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herb10 · 4 months

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Justin teaching Jessica Smetana how to throw 🏈

🎥 (c): lebatardshow

#justin herbert #los angeles chargers #la chargers #nfl #2020 offseason

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firstpitchswinging · 2 years

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since it's the offseason now: last week I had a moment and made playlists of all of the blue jays MLB highlight videos for 2022, 2021 and 2020. i love the highlights and i wanted to have them all in one place, so i thought i'd share the links here in case anyone else wants that too

2022 highlights

2021 highlights

2020 highlights

#i did 2020 and 2021 too because i might watch (and potentially liveblog) them when i'm missing daily baseball during the offseason #toronto blue jays

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godefylife · 2 years

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Second- and third-year breakout players for the 2022 NFL season – Defense edition:

Second- and third-year breakout players for the 2022 NFL season – Defense edition: Edge defender - Joe Tryon-Shoyinka Interior D-line - Justin Madubuike Cornerback - Paulson Adebo . . . #NFL #Footballtalk #NFLDraft #NFLBreakoutPlayers #NFLTwitter

After breaking down seven offensive breakout candidates for this upcoming NFL season, we’re switching over to the defensive side of the ball and identifying seven more names, who I believe are due for taking a big step forward heading into year two or three. Once again, these guys must have at least played to some degree in the NFL and not made the list last year already. Players don’t qualify…

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#2020 NFL Draft #2021 NFL Draft #2022 NFL season #Breakout Candidates #Breakout NFL Players #Footballtalk #NFL #NFL Draft #NFL offseason

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annieqattheperipheral · 5 months

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you have to read this in full!!

i gotchu from behind the $wall:

The day Luke Prokop shook the hockey world by coming out, he needed to get away.

And stop looking at his constantly buzzing phone.

It was July 21, 2021, and the right-shot defenseman had just become the first openly gay hockey player under an NHL contract. The Nashville Predators’ No. 73 pick in the 2020 draft was just 19 years old and hadn’t even turned pro yet. He didn’t know how it would impact his future. His nerves were fried.

But one text message was impossible to ignore. He didn’t recognize the number but certainly knew the name.

“Hey, it’s Auston Matthews. I wanted to congratulate you. I look forward to sharing the ice with you someday.”

Prokop was blown away. The Toronto Maple Leafs superstar wasn’t the most famous person to reach out — that honor goes to Elton John — but the fact that so many NHLers, including one of the league’s best and most powerful players, were offering support meant a lot.

Now 21, Prokop still hasn’t taken the NHL ice, but on Wednesday he took a step forward, being recalled by the Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. He could become the first openly gay player to appear in an AHL game Friday night for the Admirals in Rockford.

As difficult as the decision to come out was, Prokop told The Athletic in an extended conversation recently that he’s been mentally and physically freed by it. He doesn’t have to hide. He can be himself, on and off the ice. Heck, he can even date.

“It’s been massive,” he said.

Teammates and fans have welcomed him in his journey toward the NHL so far, from Calgary, Edmonton and Seattle of the junior WHL to, most recently, Atlanta of the ECHL. They treated him like he was any other player.

Not that there’s not room to grow. Prokop figured more players would come out after he did. They haven’t, not that he would rush anyone’s decision on that. He’s also been disappointed by the developments over the past few years with the NHL’s inclusion efforts, including the Pride tape “debacle.”

He can only control his own actions, though, and doesn’t regret his decision.

“I’d like to think I’m a realistic person,” Prokop said. “I know hockey is not going to be forever. As much as (when I came out) I would have loved to keep playing, I was OK with not playing any more if it didn’t work out — just being able to live my life the way I wanted, to be myself.

“But now, I don’t want to stop playing. It was definitely nerve-wracking. You never know what the reaction is going to be inside hockey, outside hockey, because no one has done it before. We kind of went out on a limb and hoped for the best. It’s been way more positive than we thought it’d be. You’re going to have some keyboard warriors, which there were a few, but I was expecting more.

“I did not expect the amount of support I got from NHL players. That was really cool.”

- - - - - - -

The Matthews text and Elton John phone call the morning after were memorable, with the gay rock legend welcoming him to the community and offering his email address if Prokop ever needed anything.

Prokop found even more comfort in a moment that came a few days later — the first time he played hockey since his announcement. It was a four-on-four league in Edmonton at Meadows Rec Center, a place where pros and NHLers competed and kept in shape during the offseason.

Prokop was on a team with Colton and Kirby Dach. The other team had Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart and the Boston Bruins’ Jake DeBrusk. During warmups, Prokop found himself near mid-ice. The first guy to approach him was DeBrusk. The two had met previously through mutual friends. DeBrusk tapped Prokop’s shin pads with his stick.

“Congrats,” he told him. “I’m really happy for you. If you need anything, let me know.”

“I didn’t know what the reaction would be,” Prokop said. “So that meant a lot.”

Prokop was returning that year to the Calgary Hitmen (WHL), the junior team he had played for the previous four seasons. But there had been a lot of turnover on the roster and, of course, a lot had changed for Prokop. So he decided to address the team in its first meeting in training camp.

“Everyone knows what I did last summer,” he told his team. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. There might be a lot of media asking you for an interview. If you don’t feel comfortable, you don’t have to do them. If you have any questions for me, come ask me. I’m an open book. I just don’t want you guys to feel uncomfortable.”

In that dressing room, Prokop had heard plenty of the uncomfortable language that’s not uncommon for any locker room. He even admitted using it. He didn’t want to out himself. He wanted to act straight, be “one of the guys.”

“I heard it, but it wasn’t all the time,” he said. “I also took it from the perspective that these guys don’t know any better. It’s hockey language. It’s how guys talk. They don’t mean it in a harmful way. They use the word ‘gay’ as a filler at the end of a sentence to make something stupid. ‘Well, that’s so gay.’ I wasn’t comfortable with it, but I used it myself. I didn’t want to seem like I was out of the mix.

“Some guys texted me (after I came out), ‘F—, sorry if I said anything to offend you when we played.’ I’d just say, ‘Guys, you had no idea.’ The lesson is you don’t know what everyone is going through. The words you say do matter. Make sure you think before you speak. It’s a silly rule you learn in kindergarten. It applies to life when you’re 22 or 35 and never goes away.

“The way hockey is going with the language, guys are naturally changing their language. I’ve heard a change in language on every team I’ve been on.”

Prokop said that season was the best of his career, both from a production standpoint and a personal one. He was traded to the Edmonton Oil Kings early in the season and had 10 goals and 33 points in 55 games for them, helping them win the WHL’s Ed Chynoweth Cup and advance to the Memorial Cup.

Luke Prokop won the WHL’s Ed Chynoweth Cup with the Oil Kings in 2022. (Courtesy of Oilers Entertainment Group)

Luke Pierce, then an assistant coach for Edmonton and now the head coach, said the staff and management had discussions with the leadership group before acquiring Prokop — making sure they were comfortable with it, feeling out whether their room could handle the attention. Pierce said he asked one of the captains, Blues prospect Jake Neighbours, for his perspective. Neighbours had known Prokop since they were 10 or 11, growing up playing in spring tournaments together. He told Pierce and the staff there would be “zero issue” and he’d be a great addition.

Neighbours said nothing really changed, that Prokop “fit right in” to the team. Pierce at first wondered if players would have any issue with rooming assignments on the road, but nobody blinked. Pierce noted that Prokop would joke about situations and even opened up about his boyfriend coming to visit.

“He put everybody at ease,” Pierce said. “I often tell people, if the outside world could see how the group of men interacted, it would be just a tremendous inspiration on how we should treat everybody.”

Pierce and Prokop pointed out how this generation is more comfortable and equipped to handle LGBTQ+ inclusion issues. Everyone seems to know someone, be friends with someone, or be related to someone in the community.

“I just don’t think guys really care anymore,” Prokop said. “They might be nervous as they have this stereotype version of what a gay guy might look like, sound like, act like. Like me, coming to a team, they think I’ll act a certain way, look a certain way, but they’ll realize three minutes into talking to me that I’m not that.

“Hockey is part of me. It’s who I am. Guys totally forget (about me being gay) when I’m at the rink. They’re not afraid to ask questions. But other than that, it never really comes up. That’s how I wanted it to be. I wanted them to know, but we can all go out and play. I never wanted to be a distraction.”

- - - - - - -

The NHL’s decisions around Pride jerseys and stick tape weren’t a distraction, Prokop said, but he has gotten frustrated about it.

He understood the issue over wearing sweaters during warmups — “jerseys weren’t really their choice” — but lamented that the fact the focus was on the handful of players who refused to wear them and not all the others who did. The NHL’s initial banning of Pride stick tape, then its reversal, was a whole other topic.

“To take away choices from players was really confusing,” Prokop said. “Some of them don’t really care. For some, it was near and dear to their heart. To take it away was mind-boggling. From the players’ side, the support was there. Zach Hyman talked about it, Travis Dermott. I like what they did. They didn’t make a big deal about it before — they just did it. Let fans see the rest, and it’ll take care of itself. There’s a massive amount of support from players in the NHL.”

What do the Pride tape and sweaters mean for someone in the LGBTQ+ community?

Prokop didn’t recall noticing them growing up going to Oilers games. He never got to see someone who was gay using Pride tape on the TV screen. He had to deal with it himself — “jump over those barriers without any help.” But Prokop continued pursuing his hockey career whereas “a lot of people don’t feel comfortable pursuing their career without that exposure, without feeling like they’re being seen.”

“I think with the Pride tape stuff, they were trying to show support for their older fans,” Prokop said of the NHL. “The fans that have been watching hockey for 40-50 years. That’s not how you grow the game. You want to get the younger generation, put these guys in the best situation to promote the game. Sometimes I don’t think the NHL does that the correct way. The Pride tape is one example.”

Prokop has been part of two Pride nights since he came out, one with the Edmonton Oil Kings and another with Seattle. The Oil Kings staff approached him after not having that event on their promotional calendar. They planned it in two weeks and it was a big hit, with around 8,000 fans in attendance.

“Some guys told me it was the most impactful game they’d been in during their career,” Prokop said. “They said they didn’t realize how many Queer fans they had. I don’t think they realize how much my community watches hockey, plays hockey and cares about hockey.

The Seattle Pride night was fan-driven, which made it unique. Thunderbirds fans noticed that other rival teams had a special night for Pride and made a push for their own, making bracelets and T-shirts. Prokop told teammates they didn’t have to wear the stick tape — he knows how superstitious hockey players are. They all wore some, for him.

“I always look at the perspective, the other side of Pride nights — why do you have them if no one on the team is gay?” Prokop said. “The point is that it’s for the fans. For me, it means a lot to play in them to show my community and be a representative on the ice.”

While education is important, Prokop said any real change in the NHL when it comes to inclusion will start with other players coming out. He’s not putting any timeline or pressure on that. He didn’t have one. But that’s when players in the league will see a different perspective, get more comfortable with it.

“Otherwise, it’s always going to be a story,” Prokop said. “I also can see why guys don’t want to come out. Especially in the NHL. They’ve been very successful, so why change? I kind of saw that from the perspective when the whole Pride jersey story came out. My phone was blowing up. I don’t think guys want to have to deal with that. There was a responsibility for me to talk about these topics. I don’t think guys want to do that. I can see it from that side, why they don’t want to come out.

“I don’t think anything is going to change unless someone else does. Someone else will step up. It’s only a matter of time. I thought there’d maybe be two, three of us by now. But it hasn’t happened. But I know there’s going to be someone else soon. It’s math. There’s what, 700 players in the league? There’s definitely a few more.”

- - - - - - -

While there have been some derogatory comments coming from the stands on a few occasions, Prokop has been encouraged there have been none from opposing players.

“Zero,” he said.

Most of the feedback he’s received, even on social media, has been positive. And it’s not just the comments like Matthews’ that stick with him. Two high schoolers in Seattle, Kaitlin and Jo, reached out to him over Instagram. They are part of the LGBTQ+ community and were struggling.

