The Guardian's Women's Football Weekly - Arsenal halt Manchester City’s WSL title charge – Women’s Football Weekly

Episode Date: February 10, 2026

Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzy Wrack, Chris Paouros and Marva Kreel to discuss Arsenal’s statement win over Manchester City, dramatic comebacks at the bottom of the WSL and another weekend of shifting momentum

This is The Guardian. Hello, I'm Faker others and welcome to the Guardian women's football weekly. How many Madonna-themed puns can I get into this intro? Sorry, thinking out loud. I won't put you through it. I'll focus on the football. Arsenal put a small spanner in Manchester City's title charge works. Liverpool lifted themselves off the bottom,

while West Ham also won, leaving Lester languishing at the foot of the table. We'll discuss all the weekends action, plus we'll take your questions. And that's today's Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Strike a pose. Sorry, couldn't help it. Susie Rack, mirror, mirror on the wall. How did the play go? You're just a ray of light, Faye, just a ray of light.

Oh, well done. Well done. The pantomime is not until this weekend, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. So we still have the final rehearsal tonight, which I have already delivered the mirror for, and the magic wands, and pimped out my son's costume. I'm just going to say, hope you do know when the pantomime is because if you don't, all of that hard work that you've

put in will have gone completely to waste. Listen, I know somebody else who's put in a lot of hard work over the last few days of her own making. Chris Pauros, good morning to you with Madonna in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend. We're expecting lyrics. You are going to get them, Faye. Don't you worry about it. I have been frozen with the anticipation of both this and seeing Madonna at the weekend. I spent all weekend justifying my love. Take a bow.

Oh, wow. Oh, my God, this is going to go all the way through. Listen, the only real musical person here is actually Marvel Creel. Fair. And on for another Everton win, although slightly chaotic behind the scenes. How you doing?

I'm good. I'm just waiting for Brittany to turn up at Goodersen Park now. No, let's talk about football. That's what we're here to talk about. I'm stopping you all because this will be like the longest ever intro to a pod. And we are a football pod. Let me remind you.

Arsenal brought Manchester City's unbeaten run to an end to eat into their lead at the top of the Barclays WSL. Olivia Smith on the score sheet again at the Emirates, continuing the Gunner's recent impressive run of form. Listen to this. Three back-to-back wins. They beat the title holder's Chelsea. Then they became intercontinental champions, whatever that means. And then they beat dominant league leaders Manchester City. And actually, Susie, this one, there's no flourish with this in a way.

It was like a real tactical battle. How did René Slager's outsmart Andre Jurglertz on the day? And by the way, I didn't realize this. She's actually never lost a home game in the WSL, which is pretty impressive going. It's a great stat. I didn't know that. I'll take it all day long. It was an incredible performance. I wasn't expecting it to be that dominant a performance from Arsenal.

Obviously, we've watched City kind of sweep teams aside with such at ease. Chelsea's preceding week. And that front three with Viv Mirdemus sat behind is just so potent and threatening from every area of the pitch. Kaspari overlapping as well on one side, the pace of hemp on the other. Keralyn, like Bunny Shore, obviously in any position. across the pitch is a danger. So it's a really tough ask to not be impacted by the strength of that attack. But Arsenal just didn't really let them see much of the ball, which feels like a simple tactic. But how you do that is the difficult part. And that's where I think they won this

battle in that Kim Little and Marina Caldente in particular were superb in the middle. And even Rousseau, in the 10 when she was sort of up against Tasagawa was just, I mean, it was her birthday. I don't know if that like fuelled her or something, but like she was hungry. And the fact that she forced a couple of really nice saves from Yamashita could have arguably had a goal and built on Arsenal's lead. But I think it was that dominance in midfield, just stopping the service to that front floor. And then they also had a bit of good luck as well with some of the decision making, I would say. Yeah.

Yeah. And you need a little. bit of luck, don't you, in those circumstances, big games sometimes. No luck needed for Kim Little, though, Chris. 399 appearances now for Arsenal at 35 years old. We almost need some kind of plaque on this pod, I think, for Kim Little, because we wax lyrical about her regularly. Player of the match again, she was brilliant, wasn't she? What a player she is, though. I mean, you can't underestimate the impact that she's has on that team has had on the game over such a long time. And as you say, I know we talk about it a lot.

But she's exactly the kind of player that if any other team looks at her, it's like, that's who you need in your team. Because she's got everything. You know, she's, she was winning everything. The, the, any ball that she plays is just like on a pinhead, you know, energy, um, vision, you know, all of those things. You know, from, she's the kind of. a midfielder that you just want in your team at all times and there are very, very few like her.

And, you know, I think you could say she's an unsung hero. I know we're singing here and I know all my mates who are Arsenal fans are always singing about her as well. But, you know, what a player. And sort of kind of understated as well, weirdly, even though he's sort of talking about all of this stuff and, you know, quite what a talent she is. She just seems to go about her business quite nicely. I think it's her character that makes her understated because most definitely not understated when being talked about for sure. And we focus a lot, Marva, on Arsenal's attack, but maybe for the first time this season actually, because they have struggled a little bit. This was the game that also shone alight on their defensive work. They've currently got the meanest defence in the

league. How did lots of Uber Moines and Steph Cattley, for example, limit what's viewed maybe as the best attacking side in the WSL in Manchester City to just a shot on target. Yeah, I thought they were brilliant and you have to be up against a city team. You know, we know what strengths they have. I thought just overall they were much sharper than city, particularly in the box. There were a few times where Man City did what you expect them to do, which is get into good positions, putting some decent balls into the box. But when it came to that second ball, Arsenal were all over it.

