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alexbkrieger13 · 1 year

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M's newest column

Ive been thinking this week about Fifa’s plans to expand the Club World Cup and create a Women’s Club World Cup and wondering where the welfare of players ranks in their priorities.

At a time when we’re seeing so many serious injuries to top women players I found it alarming that they did not consult the leagues or the players. Instead, Fifa president Gianni Infantino just announced it out of the blue.

Fifpro, the players’ union, were right to complain about the lack of consultation. I’m all for new ideas but you have to think about the players. If you just add more and more games, there’ll come a time when it just becomes too much.

From my personal viewpoint, if Chelsea were to win the Champions League, I’d love to get the chance to play the best teams from other continents. I can also see the benefit of making the game less Eurocentric. However, you have to talk to the players’ union first.

As for a 32-team tournament for the men, the loading is already extreme for them and I’m intrigued to see how they cope when the Premier League returns on Boxing Day, just a week after the World Cup final and two weeks after England’s quarter-final exit.

When I think back to last summer after the Euro, it took me at least a week for my mind to stop playing back the images of all I’d experienced. For us, there was the trauma of losing a semi-final 4-0 and feeling humiliated. Emotionally that was tough and for three days I lay on a sunbed and tried to read a book but I just could not focus on the letters.

My head was still in the tournament, processing all I’d been through, and I needed at least 10 days to start feeling enthused about the new season. Then, when I went back into Chelsea, I had issues with tendinopathy – inflammation in my hamstring and achilles, which is the product of overloading. Every footballer has it somewhere once they reach a certain age, yet it was clear to me my body was struggling.

I’ve got friends in the Sweden national team who tell me they are still feeling fatigued from the Euro and the news this week about Vivianne Miedema’s ACL rupture – less than a month after Beth Mead suffered the same injury – only accentuates the need to give more serious thought to player welfare in the women’s game.

This isn’t just about Fifa either. We have so much to improve on regarding knowledge of women’s bodies and loading. At Chelsea we’re lucky as we have a big squad and they’re very good at monitoring load and thinking about physical and mental welfare.

However, only a handful of women’s clubs have it like this; few others can afford it. Before I came to Chelsea, I’d never worked with full-time physios, for example.

It’s just my hypothesis but I wonder whether women players might be less fragile if we’d received better medical attention early in our careers. It doesn’t help that all the research has been based on men’s bodies.

More women-specific research is required to understand how to train and load us. At Chelsea we’ve just taken part in a study by a woman who is scanning the feet of female footballers and collecting data about their foot shape, and this is what we need more of before Fifa start adding even more games.

I would also question the timing of women’s tournaments, which tend to run until late in the summer. Next year’s World Cup will start on 20 July and end on 20 August. It means you get a few weeks off before the tournament but you end up wanting to stay fit and doing some training on your own. It’s afterwards when you need the break and, as I’ve mentioned above, I don’t think two weeks is enough.

Ultimately, there are moments when your body says “enough” and I say this from personal experience. I look back to December last year when I suffered an ankle injury in a Champions League game at Wolfsburg, which ruled me out for three months.

In hindsight, I’m not surprised at all as I remember the way I felt in that period, just trying to get through games. With Sweden I’d got to the final of the Olympics the previous August but hadn’t had enough time to recover and then we had the challenge of the inaugural group stage of the Champions League, which meant more travel and more tough games.

I was tired and moody and just thinking, “When’s the break coming?”. I really feel my injury came as a result of that. I jumped and landed badly and damaged ligaments as well as sustaining bone bruising and a small fracture. It felt to me that my brain was simply too tired.

A year on, sadly, it’s my partner Pernille’s turn to be injured. Thankfully it wasn’t an ACL in her case but she had an operation on her hamstring last month and in the first few weeks afterwards needed help with everything, including putting on her socks and shoes. This is the personal cost that players face and it’s sad to see a loved one like that – yet another reason, therefore, why I feel so passionate about protecting my fellow players.

#this might be her best one yet #magdalena eriksson #swewnt article #pernille harder #chelsea fcw #vivianne miedema #beth mead #woso

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overtrred28 · 7 months

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Stargirl | matildas x original character fic [part 10]

Words; 3.1k

Pairings; matildas team x astrid taylor (OC)

Warnings; none (that im aware of, if there is something lmk)

A/N; hope you are enjoying these xx

masterlist

The team headed straight to the media room after breakfast for their pre match chat. The team filed into the room, chatting or laughing amongst themselves before sitting down. Once everyone was settled Tony walked up to the projector.

“Hi. It’s so great to see the team together again.” He smiled brightly at the group. “It’s been more than four months. It’s now putting the national team hat on, right? Remember what we are doing here.” Everyone focused on what he was saying. “I want to thank you for the patience that you’ve had ‘cause we’ve played the toughest schedule in the history of this program in terms of top-ranked teams this year. And at the same time we introduced 17 debutants.” Kyra nudged Astrid’s shoulder at this, Astrid smiling at the girl beside her.

“So, sometimes the result on the scoreboard might not have been what we wanted it to be. But package everything that we learnt up until now and start getting more consistency, cohesion, chemistry, we got the foundation now.” Everyone dodded along to Tony’s words.

“323 days. That’s the number of days left until the first game in the world cup.” Tony pointed at the screen which then revealed a ‘46’. “What’s that?” He smirked as the room stayed quiet.

“Days we’re in camp together?” Astrid spoke softly in the room. Tony nodded while making eye contact with the young player.

“Days we’re in camp together. About three days per camp goes to travel and recovery. That means 32 days of football together before we announce a roster and come here and prepare for the World Cup.” Tony looked around the room again. Astrid’s heart dropped at the mention of the World Cup, it seemed so far away but it was officially less than a year. “That’s 11 games. That’s what we got. Before announcing the World Cup roster, 11 games. That means we can’t waste one single minute.” The room was silent with the heaviness of the conversation.

The team made their way out to the bus to take them to the stadium. Everyone always sat by themselves for the ride to the stadium, playing their own music and getting in game mode.

Astrid wanted to focus on the game ahead but her mind kept drifting to the earlier mention of next year's FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil. She knew that if she wanted to be even considered for that 23 roster then she would have to work damn hard at both club level and national level before then, especially because so many senior and regular players were already a shoe in.

They finally arrived and made their way to the changeroom, putting on their boots and making their way to the pitch for pre-match training. After everyone made their way out, Kyra, Astrid and Charli being the last like always, Jack Sharkley the head sports scientist clapped for everyone to join him.

“Alrighty, let’s go for a jog shall we?” He looked particularly to Astrid who always had something to say about that first warm up, usually groaning and complaining every time.

“Let’s go.” Astrid simply said and left everyone shocked.

“You feeling alright there, kiddo? You didn’t groan or complain.” Sam remarked as she ran alongside Astrid who rolled her eyes at the captain.

“Piss off.” Astrid laughed and shook her head.

After their warmups, drills and skills practise it came time for Astrid’s favourite part of training; scrimmages. Normally Sam and Steph would have separate teams but today they were on the same one, Astrid taking Caitlin’s usual position who was over on the bikes with Chloe.

The game began and Sam’s side was taking good control, once again having both Kyra and Astrid together on that right side.

“Kyra.” Astrid called for the ball, the midfielder sending it directly to Astrid in free space. Astrid kept the ball with her, dancing around the defenders to find Sam in the centre.

“Good, kid, over here.” Sam yelled praise to the young player, catching the ball from her and heading for the goal. A little while later Steph walked off the field, hurting her hamstring after clearing a corner, very soon after Tameka had come off too.

“We’re a man down. Kyra, drop.” Sam called out after noticing Steph missing from her defender spot. “Astrid, move it back and I’ll come out here.” Astrid and Kyra followed her instructions and the game continued.

The game wrapped up and everyone was tired and/or sore.

“We’re dropping like flies here.” Astrid commented softly as she saw a few players with ice packs on muscles and the physios watching with caution.

“Your ankle holding up?” Charli stood beside her, looking at Astrid who began rolling it around and testing it.

“Yeah it’s good. Promise.” She looked up at the older girl who was still concerned it wasn’t 100% just yet, but it was feeling better than ever.

A few short hours later and the game had kicked off at Suncorp Stadium against Canada. 11 minutes in and Canada secured a goal from distance after a free kick. The halftime whistle had blown and the score was 1-0 to Canada and Alanna had come off a few minutes prior with a hamstring injury, Aivi taking her place.

Play restarted and after some substitutions in the midfield, Tameka and Cortnee coming on with fresh legs, it seemed a little more promising. Astrid was told to get ready to sub in for Emily Van Egmond, shuffling their previous 4-4-2 positioning to a 4-3-3 and have Astrid take that left position alongside Sam and Mary up the front, like they discussed at halftime.

A break in play and Astrid keeps her legs moving as she waits for Emily to come off, the players exchanging a double high five before running to her position at the 78th minute. Play resumed instantly and even with many good shots at goal from so many players, nothing seemed to be working for them. Official full time had ended and 4 minutes of extra time was added.

At 93 minutes the ball had been kept in possession by the Matildas, Gorry stealing it and shooting it over to Kyra on the left wing. Kyra darted with it between the Canadian defence, spotting both Sam and Astrid near the goal but the latter had a lot more free space, sending it over her way. She was at the edge of the box when she caught it, no room to run but could spot a narrow spot between her and the goal.

She struck with her right foot, aiming for the top right corner and as the ball approached the keeper jumped high, but not high enough. It was close to hitting the bar and missing the shot but as it came in it curved ever so slightly, touching the net, rippling as it stayed in.

The home crowd was up on their feet, all 25,000 fans erupting in cheers. Astrid took off running to Kyra in the midfield, jumping into her arms screaming, everyone else coming to pile on top.

And in the 93rd minute Australia equalises with Canada. Number 31 Astrid Taylor in her return to the pitch after an ankle injury last time playing for the Matildas against the Philippines. 18 years old, recently joined the Swedish league and then scored that beautiful goal against Spain a few months ago in that tough friendly. What a return to the game.

Astrid was beyond happy after the ball fell into that net, finally bringing them equal with Canada. Two minutes later and the final whistle blew, and a draw 1-1 with the Olympic Champions.

The team was very happy they were able to leave the game with an equal scoreline and very grateful Astrid was able to score that last minute goal. Astrid had been beckoned over for a post-match interview, wiping the sweat from her face before appearing on camera.

“How was it scoring that goal so close to the end of play?” The producer of their ‘Behind the Matildas’ youtube series asked.