“Like everyone, they just wanted someone to talk to,” Prokop said.

Part of Prokop’s pregame routine is usually to hang by the bench and listen to music. On many occasions, Kaitlin and Jo would come by and the three of them would just chat for 10, 12 minutes. They’re the fans that Prokop saw every game above the tunnel on his way to the dressing room. They’ve stayed in touch. Prokop even did a Zoom meeting with their high school class last month. “They have a special place in my heart,” he said.

When, and if, Prokop makes his NHL debut, he says he’ll have a special secret plan for them.

Whether Prokop lives his NHL dream remains to be seen. He’s praised the Predators for their support from the first time he did a group video call with the staff. Former NHLer Mark Borowiecki, now a development coach, has been someone Prokop has leaned on often, not only for on-ice advice but for help getting through things mentally.

Scott Nichol, the Predators’ assistant GM, likes Prokop’s potential.

“Big right-shot defensemen that can skate, move the puck. They don’t grow on trees,” he said. “He just needs to polish up his game in some areas in the defensive zone. He’s got the tools. He’s got the skating ability. It’s just patience and embrace the process.”

Prokop is grateful for his support group, from his parents, Al and Nicole, to his brother, Josh, and sister, Alanna. He’s kept in touch with Heather Lefebvre, who is a specialist in hockey engagement and alumni relations with the Oilers Entertainment Group. They talk almost every day. What sticks out to Lefebvre is how young Prokop was when he came out (19), and while he wears this “trailblazer” cap, he’s still standing alone.

“I think this generation is more ready for it than past generations, for sure,” Lefebvre said. “It says a lot to me that nobody else has come out in the year and a half since he has. He’s the only openly gay player under NHL contract, but he’s not the only gay player under NHL contract.

“That’s where I think we have work to do. Is it great that he’s been accepted and can do his thing? Yes. But he looks at the positives, which makes me really happy for him. But that doesn’t mean there’s no negative.”

Prokop takes the positives in his off-ice life, too. He lives with Alanna in the offseason back home in Edmonton. He’s found teammates to share in his hobbies, like golf (he plays 40 to 50 rounds a year). He loves to read, from biographies to sci-fi. He watches basketball more than hockey and has more than 25 jerseys. He cooks. He got into puzzles during the pandemic and is bullish about doing them on his own.

Prokop also feels comfortable getting out there on the dating scene and not having to hide it from teammates.

“Obviously, the lifestyle of a hockey player is tough for some people,” he said. “I’m trying to find the right person to connect with. I’m a softie, a romantic guy. I love love. I’m always on the lookout for that right person to spend the rest of my life with.”

Prokop doesn’t see the label of being the first openly gay player under NHL contract as a weight. It’s more of a responsibility. He has a platform and wants to use it. He’s realistic, “dreaming about winning the community service award more than the Norris Trophy.”

Making the AHL jump or someday the NHL jump won’t define him.

“One of my main goals when I came out is that if I could have an impact on one person outside of my family and friends in my lifetime, I’ve done my job,” he said. “I think I’ve done that and more. And I want to continue to do that.”

#luke prokop #auston matthews #jake debrusk #elton john #nashville predators #milwaukee admirals #atlanta gladiators #toronto maple leafs #boston bruins #jake neighbours #st louis blues #edmonton oil kings #calgary hitmen #lgbtq #pride jerseys #pride tape #nhl garbage league

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betterthanburrow · 1 year

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The NFL Off-Season Life - Instagram AU

(Bengals Quarterback! Joe Burrow x Artist! OC)

liked by joeyb_9, allisonkuch and 991,893 more users

yourinstagram: life is good… life is great ❣️

view all 110,994 comments

allisonkuch: it looks like you and Joe are enjoying your first NFL off-season life together!

↳ yourinstagram: the advice you gave me on how to handle football players during the NFL off-season life truly has saved my life and i can’t thank you enough 🙏🏻

lahjay10_: i can tell from that writing piece of yours that y’all are having fun during the offseason 😌

mamaburrow: i hope that the two of you are having a good time visiting your hometown!

↳ yourinstagram: trust me… we are having fun!

yourmother: i can’t wait to see the two of you soon!

joeyb_9: out of all the pictures of me… you decided to chose that photo to be apart of your “photo dump”?!

↳ yourinstagram: would you rather me post your failed artwork on a tiny canvas for all instagram users to see?!

liked by 357,158 users

Burrow_Updates: Joe Burrow’s instagram story.

view all 87,109 comments

username1: i was at that restaurant last night and i saw Joe with his girlfriend and her mother… i didn’t take pictures to respect their privacy but they were having a good time together while drinking and laughing.

↳ username2: did you hear any of the embarrassing stories from Y/N’s childhood?!

↳ username1: no, i wasn’t close to their table. also the restaurant was very loud so even if i was close to their table… i probably wouldn’t have been able to hear anything because i couldn’t hear my girlfriend speak and she was sitting across the table from me.

yourinstagram: i can’t believe an instagram story update from one of my boyfriend’s fanpages is how i find out that my mother and i got too drunk…

liked by joeyb_9, allisonkuch and 799,083 users

yourinstagram: 🗯️ (disclaimer: it’s an art piece that i saw on the street, please don’t overthink this post)

view all 190,903 comments

joeyb_9: thank you for the disclaimer… i don’t need rumors about me being a fan of NFTs going around 🙄

↳ yourinstagram: rumors about you being head over heels in love with your art lover girlfriend > rumors about you loving your girlfriend because she’s an NFT.

mamaburrow: what’s an NFT?!

↳ joeyb_9: trust me mama… you don’t want to know.

liked by yourinstagram and 732,495 more users

joeyb_9: thinkin about ball today.

view all 109,268 comments

Bengals: we’re always thinking about the ball.

yourinstagram: is that all you were thinking about 🤔

↳ joeyb_9: i was also thinking about my girlfriend’s embarrassing stories from her childhood that her and her mother told me about at the restaurant ☺️

↳ yourinstagram: stop thinking about that right now… go back at thinking about the ball.

NFL: we miss seeing our favorite #9 quarterback on the football field!

lahjay10_: when are you not thinking about the ball?!

↳ joeyb_9: that’s a good point.

liked by mamaburrow and 991,097 more users

yourinstagram: today, i offering you a semi-blurry selfie and some art pieces that i’ve been working on… tomorrow, who knows what i’ll offer.

view all 101,009 comments

joeyb_9: pretty girl and her pretty art.

username1: will you ever put your artwork up for sale?!

↳ yourinstagram: i’ve considered opening an online shop for my artwork… but art is something i do in my free-time for my own peace of mind and i don’t want it to become a chore that i’ll have to stress about.

sam_hubbard: i know what you could offer tomorrow?!

↳ yourinstagram: hmm… what?! (if you say something stupid i’m going to block your account)

↳ sam_hubbard: nevermind… i’m not going to risk getting blocked by one of my best friend’s girlfriend 😵‍💫

liked by yourinstagram and 96,108 more users

Bengals: Tiny hands win games.

view all 255 comments

joeyb_9: who edited those hands… we need to talk.

sam_hubbard: i see that Twitter 2020 tweet more times that i’ve seen any other Twitter tweet.

yourinstagram: those tiny hands may win football games, but those tiny hands can’t paint a tiny canvas!

↳ joeyb_9: i apologize for not being the most artistic football quarterback in the world.

Author’s Note:

i truly do enjoy writing these Instagram AUs, i know that this is only the third Instagram AU that i’ve posted so far but… i’m having a lot of fun writing Instagram AUs for a man that has no social media presence which is causing me to use my imagination to come up with these Instagram AUs “scenarios”.

if you have any requests for an Instagram AU, please send them to my inbox and i’ll try to have the Instagram AU posted as soon as i can!

thank you for all the love and support 🤍

#Joe Burrow #NFL #Cincinatti Bengals #CFB #LSU Tigers #Joe Burrow x OC #Joe Burrow x Reader #Joe Burrow Fanfiction #Joe Burrow Fanfic #Joe Burrow Fic #NFL Fanfiction #Joe Burrow Instagram AU #Joe Burrow Instagram #Instagram AU

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kingofthering · 4 months

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For anyone missing the bike boys and looking for a laugh during this offseason, I’ve compiled all the Behind the Scenes videos from the virtual GPs that took place during the first lockdown, before the 2020 season.

#motogp #marc marquez #fabio quartararo #valentino rossi #and so many others #please tell me if I’ve missed one and I’ll add it to the list #I would love to gif my fave moments but the videos quality are soooooo bad #it makes me so sad

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redhairedwolfwitch · 2 years

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Not Like We Were Hiding (2/3) - Jill Roord x Reader

Part 1

A/n: Part 1 was 9k words... part 2 is 11k words... I'm a little sorry... enjoy!

///

Moving to Barcelona earlier than what you had previously arranged with the Barcelona side of management left them playing catch-up, although you assured them that you had settled in fine in Barcelona.

Although you did end up travelling to attend the UEFA Champions League final, Barcelona against Chelsea. You kept hidden, smiling as Barcelona won 4-0 against Chelsea, reminding you of the last time you played against Chelsea, with Jill. Your heart ached slightly as you watched your future teammates dance around and celebrate, before you headed back to your hotel. Travelling to Sweden for the finals had gotten you out of unpacking your belongings and crying over everything you had in London that you no longer did, so that helped somewhat.

Barcelona’s 2020/21 season also included the club winning Copa de Reina and being top of the Primera División, whilst you were training in the park near your new place until you stopped feeling that weight in your chest and nervousness about meeting your new teammates. Plus, you’d seen something on social media that made you want to either throw up or cry. Fans had videoed Jill talking to a Norwegian player who you’d learnt was called Ingrid, and she played at Wolfsburg.

Barcelona’s offseason beginning gave you a chance to breathe, watching the Netherlands perform at the Olympics in Tokyo whenever you could, having jumped out of your chair to celebrate when Jill got her goal against Zambia. You texted her a congratulations before the heartache of not being there to celebrate with her kicked in.

Watching the Netherlands lose against the US made you queasy as you turned off the tv, choosing to sit on your balcony and contemplate what you were doing.

Lieke Martens was the first teammate to contact you a while after the Olympics, (having gotten your phone number from Daan whilst in Tokyo), asking if you wanted to meet for coffee and hang out.

///

Getting your coffees to go, you walked with Lieke to where she wanted to show you, your stomach doing a backflip as you realised she was waving to some people. Your Barcelona teammates, or some of them anyway.

“Sorry to spring this on you, but everyone was so excited to meet some of the new players.” Lieke explained as you sipped your coffee, heading over to the group.

“This is the Arsenal player who played with some of my national teammates!” Lieke announced you like that, leaving you to raise an eyebrow before you froze, recognising a face you thought you wouldn’t see with your Barcelona teammates.

“I thought you played with Wolfsburg?” it slipped out before you could shut your mouth, leaving Ingrid to smile and nod, explaining she was joining Barcelona this season just like you. Ingrid, the player that had been seen with Jill, who you thought would be playing alongside Jill this season, was at Barcelona with you.

Sipping your coffee, you remained silent as Lieke glanced between you and Ingrid in confusion, deciding to introduce you to Rolfö to get rid of the awkward energy.

///

Taking a seat back from it all, you watched some of your new teammates dancing and playing random games with a football someone had brought, continuing to sip on your coffee, your excuse for not joining in being you wanted to finish it. That didn’t mean you were drinking it quickly.

Lieke had come over to sit with you after realising you were alone, the two of you quietly talking as Ingrid walked over first, but Alexia and Jenni weren’t too far behind.

“She did not stop talking about you.” Ingrid’s admission caught your attention as your knee buckled and hit the table in your shock.

“What do you mean?” You asked, fingers unconsciously running over your wrist tattoo as the others fell quiet.