Their centrebacks were all over it. McCabe, I thought, had a good game as well. But also, I just think it's that typical. thing of possessions the best form of defence sometimes as well, in that they just look very solid when they did have the ball. So not only being sharper than them when balls did come into the box, not only being sharper than them in midfield as well, which I just think alleviated that pressure off of the defence, like when you compare it to the reverse fixture, it was almost the opposite of that. Arsenal just couldn't quite hold onto it. There were so many sort of pinballs

around the box, so many pinballs around midfield, that it just, the moment you leave Man City with any space with the attacking talent they have, and if there were. in the mood to be shut, which they have been over, you know, the last 13 games of winning, then they'll punish you. But I just think, yes, okay, other than the very clear red card, you need a little bit of luck in that city. Don't just be clinical on every chance they get. But I think Arsenal limited those chances as much as they possibly could. Yeah, they felt more in control, didn't they? And actually, Andre Yerglitz afterwards was very calm. It is their first league defeat since the opening day of the season, but they are still

eight points clear at the top. So no need to be concerned in terms of points, I think. But this is what he had to say. It's not going to affect the players. We're fully aware of the situation we're in and we're still in a very good position in the league. We're still confident in what we've done so far. It's important how you analyse this game and move on as quickly as possible. Should there be anything for him to be concerned by Susie or we're just Arsenal the better side on the day and sitting not fully on it? I think a bit of that. I don't think you need to be overly concerned. like eight points a massive lead, even if Arsenal win their game in hands, that's still, you know, seven points. And in a 12-team league where it's only 22 games per team, like there's what, seven games left, you know,

he's not got too much to worry about. They've done the work to give them the breathing room for this kind of like defeat. Obviously, their demolition of Chelsea the previous week will sort of be one for the record books, but it's not gone quite as deliciously as I think they would have liked. A super strong team, nothing to worry about. Yeah. And by the way, that team that they're playing next is Lester on Friday night. So good luck with that, Rick Passmore. Drama in Dagenham, West Ham completed a late comeback over Brighton. Three goals in nine minutes, including a 91st minute winner from Vivian Asai,

saw Rita Guarino's side overcome a two-nil deficit to secure their third win of the season. You could see that delight amongst the West Ham ranks at the end. It feels like they're showing a bit of character and resolve that was maybe lacking in the first half of the season Marwa. Yeah, I mean, I don't even think it was lacking that much in the first half of the season because I think they've been saying for a lot, they've been playing quite well. And they've been quite unlucky in their finishing, or maybe not unlucky, maybe just not clinical in their finishing. And particularly players like I say who previously in seasons where West Ham have been struggling have managed to be clinical and have managed to get West Ham out of trouble. and in the first half of the season they've been struggling in that sense.

But in terms of the football that they've been playing, they've created chances, they've just been a bit too open when it comes to the other goal. And this game was really similar to that and I thought, oh, here we go again, West Ham. They should have been 2-0 up within the first half and then go 2-0 down

and you're thinking, this is just typical of West Ham season. So you had a chance. Martinez had a chance from about six yards. They just couldn't capitalize on. but then they just galvanise and I have to really shout out the West Ham fans as well because you heard them after even just the first goal

they smelt blood and they knew that they could get back into it and you just really felt them just pull them into that goal and it was actually lovely to see those scenes I just thought it was such a deserve turnaround actually I thought Brighton did well to keep some possession they played some nice stuff in the second half they created a few more chances but they'd got lucky in the first place

And I don't think they had done enough to create clinical chances or very clear-cut chances in the way that West Ham did. So I think overall it was probably just about fair. Although some of the goalkeeping from both goalkeepers, I think let's put that one aside and focus on the next game. It left a lot to be desired, didn't it? We'll focus on Brighton in a second as well. But yeah, I mean, you can tell how, what a difficult season it's been for West Ham.

And a comeback win is brilliant anyway, but it felt like that was a huge release. of emotion, Chris. And Vivian Assayes had a really quiet season actually by her standards, but she was the star of the show. A hundred and first appearance as well for the hammers. How important, particularly in a club that does feel transitional quite a bit, is that kind of experience and leadership as they try and get out of the mess that they find themselves in. I think it's really important. And, you know, I saw her on the social media. they sort of made a big montage for her, you know, celebrating her 100 goals, you know, and exactly that.

It's like there's a lot of kind of mayhem at West Ham and to have a player of her caliber, actually, I was really pleased for her at the end there to sort of to be the sort of, the sort of face of that win. Because those last 10 minutes were incredible and to sort of, you know, to continue to, you know, bounced off a million places. And to get that in, I think it was great. You know, I was talking to some West Ham fans at the weekend. and they're really pleased with Reese Grino. They can see the difference that she's made.