“Yeah it was crazy. I mean I was very much expecting it to bounce off that post or for Sheridan to push it away, but it was a big relief when it did go in.” She laughed softly. “I think at that point a lot of people thought it would end in Canada’s favour, but I knew we had a few more minutes in us. And keeping our spirits up so late in the game can be hard but when you’ve only been on the pitch for like 15 minutes, there’s a little extra fight and determination to turn it around so late.” She smiled at the camera.

“Thanks.” The filming stopped and the crew nodded at her, indicating she was done. She muttered a quick thanks and walked off to be with her team.

“You owe me a coffee.” An arm fell onto her shoulder and the voice of Kyra got close to Astrid.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll get you one tomorrow.” Astrid rolled her eyes at the older girl, bringing her own arm to rest on Kyra's shoulder as they walked down the tunnel. “But you realise I was also right.” She turned to her with a smirk.

“About what?” Kyra asked, confused to what she was talking about.

“I told you last night that you would start today. And I was right.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“I guess you were then.” Kyra smiled at the younger girl, pulling her into her side as they headed for the change room.

Only two days later and the team had touched down last night in Sydney for match day-1, currently heading to the newly rebuilt Allianz Stadium for their training session. Astrid’s parents had secured tickets to come see her play in person for the first time since her final Sydney FC game and she could not be more excited to see them again, this now being the longest she’s been away from them.

The team piled into the changeroom and began to get ready for their warm up, all watching as Alanna set up a speaker in the middle of the room, confused as to what the defender may be putting on.

The intro to ‘My Heart Will Go On’ begins to play and the room erupts in laughter at the song choice. Instantly everyone begins singing along, Alanna beginning a piece of interpretive dance to the song.

“Once more, you open the door!” Their captain sings into a water bottle in front of the camera.

“YOU’RE HERE! THERE’S NOTHING I FEAR.” The room sings, the loudest singing now coming from Astrid who was standing on her cubby bench, gesturing with passion to Kyra next to her who was laughing at her antics.

“Get down child.” Macca yells at Astrid who pouts and jumps down, putting her cleats on as the song dies down and their regular playlist begins to play, Sam dragging the speaker with her as they leave the room to walk to the pitch.

Training had concluded, Alanna was already ruled out from the last game and now Steph was a worry too, her hamstring issue from the other day still not 100%.

“Let’s bring it in everyone, staff as well.” Tony called and the team had now assembled into a small circle at the edge of the pitch, some sitting and stretching, others having a drink break after a scrimmage. “Er, have to say, I love what I saw out there today. How you took ownership for your performance, how you communicated. I loved what I saw.” He smiled at the girls. “Let’s show what we’re about tomorrow in that game. And to make sure we have memory from that, let’s get together really quick so Ann can grab a photo of us all in the sun on the pitch. Just a quick picture.” Everyone began standing up and moving to open space on the pitch.

“Viney, help me please.” Astrid looked up at Cortnee with her arms out.

“Fine.” The older girl grabbed her hands and pulled her up fast.

“Thanks.” She put her arm over the forward’s shoulder, walking with her to where the group had gathered, both plopping down to the ground where there was a gap between Lydia and Kyra. “Ooo I get to be next to Kyra!” She placed her head on Kyra’s shoulder with a smile.

“Alright, everyone in.” Ann shouted to catch everyone's attention. The shutter of cameras going off. “Thankyou.”

“Ann, get in on one.” Tony called out.

“Run!” Astrid yelled and everyone laughed, cheering Ann on as she ran over to the group quickly.

“Yes, Ann!” Sam clapped as she slotted in. More photos were taken and as soon as the photographer gave them a thumbs up they all jumped up.

The next day rolled around quickly and before they knew it, the starting line ups were making their way onto the pitch. The energy in the stadium was crazy, so many people were there to watch the Matildas and you could feel their passion radiating down to the players.

The game kicked off with Emily Van Egmond and although Canada took possession pretty easily, it didn’t take long until it was back to the Matildas. A magical passing sequence between Cortnee, Sam and Mary and within two and a half minutes Mary had opened the scoring with a magnificent goal. The girls on the pitch and the bench cheered, the crowd was maybe the loudest it’s ever been.

They went into halftime, up 1-0 and spirits a lot higher than the last game, having a stronger defence and the forwards plenty of shots on target but just falling short or being stopped by Canada’s goalkeeper.

“Astrid.” Tony called her over as the players made their way to the changerooms for the break, she ran over to him. “Come with me, I’m putting you on for Vine, we need fresh legs.” She simply nodded and followed him to a small room, immediately hopping on a bike to warm up while he spoke about the next half.

The second half began and Astrid was already on the pitch in the right wing position, ready for the next 45 minutes. It’s not a position she normally plays in but she had to take every chance to be on that pitch and making her mark, especially with World Cup talk looming over their heads.

The whistle blew and they were on. Although the Australian defence was strong it didn’t seem strong enough in those first 10 minutes, Leon scoring two goals within minutes of each other and taking the lead 2-1. Astrid fought hard on that right side, connecting with Charli, Gorry and Mary for shots at goal but again nothing wanted to go in or slot past Sheridan.

It’s finished here at Allianz Stadium. Matildas 1, Canada 2.

Everyone stood still on the pitch, looking around at the crowd before them, seas of green and gold filling the stands. Astrid was exhausted, that was the longest game she’s played for the Matildas and she could feel it, but she made her rounds and congratulated the opposition and found Kyra, Courtney and Charli.

“Hey.” Courtney’s voice was soft as she saw Astrid approach them.

“Hey star.” Charli still managed to smile at her, pulling her into her side with one arm.

“Hi.” Kyra did the same on the other side, Astrid wrapping her arms around their waists, Courtney tagging on beside Charli.

“Wanna go find my parents with me?” She looked between them, all silently nodding and beginning to walk together to where friends and family were at the barricades. Her eyes searched for them and they finally landed on 2 of the only people wearing her jersey number. “Mum, dad!” She let go of the girls when she spotted them, waving as she ran to them.

“Hi my darling.” Her mum, Joanna, looked like she was about to start crying as they hugged over the barrier. “I’m so proud of you.” She whispered into her ear, squeezing her tighter. They let go so she could move and hug her dad.

“Hey sweetie, I’ve missed you.” Her dad, Mark, pulled his daughter close.

"I've missed you too." She nodded into his shoulder, trying not to cry from both happiness and sadness at being with her parents again. They pulled apart and she turned to the three people standing behind her, waving them to come closer.

"Guys, this is Charli, Courtney and Kyra. The rest of the Sweden Squad." She smiled.

“Thank you for taking care of my girl over there and when you guys are on camp, it means alot to know she’s not alone.” Her mum smiled at the girls whose hearts had swelled up.

“Of course, she’s our stargirl.” Charli donned her signature smile, pulling Astrid into her side and holding Courtney close to her other side.

“She’s in completely safe hands.” Kyra added herself onto the other girls, squeezing all of them together.

“Totally.” Courtney put on her best smile, nodding along.

“I don’t know about that.” Astrid laughed with Charli, Kyra and Courtney’s jaws dropping.

“We are perfectly responsible adults and we’ve kept you alive so far. Making sure you're fed and watered. So…” Kyra pointed out, Courtney nodding along in agreement.

“I’m not a plant.” Astrid emphasised.

“I didn’t say you were. But we did take care of you while you were injured.” Kyra argued back, the people surrounding laughed at her and Kyra’s interaction.

“Alright you two. We better get going before you rip each other's heads off or Tony does for taking too long.” Charli intervened finally, pushing some distance between the pair.

“It was lovely meeting you ladies, and well done on the game today, you all played wonderfully.” Joanna smiled at the older girls who surrounded her daughter.

“Love you, mum.” Astrid hugged her again, squeezing her tight. “I’ll talk to you soon okay?” She pulled away and moved over to her dad.

“You make me so proud. I love you.” Mark reached over the barrier, placing a kiss on her head before they parted. “Go on.” He nodded to where the team was beginning to disappear down the tunnel.

“Bye.” They all spoke in unison, waving goodbye to the couple, Charli wrapping her arm around Astrid who donned a sad look on her face.

Astrid was beyond grateful these girls had come into her life, especially while living so far away from her family, they became her family. The rest of the team had become her family too but the Sweden squad was something else, something special.

to be continued...

#auswnt #kyra cooney cross #matildas #alanna kennedy #auswnt x reader #caitlin foord #charli grant #mackenzie arnold #steph catley #sam kerr #courtney nevin #cortnee vine #matildas x reader

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lazysublimeengineer · 7 months

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how much is the bid for your heart?

Summary:

“How about a bet Hiori?” Isagi looked at him with a gleam in his eyes that sent his nerves skyrocketing inside of him.

“About what exactly?” Hiori arched a brow at him and masked the havoc that the other was wreaking inside his heart.

“Whoever wins this practice match gets to be the other’s slave for a week.” Isagi replied with a crooked grin on his lips.

“Are ya really sure ya wanna do this Isagi-kun?” Hiori asked with a sardonic smile playing on his lips.

“I wouldn’t suggest it if I’m not.” He retorted.

“Then prepare yourself to be my slave for a week because I can see yer defeat miles away from here.” Hiori shot back with a cheerful yet ruthless smile on his face.

Or Hiori and Isagi played with fire until one of them gets burned.

Characters: Isagi Y., Hiori Y., Reo M., Chigiri H., Tokimitsu A., Kurona R., Nagi S.

Chapter 1: the bittersweet taste of success and defeat

(A/N: Spoilers ahead. This was inspired by the latest chapter of the manga which is chapter 240 so read it at your own risk. Some dialogues and scenes are excerpts from the latest chapter hence the spoiler tags. Lastly, I don’t own anything from this franchise except for this fic of mine. Respective ownership belongs to Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura for this wonderful manga.)

“Now the top 23. Remember, the top 23 players will be selected to represent Japan in the U-20 World Cup.” The static voice of the announcer resonated across the field and the large screen glowed back to life with the updated list of the rankings of the players and their latest offers.

“Ah... I’m in...” Tokimitsu looked relieved and happy at the same time as he read his name being on the 23rd spot.

“Oh. Mini up, up.” Kurona commented with his usual expression on his face.

Raichi pumped his fists into midair as a wild grin appeared on his face. “18 mil baby!”

His aquamarine irises scanned over the list on the screen curiously until he saw his name on the 18th spot.

“20 mil, huh? Guess that’s good for now.” Hiori remarked to himself.

He wasn’t disappointed with his latest ranking as objectively speaking it was his first match and he only got subbed in during the latter part of the game.

Nevertheless, he wasn’t going to idly sit by the sidelines and accept it passively.

He was done with that phase in his life.