“When I spoke to Jill, she did not stop talking about how much she loves you, and how much she misses you.” Ingrid explained with a sad smile, eyes drifting to your tattoo as Lieke reached for your arm for a closer look.

“That’s Jill’s handwriting… ‘mijn liefde’... my love… Sari mentioned Jill missing someone at camp, but-”

“Jill and I… we didn’t hide, we just didn’t broadcast the fact we were together. Took a while for our Arsenal teammates to find out, they were so confused by it all. I mean, it went from a hookup after winning against Chelsea to dating in about four days, then we were girlfriends after a match against City where one of their attackers landed on top of me. To be honest, we moved so quickly at times but so slowly at others.” You let out a soft breath, your eyes staying on your tattoo as you spoke, so you didn’t see the reactions of Alexia, Jenni, Lieke and Ingrid to your story.

“It was supposed to be a one night thing, but Jill made her way into my heart and made that tiny place I lived in a home. We wanted to stay together, but Arsenal didn’t want to re-sign me, so we looked at other club offers. Wolfsburg was better for Jill, but they had enough defenders, and none of my offers were even in the same country as Jill’s. In the end, Jill was heading for Wolfsburg, and I ended up here. We couldn’t handle long distance, barely being able to sleep apart when we both lived in London. International breaks with Jill leaving to play with the Netherlands were hell for us both. I think Sari had to deal with a sad Jill way too much,” wiping at your face in case any tears fell, you let out a sad laugh at what you were about to say.

“I lied when I said I moved to Barcelona recently. I moved after our transfer announcements were made, I, I didn’t want to see the tiny place in London without Jill’s things in it, because then it wouldn’t be home. We weren’t hiding our relationship from the public, we posted on socials, we celebrated goals together and held hands in the streets… one of our last conversations together in person was about how we wished we could handle the distance, and how we’d always love each other. Jill is my liefde. I don’t think I could ever really get over her. She’s also part of the reason I started moving up into midfield… but being underestimated at Arsenal pushed me into being something more, and apparently it was something that caught people’s attention as last season went on… so… that’s me.” You finished monologuing, bringing the coffee to your lips only to pout when you found it was empty.

“Spreek je nederlands? Of alleen maar koosnamen?” Lieke enquired, raising an eyebrow as you smirked back, glancing between Alexia, Jenni and Ingrid who all looked confused.

“Ja, ik spreek nederlands. Meer dan je denkt… plus I’m pretty sure Lisa has a montage of me swearing in Dutch during training. Daan taught me those words though.” You replied, smiling softly at the memory.

“How do you feel now?” Alexia enquired after having what you assumed was a conversation with Jenni through facial expressions alone.

“I miss Jill all the time. We text, call, even video call sometimes, but there’s still that ache, she’s… she’s the love of my life, but she’s over 800 miles away, and it sucks.” You messed with the empty coffee cup until it was taken from your hands by Jenni so you’d look up at her.

“You’ll see her again, when Barcelona plays in the champions league this season!” Jenni smiled, trying to give you something to focus on whilst Lieke tapped away on her phone and Ingrid smiled.

“I think Jill feels the same way you do, she misses you a lot.” Ingrid affirmed, gently patting you on the shoulder in support, nodding as you mouthed ‘thank you’ and an apology to her for earlier.

“You said you two weren’t hiding, yes?” Alexia asked, raising an eyebrow as you got out your phone and opened your instagram to show her and Jenni the photos you were talking about, whilst Ingrid slipped away to talk to Caro, and Lieke looked over your shoulder at your phone like she was anticipating something, but also interested in the photo of you and Jill on your mini golf date.

“Have you ever been bouldering?” You enquired as you got to the footage Lisa had taken of you climbing on the bouldering date with Jill that Lisa and some of your other teammates had crashed.

“Mijn kleine spin…” you whispered, recalling what Jill had called you that day, the warmth in your chest matching the heat in your face as your phone began to ring, revealing that Jill was calling.

“Um, I’m gonna take this… hoi!” you announced, hurrying away to go find somewhere private as Lieke smirked.

“Did you-” Alexia began as Jenni laughed, realising that Lieke had texted Jill, telling her to call you when she saw the message.

///

It hadn’t gone unnoticed by Jill’s Wolfsburg how she had lit up talking on the phone to someone in a mix of Dutch and English, Jill’s national teammates had an inkling though, and it wasn’t like Jill had hidden that she was in a relationship during her last season of Arsenal, but they hadn’t played against you before. They didn’t know about the rising defender/defensive midfielder who caused havoc for opposing midfielders in the WSL. Maybe they’d find out though, if Wolfsburg played against Barcelona in the UWCL, like Jenni said.

///

“Je hebt mijn shirt aan.” Jill smirked, the phone call having turned to a video call after a while, her eyes lingering on how good you looked in her shirt, before her heart reminded her of reality.

“Do you have a problem with that? I’m pretty sure you have some of my clothes with you too.” You asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge in response to Jill’s smirk.

“No problem, just annoyed I can’t be there to take it off of you.”

“Wow… now I’m glad I left the room where all my Barcelona teammates could have heard that!” You pointed out, feeling a warmth in your cheeks as Jill grinned, wiggling her eyebrows before the conversation shifted into how you were doing in Barcelona, and how Jill was in Wolfsburg.

///

Barcelona had a lot of defenders in their squad that you were getting to know and training with, but you also did tasks with the midfielders, annoying them a little in the process as your Arsenal antics began to creep in.

“Jill-” You froze, turning around to an empty space instead of where you would usually see Jill wanting you to pass to her, confusing Patri and Aitana as they exchanged glances.

“Wow, I can’t believe I just did that.” You ran your hands down your face, about to be annoyed with yourself when a hand landed on your shoulder. Removing your hand from your face, you met Alexia’s sad smile of understanding, the ball that you had kicked out of play trying to pass to your ex who wasn’t there, now under her free arm.

“Not at Arsenal now, chica!” Patri chuckled, leaving you to sigh, humming in agreement, swiping the ball from Alexia as she put it on the ground.

“True, I’m not at Arsenal, but I can still show you some tricks I learnt there!”

///

Barcelona’s possession heavy playing style was interesting to you as you adapted to it, amused by Alexia’s decision for you to have shooting practice after regular practice. You had a feeling she’d watched a few of the highlights of your matches with Arsenal online, not seeing it as more than that until you realised you would be on the roster for the upcoming match against Valencia.

Your technique to cause havoc involved interceptions, tackles and a lot of pressing, your work rate intriguing the Barcelona players as some of them saw your final Arsenal game against Aston Villa being shown when you were talking with the staff about you moving up more into midfield. Barcelona’s usual 4-3-3 formation meant that if you wanted in that midfield, you would be a sub, just like you’d be with how many defenders Barcelona had available this season. You weren’t going to let that stop you, even if the light in your eyes died when you watched the Aston Villa game and recalled that final game with Jill.

You knew why Barcelona wanted you, their midfielders were very attacking focussed, but you were not and it could change things coming up.

///

The game against Valencia, you were subbed on for Patri at the 55th minute, the score already at 6-0 for Barcelona, but it ended 8-0 after a goal from Lieke, then Caro. You as a defensive midfielder changed the vibe slightly as you were further back with the defenders than Patri had been with Alexia and Clàudia, but your time with Barcelona’s midfield meant you had already improved. Jill noticed this when she found the match highlights on YouTube, and your national team manager noticed this when looking over the footage from your previous games.

///

The upcoming Champions League group stage match against Arsenal had left your stomach fluttering with butterflies, texting Jill about it, you didn’t expect her to call you, but she did.

“Hoi, liefde…” Jill’s voice was soft down the phone, but she sounded out of breath, so you apologised for interrupting whatever she was doing, but she shook her head, realising you could see, she laughed slightly.

“We just finished training. It’s not the same without you here, I miss watching you train, and… other things…” Jill smirked to herself, knowing you were rolling your eyes at her over the phone, even if she couldn’t see.

“Yeah, yeah, I know, my ass in these shorts. I just, it’s against Arsenal, but they’ve changed a lot. You’re not there, or Daan, and well, Arsenal won’t exactly miss me but, it’ll be weird messing with Arsenal’s midfield this time. Plus, our one year anniversary would have been… het spijt me, I shouldn’t-”

“Arsenal missed out on who you are as a player, and, I know, our anniversary… I had a pizza alone in the park, wishing you were with me.” Jill replied, cutting off your apology since you didn’t need to apologise, both of you had pieces of each other in your souls. Some may say you are soulmates, had the football contracts not gotten in the way of everything.

“I watched Grey’s Anatomy and kept hearing ‘it’s a beautiful day to save lives’ in your voice instead of Derek Shepherd’s.” You confessed, smiling as you heard Jill chuckle and repeat the known Derek Shepherd phrase.

///

Your stomach flipped over and over as October arrived and the game against Arsenal was next. It was a game at the Johan Cruyff stadium, so the London team would be travelling to Barcelona, and you’d heard from Lotte that everyone at Arsenal was excited for the match, and to see you again too. You’d spoken to Lisa, she was on loan at West Ham so you’d miss out on seeing her, instead dedicating an evening to talking to her over video call one evening from your place in Barcelona.

You sat on the bench for the Barcelona vs Arsenal match, watching intently as Mariona got the first goal, and biting your lip at the amount of yellow cards flying. McCabe had one already between the first and second goal before half-time. Irene however also received a yellow a minute into half-time, whilst you hid your grimace as Mead yeeted Mariona out of the way, earning a yellow card in the process.

Chewing your lip as Arsenal made their substitutions, you hid your relief at Beth and Katie were subbed off for Health and Parris, whilst Viv went off for Foord. After the 70th minute, Jordan went on for Lia, whilst on your side, Lieke was subbed on for Asisat. Arsenal matched to wipe away the clean sheet as Maanum scored, the score at 3-1 whilst Foord received a yellow after tangling with Alexia.

Ana-Maria was subbed off for Rolfö whilst Mana went on for Little minutes later. Mariona later came to join you as Bruna went on, the two of you not sat down long as Lieke’s goal made it 4-1. Your eyes widened as you realised Arsenal’s head coach had gotten a yellow card, the head coach you had known when you, Jill and Daan had played at Arsenal had left to be the head coach of Juventus in June.

You were taking a sip of water when you saw Jordan be carded, almost spitting it onto Leila and Jenni in front of you as you choked, Ingrid patting your back worriedly whilst Alexia took the penalty shot. Manu managed to save it, whilst you looked confused as Parris was carded after.

The match ended 4-1, but you tried to hide your confusion at the ref’s choices, getting wrapped up instead in hugs as some of your old Arsenal teammates walked over to greet you after the match.

“Hey you!” you smiled as Lotte hurried over to you and pulled you into a hug, the two of you chatting about how you were both doing until Viv walked over, hugging you gently but you could feel an awkward vibe that wasn’t from the chaos of the match that was just played.

“Viv?”

“I don’t think Jill told you but you hurt her when you moved out first. She found your letter, but you hurt her.” Viv explained, watching as your face fell.

“Shit. I was so wound up with not wanting to see her leave first and see the place be emptier like it was before we were together that I didn’t think about… I was selfish.” You realised, clenching your jaw to fight back tears as Viv sighed, patting your shoulder before she headed over to her teammates.

Lieke frowned as she walked over to you, glancing at Viv but you shook your head, blinking back tears as she asked “is alles oké?”

“Ja, ja, I’m fine, I’m fine, I just, I need to call Jill.” You let out a sigh, looking up at the night sky before turning on your heel, heading towards the tunnel.

///

Tapping your foot against the floor, you stared at your phone as you tapped on call, listening to it dial before Jill picked up, turning on the video call setting.

“Hi, liefde… hoe gaat het? I saw that Barcelona won against Arsenal tonight,” Jill began, frowning as you stared at her with glassy eyes, “liefde?”