And I think that's what they just want is a bit of consistency. And to have a player that's made 101 appearances, then you've got that little bit of consistency, if you like, she made 100 appearances, but also to lead the team in that way, to say that we can do this here. Because I think that's the other thing, is like, in amongst the uncertainty potentially,

that, you know, you might have a club like West Ham, to see that you can have a player with 101 appearance, that could go and win a game like that. I think it sets them up nicely for the rest of the season, unfortunately, because who wants West Ham to do well? Other people, Chris. Other people without a white North London leaning, I would suggest. For Brighton though, Susie, Chris Roberts described the defeat as a hard pill to swallow.

It's actually just one win in their last five in the league. What is going on at the minute at Brighton? How do they stop the slide? It's hard to say because the quality is there and you could see that in the goals, right? Like two stunning finishes, particularly Kikosekase, sort of chip over the keeper from a fair bit of distance. It's not like they can't get the ball in the back of the net or there's some kind of disconnect there, but things just aren't quite clicking. And maybe it's a bit of complacency when you're two nil up. Like they make a few changes at that point of the game and momentum is shifting.

you know, things just don't quite come together. Obviously, they've still got Dario Vidasich away following the passing of his dad as well. So Chris Roberts is in charge. So there's a little bit of a lack of like continuity, obviously, you know, kind of that is hanging over them a little bit still, you know, as it will. I thought it's interesting that Roberts also said that the performance was irrelevant. We have to find a way to win. And we got ourselves into a brilliant position being too nil with 10 minutes to go and we've shot ourselves in the foot. And that like kind of sums it up, right?

at a stage where they just badly need a win for something to build off of. And in a sense, they've got a bit of a chance against West Ham to turn things around in that they play them in the fifth round of the FA Cup on the 22nd. But before that, they've got Arsenal and after that they've got Chelsea. So, like, where that win is going to come from in the league may not be that imminent. But then again, when you're the underdog and you've got nothing to lose, which you kind of do having games against Arsenal and Chelsea, then you can cause trouble. But it's not until Liverpool and Leicester as their next games after that,

I think we're really going to see them be able to start to do something to build that momentum. But will the damage be done to too great an extent by that point potentially? Yeah, exactly. Liverpool are building their own momentum as well, actually. And following whatever West Ham do at the minute, they've lifted themselves off the bottom of the table. With a 4-1 win over struggling Aston Villa, Mia Enderby and Martha Thomas had put Gareth Taylor's side into an early lead before Grace Fisk and Orally Seelag scored late to make sure of the result.

Two goals on the first 15 minutes for Liverpool, Marva, which kind of set the tone for the afternoon. Do you think, and this is difficult as an Everton fan, calling this, was it their most complete performance this season? Yeah. No, yeah, it definitely was. Again, similar to SM, I think their performances haven't matched up with their results recently. I think they've actually been playing some good football. And it was why as an Everton fan, I was particularly worried at our place in the table because I was looking at the teams around us and thinking they're playing better football than us and it's only a matter of time. And this is an example of that because there have been a few games for Liverpool where they've got into similar positions and they might have got one goal and being able to pass it around a little bit.

And then it gets to the last sort of 20 minutes and because of their squad size, because they haven't been able to bring on fresh legs and because they haven't had those real clinical goal scorer to then double their league. they've dropped points and we've seen lots of late goals conceded from Liverpool and that is the big difference after genuinely transfer window is you look at their bench now when they've actually got some players to bring on

they've got some proven goal scorers in the WSL and Martha Thomas showing her worth there as well and that makes all the difference because when you're 2-0 up other than Brighton it's a lot easier to hold on to and it's also a lot easier to hold on to when you've got some players to bring on

I thought O'Sullivan did well to just see the game out for them and it shows a massive difference in them competing in the WSL now for the rest of the season because when you've just only got one goal and a load of legs that just can't keep up that level of intense, not only defending but pressing that we know that Gareth Taylor likes, it's been very difficult for them to enact what Gareth Taylor wants. And now you're seeing a squad start to come together that can enact that. And I think that's going to be a very different proposition for Liverpool for the rest of the season.

What is going wrong at Villa though, Chris? they've got the leekiest defence in the league I cannot work out what team they are are alarm bells ringing for Natalia Arroyo at the moment or are they just trying to get through this season I'm very confused by them yeah it's hard to say really isn't it because I guess three defeats on the bounce is great

but I think at 2-1 I was a bit like oh okay they might they might do something here and it was a decent strike I guess I do wonder this season with the fact that you're not, that someone isn't necessarily going to go down if that's affecting, not decision making, because I think when you're setting out a football team, you're not sort of going, oh, it's all right, we're all right. But there might just be something in the underlying mentality of some of those teams to just kind of say exactly what you've just said there, Faye, which is like, we'll just get through

this season and then we'll figure out what we do next time. you know, we'll take the summer to take stock, etc. And I just wonder if, you know, I was thinking the same about West Ham there, you know, those teams around the bottom who are a bit like, well, we could take a bit of a punt, potentially. The only thing I will say for Villa is that, you know, Dr. Tottenham's going to see them at the weekend. So you never know, you never know what's going to happen there. But, yeah, I wouldn't have necessarily put Villa in the bracket that we're sort of discussing them right now.

