Football Daily - Women's Football Weekly: The WSL returns!

Episode Date: September 2, 2025

Ben, Ellen and Jen get us up to date on where we find these teams as we head into the new season. Hear from Fran Kirby as she goes into her second season with Brighton and the ambitions of the club.Who are the big transfers that could make the difference, how newly promoted London City Lionesses will fair and what teams might struggle. The team also run us through the manager merry-go-round with lots of change since last season.Jen and Ellen make their predictions for the season with their top three and those teams we could see go into the relegation play-offs!Timecodes: 01:00 Welcome back & brand new feed 03:10Where we find the WSL teams 07:50 Fran Kirby 09:50 Michelle Agyemang under any pressure? 17:30 London City big signings 31:10 Transfers 35:30 Season predictions5 LIVE COMMENTARIES: Chelsea v Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Friday 5th September (7:30pm kick-off) Arsenal v London City Lionesses at the Emirates on Saturday 7th September (1:30pm kick-off) Liverpool v Everton at Anfield on Sunday 8th September (12:00pm kick-off)

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Maximize your edge by shopping at Lenovo.com during their back-to-school sale. That's Lenovo.com. on. BBC Women's Football Weekly with Ben Haynes, Ellen White and Jen Beattie. Hi there, Football Daily listeners, this is Ben Haynes here to tell you about the exciting news that the Women's Football Weekly has found a new home in its very own feed. We've called it, unsurprisingly, BBC Women's Football Weekly, where we'll continue to bring you the same content you've been enjoying here

with the latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game. Episodes will be available every Tuesday as ever, alongside special, unfiltered player interviews from the biggest names in the WSL and beyond. We're dropping today's episode here just so you don't miss it, but the second episode will be in our brand new home next week. So make sure you never miss an app, just search for BBC Women's Football Weekly and hit subscribe once you get there. And there's so much to get into today,

but we'll be talking manager Mary go around, the latest transfers, and Ellen and Jen will do us a whistle-stop tour of where we find the 12 WSL clubs as we enter the new season. So we say a very warm welcome back to Ellen White and Gem Beatty. Woo! How are you two?

Woo-woo-woo-woo, woo-woo, new season. I think we're both really excited. We're back, right? Oh, so nice to be back, isn't it? Yeah, so nice. I'm so excited. I think off the hype of the summer, I couldn't wait for a WSL to get.

going so I'm so ready. I need to apologise to our world-class production team as well. Ellen White is the only one of us that has brought the brand new Mike Muff to the party with our hot pink new rebrand as well. If you haven't seen this, make sure you check out the Five Loves Sports social channels. Can you see all our amazing content there as well, but Ellen is sporting the new Mike Muff, which looks absolutely wonderful. We're going to get into London City Lionesses next week because there is so much to talk about there. I know everyone's very, very excited we've got a special episode on them we went down to the training ground spoke to a load of the players and the manager as well so we'll bring that to you next week as i said we've got a big preview

coming up for friday night on thursday on the feed but what we wanted to do now is just try and give everyone an update because i feel like so much has happened so we're going to whizz through the teams and just try and get a little bit of an understanding of where everyone is at or at least where jenn and ellen think everyone's at and i think it will make sense to go through alphabetically which does mean we start with one of the most exciting stories of the season, Ellen, and we'll begin with Arsenal. Where is your head out on Arsenal? I'm sure they're going to be very excited for the new season.

Champions League winners, obviously runners up in the WSEL last season. Huge one million pound signing, Olivia Smith, obviously Taylor Hines as well. So they are trying to bolster their team. I want to see a few games, though. I want to see how they line up, how everyone fits in. They're throwing some big money around. How does I ever follow that? Ellen started off their podcast.

cast with an absolute bang with that one. Thanks. No, I couldn't agree more. I'll be so intrigued to see how they get on against London City because there is so much hype around them this year and the kind of players that they've brought in. I think that's a hard game to start. But I think they've especially been linked to Roythler at the minute.

