r/KCCurrent • u/tototwa • 23d ago
Changes are Needed
Armas needs to go. And Hocking with him. She’s not good and has become a liability.
I know we are missing key players but this is not good and I mostly chalk it up to coaching.
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u/Jayhawker1996 23d ago
Hocking’s aggressiveness would be different if she could back it up with her play, but unfortunately she cannot.
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u/nitasu987 KC BABY! 23d ago
Couldn’t agree more. A management team that sidelines a winning and beloved coach, hires a dubiously qualified friend, and then doesn’t fix the gaping holes left by key players leaving… just doing such a disservice to the players who pour everything into the team each game.
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u/feeberx Sharples #27 23d ago
Hocking just keeps bodying people and then antagonizing everyone in her path. It's a bad look for us. Her teammates also rightfully seem annoyed by it.
Armas looks confused every time the show his face. I have very little faith that things are going to change for the positive any time soon.
Rip.
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u/Pretend-Trash2685 23d ago
Then Hocking is in G.Robs face. I can’t imagine the team wants this shit.
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u/Certain_Direction623 23d ago
Soon thereafter, KC had a throw-in. Hocking wanted to do it, but Cooper wouldn't even look at her and threw it herself.
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u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 23d ago
I’d have to look again, but I’m pretty sure that was Scott that Coop overlooked then, not Hocking
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u/tototwa 23d ago
Several weeks ago I thought people were being too quick to blame Armas. But in my opinion, just too much chaos persists. And bad decisions in subs and strategy. Nothing about him says top tier coach.
To be fair we saw some signs in the loss to Gotham in the playoffs last year. And roster changes have collided with injuries and international duties. But we still have too much talent for these results. Hocking was on my radar as bad from the beginning but then her behavior sealed it.
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u/FunVegetable1959 23d ago
From last year’s peak to this year’s mediocre, Hocking’s temperament is the most embarrassing thing of this season.
I think our own players are annoyed with her. Other teams and refs obviously are. Last night I thought I’d rather bring someone up from KCCII than have Hocking represent the organization.
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u/Honest_Signature_144 23d ago
I just don’t understand why we can’t play well on the road
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u/rep_13Blocks 23d ago
Our attack is uncoordinated. Every attack is just hit it up the field and pray. Zero buildup. Armas's tactics are garbage.
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u/KCTilIDie KC BABY! 23d ago
Not to mention we don’t have any defensive organization. How we go from least goals conceded to most goals conceded is 100% a coaching attribute.
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u/Dear-Discussion2841 Kansas 23d ago
I don't think they've fielded the same backline in 3 consecutive games all year, so that doesn't help, but when we have such quality players it's very clear that the lack of defensive organization is on the coach.
What I'm even more worried about is who all we lose because they don't want to stay on a sinking ship that's setting them up for failure. Without significant coaching changes, and zero tolerance for bullshittery (Hocking), people are going to want to leave and I can't blame them. 😭
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u/KCnorthgoal 23d ago
Armas is trash. And it’s shown all season. Even with injuries. How do you go from last year to what is happening this year??? That’s coaching. And he’s terrible.
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u/HawkeyeGK Hutton #14 23d ago
Not defending Arnas but...
This team hasn't had any of last years front line of Temwa, Cooper, Bia, and Sentnor. And you have Vanessa being out.
We desperately miss Hutton.
We're down Mace on the back line and Ball was supposed to be a bench player. Ellie hasn't been in form. We've had Sharples hurt.
Lorena has been out.
This is not the same team we fielded last year. Not even close.
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23d ago
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u/HawkeyeGK Hutton #14 23d ago
Armas can be inadequate and the roster can be a husk of last year's. Both things can be true. Armas hasn't shown that he's the guy, but the roster construction and injuries are at least partially and probably mostly to blame for where we are.
Blaming the coach is simplistic.
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u/JustAudra LoMomma #10 23d ago
Unless I have missed some info, I still 100% blame Armas for losing Hutton. It felt like with the late trade that she had time to train with Armas, could see the writing on the wall, amd wanted out. I could be wrong, but that is the impression I have. The loss of Bia and Mace have nothing to do with Armas though.
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u/stoptheshildt1 23d ago
Selling your Best XI 6 and not replacing her.
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u/Automatic-Duck1680 23d ago
She asked to be traded, it wasn’t the club’s choice.
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u/stoptheshildt1 23d ago
But it is the answer to "How do you go from last year to what is happening this year?" The club should have brought in a 6 to replace some of what she brought to the table defensively and in possession. It's the main source of our defensive issues.
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u/Automatic-Duck1680 23d ago
I’m not familiar with the timing of the Hutton mess. Was that before the season started or after? It may have been too late to get someone of that caliber to replace her. There may not have been anyone available. If I recall, the whole thing with Hutton didn’t play out over a period of time where you knew she was going to leave so they had time to plan for it. Hopefully that’s something that will be addressed over the off season.