You know, I seem like just a solid team with, you know, there's some players in there that are like good WSL players. But yeah, so I'd be interested to hear what Susie thinks. Yeah, like I think they're missing out and out centre forward is the biggest problem at the moment, Rachel Daly out. As much as, you know, Ebony Salmon has shown flashes of brilliance throughout her career, she's not really kind of found a level of consistency at the top that has kind of propelled her into claiming that role.

and that's what I think is missing for them at the moment. Rachel Daly is getting a little bit older. They maybe need to dip into the transfer market and adds not just one, but at least a couple in that area. Because it's really, like, as you say, I think it's really hard to work out what's going wrong. I think Arroyo speaks really well and her vision and her passion and her ideas are really good.

I think the issue will become if she starts to lose the dressing room. then there's not really a way back from that. I don't know what the state of that is at the moment, but there must be a few heads down. But yeah, like, just a lack of an out-and-out striker, I think is really, like, not helping them at this moment in time. No, problematic, that's for sure. Right, that's it for part one of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly.

In part two, we'll wrap up the rest of the WSL action, and I will try somehow to shoehorn in Laisla, Bonita, into the script. How do I do that? Welcome back to part two of the Guardian, Women's Football Weekly, Chelsea battled past Tottenham Hotspur to relieve the pressure on manager Sonia Bonpastor and end a run of back-to-back defeats. Kira Walsh and Alyssa Thompson scored in a 2-0 win that put them back third in the table. We have to discuss this first and foremost, though, Susie, because there's some breaking

news coming out of Chelsea on Monday night. Long-term head of women's football, Paul Green, has now left the club. He'd been there for the last 13 years, both behind the scenes, and stepping in. to the manager role when Emma Hayes had to take some time away, played a huge role in the 19 trophies that Chelsea won during his tenure. Big, big blow for them and a lot of consistency that they've lost actually. What are your thoughts on what's gone on there? I think you've got three people here, Arsenal, Everton and Spurs who are all going throw anything at Paul Green to bring him to our clubs because his like record is just phenomenal. I mean,

13 years brought in by Emma Hayes is like hand in hand building that project at Chelsea with her, like the complete architect with it right alongside her. And like she would be the first to say that. And his role in their recruitment and how they were just so ahead of the game for season on season and bringing in players. Scouting players two to three years ahead of the window they wanted to sign them in was just so effective. And he's been so hugely significant in their. rise, their six titles, the fact that they have this incredible ability, which has obviously been rocked now, to go for a period of change and play a turnover in a squad whilst also still

winning. He is integral to that. And I think it's a massive, massive mistake. My understanding is that increasingly the co-sporting directors Paul Winstonley and Lawrence Stewart have been kind of getting more and more involved in decision making around the women's side as much they have the men's and that has watered downpaw's effectiveness, I would say, to a certain extent. So in a way, this was kind of coming. But like, it's a massive error. He's got so much experience in this club. He's an institution.

He understands that institution better than anyone else. But also credibility within the game, which is massive. Yeah, respect within the game, but also amongst players. Like, you see the outpouring on social media, guru writing, the latest. Kat Makario, Aaron Cuff, but the first one who took a chance on me, Sam Kerr, like, these are players who were brought in by Paul and came for him as well as Emma. Like, he has a significant degree of authority. And that is such a massive blow.

There's been a lot of noise from outside in the aftermath of Chelsea's defeat against Manchester City. But they announced on Friday that their manager had signed a contract extension. She was quite defiant post-match when she was talking about the unrest that's been plague in the squad this week. I know who I am, she said. I don't need people outside my environment to tell me who I am. I'll always make sure I give my best. I know I have the competence. I know I have the knowledge.

I know the women's game and I do my best for Chelsea. I'm not saying I'm the best one. I'm not saying I'm arrogant, but I know who I am. I always make sure I support my players in the best way possible. Quite strong comments, Marva. What did you make of her work? and how much will this victory at the weekend over Spurs come as a welcome relief? Oh, it will come as a massive relief.

I think in the WSL we have this thing of just weird timing of announcements and sackings and contracts extensions because after that Mancenae game and her comments there in the post-match conference, you thought, oh, she wants to go. She almost wants to get sacked. And then she gets a contract extension and you're going, oh, okay. I think had she not said those things after Man City, it wouldn't have been that much of a surprise. I think, you know, with a small season that we have in the WSL, one loss can seem like the biggest thing. And especially for Chelsea fans who aren't used to losing.

But why are they not used to losing? Well, Sonia Bonpastor had them go invincible last season. So I think she does deserve more time. But with Paul leaving as well, it's going to be a real, real transition. over the next year, a lot of, a lot is changing at that club. And you look at the players now as well. And even just the sort of missing of a centre forward in this game, obviously in the second half, I thought they were actually very comfortable,

and it was more like the Chelsea that we used to. But the first half, this was a Chelsea that reminded me of the game against Man City. There were lots of spaces there for the taking. Spurs had a good few chances. Like they could have been two or three nil up, which would have just been, you know, seemed just catastrophic for Chelsea. I thought they really pulled it together and after that they looked very comfortable in possession

but that sort of quite clear gap of like a Sam Kerr missing I just think shows this overturning of the squad at the moment and a real transition period for them and it'll be interesting to see if they go more down the route of just being that that team that maybe don't play as well all the time but get those results towards the end of this season because they're still in a lot of competitions or if we're going to start to see more cracks start to show in this transition period.