If they get that one over the line, that would be a huge signing as well for them. But they've still got so much strength. I still don't know how they'll line up. They've got so much firepower in the front line. I think their back line solid. obviously Leah Williamson will miss the start of the season. But look, come on, they have European success, the biggest success they could have had winning

Champions League. They have to turn that into domestic success the season. And I think we've all got high hopes for Arsenal. Does that follow, Jen? If you have an experience like that, do you think it naturally can lead into making an impact in the league? I suppose there would be a level of confidence right off the back of that performance in the Champions League final?

100%. I think everyone going into that game. game, every narrative was Arsenal have to play the perfect game to beat one of the best teams in Europe, Barcelona. They took Champions League by Storm, and they did it. So I think when you know what you're capable of, at also the end of a

season where legs are tired, your team are carrying niggles and you go out and put that kind of performance, you can take on any team. I generally think that'll be the confidence. That's how they ended the season. Of course, the English players will come back in and have it even more confidence off the back of winning

the euros with England. But absolutely they have to go in this season and think right we can beat anyone we beat Barcelona at the biggest stage of domestic um sorry European football so not they have to take that into the league this is one of the interesting things about the back end of last season because Arsenal won the Champions League you sort of forget that the title race didn't actually go down to the wire we had the team so close for a while and then actually Arsenal finished 12 points away from Chelsea who ran out unbeaten in the league in the end Another team that had a really interesting end of the season,

Jim, was Ashton Villa. So we sort of spoken so much in the early part of last season about how they'd underwhelmed and how we felt like given the squad that perhaps they were going to perform better than they did. They have a manager change and then they win the last five games on the spin to pick up 15 points and suddenly jump into sixth.

So where are they currently at? And they absolutely battered Arsenal. I think they put five past Arsenal as well towards the end of the season. So I don't know. they were, yeah, they were look on the relegation line for the majority of the season

and then all of a sudden just picked up form so we spoke about Arsenal of having that form at the end of the season Aston Villa were the exact same I think they know what they're capable of as a team

of course they missed Rachel Corsay a lot of the last season and obviously she's moved into retirement now Jordan Knobbs is left as well but they still have to take that form because they obviously delivered at crunch time but you can't leave it late I don't think any team wants to leave it late in that capacity,

but I think they know that they can get results, and that's what's most important. So I think, you know, they finished six last season, if I'm right, which is crazy to go from relegation. They're going to six off that form. So no, they're another team that is really, really difficult to predict. But I think if you're in that dressing room right now, you're thinking, right, you're taking that form into this year.

And I think we so often talk about the top four, right, about Chelsea leading the way in Arsenal, United and City. But Villa very much in that conversation to be the best of the rest, which last year was brighter now. How impressed for you with the way that they went about business last year? I wasn't 100% sure what to expect. New manager, new signings, different style of play. But I feel like they kind of stamped their authority,

I think in the league to be in that kind of top six, and that's where they should be aiming for. They had their best finish ever in the WSL. Obviously, they've lost Nikita Paris, but I feel like they've got Michelle Adjimam back on loan, which I think is great for her and great for the club. Obviously, all eyes on her as well, superstar from the Euro. So she's got something to prove as well. And Dozy and Nigerian goalkeeper, I think she's one of the best goalkeepers in world football right now.

So I think that's an amazing kind of signing. So I'm really excited to see how they progress again this season. but I think they'll be obviously aiming for top four potential really great cup run maybe as well something like that I think everyone was really impressed when Keith O'Sakey scored the hat trick

on the opening game of the season last year everyone was like okay we've got to watch Brighton and I loved exactly what you're saying now the style of play they were trying to play but I think it just kind of caught up with them so for me it's how can Brighton adapt that based on who they play

not trying to keep playing the same way every single game because I think that kind of caught up with them and when they didn't execute it well, that's when they drop points. So for me, it's taking, you know, they know they've got the players to do it. Fran Kirby, super experienced, Michelle Adjaman, see what she gets up to. But when you've got a player like Kiko Seiki as well, top goal scorer, can they be more consistent throughout the year?