Now that he got a taste of what it felt like to play and win in his own terms courtesy of his awakened ego, he needed to make sure that he will be chosen again for the next line up and possibly one of the players for the U-20 World Cup in the future as well.

If he wanted to pursue his own goal of producing the best striker in the world, then he needed to play his own brand of soccer independently from the expectations of other people such as his parents.

However, his eyes strayed towards Isagi’s direction who seemed to be watching the screen intently as the announcer moved onto the announcement of the top 10 players and their latest offers.

While it was true that he wouldn’t be playing tag-team any longer for the blue-eyed striker himself and fulfill the other’s selfish demands in the future matches, he also found out that he wouldn’t mind playing alongside with Isagi himself on his own terms.

Before he could even stop himself, his own heart did a weird cartwheel inside his chest at the mere thought of being partner of Isagi again on the field and recreating that goal again that sent an electrifying sensation on his veins and a morbid satisfaction of watching the opponents’ crestfallen faces as they shattered their hopes and dreams with that final, conclusive goal itself.

He took a deep breath and tried to clear his head of these unwarranted thoughts within himself.

He doesn’t need to get excited and revolve his thoughts around Isagi this soon lest he might end up like Ness who was skittering like a damn, lost puppy excitedly over his master who wouldn’t even look his way and treat him with some respect.

He didn’t need to bend himself any longer and accommodate the others’ selfish demands and expectations around him.

Nonetheless, he couldn’t stop the way his brows spoke in volumes or how his lips twitched slightly upwards at seeing the vibrant yet dissatisfied look on Isagi’s face as the name of Itoshi Rin flashed across the screen and hit them with the reality that he was the top 1 in the ranking and offer of the club.

‘Huh. I wonder what you’re really made of Isagi-kun?’ His mind wandered idly on the ace player himself that continued to occupy his thoughts that day.

“C’mon Kunigami. Stop tagging along with me.” Chigiri commented with a self-satisfied smirk on his face as he watched the screen display the current top 10 players after the match. An air of satisfaction swirled around him as he found out that his value increased, and his rank is now tied up with Kunigami himself.

His training with the team finally paid off and he was seeing the fruit of his labors when he scored another goal again for their team even if he was up against Rin and the PxG themselves.

“Why is our value lower than last time?”

He heard Reo’s surprised voice and Chigiri snapped his attention towards him who wore a look of incredulity and indignation.

“Well, it can’t be helped, we were trash today.” Nagi replied in a monotone voice. It was difficult to decipher the lazy genius’ emotions sometimes but since Chigiri has been his teammate for quite some time now, he could tell from the lackluster look on his gray eyes on how he wasn’t surprised yet still disappointed with the outcome itself.

“We need goals to increase our value. Switch gears, Nagi. We're gonna get wild in the next game.” Reo replied grimly.

“Yeah.” Was all Nagi could say as his eyes remained fixed on the latest tally of their offers.

Chigiri turned away with a small sigh leaving his lips as he started to walk outside the field.

There was no room for celebration tonight for their team.

Two losses in a row?

Chigiri didn’t want to delude himself on the small victory that he made for the team. Even if he was the sole scorer for their team today, it didn’t change the fact that they got smoked by Rin and PxG made them taste their own defeat for the second time.

It didn’t bode well with him.

The only way to rise again from the ashes was for them to win the next match and there’s no other acceptable answer for that.

Nevertheless, the image of Reo’s face earlier continued to flit across his mind like a broken record inside his head.

That look was reminiscent of his surprise and defeat when they lost against Isagi’s team during the second selection of the program back then.

He had seen Reo’s improvements, and his amazing skill of Chameleon displayed more than once during their matches.

But a niggling feeling continued to scratch at the back of his head.

For a charming and confident guy like Reo, he was surprisingly insecure and had a fragile ego that he’d seen in the past. He possessed a defeatist attitude when the plan didn’t go his way especially when Nagi wasn’t around by his side to play.

However, Chigiri had believed that the lavender-haired boy had overcome this already because he’d seen his improvements so far.

But was it enough?

He should be happy that Reo and Nagi were somewhat... in good terms now... and they’re playing with each other in the same team.

But was it even effective?

Even their duo wasn’t enough to stop a monster like Rin on the field itself.

And he was worried...

…

He was worried about Reo overthinking things again and couldn’t move past it.

‘Fuck. Stop thinking like that damn it.’ Chigiri berated himself harshly as he slammed the door of his locker with a bit of force and went inside the shower area.

For now, he needed to clear his head and take a rest even though a small part of himself continued to dance around the thought of Reo earlier.

(A/N: The latest chapter of the manga inspired me enough to create this multi-chaptered fic with two of my favorite ships in the fandom. There's never enough love and angst for them so I’m here to deliver a multi-chaptered Hiosagi and Chigireo fic for this fandom. Reviews and kudos are much appreciated.)

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icedbatik · 7 months

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Penguins to retire Jaromir Jagr’s No. 68 during pre-game ceremony on Feb. 18

By Pittsburgh Penguins

November 10, 2023

The Pittsburgh Penguins will raise two-time Stanley Cup Champion Jaromir Jagr’s no. 68 jersey to the rafters at PPG Paints Arena on February 18 versus the Los Angeles Kings as part of a pre-game celebration, it was announced today by the club.

As part of the ‘Celebrate 68’ festivities, all fans in attendance that night will receive a replica Jagr No. 68 banner. In addition, a commemorative Jagr bobblehead has been added as a giveaway to all fans in attendance on Thursday, March 14 versus the San Jose Sharks.

Jagr, whose NHL career spanned over two decades, is one of the most accomplished players in NHL history and a member of the league’s ‘100 Greatest Players.’ In 1,733 career regular-season games, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound winger scored 766 goals, 1,155 assists and 1,921 points. He ranks fourth all-time in games played and goals, fifth in assists, and only Wayne Gretzky (2,857) has recorded more points than him. No player in NHL history has more game-winning goals than Jagr’s 135.

Drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round (5th overall) of the 1990 NHL Draft, Jagr spent the first 11 seasons of his 24-year NHL career with the Penguins, appearing in 806 regular-season games notching 439 goals, 640 assists, 1,079 points, 78 game-winning goals and was plus-208. He is in the top-5 in franchise history in games played (5th), goals (4th), assists (4th), points (4th), plus/minus (2nd) and game-winning goals (4th). He was one of 13 captains in team history, serving in the role from 1998-01.

Jagr was an instrumental piece of Pittsburgh’s back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 1991 and ’92 – his first two seasons in the NHL. In that two-year span, Jagr suited up for 45 postseason contests, notching 37 points (14G-23A), which was sixth in the NHL over that stretch. Jagr shined during the 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs, recording a playoff career-high 24 points (11G-13A) in 21 games. In total, Jagr has dressed in 208 Stanley Cup Playoff contests, accumulating 201 points (78G-123A). He is one of just six players in NHL history with 200 or more playoff points.

The 10-time NHL All-Star has won a plethora of awards over the course of his NHL career. He is a five-time Art Ross Trophy winner (NHL Scoring Leader – 1995, ’98, ’99, ‘00, ’01), three-time Ted Lindsay Award winner (Most Outstanding Player – 1999, ’00, ’06), and was the recipient of the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP) in 1998-99 and Bill Masterton Trophy (Perseverance, Sportsmanship, and Dedication to Ice Hockey) in 2015-16. Jagr was named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team seven times (1995, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’06), the Second All-Star Team in 1996-97 and was a member of the All-Rookie Team in 1990-91.

Throughout NHL history, only Chris Chelios (26), Gordie Howe (26) and Mark Messier (25) have played more seasons in the NHL than Jagr’s 24. Of his 24 seasons, he notched 20-plus goals 19 times and 30-plus goals 15 times, which both rank third in league history. He’s also hit the 100-point plateau five times, and was the sixth-oldest player in NHL history to accomplish that feat during the 2005-06 season at 34 years and 31 days old.

The native of Kladno, Czechia has multiple accolades on the international stage. He’s won a gold medal (1998) and bronze medal (2006) at the Olympic Games, two gold medals (2005, ’10) and two bronze medals (1990, 2011) at the IIHF World Championship and a bronze medal at the 1990 IIHF World Junior Championship. Jagr is one of just 30 players in history to join the Triple Gold Club, which includes winning a Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal and an IIHF World Championship gold medal. He and Jiri Slegr are the only two players of Czech descent to accomplish this feat.

Jagr currently owns Rytiri Kladno of the Czech Extraliga and has been majority owner of the team since 2011-12.

#Jaromir Jagr #jersey retirement #it's official #February 18 - 2024 #November 10 - 2023

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spicykaraage · 7 months

Text

Tenipuri Complete Character Profile - Kunimitsu Tezuka

[PROFILE]

Birthday: October 7th (Libra)

Blood Type: O

Relatives: Grandfather (Kunikazu Tezuka), Father (Kuniharu Tezuka), Mother (Ayana Tezuka)

Father’s Occupation: Company Employee (trading company, his grandfather was a judo instructor for the police force)

Elementary School: Seishundai First Elementary School

Middle School: Seishun Academy Junior High School

Grade & Class: Third Year | Class 3-1 | Seat 12

Club: Tennis Club (Captain)

Committee: Student Council (President)

Strong Subjects: World History

Weak Subjects: None

Frequently Visited Spot at School: Library

World Cup Team: U-17 World Cup German Representatives

Favorite Motto: “The enemy is within oneself.”