And I don't think it's Sonia's fault and I don't think it's Paul Green's fault in that they didn't have an amazing January transfer window and they didn't have an amazing summer window. And Paul's influence has been cut back on a little bit. And his role in though, in what the squad needs and where it's needed and in bringing in players I think is significant. And the fact that they did not have two great windows on the bounce before he goes and don't kind of come in with a player who, you know, Kat McCarrier, struggle for consistency following her injury. Sam Kerr is only just returning. Myra Mirreys is struggling with her fitness and injury issues. Aggie Biva Jones is still very young and, you know, kind of developing into that sort of centre forward role and there's a different profile of player, I'd say, to some of those.

Like they needed more. Alyssa Thompson, obviously, a great recruit, but she's not that sort of Myra Ramirez. Sam Kerr kind of sat on the shoulder in the middle kind of player in the same way with that physicality as well. And they needed more. They needed more from the transfer window. They needed more to be done about the midfield, which is looking a little bit light. They needed a better strategy. And I don't think they've got that at the moment. I think that is the cost of it all. It's going to be really interesting to see how it pans out. Champions League Football is still vital for Chelsea next season. Listen, there was no cause for celebration, Chris. We will talk Madonna in a minute, but first of all, I want your thoughts on the football

because your side spurs dominated the first half, but you were 1-0 down at the break, fell away completely in the second half. What did you make of the performance? Connem at home, Sunday Arvo, one point in it before CO, Sinia Gapser, Olivia Holt on the front foot from the start. Spurs set in tempo and tone, Spurs owning every zone. Beth, England, causing threat. Shots on target, pressure met.

Spurs had style, Spurs had grace Hull off the bar, inches trace Walsh unmarked, clear striking that was what changed everything players with an attitude fans that were in the mood don't just stand there, let's get to it's who we are, there's nothing to it

Spurs producer Silas put the beat behind it Oh my goodness I actually think that's your best one yet and the funny thing is I wasn't expecting it I genuinely thought you were going to like talk about the football, which you did, obviously. I did.

Sign her up, Marva. That is very impressive. And listen, I also hear you spent, you know, a large part of the game, as you mentioned earlier, serenading Madonna, who was probably looking down from her box thinking, who is this beautiful stranger singing to me? There you go, I've done it. See, I didn't do it in the intro, but I've at least done a few. And there are so many people listening to this pod

and I apologise to all of you, including producer Sof, who hate Madonna or don't know Madonna songs who are going, shut up! Stop doing this. Madonna was in this one box. She was above us. And then in the box next to her

were like two TV cameras and loads of blonde people. Made in Chelsea. Yes, exactly. I found that out afterwards. Because I was like, they must be famous because there's two like proper cameras here.

Yeah, and it turns out it was made in Chelsea was also being filmed in the box next to Madonna. And then the other thing is that there's a director at Chelsea who's been Madonna's long-time PR since the 80s. Yeah. So I think there was that kind of connection as well because I saw her go across. And it's not just that, you know, Madonna loves Spurs

or Tottenham Hot Spurs, I think. She's called them. But her daughters play for Spurs. And she was at the under 14s game earlier on in the day, but it created quite a buzz. The thought of Madonna in Enfield, I just cannot get my head around it. Yeah, Madonna is fully coys, folks.

But I think, look, from a spurs perspective, I think as Marvis just said, we could have gone in two or three nil up, you know, and it's one of those things we've never taken a point of Chelsea. So, you know, Olivia Holt's strike was fantastic, and it clipped the bar. If it was just like a fraction lower, I think that would have kind of opened the game,

up in a different way because exactly as we've just been talking about what's been going on at Chelsea and I just think there's something about what that would have produced from a momentum perspective from a Spurs perspective just in terms of what that mentality might have been and you know and the new players are starting to sort of find their feet that was Hannah Weiss's first start you know senior gap set what a player she is you know I was a bit frustrated by the referee who kept getting in the way and it was for both teams and it was just like Get out of the way, ref. You know.

But, you know, that's kind of where we find ourselves. I think, look, the stats were pretty even. It was a good time to play Chelsea. As I say, we've never managed to get a point against them. We started so well, and I just frustrated that we didn't take the chances. But, you know, there's no shame in losing to Chelsea, I suppose, is what I'm trying to come away from that. And I feel positive about what we've got going forward. I mean, we missed Drew Spence, best player of the season so far for us, I think.

and so not having her in the midfield made a difference. But, you know, we move. I thought spurs were really, really strong in this match. And I think Martin Ho would be the first to say that they're not there yet in terms of ready to challenge for that top four. But the signs of shift there are really, really impressive. Like, Martin is doing some very good stuff with that side. The recruitment strategy is really good.