They can definitely climb the table as well. And you mentioned Fran Kirby there. Jen, we caught with her a couple of weeks ago to see how she was getting on in preseason. We all want to finish as high as we can in the league. Every club wants to do that and every club wants to come. compete. But for me, I think, you know, it's not something that just happens overnight. It's not something that happens in a year. It's about building a squad that is consistent. And I think that's why Chelsea have always been so successful is they're so consistent. Whether, you know, they play

well, whether they don't, whether they don't play well, they win games. And, you know, a lot of teams aren't able to kind of get to that point just yet. You know, I think, I think this year could be really interesting. But I think for me, it's, you know, clubs need to really value the depth of their teams. And whether you're playing in one competition or you're playing in five, you know, you have to have players that can make a difference, whether they're on the bench or coming in. And it's really difficult because, of course, players out there, if they're coming to the WSL, they want to go to a top four team. So, you know, you already have that battle. But, you know, I think for us, it's about building in the right way, finding our style of play, which I think

Dario has done really well. He has the style of play and he wants to play that way. And last year, of course, we were able to, you know, take points off some teams, obviously taken off Chelsea, taken off Arsenal. It's just more finding that consistency. And I think that's the case for a lot of teams in the WSL, not just Brighton. So, you know, I'm hopeful that we can emulate the same as last season. It's going to be really, really tough. But I would like to see us be a little bit more consistent in our performances and our results. I think it's a really fair assessment there from Frank Kirby Allen, but she mentioned in there about players making the difference. I just wanted to come back to your point around Michelle Adjamang. A little bit of pressure on her.

off the back of a really successful euros, but perhaps good pressure? I suppose it would be good pressure. I'm really excited to see her get more minutes, get more experience in the double-sale, more experience in cup competitions as well. And I think like Fran Kirby said there, get a little bit of consistency in playing,

learning the style of play, playing the number nine, playing out wide, just kind of really experiencing playing, playing football consistently is what she needs. Obviously, we saw her burst onto the scene, didn't we? At the Euro, she was phenomenal coming on and changing the momentum of the game. We know she's got the stature.

We know she's got the technical ability and she's got the mentality as well. It's just doing it regularly and finding a place for her in that Brighton team. So I think it's a great move for her going on loan and being able to hopefully get into that starting 11 every single week and proving that she is an unbelievable.

player and I'm really excited to see what she does this season. She doesn't want the tagline of being a super sub. No player wants that. For her it's agreeing with Ellen, it's starting positions, getting more minutes in the game and establishing herself as a starting player because you don't want that

narrative forever to be the player that can come off the bench and impact it. No forward, no player ever wants that longer time. Fran also mentioned in there about the way that Chelsea compete on all fronts. It's not going to be the same for Brighton, but if we do take a look at Chelsea now

again they've strengthened a little bit in terms of the transfer window anything potentially we expect to happen over the next few days Ellen should we just call it now obviously yeah they've obviously got links to Alyssa Thompson obviously from America so

you know she could just enhance that firepower up top obviously I don't know how fit Sam Kerr is because she's going to be a brand new sign and if she comes back and she's flying. So their front line is absolutely ridiculous. And I feel like as a club, they just seem to want to improve and develop every single year.

They don't just sit and wait and ponder and think, oh, yeah, we've won everything that's just carrying on the way we are. They're always trying to improve. And obviously, they want to get their hands on the Champions League as well. So, yeah, I think that will be a really interesting one to kind of look out for the next couple of days. We will take a deeper look at Chelsea over the course of the next couple of of weeks. I mean, look, for anyone that was listening to the pod last year, I'm sure you would have heard us speak about Chelsea absolutely loads, given how successful they were.

But we will take a deeper look at them over the course of the next couple of weeks after we see how they get on in match week one. Let's take a look at Everton now. Jen, in a tricky position, Everton, but they've got some really exciting bits of news coming this season, both in terms of the players coming in, but also the fact that they'll be at goodest in two. Yeah, no, I think they, look, they started slow last season as well. I think it took them to November to get their first win and then winning the Merseyside Derby was massive.