Daily Routines: Writing in his diary

Hobbies: Mountain climbing, camping, fishing

Favorite Color: Green or Blue

Favorite Music: Classical (Beethoven)

Favorite Movie: Famous classics whether Japanese or foreign

Favorite Book: Foreign books ➜ German-Japanese dictionary (he carries it around with him) [23.5]

Favorite Food: Unacha (broiled eel over rice with dashi poured over it), räucheraal (German smoked eel) [23.5]

Favorite Anniversary: August 23rd

Preferred Type: A girl who tries her best in everything (even if she’s a bit scatterbrained), a serious but cheerful person [PP] ➜ He tries not to think about it now [23.5]

Ideal Date Spot: Fishing in a stream near a mountain ➜ Zugspitze [23.5]

His Gift for a Special Person: A letter of gratitude

Where He Wants to Travel: Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu

Thing He Wants Most Right Now: A photobook of famous mountains around the world ➜ Mountain diorama kit [23.5]

Dislikes: Laziness, colorful cakes [23.5]

Skills Outside of Tennis: Woodworking, preparing fish [23.5]

Spends Allowance On: Books

Routine During the World Cup: Keeping a diary in German, watching foreign comedy dramas

[DATA]

Height: 179cm

Weight: 58kg ➜ 61kg [23.5]

Shoe Size: 27.5cm

Dominant Arm: Left

Vision: (With glasses) 1.5 Left & Right

Play Style: All-Rounder

Signature Moves: Drop Shot, Zero-Shiki Drop Shot, Selfless State, Pinnacle of Hard Work, Pinnacle of Great Wisdom, Pinnacle of Perfection [23.5], Tezuka Zone, Tezuka Phantom, Zero-Shiki Serve

Time He Wakes Up: 5:30am

Time He Goes to Sleep: 10:30pm

Number of Laps He Runs in a Year: 5,870

Favorite Brands:

Racquet: MIZUNO (PRO LIGHT S90) MAGNETIC TOUR 100

Shoes: MIZUNO (WAVE DUAL LIGHT <6K93009>)

Fitness Test Results:

Side Steps: 63

Shuttle Run: 121

Back Strength: 131kg

Grip Strength: 55.5kg (left)

Backbend: 60.8cm

Seated Forward Bend: 29.1cm

50m Run: 6.43 seconds

Standing Long Jump: 241cm

Handball Throw: 37.1m

Endurance Run (1500m): 4:39

Overall Rating: Speed: 4.5 / Power: 4 / Stamina: 4 / Mental: 5 / Technique: 6 / Total: 23.5

Kurobe Memo: “I obviously intended for him to thrive as a First Stringer, but unfortunately he withdrew. It’s only a matter of time before he reaches the top level of the professional ranks.” [RB]

[POSSESSIONS]

What’s in His Bedroom [10.5]:

Lure collection // A collection of lures neatly arranged and hanging on his wall, he likes using his lures as decorations

Photo of a mountain he’s climbed // He had it printed extra large and hung it on his wall. Seeing it calms him

Small locker // A locker for storing his fishing rods and equipment. The doors are glass so the contents can always be viewed

Dresser // He always has his school uniforms neatly folded and placed on top

Bookshelves and a boombox // His only objects of entertainment, he has a considerable amount of books in his possession

What’s in His Bag [10.5]:

Glasses case // He is protective over his glasses and handles them with care

Notebook // He writes an extensive amount of notes for each of his classes and keeps it with him for review

Omamori // He’s kept it with him since he was little. He’s not a religious person, so it’s kept more out of habit

A (foreign) novel // The Big Bad City by Ed McBain. He likes foreign stories and reads them often since they help him learn English

Reference book // He reads it on the bus to and from school

Wristband // He has several different kinds and changes them each day depending on his mood

English-Japanese dictionary // Used to look up words he doesn’t understand when reading foreign books

Spray-on deodorant // Gatsby brand. He hates uncleanliness and always uses it after sweating in matches. He buys five bottles a month

[TRIVIA]

The Prince of Tennis 10.5 Fanbook | Release Date: 11/02/2001

He likes outdoor activities since they help relieve his stress. He feels that nature heals him

He is actually always tense and nervous about guiding the club members

His favorite mountain is the Matterhorn. His father had taken him to climb it when he was a fourth year in elementary school

He is described to have sharp and fine facial features

Since entering middle school, he has not lost in any official or practice matches

No one else in the Seigaku Tennis Club matches his level

He has trouble looking upward to the right since his hair blocks his view

He gives very terse responses when asked personal questions

He dislikes flirtatious girls and prefers someone as serious as himself. He currently is not interested in romance, however

Despite how skilled he currently is as a player, he was not good at tennis when he first started

When asked if he’s afraid of anything, his reponse is that people cannot grow if they don’t have fears

He is the only member of Seigaku who does not call any of the other members by their nicknames

Konomi states that the editorial staff like to uphold Tezuka’s serious and stoic image despite what he thinks

His personality is described as someone who thinks before he acts and is so perfect that even his friends envy him

His name and appearance is based off of Kunikaze Tezuka, a character in Konomi’s other manga series COOL

Konomi describes him as “strong overall” and considered number one. He had been created since at the time, it was rare to see a character much stronger than the protagonist be on the same team

He and Momoshiro were the first Seigaku members Konomi had created

The Prince of Tennis 20.5 Fanbook | Publication Date: 12/04/2003

It is stated that in a previous life, he was an explorer. He is described to have never stayed in the same place, and always moved forward with a desire to improve. He had lived in extreme situations where failure meant death, and was said to be calm, collected and always prepared for every possible situation

He has always been somewhat mature and sensitive to beautiful things since he was younger

He is very self-disciplined, independent and has a personal set of rules for himself

He’s described to be suited for professions such as starting his own business by himself or being a novelist

He is an honors student

His secondary sport would be kyudo

He is the character Konomi would like to go up against if he was in the series

His injury and departure was to initiate Seigaku’s growth without him. Since he was their strongest member and final trump card, Konomi felt that there was no sense of urgency in them losing and wanted to emphasize the whole team’s changes by the time he returned

The Prince of Tennis 40.5 Fanbook | Publication Date: 12/04/2007

He writes in his diary to record his daily efforts as well as take time to analyze himself. It is a custom he’s set to identify his weaknesses and continuously improve himself

His I Ching Hexagrams are 1. Qián and 13. Tóng Rén, respectively

He often makes (unnoticed) efforts in order to facilitate his relationships, such as forcing himself to socialize and/or subtly trying to lighten the mood of situations

He actually has a side to him that gets lonely easily and dislikes being in dark places

He’s surprisingly gotten into comedy programs. He’s recently been watching “The Battle of Big Eaters” and actually really enjoyed the “Yakiniku Battle” in Genius 341

He is currently unsure who will be the next captain (it is eventually revealed to be Kaidoh)

He is the second character Konomi has the least in common with, the first being Ryoma

Konomi states he would like to form a doubles pair with him and be able to perform his Tezuka Zone and Tezuka Phantom

Konomi had wanted to depict Tezuka having great difficulty during his match against Kabaji

He’s described to “not do doubles” by Konomi, which is why had played one-on-one with Chitose during their doubles match. However, Konomi states he may team up with Ryoma in Wimbledon someday

Konomi states Tezuka will most likely be seen in Germany sometime in the future

#tenipuri #tenirabi #profile #my post #seigaku

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magdasabs · 10 months

Note

What does that comment about lars and the ranking system mean?

oh it was a whole thing, not sure I can explain it properly 😅 basically denmark was right between being in pot 2 or 3 for the world cup draw, which makes a huge difference. so for probably six months before the draw a bunch of us were stressing over it and hoping they'd make it into pot 2 and I was spending my free time doing maths calculating different scenarios like a nerd. in the end what happened was that denmark very narrowly missed pot 2 and it wasn't even because of their results on the pitch, it could've been prevented if they had been more strategic about planning their friendlies for example where to play them or in which window - simple things like that. so naturally those of us who had followed the whole saga were really annoyed and frustrated the coaching staff hadn't done the bare minimum to try and make things easier for the team. and the icing on top was a journalist asking lars about it and he basically said they didn't know the fifa rankings were important and they wouldn't know how to calculate them anyway cause it's super complicated - THIS SAME THING I, UNQUALIFIED IN ANYTHING FOOTBALL, COULD DO IN 10 MINUTES WITH AN EXCEL SHEET

13 notes · View notes

whalepropaganda · 2 years

Photo

In honor of the start of the season, here’s this!

Now with the promised text-only edition below!

Slide 1:

[image: The Connecticut Whale logo (a blue silhouette of a whale surrounded by a blue, white, and green letter C appears in the background]

Your 2022-23 Connecticut Whale—a primer by whalepropaganda

Slide 2: Overview.

The Connecticut Whale is a professional hockey team that plays within the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF; formerly known as the National Women’s Hockey League, or NWHL). The Whale is one of the Founding Four teams in the league and the only one of those four that has yet to win the Isobel Cup. They were really bad for several years, but now they’re really good!

NUMBER ONE IN THE LEAGUE LAST SEASON BAYBEYYYY

[image: A red arrow points toward a partial screenshot of the 2021-22 PHF standings. The Whale are at the top of the standings.]

anyway then they lost to Boston in the Isobel Cup Final and honestly I’m still Quite Annoyed About It

Whale games are broadcast on ESPN+ in the US, TSN+ in Canada, and ESPN Affiliates in other countries.

Whale home games will (mostly) take place at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury.

[image: a partial map of New England. The location of the International Skating Center of Connecticut is circled in red and has an arrow pointing to it. The city of Boston is visible near the edge of the map and is crossed out with a red X]

Slide 3: Oh Captain My Captain

[image: Shannon Turner smiling while surrounded by several teammates, all wearing the Whale’s 2021-22 pride jerseys]

Shannon Turner (prev. Shannon Doyle)

Position: Defender | Born: March 6, 1992 | Height: 5’4” | Hometown: Markham, Ontario, Canada

2021–22 stats: GP 20 | G 2 | A 5 | Pts 7 | PIM 10

• One of the few remaining original NWHLers!

• Also an English teacher!

• Was part of the first Canadian roster to win a gold medal at U18 Women’s Worlds (2010)!

• Won a 2021–22 PHF Foundation Award!

• Came out of retirement for last season and got soooo close to winning the Cup, but alas L L L She says this will be her last season, so I’m gonna need the Whale to remember one thing:

[image: “Do it for her” meme from the Simpsons, with photos of Shannon added to it]

This is Theo! He’s excellent.

[image: A red arrow points toward a photo of a very cute German Shepherd dog]

Slide 4: Alternate Captains

Alyssa, Janine, and Emma are returning As; Kennedy is new to the leadership group [smiley face emote]

Alyssa Wohlfeiler

[image: photo of Alyssa from during a game]

Position: Forward | Born: May 6, 1989 | Height: 5’8” | Hometown: Saugus, California, USA

2021–22 stats: GP 18 | G 8 | A 8 | Pts 16 | PIM 8

• Wohlfy!

• An original NWHLer

Janine Weber

[image: headshot of Janine in her Whale jersey]

Position: Forward | Born: June 19, 1991 | Height: 5’8” | Hometown: Innsbruck, Austria

2021–22 stats: GP 16 | G 5 | A 8 | Pts 13 | PIM 6

• The first player ever to sign an NWHL contract!

• Won 2015 Clarkson Cup (CWHL), 3x D1A Worlds silver & more

Emma Vlasic

[image: photo of Emma in her jersey from the 2021-22 All-Star Game]

Position: Forward | Born: September 2, 1996 | Height: 5’7” | Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois, USA

2021–22 stats: GP 20 | G 4 | A 9 | Pts 13 | PIM 4

• Like basically every player with the last name Vlasic, she’s Pickles

Kennedy Marchment

[image: photo of Kennedy in street clothes, flashing a peace sign]

Position: Forward | Born: December 6, 1996 | Height: 5’8” | Hometown: Courtice, Ontario, Canada

2021–22 stats: GP 20 | G 13 | A 20 | Pts 33 | PIM 8

• Holy crap she’s good

• 2021–22 PHF MVP!