Everyone seems to be singing from the same hymn sheet in a way that I don't think they've had at Tottenham, which obviously probably helped a little bit with sort of the changes at the club more generally in the past few years in that there is a real dedicated team that are really committed to the side. And that's like quite exciting for, you know, women's football and the WSL because they are really committed to this. Absolutely. And you can definitely see that. Before the game, there was a presentation made to Rebecca Capelhorn, who was the director of football governance and administration who has been in-strived.

You know, like her sort of love and care for women's football is genuine. And sort of having someone at her level, she was on the board who was advocating for the women's team, you know, and she does that. That's her job for the men's team as well. She's not, wasn't just working in women's football. I think has made a huge difference to entirely to make that transition and to ensure that we've made the correct appointments and structured the team well. So, you know, with Rebecca leaving, we'll see what sort of happens there. But also, you know, shout out to her because she's going on to be the chief football officer at the Premier League, which I think is like remarkable and a brilliant job and the Premier League is going to be lucky to have her.

Absolutely. And they're the kind of people you need behind the scenes. Absolutely grafting and advocating. And what a change that's happened at Spurs. It feels as if Everton are in this kind of weird transition at the moment. A turbulent week for your club, Marva. Brian Sorenson, Departner. parting the club, but, weirdly, in the midst of back-to-back victories for the first time in two years, I'm not quite sure how that kind of works, but Inma Gaboro scored a second half goal, the only goal of the game, to put in a resilient performance and ultimately three points against London City lionesses. It's been really chaotic, hasn't it? So Brian Sorenson went on Wednesday. Under 18's coach Scott Feelein takes over until the end of the season.

What did you make about the decision? And obviously the three points are vital, so you can wax lyrical about that as well. But what strange timing? It was strange timing. I think particularly strange timing when considering off the pitch elements in that we've had a January transfer window that does seem to be mainly Sorenson's signings because we actually don't have a director of women's football at the moment. So you can only assume that he's had a big part to play in those signings. However, in terms of on the pitch, I know we beat Aston Villa,

but I still don't think it was that strange timing. I think when you look around the teams around us, like I said, West Ham and Liverpool were actually outperforming us. Even in terms of XG, they were more likely to go on and do better for the rest of the season. And we were in a really precarious position. Also, when you look at that Villa win, two goals from a centreback from set piece, at Heather, which is like the antithesis of Brian Sorensen football. And I think that's been a real indication of Sorensen's term, which is, don't get me wrong, I'm really grateful for him and how he

has taken us through some really tumultuous times. But his whole brand of football was to play expansive possession-based football. And actually, when we've done the best is when we haven't played that. It's fair to say that, you know, he hasn't always been bats by the club, that he hasn't always had the the resources at his disposal. But at the same time, since the new owners came in over a year ago now, they have backed him a lot. And at the beginning of this season, he got a lot of players that were clearly his players. There were lots of technical, small midfielders.

And I think if you're going to forego a lot of those other qualities in having big physicality or being able to sort of a little bit long, then you have to at least be able to, if you're putting all your eggs in one basket, we need to see the fruition of those eggs, basically. and we weren't even seeing passing football. We just could not pass the ball. And when you look at even this performance underfeeler, and I think it wasn't an amazing performance. We weren't playing London City out of the water,

but we were a lot sharper. We were really just trying to progress it up the pitch, whereas you compare that to that game against Brighton at home where there were some booze from Everton fans and calls for Sorensen out. It was so lethargic, passing. You just didn't even know where we were going. going with it. We could barely string passes together, even when we did. And so I think it was time

for Sorensen to go. And hopefully now, I mean, Lester have a game in hand. So at the moment, it looks more comfortable than maybe it actually could be. I think those bottom four teams is actually still pretty tight. And one week can just sort of change everything. But we've got West Ham next. That's the six-pointer if I've ever seen one. And if we play like we did against London City, it was just a really solid performance, which gives me a little bit of hope. I think if we can continue that for the rest of the season and even just get one or two wins, I think that would be enough. Yeah, Courtney Brosnan has been fantastic, actually, hasn't she? But where did it go wrong for London City, Susie? They couldn't get past her in goal. She was excellent again. And they did

actually outpossess and out-create Everton, but just couldn't find a way through. What did you make of their performance. Yeah, I mean, Brosnan was brilliant. Like the, I think of the two saves to stop Frey Godfrey, who's been in such phenomenal form, were significant. Obviously, Gioro hit the post as well. Like, so they had chances, but they didn't capitalise on those. And I think that is where it goes wrong for them. Like, I think just generally, there is always going to be points of a season when you've brought so many new players together where things aren't always great. And I think that's okay. And I think that's okay. And I think, expectations should not be as high as, you know, their position in the table suggests and

things. Because they are new to this league, a lot of these players are new to playing together still, like regardless of how far in we are. And I think that is, at times, going to show. And I think Everton just looked a more organised unit throughout most of this match. And the fact they were able to keep them at bay is testament to that. Yeah, I just think it was a sign of things not always clicking in the right way for a team that is still so new to each other as much as to the league. Yeah, without a doubt. Special mention as well for Everton's in Margarborough. She's had such a torrid time since joining Everton in July 2024. She ruptured her ACL just two months after joining and spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Sevilla. So