But I think their signings will be key. I think they signed three internationals, forward, fullback, centreback, Ishikawa, Kitagawa, Momika as well. So I think when you've got international signings coming in, that is only going to boost your squad. And, like, I think the Japanese national team at the minute are incredible to watch. so when you've got that level of technical players coming into your team, that's always a really positive sign.

And look, the club, for me, that's all you'd ever want as a player, investment and signings to kind of boost your squad. So I think I am actually intrigued to see how Everton line up and see how they play because I think they'll have a better season than last season for sure. Let's do Leicester City next. They've had another side that we've seen that kind of managerial, Mary go round they've changed

managed it in the last few days out what does that mean for them coming into the start of the season

well I'm worried for them if I'm being honest it's inconsistency you're not sure you know

who's your head coach obviously you know we do know that Rick Passmore has been brought in

as interim head coach at the moment he was assistant with obviously West Ham with Riann

Rianzkinner I've worked with with Rick at Knott's County in Leeds as well. He's an amazing guy. He's so passionate about the game but loves the players. He's got a heart of gold and I think he'll be really good there just to steady the ship, I think, and just to give a lot of the players, you know, some hope that we're going to be

okay type of thing and just kind of getting them ready for that first game. But I am a little bit worried about them. And also in the last few days, they've lost Ruby Mace, who was a big player for them in that middle of midfield, that kind of six role. So I feel like, you know, I'm a little bit worried in the sense that, you know, are they going to be kind of batting that, that relegation kind of place. But hopefully they've got some great individuals. But yeah, hopefully they can really kind of stamp who the head coach is going to be

and get a little bit of stability for those players. You know, where does your quality sit? And you always want that to be in the center of the pitch, whether it's, you know, right in your midfield role. So when you've got a player like that, who's come through the youth levels and and played trained with the best players internationally and he's got a big career ahead of her actually I think Ruby Mae, she's come through

different setups as a kid but she had started to really establish herself in first team football and getting more consistent and I think that's what was key for Lester so no, it's a big loss but ultimately they need to refine replacement someone that can take her place and step up because the season is obviously starting this weekend

so you can't dwell on it you just have to look forward and figure out solutions as quickly as possible. Fascinating transfer window for Liverpool with two of their biggest players, arguably going to Arsenal Gen. They start on the opening day for them against Everton at Amfield, who historically have had really good afternoons at Amphil

when they've travelled to take on Liverpool. What can we expect from Liverpool this season against that backdrop of losing players that are so important to them? You'd be absolutely gutted, honestly. I think if you're part of that squad and you see your captain go and then you see your best forward goal you're thinking right who we're bringing in to replace

and I think that's what the worry would come from right now and like you said I love these opening fixtures because they're always big head to head you know you've got Chelsea Man City and then Emerseyside Darby and it's just this start with a bang so you have to get off the ground running there's no such thing as

you know grow into the league and grow into a few games now you're playing at Amfield against the rival you've got to start strong so again I've said it before when you lose players at that

sometimes it brings out the best of other players because they have to step up I hope that's what happens with Liverpool because they can't rely on their one or two key players so I hope that's the case

for Liverpool but ultimately they have to do that against Everton this weekend BBC Women's Football Weekly with Ben Haynes Ellen White and Jen Beethy listen on BBC sounds get close

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Listen, only on BBC Sounds. BBC Women's Football Weekly With Ben Haynes, Ellen White and Jen Beattie Listen on BBC Sounds Let's go on to London City Now as I said We are going to take a bigger look at them

But Ellen I just get this vibe And I get this feeling Like they are going to stir things up Quite a lot this season I love it Go on London City Like this is Michelle Kang

I love it Obviously yeah we're seeing a newly promoted team, doing something in the WSL that we've never really seen before with their recruitment. They're spending big, but they're also recruiting players that are experienced. They've obviously got some youngsters in there as well, but they've got a number of players that are kind of 30 and over and have WSL experience like the likes of Katie Zelle and Malana Kennedy, that type of player as well, Nikita Paris. So I think it's really interesting. 14 new signings, which is a hell of a lot of players coming in to the organisation.