“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, Viv told me about after I moved out and I, I was selfish by leaving first, I was so afraid of coming home and all your stuff would be gone and it wouldn’t be home anymore, because it only really became home when you were there too… I was selfish to leave a letter and move out, I should have moved out at the same time as you, even if we’d be sobbing at the airport or something… I was selfish, Jill, and I’m sorry.” You apologised with your eyes on the phone, something that a year ago you wouldn’t have been able to do, but you’d grown since last season at Arsenal, you’d grown by being with Jill and befriending the other Dutchies, you’d grown.

“It was horrible at first, coming home and you had gone, but I found your letter and I couldn’t be angry at you, schatje, it hurt for you to move out, but it hurt you that I was moving out too… but it was the contracts that hurt us more than we ever hurt each other…” Jill explained, yawning at the end of her sentence as you realised it was late for both of you. Same time zone but the match did start at 8pm.

///

You texted Jill as soon as you saw the result, chewing your lip as you wondered if she’d reply and when, but Wolfsburg drawing 3-3 with Chelsea in the group stages wasn’t what you had expected to see when you opened your phone.

///

The match against Atlético Madrid had you subbing on at the 78th minute for Patri, coming on alongside Leila who was subbed on for Caro. Aitana and Alexia gave you soft smiles as you arrived at your spot on centre midfield.

The game ended at 3-0, a text on your phone from Jill with a smiley face left you grinning as you sat down in the locker room next to Ingrid, bumping knees with her before grinning at Lieke as she walked by you. You smirked slightly as Jenni and Alexia walked in together, Alexia slightly annoyed as they were running late and you all needed to head back from the Atlético Madrid stadium to Barcelona, then to your respective homes.

You laughed as Aitana stared at you in confusion, struggling to understand as Lieke asked you something in Dutch, passing Lieke your portable phone charger in response as she gave you a grateful look.

///

Travelling to Denmark for the next Champions League match, you texted Alexia whenever you had a signal, knowing that she was back in Spain with her calf injury whilst the squad travelled to play HB Køge. You and Ingrid were starting alongside Jenni in midfield, this game, something you didn’t expect since you were prepared to even be subbed on as a defender. Instead, you and Ingrid were subbed off at half-time for Patri and Aitana, the game finally ending at 2-0 after Rolfö’s goal at 62 minutes, followed by Jenni taking a penalty a minute before the game was declared finished.

“Well… that was…” you murmured, glancing over the statistics on your phone for how many shots had been taken, and how many had been on target. A text message from Alexia lit up your screen as you texted back, telling her to rest up.

///

Alexia was game ready by the time that the match against Sporting Huelva came around three days later. You watched carefully from the bench at the 4-2-3-1 formation, sat with Ingrid as the two of you watched the midfield carefully. You high-fived Lieke and Jenni before they went onto the pitch, being subbed on for Asisat and Alexia at the 59th minute.

“How are you feeling?” You enquired as Alexia sat down, her eyes watching the pitch carefully until you flicked a little bit of water at her face, raising an eyebrow as she almost glared at you.

“How are you feeling?” you repeated your question, raising an eyebrow as Alexia took the water bottle from you for a sip, taking that as you answer, you resumed watching the game, cheering as Aitana got her first goal of the game.

///

Due to international duties, the next game for you wasn’t until Halloween, leaving your stomach flipping as your phone lit up with photos from a year ago of you and Jill in your ‘same franchise but not a couples costume costumes’. Your Spanish teammates had played Morocco and Ukraine, whilst Jill was busy scoring a hat trick against Cyprus then playing Belarus, as you texted both Jill and Lieke over the break. Ingrid and Caro ended up playing against Poland and then Belgium too.

The match on Halloween was against Sociedad, ending 8-1. You were subbed on for Aitana at the 78th minute, teasing her by speaking in Dutch before running onto the pitch with Lieke unable to translate as she was busy on the pitch, having scored one goal already, scoring a second one by the time the match was over.

“What did you say to me before?” Aitana enquired as she approached you in the locker room after the match.

“Goed gedaan? Well done? Although I do worry that what I’m saying is a grammatical mess, Daan, uh, DVD, van de Donk taught me swear words in Dutch though… luckily you guys don’t do that thing where you mic up the players!” you laughed, leaving Aitana to frown slightly as she wondered when she’d heard you swearing in Dutch, neither of you realising that Alexia had heard your confession about Dutch swear words and was going to have an ear out during practice now.

///

Each time Jill scored a goal playing for Wolfsburg or the Netherlands national team, you sent her a couple of emojis, or a photo/video of you reacting to her goal or goals plural, when you had a chance to. You didn’t see how much Jill would smile at your messages, or the way she bit her lip sometimes when you posted photos on your socials. The reaction photos/videos of you to her goals though were her favourite, but she wished your national team would call you up some day so you could get a taste of the rush.

///

The next game was a week later against Eibar. By half-time the score was already 3-0 to Barcelona, as you sat on the bench with Ingrid contemplating, and raising an eyebrow when you realised Ingrid’s gaze was solely on Mapi since the start. A hand on your shoulder caught your attention as Irene gestured that you and Ingrid were both being subbed on at the 59th minute.

Melanie and Clàudia were already at the side of the pitch as you and Ingrid were shepherded over by Irene, Lieke hugging you as she came off for Melanie, whilst Asisat came off for Clàudia, Torre came over for Irene whilst you waited for Mapi to hurry over.

You raised an eyebrow as Mapi and Ingrid stood there for a moment before processing the switch, Patri glancing at you as you shrugged, patting Mapi’s shoulder before running to join the defenders, Ingrid catching up in midfield after. Leila smiled as you ran over, chuckling as she had seen the hold-up on the side of the pitch, but you shrugged, unsure what was going on. Although you had an inkling.

The match against Eibar ended 3-0, you were heading back to the tunnel when Ingrid called out to you.

“Can I ask you for some advice? Maybe over dinner… it’s about…” Ingrid hesitated, spotting Mapi and Leila heading towards the two of you as your eyes widened.

“Yeah, sure, I hope I can help with that.” You emphasised the ‘that’ with your eyes lingering on Mapi, giving Ingrid an indication that you knew what was going on before you turned to head into the tunnel, smiling as you caught up with Alexia who had not played the game this time.

///

The next group stage Champions League match was a home game against Hoffenheim. Watching the game intently, you once again sat next to Ingrid, with Leila on the other side of you. Biting your lip, you glanced at the staff as Patri received a yellow card seven minutes in, Jenni had scored two minutes ago but this match left you shuffling in your seat.

By half time, the score was 3-0 to Barcelona, two goals from Alexia that left you grinning into your hand. After half time, Leila patted you on the head with a grin before she was subbed on for Rolfö. Torre getting a goal at the 74th minute had you jumping out of your seat to celebrate, sitting down quickly as the game continued on, but you grinned for your fellow defender.

Aitana and Patri being subbed off meant you were whispering to Ingrid before she was subbed on to ‘kick some ass’. You and Ingrid had been working extra drills with the help of Alexia, Patri and Aitana after practice, although you’d sometimes have a video call going on where Jill could watch as it went on. Due to being away from your phone, you hadn’t seen the way Jill’s jaw clenched as you spent time with Ingrid, or the way that she had frowned after you told her about meeting Ingrid for dinner. She had ended up googling the place, letting out a breath she didn’t know she was holding when she found out it was a) nowhere fancy and b) not a date, you’d told her afterwards with a smirk that you were trying to help Ingrid with her crush on Mapi.

“Are you jealous, schatje?” you teased, raising an eyebrow of challenge at Jill’s clenched jaw, seeing her roll her eyes slightly.

“That expression on your face. Every time you make it, it makes me want to kiss you.” Jill confessed, your smirk falling to a soft smile as your heart ached with longing.

“I miss your kisses.” You confessed back, looking down slightly before looking up to Jill’s grin.

“Do you now?” her tone was teasing but you could see the longing in her eyes, sighing as you glanced over your calendar.

“I have your games on my calendar, our last game before the break is December 22nd, yours is the 16th December?” you double-checked, watching as Jill nodded, but not realising that you’d set off a metaphorical lightbulb for her as she bit her lip with a smirk that left your face feeling like it was on fire.

///

The next game was against Levante, you were subbed on for Rolfö at the 56th minute, heading onto the pitch with Jenni being subbed on for Clàudia. A couple of substitutions from Levante running up to the 59th minute, Jenni sent the ball over to you, getting in an assist as that shooting practice Alexia had you doing paid off, the ball finding the back of the net before the goalie could intervene at 66th minute.

“Dank je wel!” You slipped into Dutch, not really thinking about it until Jenni laughed, patting you on the head as you quickly thanked her in English then Spanish before heading back to your position for the game to restart. Your fingers had latched onto your wrist tattoo subconsciously, even as the game restarted, you were still longing for Jill to wrap you up in her arms after scoring a goal.

Your goal made it 3-0 as it went on, Jana coming on for Torre whilst Ingrid came on for Ana-Maria by the 81st minute. Heading into stoppage time, Jenni took a penalty shot, sending the score 4-0 up for Barcelona as the game finished two minutes later.

The grin on your face grew even larger when you got to your phone in the locker room after the game, Ingrid having a knowing smile on her face as Jenni smirked and asked who, or what had you grinning so much.

“Jill saw my goal.” That was all you needed to say as Jenni began to tease you, making kissing faces and noises until you threw a sock at her face, the team erupting into laughter as it landed on Jenni’s head.

///

“It sucks that Hoffenheim is so far from Wolfsburg, but it’s the closest we’ll be to each other physically since Arsenal.” You admitted, staring up at the ceiling in your dark bedroom, on the phone to Jill until one or both of you fell asleep.

“The train is five hours, and Wolfsburg play Juventus at the stadium the day after.” Jill grumbled, being able to feel you grimace through the phone at the idea of a five hour train journey.

“Yeah, no, that wouldn’t work, sorry liefje.” You apologised, falling silent as you heard Jill’s breathing even out, somehow she had fallen asleep rather quickly.

“Ik hou van jou, mijn liefde.” you confessed quietly before hanging up the phone and falling asleep yourself.

///

Travelling to Hoffenheim for the next group stages game, your inability to sit still was annoying Jenni, who had wrapped you in a headlock more than once, both teasing you but also trying to get you to still. Your eyes met Alexia’s as she glanced over, but you weren’t sure what was going on between Jenni and her, so you closed your eyes and went limp in Jenni’s arms for a moment.

The multiple times you’d checked your phone on the coach to the airport, then at the airport, before leaving it alone on the plane, to stare at it again on the way to the hotel, left you vulnerable to a lot of teasing. Jenni smirked multiple times, teasing you whenever she got a glimpse of the messages you and Jill were sending each other.

“You two are just friends? These messages are not so friendly-” Jenni wiggled her eyebrows, smirking as she took your phone from your hands.

“Geef terug!” you slipped into Dutch, Lieke turning around from where she had been sat further up the coach as you grumbled at Jenni loud enough that she’d heard.

“Alsjeblieft!” You glared slightly as Jenni held the phone out of reach, not realising it was basically in Ingrid’s face until it was taken by Mapi.

Luckily, your phone had locked itself before Mapi could access your phone, passing it to Ingrid with a bored expression as your lock screen was all she could see, and it was a group photo with the Barcelona girls. She didn’t know your home screen was a photo of Jill you’d taken back whilst you were both at Arsenal.

Jenni pouted as you put your phone away, staring out of the window instead until the coach finally got to the hotel. You felt weird with Jenni asking if you and Jill were just friends, since technically the two of you had broken up, but remained in a flirty friendly situation across countries.

Arriving at the hotel, you felt relief as you found out you were rooming with Ingrid, and not Jenni, even as Alexia pulled you back whilst you were grabbing your suitcase to see if you were okay after the coach shenanigans.

