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Refinement and growth the focus in Summer Cup for Angel City FC

The new tournament provides big opportunity for improvement for Angel City
Trebor TracyBy 8 Mins Read
Angel City FC defender Megan Reid (center left) and forward Casey Phair (center right) during training while defender Gisele Thompson (back left) looks on. Photo Courtesy of Angel City FC

The first half of the season did not go the way anyone envisioned for Angel City FC. After the wild finish to last season, that saw the team go on a 12 match unbeaten run, making the playoffs for the first time in their short club history, many thought this team was ready to take that next step up. Sure, they may have lost a key player or two but as a whole they came into this season not having lost even a hands worth of players, and were able to add incredible talent like Rocky Rodriguez and Messiah Bright prior to the season starting. This is why though, we don’t play matches on paper, because on the pitch its been a rough ride for Los Angeles.

As we come to a break in NWSL action for the Olympics, Angel City sit in 11th. The team have scored a fairly average 16 goals, but have conceded the second most goals in the league at 26. Close to 80% of their offense has been mostly possession based while trying to play out of the back of the opponents half of the field while being amongst the bottom in touches in the opposition box. Numbers aside, the football just hasn’t looked good. The passing hasn’t been sharp, the timing has been off for almost all of the season, and moments of brilliance have been few and very far between. However, even with all that, things aren’t dire. The only number that matters, points total, and Angel City sit just three points off the playoff line. With an entire second half of a season to play, the team know just how important Summer Cup will be in getting right, and making sure everyone is focused on the task ahead.

“Anything is possible” said Angel City FC midfielder Elizabeth Eddy when speaking ahead of tonight’s match. “Especially when you look at the table we’re three points out of a playoff spot, which, I would say is a huge blessing and gift considering our first half of the season. Personally I’ve got a lot of hope in that, and I’m like wow what an opportunity to go make a difference and I think a lot of the girls after the break are like ‘hey we can do this.” The theme of the season for the club has been grit and joy.

The first half has been all grit for Angel City. Despite all the bad, there is a reason they are only three points off the playoff line and that’s because they do play hard. Their record of 4-9-3 shows it, just three losses on the season. For context, four of the top five teams in the league have three or more losses, with Washington Spirit the only team at the top with just a single loss. Of course, these teams have virtually no draws with the rest of their matches wins, but the point being, Angel City have been in a lot more matches than they have been blown out, so it isn’t like this is an outright bad team. What is clear, is whatever they have been doing, hasn’t been working and if actions match words, this Summer Cup will be the start of the team going on a journey of self-reflection to come out the other side with a refined identity and renewed sense of self.

In the lab

“I think everybody needed a break” said Angel City FC Head Coach Becki Tweed when discussing the time off. “It was nice reflecting as a staff and obviously having the players not see each other for a week was nice, but excited to be back. I think we know we need to go into this tournament and use it as an opportunity.” Throughout the week this has been the message from the head coach. This tournament isn’t just a way to keep players who aren’t at the Olympics fit, btu a chance for Angel City as a club to really refocus and refine who they want to be to close out the season.

Throughout the week the message has been we will see a lot of experimenting this tournament. From tactics, to possible formations, and have been told to expect to see players we haven’t seen much of yet this season. A chance for everyone to showcase what they bring to the table so that the feast can be fulfilling for the second half of the year. This is what’s really needed. The team has long needed a reset. A chance to not necessarily start from scratch, but a chance to remodel in the middle of a season, without the pressure of falling behind in the standings. An opportunity to see what youngsters like Casey Phair can do, a player many had hoped to see at least a little of this season, but have yet to see her showcase her skill for LA, despite having featured for Korea during International play. That will all change soon according to Tweed.

“You are going to see her [Phair]” exclaimed Tweed through some light chuckles. “It may have to be another week, I think she’s questionable, she picked up a little knock in training. It’s nothing crazy but probably not worth the risk this weekend. She is going to feature. She’s been working incredibly hard, she is learning how to be a pro and I think that part has been such a big process for her journey and she’s definitely going to get minutes in this tournament.”

What really matters

Angel City are in a bit of a tough spot. On one hand, with winning comes momentum. Much needed momentum that can absolutely help propel the team into a run in NWSL play that might see them make yet another magical late season push for the playoffs. Plus, this is the first year of this tournament, one that will likely only grow in size and importance, so being first to hoist this trophy would be massive for Angel City. At the same time, this team are right in the thought that they need a bit of an overhaul.

If they are going to make a legitimate push for the playoffs and turn this season around, it will take more than a run in the Summer Cup, it will take legitimate, tangible changes to either tactics, rotation, or all of it. That said, usually when a team plans on rebuilding itself, they tend not to do so during a tournament. Especially one with talented teams like Club America, Tigres, or Rayadas lurking about. Which is to say, if the plan truly is to experiment, understand that it may feel a lot worse before it starts to get better. Finishing the NWSL as strong as possible and preferably in a postseason spot, is by far the most important thing for Angel City in 2024. If that means you have to treat this tournament like a glorified training grounds to fine tune the team and help make the adjustments needed for success in that regard, then so be it.

How to Watch

Angel City kickoff their Summer Cup with a matchup against a familiar foe from Liga MX Femenil, Club America. The two have met before, back in March of last year, where LA got the best of the Mexican giants in a friendly, winning 3-0. This time, it wont be so friendly, and you can rest assure Club America will be out for a bit of revenge against their friendly rivals from Los Angeles. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm PT from Titan Stadium at Cal State Fullerton, in Fullerton, Ca. The match can be streamed live on Paramount+ for those in the USA, ESPN or Disney+ for those in Mexico, as well as NWSL+ for the International fans.

Thoughts on the team heading into Summer Cup? Leave a comment below!

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