hopefully that goal, which was her first for the club, is going to give her some much-needed confidence. Right. Last but not least, not a classic. But Manchester United earned an important 2-0 victory over Leicester City. Julia Ziggiotti and Elizabeth Turland scoring in each half to make sure that Mark Skinner's side continued to try and

chase down city at the top. They stay second. It wasn't vintage us. It were vinted. Oh dear. Can you tell what I've been doing the last few weeks? It wasn't vintage us, is what Mark Skinner said after the game. Where was this one, won and lost Chris? Do you

think? I just think Leicester had just looked like they're floundering a bit and a Manchester United just put them to the sword when they needed to. Exactly that. It wasn't vintage, but they did what they had to. You know, looking at that second goal, you know, Zigioti's challenge, it was strength and not a foul, but should the defence have done better and not let Turland get it out from under her feet? You know, because she was there for ages, sort of, you know, and she scored like she always does against Leicester. I did think it looked like a pen against O'Brien from Sandberg. She properly clattered into her. You always wonder if I had scored a penalty at 1-0, it was 1-0 when it was that. But again, I think Manchester United just probably

would have just stepped up a gear. So I think they did, I think it was an efficient performance. Yes, not vintage, but an efficient one and they did what they had to probably. And I think if they needed to step up a gear, they probably could have done. Yeah, you mentioned the officiating. Lester weren't very happy about that, denied a penalty and the ref not pulling the game back for a foul on on Sam Tierney in the lead up to the second goal. They are 12th now, bottom of the table, Lester, and they've got, as we mentioned earlier, Man City to come on Friday.

How worried should Rick Passmore be, Marva? Yeah, of course, he should be worried. And we said from the beginning of the season, I think nearly everyone had them as their team to go down and then they actually have done a lot better than most people expected. I think where it's difficult for him now, in particular, yes, they've brought in a few players,

but when you compare the signings they've made in Elish Lehman and Rachel Williams compared to some of the other teams in and around them, particularly West Ham and Liverpool, I won't actually include Everton in that. I think those signings elsewhere have looked more like the types of signings that will get you three points immediately.

That might happen for Rachel Williams and Lehman. You might start to see. I thought they actually, Laman in particular, did look bright, but you need just some clinical finishes. If your game plan as a whole is to defend in two blocks of four, which they do well, Lester, you need some players up the other end to just have a bit of individual brilliance and do something amazing.

And in comparison to the teams around them, I'm not sure they have that attacking talent in the way that some of the other teams do. So I would be, I'm inclined to be a bit more worried for them now. However, I do think the table, like I said, maybe doesn't quite actually reflect it with a game in hand. But they've got some tough games coming up. But it's still very, very tight down there. So they're not down and out. Obviously, it's no automatic renegation anyway, but still, I don't think they're down and out yet. And it's going to be a very tough battle to the end.

Yeah, for sure. Susie, you've been down on the South Coast, haven't you, over the last week or so, at the opening of a new bar, a women's sports bar called the Cross Bar. How many times can I say bar in one sentence? What was it like? It is so good. I love them, Pippa and Lucy. and what they've done.

Like, it's an idea whose time was so overdue in the UK. It's the first women's sports bar in the UK. Brighton's the perfect place for it as well. The location is fantastic. It's right in the centre of Brighton, like a few minutes walk from Churchill Square where the main shopping centre is and stuff.

So it's like super accessible. And then just the whole idea behind it, I think is fabulous. Like, the whole vibe of opening night was just incredible. Everyone there was just buzzing that it exists. It's just, really quite liberating to be able to go into somewhere and not have to ask for the channel to be changed to the women's game, to have people frown at you, or like, yeah, to feel a little

bit, you know, kind of like you're having to prove yourself and you're like love of football in a place, right, or whatever sport you may be into. And what's also great is that they, they're showing men's sport as well, because obviously men and women should be able to just like sport. So they stayed open late for the Super Bowl and things like that. It's just great. You've got to go down and experience the space. I've done an interview with them a couple of weeks ago, so I wasn't like getting in their way on opening night. And we had a photographer down and a social media guy down on opening night. So we've got some really nice content coming out, probably this weekend, on it and some lovely like voices from people who were there for the first time on opening night,

including Amanda from the Traitors, which was great, who is absolutely wonderful, told a fantastic story about her experience of trying to watch the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup in Brighton. which I will save for my piece and we can revisit. But yeah, it's just brilliant. They're just fantastic. It's just a labour of love to women's football. This is way too long, but it is that good. I just really want it to be successful and I think everyone needs to back it.

