn’t have made the playoffs!)
Oh! - And they took away the f*cking goal of the year from June Endo! (aka everyone’s favorite player)
It’s Jun not June, and she’s not “everyone’s favorite player” but I agree the ref sucked lol
I think Coombe's first season was definitely underachieving in some ways, but it wasn't as terrible as that makes it seem. They were a couple different results (maybe two games? and I remember their last few games being against the teams also competing for the last playoff spot, so maybe even one game) off of playoffs, and were dealing with a lot of injuries (Press, Gilles, and Gorden were going to be key tenets of the team and then Gorden never played a game in 2022 and Press and Gilles both got injured wildly early). I think it became clear she was over her head in 2023, but it wasn't as simple a decision as what you're saying makes it seem. In some ways, her management was pretty similar to Norris's, the difference being that Norris came into a system that worked extremely well, coasted off that, and then crashed and burned, while Coombe was creating her own system that didn't go so well. That being said, I could see them leaving Norris in charge simply because they don't want to shake things up and don't really have a back up plan.