“It’s fine, she didn’t see much, just a few texts… I’m fine… I just, Jill and I are… het is ingewikkeld,” you glanced to meet Alexia’s eyes as she looked slightly confused at your use of Dutch, “it is complicated,” translating quietly, your captain nodded, heading inside with her suitcase after making one final comment.

“I bet you wish we were closer to Wolfsburg right now…”

///

When you got to the hotel room, Ingrid had already headed inside, sitting on her bed as you made your way to the empty one, leaving your suitcase the end of it as you flopped down onto the bed with a sigh.

“Mapi didn’t see anything on your phone. You are safe.” Ingrid smiled, giggling slightly as you let out a sigh, the noise muffled by the bedsheets you were face down in.

“This is the closest I’ve been to Jill since Arsenal and she’s still over 5 hours away.” Your voice broke slightly as you sat up, trying to hold back tears or any sign that you were missing Jill as more than a friend would miss their friend. But Jill was always going to be more than a friend to you.

“Jenni asked if Jill and I were more than friends but how can I say that Jill is my soulmate even when we’re countries apart? I don’t even know if that’s how Jill feels, I haven’t asked.” You admitted, pulling your knees up to your chest as Ingrid moved over to sit on your bed, bringing her phone with her.

“What are you-”

“You forget, I was with Wolfsburg last season, and I am still friends with my old teammates, who play with Jill now.” Ingrid replied, sending a message before she pulled you in for a hug, trying her best to comfort you until she got a text back that would sort it out for you.

///

Hours later after dinner, Ingrid was stuck with you tossing and turning in bed. You’d both decided to go to bed early, but it wasn’t working as you were still up with your thoughts, and Ingrid was awake because of you.

“Call her.”

“What?” you rolled over, moving your pillow to look at Ingrid in the darkness, until she clicked on her bedside lamp.

“I spoke to my old teammates. You should call her.” Ingrid affirmed before her eyes widened, throwing one of her pillows at you.

“Go outside and call her. I don’t need to hear your phone sex with Jill.” Ingrid replied, not wanting to hear your argument about how nobody said anything about phone sex, instead she watched as you wrapped yourself in your blanket, heading out of the room with your key, phone and portable charger.

Sitting down in the corridor where you wouldn’t bother anyone but remained on the floor with your teammates, you chewed your lip as you tapped the call button, waiting with your knee bumping up and down.

“Hoi liefde,” letting out a breath at the pet name, you held back tears as the two of you began to converse.

///

“How did they not see me?” Mapi whispered, peeking out from where she had hidden under the covers when Ingrid put the bedside lamp on.

“All that matters to them right now is Jill and football. So they won’t sleep until they talk to Jill.” Ingrid explained, cuddling into Mapi as she turned the bedside lamp off again.

///

“You’re my soulmate, Jill… Jenni asked me today if we were just friends and I just knew, you’re always going to be more than my friend, because you’re my soulmate… it’s okay if you don’t-”

“There is no one else for me, liefje… I want to see you before I go see my family for Kerst.” Jill admitted, hearing your intake of breath at her admittance.

“I’d love that schatje, I’d love that I lot.”

Jill let out a breath as you replied.

///

Falling asleep on the call in the middle of the hotel corridor wasn’t exactly great for your spine, or for whoever found you asleep in the corridor of all places. Alexia had just wanted to go down to breakfast at her usual time, (also known as early) so stumbling upon you on the corridor floor was enough to scare her.

“Dios mío, are you alive?” Alexia whispered, gently shaking you as you began to whine, her attention caught by the phone that was laying on the floor, showing a video call of a sleeping Jill.

“Wake up, why are you out here? Did you and Ingrid fight?” Alexia nudged you a little more violently, raising an eyebrow as you stirred.

“Goedemorgen, wait, buenos días… good morning… shit, did I fall asleep out here? Wait, Jill… fuck, she’s so cute…” you whispered, picking up your phone to spot how Jill’s phone was still on the videocall, you had both fallen asleep and forgotten to hang up.

Tapping the hang up button as Alexia stared at you, you swallowed nervously at her expression, her game face slightly more intimidating first thing on a morning.

“I was missing Jill so Ingrid told me to call her, but Ingrid also told me to call her outside because she didn’t want to hear any phone sex- we didn’t have phone sex though, not this time- shit- anyway, I fell asleep out here… I’m going to go see if Ingrid’s up… sorry capitana,” hurrying away after you apologised, you hit your shoulder on the doorframe as you barged into your room, waking up Ingrid and Mapi who had apparently snuck into the room at some point.

“I’m not even going to ask. Alexia just found me asleep in the corridor.” You sighed, going through your stuff to get ready for the day.

///

“Wait, you snuck in while I was in the bathroom?”

You found out over breakfast that Mapi had been in Ingrid’s bed the entire night, stuck listening to you toss and turn until Ingrid told you to call Jill outside. They hadn’t meant to let you fall asleep outside, but the bed was warm and they were comfy.

///

The match against Hoffenheim had Ingrid starting alongside Aitana and Alexia, whilst Leila, Irene, Mapi and Jana were the starting line of defence. Alexia taking a penalty shot at the 41st minute took Barcelona into the lead, with Irene then Aitana adding to the score, taking it to 3-0. A minute after Aitana scored, she was running off to be subbed on, high-fiving you with a grin at your ‘goed gedaan’ before you jogged onto the pitch with Mariona close behind, subbing on for Jenni.

Irene, Mapi and Leila were all subbed off for Pere, Melanie and Torre. Torre ended up adding to the scoresheet with an assist from Clàudia, before Ana-Maria scored during the stoppage time with an assist from Rolfö. The scores on the board ended with a 5-0 win for Barcelona.

///

Texting Jill the next day as you all travelled back to Barcelona, you grinned as you were able to get an update on the Wolfsburg vs Juventus game, but that grin soon fell as you realised that Wolfsburg had lost 2-0 to Juventus.

///

Returning back to Barcelona, the first game back three days later was a game against Sevilla. A chaotic game that was 5-1 by half time, with you being subbed on for Mapi at the start of the second half, followed by Mariona on for Ana-Maria and Aitana coming on for Alexia. Another goal. 6-1. Another substitution, then another, as Rolfö, then Leila went off, with Melanie and Jana coming onto the pitch. Four more goals after the 82nd minute took the score to 10-1 by the end of the stoppage time for Barcelona.

Swearing under your breath in a mix of Dutch and English, you soon realised that another international break was here with the World Cup Qualifiers continuing.

///

Spain played against the Faroe Islands and then Scotland, winning both matches, whilst the Netherlands played against the Czech Republic and drew 2-2, Jill even getting a yellow card in that match. Chewing your lip, you debated looking up your national team and if they’d had any matches recently, but you decided against it. You hadn’t been called up and you tried not to think about it.

///

The first game back in December was against Athletic Club, ending 4-0, neither you or Ingrid being subbed on that match, but Lieke was subbed on for Ana-Maria, and Jenni had scored twice before being subbed off.

Your heart was racing as the squad travelled to play Arsenal at the Emirates stadium, you didn’t end up playing the match but your analysis of Arsenal as they played was helpful to the subs going on, so Jana, Ingrid and Leila all knew what was going on a little better. Playing against Arsenal, Barcelona won 4-0, the team hanging around a little longer allowing you to see Lotte, Viv and Katie chatting with them for a minute.

If anyone expected you to switch shirts with them, they were mistaken, you didn’t feel comfortable wearing a Arsenal shirt that wasn’t Jill’s, and seeing anyone but her ever wear your Barcelona jersey made your chest feel like it was being crushed by a boulder.

///

The El Clásico game between Barcelona and Real Madrid left you wondering if you’d get to play any time soon, but you’d noticed the staff watching you carefully during training sessions and talking to Alexia, so maybe something was happening there.

You were yet to start for a Barcelona game, something that hadn’t happened to you a lot at Arsenal either, but you weren’t letting it stop you anymore.

Starting against Real Madrid as part of the defence line wasn’t what you expected, but you went with it. The game ended at half time with Barcelona up three goals, and you had been put on your ass more times than you’d like to admit. At the 79th minute, you were subbed off for Jana, grateful as you high-fived the girl, you winced at how much your body ached as you sat on the bench. As soon as the game ended, 3-1, you headed directly for the showers, trying to ignore how bruised your body was.

///

You were playing in the second game against HB Køge, starting alongside Ingrid and Alexia, you didn’t even think about what you were doing as you went after the ball, sending the ball across before it went out of play, but your body argued with you, almost crashing into the advertising boards in the process.

“You okay?” You heard but you shook your head, leaning on the goal for balance as you waited for the medics to come over, holding your hamstring as you grumbled about how your head was spinning, the medics finally coming over.

You’d won a corner, but at what cost, as you were subbed off for Rolfö to come on in your place.

///

A grade one hamstring strain, that had you resting it for three weeks at least.

You ended up missing the game against Rayo Vallecano, but it ended 4-0, sitting on the bench wrapped in a blanket as you watched carefully.

The last game of the season was against Madrid CFF. Jill was already done with her games with Wolfsburg, but she knew you wouldn’t be playing after you’d called her from the medical room when you were subbed off after the game against Real Madrid.

Jill still watched the game from the stands though, her gaze shifting from the pitch to where you were sitting on the bench wrapped in a blanket that was originally her blanket. The game ended 7-0 to Barcelona, as Lieke spotted Jill, waving to her before getting the staff to allow Jill down onto the pitch.

Your teammates watched in intrigue, whispering to each other as they recognised Jill, spotting her walking towards where you were standing, chatting to Alexia and Ingrid.

“Hallo, kleine dief, ik zie dat je mijn deken hebt.”

You froze at the voice, goosebumps running over your skin as Alexia and Ingrid exchanged knowing looks.

“You’re here.”

“I said I wanted to see you before Kerst,” Jill smirked before letting out a sigh, “but you had to strain your hamstring before I could watch you play from the stands.”

“You can watch me play when Barcelona meet Wolfsburg in the Champions League.” You replied, stepping forwards to challenge Jill, forgetting everyone else was around as she bit her lip.

“Cute, liefde, cute, but we have some catching up to do before then.” Jill wrapped her arm around you, her free arm moving the blanket around you both before you headed off to the tunnel together. The blanket obscured how the hand on your waist was slipping under your jersey to draw patterns on your skin.

“They are more than friends.” Jenni affirmed, luckily out of earshot for what Jill said next.

“This jersey is mine when we get back to your place.” Her breath was warm against your ear as her nose brushed your cheek as she pulled away, smirking as you sped up slightly towards the locker room.

“Liefje, you’re supposed to be resting your hamstring!”

///

It was the morning of the 24th of December when Alexia decided to check on you in person, Alba tagging along with her under the excuse of it being family time, but Alexia wasn’t so sure. She was sure that you were staying in Barcelona for the break, but you hadn’t replied to her text, so she was going to your place to talk to you, and drop off some food.

Knocking on your door, she had debated leaving Alba in the car, and she honestly wished she had done so when the door opened to reveal Jill wearing one of your Barcelona jerseys.

“Oh, hi! Schatje, people are here!”

“I found your charger! Oh… hi Alexia, Alba… het spijt me, excuse me!” You went to throw on a hoodie, or anything that would hide your neck after realising what Alba was smirking at, whilst Alexia pretended that the woodwork of the door was more interesting than you and Jill.

Jill barely hid her smirk at your captain’s reaction, choosing to allow the Putellas sisters into the place as she needed to go back to packing.

“I’m sorry I have to rush, my taxi is coming soon to head to the airport.” Jill explained, snorting slightly as you walked back in, clad in a hoodie and longer trousers compared to the shorts and tank top you’d been sporting earlier.

“You’re not staying?” Alexia asked, glaring at how Alba hadn’t said a word but kept smirking at everything.

“I am spending Kerst with my family, although I’d love to be with my liefde too.” Jill explained, kissing your forehead as you walked closer to the three of them.