• Led league in assists and points last season

Slide 5: Returning Forwards

Amanda Conway

[image: photo of Amanda Conway wearing her 2021-22 pride jersey]

Born: December 26, 1996 | Height: 5’4” | Hometown: Methuen, Massachusetts, USA

2021–22 stats: GP 18 | G 12 | A 9 | Pts 21 | PIM 4

• Nineteenth overall pick in the 2020 draft!

• Ranked second in goals and third in points on the Whale last season

• One of the most, if not the most, underrated Whale players imho

Janka Hlinka

[image: photo of Janka from during a game]

Born: October 31, 1995 | Height: 5’7” | Hometown: Stratford, Connecticut, USA

2021–22 stats: GP 16 | G 1 | A 1 | Pts 2 | PIM 2

• Born in USA but represents Slovakia in international competition!

• Also known as Janka Hlinkova

• Won D1A bronze in 2022

Taylor Girard

[image: photo of Taylor in athleticwear, giving a thumbs up]

Born: July 17, 1998 | Height: 5’10” | Hometown: Macomb, Michigan, USA

2021–22 stats: GP 20 | G 11 | A 13 | Pts 24 | PIM 14

• First overall pick in the 2021 Draft!

• 2021–22 PHF Newcomer of the Year

• Ranked second on the team in assists and points

• Also tied for second in PIM lol

Melissa Samoskevich

[image: headshot of Melissa in her Whale jersey, doing the Brandon Tanev stare]

Born: March 31, 1997 | Height: 5’4” | Hometown: Sandy Hook, Connecticut, USA

2021–22 stats: GP 7 | G 1 | A 1 | Pts 2 | PIM 0

• Second overall pick in the 2018 draft!

• Won U18 Worlds silver in 2014 and gold in 2015 (and scored the most goals of the 2015 tournament, with six)

• Won gold at Worlds in 2019

Slide 6: Returning Defenders

Tori Howran

[image: photo of Tori in her jersey from the 2021-22 All-Star Game]

Born: June 11, 1998 | Height: 5’9” | Hometown: Bancroft, Ontario, Canada

2021–22 stats: GP 20 | G 0 | A 8 | Pts 8 | PIM 10

• Seventh overall pick in the 2020 draft!

• Won silver at U18 Worlds in 2016

• Co-owns a business called A&T Sewing and makes very cute stuff

Hannah Bates

[image: photo of Hannah wearing an athletic shirt with the Whale logo]

Born: May 20, 1999 | Height: 5’4” | Hometown: Trenton, Michigan, USA

2021–22 stats: GP 18 | G 1 | A 4 | Pts 5 | PIM 6

• Twentieth overall pick in the 2021 draft!

• Currently youngest player on the team

• Adorable tbh

Allie Munroe

[image: photo of Allie wearing her jersey from the 2021-22 All-Star Game]

Born: April 20, 1997 | Height: 5’6” | Hometown: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

2021–22 stats: GP 18 | G 3 | A 10 | Pts 13 | PIM 14

• Led Whale defenders in scoring last season

• Nominated for 2021–22 PHF Defender of the Year

Slide 7: Returning Goalie

Abbie Ives

[image: photo of Abbie in street clothes, holding her sticks]

Born: October 7, 1998 | Height: 5’11” | Hometown: Bedford Hills, New York, USA

2021–22 stats: GS 15 | W 10 | L 3 | OTL 2 | Sv% .894

• Nominated for 2021–22 PHF Goaltender of the Year!

• The tallest member of the team

• Notorious among her teammates for her phone always being dead

Slide 8: Whalecome Back

(players who used to play for the Whale and then didn’t play for the Whale and now are once again playing for the Whale)

Kateřina Mrázová

[image: photo of Katka in her Team Czechia jersey, holding her bronze medal from 2022 Worlds]

Position: Forward | Born: October 19, 1992 | Height: 5’5” | Hometown: Praha, Czechia

Most recent team(s): Team Czechia; Brynäs IF (SDHL)

• Katka!

• Played for the Whale in 2018–19

• Won 2013 Clarkson Cup (CWHL)

• Won D1A Worlds gold in 2014 and 2015

• Won bronze at Worlds in 2022 (Czechia’s first medal at that tournament!)

Meeri Räisänen

[image: photo of Meeri in her Team Finland jersey, sticking her tongue out]

Position: Goalie | Born: December 2, 1989 | Height: 5’7” | Hometown: Tampere, Finland

Most recent team(s): Team Finland; JYP U20 Akatemia (U20 Mestis)

• Played for the Whale in 2018–19

• Won bronze medals at Worlds in 2015 and 2021

• Won bronze at the Olympics in 2018 and 2022

Slide 9: Primer I Hardly Know ‘Er!

(the new additions)

Caitrin Lonergan

[image: photo of Caitrin in her Clarkson University jersey]

Position: Forward | Born: September 10, 1997 | Height: 5’6” | Hometown: Roslindale, Massachusetts, USA

Most recent team(s): Clarkson University

• U18 silver (2014)

• U18 gold (2015)

Lenka Serdar

[image: photo of Lenka in her Whale jersey]

Position: Forward | Born: July 21, 1997 | Height: 5’8” | Hometown: Lexington, Massachusetts, USA

Most recent team(s): Team Czechia; Linköping HC (SDHL)

• Born in US but plays for Czechia

• Competed at 2021 Worlds and the 2022 Olympics

Justine Reyes

[image: photo of Justine in street clothes]

Position: Forward | Born: February 14, 1997 | Height: 5’4” | Hometown: Chino Hills, California, USA

Most recent team(s): Linköping HC (SDHL)

• Was 2018–19 MVP at St. Lawrence University

Emma Keenan

[image: photo of Emma in her Buffalo Beauts jersey]

Position: Defender | Born: November 26, 1997 | Height: 5’7” | Hometown: Mission Viejo, California, USA

Most recent team(s): Buffalo Beauts (PHF)

• 2x NCAA champion with Clarkson University

Mallory Souliotis

[image: photo of Mal in her Boston Pride jersey and a bucket hat after winning the Isobel Cup in 2022 (sigh)]

Position: Defender | Born: April 1, 1996 | Height: 5’5” | Hometown: Acton, Massachusetts, USA

Most recent team(s): Boston Pride (PHF)

• 2x Isobel Cup champion with the Pride (2021, 2022)

• Won a 2018–19 PHF Foundation Award

Tori Sullivan

[image: photo of Tori in her Boston Pride jersey]

Position: Forward | Born: August 4, 1996 | Height: 5’5” | Hometown: West Bloomfield, Michigan, USA

Most recent team(s): Boston Pride (PHF)

• 2x Isobel Cup champion with the Pride (2021, 2022)

Slide 10

Misc. Fun Facts

• Jessica Strack, who was a practice player for most of last season and officially signed with the team late in the season, is back as a practice player for 2022–23. She’s also the Whale’s current equipment manager.

• Longtime NWHL/PHF player and 2018 Isobel Cup champion Kiira Dosdall-Arena (D) is a practice player this season.

• Meeri and Katka are sharing a beach rental in Milford for the season (seemingly also with the Whale’s new athletic trainer). Taylor, Amanda, Tori H., and Hannah are also sharing a rental on the beach. (I feel like these are fun facts, idk)

“Is [Whale Player] Related to [Dude]?” Containment Zone

• Mason Marchment is Kennedy’s cousin

• Alex Vlasic is Emma’s brother, and Marc-Édouard Vlasic is her cousin

• Mackie Samoskevich is Melissa’s brother

• The cool guy who showed up to the 2022 playoffs in a whale costume is Janine’s husband, Bruce

Team Staff

• Coach: Colton Orr

• Assistant coaches: Jeff Devenney, Sue Merz

• Consulting coach: Jack Han

• General manager: Alexis Moed

Where Are They Now?

(i.e., are players from the 2021–22 roster playing hockey this season, and if so, where?)

• Hanna Beattie: Whale director of youth hockey and gameday operations

• Kaycie Anderson: Metropolitan Riveters (PHF)

• Taylor Marchin: Metropolitan Riveters (PHF)

• Catherine Crawley: Metropolitan Riveters (PHF)

• Kati Tabin: Toronto Six (PHF)

• Mariah Fujimagari: AIK (SDHL)

• Rebecca Morse: no team as of Nov. 5, 2022

• Emily Fluke: no team as of Nov. 5, 2022

• Cailey Hutchison: no team as of Nov. 5, 2022

• Emma Polaski: no team as of Nov. 5, 2022

#connecticut whale #phf #premier hockey federation #whale primer #primer #i'm working on a text-only version for accessibility purposes so stay tuned for that as well!#as of february 6 2023 this now has the text-only version added to the post #took me long enough!#note to self write all the powerpoint text in a word doc first for ease of copy/pasting #wp 22-23

38 notes · View notes

andiessoccerblog · 11 months

Text

Group D Breakdown

Expected to move on: England, Denmark

Expected to exit in group stage: China, Haiti

England

FIFA Ranking: 4

Reputation:

England is my favorite to win the World Cup. In 2022 they won the European Womens’ championship, cementing their position as a possible winner of the 2023 World Cup. Despite a few major injuries, the Lionesses are in fine form, and have a really solid core group of women with a good mix of veterans and young (but not inexperienced) talent. Their players mostly play at home in the FAWSL, possibly the best women's league in the world. The FAWSL also attracts international talents, so many of these players are already playing with and against their competitors, learning their styles and skills. Their coach Sarina Wiegman has a great record with England, and with the Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup where they made the final.

Player Pool:

There are a couple veterans that deserve a call out, like defender Lucy Bronzeand midfielder Jordan Nobbs, but the energy and heart that makes this England squad different from past rosters comes in a group of younger players. Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo, and Chloe Kelly will be playing in their first World Cup, and have been in outstanding form for their English clubs and at the international level.

2019 WWC performance:

England did well in group play, led in scoring by Ellen White, who really came into her own this World Cup. They notably defeated previous runner up, Japan. They had perhaps the easiest path to the semifinals, taking on Cameroon and Norway. England was unlucky to come up against the USA in the semifinals instead of the finals, but they followed up their loss to the USA with a loss to Sweden, unlike 2015.