And then it's about the manager. Can you gel those players quickly? Can you build that philosophy? Can they get that understanding quickly? They've only played an Arsenal first game. There's no issue there, obviously. But no, I'm really excited. I think they potentially could be a dark horse.

If you can get all those players jelling and that connection, I love it, just ruffling some feathers. I love it. It's just something different, is it? Something exciting that I think we needed in this league as well. So, yeah, I think it's going to be really awesome to watch them. I think it asks big questions as well, straight away. What is required in order to bridge that gap between those traditional big hitters

that we've come to see at the top of the table and how close can a side like London City Lionesses go? We've got this episode coming out. I think people are going to absolutely love. We spoke to so many of the squad, some massive signings like Gianna Fernanda. It's next Thursday that's coming out, Kosovares Lani as well, their captain. And we spoke a little bit about why she did. chose the project, but then we also spoke to the manager as well. And one of the things that he said that I thought was fascinating was Michelle Kang asked him, how do we catch Chelsea tomorrow?

I was like, wow, imagine that being the level that your owner and your chairperson is sitting at saying, right, a team's just gone unbeaten in the league last season. What do I have to do to catch them? I mean, that's both very, very exciting, but also. a big weight to put them under your shoulders, Jen. Yeah, but that's also the only way you're going to attract the players that they have. All of those players that they've signed, Danielle van der Donk, they've all left the top big clubs that are playing in Champions League. So now you've attracted them.

Of course that's going to be, I love it. The ambition is honestly second to none. Like for a newly promoted team to think, yeah, we're going to chase, you know, the treble winners, the unbeaten in the league, that's what we're going to chase. I love it. I think the ambition and you know you asked the question earlier then what's it going to take to bridge the gap and I was kind of joking in my head thinking money money and ambition and it is it sounds as simple it is but you have to put the investment where it's needed and that's what I love about Michelle can she's not wasting any time she's gone out and for players that she wanted to bring in and as a manager that's what you asked me that's all you'd ever want to hear from it's pressure don't get me wrong but I think that's also all you'd ever want your your own to say, you know, who do you want? Who do you think we need to go and chase Chelsea?

And I hope that's been the conversation that's filtered down. So, you know, he's had control over the caliber of players he wants to bring in. I can't wait for that episode to come out because I think it's going to be fascinating to hear all what said. Just in a word, how at face value now, how far do you think they've gone to get close to that top four or that top three? I put them as... You said one word? I still put them as top six. What do you think, Anna?

Oh, I want to see a few games because I want to see how quickly they could gel. I think they'll, I'll go throw out. I think they'll win a trophy. That would be exciting, isn't it? It's certainly going to stir things up. It really, really will. I think also we'll get a really good look

at those sides that are running around the top four. to whether it ruffles feathers there, whether suddenly they feel that heat, whether they feel the fact that a side like London City lionesses have gone out and invested heavily and have looked into what they can do to try and build a squad

that can potentially challenge. If we look at Man City and Man United next, we'll start with Man City. They've got a huge task on their hands. First game of the season, going away to Stamford Bridge and taking on the side that didn't lose at all last season

in Chelsea, where a city at, in your mind, Jen. This is where I think I can't wait to hear what Ellen says as well because if Man City keep everyone fit I still think they arguably play the best football in the league

and I think if they keep everyone fit which is what let them down last year you saw Lauren Hemp missed most of the season Viv Medema was in and out but even when she came back she was still world class Alex Greenwood majority of the season Shaw joint golden boot but still missed quite a fair bit as well

if they keep everyone fit new manager will be interesting to see what he does with the squad as well how style of play because man city is notoriously known for being so rigid with how they play can he come in and influence that we'll see but i've always loved watching them play loved being there as a player their style of play loved it if they keep everyone fit i think they could do some serious damage in this league and i think they can win a trophy because they haven't they haven't in a while and i think it's it's time they for their club of their stature and their success story in the past and, you know, the players that have come through there,

I think they need to win a trophy. And I think they've got the, I can't wait to watch Imam Binet also. I absolutely loved watching her at the Euros. She was one of my favourite players. And as soon as I saw her play, I was like, right, someone's got to pick her up. Next minute, it was Man City or she'd already been signed. So can't wait.