“Plus, it’s a little awkward to explain, het is ingewikkeld.” You replied, reminding Alexia of what you had said before the Hoffenheim game as she nodded.

“In case you get hungry tomorrow.” Alba smiled knowingly, nudging Alexia in the side to pass you the food that they’d brought.

“Thank you… uh, I think that’s your taxi, Jill!” you pointed out as you heard a honk from outside.

///

Spending the rest of the winter break alone was a contrast compared to last year’s winter break at Arsenal. You’d skipped out on the New Years party in favour of watching the fireworks on tv, not expecting Jill to call you near midnight, having snuck away from the party she was at to wish you a happy new year and that she hoped the two of you would see each other in person again.

///

Barcelona’s first game back was January 12th, a game against Sporting Huelva, which ended 5-0. A week later, it was the semi-final of the Supercopa de España Femenina. You’d been working on strengthening your hamstrings since your hamstring strain last year, being cleared to play again but still not wanting to risk anything, so you sat out of the semi-final whilst working on training your body back up to fitness again. You were semi-grateful, since it was against Real Madrid, and the bruises you had from the last game against them were brutal, even Jill had agreed with that over video call.

The final of the Supercopa de España Femenina against Atlético de Madrid, you did play, being subbed on for Alexia at the 66th minute, heading onto the pitch after Leila was subbed on for Rolfö. More substitutions were made as Ingrid and Irene went off for Melanie and Mapi, before Jenni got a yellow card two minutes later. Lieke got the 6th goal of the match, assisted by Caro, as Atlético made another substitution.

It was the 90th minute where things changed for you, sending the ball into Lieke’s path, you grinned as she sent it flying into the net, gaining her second goal of the match as you ran over to hug her, chattering away in Dutch as your other teammates ran over.

You hadn’t expected Wolfsburg to lose a friendly to Eintracht Frankfurt that same day, but Jill had texted you, congratulating you on the game, and your assist. Another text had also been sent a minute later, asking how your hamstring was. You smiled, typing away as you sat in the sushi bar, Jill’s game had kicked off an hour after yours, but you were completely engrossed in your phone instead of your celebrating teammates. They wanted to party, but also wanted sushi first, especially after winning the first of what was hoped to be many trophies this season.

The Frauen-Bundesliga was resuming on the same day as the Primera División this time in late January, Wolfsburg against Potsdam, Barcelona against Real Betis. Jill was starting the game, whilst you were on the bench, texting Alexia who was sitting this game out. Baradad nudged you gently as you were both told to warm up, you were being subbed in for Mapi at the 74th minute, Ona coming on for Lieke. The match ended 4-0 to Barcelona. Checking your phone in the locker room, you almost choked on your spit when you saw Alexia had texted you the Wolfsburg score, Jill had even gotten an assist for the third goal before being subbed off at the 86th minute.

February for you was full of club games, whilst Jill’s February was different, having to withdraw from the Tournoi de France due to COVID-19 protocols and you couldn’t do anything to help her.

March for you started off with the Round of 16 for the Copa de La Reina, Barcelona continuing their winning streak through club games and the Quarter-final against Sociedad. Heading to Madrid for the next Champions League match, Barcelona came out with a win, and you came out with a lot of bruises, begin subbed off at the 65th minute for Irene. March ended with Barcelone through to the next stage of the Champions League, winning on aggregate 8-3 against Real Madrid, in addition to keeping that winning streak going.

Jill’s March ended with Wolfsburg playing against Arsenal for the next stage of the Champions League. The first leg match was a draw, but the second leg match had Jill scoring 9 minutes in, then Leah accidentally getting an own goal at 72 minutes in. Wolfsburg were through to the next match, against Barcelona next month.

You thought your next game after the second leg against Real Madrid would be against Wolfsburg, having gone from momentary dread of playing against Jill to rushing with excitement at getting to see the love of your life in the flesh again since December.

But you were wrong. The international break was coming up, Spain playing a friendly then a World Cup Qualifier, whilst the Netherlands were playing a World Cup Qualifier, then a friendly.

You didn’t expect to be called up to your national team for the upcoming friendly, you never expected it, having lost hope back when you were at Arsenal, but you were called up. Sitting in your living room alone, your first instinct was to call Jill, tears filling your eyes as the excitement turned into longing, wishing Jill was here to celebrate with you in person.

“Hoi, schatje?”

“I got called up, for the friendly, I got called up!”

“Ahh! Yes! gefeliciteerd, baby! Are you excited? I wish I could hug you right now!” Jill celebrated over the phone, the grin on her face as she turned the camera on to show you.

///

Getting to play some minutes in the friendly, you spent the run up to the 22nd of April full of energy, ready to see Jill, ready to keep playing football, and ready to be around your teammates at Barcelona again since everyone came back from international duty.

The first leg of the game against Wolfsburg was going to be played at Camp Nou, returning there since the game against Real Madrid for the Champions League nearly a month ago.

“What did you eat for breakfast? Did you have coffee? Are you on a sugar rush?”

Staring up at Alexia and her questions, your captain frowned, almost uncomfortable by the look in your eye and the amount of excited energy coming off of you.

“They’re excited, they get to see Jill today…” Ingrid smiled, answering Alexia’s question.

“And have a little rendezvous after!” Mapi teased, smirking and wiggling her eyebrows as you spluttered on air, remembering how awkward Alexia had been back in December after your last rendezvous with Jill.

“Mapi!” You whined, about to stand up to Mapi’s teasing when your phone buzzed, and you were entranced with it again.

“Message from Jill?” Ingrid assumed whilst Alexia rolled her eyes, about to take your phone from you when Mapi’s next teasing comment had her stopping, “maybe a nude?”

“It’s not. Also that teasing is too late, Jenni already used that topic when we were on the road to Hoffenheim.” You deadpanned, texting Jill back quickly as Alexia raised an eyebrow at you.

The team were almost ready to head out when Rendezvous by Little Mix began to play over the speakers, your eyes immediately finding Mapi smirking, having taken over DJ-ing the locker room as you rolled your eyes, sticking your tongue out at the defender.

“Hey. Turn that energy into beating Wolfsburg. Show Jill what you can do.” Alexia encouraged you, her hands on your shoulders as you nodded, a determined look in your eye that had begun to emerge when the line-up was discussed.

You would be starting in midfield, putting you into the path of the love of your life. This game was going to be fun.

///

Walking out onto the field, you immediately found Wolfsburg’s number 14, eyes lingering on the green jersey before the player turned around, your eyes meeting Jill’s, raising an eyebrow of challenge at her as she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, looking you up and down quickly before her teammate nudged her to focus.

You could feel the atmosphere as you glanced around the stands at the fans, the contrast of red and blue jerseys with Wolfsburg’s green energising you even more as you watched Alexia with the referees and Wolfsburg’s captain, Janssen interacting.

Wolfsburg was the one team that Barcelona had not been able to score against, but you hoped things would be different this leg match.

///

You smirked as you met Jill’s eyes, seeing the recognition in them as she realised what was going to happen in this match. You were marking each other.

It only took three minutes for Aitana to send the ball into the goal, Rolfö getting the assist as you and Jill danced around each other, stealing glances and smirks but refusing to let your focusses waiver. During these two games, each of you were loyal to your clubs, but off the pitch? There was no way you weren’t going home with Jill tonight.

Ten minutes into the game, Caro sent the ball to the back of the net, assisted by Ana-Maria.

By the 33rd minute, Torre had sent the ball in to Jenni, who added to the scoresheet with Barcelona’s third goal of the game.

You could feel Jill’s frustration as she swore under her breath in Dutch, the two of you marking each other more intensely when either of you got the ball, taking it from each other whenever there was a moment before you sent the ball towards Alexia when you had the chance.

So distracted with dodging Jill as you sent the ball to Alexia, you didn’t realise at first you’d gotten the assist until you were wrapped up in the group celebration. 38 minutes in, and Barcelona were four goals up from Wolfsburg.

Half-time came after that, the locker room full of energy as you went over the plan for the second half, taking in the speeches as you were practically vibrating with energy. You could still feel how Jill’s hands had brushed against your body during the set pieces.

A hand on your shoulder jolted you from your reminiscing as Jenni smirked, a knowing look in her eye as she opened her mouth to tease you, but you smirked back, about to open your mouth but Alexia groaned.

“I have heard and seen enough about yours and Jill’s sex life.”

Your mouth promptly shut, feeling your face burn as Jenni began to laugh at both at your embarrassment and how awkward Alexia looked in that moment.

“You two looked ready to jump each other on the field-” Mapi began but you were already hurrying off to bother Lieke instead of endure Mapi and Jenni’s teasing any longer.

///

The second half began, with Popp being subbed off for Pajor at the 61st minute, Pajor getting a yellow card 3 minutes later.

Your teammates were chasing after Waßmuth, leaving you to sprint after Jill when you spotted the gaps, swearing under your breath as you tried to speed up, but it was pointless as Sandra shuffled to try to intercept, leaving the angle open for Jill to shoot and score.

“Holy shit…” You let out a breath, hand on your ribs as you tried to catch your breath as the VAR check occurred. The goal stands.

4-1.

Jenni, then Ana-Maria were subbed off for Asisat and Clàudia, your eyes following Jill as she was subbed off for Blomqvist before keeping your focus on the game. Your heart was racing as the game continued, Mariona coming on for Aitana before Alexia was taken down in the box, Janssen, Wolfsburg’s captain receiving a yellow card whilst Alexia took the penalty shot.

5-1.

The full-time whistle went as the music began to play, crowd cheering as it was revealed that the match had broken a record with the attendance, 91,648 inside the stadium.

Walking around to shake hands with the players and congratulate your team, you found Jill easily as she walked over, her pinkie finger brushing yours as she smiled.

“So…” you whispered, raising an eyebrow as Jill hummed in thought.

“We are travelling back to Wolfsburg tomorrow, but tonight, the team wants to explore Barcelona more… I excused myself, saying I have my own private tour guide…” Jill smirked, raising an eyebrow of challenge while your eyes widened in realisation, and excitement.

“Meet me after?” You tilted your head to the side, hopeful as Jill nodded.

“Of course… by the way, I like your jersey, but it will look better on the floor when we get back to your place.” Jill smirked, forgetting to whisper before she walked away.

“Wow…” you whispered, turning around to freeze as Alexia stood behind you, with an unreadable look on her face.

“Please tell me you didn’t hear that.” You bargained, but Alexia promptly walked away instead of answering, leaving you standing on the pitch alone.

///

There was still the second leg match against Wolfsburg in a week, with Barcelona heading to play in Wolfsburg this time, but your focus was on getting a shower and changing out of your kit before finding Jill and sneaking away from everyone.

“What’s the rush? Oh, you’re meeting Jill-” Mapi was about to tease you again, but you raised an eyebrow at her, about to sass her about her relationship with Ingrid, but your look alone quietened the defender.

“You owe me. I never ratted you out for sleeping in Ingrid’s bed with her whilst I slept in the corridor in Hoffenheim.” You whispered to Mapi, who stared at you inquisitively before realising you were making a break for it before the team wanted to party together.

“Go. Have fun!” Mapi wiggled her eyebrows, pretending to gasp as you stuck your tongue out at her and slipped out of the locker room.

Hands on your waist caught your attention as you walked down the corridor, turning to grin as Jill nuzzled into your shoulder.

“Do you want a tour of Barcelona or another tour of my place?” You asked, the two of you sneaking out to where you had parked your car, driving away before any of your teammates could enter the car park and see you and Jill disappearing together. Luckily this wasn’t a Thelma and Louise inspired movie, as you spent a little time driving past some of your favourite spots in Barcelona, a few where you had video called Jill from in the past, before arriving back at your apartment.

You had barely managed to lock the door when it all started.

///

Hours later, it was dark, your room lit up by the bedside light as you and Jill laid in your bed, tangled together. Your fingers drawing patterns on her hip as she pressed a kiss against your shoulder.