China

FIFA Ranking: 14

Reputation:

China used to be really good. Asia Games champions a couple times, deep runs into World Cups and olympics, but no Gold Medals.In the past, they have recruited top basketball, track, and volleyball players to play soccer in order to be faster and taller than their opponents. It’s an interesting strategy that hasn’t...not...worked. But it hasn’t really worked, either. They are showing an international comeback, including beating South Korea in the 2022 Asian Cup Finals. They have kept up with teams close to them in rankings, but will struggle against any team in the top 10.

Player Pool:

All of the players on the team except one play in China, a league that I do not follow, but one player does play in the USA for Racing Louisville FC, Wang Shuang. Their team looks very different than the squad that represented China in 2019, so standout players are generally unpredictable. I would expect veteran forward Wang Shanshan and defender Lou Jiahui to feature in starting lineups.

2019 WWC performance:

China didn’t play horribly, but they weren’t the team seen in previous years either. They sneaked into the group stage after a loss to Germany by salvaging a tie against Spain. They were eliminated by dark horse Italy in the round of sixteen. In total, they only scored 1 goal in all four games, which means their defense maintained two shutouts and limited opponents’ goals quite well.

Denmark

FIFA Ranking: 18

Reputation:

If any group has the potential for a ranking upset, it is this one. Denmark, although ranked below China, has been testing their mettle against all of Europe, and have shown themselves to be a worthy inclusion to the World Cup. It is not their first, in fact it is their fourth World Cup, even though they haven’t qualified since 2007. They have been on the edge of qualifying for World Cups in the past couple years, and now the expanded field of teams has allowed them back in the cloche, and I don’t see them wasting their opportunity.

Player Pool:

The Denmark roster boasts players across all of the major leagues in Europe–England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Sweden. Captain Pernille Harder plays for Chelsea FC, one of the best of the best clubs in the world, and is the top all-time goalscorer in Danish football history. Forwards Mille Gejl Jensen and Rikke Madsen have found success at their American club, North Carolina Courage, in the 2023 summer season, which likely helped them onto the roster.

2019 WWC performance:

Did not qualify

Haiti

FIFA Ranking: 55

Reputation:

Haiti has never played in a world tournament, and their narrow qualification was a very proud moment for the entire country, and for the larger CONCACAF region. They will probably struggle against the other teams in their group, but it will be valuable experience for the players going forward.

Player Pool:

Melchie Dumorney, midfielder, won the CONCACAF qualifying young player of the tournament, and scored the two decisive goals against Chile to qualify for the World Cup. There are a few players that play college soccer in the USA, but the majority of them play for smaller clubs in France, which does give them experience playing european-style soccer.

2019 WWC performance:

Did not qualify

#woso #uswnt #womens soccer #women's world cup #nwsl #world cup #wwc 2023 #haiti womens's soccer #engwnt #england #denmark

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unitedbydevils · 11 months

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The case for Sofyan Amrabat

Manchester United actually seem to have their arse in gear this transfer window - a good sign in the days post-Woodward but something we were unsure of given one good window prior doesn't prove a football management team is competent.

Mason Mount has already been signed and handed the no7 shirt. The signing of André Onana to replace David De Gea looks set to be completed in the next 2-3 days, Zion Suzuki has popped up out of nowhere which is almost certainly a sign he's coming in, and the Hojlund rumours are still going on - with Mason Greenwood potentially a loanee going the other way.

These are all good signings for positions in dire need, but the one position we're possibly ignoring is another defensive/holding midfielder. Manchester United are HEAVILY reliant on Casemiro to be the calm pivot player in the middle of the pitch orchestrating the recycling of the ball through the red ranks.

United's form with Casemiro out suspended or injured last year was notably worse, and in the words of Darren Bent: "When he's not there, you notice a big difference".

Casemiro's form built up nicely throughout the season but he's not shy of a strong - or rash - tackle, and that comes with risk. United lack an able substitute for his position and role, and for a team looking to solidify its top four position in a league with Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea, and Liverpool all vying for the spots, as well as trying to close the gap on treble-winning neighbours Man City... you can't be that vulnerable in squad depth.

Fred and McTominay are both no8s, if not perhaps a 10 in McTominay's case. Fred is a shuttle player. High energy, good intent, but crap at tackling and complicated play. McTominay is strong, has good stamina, can score a tidy goal, but his awareness and positioning lack.

Mount is a new, flexible signing but he's a box to box midfielder at most for defensive actions. He's a pressing attacking player. Instead, United need to sign an actual CDM - or someone roughly in that mould.

This is where Sofyan Amrabat makes so much sense. Aside being very much affordable, Amrabat had a stellar world cup and Europa Conference League. He plays short, safe, and is a hyper vigilant midfielder. He's not one to play a teammate into a bad spot, or land them in trouble with a hospital pass, and his awareness counters the hard presses of better teams. Aside being a good rotation with Casemiro, this could also be a good partnership WITH him behind Bruno/Mount in tougher games like Anfield or the Etihad.

His statistics show that Casemiro's more capable of winning the ball back, but given his very high pass completion rate - 98% of which were forward passes! - I do wonder if that stat is skewed by the fact he's in possession and retaining it more than most and more than we are currently, so we're not seeing the tackling.

Ultimately our top 2 priorities are GK and CF, even if we did get Mount in already. That was just a surprise opportunity. Could we do a deal for Amrabat? For sure. 100% he'd want to come, we know ETH likes him, but we're yet to sell anyone and generate additional funds. If we can sell Elanga, Fred, Maguire, Henderson, Bailly, Telles... then we can look at extra signings like Amrabat.

I really hope we do make a move here because we'd be stupid to rely on Casemiro staying disciplined or the emerging Kobbie Mainoo who can play most CM positions but it still a super raw talent. We need an Amrabat, or perhaps Florentino Luís or Lavia.

Somebody to help share the burden has to be the next objective after concluding deals for Onana and a striker, and the sequence of transfers and the pace of them - especially considering the imminent pre-season tour - will be a test of United's new management and whether the club really is back from its banter era.

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wedemkktzip · 2 years

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171122 insun kkt trans a thread 🍒

💬 Hello~

💬 did anyone take the college entrance exam today?

💬 you did a good job in the exam

💬 I'll try going live soon

💬 Kamel was looking at me (during cheers)

💬 I thought him were soldier student

💬 I practiced for concert today too

Q: Did everyone cry right after cheers?

💬 No!

Q: Did you choose the crop top??

💬 No, my stylist choose it for me

Q: Did you have a hard time when you wore contact lenses on the last stage?

💬 I can't do it by myself, so the stylist help me

Wedem visual ranking by insun

1st place kyungnam

2nd haesung

3rd vata

4th youngbin

5th ingyoo

6th dophan

💬 I'm the most handsome (so he on 0th place)

Q: please tell me how to deal with bad CSAT result

💬 how much did you screw up? I need to know that so I can help you.

💬 But "I messed up the college entrance exam"

💬 Please don't be too discouraged

💬 You guys still 19

💬 I'm jealous (with the age)

💬 10 years diff

💬If you're not 19 years old, how old are you?

💬 It's okay if you're 20 years old

💬 When I was 20 years old, I want to do something else than bboy

💬 So I went to design school

💬 I gave up quickly so I quit and change it to choreography

Q:if you was a girl, who would you date?

💬 it's more likely kamel

💬The reason is

💬No comment

Q if you have to choose one member to get married with your sister, who would you choose??

💬 No one

💬 Black panther is so good

💬 I want to give you some spoiler

💬 For real

💬 If you don't want to know any spoiler

💬 In 5 seconds

💬 Runaway!!

💬 I won't give you any spoiler

💬 I like watching movies alone

💬 I go watch the movie with gyeongsik

💬 Actually, I was going to watch alone but I got a call from him

💬 He told me to watch it together with him

Q: can you watch horror movie alone?

💬 absolutely impossible

Q: what's the last horror movies you watch

💬 I don't remember

💬 I'm a scaredy cat

💬 Ghost are really scary

Q:who the least scaredy cat among members

💬 kyungnam

Q: with who are you going to watch the world cup with?

💬 team or family members or friends in the army

Q: your fav sports show?

💬 ufc!!

💬 I probably dyed my hair black back but I don't know when

💬 I think I'll do it early next year

💬 I'll get going

💬 I'm always thankful to you

💬 I love you

💬 Byeee

#wedemboyz #wdbz #insun #ingyoo #yunhwan #youngbin #ahob #gyeongsik #doosan #dophan #kyungnam #kamel #lildae #jimmy #vata #noan #hojun #haesung

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shirbertflavoured · 2 years

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Really impressed with Asian Confederation in this FIFA world cup.

I know people would like to take away positions for Asia (& Africa.)

3/5 Teams through to Round of 16

4/5 Teams defeating a team ranked in top 10 in the world:

Saudi Arabia [51] def Argentina[3] 2 – 1

Australia [38] def Denmark[10] 1 – 0

Japan [24] def Spain [7] 2 – 1

Korea Republic [28] def Portugal [9] 2 – 1

#fifa world cup #fifa wc 2022

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nntheblog · 2 years

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Blue Lock Characters : 45+ Characters Ranked And Skills Explained