They keep everyone fit. They'll be the team to chase Chelsea, I think. Oh, okay. Okay, take us over to the red half of Manchester then, Ellen, because they have got through to the third quarter. qualifying round of the women's Champions League. They'll play against Bran in a two-legged playoff

game there. They did well to come through the sort of mini-league phase that they went to go and play. If they do get through to the Champions League league phase, how do you think that would affect them in terms of their WSL season?

Oh, it's a tough one, isn't it? Because I feel like you're going to have to have squad depth. They have signed some good players. Yeah, it's about keeping everyone fit with their challenge for the league essentially or getting that top three last season. They were able to, I don't want to disrespect the league cup, but they were able to rotate in the league cup to allow players to stay fresh

for obviously the WSL. I don't think they're going to have that luxury now because obviously they're wanting to obviously put their stamp if they obviously get through to the Champions League and get through this final stage that they're obviously going to want to stamp their authority and prove them still on the European stage but at the same time they're ambitious

and they have been ambitious for a while that they want to obviously go for the title at the same time so it's about keeping those players fresh but he's going to have to play the best team and the best players and keeping everyone happy is going to be obviously an issue at the same time so it's a real balance but yeah I'm really interesting to see how they'll fare

I'm not 100% sure I feel like top four I just don't know what ranking Yeah, like you're saying Ellen there, the amount of quality that you see, if Chelsea go out and strengthen again you can see how

squad depth-wise they can go and compete on those different fronts and you can see how they can maintain quality within the league. I'm not sure, do do Man United have anywhere near the luxury that Chelsea do, Jen? No, but I don't think many teams do in the league

that have that luxury and that's something that you just have to make sure you manage your players throughout the season with keeping everyone fresh and to an extent but also just rely on

you have to just rely on your top players knowing that you don't have that but I don't know I think United have been this underrated team for the past couple of seasons if I'm honest they kind of go under the radar

but come the end of it are always in the mix of that top four so for me I can't wait to see how Rolfo gets on coming from Barcelona with a pretty big injury actually. Of course she got back fit for the Euros but

it's like anyone. You don't come off the back of an injury and are playing your best football so I'm excited to see her hit the ground running and get that sort of consistency of foreign backs. I think she's an awesome player at top of her game so I think she was I was waiting for that big signing for Miami United to make and I think that was the key one for me.

Zagotti Alma I think I think it's very, very good. I thought she had a very good euros in that kind of six role for Italy. So I feel like that's kind of a key role for Man United. Jansom played it. Miazauer kind of plays there as well. But I feel like she'll really put a foot in, which then gives the license for someone like Elatune or Grace Clinton

to be able to be free-flowing and not have to worry so much about the defensive role. So I feel like she's quite a good signing for them. Surprised more clubs didn't go in for her. but I think that's a very key signing for them. Probably give a mention to Elizabeth Turland as well. Four goals in the two games in Champions League qualifying was really, really impressive. Let's go on to Spurs Women.

Now, they have a new boss in Martin Ho, replacing Robert Villarham. Jen, I mean, last season, the way that Spurs' season sort of petered out, there will be, I'm sure, a number of Spurs fans wondering what they can expect going into this year. I'm worried for Spurs, mate. Not going to lie.