“Ik hou van jou…” you murmured, your other hand moving to run your fingers through Jill’s hair, smiling as you felt Jill’s reply muffled by your shoulder as she pressed another kiss to it.

///

8 days later, you were in Wolfsburg with the rest of your Barcelona teammates, ready for the second leg of the semi-finals.

The energy was different this time, and not just with you since seeing Jill 8 days ago. Wolfsburg were doing better stopping your team’s attempts at goal, your stomach twisting as the first half was 0-0, sitting on the bench with Patri starting and staying on the whole game, whilst Aitana was subbed off for Ingrid at the 84th minute.

But way before that, at the 47th minute, Waßmuth scored, yellow cards and substitutions occurring before your eyes widened, resisting the urge to jump out of your seat to celebrate as Jill scored at the 59th minute, because the love of your life was still playing for Wolfsburg. 4 minutes later, Jill was subbed off for Popp to enter the field.

The second leg ended after 6 minutes of stoppage time, a weird feeling washing over you. Barcelona’s winning streak all season was broken, Barcelona had lost the game against Wolfsburg, but had won on aggregate and were through to the final of the Champions League.

///

Jill found you standing outside the locker room, your fingers playing with the strap of your bag before she tangled her fingers with yours, holding your hand.

“Hoi liefde.” Jill smiled softly, bringing your hand up to her mouth to kiss your wrist, her lips lingering over your tattoo as she managed to get you to smile.

“We're going back to Barcelona tomorrow, you’re lucky, they almost had our flight a few hours after the game.” You smiled, leaning in to kiss Jill as she smiled.

“I feel lucky… Come on, before my teammates find us and don’t let us go…” Jill held your hand as the two of you walked away from the guest locker room that your team had used today, not seeing how Mapi and Ingrid had paused in the doorway, watching the two of you walk away together with smiles on their faces.

///

Your head laid on Jill’s chest as her fingers ran over your scalp, smiling as you opened your eyes to look up at her, propping yourself up to steal another kiss. Jill’s free hand went to hold your waist as you reshuffled yourself, smiling into the kiss as Jill’s other hand held the back of your neck gently.

Pulling away slightly, you gazed into Jill’s eyes as she smiled softly, mirroring the smile, you let out a soft sigh.

“I hope we get to play at the same club again one day…”

“One day, liefde, one day, we will play at the same club again…” Jill kissed your forehead as you softly laid your head back down on her chest.

#woso x reader #woso imagines #jill roord x reader #jill roord imagine #woso imagine #barcelona femeni x reader #barcelona femeni imagine

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herb10 · 2 months

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JUSTIN HERBERT | 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

📸 (c): Todd Rosenberg

#justin herbert #los angeles chargers #la chargers #nfl #2020 offseason #event: scouting combine

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stereax · 3 months

Note

in terms of the zegras trade talk, is there any way (in terms of cap situation etc) that it would be possible for him to join jamie in philly?

and which teams do you think it are likely for him to go to otherwise?

thank you in advance <3

Hi there anon! So so sorry for the delay on this, I hope you're not too mad at me.

Your question is incredibly intriguing, but it's not quite exact. Any team, theoretically, can pick up Zegras, as long as they move the right pieces back or conduct the proper cap gymnastics. That being said, many GMs will not find him worth the price, and, furthermore, not worth the hassle of potentially taking a sledgehammer to the future.

Moving Zegras during the season (as in before the trade deadline) versus in the offseason would play out drastically differently under the cap and mean different decisions from Verbeek and co. Meet me under the cut for more!

So let's talk about the cap. I don't know how much you know about it, anon, but let me give a quick refresher. The NHL has a "hard" salary cap; teams cannot surpass the limit, full stop. (This is contrasted with MLB soft cap, for instance, where you just pay more tax for being over the cap.) There is one notable example, however: LTIR. Standing for Long-Term Injured Reserve (well, not really, but we all call it that), LTIR allows teams to surpass the salary cap, as long as a player on the team is "bona fide" injured and will be out for more than 24 days and 10 games.

Now here's the complicated thing: cap "accrues" every day that you're under it. (Kind of like it gains interest.) So, as the cap is 83.5m, if your team only makes 82.5m, you have that extra 1m accruing. This is key at the trade deadline where that 1m can end up as over double that to play with in extra wiggle room. (At the trade deadline, you can trade for a 2m player and be at 84.5m, but since you accrued the cap earlier in the season it averages out and is okay.) However, when you have players on LTIR, your cap basically stops accruing. This is why you'll see teams keep season-ending injuries as regular IR and not LTIR if they can - it helps the cap accrue. (Two instances of this right now are Kirby Dach and Dougie Hamilton, both out for the season as far as we're concerned, neither on LTIR.) Notably, in the playoffs, you can activate players off LTIR and go over the cap because of some badly written rules that nobody wants to fix (literally). This is often colloquially termed "pulling a Kucherov" after the Tampa Bay Lightning did this in the 2020-21 season, putting Nikita Kucherov on LTIR for the entire year, using his cap hit to acquire players, then reactivating him game 1 of the playoffs and going wildly over the cap limit. And it's pretty dang successful too - the Vegas Golden Knights emulated that success with Mark Stone last season.

So here's where we take a look at Philly.

Philly has around $3m in deadline cap space. Zegras's contract has a $5.75m cap hit (for this year and two more). Now, he could be traded to Philly at 50% retained salary at the deadline, but this would likely require giving up a lot of extra capital in exchange for Anaheim holding that 50% of cap hit on Zegras for the next three years. (Generally, retaining salary on an expiring deal costs a lot less than on a deal with extra years left, for hopefully obvious reasons.) Philly won't do this. This would be stupid from Briere. If they want Zegras, they have a much better plan in their back pocket: Ryan Ellis.

Ryan Ellis is a defenseman with a $6.25m cap hit for the next four years. His career is most likely over; he has a rare back injury that he's probably not going to recover from in a way that will let him play hockey again. At least in theory, he plays for the Flyers. However, he's been sitting on IR all year. If Philly wants to acquire Zegras, they will (almost certainly) slide Ellis to LTIR and use that $6m in cap space to put Zegras in. The one problem with this is it forces Ellis to LTIR for the rest of his career, most likely, and disadvantages the Flyers in the long run.

Option three is just to make space with bad or nonvaluable contracts. Cal Petersen buries $3.85m in the minors. (Buried contracts are weird; essentially, if you send guys on certain kinds of contract - as in expensive - down to the AHL, you're on the hook for some or most of the salary.) Move that contract anywhere and Philly should have room for Zegras at the deadline. Plus it makes it easier for the team to deal with new contacts. Or you move Cam Atkinson, an aging vet making $5.875m, to a team that's not on his modified no-trade clause and free that space for Zegras. Or you move Rasmus Ristolainen, an underperforming defenseman making $5.1m... See what I mean? Any team you like has options to move around cap to pick up Zegras. Not only the teams like Chicago, Buffalo, and Nashville who have the obvious cap space, but also teams trying to retool into younger cores could be keenly interested. (I could go through all the teams in the NHL as potential suitors, but that might be too much information. Unless you want that. In which case, ask and I'll do it.)

That being said, it sounds like Zegras will be moved during the offseason - and that makes sense, as usually contracts with significant term and roster-forming implications aren't traded at the deadline. At that point, with UFA contracts going off the books, it can quite literally be anyone's game to pick up Zegras. However, it'll probably be costly - a young, talented center who will be in your NHL top six, has serious upside, is on a fairly cost-friendly contract for two more years and then retains RFA status? Those don't grow on trees. Expect him to be moved for either a blue chip prospect or a first-round pick. Maybe both, if Verbeek is smart. Genuinely cannot think of a trade of such a player in recent history. (The closest off the top of my head? The Matthew Tkachuk trade - that was two prime players, a first, and a prospect for him. Granted, his circumstances were much different than Zegras's, and Matthew was undeniably worth a lot more.)

Generally, you're not trading away or giving up young core players. Verbeek doing so with Drysdale opens the floodgates. Whether it's because Verbeek wants to sculpt this team the way he wants (neither Drysdale nor Zegras were drafted by him) or he simply sees no future for Zegras on the Ducks, it's incredibly puzzling, not least of all because Anaheim seems mired in this rebuild, and Verbeek may be adding years to it if he plays his hand wrong.

#stereanswers #stereanalysis #trevor zegras #anaheim ducks

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juuicysaros · 2 months

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THE UNOFFICIAL ST. LOUIS BLUES PRIMER PART 1 : FORWARDS

JORDAN KYROU (Rouzy)

Info: #25, RW, STL 35th in 2016 (listed as a center ? does not play center)

Last season: 37 goals + 73 pts (career high goals!)

History: played a handful of games in the 18-19 season, but his real rookie season was in 19-20 and was cut short due to covid. Broke out for real in the 20-21 season and in the 2022 offseason signed an 8 year contract extension !! Won the fastest skater competition at the 2021 all star game!

Profile: great goal scorer at his best, often passes for the "perfect play" instead of shooting. Not super physical

Other: besties with Robert Thomas, they even signed matching contracts <3

ROBERT THOMAS (A) (Thommer) (Tommer?)

Info: #18, C, STL 20th in 2017

Last season: 18 goals + 65 pts (team lead in assists !)

History: played most of the 18-19 season and won the cup as a rookie! Had a good season considering he was on a team of more dominant veterans, very notably received That One Hit from Krug in the SCF

Profile: Not a massive goal scorer but definitely can score, more of a playmaker. Struggles with overpassing for the perfect play. Resident faceoff man post-ROR trade.

Other: besties with Kyrou :)

PAVEL BUCHNEVICH (Buch)

Info: #89, LW, NYR 75th in 2013

Last season: 26 goals + 67 pts

History: traded to Blues in 2021 and immediately had a career season. Was good on the Rangers, is even better on the Blues.

Profile: Great goal scorer! Very good shorthanded this season, already has 2 SHG! Hasn't been his best year overall but would be surprised if he didn't get at least 20 goals

Other: has never played a full 82 game season

BRANDON SAAD (Saader)

Info: #20, LW, CHI 43rd in 2011

Last season: 19 goals + 27 pts

History: won 2 cups with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015. Signed with the Blues in 2021 as a free agent

Profile: very consistent 20-ish goal scorer! Has been moved around the lineup quite a bit this season but is usually on the second or third line, great depth goal scorer

Other: not super relevant but inch resting to me, he was traded from Chicago to Columbus in the infamous Artemi Panarin trade

BRAYDEN SCHENN (C) (Schenner)

Info: #10, C, LAK 5th in 2009

Last season: 21 goals + 65 pts

History: important piece in the 18-19 cup season, scored a goal in game 7 of the SCF! Was an alternate captain for 3 seasons under ROR, currently his first season as captain :)

Profile: Usually a 20-ish goal scorer, production has suffered this year from being moved around the second and third lines

Other: I'm still jumpscared by him being in 2013-era Flyers fics to this day. He played on the Flyers with his brother Luke for several (4?) seasons !!

JAKE NEIGHBOURS (Jakey) (?)

Info: #63, LW, STL 26th in 2020

History: Technically in his sophomore season, was unexpectedly called up for 43 games last season + made the roster full time this year out of camp. Worked his way up from the fourth line to the first line before settling down to the second line after the coaching change. He's having whatever the opposite of a sophomore slump is! It's definitely been a breakout season for him so far

Profile: Good goal scorer, was briefly leading the team in goals. Very physical guy, doesn't take many penalties considering he's not afraid to throw himself around

Other: Roommates with rookie goalie Hofer, and they both spent the Christmas holidays with the Schenn family! They do a very cute little thing during the goalie headbutt line :)

SAMMY BLAIS

Info: #79, LW, STL 176th in 2014

Last season: 9 goals + 20 pts in 31 games post-trade deadline

History: Played on the 18-19 cup-winning team (was #9), traded to NYR (for Buchnevich) in 2021, scored NO GOALS in 2 seasons there, traded back in 2023 and scored career high 9 goals post trade deadline.

