Let me start with a caveat that I am applying some unfair hindsight bias here. With that said, it is surprising to me how few transfers we brought in, considering there was roster space.
First, just for some clarity on this argument, high school recruiting now wraps up almost 2 years before a season begins. That is the most important part of roster building but it represents long-term stacking of talent that is not based on current needs. When it comes to rounding out a team there is the second cycle. College transfers and international players are both in play at roughly the same time - in the offseason prior to the current year.
So lets talk about this past off-season recruiting cycle. Here are our additions, roughly in order of their projected impact:
- Int D Floor Holzenbosch - Highest level developmental player in NED - likely would have been a top player on this team but did not make it to campus
- Grad transfer GK Shahbo - an excellent get; every reason to believe she would compete for the GK spot, possibly rotate with Skubitz. She was our only transfer.
- Int D/MF Imme De Leeuw - Top level developmental club player in NED - also projected as a probable starter, currently injured.
- Int F Cecilly Moorhead - Top developmental player in UK - starting to come into her own: a contributor at the F position where we need help.
- Int MF Micky Van Baasbank - Less information on her, but appeared to be a 2nd tier NED developmental player (which is still good) - Has not played at all; also injured?
In looking at this list I don't have much complaint about the international haul: this appears to be elite level talent coming in. I would bet that Holzenbosch next to Pottebaum would have made a solid back line.
But we have not seen 3 of the 4 play at all, so in the end, this group has not made an impact. Throw in Shahbo losing out to Skubisz and this entire haul basically consists of back-up minutes by Moorhead so far. Almost no impact, largely due to bad luck.
But that still leaves me with two questions:
- Why did we only bring in one transfer; no field players? We still had at least one roster spot. Were we content with what we had or did we just miss on our transfer targets?
- Along the same lines, why almost no forwards? Did we think this current roster had no holes in the attacking positions?
Remember, when these decisions were made, we had no reason to believe the 5th year seniors would be in a position to play. The transfer portal cycle was basically done when that court case settled. Also note that almost all of our heralded HS recruits are playing and producing: Ferri & O'Donnell start and Nussbaumer gets major bench minutes. Our other USA freshmen did not come in with the accolades where you would project them to contribute as freshmen.
By comparison, last season our team had much more returning talent and depth, yet we still brought in MF Mendez, GK Wimmer and F Kara Heck in the portal plus Boere from NED. Three very key starters plus a top reserve.