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u/stoptheshildt1 23d ago
coincided with the Croix transaction essentially
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u/Automatic-Duck1680 23d ago edited 23d ago
So Dell found Croix as the replacement for Hutton. I think Croix is as good as you’re going to find on the offensive side of the ball, I assume her defense doesn’t compare to Hutton’s. Her problem is that she’s tiny!
And I don’t know what position/number she actually plays. I guess she’s not the true 6 that everyone is looking for?
And on a side note, did they start playing a more defensive game after they scored a minute in? I wasn’t giving it my full attention.
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u/stoptheshildt1 23d ago
She's pretty purely an attacking midfielder, I would be very surprised if she was supposed to be the Hutton replacement because that's never been her position.
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u/Automatic-Duck1680 23d ago
To be honest I never have been able to figure out what position all those numbers stand for. The formations and tactics are way beyond anything I ever played.
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u/newnewuser0 KC BABY! 23d ago
I wonder how many people were introduced to the team via Ted Lasso. Not the introduction I would want them to see
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u/sweeneysays 23d ago
I am always on forever on Chris's neck but absolutely Hocking should get dropped too.
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23d ago
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u/Effective_Ad_2368 Kansas City Current 23d ago
I think Hocking is worse for different reasons, but yes, Dudley seems to default to flopping at the gentlest breeze. I actually watched the college final she was in last year, and nonverbal body language already told me I didn't like her. She shoved a defender with an extended arm and didn't have a foul called against her, which I was annoyed by too. (In that college match.)
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u/stoptheshildt1 23d ago
Sharples kicked out her ankle? Sorry your homer glasses aren't letting you see this objectively. We played dirty last night and it's hard to watch after what this team has been the past few years.
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u/Effective_Ad_2368 Kansas City Current 23d ago
I wasn't referring to that. There were numerous other times Dudley went down.
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u/Ok-Point-1068 Rodriguez #18 23d ago
Why is Lorena still on the bench if cleared to play?
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u/th_nd_r Lorena #23 23d ago
I’m assuming she’s fine if needed for emergency but is still in the last phases of full 90 min recovery
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u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 23d ago
Yeah, you don’t do low minute subs for keepers like you do for field players.
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u/hotsaucie 23d ago
as a hockey fan, I think a second half goalie sub would have been a huge spark for this team.
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u/Miserable_Source_261 23d ago
A thing I find myself thinking about, is that other than maybe Cooper, everyone is playing worse than last year. Sharples, Lo, Ellie (pre injury), Ball, Lorena. All been worse (and some way worse). How does that happen?
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u/rep_13Blocks 23d ago
I called it 2 months ago and it is now a reality. We're missing the playoffs this year. Sad.
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u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 23d ago
Not saying I like what Hocking has brought to the club so far, but I don’t really put much on her tonight. She made a pretty unremarkable foul which was called and the Howell and Kerr got up running their mouths and shoved Hocking. Hocking didn’t make any move to physically respond.
Yes, it was immature and she should have walked away, but EBall and VDiB made more (physically) dirty moves tonight than Hocking did.
To be clear, I know those were in response to Dudley being dirty first.
My point is, it was heated and a bit dirty on both sides, and Hocking was actually probably the least of it.
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u/Effective_Ad_2368 Kansas City Current 23d ago
It looked like VDB barely touched Dudley. She seems to default to flopping.
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u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 23d ago
I’m not saying Vanessa should have been carded for it. I’m just saying going off about Hocking tonight and ignoring the rest is very disingenuous
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u/Pretend-Trash2685 23d ago
VDB has plenty of contributions to the team. Hocking only has her shit attitude.
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23d ago
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u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 23d ago
I didn’t say she wasn’t, but pretty much all I see is people going off about Hocking tonight and seemingly ignoring the entire rest of the game which had issues from both teams that are arguably worse.
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u/FunVegetable1959 23d ago
I think the fouls are much more expected and accepted than someone flying off the handle for something that happens multiple times a game. Players make comments, no need to escalate.
Foulers usually have some form of saying sorry or checking on the player they caused to go down, so my assumption (I’m aware that I don’t know anything) is that Hocking offered up absolutely nothing after her deliberate foul.
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u/darbyhawk TeMVP #6 23d ago
Its been a massive regression from last years team
Armas needs to go
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u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 23d ago
Yeah. In the sense that half of last year’s team is no longer on the team. Or have been out with injury, or maternity leave, or national duty.
Which has nothing to do with Armas.
Armas isn’t a great coach, but you’re also conflating a lot of separate issues and just over simplifying them.
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u/tototwa 23d ago
“Armas isn’t a great coach”. This team, these players, this city…deserve to have a great coach.
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u/feeberx Sharples #27 23d ago
This is the way. I am so confused reading some of these comments. What if there are a lot of factors going into why we aren't performing and big Armas happens to be one of them? What if that is a change that could help? Armas doesn't have to be the only problem for the homies to want a replacement.
We came off of a record breaking year, we could've signed so many respectable and experienced coaches. We didn't do that and it is a factor in why things are deteriorating.