Profile: Usually a physical player, worked well on the relentless 2019 team. Struggling to find his place on the current team, sometimes a healthy scratch

KEVIN HAYES (Hayesy)

Info: #12, C, CHI 24th in 2010 (listed as LW ? but has been playing center)

Last season: 18 goals + 54 pts (PHI)

History: Drafted by Chicago but played for Boston College (apparently had an injury where he almost lost his leg????). Played several years on the Rangers, about ten minutes in Winnipeg, played several years in Philadelphia, and got traded to the Blues in the 2023 offseason for a couple of rocks (a 6th round pick). Part of the controversial trade that made Krug invoke his no-trade clause.

Profile: Good depth scoring and fantastic faceoff man. Decently physical player and he battles well enough that he's already got 10 goals to show for it.

Other: cousin of Keith Tkachuk! His brother (former player, retired in 2019) unfortunately passed away in 2021 and every time he scores, he points to the sky for him :,)

KASPERI KAPANEN (Kappy)

Info: #42, RW, PIT 22nd in 2014

Last season: 15 goals + 34 pts (PIT + STL)

History: Drafted by the Penguins but was traded to the Leafs where he played 5 seasons, then traded BACK to the Penguins where he played 2 1/2 seasons, then put on waivers. The Blues picked him up in 2023 and he put up a solid 14 pts in 23 games. He fought his way up from the minors and has played exclusively in the NHL since the 18-19 season.

Profile: Good depth player. Very fast but doesn't shoot very much. Currently on the fourth line, usually higher but was moved down as other players (notable Neighbours) moved up the lineup.

NATHAN WALKER (Walks)

Info: #26, LW, WSH 89 in 2014 (currently playing center, my sources are conflicting but he's currently playing center so. he might be a center)

Last season: 2 goals + 10 pts

History: He's Australian! He was born in Wales! He holds basically all of the Australian records since he's one of like 4 Aussie players ever. He played his first NHL games in the 2018 playoffs and won the cup the with Capitals! Unfortunately did not play enough games for his name to be on the cup. He's technically only played a handful of games this year and started with the AHL team but he's been on the team for a few years now and he just signed a 2-year one-way extention, so you'll probably be seeing more of him :)

Profile: Physical player despite being undersized (5'9). Not a big scorer but provides a major physical presence on a not very physical team.

Other: look at his instagram right now his kids are so goddamn adorable

ALEXEY TOROPCHENO (Torpo)

Info: #13, RW, STL 113th in 2017

Last season: 10 goals + 19 pts

History: Played in the KHL in 20-21 due to issues with the Blues AHL affiliate (goodbye San Antonio Rampage, fuck VGK). Made his Blues debut when a covid outbreak on the team forced them to call up a number of players.

Profile: Physical player! Kinda massive (6'6) so he can and WILL run guys over. Fast and relentless player who doesn't give up the puck easily. Mostly a 4th line grinder but he WORKS on that 4th line. Great penalty killer, already has 2 shorthanded goals on the season

Other: this has less of an impact now because it's just him and buch, but back when there were numerous russian players i always called him my favorite russian. this still stands <3

OSKAR SUNDQVIST (Sunny)

Info: #70, C, PIT 81st in 2012

Last season: 10 goals + 28 pts (DET + MIN)

History: The Blues offseason signing of the century. Played a handful of games with the Penguins in the 16-17 season when they won the cup, but didn't play enough games for his name to be on it. Signed to the Blues 18-19 team on a one-year deal and had his best season to date, won the cup for real this time to boot. Traded to the Red Wings in 2022, then traded to the Wild at the 2023 deadline.

Profile: As a center, he's a solid faceoff man, a solid physical presence, and I think he really exudes everything that worked about the 2019 team. Good defensive forward on the fourth line.

Other: A huge fan of the STL MLS team! Went to games even before he had officially signed here. I think the entire city of STL likes this guy he seems cool. Also the Sundqvist + Walman for Leddy + Witkowski trade is known for being absolutely awful. jake walman if ur reading this pls come back

And that's all for the forwards! This is what the roster currently looks like (1/14/24) and other players who are called up/down frequently will be in a separate section

#blues primer

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hardtchill · 2 months

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Sad not to be seeing wag Beth this summer

Feel for viv. Never thought I’d miss Jill this much

ig the one good thing about it is that for the first time since 2020 Viv will be getting an offseason that isn't spent rehabbing a knee.

#ask #vivianne miedema

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andrebearakovsky · 7 months

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heya! i've been away from hockey for a few years, my last devastation was the Trading of Holtby. which cap should i look out for this season in your opinion? thx✌

(holtby wasn't traded he simply just wasn't re-signed as a free agent but that's okay)

Well, if you were around in the Holtby era, then all the big guys are still here (Ovi, Backstrom, Oshie, Wilson, Carlson, Kuzy) and you know them, so I'll talk about some newer guys that you might not know. And I know you said one guy but I'm going to talk about multiple guys 'cause I can't help myself.

I personally think Dylan Strome is going to have a pretty big year. We got him last year, and he had his career high in games played, goals, assists, and points. He seemed very comfortable here, and I think he'll have an even better year this year. He's a center and will play anywhere from line 1 to line 3 depending on how the rest of the lineup looks on any given day, and he'll definitely be on the power play, either on PP2 or on PP1 in Kuzy's spot, though that depends more on Kuzy than it does on him.

I also think this year is gonna be a big year for the young guys. New head coach Spencer Carbery was the head coach of the Hershey Bears for 3 seasons, so he has coached and is familiar with a LOT of these guys. The guys on the training camp roster who I believe have a good chance of making the roster that he coached for at least some period of time in Hershey include: Martin Fehervary, Lucas Johansen, Beck Malenstyn, Joe Snively, Alex Alexeyev, Connor McMichael, and Aliaksei Protas. He coached Johansen and Snively all 3 years he was there (Malenstyn would also be included in this group if he hadn't missed all of 2020-21 with an injury). He also coached Rasmus Sandin for 2 years when he was an assistant coach with the Maple Leafs (he also coached Nicolas Aube-Kubel, for the very brief period of time NAK was a Leaf); he specialized in coaching the power play, which Sandin was a part of, and figures to be a part of again - since Orlov's departure, he seems a natural fit to quarterback PP2, and I think he will end up getting that role on PP2, since your other option there is TvR, and as much as I absolutely fucking adore TvR that is not where he belongs 😂

Anyway, my point is, it's gonna be a big year for these young guys. I'm of the firm belief that the reason why the Caps didn't get a lot of acquisitions in the offseason is because Carbery is very familiar with a lot of these young guys and has faith in them and says "we're leaning on the young guys, it's their time." And I think many of them make the jump to the NHL roster full-time and have a good year. Martin Fehervary is already an established NHLer (he wore the A in a couple of this year's preseason games!!), is very good at the defense, and has been John Carlson's defense partner for a good chunk of Fehervary's career now, meaning he's been taking on first-pair minutes and duties. I personally think Fehervary takes even another step up this year. I also say the same of Aliaksei Protas; he was on the Caps roster for most of last year but not the entire time, but this year I think he's here to stay. He's 6'6" and huge, and I think he finally learns how big he is and learns how to use his body and he'll get the offense going. Idk if Snively makes the roster full-time (I hope he does), but I think McMichael makes the full-time jump, and Beck Malenstyn DEFINITELY makes the full-time jump, I think this is the year for Beck. Mainly because Nic Dowd fucking ADORES Beck. After the departure of longtime linemate/bestie Garnet Hathaway at last year's deadline, he needs a new liney. And whenever Beck was up with the big club last year he played on the 4th line with Dowd and I could tell Dowd loved playing with him, and he has definitely grown attached. Dowd will not let Beck go back to Hershey, he's staying. And I like Beck, he's VERY physical, he'll throw a bunch of hits. I also think Alexeyev makes the jump. He got a bunch of unexpected playing time in the second half of last season because of so many injuries, and I was very impressed with how he held himself. I expected him to make the roster as the 7th defenseman anyway, but with the injury to Joel Edmundson, I think he gets the full-time playing spot and he blossoms. The Edmundson injury really opens a free spot for I hope Lucas Johansen, who could make the team as the 7th D. I really hope he does.

Oh and I wouldn't put him in the same group of "young guys" because he didn't come up with this same group that was all at Hershey together, but Sandin is poised to have a good year this year. This'll be his first full year here, and he'll have a full-time spot on the defense. He probably won't be paired with TvR like I want him to (he played with TvR a bunch last year and TvR adores him) bc TvR plays on the 3rd pair, but he'll be paired either on the 1st pair with Carly or the 2nd with Nick Jensen - I hope it's with Jensen, separating Fehervary from Carlson feels wrong. But he's expected to eat big minutes and also get power play time.

I also think Sonny Milano could have a breakout year. This will be his first full season, and I think he cements a full-time spot rather than always being at risk for being scratched. He's a skill guy and he's fast, and I think Carbery lets him loose and lets him do his thing. I would like to see him on a line with Dylan Strome, I think they've got good chemistry. His career high in goals is 14, and I think he could easily break that this year, and maybe even get 20. He already got his career high in assists with us last year, and he could maybe even break that again too if he plays enough. He could maybe even get time on PP2, we'll see. The team loves him, as you can see in any pregame warmup videos, I'm convinced his family is in the mob (he's Italian, from Long Island, his real name is Frank, he's called Sonny because his dad is ALSO Frank - specifically called 'Big Frank,' and also his dad looks and talks like an Italian New York mob boss [please go look up content from last year's mentor's trip]), and he has the best hair ever. It defies the laws of gravity and physics and I want to see more of it. Please go look up pictures of it for your entertainment, and also the Sonny Milano chia pet giveaway they're doing later this year.

Okay, I think that's all I have for "guys I think you should watch out for," I think all the guys I mentioned could have big years. But before I sign off, I'm just gonna push some of my personal faves on you just because. I adore Trevor van Riemsdyk so much, thinking about him just results in this: 🥰. Also the ENTIRE team is in love with him, if you would like more evidence/proof of this please ask and I'll do it in a separate post. I also love Nic Dowd, who's probably one of the only guys on this team with an actual brain cell; he's got quick wit, and he specializes in shutting down the other team's top center (and is quite successful at it usually), and also loves to specifically make Sidney Crosby's life miserable. And also, it might be difficult as a Holtby lover which I think you are based on this ask, but I strongly recommend falling in love with our goalie Darcy Kuemper. I ADOREEEEEEEEEEE Darcy, and not just because he's our goalie, I've adored him for a very long time. I've liked him from afar ever since he was an Arizona Coyote, and seeing him sign with us was like having an actual dream come true. I NEVER thought I'd get to see him on my team and this whole last year has been wonderful in that regard. I think you'd like him, he's sweet, earnest, easily trickable, and SO stupid. He wants to bring back the dinosaurs. He's also besties with the backup goalie Chuck. If you want more Darcy info or Darcy love I will be happy to give it to you if you ask.

Okay, sorry that post went on a lot longer than expected. But I hope it's informative! And I hope you can enjoy the upcoming hockey season! Go Caps!

#anon #asks #washington capitals #dylan strome #martin fehervary #aliaksei protas #connor mcmichael #beck malenstyn #alexander alexeyev #alex alexeyev #lucas johansen #joe snively #rasmus sandin #sonny milano #trevor van riemsdyk #nic dowd #darcy kuemper

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hugheses · 3 months

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wait I’m confused… so jack and Quinn have their lake house in Mich… but they also have one in NH? Is it their parents lake house shared with the brissons?

yes so the hughes + brisson families had a lake house in new hampshire for years, but then in 2021 quinn and jack bought a lake house in michigan together where they now live during the offseason. the last time anyone posted pics from the new hampshire lake house was jack’s little ntdp reunion in summer 2020.

#answered

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