I think we might be 2 v1 on this. I feel like Ireland and I might go a little bit too heavy. Yeah, mate, I'm worried. They were teetering on relegation last year. I don't know where it kind of came from either. It was one of the worst seasons they've had. So something big has to have happened for them in preseason. They have to have worked on fundamentals

because they were miles away from the team they were in previous seasons last year. So they have to turn it around. around but am I worried for them absolutely because last year was for them to be in the relegation zone and just miss out knowing that am I right in saying two teams go down this year they can't get away with that so that's that's another level they have to go up but no I'm definitely worried I know the spurs fan of you will be hurt by that one but have to say it so it's not I think it's just the one team this year that that goes down two teams coming up Yeah, I was going to say that whoever is at the bottom

we're going to play off with the third place team of the WSL 2. So there is, I mean, there is a, I suppose there's even a lifeline this season for the sides that are at the bottom of the WSL. The thing that I would look at there is when the season is in danger of just kind of petering out, if you look at a team like Aston Villa, it doesn't take a huge amount to put,

good results together and suddenly find yourself looking at a really good season. Equally, it doesn't take a huge amount to find yourself sliding and just suddenly in a place where you're thinking, wow, not far off relegation form. I think Spurs was a back end of the last season and you would probably say that they were the latter. They slipped into a sort of almost sleepwalking towards this bottom of the table place where they don't want to be. Yeah, exactly. I feel like they need to have in pre-season worked on being defensively more sound

not conceding goals, not shipping goals and just being more compact as a team but I feel like if we go back to Frank Kirby if a her in it, you've got to have a level of consistency in your performances. If you're not winning a game, you're drawing and getting a point. Do you mean you're getting points on the board? You cannot afford to lose because then, like you say,

it starts to slowly slip and then you're losing every week and then it's really hard to get out of that rhythm. So I feel like hopefully they've had a good pre-season together. They've built a good philosophy and culture and togetherness

and they're able to get points on the board to put themselves in a good position and a good run at the start of the season. Can we talk a little bit about West Ham and their start to last season? I mean, because I think we had put West Ham in a similar place when we did this show

a year ago. And Rianzkin had just got it so right last season comparatively. There was worries about the depth of West Ham's squad, but she found a way to get performances out of that side, and they had a decent season, Ellen. Well, if you're signing someone like Martinez, and then she's scoring every game and just absolutely ripping it up, then absolutely she would get you out of any relegation. But yeah, I feel like she kind of created a great kind of team cohesion, I would say, and it took a while. It took a while, and I feel like everyone was kind of thinking,

well, is Rian Skinner going to stay? You know, that they're losing games. They're not picking up enough points. They're obviously conceding goals. But I feel like they stuck together as a team. She brought some players in in January. And they just started to go on this kind of trajectory where they were performing very well.

They were picking up a number of points. So I think they're going to have, I think they'll be fine this season, mid-table, have maybe a decent cup run. So I'm excited to see kind of what they do. this season, especially on the back of how they ended the season as well. Yeah, back-to-back Player of the Month awards for Shakira Martinez towards the back end of the season as well, tells you just how well she was playing in that moment.

If she can find that form again, I'm sure West Ham will be in a really strong position this season. I just want to go through the big kind of transfer lines just very quickly. Maybe we'll just pick out one each, just in terms of the whole summer, one that has jumped out at you or one that you think, you know what, that's a really, really, really exciting signing. So, Jen, do you want to go first here? Yeah, I mean, I spoke about her already.

So, but my biggest, honestly, the one who I loved watching at the Euros, Imman Bene, she was kind of playing as a wingback for Switzerland. So I'll be intrigued because I actually saw she's listed as a forward on the Man City Women website. So I'll be intrigued to see where she lines up, but, or, you know, if she even starts or gets into the team. But for me, I loved watching her. I think she's still so young and got a huge career ahead of her.

technically brilliant strong quick she was up and down that wing back in that sort of structure that Switzerland were playing and so for me when Man City picked her up I was like that is a brilliant sign name I remember specifically thinking I can't wait to watch her in the WSL

well I didn't realise we're going to have to pick one so thanks for this to be fair on the original list is about 50 transfers so I'm just like going through oh my gosh oh my gosh and Jen's gone with a great one okay I'm going to go left field here because and it's for London City lionesses

but Elena Linari Italian centre half and I think that's a really great sign in because I feel like you've got to be defensively well structured have a good centre half she's got a great structure can score a goal off a set piece as well

so I feel like she'll slot in maybe next to come a guy I don't know exactly you know what their set up's going to be we'll find out on Saturday but I feel like she's a great signing and obviously showcase what she's about at the Euros

