The Courage were not a prolific offensive team last year. They won games by controlling the ball, playing solid defense, and outperforming their xG Against numbers.

Here are the 3 most prolific goal contributors from last year:

In looking more at this, I am correct that the attack is bad. If you look at non-penalty xG, which is probably a more accurate reflection of the scoring chances a team is creating, the Courage drop to ninth in the table.

For SCA (shot-creating actions) performed by NC's opponents over the four games, the Courage are better than only Chicago.

Now... take a look at where the Courage are on the defensive side of these stats. For xGA (expected goals against), they are third from the bottom of the table.

NC is in the same spot if you look instead at SCA (shot-creating actions) over the four games.

A kind soul on a private forum has told me he thinks I'm too focused on NC's flailing attack and not enough on the team's defensive vulnerabilities.

If you look at xG (expected goals), the Courage are tied with Gotham for sixth in the league at 5.1 over the four games.

Courage Game Notes
3/22 – v. Seattle

This was incorrectly ruled offside by an AR so far out of position he's not even in the screen!

Six Reign players in a 10-square-yard area. SIX!

Courage Game Notes
3/15 – @ Louisville

3. Are the Courage willing to threaten vertically?

It's well known that Nahas is devoted to a Cruyff-style possession game. In a transitional league, the Courage stand out almost comically for deliberate, intricate build-up play. (See graph from Evan Davis of XOG.)