Blue Lock is the soccer manga of 2021. It has revolutionized the concept of sports by adding the notion of survival games. After Captain Tsubasa and Inazuma eleven, here is a mastodon in this field! That's why a question arises which are the best characters in Blue Lock ? Here's Our Top 10 Blue Lock Characters Synopsis Blue Lock "The story begins with Japan's elimination from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which prompts the Japanese Football Union to start a programme scouting high school players who will begin training in preparation for the 2022 Cup. Isagi Youichi, a forward, receives an invitation to this programme soon after his team loses the chance to go to Nationals because he passed to his less-skilled teammate —who missed— without trying to make the game-changing goal by himself. Their coach will be Ego Jinpachi, who intends to “destroy Japanese loser football” by introducing a radical new training regimen: isolate 300 young strikers in a prison-like institution called “Blue Lock” and put them through rigorous training aimed at creating “the world's greatest egotist striker.” Check Out : Blue Lock Review Vol 1 & 2 : The beginning of a long story Blue Lock Characters Ranked 45. Yudai Imamura I see very little difference between Imamura and Naruhaya. Imamura felt WAY weaker than most players in his team. He never scored a goal, neither did he played any important role in a match. And when the selection got pretty intense he got eliminated. We didn’t even get to see how he got eliminated unfortunately. 44. Okuhito Lemon Okuhito Lemon played as a goalie and was a member of Team Z. He was later eliminated in the Second Selection. 43. Keisuke & Junichi Wanima - The Best Duo Among Blue Lock Characters Keisuke & Junichi Wanima also known as the “Wanima Brothers” were the member of Team W. Team W heavily rellies on cordination plays between the 'Wanima Brothers.' Their team weapon is pass-and-go playstyle which is very difficult to stop, evern if the adversary is aware of it. 42. Wataru Kuon (Skills: Headers+ Vertical Jump) Wataru Kuon was the main strategist of Team Z. However, he betrayed his team for his own benefit during the First Selection. Although, later on he realized his mistake and gave up his selfishness in order to make his team win. Kuon has an amazing vertical jumping ability which is 68 cm. This allows him to finish nicely with amazing headers. 41. Gurimu Igarashi Gurimu Igarashi is the player member of Team Z wearing the #13 jersey in the team. He specialized in Malice. 40. Jingo Raichi (Skills: Marking+ Immense Stamina) Jingo Raichi was a member of Team Z in the First Selection matches. He played the forward position in the team. Later, after passing the Second Selection he became the part of 6th clear team. He was on the verse of facing off against the Japan U-20 playing for the Blue Lock Eleven. Raichi's stamina seems limitless and was shown in the match against Team Z. At the beginning, Reo only thought of Raichi's man-marking as a nuisance but as the game went on, his stamina started to show and Reo’s playmaking ability started to weaken. Raichi's stamina enables him to continue playing at optimal capacity, which combined with his Man-Marking ability makes him a constant threat in both defensive and offensive phases of play. 39. Ryosuke Kira Kira is a young forward who plays for Matsukaze Kokuō High School football team, he was invited to participate in the Blue Lock Project, alongside Yoichi Isagi. Kira is the first to be eliminated from Blue Lock. To be honest, his way to elimination was quite sad. He was unable to deal with the consequences. This also exposed his negative side and revealed what he thought about Isagi. He was quickly forgotten as a character in the series after his expulsion. 38. Itsuki Wakatsuki Itsuki Wakatski is the Defensive Midfielder in the team Japan U-20. 37. Nijiro Nanase Nijiro Nanase is a substitute player for the team Blue Lock Eleven facing off against Japan U-20. Out of the 300 forwards chosen for the Blue Lock Project, Nanase is ranked #99 and is currently a substitute player for the Blue Lock Eleven against the Japan U-20. 36. Asahi Naruhuya (Skills: Off- Ball Movement) Asahi Naruhuya is the former member/player of Team Z. He was formerly the center-forward player in the team. Like Yoichi Isagi, Asahi uses off-ball movement. However, Asahi seems to be much more experienced and skilled with this ability. He uses this skill to break defensive formation and has keen analytical ability, using the skill in the right place at the right time. He is also good at moving in other player's blind spots and can get past even Isagi with the skill. 35. Aoshi Tokimitsu (Skills: Quickness + Physical Power) Aoshi Tokimitsu is a forward player ranked 3rd in the Second Selection. He was on the verse of facing off against the Japan U-20 playing for the Blue Lock Eleven. Tokimitsu's greatest weapon is his physical strength, which is among the top in Blue Lock. He has been compared to a "muscle bullet" by Yoichi Isagi and even someone as strong as Shoei Baro can barely budge him in a direct contest of physical strength. This level of strength allows Tokimitsu to use his shoulder to charge past an opponent, or to block them off from the ball, making him a good target to hold the ball and set up further plays. Another notable weapon Tokimitsu has is his unlimited stamina. During a high-level match, whereas most players would sooner or later begin to feel the burn of the endgame, Tokimitsu is an exception in that his stamina allows him to continue to operate at almost full capacity. It was during the second selection where Rin took advantage of this weapon to break through the White team's formation, with Tokimitsu only being stopped by desperate and illegal tackles from both Hyoma Chigiri and Barou. Tokimitsu's unlimited stamina makes him a formidable opponent especially in the late stages of a match. 34. Yo Hiori (Skills: Key Passes + Ball Control) Yo Hiori ranked 27 out of the 300 chosen players for the Blue Lock Project. Currently, he is a substitute player for the team Blue Lock Eleven facing off against Japan U-20. He was formerly the member of Team A and the 5th Clear Team. He plays forward, winger and sideback positions in the team. Hiori's strong suit is his ability to remain level-headed and reserved during the game, being able to calmly line up other players for a perfect pass. His combination of vision and ball control led Isagi to refer to him as a "Technician of 'Stillness'", as he serves the role of an anchor for the attack, synchronising the other attackers movements with accurate passes. This makes him a strong playmaker, who can consistently put the ball in a good position for other attackers to score. Hiori's vision enables him to envision the best pass to make in any given situation. Hiori constantly looks around himself during a game to assess the positions of the players around him, as well as the situation of the field, so he can both receive the ball in space and pass the ball into space. It is through this vision that he was able to form an almost telepathic link-up with Rin, trading calm passes and avoiding other players. He also considers the positions of his teammates in and around the goal area, before deciding on right pass. His vision enables him to see plays that his opponent's do not expect, such as his combination with Karasu to get around the U-20. 33. Gagamaru Gin (Skills: Like Body + Acrobatic Display) - Our Favorite Gk Among Blue Lock Characters During the First Selection, Gagamaru Gin was the member of Team Z initially when arrived. He was ranked #88 out of the original 300 forwards chosen to be part of the Blue Lock Project and started as goalie for the Blue Lock Eleven team against the Japan U-20. He currently plays as goalie for Bastard München during the Neo Egoist League. Gagamaru is Goal Poacher. Goal poachers are forwards who wait in the six-yard box or the penalty area for a cross, pass or loose ball and pounce to try to score a goal. The "poaching" refers to the fact that they will often score a goal out of the slightest of opportunities i.e. steal a goal. Goal poachers usually play as centre forwards or second strikers. Gagamaru has excellent body control and reflex, able to adapt to nearly any pass or downright any play. He has a springlike body which he uses for all types of shots and even tackles. His adaptive playstyle has allowed him to score goals for Team Z and last to the 3rd Selection. 32. Zantetsu Tsurugi (Skills: Explosive Acceleration + Left Foot Shooting Power) Zantetsu Tsurugi is a forward player ranked 53 in the Second Selection. He was on the verse of facing off against the Japan U-20 playing for the Blue Lock Eleven. Initially he was the member of Team V during the First Selection. Zantetsu's acceleration is a key weapon in his arsenal. With his quick reactions and incredible acceleration, he can react to any movement his opponent makes and intercept them. Chigiri noted that within 10 meters, even he could not overcome Zantetsu's acceleration, indicating that Zantetsu's speed is most dangerous over short distances. 31. Teru Kitsunezato Teru Kitsunezato is the current forward player of Japan U-20 team. 30. Kento Chou Kento Chou is a member of Japan U-20 playing the forward position in the team . 29. Haru Hayate Haru Hayate is the Denfensive Midfeilder in the Japan U-20 team playing the forward position against the Blue Lock Eleven . He seems to be a calm and collected person when it comes to football. He seems to notice the quirks of other players easily and comments on them. 28. Teppei Neru (Skill: Speed) Teppei Neru is the sideback player in the Japan U-20 team. Neru is considered to be a speed-type defender, who uses his incredible speed to physically outpace attackers and steal from the ball from them. Isagi went to so far as to describe him as "lightning fast", although it is his high reaction speed that enables him to instantly be able to tell the direction the attacker is going, allowing him to use his physical speed to catch up. Using this combination of reaction and physical speed, he was able to lock down Kenyu Yukimiya (known for his 1-on-1 dribbling skills) without much effort. However, he is succeptable to being overcome if he is approached by more than one attacker, as he can react to late to their play. 27. Shuto Sendo Shuto Sendo is a forward player/member in Japan U-20. He felt insulted by those questioning his position as the ace striker of the U-20 team and during the match against Blue Lock he pushes himself and wants to become better, deciding to aim higher and marry a Hollywood actress, instead of a Japanese idol that he previously settled for. 26. Kazuma Niou Kazuma Niou is the member/player in Japan U-20 currently playing as centerback in the team. 25. Jyubei Aryu (Skills: Jumping Power + Long Reach) Jyubei Aryu was ranked 2nd in the Second Selection out of 300 players. Currently, he is centerback in the Blue Lock Eleven team facing off against Japan U-20. Aryu has incredible jumping ability which, compounded with his height, enable to him reach aerial balls from a higher position than most other players in Blue Lock. Aryu has used his jumping ability to intercept long balls and score from long balls, making him an ideal target for a cross or as a centerback who physically overwhelms the opposing player. 24. Ikki Niko (Skills: Spatial Awareness) - The Most Underrated Among Blue Lock Characters During the First Selection, Ikki Niko was the member of Team Y. He was ranked 63 out of the 300 chosen players with currently playing as a centerback in Blue Lock Eleven against Japan U-20. Niko analyzes the entire field, taking account of both his allies and opponent's weapons, positions and actions to be able to determine the next play and respond accordingly. Niko's ability to read the field was rivalling by Isagi's during their match, who is himself one of the most tactically aware players in Blue Lock. Indeed, Isagi himself has on occasion been impressed with the sheer scope of Niko's vision and ability to read the state of play. With his tactical ability, Niko organised Team Y's defensive playstyle, as well as their offensive strategy, acting as the core of the team, breaking up the opponent's attacks and initiating his own team's. Niko has also demonstrated that he can read the way a pass was made and its flight path, to determine the best way to intercept it. 23. Miroku Darai Miroku Darai is the sideback player in the Japan U-20 team. Darai's off the ball movements are used defensively, through anticipation and quick movement he is able to decipher where the opponent is moving, before reaching there first to shut them down. He talks about the "smell" of his opponent's movements, which may indicate an intuitive instinct for the off the ball movements of his mark. His off the ball movements were so good that he could prevent Eita Otoya from moving past him, despite Otoya's speed. His movements also enabled him to extensively man mark Shoei Baro, although he was eventually overcome through sheer physical ability. 22. “Princess” Hyoma Chigiri (Skills: Top Speed) - Our Prefer Speedster Among Blue Lock Characters Hyoma Chigiri also known as “Princess” was a member of Team Z when arrived. Out of 300 chosen player for Blue Lock Eleven, he ranked 44. In the first half match of the Japan National Representative Match, he played as the right sideback for the Blue Lock Eleven against Japan U-20. Chigiri has naturally strong leg muscles and expert footwork, which enables him to run down the field at incredible speeds. Chigiri is generally considered to be the fastest player in Blue Lock and only players with immense speed, like Ryusei Shidou, Eita Otoya, and Zantetsu Tsurugi can compete with him. While his speed is rivaled by a handful of players, as of yet, nobody has been able to beat him in a direct contest of speed. Chigiri has even sped past Oliver Aiku, the #1 defender of the Japan U-20. This speed, combined with his perception and awareness of positioning enables him to choose the appropriate breakthrough point in an opponent's defence and to speed through. 21. “King” Shoei Barou (Skills: Powerful Middle Shot + Charging) - The Most Stupid Among Blue Lock Characters Baro is a very selfish and arrogant type of forward who strives to be the star of the field at all times. When first arriving at Blue Lock, he was a member of Team X during First Selection and tied for top scorer in his designated stratum. After the Blue Lock Eleven played against the Japan U-20, Baro is ranked as one of the top players in Blue Lock. Baro's physique enables him to hold up the ball and physically contest other players. His charging ability allows him to dribble and create chances for himself. His shooting and villainous style enable him to finish off team moves, by devouring his teammates. Baro has one of the best physiques in Blue Lock, as well as having one of the best techniques at his age in Japan, as stated by Anri Teieri. Often Baro is given the freedom to play and devour who he wishes on the field, as shown during the Second Selection, as well as by Ego telling Baro to disregard the team's plan and focus on devouring Isagi against the Japan U-20. He could have not been in this ranking especially since Ryusei Shidou seems to be a better version of him but after have thought for this 10th place and Ikki Nikko seems much more useful but why not? 20. “Ninja” Eita Otoya (Skills: Off the Ball Movement + Swiftness) Eita Otoya is a sideback player in the Blue Block Eleven who initially was a winger in the team. He ranks 4th out the chosen 300 player for the Blue Lock Project. Otoya is incredibly quick on his feet, reacting quickly to opposing players and using his speed to intercept them. He is swift enough to intercept Shidou's Aggressive Dribbles, as well as stop Rin in his tracks. His speed is at such a level that Ego positioned him in the Blue Lock Eleven with the express purpose of using his speed to get in behind the opposing defenders. 19. Kenyu Yukimiya (Skills: Rigid Dribbling + Gyro Shot) - The Most Classy Among Blue Lock Characters Ranked 5th out of the 300 forward chosen players, he currently is the winger in the Blue Lock Eleven facing off Japan U-20. In contrast with Bachira's technical dribbling, Yukimiya's dribbling relies on his own physique, to push past opponents with power and speed. Yukimiya's core style involves bringing a confrontation to the individual level, where he can use his rigid dribbling to get past his opponents in succession. He has shown that he can overcome Rin and then Shidou whilst doing this, proclaiming that in a 1v1 he is the strongest player in Japan (although this was likely a boast). In contrast to his usual 1-on-1 style, when Yukimiya accesses the flow state, he can dribble with more precise movements, cutting into the spaces between both friends and foe. Through focus and analysis, Yukimiya can determine the best route to take in order to penetrate the defense, yet still ad In addition he has Gyro-Shot. This is a higvh shot, with incredible spin, allowing it to drop sharply in mid-air, while moving to the outside. When Yukimiya used this shot, it was very nearly going to score, if not for Aryu and Nagi reading its path. Based on what Reo said, its range is at least 30 meters. 18. “The Assassin” Tabito Karasu (Skills: Analytical Ability + Ball Control + Feint) Also known as “The Assassin”, Tabito Karasu is currently the defensive midfielder in the Blue Lock Eleven. Amongst 300 chosen forwards, he ranked 3rd. He is currently ranked #3 out of the original 300 forwards chosen to be apart of the Blue Lock Project and is currently starting as a defensive midfielder for the Blue Lock Eleven against the Japan U-20. Karasu has the best ball-keeping sense in Blue Lock, due to his spatial and tactical awareness and his unique ability to control space with his hands. By gauging the distance between himself and his opponent, Karasu uses his body (and more specifically his arms) to block them off from the ball, controlling the space and enabling him to either steal the ball from them or dribble past. 17. Rensuke Kunigami (Skills: Finesse Shot + Knucle Shot) He was ranked #50 out of the original 300 forwards chosen to be a part of the Blue Lock Project but was later eliminated from Blue Lock during the final games of Second Selection by Ryusei Shidou but instead of leaving the facility he walked into a mysterious "Wild Card" door that was open to him. After the U-20 match ended, Kunigami finally returned from the "Wild Card" door. Being a high powered left footed shooter, Kunigami is rare type of striker. Kunigami was tied for top scorer on Team Z during the First Selection, and only because another teammate cheated to get their goals to tie with him. When left unmarked he is guaranteed to make an easy goal. illustration By Highend69 After emerging from his time in the Wild Card door, Kunigami's physical abilities had been noted to skyrocket since his last appearance in Second Selection. While the rest of the Germany Stratum Blue Lock players struggled to compare to the Germany U-20 players, Kunigami easily kept up with them during training and ranked amongst the top 3 players in the entire stratum. 16. Nagi Seishiro (Skills: Perfect Ball Control + Trapping) - The Highest Potential Among Blue Lock Characters When he first arrived to Blue Lock he was a member of Team V and was the best player in his designated stratum. After the Blue Lock Eleven played against the Japan U-20, Nagi is ranked as one of the top players in Blue Lock. With Nagi's, perfect ball control, flexible movements, and technical ability he is able to breathe life into even the most difficult or hopeless plays. Read the full article