I can keep going if you'd like me to but yeah that's your one I'm going to stick with that one I'll stick with that. What a start for London City Line this is away at the Emirates Stadium an unbelievably difficult challenge to begin with but I feel like we'll get a good benchmark of where they're currently out.

You get full comms of that on five live let's just whiz through the managers as well because if you've been keeping half an eye on the WSL managerial Mary go round you will have seen the fact that there has been so much change So as we mentioned, Spurs sacked Robert Villahann before appointing Martin Ho, who is a friend of the pod. Now, if you were listening to the pod over the last couple of years,

he's been on a couple of times and is absolutely brilliant to listen to, had a great run in the Champions League with Bran who actually lost to Barcelona when he was in charge. Man City replaced Gareth Taylor with Andre Yeglerts. We'll have to wait and see what they go for in terms of style of play. Lots of interviews coming in that episode with, that we can look forward to before Friday when they take on Chelsea. Liverpool appointed Taylor after Matt Bid was sacked Bid,

joined Bernie then was put on gardening leave, Lester sacked their manager, Mende, Mackell, 10 days before the start of the season. And as you mentioned, Rick Passmore brought in as interim head coach. So there is lots to look for in match week one. Just before we kind of finish up the pod and go and dive head first into the start of the season,

some incredible games. Can we just have your top line predictions? So your winners, please. And then actually, I do want to hear your two Champions League places as well and then who are your relegation team. So we'll go winners first. Chelsea to win the title. I think you both got it right last year, didn't you?

I think you both got winners correct last year. Oh, I thought you were going to say I got one, two, three. Who do I put, I can't remember what did last year. I definitely got it wrong. I 100% got it wrong. I didn't cover myself in glory. Right. Who did you put?

See, I think I said last year would be, it wasn't Chelsea, I had Chelsea second. So I can't. I thought Jen said Arsenal. Did you say Arsenal, Jen? I think I said Arsenal. Okay, so it was only else got it right. Okay, so you're going to Chelsea again.

Why they're going to be there in the big bucks? That's why they send me this and not you guys. Yeah, why she's got the big thing. Right. So, Ellen, you're going, Chelsea to win? Yeah. Boring. Jen?

Yeah, boring as well, mate. Chelsea to win. Okay, your two Champions League places? Man City and Arsenal. In that order? In which order? That order. Yeah, I'm going Man City to push second and Arsenal third.

I want to be wrong. It's a great shout. I'm going to flip that. I'm going to say Arsenal, Man City. Okay, who, where does your, where's your London and City Lioness's prediction coming in here. Do you know what?

I was going to sneak him in to top three, but I'm... Oh, I don't... Five. Oles needs to see a few games. You can just know... That's just going to be

the running theme for this season. I just need one more game. I've just watched another month. Just one more. Just one more. Just one more. Just one more. Els is Christmas.

You can't have another month. Okay. Who's your candidate? It's going into the playoff or the relegation playoff? I mean, how crazy is that going to be at the end of the season? Leicester or Spurs. Sorry, I can't give you one.

Sorry. I'd love to be proven wrong. I've gone Spurs. So you're out and out. Ellen's spread better. He softened the bloat. I still need to see a few games, just to just to see what's about that. Got watch fewer games.

Okay, perfect. That is where we'll leave it. There is so much content coming away. As we said at the top of the show, this feed is going to have not just the regular podcast on Tuesday. loads of other bits coming during the week. So make sure you subscribe and then they'll drop straight into your inbox on BBC sounds as soon as they drop. Thanks so much to Ellen.

Thanks so much to Jen. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled. That Chelsea Man City special is dropping on Thursday. We'll see you all then.