Listen, we've got some questions and some emails to read out that you lovely lot have been sending in at women's football weekly at the Guardian.com. This is from Mr. Barber. I'm assuming not Paul, but you never know. I was wondering your opinions on the increased amount of simulation slash diving that's happening in the WSL without naming names. Although cliched, a massive selling point of women's football was the lack of diving compared to the men's game. Can this be stopped or is it just part of the game now? Was it a massive selling point? Listen, no one likes

simulation, right? But I think the fact that we have to sort of hold women's football to some higher account and that somehow we have to sort of do stuff in a more sort of pure way to kind of make Mr. Barber happy doesn't really go with me. Sorry, Mr. Barber. I don't mean to be rude to you. But like, so yeah, there's a bit more. Maybe there is a bit more simulation. But again, you know, we come back to sort of officiating because I think if you don't fall for it, then you don't need to, then you won't need to simulate. So I just think I don't accept the premise of the question. Sorry. It's natural, isn't it? It's a natural progression of the game. And like the fact that there is more at stake, right? Like there's more money in the game. There's more at stake.

results matter more in a lot of these battles that we're talking about at the top, the bottom, even, you know, Champions League places as well, like, and things happen, right? And as Chris says, it's up to the ref to control that. And maybe VAR would help as well in those kind of cases too, whether we want that and not is another can of worms. But it's a natural development of a professionalizing. That's not a word, but an increasingly professional game. Exactly, exactly that. jump in and defend Mr. Barber a little bit because I think I know what he means. It's why people end up, you know,

talking about rugby in a more pure form in some ways. There are some elements of the men's professional game that people get frustrated with, you know, the rolling around, you know, etc. And I do think that actually, you know, there is, there is a difference with women's football with that. So I can understand why he's asked that question. In defence, Mr. Barber, please don't stop sending us your questions in. They are all valid. And I know exactly what you meant. But I also understand that, you know, the professionalisation of the game means that, you know, there is more at stake. So maybe that's a reason why. And it is just part of the game now. And I just read out this one. It's not a question from Holly. It's just a lovely email. Hello, wonderful pod team.

First of all, just wanted to say how much I enjoy and appreciate the pod. A true highlight of my week is listening. It's a huge Geordie. I'm dying for Newcastle to get promoted to the WSL this season. They've had an amazing window so far, bringing in stars like Caitlin Torpe from Portland Thorns

and appointing fellow Aussie, Tanya Oxterby as their head coach. Two statement moves. We of course had Tanya on the pod actually a few weeks ago. Not to mention we're a big club and the Jordies are massive. Take the 38,000 crowd at St. James'

part for the Derby last season, as well as becoming the first fully professional club back when we were in the National League North. Also, the movement from Kingston Park to Gateshead Stadium to adhere to the WSL pitch recruitment, I think you mean regulations, was a clear move made to go top, moving away from an artificial turf. I really feel they've earned a spot in the WSL and that this is their time. Thank you and keep up the great content, Holly.

Thank you for your email, Holly. Exciting times at Newcastle at the moment team. Yeah, and I think if it's not this season they get promoted, it's going to be one very, very soon. the investment that they're putting in. And also, I do think at that level, like she said, having that level of fan base makes such a big difference for big games. And I just, yeah, I don't think it will be long until we're seeing them at the top. And then in the WSO for a long time, actually, I think they've got a really bright future ahead.

I want it for the fan base. Yeah. I want it for the fan base. Always the caveat. I want it less so for the way the women's team is being used by the ownership of this club. and in many other clubs, like let's not be silly here. There's plenty of ownership groups that, you know, kind of are unsavory in their character and nature and commitment

to women's football and football generally that we could criticise. So they're not alone in that. But for the fan base, I would really like to see them be successful because the way they've rallied behind the team is really impressive. Ultimately, football should be about the fans, shouldn't it? but absolutely make a very, very good point. Right, team, it has been so brilliant. Oh, in fact, let me just remind people to keep having your say.

Send your questions via X, email us, as Mr. Barbara and Holly did on Women's Football Weekly at the Guardian.com. And your regular reminder, too, to sign up for our biweekly women's football newsletter. All you need to do there is search moving the goalposts sign up. Marva, it has been lovely. You have a new signing to make in Chris Powell. I do. I'm waiting to hear it with the beat. behind it and then I can really make my decision.

Yeah. Then I'll do the voice. I'll do the voice turn around on my swivel chair here. Brilliant. That would make my day. It really would. Chris, you are just legendary. I'm not even going to throw another Madonna song pun at you.

Haven't even shared with you what I sang to Madonna. You need to share. You need to share. Come on then. It will only take a second. No, that's take that. Take a minute. Sorry.

Some teams try and some teams lie, but we don't watch them play. No way. Only teams that dare to do make our rainy day, because we are living in a Totterdam world and we are all Tottenham girls, etc. We sang it three times. We sang it three times and my wife said she went further and further down in her chair.

And I was mortified for the rest of the game. because obviously I just want Madonna to be my friend. Yeah. Oh, but I love that you did that. I'm just more disappointed that she didn't say, come and join us, serenade us in person. Do you know what? If she just said, if she'd just waived the first time,

we wouldn't have done it two more times. Fair enough, fair enough. Note to Madonna's people. Oh, Susie, I want Panto News next week. Oh, you'll get Panto News next week. We'll be six performances down or something by then. So, you know, I will have seen it at least twice at that stage.

So, I mean, I'll be pantowed out. Yes. Well, I'm not pantowed out. I'm not sung out either. Thoroughly enjoyed the pod this morning. So thank you very much to all of you. Thank you for listening as well. The Guardian Women's Football Weekly is produced by Sophie Downey and Silas Gray.

Music composition was by Laura Ayerdale. Our executive producer is Joel Grove. This is The Guardian.