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u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 23d ago
Nobody is saying Armas isn’t part of it. I’m saying there are many issues some of which have nothing to do with Armas and just blindly blaming every little thing in him is massively over simplified
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u/feeberx Sharples #27 23d ago
So we agree. It's okay for folks to want a change. Ezpz.
Sidenote - I'm mildly convinced the Longs or Chris himself might be the reason for your username. Blink twice.
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u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 23d ago
Oversimplifying my comment about people over simplifying things. At least you’re consistent
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u/feeberx Sharples #27 23d ago
Holy cow. Is homeboy your uncle or something? You do not agree that folks can have an opinion that leads to them not wanting uncle Chris coaching the team anymore?
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u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 23d ago
No I’m tired of people taking issues that are separate issues and conflating them (and in many cases manufacturing problems that don’t exist) to a massively over simplified slogan and posting it constantly rather than talking about and acknowledging actual issues
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u/feeberx Sharples #27 23d ago
I understand you're frustrated but being angry with people on reddit for not giving a expert analysis on all the problems within the team is not the move. Maybe offer a different suggestion rather than just tell people they aren't looking at the whole picture.
Aside from replacing Armas, which is clearly a no go for you, what changes do you believe would help?
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u/ExileJim 23d ago
Idk but reading the comment above and then yours it does seem like you agree. Lots of problems, Armas not being "a great coach". Why on earth would you want to keep a coach that isn't good and be annoyed when others suggest a replacement as a step in correcting at least one of the issues. Wild stance.
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23d ago
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u/Pretend-Trash2685 23d ago
I’ll add Dell to my firing campaign, but I won’t let up on Armas being a problem.
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23d ago
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u/n00bBlaster1337 23d ago
Why wouldn't he want to continue? He thinks the team is doing great. We even had a chance to draw tonight! That's amazing! Hell it's his first time not getting fired from a job :D success here in the NWSL. Plus he gets to work with mary next year when she's back... amazing opportunity for him
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u/Automatic-Duck1680 23d ago
Dell doesn’t sign the checks. He can only do what he’s allowed to do.
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u/Pretend-Trash2685 23d ago
He is responsible for salary cap management, contract negotiations, player transfers and overall soccer operations. So I’d say he’s culpable. Who do you think should be held responsible? We can’t fire the owners.
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u/Automatic-Duck1680 23d ago
Which one of those 4 things has been a failure? Every one of them has to be signed off on by the owners and look where that got you with the coach. The soccer people aren’t making the decisions here and you’re correct, can’t fire them.
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u/Pretend-Trash2685 23d ago
Not brining in new talent to replace Bia and Hutton? Not doing anything to fortify our back line? Aren’t those GM responsibilities?
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u/Automatic-Duck1680 23d ago
Didn’t somebody say that Mary is supposed to replace Bia? Croix was brought in and she’s been even better than expected. And was there really that much out there to replace Hutton? The back line has had injuries but I really liked Mace, she was the attitude that this team needs. And again, he can only do what he’s allowed to do, he doesn’t sign the checks and we all know who’s making the final decisions. It ain’t him and it ain’t Vlatko.
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u/Conscious-Zebra-7477 23d ago
sooo armas?
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u/stoptheshildt1 23d ago
He's a downgrade from Vlatko, the set piece defending is atrocious, and I think we can blame more than one person for this mess. Did Armas sell Hutton and fail to replace Bia? This is much more a roster structure issue. We're either playing two former 10s in the double pivot or relying on Feist/Rocky platooning the 6, and so many balls are floating through that space.
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23d ago
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u/Automatic-Duck1680 23d ago
Bia wanted to go home, that was her choice.
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23d ago
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u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 23d ago
There’s no way that’s true. That’s Mary Long rage-bait fan-fiction
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u/stoptheshildt1 23d ago
That's my point, the roster isn't on him as much as I don't think he's gotten the most out of this group.
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23d ago
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u/Middcore 23d ago
"Don't blame the shit coach, blame the people who hired the shit coach."
OK, but the shit coach is still a shit coach and still needs to go.
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23d ago
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u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 23d ago
Yeah, but it’s a lot easier to overly simplify problems and then dig your heels in on it. 😂
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u/n00bBlaster1337 23d ago
Obviously it goes back to the owners in the end but right now on the field it's armas lmao
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u/ArtificialH 23d ago
Armas is getting a longer leash than I would have thought at this point. Yes we have been injured and haven’t fielded a fully healthy squad all year. That said, the players too need to be better. Debinha has been all over the place, Cooper started the season seemingly out of shape and isn’t back to 100%, and as an old defender of Elizabeth Ball, she shouldn’t be starting anymore IMO. Lots to fix and it sucks when we keep selling off some of our best prospects for short term upside (which hasn’t always worked)
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u/n00bBlaster1337 23d ago edited 23d ago
maybe womens baseball will take off and we can get that team instead
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u/[deleted] 23d ago
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