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uclagymnasticsfanpage · 1 year

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Reasons we are excited for the 2023 season with UCLA!

We wanted to share with you all some of our reasons why we are excited for the upcoming UCLA gymnastics season!

Photo: Christine Kao

Reason #1 - New head coach Janelle McDonald

Taking over after Chris Waller’s short three-year run of the program, Janelle McDonald has been tasked with rebuilding the UCLA gymnastics program.

While this is McDonald’s first-ever head coaching position at a collegiate level, she brings with her over two decades' worth of coaching experience. Three years as an assistant coach at the University of California McDonald coached the Cal bar squad to its highest-ever bar score, 49.825, tying the national record with UCLA. During her time with California McDonald won several accolades including the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in both 2020 and 2021, and she was named to College Gym New’s Coaching Staff of the Year in 2021.

Alongside collegiate coaching experience, McDonald coached at notable elite gym WOGA for six years between 2012 and 2018.

Along with her McDonald brings two new coaches to UCLA’s coaching staff, assistant coach Kyle Grable, and volunteer assistant coach Autumn Grable, both coming from JPAC

Needless to say, we are super excited to cheer on Janelle McDonald as the new UCLA head coach this season!

Photo: Jesus Ramirez

Reason #2 - The return of Jordan Chiles

What a year it has been for Jordan Chiles! Returning for her sophomore season at UCLA, Jordan Chiles is coming off a very successful NCAA and elite gymnastics season.

In her freshman season, Chiles scored three perfect 10s twice on the floor and once on the uneven bars

However, after the end of her first collegiate season, Jordan returned to elite gymnastics with her eyes on the World Championships in Liverpool at the end of the year. In national competition, Chiles placed 3rd in the AA at the U.S. National Championships, along with being 3rd on both the uneven bars and floor exercise.

After the national championships, Chiles attended the Paris Challenge Cup, where she won silver on the uneven bars, and gold on the floor exercise.

Succeeding in her goal, Jordan Chiles was named to the 2022 U.S. Women’s World Championship team, where she helped the U.S. clinch the team gold, along with winning two individual silvers on vault, and floor exercise.

To say the least, Jordan is a vital asset to the UCLA team and one of the reasons we are so excited about the upcoming season!

Photo: UCLA Athletics

Reason #3 - Ranked #10 in the pre-season poll

UCLA has been ranked #10 in this year's WCGA preseason poll, extending the 27-year streak of being named in the top ten and it is certainly a reason to be excited!

Photo: John McCoy

Reason #4 - College Gym New’s #1 Ranked Recruit Selena Harris

The new UCLA freshman class is littered with talented athletes, arguably one of the most notable is the #1 ranked 2022 recruit by College Gym News Selena Harris.

Harris has competed at both the club level, and also at the junior elite level, she has won eight level 10 national championships, excelling in all events and in the all-around.

Selena Harris is predicted to be an incredible asset for UCLA for the next four years and for the upcoming season, we cannot wait to see what she will do along with the rest of the UCLA team!

Photo: (Source could not be found)

Reason #5 - Ciena Alipio

Another incredible incoming freshman for the UCLA squad is Ciena Alipio is ranked as College Gym New’s #16 recruit nationwide.

She is a four-time US national team member and has experience competing both nationally and internationally. This year, Alipio won a silver medal on the beam at the U.S. National Championship, at the 2022 U.S. Classics she placed 9th in the all-around and 6th on floor exercise.

Ciena trained along with 2021 Olympic Champion Sunisa Lee at Midwest Gymnastics before moving to UCLA for her collegiate career.

Another athlete we will be so excited to cheer on during her time at UCLA!

Photo: Inside Gymnastics

Reason #6 - 5th Year Senior Margzetta Frazier

Returning for her 5th season at UCLA is redshirt senior Margzetta Frazier who sadly incurred an injury at UCLA’s first meet of the 2022 season.

Coming back as a super senior for UCLA we are excited to see Margzetta return to competition, known as an all arounder with high marks on all events. Margzetta is an integral part of the UCLA team and a vital leader, and someone who as fans we value and look up to for her talents, hard work, and courage

Frazier has also served as a member of the Pac-12 Gymnastics diversity & inclusion organization, G-PAC, two years in a row.

Photo: (Source could not be found)

Reason #7 - Return to competition for Emily Lee

Emily Lee might be returning to UCLA as a sophomore, but the 2023 season will be the first time we see her compete in the blue and gold

While competing at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Lee tore her Achilles tendon, and subsequently did not compete during the 2022 NCAA season while recovering

Lee, a three-time U.S. National Team member, was ranked #10 by College Gym News in the Class of 2021 national rankings. With strengths on the balance beam, floor exercise, and in all around.

We have waited! And we are so ready to see Emily Lee compete in Pauley Pavilion in the blue and gold!

Photo: (Source could not be found)

Reason #8 - UCLA Floor Party

While UCLA has had a large turnover in coaches from the last season, BJ Das is staying put with UCLA, having spent three years as a volunteer assistant coach (2020-2022).

Das is a professional dancer and choreographer and has been known for creating some of the most iconic UCLA floor routines in recent years, and we are so excited to see what she might come up with for this year's floor party in Pauley Pavilion!

Working with Das, UCLA is known for having some of the best floor performers in the nation, and this year is no different with notable athletes being; Jordan Chiles, Margzetta Frazier, Chae Campbell, Brooklyn Moors, Emma Malabuyo, Chloe Lashbrooke, Emily Lee

Photo: David Rimer

#ucla gymnastics #ucla athletics #ucla #ncaa gymnastics #ncaa sports #gymnastics

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